NEWS

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, UN Women, has said the prevalence of sexual violence against women in Nigeria declined from 9 per cent in 2018 to 5 per cent in 2024. UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, disclosed this during the close out of the Ford Foundation-funded traditional and cultural leaders for ending gender-based Violence by Advancing Advocacy, Policy and Social Norms Change in Nigeria and West Africa, LEAP, Project, a three-year initiative implemented by UN Women from 2023 to 2026, on Monday in Abuja. Eyong, who was represented by the Acting Deputy Representative, Ms. Patience Ekeoba, said the figures are contained in the latest 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which also shows that p...

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the average daily cost of maintaining a healthy diet in Nigeria increased to ₦1,589 per adult in April 2026, representing a 3.12 per cent rise from the ₦1,541 recorded in March. According to the NBS Cost of a Healthy Diet report for April 2026, the increase was driven by rising prices across nearly all food groups, with the exception of starchy staples. The bureau stated, “The national average Cost of a Healthy Diet was ₦1,589 in April 2026. This shows an increase of 3.12% when compared to the amount recorded in the previous month (March 2026 was ₦1,541).” The report further noted that the cost of eating a healthy diet grew at a faster pace than both headline inflation and food inflation during the period under review. A...

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in the sum of ₦200 million. The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Mohammed Umar, who also outlined the conditions attached to the bail. According to the court, Sowore must provide two sureties, each with a bond of ₦200 million. One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the second must be a property owner within Abuja. The court further directed the activist to surrender his international travel documents to the court's deputy registrar pending the determination of the case. Further details are expected. For eye witness news report, Contact us SNOW TV NEWS via snowmediatv@gmail.com or WhatsA...

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has defended her recent remarks urging low-income citizens to engage in micro-businesses, such as frying akara, roasting corn, or producing kuli-kuli.  The initial comments, delivered to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, June 25, sparked widespread public backlash. Critics argued that promoting low-yield, traditional petty trading is regressive at a time when global economies are transitioning toward technology-driven industries.  Addressing the controversy during an official event in Jigawa State on Monday, June 29, the First Lady dismissed the criticisms, emphasizing that the federal government remains committed to supporting grassroots commerce. She noted that national empowerment initiatives regularly target small-s...

The Federal Ministry of Works has banned commercial motorcycles and tricycles from plying the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The restriction was announced in a statement on Sunday, June 28, by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Olufemi Dare. The ban takes effect this week. Dare said the decision was introduced “to protect the newly constructed superhighway from misuse and deterioration.” He explained that the measures were necessary to preserve the road and ensure its long-term sustainability. The Federal Controller also warned that indiscriminate parking of trucks and articulated vehicles would no longer be permitted. He said, “The restriction applies to the coastal highway and all bridges across Lagos State.” The ministry also prohibited the “indi...

Nigeria has received 23 looted Benin Kingdom artefacts from Switzerland, marking another milestone in the country's efforts to recover its stolen cultural heritage. The collection includes 18 Benin artefacts returned by three Swiss museums, alongside five additional cultural objects that were previously seized by Swiss authorities. The artefacts, commonly known as the Benin Bronzes, were looted during the 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom. They include metal and ivory objects created at the royal court of Benin. The handover took place at the National Museum in Lagos, where the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) formally received the artefacts on behalf of the Federal Government. During the ceremony, Switzerland's Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schne...

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a wide-ranging reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing a new uniform and several structural changes aimed at modernising the scheme for the first time since its establishment 53 years ago. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the development on Monday via his official X account, describing the decision as a significant milestone in repositioning the NYSC to better serve the needs of young Nigerians while preserving its core objective of promoting national unity. According to the minister, the reforms are designed to transform the NYSC into a more skills-oriented, productivity-driven and youth-focused institution in line with President Bola Tinubu's vision of building a $1 trillion econom...

The Lagos State Government has commenced the removal of illegal squatters, shanties, makeshift structures and unauthorized traders occupying the median of the Orile–Okokomaiko section of the Badagry Expressway. The enforcement exercise, directed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is being executed by the Lagos State Environmental Task Force, the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). According to the state government, the operation is aimed at reclaiming the road's right-of-way, restoring order along the corridor and preventing the illegal occupation of public spaces. The Lagos State Government has commenced clearance operations along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway to remove illegal structures and restor...

Former military governor of the old Kano State, Colonel Sani Bello (retd.), has claimed that the Federal Government is aware of the locations of notorious bandit leaders and has the intelligence and military capability to eliminate them if it chooses to do so. Speaking during an interview with Premier Radio Kano over the weekend, Bello argued that Nigeria possesses the personnel, equipment and surveillance technology required to effectively combat banditry and insurgency. According to the retired army officer, security agencies know where armed groups are operating and have the means to track them. He questioned why notorious bandit leaders continue to issue public threats despite what he described as the government's knowledge of their whereabouts. Bello maintained that with m...

The Police Command in Borno state has deployed its operatives to Lassa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, following the abduction of students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations by suspected terrorists. The attackers invaded the school at about 9am on Monday, shooting sporadically before abducting students and women selling food items within the school premises. Confirming the deployment to PUNCH Online, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, said security operatives confronted the attackers, preventing a larger-scale abduction. “Around 9 a.m. in the morning, ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted. “Security forces confronted them. For...