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Fierce Winds Overturn Market-Bound Boat In Jigawa; 4 Young Lives Claimed

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A routine trip to a local community market turned fatal on Wednesday afternoon when a sudden wave of fierce winds capsized a commercial boat on Dudduru Pond, leaving four teenage girls dead. The tragedy struck at approximately 4:00 pm on September 23, 2026, just three kilometres away from Kwadige Village in the Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The wooden vessel was conveying eight passengers across the pond toward the Chai Chai Sabuwa Market when severe weather conditions caused it to overturn, leaving four dead and four rescued. The…

Meth War: NDLEA Arraigns Nigerian-Mexican Kingpins as Marwa Vows No Space for Transnational Cartels

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In a major triumph over transnational organized crime, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory operated by a sophisticated Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel in the Eziama community of Obeagu, Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State. According to an official statement released on Thursday, September 24, 2026, by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the crackdown followed months of intense surveillance and intelligence gathering. The operation led to the arrest of two local kingpins: Chukwu Obumneme Christopher (45, alias Brown) and Chukwu Georginus Monday…

Nigerian Markets on Fire: How Long Shall We Continue to Watch Livelihoods Go Up in Flames?

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By: Dr. Philip B. Olusola, Lead City University, Ibadan There is something profoundly disturbing about the frequency with which Nigerian markets are going up in flames. Hardly does the smoke from one devastating inferno disappear before another is reported, leaving behind charred shops, destroyed merchandise, shattered businesses, and devastated families. Even as this article is being written, another painful reminder has emerged from Ibadan. On Saturday, August 29, 2026, a fire incident was reported at Araromi Market in the Onipasan area of Ibadan North-East Local Government Area, destroying shops and…

Port Sanitation: NPERA to Enforce New Act via Fines, Prosecution as MACN Complies

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The National Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) is set to strictly enforce its new 2026 regulatory Act using heavy fines and criminal prosecutions to sanitize Nigeria’s maritime sector. Speaking on the development, NPERA Director-General/CEO, Dr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima, MON, emphasized that the agency will no longer tolerate non-compliance, prompting immediate alignment from stakeholders as the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) moves to comply with the new directives. Dr. Akutah disclosed this on Tuesday, September 23, 2026, at the NPERA Headquarters in Lagos during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the…

Custody Casualties: NSCDC Investigative Panel Begins Probe into 33 Mysterious Deaths

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In the fallout of the shocking and mysterious custodial deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners arrested during an anti-mining sweep in Niger State, a high-powered investigative committee has officially commenced its sitting at the National Headquarters of the NSCDC to unravel the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The panel was activated following a strict, urgent directive from the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, who mandated an independent, unhindered process to examine the fatalities and establish the hard facts…

Strategic Alliance: NIPR Pledges Closer Ties with New Bauchi NUJ Leadership

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The Bauchi State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has pledged to solidify its strategic partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, to aggressively drive professional excellence and ethical standards in media practice. The commitment was officially anchored during a high-level courtesy visit by the newly elected state NIPR executive council, led by the Chapter Chairman, Muhammad Rabi’u Wada, to congratulate the newly minted leadership of the state NUJ following a highly successful council election. Speaking during the strategic engagement, Wada highly commended…

Blue Economy Vanguard: MARCON Honors NPERA’s Dr. Akutah with Lifetime Award; NIMASA, IMION, NPA to Speak

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In a landmark recognition of regulatory excellence, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, MON, is set to be honoured with the prestigious Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) Lifetime Achievement Award. The elite honour recognizes his monumental contributions to Nigeria’s maritime architecture, particularly his pioneering role in shaping port economic regulations and driving structural reforms across the industry. Dr. Akutah’s career highlights a transformative journey spanning the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the emergence of NPERA as the…

“Your Body, Your Dignity”: Bauchi Polytechnic Gets GBV Awareness Billboard

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By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar The Bauchi State Ministry of Justice and the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAPOL) have jointly unveiled a new billboard to intensify awareness on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) within the institution. Erected at a strategic, high-visibility location on campus and boldly inscribed with the message “Say No to GBV: Your Body, Your Dignity, Your Right,” the billboard is designed to constantly engage students and staff. The initiative, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is part of broader stakeholder efforts to promote prevention and collective action against…

From Doorsteps to Health Facilities: Community Action Against Child Malnutrition

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By: Bashir Hassan Abubakar In many communities across Northern Nigeria, traditional and community structures continue to wield considerable influence over household decisions, social behaviour and access to essential services. This makes the community not just a social structure, but a powerful platform for changing attitudes, challenging harmful practices and promoting healthier behaviours. It was against this background that the Bauchi State Government, with funding from the United States Government and technical support from the UNICEF Nigeria Bauchi Field Office, launched an intervention in April 2026 aimed at improving the health…

NPERA, NPA Launch Technical Talks Over Inland Dry Ports Transfer

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The Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have initiated high-level technical discussions to transition inland dry port oversight, a strategic realignment aimed at reinforcing Nigeria’s rapidly evolving marine and blue economy framework. The inter-agency session zeroed in on the technical mechanics of the transition, prioritising the clear delineation of regulatory responsibilities to eliminate systemic overlaps and prevent the duplication of regulatory functions. Speaking on the alignment, the Director-General and CEO of NPERA, Dr Akutah Pius, MON, emphasized that the directive from the Minister of…