Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • WHO gives first-ever guideline for quitting tobacco

    WHO gives first-ever guideline for quitting tobacco

    The World Health Organisation has recommended a comprehensive set of tobacco cessation interventions, including behavioural support delivered by healthcare providers, digital cessation interventions, and pharmacological treatments in its first guideline on tobacco cessation.

    The guideline released on Wednesday focuses on helping the more than 750 million tobacco users who want to quit all forms of tobacco.

    The recommendations are relevant for all adults seeking to quit various tobacco products, including cigarettes, waterpipes, smokeless tobacco products, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco, and Heated Tobacco Products.

    “This guideline marks a crucial milestone in our global battle against these dangerous products,” said the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus.

    “It empowers countries with the essential tools to effectively support individuals in quitting tobacco and alleviate the global burden of tobacco-related diseases.”

    Over 60 per cent of the world’s 1.25 billion tobacco users – more than 750 million people – wish to quit, yet 70 per cent lack access to effective cessation services. This gap exists due to challenges faced by health systems, including resource limitations.

    “The immense struggle that people face when trying to quit smoking cannot be overstated. We need to deeply appreciate the strength it takes and the suffering endured by individuals and their loved ones to overcome this addiction,” said the Director of Health Promotion at WHO, Dr Rüdiger Krech.

    “These guidelines are designed to help communities and governments provide the best possible support and assistance for those on this challenging journey.”

    The global health body noted that combining pharmacotherapy with behavioural interventions significantly increases quitting success rates. Countries are encouraged to provide these treatments at no or reduced cost to improve accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

    WHO recommends varenicline, Nicotine Replacement Therapy, bupropion, and cytisine as effective treatments for tobacco cessation.

    In 2023, WHO initiated a prequalification procedure for medicinal products against disorders caused by tobacco use to improve global access to recommended tobacco cessation medications.

    In April 2024, Kenvue’s nicotine gum and patch became the first WHO-prequalified NRT product.

    WHO recommends behavioural interventions, including brief health worker counselling (30 seconds to three minutes) offered routinely in health-care settings, alongside more intensive behavioural support (individual, group, or phone counselling) for interested users.

    “Additionally, digital interventions such as text messaging, smartphone apps, and internet programmes can be used as adjuncts or self-management tools.

    “WHO encourages healthcare providers, policy-makers, and stakeholders to adopt and implement this guideline to promote tobacco cessation and improve the health of millions of people in need worldwide,” it added.

  • Heavy Rainfall Causes Widespread Flooding in Ibeju-Lekki 

    Heavy Rainfall Causes Widespread Flooding in Ibeju-Lekki 

    Residential areas and major roads in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, have been inundated by floods following several hours of heavy rainfall in recent days.

    The downpour, which persisted for many hours on Wednesday, resulted in significant flooding in residential areas across Ibeju-Lekki and surrounding locations such as Epe, Eredo, Bogije, Labora, Abijon, Sangotedo, Awoyaya, and others.

    Residents attributed the flooding to the blockage of waterways caused by indiscriminate dumping of waste in the localities.

    Rasheed Ayobami, a resident of Labora, Ibeju-Lekki, described how his house was submerged due to the absence of a functional drainage system at his new residence.

    “The water flowed into my compound and completely submerged my house. We live in an area without proper drainage, forcing water into our homes and leaving us homeless,” he lamented.

    Seyi Arowosaye voiced concerns over perennial flooding on the Ibeju-Lekki Expressway, attributing it to blocked drains in the area.

    “We urge the Ibeju-Lekki local government to clear the drains and implore residents to stop dumping waste in the drainage system to prevent future flooding,” Arowosaye urged. He also called on the Lagos State government to expedite road repairs in Sangotedo.

    Bola Fadugba highlighted the impact of the flooding in Labora, emphasizing the urgent need for a lasting solution to the recurring flood challenges in the area.

    “Floods have made my house inhabitable during the rainy season. Many parts of the metropolis are affected. The government must find a lasting solution to this perennial problem,” Fadugba insisted.

    The flooding also affected key roads such as Abraham Adesanya, Awoyaya, Sangotedo, and Majek, exacerbated by ongoing road rehabilitation works in the locality.

  • UNIBEN Students Block Benin-Ore Highway Over Power Outage

    UNIBEN Students Block Benin-Ore Highway Over Power Outage

    On Wednesday, University of Benin (UNIBEN) students took to the streets, blocking the busy Benin-Ore highway to protest an ongoing power outage on campus. The students, who are just two weeks away from their first semester exams, said the lack of electricity has severely impacted their ability to study.

    The power outage is the result of a dispute between the university and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over a significant increase in the electricity bill. The university administration expressed frustration after the BEDC increased the monthly charges from approximately N80 million to between N200 million and N280 million. As a result, the university has been forced to rely on power generators, providing only limited electricity to the campuses and hostels.

    “We’ve had only one hour of electricity each day since this started. We’re tired of studying in the dark. We need electricity to prepare for our exams, and the university management needs to resolve this issue,” said John Afolabi, one of the protesting students.

    The protest began early in the morning, with students carrying placards and chanting slogans as they blocked the highway. “We won’t leave until something is done. We can’t afford to fail our exams because of the university’s negligence,” said Sarah Osaigbovo, a 300-level student.

    The protest caused significant traffic disruptions, leaving many passengers stranded. “I’m supposed to be at work right now, but I’ve been stuck here for hours. I understand the students’ plight, but they need to find a better way to protest,” said a frustrated commuter who wished to remain anonymous.

    Despite the rain, the students remained resolute in their protest. UNIBEN spokeswoman Benedicta Ehanire confirmed that the university Senate was in a meeting to find a solution to the issue.

  • Reps to investigate civil service promotion stagnation

    Reps to investigate civil service promotion stagnation

    Following a motion moved by Rep. Salman Idris, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Agric Colleges and Institutions in Abuja, the House of Representatives has resolved to investigate promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 to 2023.

    According to Idris, promotion remained the progression of civil servants, as well as a motivational incentive for productivity, decrying the incessant stagnation in promotions across Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

    He said this had resulted in loss of service delivery, decline in highly specialized skills, low levels of productivity and performance, employee unrest, corruption and dampened morale.

    “The menace of promotion stagnation in the civil service calls for urgent attention and intervention of this hallowed chamber if the policies and programmes of government must be achieved,” he said.

    He said that the civil service remained the engine room of government, adding that it required a holistic reform that could promote global best practices.

    He added that the issues of promotions and recommendations as and when due was imperative and should not be overlooked.

    Idis said some civil servants who eventually got promoted after mandatory examination as required by civil service rules were promoted notionally but not financially.

    He added that MDAs often made provision for such recurrent expenditure in the yearly appropriation.

    He said that every promotion stagnation would have an effect on the career of the officer.

    He added that every civil servant was expected to rise to the pinnacle of their career within 35 years in active service or by the retirement age of 60 year.

    The house ruled that the committee on public sector and institutional reforms should investigate promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013 –2023.

  • BREAKING: One killed, seven rescued as building collapses in Lagos

    BREAKING: One killed, seven rescued as building collapses in Lagos

    A child was feared dead on Wednesday when a building collapsed at 10, Cameroon street in Mushin, Lagos. 

    Seven other residents were also reportedly rescued by sympathisers from the rubbles. 

    A resident said the building collapsed following heavy downpours in many parts of Lagos. 

    She said the Lagos rescue team was yet to respond to emergency calls as of the time of filing this report. 

  • Nnamdi Kanu’s Legal Team Reacts As Court Dismisses IPOB Leader’s Suit Against FG, DSS

    The legal counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Aloy Ejimakor, has rubbished the recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which dismissed his client’s case against the federal government.

    Ejimakor said, contrary to the court’s ruling, the IPOB leader’s legal team had presented a legion of evidence to back their claims.

    Recall that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the fundamental human rights suit filed by the detained IPOB leader against the Federal Government.

    Kanu had sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Service (DSS) for N1 billion in damages for alleged rights violations.

    The IPOB leader, in the suit marked FHC/CS/1633/2023, claimed that the DSS and its Director General violated his right to a fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from having unhindered interactions with him while he was being detained in preparation for his defence in his criminal trial.

    However, Justice Omotosho, while delivering judgment on the suit on Monday, held that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to sustain his claims that his interactions with his lawyers were interfered with.

    The judge also said there was no evidence that Kanu was denied unhindered access to his lawyers or that the DSS officials had eavesdropped his conversations with his lawyers, which constituted a breach of his right to a fair hearing.

    Reacting, however, to the court’s ruling, Ejimakor vowed to appeal Justice Omotosho’s ruling.

    According to him, some of the shreds of evidence presented before the court are even in the public domain.

    “I am already preparing the notice of appeal. The evidence submitted before the court was legion. Some of it is even in the public domain,” Ejimakor told Daily Post on Tuesday

  • Why I Turned Down ₦250 Million Bribe For Third Term Agenda – Ex-Senate President, Wabara

    Why I Turned Down ₦250 Million Bribe For Third Term Agenda – Ex-Senate President, Wabara

    A former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, in an interview released on Monday on the YouTube series, Untold Stories with Adesuwa, reiterated his previous claims of rejecting a ₦250 million bribe intended to secure his support for the controversial third-term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    During the interview, Wabara emphatically confirmed the bribe offer, stating, “That’s very correct,” when asked about the authenticity of his claims.

    He recalled the political atmosphere at the time, noting disbelief at rumours that senators were being offered ₦50 million each to back the agenda.

    Wabara’s rejection of the bribe was part of broader resistance within the Senate against extending Obasanjo’s tenure beyond the constitutionally allowed terms.

    He underscored the gravity of the situation by suggesting that accepting the bribe could have led to a prolonged dictatorship in Nigeria.

    “Without people like us, there wouldn’t be democracy now,” Wabara asserted, implying that figures like former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu might never have risen to prominence if the third-term bid had succeeded.

    Addressing misconceptions about his departure from office, Wabara clarified, “First of all, I was not removed by Obasanjo, I resigned,” countering the interviewer’s suggestion about potential pressures leading to his resignation.

    Wabara also touched on the lingering ethnic tensions affecting the Igbo people, stemming from historical grievances and misunderstandings related to the Biafra War.

    He lamented, “We have not been forgiven for what we did not cause, the Biafra War. It wasn’t our fault, but the propaganda is that the Igbos can not be trusted.”

  • Tapswap Makes Fresh Announcement On Token Allocation

    Tapswap Makes Fresh Announcement On Token Allocation

    In what could be perceived as bad news and disappointment for some people, TON Blockchain announced that the distribution of Tapswap tokens to users would be delayed until the third quarter of the year.

    Tapswap, since its launch on February 15, 2024, has gained popularity among Nigerians who tap the icon in the centre of the Telegram Tapswap bot screen to mine coins.

    The Tapswap app has already attracted over 50 million users from across countries.

    However, amid anticipation, the Tapswap management yesterday decided to postpone the token exchange event, originally scheduled for July 1st, to better serve its players.

    In a series of threads created on X on Monday, the management shared what it described as both ‘bad and good news’ for its players.

    They mentioned that they are in active discussions with tier 1 exchanges around the world to ensure the game is priced appropriately and protected from scammers and leaders in the web3 industry who are attracted by its success.

    The announcement reads: “We’ve got some bad and really good news for you at the same time: our team has decided to move the date for the Shares-to-Token exchange event. You might wonder, what’s good about that? Just FUD?

    “Not exactly. The whole point is that you’ll benefit from this. Let us explain how:

    “Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz around Tapswap, especially about listing on tier 1 exchanges, a massive drop, and more. And it’s no surprise: the project has become one of the major players globally, ranking at the top. This kind of attention attracts not just scammers but also leaders in the web3 industry.

    “So, not all rumours are just rumours. The Tapswap team is actually in active talks with tier-1 exchanges! And they are thrilled with you – our community! Isn’t this what we’ve been tirelessly working towards together?”

    The management also emphasized its commitment to giving a significant amount of focus to the task, which entails a more thorough analysis of tokenomics and the appropriate launch strategy.

    It added: “However, this success comes with some ‘inconveniences’. This level of attention requires much more detailed work on tokenomics and the right launch strategy. And that means extra time.

    “But know that this is all to ensure that our launch in Q3 is fair and, more importantly, profitable for all of you who stand by us no matter what,” it added.

    “Tapswap, however, charged its players to be happy about the bigger news in the future while appreciating the support and feedback gotten from them.

    “So, as you can see, there are plenty of reasons to be happy about this change. And very soon, we’ll give you some even bigger news about our future, tier 1 partnerships, and the drop itself!

    “We really value your support. And we truly listen to your feedback, so don’t forget to share it in the comments. Together, we’ll keep reaching higher and higher levels”.

  • FG Clears $850 Million Debt to EU Airlines

    FG Clears $850 Million Debt to EU Airlines

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has cleared a backlog of debts amounting to $850 million owed to European airlines.

    This development was announced by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, during the 9th edition of the Nigeria – EU Business Forum held in Abuja.

    Ambassador Isopi lauded the Nigerian government’s efforts not only in settling the airline debts but also in lifting foreign exchange restrictions on the import of forty-three items.

    These measures are seen as pivotal steps towards smoothing trade relations between Nigeria and the European Union.

    During her address, Isopi highlighted the robust trade partnership between Nigeria and the EU, noting that Nigeria remains the EU’s largest trading partner with trade volumes reaching approximately 35 billion Euros last year.

    “Nigeria is also the EU’s biggest foreign investor, with investments estimated at 26 billion Euros, which accounts for one-third of Nigeria’s foreign direct investment,” Isopi added.

    The presence of over 230 European companies in Nigeria has been instrumental in job creation, particularly for the youth and women, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic development.

    The forum, themed ‘Investing in Jobs and Sustainable Future’, saw notable attendees, including Myriam Ferran, Director General at the EU, Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu, and Ambassador Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

  • BREAKING: Edo Govt To Retrieve Toyota Armored Jeep, 21 Other Vehicles From Ex-Deputy Gov, Philip Shaibu

    BREAKING: Edo Govt To Retrieve Toyota Armored Jeep, 21 Other Vehicles From Ex-Deputy Gov, Philip Shaibu

    The Godwin Obaseki-led Edo State Government has announced plans to retrieve over 20 vehicles still in the possession of erstwhile Deputy Governor, Comrade Phillip Shaibu.

    This was made known in a public notice signed by the State Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Chris Osa Nehikhare, on Tuesday.

    In the notice titled ‘Publich Notice On Retrieval Of 22 Official Government Vehicles’, the Commissioner disclosed that Philip Shaibu has been given seven days to return the vehicles.

    He stated that should the former Deputy Governor fail to obey the directive, security agencies have been put on alert to retrieve the vehicles.

    The notice read: “The Edo State Government hereby issues this notice directing the retrieval of official government vehicles allocated to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Edo State, which are currently in the custody of the former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

    “The former Deputy Governor is by this notice given a seven-day ultimatum from the date of this publication to return the vehicles, as relevant security agencies have been put on alert to retrieve the vehicles after the expiration of the notice.”