A fire outbreak has destroyed properties worth millions of naira at the popular rice mill market in Wurukum, near the River Benue bridge in Makurdi.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Monday.
Firefighters arrived quickly and were able to stop the fire from spreading to other shops.
However, several shops were affected, with processed and unprocessed rice, milling machines, and other goods completely burnt.
One of the victims, Mercy Hanmaikyur, said she opened her shop in December and lost about N10 million in the fire.
“I opened this shop last December after investing about N10 million. I had three machines—a de-stoning machine, a rice polishing machine—and many bags of processed and unprocessed rice. Everything was burnt,” she said.
Another victim, Iorwa Jeremiah, also shared his loss. He said the fire happened at a time when no one could save anything from his shop.
“I got a call in the early hours of today. By the time I arrived, I saw other shop owners with firefighters who were trying to put out the fire. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done,” Jeremiah said.
The Chairman of the Wurukum rice mill market, Terva Igyar, confirmed that a few shops were burnt, along with a motorcycle, about six milling machines and several bags of rice.
Igyar added that he had spoken to officials of Makurdi Local Government and other stakeholders, who promised to visit the market to assess the damage before estimating the total loss.
The traders ruled out electricity as the cause of the fire, saying their shops were not connected to any power supply.
The victims have appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia for assistance to help them recover from the loss.
Nigeria’s inflation rate eased for the second consecutive month in February, raising hopes that price pressures may have peaked and could continue to moderate in the coming months.
The National Bureau of Statistics, in its latest report released on Monday, said the country’s headline inflation rate dropped to 23.18 per cent in February 2025 from 24.48 per cent recorded in January, reflecting a 1.30 per cent decrease within the month.
On a year-on-year basis, the inflation rate dropped by 8.52 percentage points from 31.70 per cent recorded in February 2024.
The NBS noted that while the inflation figures were calculated using a different base year, the decline suggests a significant slowdown in price increases compared to the same period last year.
The month-on-month inflation rate for February stood at 2.04 per cent, indicating the rate at which prices increased within the month.
The NBS noted, “In February 2025, the Headline inflation rate eased to 23.18% relative to the January 2025 headline inflation rate of 24.48 per cent.
“Looking at the movement, the February 2025 Headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 1.30 per cent compared to the January 2025 Headline inflation rate.
“On a year-on-year basis, the Headline inflation rate was 8.52 per cent lower than the rate recorded in February 2024 (31.70 per cent). This shows that the Headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) decreased in February 2025 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., February 2024), though with a different base year, November 2009 = 100.
“Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the Headline inflation rate in February 2025 stood at 2.04 per cent.”
While prices are still rising, the slowdown suggests a gradual easing of inflationary pressures in the economy.
The drop in inflation comes amid efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria to rein in price surges through monetary tightening and forex stabilisation policies.
Rising costs of goods and services, driven by currency depreciation, high transportation costs, and supply chain disruptions, had pushed inflation to record highs in 2024.
A newly surfaced CCTV video has captured the moment military officers stormed the Ikeja Electric office, forcefully entering the premises and assaulting staff members.
The footage, which went viral on X on Monday, shows armed officers kicking down doors and barging into offices. Shared by Arise TV journalist Oseni Rufai, the video show the officers, dressed in full military gear and wielding whips, entering without authorisation. A female employee was seen fleeing towards the stairs in fear.
This incident follows an earlier report on March 6 detailing how armed military personnel invaded Ikeja Electric.
According to Ikeja Electric, the invasion happened after the company disconnected a military office over an unpaid electricity bill of N4 billion.
Nigerian music superstar, Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has made history as the first African artiste to feature on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
Rolling Stone is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture.
According to Rolling Stone, the Afrobeats sensation known for breaking boundaries on the global stage is the Cover Star for the April edition of the prestigious magazine.
Mavin Records lauded the uncommon feat with a post on its official Instagram page.
“Rave Lordé Rema the Afrobeats Visionary, makes history as @Rollingstone USA First African Cover Star!” the record label wrote.
Following the recognition, the ‘Heis’ crooner thrilled audiences with an electrifying performance at the Rolling Stone concert, performing some of his hit songs, including ‘Dumebi’, ‘Woman’ and ‘Calm Down’.
This milestone has further cemented Rema’s place as a trailblazer for African music, as this feat is coming shortly after he was highlighted on the cover of Dazed Magazine, another major international platform.
Rema, born in 2000 in Benin City, came to the limelight in 2019 after signing with Mavin Records.
His rising profile has continued to highlight Afrobeats on the global stage, as his hit song “Calm Down” featuring Selena Gomez became the most streamed Afrobeats track in history, earning him multiple platinum certifications.
The song also broke records as the first African-led track to surpass a billion on Spotify streams, dominating international charts.
‘Calm Down’ became the number one hit on the world’s first regional streaming chart and first-ever official chart in the Middle East and North Africa, earning Rema a Guinness World Record.
Among other global showcases, Rema has also made history as the first African artiste to perform at the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony, when he thrilled the audience at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, France.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has noted the comments made by the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mr. Festus Osifo, during the union’s recent protest at the headquarters of Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), at Victoria Island, Lagos, over alleged anti-labour practices and expatriate abuses by the company.
NCDMB commends the PENGASSAN leader for acknowledging that qualified Nigerian personnel are occupying top leadership and technical positions in most international and indigenous operating oil and gas companies, and are performing creditably in those roles. He noted rightly that Nigerians are executing complex functions in the floating production and storage and offloading (FPSO) platforms like Bonga, Agbami, USAN, AKPO, Egina, etc. Indeed, Nigerian oil and gas workers performed almost all operations in the oil and gas industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and kept the industry afloat, after most expatriates returned to their home countries.
These feats were accomplished through NCDMB’s strategic implementation and enforcement of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010, particularly the Expatriate Quota, Succession Plan and Deployment of Expatriates Guidelines and Expatriate Work Temporary Work Permit Guidelines. The successes were also enabled by the several Nigerian Content capacity building interventions that prepared and placed qualified Nigerians in key positions in the oil and gas industry. Through enforcement and compliance oversight, the Board ensured that 609 technical positions were nigerianised for the period 2020-2024
We are delighted that PENGASSAN served as a whistle blower over the alleged expatriate quota abuse by the management of Sterling Oil, and we assure the union and the general public that we would investigate the matter exhaustively and take necessary actions.
We can confirm that NCDMB had sanctioned SEEPCO a few years ago for gross violations of the NOGICD Act. Recently, we have been engaging the company for the same reasons. Our regulatory engagements with the firm are outlined below:
1. In 2017, the NCDMB identified five expatriates deployed by SEEPCO without obtaining the relevant NCDMB approvals. As a result, NCDMB penalized the company for this non-compliant deployment of expatriates. To remediate this, SEEPCO trained five Nigerians in Marine Engineering and Subsurface Drilling Engineering for nine months.
2. In 2018, NCDMB identified 402 expatriates deployed by SEEPCO without approval. Additionally, NCDMB discovered projects, contracts, and purchase orders from multiple projects that were awarded and executed without appropriate approvals. NCDMB penalized SEEPCO for these infractions and directed SEEPCO and its affiliates to take the following actions:
• Disengage the 402 expatriates and provide evidence of their disengagement and exit to the Board.
• Commence and comply with the NCDMB Expatriate Quota application process.
• Comply with the Board’s requirements for tendering and awarding projects, contracts, and purchase orders.
• Complete the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) reconciliation exercise and pay outstanding remittances.
• Submit up-to-date statutory reports on Nigerian Content and comply with the review process.
• Train and employ 40 Nigerians as part of the remediation/penalty.
3. Regrettably SEEPCO ignored those directives until the Board commenced legal proceedings against the firm, in line with section 68 of the NOGICD Act.
4. In 2020, SEEPCO sought an out-of-court settlement and committed to addressing the compliance issues and undertaking the remediation. SEEPCO completed the training of 40 Nigerians in 2022, but the employment commitment was not achieved. Additionally, SEEPCO made only partial NCDF remittances.
5. SEEPCO has refused to respond and comply with other Nigerian Content requirements.
6. In 2023, SEEPCO obtained Expatriate Quota approval from the Board for three positions.
7. From our records SEEPCO has been granted only seven expatiate positions between 2017 to 2023.
8. The Board has requested for statutory submissions from SEEPCo and scheduled performance review session for March 2025.
Conclusion
NCDMB Expatriate Quota approvals and compliance and enforcement is applicable to only companies with investments or executing projects in the oil and gas industry. Non-oil and gas Expatriate Quota utilization does not come to the Board, but rather directly to the Ministry of Interior.
NCDMB is committed to the effective implementation and enforcement of the NOGICD Act in the oil and gas sector, with a view to creating employment opportunities for Nigerians, deepening Nigerian Content and boosting the economy.
The Board will not fail to sanction firms that flagrantly flout provisions of the NOGICD Act. The Board welcomes collaboration of stakeholders, including oil unions towards achieving the intendments of the NOGICD Act.
Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, the 2023 Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced his return to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Adediran, along with his supporters, announced this on Monday, at a media briefing held at Liberty Place, Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja, Lagos.
This comes after a closed-door meeting between Jandor and President Bola Tinubu in Aso Rock, Abuja, last week where undisclosed matters were discussed.
Before meeting Tinubu, Jandor also held talks with several political leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former military President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and 2023 SDP Presidential Candidate, Adewole Adebayo.
Jandor previously resigned from the PDP, citing indiscipline and anti-party activities, betrayal by the party leadership on the eve of the Lagos governorship election and false claims of an alliance that misled PDP supporters into voting for another candidate.
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Oba Otudeko to take a plea in the charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The order was given by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Monday.
Recall that EFCC had filed a 13-count charge against Otudeko and three others over an alleged N30 billion loan fraud.
At the hearing of the matter, the judge said Otudeko must take his plea before an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction on the case can be decided.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case to May 8.
Human rights activist and presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Omoyele Sowore, has thrown his support behind Ushie Rita Uguamaye, also known as Raye, the National Youth Service Corps member facing backlash over her viral video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Sowore, in a video shared on X on Monday, revealed that he had met with Uguamaye in Lagos and would be accompanying her to the NYSC Local Government Inspector’s office alongside a team of attorneys.
“The journey with youth Corper, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, has commenced in Lagos.
“She is scheduled to appear before the LGI (Local Government Inspector) today and we will escort her to their offices. We are all en route with attorneys,” Sowore captioned the video.
The corps member had recently gone viral after posting a video on TikTok where she lamented the country’s worsening economic conditions and openly criticised Tinubu’s leadership.
She later alleged that she had received threats over her comments, sparking widespread debate on free speech and political dissent in Nigeria.
She also shared a screenshot of an invitation from the NYSC, summoning her to appear before the LGI office at Eti Osa 3 on Monday at 10:00 a.m
Sowore’s involvement has further amplified the situation, drawing more attention to Uguamaye’s case and the potential repercussions she may face from the NYSC or other authorities.
As of now, there has been no official statement from the NYSC regarding the matter.
Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described his father as the greatest president in Nigeria’s history.
In a video that went viral on Monday, Seyi made the remark while addressing a gathering of youths in Adamawa State.
“It was never politics, but they keep coming for me, they keep coming for my family, they keep coming for your father, they keep coming for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the greatest president in the history of Nigeria,” he said.
He further praised his father’s leadership, claiming he had prioritised youth empowerment and economic growth.
“He is the only president that has kept your people at home, from when he was governor to when be became president, the only president that considers youths, the only president that created a platform for young people to fly.
“The only president that created an economy that has benefitted everybody, the only president that is not trying to enrich his own pocket,” he stated.
Seyi has recently been seen distributing food items during visits to northern states.
Earlier in March, he joined Kano residents, including the state chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Hashimu Dugurawa, in breaking the Ramadan fast.
He has also visited Yobe State as part of his engagements with youths.
21-year-old Sebastien Beauzile from Laurelton, Long Island, has become the first person in New York State to be cured of sickle cell anemia using the innovative Lyfgenia gene therapy.
This pioneering treatment, administered at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, offers a beacon of hope for countless individuals battling this debilitating disease, Forbes reports on Sunday.
Lifelong struggle
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder characterized by misshapen red blood cells that can obstruct blood flow, leading to severe pain and potential organ damage.
Beauzile’s battle with this condition began at just four months old, with frequent hospitalizations due to intense pain crises.
According to New York Post, he described the agony as “10 out of 10,” with his back feeling “like somebody was either pulling on it or hanging on it,” and his chest feeling “like somebody is sitting on it.”
Gene therapy breakthrough
Lyfgenia, developed by Bluebird Bio, represents a significant advancement in gene therapy.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2023, Lyfgenia works by extracting the patient’s own blood stem cells, genetically modifying them using a virus to insert functional copies of the hemoglobin gene, and then reintroducing these modified cells into the patient’s bloodstream.
Sebastien Beauzile
NY Post reports that Dr. Jeffrey Lipton, who is the director of pediatric hematology oncology and stem cell transplantation at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, hailed the therapy as a cure, stating, “Other drugs modify the disease, but this is a cure… I suspect this will replace bone marrow transplants in time.”
Treatment journey
Beauzile’s treatment process began in early 2024 and spanned nearly a year.
It included chemotherapy to prepare his body for the new cells.
Despite initial apprehensions, he embraced the opportunity, saying, “At first, it was a little nerve-wracking. But the doctors spoke to me about it, told me what the side effects.”
In late December 2024, the genetically modified cells were successfully re-infused.
By January 13, 2025, Beauzile reported feeling like a new person, stating, “When I got my cells, it feels like a second birthday.”
Life after treatment
Since the therapy, Beauzile has embraced activities previously hindered by his condition, such as working out and traveling.
He now aspires to return to school to pursue a medical career … aiming to support children facing similar health challenges. Expressing his gratitude, he remarked, “I’m not in pain anymore.”
New era in treatment
The FDA’s approval of Lyfgenia in December 2023 marked a significant milestone in the treatment of sickle cell disease.
This gene therapy offers a one-time, single-dose infusion as part of a hematopoietic (blood) stem cell transplant, providing a potential cure for patients aged twelve years and older with a history of vaso-occlusive events.
Dr. Banu Aygun at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, emphasized the transformative potential of Lyfgenia, stating, “When gene therapy became available when it … so that he can dramatically change his … .”
Looking ahead
Beauzile’s successful treatment not only transforms his life but also offers hope to countless others battling sickle cell anemia.
As gene therapies like Lyfgenia become more accessible, they hold the promise of revolutionizing the treatment landscape for genetic disorders, providing cures where only symptom management existed before.
This groundbreaking case, according to multiple media reactions, underscored the potential of gene therapy to change lives and paves the way for broader applications in the future.
Three months without crisis
Beauzile received the treatment on December 17th 2024 and has not had any symptoms of sickle cell anemia since, leading his doctors to believe that the treatment has likely cured the disease.
Sickle cell anemia is a serious, inherited disorder of red blood cells which mostly affects Black and Hispanic people.
According to Forbes, there are over 100,000 people with the disorder in the U.S. and the condition causes a range of symptoms including blood clots and strokes and a resultant reduction in lifespan of 20 years on average.
It is caused by inheriting defective copies of a hemaglobin gene causing hemaglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells to be sub-functional.
The defect causes red blood cells in affected people to be sickle, or crescent shaped instead of disc shaped as normal, limiting the cells’ ability to carry oxygen.
Sickled red blood cells are also more prone to clump together and cause blockages to blood vessels, causing severe pain and tissue damage.
Previously, people with sickle cell anemia have been mostly treated with therapies which can control, but not cure the disease.
Some people have been cured by giving them bone marrow transplants from external donors, normally a close relative without sickle cell anemia, but the procedure does not always work, comes with a host of side effects and a risk of dying.
Bone marrow transplantation (BMT), also known as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), is currently the only potential cure for sickle cell anemia.
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1 in 20 children under 16 receiving bone marrow transplants for sickle cell anemia have died, and 1 in 10 of people 16 years or older.
“Sickle cell is a debilitating, often-overlooked disease. But treatments like Lyfgenia are changing that,” said Jeffrey Lipton.
Lyfgenia works by extracting the patient’s own blood stem cells, genetically modifying them using a virus to paste copies of functional hemaglobin into the cells and then giving the patient chemotherapy to clear out the old, dysfunctional cells before infusing the new, modified ones back into the body.
The red blood cells then produced from the transplanted, modified blood stem cells are then completely normal.
Lyfgenia gene therapy cost
“Mr Beauzile is not the first person to be successfully treated with Lyfgenia in the U.S. Lyfgenia and another genetic-modification based cell therapy for sickle cell anemia, Casgevy (Vertex pharmaceuticals) were both FDA-approved in late 2023 for the treatment of sickle cell anemia in patients 12 and older, following impressive clinical trial results.
