The Lagos State Government has revealed that an estimated 160,000 residents are currently living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The Lagos State AIDS Control Agency made this known during its World AIDS Day 2025 press briefing held on Thursday. Presenting the state’s progress report before journalists at Alausa, Ikeja, the Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr Folakemi Animashaun, said the figures reflect the latest estimates from January to September 2025. “As of January to September 2025, Lagos State currently has an estimated 160,000 residents living with HIV, of whom 147,466 persons are on antiretroviral treatment,” she said. Animashaun commended the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, noting that his support “strengthens both our health systems and community networks, ensuring that every effort to prevent, detect, and treat HIV is empowered and sustained.” The year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response,” she said, mirrors the realities faced in Lagos, especially following the Stop Work Order issued by the United States Government, which disrupted community-level HIV interventions. THENEWSCREDIT reported in March that the United States Government terminated its agreement with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, an innovative joint venture of the UN family which leads the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. US President Donald Trump, earlier in January, issued an Executive Order called “Reevaluating and Realigning U.S. Foreign AID” which ordered a 90-day freeze of all foreign aid pending a review of assistance efforts to ensure alignment with current U.S. foreign policy. According to Animashaun, the order significantly slowed testing and counselling activities. “These pauses in community activities slowed essential interventions, limiting access to testing, counselling, and psychosocial support,” she said, warning that vulnerable groups felt the impact most. During the reporting period, the state conducted 222,415 HIV tests, representing just 28.9 per cent of last year’s testing output, further highlighting the impact of the disruptions. Animashaun emphasised that the decline “reinforces the need to sustain engagement, early testing, and strong community support.” Despite the setbacks, she lauded community groups for adapting swiftly and restoring services. “Their unwavering commitment has allowed Lagos to regain lost momentum,” she noted. According to her, the agency’s ongoing Statewide Community HIV Testing Campaign, which began on November 18, has tested 9,943 residents, with a 2.0 per cent positivity yield, all of whom have been linked to care. “Women are showing strong participation, particularly in Ikorodu, Badagry, Ojo, and Mushin, demonstrating the success of market-based and community-cluster strategies. “Positive cases have been identified across multiple LGAs, confirming that HIV remains a disease of public health concern in the state,” she added. Animashaun also spotlighted the state’s intensified anti-stigma efforts and outlined activities lined up for the World AIDS Day commemoration, including a Jumat service, a novelty football match, church outreach, an awareness walk, and a stakeholder symposium. “Together, we can sustain the HIV response for a healthier, stronger Lagos,” she concluded as she called for collective action to tackle the menace.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the constitution of Nigeria’s delegation to the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group, as part of efforts to deepen collaboration in tackling security challenges in the country. ‎Malam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA), will lead the Nigerian side of the joint working group, supported by a multi-stakeholder team drawn from key security and policy institutions. ‎Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, announced this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. ‎The development followed the recent high-level engagements in Washington, D.C., led by the NSA. ‎Members of the team include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, Minister of Interior, and Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. ‎Others are Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Bernard Doro, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed, and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. ‎Ms Idayat Hassan of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Mr Paul Alabi of the Embassy of Nigeria in the U.S. will serve as the secretariat. ‎Tinubu urged the team to work closely with their U.S. counterparts to ensure the seamless implementation of all agreed areas of cooperation.

A mammoth crowd on Thursday accompanied the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, to his ward, where he collected his membership card for the African Democratic Congress, ADC. THENEWSCREDIT had earlier reported that El-Rufai left the Social Democratic Party, SDP, for the ADC ahead of the highly anticipated 2027 general elections. The former governor collected his ADC membership card at Ungwar Sarki Ward, Kaduna, Kaduna State. The large number of supporters accompanying him included his former appointees and loyalists. This development comes barely 48 hours after former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar formally registered as a member of the opposition party. THENEWSCREDIT reports that El-Rufai, Atiku and other opposition leaders, plotting to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027, have adopted the ADC as their platform for the forthcoming elections.

The Nigerian Senate has rejected a bill seeking to establish a National Ethnic and Reconciliation Commission, NERC, sponsored by Senator Anthony Ani, who represents Ebonyi South Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The proposed legislation, which aims to prevent, manage and resolve ethnic conflicts, promote national cohesion and foster peace-building, among other objectives, had previously passed first reading at an earlier plenary. However, at its second reading on Thursday, several senators identified what they described as anomalies in the bill and declared that such a law was unnecessary. Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South) was the first to oppose the bill, noting that its acronym, NERC, is already used by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. “The Senate cannot pass laws establishing two separate commissions with the same acronym,” Abaribe noted. Similarly, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) argued that there is no such entity as a “National Ethnic”, stressing that Nigeria is not composed of a single ethnic group. In addition, Oshiomhole warned that passing the bill into law would impose an additional financial burden on the Federal Government at a time when it is struggling to meet some of its financial obligations. In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, declared that the country did not require such legislation. He observed that some senators who had earlier supported the bill did so out of sentiment, even though they knew it was inappropriate and would serve no useful purpose. “Nigerian does not need this bill. Some of you supporting it are doing so on sentiment. Even from the tone of it, the bill doesn’t stand for anything,” he said. When a voice vote was conducted on the proposal, senators overwhelmingly voted against it with a resounding “Nay”, thereby effectively ending the legislative process on the bill.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has tackled the Federal Government for shutting down schools over insecurity. Speaking in an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television monitored by THENEWSCREDIT on Wednesday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdullahi said the move showed the government was no longer capable of protecting the schools. “But for us, we are worried because let’s take the issue of the schools that we have closed. “When you close schools because bandits could go and kidnap children, what you are saying is, ‘I’m no longer capable of protecting my schools.’ “And don’t forget the ideology of Boko Haram is that Western education is forbidden. So by shutting down schools, you are reinforcing the Boko Haram ideology,” he said. The ADC’s mouthpiece added that President Bola Tinubu has begun to take the recent steps to address the security challenges because of the threat of the US President Donald Trump. He also refuted allegations that the ADC was fueling insecurity in the country and lobbying the US against Nigeria. Recall that the schoolgirls, who were kidnapped during an attack that left the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, dead, on November 17, regained their freedom on Tuesday. THENEWSCREDIT reports that amid the heightened fears over insecurity in the country, President Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency.

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is safe and has left Guinea-Bissau following the military coup that toppled the country’s government, the Federal Government confirmed on Thursday. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, made this known in an interview with journalists in Abuja. “Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is very safe and out of Guinea-Bissau. He left with a special flight with members of his delegation, including Mohamed Chambas,” he said. Jonathan, who led the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission, had been in the country monitoring last Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections before the military announced it had seized power. In a joint statement on Wednesday, Filipe Nyusi, former president of Mozambique and Head of the African Union Election Observation Mission; Issifu Kamara, Head of the Economic Community of West African States Election Observation Mission; and Jonathan condemned the coup, describing it as a direct attempt to disrupt Guinea-Bissau’s democratic process. They appealed for calm among residents and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Guinea-Bissau “during this sensitive period,” stressing “the importance of preserving peace, stability, and the well-being of the Bissau-Guinean people.” Also, the Federal Government condemned the coup in strong terms, warning that it represents a serious threat to democracy and regional stability. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it learned of the development “with profound dismay and deep concern,” faulting the coup for leading to “an unconstitutional change of government in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.” It described the action as a violation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. Guinea-Bissau was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday after military officers declared “total control” of the country, closed its borders, and suspended electoral activities. Heavy gunfire was heard near the presidential palace, and soldiers blocked major access routes. General Denis N’Canha, head of the presidential military office, announced that a command “composed of all branches of the armed forces was taking over the leadership of the country until further notice.” In a phone call with France24, incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said, “I have been deposed.” He was reportedly inside a building behind military headquarters “with the chief of staff and the minister of the interior,” according to AFP. Both Embalo and opposition candidate Fernando Dias had already claimed victory in Sunday’s polls, with provisional results expected on Thursday. The military claimed it uncovered a plot involving “national drug lords” and the importation of weapons “to alter the constitutional order.” Later on Thursday, military authorities announced that the country’s borders had been reopened. “All borders are now open,” General Lansana Mansali, Inspector General of the Armed Forces, told AFP. More than 6,700 security personnel, including members of the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force, had been deployed for the elections amid widespread political tension. Guinea-Bissau, one of the world’s poorest countries, has faced repeated coups, with four successful takeovers and several attempts since independence.

A Leader Of The National Union Of Road Transport Workers In Osun State, Adeboye Ademoroti, Has Been Reportedly Shot Dead By Some Yet-to-be-identified Assailants In The Ilesa Area Of The State. The Circumstances Surrounding The Killing Were Unclear At The Time Of Filing This Report. However, Some Security Sources Who Preferred Anonymity Since They Were Not Authorised To Comment On The Development, Told THENEWSCREDIT That Ademoroti And One Other Person Were Shot At The Olomilagbala Area Of Ilesa Late On Tuesday By Some Assailants. But While Speaking With Our Correspondent On Wednesday, The Osun Police Command Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, Said The Doctor Who Received Two Gunshot Victims In His Hospital In Ilesa Reported The Incident To The Police Late On Tuesday. Ojelabi Also Said The Doctor Further Reported That One Of The Victims, Later Identified As Adeboye Ademoroti, Popularly Known As Germani, Was Already Dead Before He Was Brought To The Facility. “We Received The Report Late Yesterday (Tuesday). The Doctor Of The Hospital Where They Were Rushed To Reported The Matter To The Police. The Doctor Said Two Victims With Gunshot Injuries Were Brought To His Hospital. “The Doctor Also Told Us That One Of Them Was Brought In Dead. Our Operatives Immediately Moved To The Scene. The One Brought In Dead To The Hospital Was Later Identified As Germani, The Real Name Being Adeboye Ademoroti,” Ojelabi Said Giving Other Details About The Incident, The Police Spokesperson Said The Deceased, Until His Death, Was The “NURTW Chairman For Unit 4, Ilesa. Our Operatives Recovered Some Cartridges From The Scene. Investigation Is Ongoing To Ascertain What Really Transpired. “No Arrest Yet, But The Tactical Team Has Been Deployed To The Area To Support The Operatives On The Ground. The Real Name Of The Deceased Is Adeboye Ademoroti. The Circumstances Surrounding The Incident Are Not Clear Yet.” Meanwhile, The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, Has Warned Against Rising Political Violence In Some Parts Of The State, Directing The Commissioner Of Police To Clamp Down On Political Killings Across Ijeshaland. This Was Contained In A Release Signed By His Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, On Wednesday. Pleading With The Political Class To Submit To The People’s Will And Avoid Violence, The Governor Decried Recent Killings At Ilesa, Urging Politicians To Eschew Thuggery And Bloodletting. The Police Probe Into The NURTW Boss’s Death Is Coming On The Heels Of The Investigation Into The Death Of A 39-year-old Senior Officer Of The Federal Road Safety Corps, Funmilayo Oluwamayokun Lasisi, And Her Daughter, Sewa Lasisi, Who Were Declared Missing In Ogun State, But Were Later Found Dead With A Mutilated Body Part At A Suspected Herbalist’s Den In Osun State. THENEWSCREDIT Earlier Reported That 39-year-old Lasisi And Her Teenage Daughter Were Reported Missing On The Morning Of Sunday, November 2, After They Left Their Residence At The Obasanjo Hilltop Estate, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, And Never Returned.

President Bola Tinubu has called on herders to end open grazing, surrender all illegal weapons, and transition to ranching as part of a new national strategy to resolve the long-standing farmer–herder conflict. In a statement on Wednesday, the President said the Federal Government is prioritising sustainable solutions to the violent confrontations between herders and farming communities, clashes that have fueled instability across several northern and central states. The admonition comes amid a surge in school kidnappings in Niger, Kebbi, and other parts of the country in the past week, as well as ongoing farmer–herder violence in the North Central region that has left scores dead in recent months. “Ranching is now the path forward for sustainable livestock farming and national harmony,” Tinubu said. He urged all herder associations to seize the opportunity, end open grazing, and surrender illegal weapons. The President also called on mosques and churches, especially in vulnerable areas, to coordinate with security agencies to ensure protection during prayers and gatherings. Highlighting the creation of the Ministry of Livestock as a key part of the administration’s long-term plan, Tinubu urged herder associations to collaborate with the ministry, modernise livestock production, and embrace ranch-based operations. He noted that farmer–herder clashes have consistently fuelled insecurity, from land disputes to deadly confrontations, particularly in the Middle Belt. The new livestock policy, he said, aims to protect both farmers and herders while easing land-use tensions. To support this transition, Tinubu added that the Federal Government, in partnership with state governments, will provide frameworks for ranch establishment and implement measures to curb illegal arms circulation. Meanwhile, the Edo State Government announced on Wednesday that it had intensified security across the state following threats from a self-proclaimed bandit in the Edo Central Senatorial District. In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, the government assured residents of adequate protection. The governor convened a high-level security meeting in response to a viral video showing the alleged bandit threatening communities around Ekpoma and adjoining areas. The Edo State Special Security Squad recently arrested two suspected kidnappers, Anthony Fedigha Ebimienwei and Luke Disemoh, in the Egbai Community, Ovia North-East LGA, following “high-level, intelligence-driven surveillance.” The state government urged citizens to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative, warning against spreading misinformation or unverified content. Governor Okpebholo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents, commuters, and investors.

A resolution urging the Federal Government to review the firearm laws to allow responsible citizens to own guns was yesterday passed by the Senate. The Red Chamber’s decision was triggered by the escalating insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states. The resolution followed consideration and adoption of a motion titled: “Urgent need to address escalating insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger States.” In his lead debate, Deputy Senate Leader Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), who sponsored the motion, highlighted recent attacks on schools, worship centres, and rural communities. He noted the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, where two worshippers were killed and 38 others abducted.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has commended President Bola Tinubu for renaming the National Arts Theatre after Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and pledged support for the Africans in Diaspora return-to-Africa project. The royal father spoke at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, while receiving Soyinka, who visited to mobilise support for the project. Soyinka and his team met with the Ooni to discuss the ongoing initiative for the symbolic return of Africans in the Diaspora, particularly from Brazil, to Africa, Nigeria in particular. Receiving the team, Oba Ogunwusi noted Soyinka’s lifelong dedication to strengthening Yoruba cultural identity, unity, and global recognition. Commenting on the Africans in Diaspora return project, Oba Ogunwusi said, “We are always delighted to receive you in Ile-Ife, which is your ancestral home. “It is clear that this divine assignment aligns with your calling, and we will work together to strengthen the bond between our people and their descendants abroad. “On behalf of the entire Yoruba race and the Ooni-in-Council, we express our profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for honouring an icon like you. You remain our pride.” In a statement signed by Moses Olafare, Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, Soyinka highlighted the growing desire among Africans in the Diaspora, particularly Afro-Brazilians of Yoruba origin—to reconnect with their history, ancestors, and cultural identity. He emphasised the importance of educating them on the historical realities of slavery to foster unity and encourage their return to the ancestral land. “If we do not take decisive steps now, it may take much longer to rebuild this bridge. When they come home, they can contribute to economic, cultural, and intellectual development. But above all, their deepest desire is to rediscover their origin,” Soyinka said. THENEWSCREDIT reported on May 13, 2025, that the Ooni of Ife commended President Tinubu for his administration’s growing recognition of culture as a vital pillar of national identity, unity, and international diplomacy. The commendation was contained in a statement signed by Mr Caleb Nor, Media Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation. The statement quoted the traditional ruler as giving the commendation during a media conference organised by NICO to herald the upcoming World Orisha Congress