News
Again, Akwa Ibom State tops HIV prevalence chart in Nigeria

Akwa Ibom State has once again emerged as the state with the highest HIV prevalence rate in Nigeria, recording a staggering 5.5%.
The state also accounts for 12% of the country’s tuberculosis (TB) cases, according to a recent report.
The findings were revealed in a detailed situational analysis conducted under the Gender Equality Fund (GEF) initiative, a collaborative effort between Lawyers Alert and Media Health Rights (MHR).
The report highlights malaria as a major health concern, particularly affecting pregnant women and children under five years old.
The study sheds light on the deep-rooted gender-based challenges that prevent women from accessing adequate healthcare for TB, HIV, and malaria.
These barriers include systemic inequalities, cultural practices, financial limitations, and gaps in policy implementation, all of which contribute to the ongoing struggle for equitable healthcare access.
During a virtual media briefing held in Uyo over the weekend, Dr. Rommy Mom, President of Lawyers Alert, emphasized the urgent need to address these disparities.
He stated that the report underscores the critical need for gender-sensitive healthcare policies and community-driven advocacy to tackle the issues head-on.
“Akwa Ibom has consistently recorded some of the highest HIV rates in Nigeria, with TB co-infections further complicating the health landscape,” Dr. Mom explained.
“Malaria remains a leading cause of death, especially among pregnant women and young children. Despite ongoing efforts, stigma, gender inequality, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure continue to impede progress.”
The report identifies several key challenges, including economic dependency, where many women rely financially on others, limiting their ability to seek timely medical care.
Stigma and discrimination also play a significant role, as fear of judgment discourages women from accessing HIV and TB services.
Cultural and religious beliefs further complicate matters, with traditional remedies often preferred over modern healthcare due to deeply ingrained beliefs.
Additionally, the healthcare system faces shortcomings such as frequent shortages of TB medications, lack of diagnostic tools, and poor infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, which hinder effective service delivery.
To address these issues, the report recommends integrating healthcare services by combining TB, HIV, and malaria care into a unified framework to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.
It also calls for economic empowerment, providing financial support and income-generating opportunities for women to reduce dependency and improve healthcare access.
The report also emphasizes the need for policy enforcement, enhancing the visibility and implementation of existing health policies, particularly those aimed at reducing gender disparities and stigma.
Finally, it suggests private sector collaboration, partnering with private entities to address funding gaps and improve the availability of essential medications and diagnostic tools.
Lawyers Alert and MHR are urging the Akwa Ibom State Government, healthcare providers, civil society organizations, and international partners to adopt gender-transformative approaches in tackling these healthcare challenges.
They emphasize the need to address the root causes of reliance on traditional medicine and the frequent stockouts of essential drugs in health facilities.
“By addressing these systemic issues, we can create a more cohesive and effective healthcare system that ensures equitable access to prevention, treatment, and care services for all,” the organizations stated.
The situational analysis is part of the “Law, Rights, and Community Empowerment for Social Change in TB, HIV, and Malaria Response” project, supported by the GEF Fund.
The initiative aims to dismantle gender-related barriers to healthcare access in Nigeria, focusing on women and vulnerable groups affected by these diseases.
News
UNIUYO VC turns FG loan into extortion racket
...NELFund beneficiaries forced to pay higher fees, extra ₦50,000 illegal charges

The University of Uyo, a federal government-owned university in Akwa Ibom State, has become the first campus where the Federal Government’s new loan scheme for indigent students is being twisted into a money-making scam.
At the centre of the storm is Vice Chancellor Prof. Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, accused by staff, students, and academics of sabotaging the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) and weaponizing poverty for profit.
How the Loan Works
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy, each beneficiary should receive ₦284,100:
₦44,100, for institutional fees, and ₦240,000, for upkeep
The design is simple: government pays so that poor students won’t drop out.
How Uniuyo Twists It
Inside Uniuyo, the VC has allegedly flipped the scheme on its head. Beneficiaries are being told to pay fees first pending when the Federal Government will release the money (loan). Refunds, staff say, could take “months or years—if they ever come at all.”
To make matters worse, NELFund students are being charged higher fees than their classmates. Documents and testimonies show that final year students in the Faculty of Arts are made to pay an extra ₦20,000 ‘development levy’ and ₦30,000 ‘professional accreditation fee’ imposed only on NELFund beneficiaries. That’s a shocking ₦50,000 illegal surcharge—punishing the very students government is trying to help.
Staff Blow the Whistle
A Registry officer said bluntly:
“The Federal Government created NELFund to ease students’ burden. But the VC has turned it upside down. He is using it to raise money.”
A top Bursary official added:
“Prof. Ndaeyo knows refunds hardly work here. He wants students to pay first, knowing many will never get their money back. This is deliberate monetization of education.”
“Cruel Irony”
Lecturers are furious. A senior academic in the Faculty of Arts called it a cruel irony:
“Poor students are paying more than the rich. This is wickedness. It shows the VC loves money more than humanity.”
Others point to a disturbing pattern under Ndaeyo—skyrocketing acceptance fees, inflated transcript costs, and endless hidden charges.
“Every policy he introduces is about extracting money. NELFund is just the latest victim,” said a professor in Engineering.
Students Cry Out
For students, the betrayal cuts deepest.
“If I had money, why would I apply for a loan?” asked a Political Science student. “They are using our suffering to make money for themselves. This is exploitation.”
Bigger Question
Why would a Vice Chancellor sabotage a Federal Government program meant to help the poor? Insiders say it’s either an obsession with internally generated revenue—or plain greed.
Either way, the consequences are devastating: poor students are being pushed out while Uniuyo’s coffers grow fat.
Time for Action
As one Education professor warned:
“We cannot allow one man’s greed to mortgage the future of our children. Universities should be centres of hope, not dens of extortion.”
With ₦284,100 per student at stake, attention now shifts to the Ministry of Education and the Presidency. Will they act to protect indigent students—or let Uniuyo’s Vice Chancellor turn a national lifeline into an extortion racket?
News
JUST IN: Benue Assembly Speaker Resigns

The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has resigned from his position, citing the “best interest of the state” as the reason for his decision.
Dajoh’s resignation was conveyed in a letter he personally signed, dated August 24, 2025, and made available to Channels Television.
In the letter, titled “Resignation As The Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly,” the Gboko West representative wrote:
“I write to resign my position as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, effective today, August 24, 2025.
This is done in good faith and in the best interest of the state. I want to appreciate my dear colleagues for the opportunity they gave me to be the first among equals.
I pledge to remain committed to my duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency.”
Dajoh’s resignation comes just days after the House suspended four members — Alfred Berger (Makurdi North), Terna Shimawua (Kian), Cyril Ekong (Obi), and James Umoru (Apa) — for six months.
The lawmakers had allegedly spearheaded an attempt to impeach the Speaker in a late-night move.
The Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, who raised a motion of urgent importance, accused the four of attempting to destabilise the Assembly with a “needless crisis.”
The motion was unanimously adopted, and Dajoh subsequently directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the suspended members out of the chambers.
Following Berger’s suspension, Dajoh also appointed Audu Elias as the new spokesperson of the House.
Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia has distanced himself from the political tension in the Assembly.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the governor said he had no role in the alleged impeachment plot.
“The governor, Hyacinth Alia, is not aware of and has no involvement whatsoever in any purported attempt to remove the Speaker or in any activities currently taking place in the Benue State House of Assembly,” the statement read.
It added that Governor Alia maintained a cordial working relationship with the Dajoh-led Assembly and remained committed to supporting the legislature in carrying out its duties.
The resignation also follows a turbulent week in the Assembly. Just a day earlier, the House screened and confirmed six commissioner nominees but rejected two, including a law professor, Timothy Ornguga.
Ornguga’s nomination was struck out after four petitions were submitted against him, alleging misconduct during his years as a lecturer, as well as concerns about his qualifications.
Lawmakers, led by Tarka representative Manger Manger, queried his credentials, including the absence of a primary school certificate.
Alongside Ornguga, nominee James Dwen was also rejected after failing to adequately defend himself against allegations contained in petitions.
The House asked Governor Alia to submit replacements for both nominees.
Dajoh’s resignation is expected to reshape the leadership dynamics of the Assembly, which has been rocked in recent weeks by internal divisions, impeachment plots, and controversial legislative battles.
While he has stepped down from the top seat, Dajoh assured his constituents that he will remain fully committed to his legislative responsibilities.
His exit as Speaker raises questions about whether the recent suspension of lawmakers and rejection of commissioner nominees may have deepened divisions within the Benue political space.
News
Six villagers die in boat accident while running from bandits

A devastating tragedy unfolded in Garin Faji, Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where at least six villagers lost their lives and three others remain missing after a canoe capsized during an early morning escape from suspected bandits.
The incident occurred on Thursday, August 21, marking the second fatal boat mishap in less than a week.
Just six days earlier, four people drowned in a similar accident in nearby Goronyo Local Government Area.
Eyewitness accounts painted a grim picture of desperation as terrified residents attempted to flee advancing attackers.
Many villagers, who had been spending nights in the bush to evade raids, were returning home when panic struck.
“Out of fear, people no longer sleep in their homes. That morning, they were returning when the canoe capsized”, a local source who doesn’t want to be quoted said.
Another resident explained that the chaos intensified when villagers spotted the approaching bandits, leading to an overcrowded rush onto the canoe, which capsized midway.
“They rushed into the canoe, but it couldn’t carry them all”, the resident recounted.
Hon. Aminu Boza, a member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly representing Sabon Birni, confirmed the tragic incident, describing how insecurity has emptied out entire communities.
“Some communities are now completely deserted. Most men spend the night in the bush and only return home in the morning,” Boza said.
He acknowledged the state government’s efforts to address the crisis, including deploying Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), which have helped foil attacks and arrest suspects.
“Just two days ago, security personnel foiled an attack and arrested four suspected bandits. But the area still requires more security presence”, he added.
The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also confirmed the accident, revealing that 19 people were rescued from the water, while search efforts to locate the missing individuals are ongoing.
A senior SEMA official noted that the agency, alongside the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Red Cross, visited the community to assess the situation and support grieving families.
A comprehensive joint report on the incident is expected soon.
News
India Bans Online Gambling

India’s parliament has passed a landmark bill outlawing online gambling, citing growing concerns over financial losses, addiction, and suicides linked to the industry.
The legislation, approved late Thursday, August 21, by both houses, criminalises the offering, promotion, and financing of online gambling platforms, with violators facing up to five years in prison.
It covers card games, poker, and fantasy sports including India’s hugely popular fantasy cricket apps.
Government figures revealed that gambling companies had extracted an estimated $2.3 billion annually from more than 450 million Indians. Officials said nearly one in three citizens had lost money on gambling apps.
The ban casts uncertainty over Indian cricket’s biggest sponsorship deal. Fantasy sports giant Dream11, named in July 2023 as the lead sponsor of the national team, has its logo splashed across Team India’s jerseys.
While no announcement has yet been made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), its secretary Devajit Saikia said the board would comply with the law.
“If it’s not permissible, we’ll not do anything,” Saikia said on Friday. “The BCCI will follow every policy framed by the central government.”
Dream11 has since suspended cash contests, telling users on its website: “Following the passing of the bill, cash games and contests have been discontinued. Stay tuned.”
‘Predatory Platforms’
The government defended the move as necessary to protect vulnerable citizens from what it called “predatory gaming platforms.”
“This legislation is designed to curb addiction, financial ruin and social distress caused by misleading promises of quick wealth,” a statement read.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi added that the new law would encourage safe digital gaming while shielding society from the harmful effects of gambling.
“It will encourage e-sports and online social games,” Modi said, “while saving our society from the dangers of online money games.”
The sweeping ban does not cover e-sports or educational games, which the government said it would continue to promote as part of India’s growing digital economy.
Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explained that the bill draws a clear line between competitive online gaming and gambling.
“It separates constructive digital recreation from betting and fantasy money games that exploit users with false promises of profit,” he said.
Gaming industry groups had lobbied for regulation and taxation instead of an outright ban, warning the decision could push millions of players toward illegal offshore platforms.
But lawmakers insisted the social costs were too severe to ignore.
Beyond addiction and financial ruin, officials said gambling apps had been linked to fraud, money laundering, and even terrorism financing.
The bill, titled the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, now awaits presidential assent before taking effect.
Once signed into law, it is expected to transform India’s vast online gaming landscape, placing heavy restrictions on one of the world’s largest digital markets while reshaping its $1.5 billion fantasy sports industry.
News
FG hands over wanted Chinese gang leader after INTERPOL raid

The Nigeria Police Force has successfully repatriated a notorious Chinese fugitive, Mr. Dai Qisheng, in a groundbreaking operation coordinated by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja.
This achievement, announced on Sunday by the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, was executed through close collaboration with INTERPOL NCB Beijing and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria.
The operation underscores Nigeria’s commitment to tackling transnational organized crime.
Dai Qisheng, a notorious gang leader wanted in Guizhou Province, China, for orchestrating violent organized crimes, fled his country in 2024 after the Public Security Bureau of Zhijin County issued a warrant for his arrest.
In an effort to evade justice, he sought refuge in Nigeria. However, operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja tracked and arrested him in the Federal Capital Territory on August 8, 2025.
He was subsequently repatriated to Beijing on August 15, 2025, under the framework of police-to-police cooperation facilitated by INTERPOL.
The Nigeria Police Force emphasized that this operation highlights their unwavering resolve to ensure that Nigeria does not become a safe haven for fugitives.
It also reflects the growing strength of international partnerships in addressing the complexities of global crime networks.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, commended the successful mission, reiterating his commitment to strengthening international alliances through intelligence-sharing and operational collaboration.
He stressed that this operation sends a powerful message to criminals worldwide: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria will not serve as a sanctuary for fugitives.”
However, this milestone showcases Nigeria’s dedication to upholding justice on a global scale and reinforces its position as a reliable partner in the fight against international crime.
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