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The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on Nigerian policymakers to urgently regulate the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, warning that weak oversight is allowing corporate interests to undermine public health, particularly during festive periods. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos while presenting a new report titled Unhealthy Food Hijack of Festive Periods in Nigeria, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said incremental policy responses were no longer sufficient given Nigeria’s rising burden of non-communicable diseases. Oluwafemi noted that food and beverage companies increasingly exploit festive periods such as Christmas and New Year to aggressively promote sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods, embedding them in cultural and religious celebrations through advertising, sponsorships, and branded donations. He warned that reliance on industry self-regulation has failed, describing it as largely cosmetic and ineffecti...

The Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) has congratulated the Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, on his promotion to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), describing the advancement as a recognition of professionalism and effective public communication. In a statement signed by its President, Olalekan Olabulo, the association said ACP Hundeyin’s elevation reflects his role in strengthening engagement between the Police and the public through transparent and responsible information management. CRAN noted that during his tenure as Force Public Relations Officer, Hundeyin demonstrated a balanced approach to security communication, ensuring operational sensitivity while promoting the public’s right to accurate and timely information. The association also commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for approving the promotion, stating that the decision underscores the Police leadership’s commitment ...

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its zero tolerance for traffic violations following the arrest of a Dangote truck driver involved in a serious head-on collision along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway that left three passengers critically injured. According to a statement by Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the crash occurred at Mosafejo-Aradagun when the articulated truck reportedly attempted an illegal U-turn and collided with an oncoming commercial Mazda bus.  Taofiq confirmed that the impact caused severe injuries to three male passengers, who were rescued and rushed to a General Hospital for urgent medical care. He said officials of LASTMA working in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), swiftly secured the scene, apprehended the truck driver, and coordinated the evacuation of the accident vehicles to prevent further disruption and secondary crashes. The Special Ad...

FCTA's Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a stern warning to public and private healthcare facilities across the territory, vowing to impose sanctions on any institution found negligent in the management of snakebite cases. The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said in a statement that the Administration would no longer tolerate breaches of approved clinical protocols, especially in cases involving medical emergencies that are largely preventable with timely and appropriate care. Speaking against the backdrop of the recent death of Ms. Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene from neurotoxic complications following a snakebite, Dr. Fasawe described the incident as a painful reminder of the consequences of delayed or inadequate medical response. She stressed that all snakebite cases must be treated as medical emergencies and presumed veno...

The Nigeria Prizes have opened entries for the 2026 competition cycle, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Poetry, and Documentary Filmmaking. The organisers announced that the Call for Entries officially commenced on Sunday, marking the start of the 2026 edition of the competition, which remains one of Nigeria’s leading platforms for recognising excellence in science, innovation, literature and the creative arts. According to the organisers, the Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation will retain the theme “Innovations in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Technologies for Development”, following a no-winner outcome in the 2025 cycle. Speaking on the launch, NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Ms. Sophia Horsfall, said the themes were chosen to reflect global shifts driven by digital technologies and creative expression. She noted that adv...

By Robert Egbe Nigeria’s shift toward a pro-health review of the tax payable by manufacturers of non-alcoholic, sweetened, and carbonated drinks, commonly known as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), has reached a critical moment. Last November, the Senate Joint Committee on Finance, Customs and Excise convened a public hearing in Abuja to consider a bill seeking to amend the existing excise duty framework for SSBs. The bill before the National Assembly, formally titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend Section 21(3) of the Customs, Excise Tariffs, Etc. (Consolidation) Act to Replace the Fixed Ten Naira (N10) Per Litre Excise Duty on Non-Alcoholic, Carbonated Sugar-Sweetened Beverages with a Percentage Levy Based on Retail Price, and to Provide for the Earmarking of a Portion of the Revenue for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programmes”, marks a significant policy turning point. Sponsored by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the bill is grounded in growing medical and public health eviden...