IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

President Bola Tinubu is presiding over another Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, barely a day after the last session.

The Tuesday meeting, part of a two-day marathon, began at 1:26 p.m. following Tinubu’s arrival at the Council Chamber.

On Monday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained that the extended meetings were necessary due to a backlog of memos accumulated since December.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and other key officials were in attendance.

Among the matters discussed, the council reviewed memos from various ministries, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

At Monday’s session, the FEC approved ₦4.8 billion for the Presidential Treatment Programme, aimed at providing 150,000 HIV treatment packs from February to May 2025. 

A Nigerian woman living in the United Kingdom, identified as @shakels95, has recounted her shocking experience of being arrested due to a language mix-up.

According to her, she had gone to a pharmacy to buy medication for her husband when an innocent remark during a phone conversation led to her unexpected arrest.

While speaking to her husband on the phone, she casually used the word “drugs” instead of “medications,” unaware that bystanders at the pharmacy misinterpreted her words.

Moments later, police officers arrived and took her into custody.

Sharing her ordeal in a TikTok video, she said, “I was arrested last night and detained. Now, I am heading home. Here’s what happened: I went to the pharmacy to get some drugs for my husband.

"After purchasing them, I called him and said, ‘I got the drugs, I got two drugs for you. When you take them, you’ll feel better.’

"I had no idea people around me were alarmed by the word ‘drugs.’ Before I knew it, the police showed up, saying they received a report about drugs.”

She explained that the officers did not immediately believe her when she tried to clarify that she was referring to over-the-counter medicine like Ibuprofen.

Despite her explanations, she was taken to the police station for questioning, and her home was even searched as part of the investigation.

"They detained me, questioned me, and searched my house," she added. 

Sikiru Adepoju, a celebrated Nigerian percussionist, holds a unique place in the country’s music history as a two-time Grammy Award winner.

Born into a musical family in Eruwa, Oyo State, Adepoju was introduced to drumming at an early age by his father, Chief Ayanleke Adepoju, alongside his brothers, Saminu and Lasisi. As a descendant of the Yoruba Ayan lineage—known for producing master drummers—he honed his skills from childhood.

As a teenager, he toured and recorded with Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey’s Inter-Reformers Band before gaining international recognition.

Adepoju’s big break came when he joined Mickey Hart’s Planet Drum, a group that fuses percussion styles from various cultures. Their 1991 album, Planet Drum, won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album, making him the first and only Nigerian Grammy winner at the time.

His success continued in 2009 when he was part of Mickey Hart’s Global Drum Project, which won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 51st Grammy Awards.

Adepoju’s journey to global fame began in 1985 when he moved to the United States to perform with O.J. Ekemode’s Nigerian All-Stars. He later joined Babatunde Olatunji’s Drums of Passion group, where he was introduced to Mickey Hart, drummer for the legendary rock band, Grateful Dead—a partnership that would define much of his international career. 

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has predicted high-intensity rainfall likely resulting in flash floods between May and June 2025 in coastal cities of the country. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made this disclosure while presenting the annual climate prediction for the year 2025 in Abuja.

He also revealed that the onset of rain is predicted to be delayed over the northern and central states of Plateau as well as parts of Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Adamawa, and Kwara. While early onset is expected over the southern states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, and sections of Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi. The rest of the country is predicted to have a normal onset.

Also, earlier than long-term average end-of-rainy season is predicted over parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, FCT, Ekiti, and Ondo states. A delayed end of the season is expected over parts of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Lagos, Kwara, Taraba, Oyo, Ogun, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra, and Enugu states. 

Furthermore, temperatures are expected to be generally above the long-term average across the country. Both daytime and nighttime temperatures are predicted to be warmer than the long-term average over most parts of the country in January, February, March, and May. However, April day and nighttime temperatures are predicted to be generally cooler than normal, while warmer than normal temperatures are likely over most of the northern states. 

While concluding his presentation, Keyamo advised persons engaged in rain-fed agriculture and other rainfall dependant activities to refer to the predicted onset dates in the Seasonal Climate Change document or consult the Nigerian Meteorological Agency for details. 

Senator Austin Akobundu, representing Abia Central, has called for calm and urged residents of Ariam Eleuelu in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State and Obot Akara in Akwa Ibom State to halt hostilities and embrace peace.

The appeal comes after the latest round of violence in the ongoing border dispute resulted in one death and the destruction of property worth millions of naira.

Akobundu pledged to raise the issue with Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio, whose Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district covers Obot Akara LGA. He assured his constituents that he would take the matter to the Senate to push for swift action in resolving the crisis and restoring peace to the affected areas.

The senator called on all parties involved to consider themselves as one and live in peace, emphasizing unity and cooperation between the communities.

He also promised to collaborate with relevant government agencies to restore normalcy in the region. Akobundu praised the prompt response of the Mayor of Ikwuano, Anthony Nzeribe Nwaubani, who mobilized security forces to address the situation quickly.

Expressing his condolences for the victim of the clash, Akobundu extended his solidarity to the bereaved family and urged both the Abia and Akwa Ibom state governments to work toward lasting peace.

Abia State Police spokesperson, DSP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the clash but reassured that security forces had restored calm to the area. Akobundu’s media officer, Jude Ndukwe, also confirmed that the senator would work with Akpabio to secure lasting peace. 

The World Health Organization’s chief hit back Monday at US President Donald Trump’s reasons for pulling the United States out of the WHO — and again urged Washington to reconsider.

The United States is by far the WHO’s biggest donor and its withdrawal will leave a major hole in the organisation’s budget and its ability to respond to global public health threats.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus went through, in turn, the reasons given by Trump’s executive order to withdraw from the organisation, signed within hours of his return to office on January 20, and outlined what the UN health agency was doing in each field.

“We regret the decision and we hope the US will reconsider,” Tedros told the opening of the WHO’s executive board meeting.