NEWS

The Ondo State Government says no fewer than 54,000 pregnant women and children under five have benefited from the Abiyamo Scheme under the state’s Contributory Health Insurance Scheme. The Special Adviser on Health to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Prof. Simidele Odimayo, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Akure that the scheme enables pregnant women and children under the age of five to enjoy free health services. “The Abiyamo scheme that the government is currently running is an advancement of the Abiye scheme. “With this system, all the people who are pregnant, and children below five years are able to enjoy free health services. “The government has done it in such a way that we register them, we put them in an insurance system, and by that i...

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) said Monday that it is still reviewing more than two million documents potentially related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, missing the December 19 deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.  The department began releasing documents from the decades-long investigation last month. According to a letter to a federal judge, about 12,285 documents totaling over 125,000 pages have already been made public, less than 1% of the files currently under review.  The DOJ discovered on December 24 that more than one million additional files were not included in the initial review. Some of these are duplicates but still require “processing and deduplication,” the letter said. “Substantial work remains to be done,” the letter, s...

Donald Trump has released a chart detailing the proportion of immigrants from various countries in the United States who rely on public assistance. The chart indicates that roughly 33.3% of Nigerian immigrant households receive some form of public support. Trump shared the data on his Truth Social platform on January 4, 2026, amid ongoing Republican discussions about immigration, welfare dependency, and immigrants’ economic contributions in US politics. Titled “Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin,” the chart covers about 114 nations and territories and tracks households receiving public assistance, including food aid, healthcare benefits, and other support programs. The countries with the highest welfare rates include: Bhutan – 81.4% Yemen – 75.2% S...

Panic gripped motorists on Tuesday afternoon following a fire outbreak involving a Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, vehicle on the Third Mainland Bridge, leading to massive traffic disruption. The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. near the Adekunle section of the bridge, heading towards Iyana Oworo. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, confirmed the development in a statement posted on its official X handle. According to the agency, the high-capacity BRT bus suddenly went up in flames, prompting anxiety among road users in the area. Footage shared online showed the bus completely consumed by fire, with thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky as motorists slowed down or sought alternative routes to avoid the scene. While no injuries or loss of life were reported, t...

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported 1,119 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 2025, with young adults identified as the most affected age group nationwide. The data comes from the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 51, covering December 15–21, 2025, which provides details on cases, deaths, and affected states. The report shows that people aged 21 to 30 accounted for the highest number of infections, with a median patient age of 30 years. Males were slightly more affected than females, reflecting differences in exposure or health-seeking behaviour in high-risk communities. A total of 206 deaths were recorded among confirmed cases, resulting in a case fatality rate of 18.4%, up from 16.4% during the same period in 2024. D...

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Tuesday warned that U.S. intervention in Venezuela breaches international law and threatens global security. Over the weekend, U.S. forces carried out a surprise operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who now faces four criminal charges in the U.S., including narco-terrorism. Maduro’s vice president has been sworn in as interim president. “The operation clearly violated a core principle of international law: no state should threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state,” the OHCHR stated. Ravina Shamdasani, the Office’s chief spokesperson, urged the international community to “speak with one voice” in defending this principle. She st...

Former National Secretary of the now-defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD), Prof. Udenta O. Udenta, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of fabricating terror financing charges against Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. Udenta made the claim on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television. He said, “No one is above the law; governors or even presidents can be investigated, and prosecution can take place after their tenure. However, openly investigating a sitting governor can disrupt governance. “The EFCC’s public targeting of Bala Mohammed, and the harmful criminalisation of his reputation, is unacceptable. His name is being associated with terror financing in ways that are visible globally, tarnishing his image. “If you recall, the judge asked the...

The only son of detained Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has called on citizens to take to the streets in protest, following his father’s arrest, while warning that those who betrayed his family would eventually be exposed. Nicolás Ernesto Maduro Guerra, 35, who was indicted by the United States in 2020 alongside his parents, struck a defiant tone on Sunday, January 4. He declared that he would do everything possible to secure the freedom of his parents and resist what he described as US-backed leadership in Venezuela. In a fiery statement reported by El País, Maduro Guerra urged Venezuelans to demonstrate unity and resilience. “You will see us in the streets. You will see a united people. You will see us raising the flags of dignity,” he said, adding that his family would not be br...

The Senior Pastor of Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, Chris Okafor, failed to honour a police summons on Monday over allegations bordering on multiple rape and other offences said to be capable of disturbing public order. According to reports, Okafor was invited to appear before the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos, by 10:00 a.m. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, had ordered a comprehensive investigation into petitions filed against the cleric. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, had earlier confirmed that the complaints involved alleged sexual misconduct and related issues. A senior officer at SCID, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that ...

Nigeria has been ranked as the fifth most proficient English-speaking country in Africa, according to the 2025 Education First English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), as cited by SNOW TV NEWS from EF’s official website. The index, compiled by global education firm EF, evaluated English language proficiency across 123 countries and regions, drawing on results from 2.2 million test participants. For the first time, the 2025 edition also assessed speaking and writing skills, using artificial intelligence-powered tools developed by EF’s education technology division. As Nigeria’s official language, English plays a central role in education, governance, media, and business, contributing to the country’s strong performance in the rankings. Within Africa, Nigeria placed behind South Africa, Zim...