Connect with us

Economy

Plateau Recorded 2,786 New HIV Infections In 2024

Published

on

Plateau

Plateau Recorded 2,786 New HIV Infections In 2024

Plateau recorded 2,786 new HIV infections in 2024. Mr Ba’amlong noted that there had been progress in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Ba’amlong,  has said the state recorded 2,786 new cases of HIV infections and 460 related deaths in 2024.

Mr Ba’amlong disclosed this on Monday in Jos at an event to commemorate the 2025 World AIDS Day, marked globally on December 1, with the theme “Overcoming Disruption: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response.”

He said that 51,370 persons were living with HIV in the state as of September 2025, comprising 14,001 males and 33,055 females.
He added that 47,056 adults and 1,835 children were currently receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The commissioner explained that 98,403 persons were screened between January and September 2025, out of which 1,910 tested positive.
Mr Ba’amlong noted that there had been progress in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, adding that 30,743 pregnant women were tested within the period, and 39 who tested positive had been linked to care.
He said the state had expanded HIV testing services to more than 900 health facilities and intensified awareness on prevention and treatment.
The commissioner called for stronger community engagement, improved access to healthcare, and increased investment in research and innovation to sustain progress against the disease.

He commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for approving funds used to procure HIV dual test kits, which he said had been distributed to health facilities across the state.

Mr Ba’amlong also lauded development partners for supporting the delivery of quality healthcare services.
Similarly, the executive director of the Plateau AIDS Control Agency (PLACA), Esther Turaki, said the state had achieved a viral load suppression rate of 92 per cent as of June 2025.

Ms Turaki described the HIV Domestic Resource Mobilisation and Sustainability (DRMS) Strategy as a critical initiative aimed at standardising and scaling existing efforts while introducing innovative financing mechanisms.

Plateau

Plateau

According to her, the strategy sets out a clear plan for mobilising new domestic resources by identifying funding sources, annual targets and key actions required for implementation.
She applauded Mr Mutfwang for his sustained support to the agency.

The keynote address was delivered by Chris Isichei, who urged governments to reduce reliance on donor funding and establish a dedicated HIV funding bank as external support continues to decline.

He also encouraged the Plateau State government to integrate HIV and AIDS treatment into the state’s health insurance scheme.

Economy

Nigerian College Of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Offers Scholarships To 5 Indigent Zaria Youths

Published

on

By

Just In

Nigerian College Of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Offers Scholarships To 5 Indigent Zaria Youths

Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) offers scholarships to 5 indigent Zaria youths. The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, has announced scholarship awards for five indigenes of the Zazzau Emirate to support educational development in the area.

The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, has announced scholarship awards for five indigenes of the Zazzau Emirate to support educational development in the area.

Danjumma Ismail, NCAT’s rector, disclosed this to newsmen in Zaria on Sunday at the sidelines of the 33rd annual general meeting and annual public lecture of Zaria Education Development Association. Mr Ismail represented the speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, who was the guest of honour at the event.

He said the speaker had facilitated the establishment of several federal academic institutions in Zaria to strengthen the emirate’s status as a centre of learning in Nigeria. According to him, the speaker also encouraged NCAT and other institutions to replicate such contributions towards advancing education in the Emirate.

“By doing so, the college hereby announces five scholarships to ZEDA to support educational development. We are highly impressed with ZEDA’s initiatives in promoting education,” he said.
The rector said NCAT would work closely with ZEDA to ensure that eligible candidates were selected, stating that the college offers more than 200 academic and professional courses.

“People focus only on pilot training, but we have many other courses that are even more marketable. We will sit with ZEDA and advise them accordingly,” he added. Mr Ismail reiterated the speaker’s commitment to supporting ZEDA and the Kaduna government in providing infrastructure to boost research and development in Zaria.

Just In

Just In

Earlier, Abdul-Alimi Bello, chairman of ZEDA’s central working committee, said the association had upheld its mandate to promote quality education and youth empowerment across the Emirate.

“Many beneficiaries of ZEDA initiatives have distinguished themselves academically and professionally, contributing meaningfully to society,” he said. Mr Bello added that this year’s lecture was delivered by  Isa Pantami, former communications minister.

Mr Pantami’s lecture focused on ‘Artificial Intelligence in Education: Opportunities, Challenges and Ethical Implications in Nigerian Education’.

Continue Reading

Akwa Ibom

Governor Umo Eno Gifts House, N100m Studio To Visually Impaired Singer

Published

on

By

Umo Eno

Governor Umo Eno Gifts House, N100m Studio To Visually Impaired Singer

Governor Umo Eno gifts house, N100m studio to visually impaired singer. Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom, has announced a life-changing package for fast-rising gospel singer Chris Vic.

In a statement shared via X on Sunday, the governor detailed a comprehensive empowerment plan for the singer, who captured national attention after his impressive third-place finish in the De9ja Spirit Talent Hunt.

Eno stated that he has directed the state commissioner for lands to allocate a prime plot of land to Chris Vic in Uyo, the state capital.

He also pledged that a four-bedroom apartment will be constructed on the land, with the certificate of occupancy to be signed and presented in the coming week.

The governor committed a staggering N100 million specifically for the establishment of a fully equipped music studio for the artiste.

He clarified that the fund is separate from the costs of the land and housing construction. Eno declared that for the duration of his tenure, Vic will receive a monthly allowance of N1 million from the state government.

“I have directed the Commissioner for Lands to allocate a plot of land in Uyo to Chris Vic, and I will sign the Certificate of Occupancy next week,” he wrote.

“We will also build him a four-bedroom flat and commit ₦100 million to set up his music studio. This is separate from the cost of the land and the house. In addition, as long as I remain Governor, he will receive a monthly allowance of ₦1 million.”

Umo Eno

Umo Eno

The governor framed his gesture as a testament to divine faithfulness and human resilience.

“Let this remind us that even in difficult moments, God is still good. Chris Vic shows us that praise is possible in every situation. I also want him, and all persons with disabilities, to know that this government cares,” he added.

In a recent interview with De9ja Spirit Talent Hunt, Vic revealed that he lost his eyesight at the age of five following a failed glaucoma surgery.

He said he found solace and purpose in music, driven by the desire to nurture the talent he believed God gave him.

Continue Reading

Crime

High Court Summons Wike In N40bn Defamation Suit Filed By Tonye Cole

Published

on

By

High Court Summons Wike In N40bn Defamation Suit Filed By Tonye Cole

High court summons Wike in N40bn defamation suit filed by Tonye Cole. A high court in Abuja has ordered Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to enter an appearance in a N40 billion defamation suit instituted against him by Tonye Cole. The suit also lists Channels Incorporated Limited, owners of Channels Television, as a defendant.

The court, in a notice seen on Friday, said the matter, marked CV/4502/25, will be heard on December 9 before M. A. Hassan, judge of court 33. “Take notice that suit no: CV/4502/25 Tonye Patrick Cole vs Nyesom Ezenwo Wike & Anor will come up on the 9th day of December 2025 before Hon. Justice M. A. Hassan (Court 33) for mention,” the notice reads.

Cole’s legal team, led by Jibrin Okutepa, said the action was initiated after Wike and Channels Television allegedly failed to comply with a pre-action notice and a letter of demand dated October 8.
Cole, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, is seeking N40 billion in damages over comments made by Wike during a live interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on September 18.

The claimant said the statements were false and malicious, adding that they damaged his reputation in personal, professional, and public spheres.

Court filings indicate that Wike’s remarks suggested Cole was involved in financial misconduct and mismanagement of state resources, including matters linked to Rivers state gas and the Olympia Hotel.

High Court Summons Wike

High Court Summons Wike

 

 

Cole’s counsel argued that the comments were defamatory because they imputed dishonesty and wrongdoing, thereby injuring the former APC governorship candidate’s standing nationally and internationally.
Cole said he suffered humiliation, mental anguish, and reputational harm owing to a “malicious, reckless, and unfounded defamatory broadcast and publication.”
He is asking for N500 million to cover the cost of the litigation and a judicial declaration that the statements were false and defamatory.

He wants an order compelling the defendants to retract the claims, delete the broadcast from all platforms, and issue a public apology on Channels Television and in at least five national newspapers.
Cole is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing any further defamatory material about him.

The court directed the defendants to enter an appearance within 21 days of receiving the writ.

Continue Reading

Trending