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  • Tinubu’s Senior Adviser responds to Obi’s camp over ADC leadership crisis

    Tinubu’s Senior Adviser responds to Obi’s camp over ADC leadership crisis

    ABUJA, NIGERIA, April 6, 2026 (NPA) — The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a statement titled “My response to Peter Obi’s media people,” questioning why what he described as “incompetent politicians” are attacking the President over INEC’s delisting of ADC leadership from its portal.

    Onanuga stressed that President Tinubu has no involvement in Obi’s departure from the Labour Party or the challenges he now faces in the ADC.

    He argued that Obi used the Labour Party to contest the presidency in 2023 but abandoned it afterward, failing to demonstrate leadership in resolving its internal crisis. Instead, he leaned on the IPOB-linked Obidient movement, which Onanuga described as “more active online than on the ground.” He added: “You would think the man would transform the movement into a political party. But no, he didn’t. He is incapable of building an organic party of his own.”

    Onanuga further claimed that Obi, aware he needed a political structure to pursue his presidential ambitions, moved to the ADC, which he alleged was “an SPV bought by Atiku Abubakar from Ralph Nwosu.” According to him, no due diligence was carried out, leading to the crisis now confronting the party.

    The statement reads in part: “What is the connection of Tinubu with the ADC crisis? Absolutely none. Whatever problem they have is self-inflicted. Obi and his co-travellers need to get their acts together, clear the mess in their new party and then compete for the presidential ticket. As of now, Obi, without being made a candidate, is inconsequential for 2027. The fact that he came third in 2023 does not mean he will have the same showing in 2027, if he ever becomes a candidate of any party. 2023 is not like 2027. President Tinubu is an incumbent with many achievements to flaunt, most of which Obi has been blind to acknowledge.”

    Onanuga concluded by insisting that all accusations against President Tinubu were baseless, describing them as “sheer baloney” and an unfair attempt to undermine his democratic credentials.

  • ADC youth wing issues 3-day ultimatum to INEC to restore Senator David Mark, others to portal

    ADC youth wing issues 3-day ultimatum to INEC to restore Senator David Mark, others to portal

    ABUJA, NIGERIA, April 6, 2026 (NPA) — The youth wing of Nigeria’s opposition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a three-day ultimatum to restore democracy or face nationwide civic action, following the delisting of the Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola-led ADC leadership from its portal last on April 1, 2026, citing a Court ruling. 

    At a press conference in Abuja, Balarabe Rufai, ADC National Youth Leader, declared Nigeria is under democratic siege. He said what should have been 27 years of uninterrupted civil rule is now being undermined by institutions meant to protect it.

    “This is not a warning, this is a crisis,” Rufai said, quoting Mallam Aminu Kano’s warning that democratic humanism can only be built on the ruins of a corrupt system.

    The ADC recalled that on July 29, 2025, it held a lawful NEC meeting under INEC supervision, dissolving the previous National Working Committee and producing new leadership led by Senator David Mark. INEC verified and uploaded this leadership on September 9, 2025, with no dispute or objection.

    Months later, individuals who had resigned resurfaced to challenge the process. While the matter remains in court, the Court of Appeal ordered a return to the last uncontested position — the David Mark-led leadership. The ADC accused INEC of ignoring facts, misinterpreting court orders, and acting beyond its constitutional authority.

    The youth wing urged the National Assembly to investigate and, if necessary, remove the INEC Chairman, stressing that democracy must be defended with action. It also called on the Judiciary to clarify its orders and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s legal system.

    The group emphasized that the military must remain neutral, warning against force in civic matters. To Nigeria’s youth, it declared: “This is about our future, our voice, our democracy. Together, let’s defend it or lose everything it represents.”

    The ADC insisted that the July 29, 2025 leadership under Senator David Mark remains the only legitimate leadership and demanded INEC restore it immediately and apologize to Nigerians.

  • Botswana’s President Boko embarks on working visit to France and Spain

    Botswana’s President Boko embarks on working visit to France and Spain

    GABORONE, BOTSWANA, April 6, 2026 (NPA) — President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana will undertake a Working Visit to France and Spain from April 6 to 11, 2026.

    In France, President Boko will participate in the One Health Summit on April 7, coinciding with World Health Day. Hosted by the French Government under the G7 Presidency, the Summit will bring together Heads of State, international organisations, scientists, private sector leaders, youth, and civil society to deliberate on human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health, and explore coordinated approaches to shared global health threats.

    According to a government statement, President Boko will join a High-Level Panel under the theme “Governance, Science and Finance.” His intervention will highlight Botswana’s One Health policy framework and its role in promoting health security, economic resilience, and sustainable development. He will also hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and engage business leaders on trade and investment opportunities in Botswana.

    The visit will continue in Spain on April 9, where President Boko will advance Botswana’s economic diplomacy agenda, supporting national revitalisation and diversification efforts. He will also hold bilateral talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón to strengthen cooperation between the two nations.

    President Boko will be accompanied by Minister of International Relations Dr. Phenyo Butale, Minister of Health Dr. Stephen Modise, Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr. Edwin Dikoloti, and senior government officials.

    The delegation is expected to return to Gaborone on April 11, 2026.

  • Amnesty International says 150 abducted in Zamfara, wants govt to investigate schoolgirl’s death in Maiduguri

    Amnesty International says 150 abducted in Zamfara, wants govt to investigate schoolgirl’s death in Maiduguri

    ABUJA, NIGERIA, April 5, 2026 (NPA) — Amnesty International Nigeria has reported that armed men raided the villages of Kurfa Danya and Kurfan Magaji in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, abducting about 150 people on Thursday. According to the rights group, most of the victims were women and children.

    In a statement issued Sunday, Amnesty quoted villagers who described living in fear, constantly bracing for attacks. “This is Nigeria’s forgotten conflict,” the organization noted, criticizing authorities for failing to stem the mounting death toll and recurring mass abductions despite repeated assurances of action.

    Zamfara State has long suffered from terrorist violence, with communities repeatedly displaced. Illegal mining has been cited as one of the drivers fueling insecurity in the region.

    Separately, Amnesty called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the killing of a 14-year-old secondary school student in Maiduguri on Saturday, April 4. The girl was struck by a stray bullet allegedly fired by military personnel during celebratory gunfire at a nearby wedding.

    A friend of the victim recounted that she had just finished applying henna with her mother, joyfully preparing for a family wedding, when tragedy struck. The teenager, who lived with her family at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital quarters, was buried Sunday morning at Maiduguri graveyard.

  • UN warns credit ratings penalize developing nations, calls for reform

    UN warns credit ratings penalize developing nations, calls for reform

    LAGOS, NIGERIA, April 5, 2026 (NPA) — The United Nations has raised an alarm that developing countries are being priced out of affordable finance needed for sustainable development, with sovereign credit ratings often overstating risk and ignoring long-term economic potential. Speaking at the opening of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Meeting on Credit Ratings, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, delivering remarks on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, said the current system relies too heavily on “outdated and incomplete information,” leaving poorer nations unfairly penalized in global capital markets.

    “Adequate and timely finance is the fuel that drives sustainable development,” Mohammed warned. “Today that fuel is running perilously low, and it’s getting more costly.” She highlighted that developing countries face nearly $1.4 trillion in annual debt servicing costs, with more than 3.4 billion people living in nations that spend more on debt interest than on health or education. Rising fuel and raw material costs linked to global instability, coupled with climate disasters, are intensifying fiscal pressures and slowing growth, she added.

    Mohammed linked the debate on credit ratings to broader debt reform efforts, citing initiatives such as a borrowers’ platform, principles for responsible sovereign borrowing and lending, and a UN-led process bringing together debtor and creditor countries, private creditors, and civil society. She also pointed to the planned African Credit Rating Agency as a step toward improving data, transparency, and risk assessment.

    Calling for a reimagining of sovereign ratings, Mohammed urged a shift from speculation to investment, with methodologies that capture both vulnerability and opportunity. She stressed that affordable borrowing for development strengthens future solvency, noting that investment in health, education, infrastructure, climate resilience, and renewable energy reduces risk and builds prosperity. “It’s time to turn credit ratings from barriers into contributors to long-term finance and sustainable development,” she said.

  • WHO warns: Stroke deaths rising fast in Africa, urges immediate lifestyle changes

    WHO warns: Stroke deaths rising fast in Africa, urges immediate lifestyle changes

    INTERNATIONAL, April 5, 2026 (NPA) — The World Health Organisation (WHO) has outlined measures to prevent stroke, a serious medical emergency that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blockage or bleeding, leading to brain cell death.

    WHO urged people to adopt healthier lifestyles, including eating well, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol. Stroke, often called a “brain attack,” is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, requiring urgent medical attention to reduce long-term damage.

    There are three main types of stroke: ischemic, caused by blood clots blocking vessels; haemorrhagic, resulting from ruptured blood vessels; and transient ischemic attack (TIA), or “mini-stroke,” which produces temporary symptoms but signals future risk. Symptoms often appear suddenly and can be remembered with the acronym BE FAST: Balance problems, Eye changes, Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time — stressing the need for immediate help. Treatment ranges from clot-busting drugs and surgery to therapies that manage bleeding, while rehabilitation through physical, occupational, and speech therapy is vital for recovery.

    In Africa, stroke has become a growing public health crisis. Incidence rates reach as high as 316 per 100,000 annually, with prevalence up to 1,460 per 100,000. Alarmingly, the three-year fatality rate exceeds 80% in some regions.

    About 70% of global stroke deaths and 87% of stroke-related disability occur in low- and middle-income countries, including many across Africa, where limited access to emergency care and rehabilitation has made stroke one of the fastest-rising causes of death and disability.

  • South Africa police launch manhunt after fatal shooting, as government intensifies fight against gun violence

    South Africa police launch manhunt after fatal shooting, as government intensifies fight against gun violence

    AFRICA, April 5, 2026 (NPA) — The South African Police have commenced a manhunt for a suspect shooter who fatally shot a man in the early hours of Friday. Thohoyandou launched a manhunt for unknown suspect/s after a 35-year-old man was shot and killed at Makonde (Shadani) in the early hours of Saturday, 4 April, 2026.

    According to a statement by the South Africa Police Service, officers received a complaint from Shadani village, and upon arrival at the scene, they found the lifeless body of a male lying on the street with multiple gunshot wounds. Preliminary investigations revealed that several empty cartridges were found at the scene, indicating that the victim was shot multiple times.

    However, the SA Police Service noted that the motive for the attack is unknown at this stage, and investigations are ongoing.

    South Africa continues to grapple with rising incidents of gun violence, prompting government-led initiatives aimed at curbing the proliferation of illegal firearms and strengthening community policing. Authorities have emphasized that tackling gun-related crime remains a national priority, with coordinated efforts underway to improve safety and restore public confidence in law enforcement.

  • Netanyahu’s Easter message: Israel protects Christians amid persecution in Syria, Lebanon, Nigeria, and beyond

    Netanyahu’s Easter message: Israel protects Christians amid persecution in Syria, Lebanon, Nigeria, and beyond

    MIDDLE EAST, April 5, 2026 (NPA) — The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his Easter Message on Sunday, extended warm felicitations to Christians in Israel, the United States, and across the globe, wishing them a blessed and joyful Easter celebration filled with peace and renewal.

    In his statement, Netanyahu highlighted that Christians continue to face persecution across much of the Middle East, citing Syria, Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey, and beyond. He stressed that Israel remains the only nation in the region where the Christian community is actively protected, nurtured, and allowed to grow and prosper without fear.

    The statement reads in part: “In this land where the story began, as missiles are fired at our capital — referencing the ongoing exchange of attacks between Israel and Iran amid the broader conflict involving the United States and the Persian Gulf nation — the holy city of Jerusalem stands resilient. As the US and Israel remain firm against the Iranian regime and its terror proxies, we continue to steadfastly safeguard the freedom of worship for all faiths, especially at this sacred time.”

    Netanyahu further prayed that the message of renewal, hope, and faith would shine brightly in the homes and hearts of the faithful. He emphasised that even under fire, his government’s commitment remains unwavering — defending life, safeguarding liberty, and ensuring that every believer, regardless of background, can pray in peace and security.

  • WHO Chief condemns attacks on Sudan’s health facilities

    WHO Chief condemns attacks on Sudan’s health facilities

    INTERNATIONAL, April 4, 2026 (NPA) — The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has urged warring parties in Sudan to immediately halt attacks on healthcare facilities, warning that the escalating violence is costing lives and crippling vital services.

    In a statement issued today, Ghebreyesus drew attention to a series of recent assaults on hospitals, health workers, and patients. He described the situation as a “new spate of tragic attacks on health across Sudan,” noting that incidents have included killings, assaults, looting, and damage from air strikes.

    He referenced the April 2 drone strike on Al-Jabalain Teaching Hospital in White Nile State, which killed 10 healthcare workers and injured 22 others. A day earlier, another strike on the central medical warehouse in Rabak injured three people, including a pharmacist, and left unexploded ordnance inside the facility.

    On the same day, the Family Hospital in Al-Daein, East Darfur, was looted, with patients and staff assaulted and expelled. The hospital is located just blocks from Al-Daein Teaching Hospital, which was recently destroyed in a strike that killed at least 70 people, including patients and health workers.

    Similar violence was reported on March 25 in Al-Kurmuk, Blue Nile State, where a hospital was looted, equipment destroyed, and staff and patients forced out. One health worker was critically injured.

    “The continued attacks on health care facilities, health workers and patients who depend on them are unacceptable. This worrying pattern reveals a level of disregard for human life that no responsible actor can tolerate,” Ghebreyesus warned.

    The WHO chief stressed that protecting healthcare is a fundamental obligation under international humanitarian law and called for accountability for those responsible.

  • Eritrea expands forage production to boost milk output

    Eritrea expands forage production to boost milk output

    AFRICA, April 4, 2026 (NPA) — Eritrea’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced significant progress in its national strategy to expand forage cultivation as part of efforts to increase milk production and strengthen food security.

    According to the ministry, in a statement today, 27 types of forage crops suitable for livestock feed have been identified across the country. Forage farming, though rooted in Eritrea’s agricultural history, has not been fully developed until recent years. Officials say the sector is now central to the government’s plan to improve livestock health and meet rising demand for dairy products.

    Mr. Medhane Tesfay, Head of Forage Development at the Ministry of Agriculture, explained that forage-based milk production has been adopted as a national strategy. 

    In 2025 alone, 2,300 hectares of land were cultivated with forage crops, yielding an estimated 109,000 tons of green feed. This initiative, he noted, is designed to reduce dependence on imported feed, improve animal nutrition, and raise milk output.

    Livestock in Eritrea are divided into ruminants—such as cattle, sheep, goats, and camels—and non-ruminants like poultry and horses. Ruminants, which rely on microbial digestion in their multi-chambered stomachs, benefit most from forage-based diets. The ministry emphasized that the type and quality of feed directly influence milk yield and composition.

    Breed differences also play a role. Buffalo milk generally contains higher fat than cow’s milk, while camel milk is richer in minerals. Even within cattle breeds, milk composition varies. Local breeds such as Barika and Arado produce milk with different qualities compared to imported breeds like Holstein or Jersey.

    Officials highlighted that forage expansion is not only about increasing volume but also about improving quality. By diversifying feed sources and aligning them with livestock species and breeds, Eritrea aims to achieve more sustainable dairy production.

    The ministry concluded that forage-based strategies will remain the backbone of Eritrea’s dairy development, ensuring healthier livestock, higher milk yields, and greater resilience in the face of climate and market challenges.