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Health stakeholders have called for the reformation of abortion laws to curb unsafe practices and reduce maternal mortality in the country.

They argued that these restrictive laws hampered healthcare providers ability and prevent women from accessing trained doctors without hindrance.

The call was made at a 2-day strategic training of journalists on women’s reproductive health and rights, organized by Trust and Support Foundation (TSF) and Amplify Change in Sango-Ota, Ogun State.

The group also urged State Governments to adopt and implement the Safe Termination of Pregnancies (STOP) guidelines to ensure girls and women can access safe medical abortion services beyond cases where their lives are at risk.

The Executive Director TSF, Mrs Victoria Madukwen, in her address, commended the Ogun state government for adopting the STOP guidelines, and called for proper implementation and awareness across that state. 

She, however, stated that some gaps were identified in the document and called for additional exemptions, stressing that rape, incest, gender-based violence and mental health were omitted.

According to her, women deserve access to qualified healthcare workers for safe abortion care, rather than risking their lives with quacks whose unprofessional procedures result in complications.

She disclosed that in many communities, discussions around sexual and reproductive health and rights, abortion, maternal health, gender-based violence, and access to reproductive health information are surrounded in silence, fear, and judgment, urging journalists to use their platforms to shift the narrative by reporting stories that promote understanding and protect women’s health.

“The media remains one of the most powerful tools for public awareness, social change, and accountability. The stories you tell, the language you use, the questions you ask, and the narratives you promote can either reinforce stigma and misinformation or open the door for compassion, evidence-based discussion, and policy reform.

“Through accurate, ethical, balanced, and rights-based reporting, you can help the public understand that reproductive health is not merely a private issue; it is a public health, human rights, and development issue.

“This training will also provide a platform to deepen understanding of the Maputo Protocol, the STOP framework, state-level SRHR advocacy efforts, and the importance of amplifying public and political support for laws and policies that protect the health and rights of women and girls,” she added.

The guest speaker at the training, Wemimo Adewunmi, stated that full implementation of STOP by state governments would save women from preventable deaths.

She urged journalists to use a rights-based lens when reporting sexual reproductive health and rights issues to prevent further stigmatization and harm on victims.

“Journalists must be better equipped to challenge harmful narratives, avoid stigmatizing language and promote evidence-based information,” she stated.

Maternal mortality: Stakeholders call for abortion laws reform 

KOGI State governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has inaugurated the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) in Lokoja, while the state police command unveiled the specialised tactical squad to combat kidnapping, banditry, highway attacks, and other violent crimes across the state. The inauguration held, on Thursday in Lokoja, drew government officials, traditional rulers, security chiefs, religious leaders, […]

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AS part of ongoing initiatives around energy transition, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), has issued permits to access Flare Gas (PAFG) to 28 firms and a target of 60 per cent reduction in fugitive methane emissions by 2031.

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While universities offer a wide range of academic programmes, some courses consistently attract significantly higher numbers of applicants than others.

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A Committee set up to deliberate on constitutional modalities for the establishment of State Police met on Thursday at the Presidential Villa.

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THE President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN has expressed concern over what he described as the growing trend of imposing excessive and impractical bail conditions on criminal suspects, warning that the practice undermines the constitutional right to personal liberty and the presumption of innocence.

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A driver narrowly escaped death on Thursday after a moving train crushed a Toyota Sienna bus and a Nigerian Army Hilux van along Factory Road in Aba, Abia State.

The incident occurred a few metres from the Aba railway station as the train, reportedly coming from Port Harcourt, approached the terminal and collided with vehicles attempting to cross the rail line.

Eyewitnesses said the bus and the Army vehicle were caught on the tracks as motorists struggled to navigate the busy crossing point.

One witness, Mr. Obioha Uzoma, said the accident could have been avoided if proper safety measures and traffic control mechanisms were in place at the rail crossing.

He explained that confusion at the junction, coupled with road design challenges from recent construction work, contributed to the crash.

According to him, the driver of the Sienna bus appeared to have been trying to manoeuvre out of the rail track when the train struck, pushing the vehicle into the Army Hilux and dragging both vehicles along the track.

He added that the situation worsened due to congestion and impatience among road users approaching the area.

Efforts to speak with the bus driver were unsuccessful, as eyewitnesses alleged he left the scene shortly after the incident, reportedly to avoid arrest by railway security officials.

The Public Relations Officer of the Aba Railway Station, Mr. Israel Uwalekwu, said the accident was avoidable and blamed motorists’ impatience at the rail crossing.

He stressed that the train has right of way and urged drivers to exercise caution when approaching railway intersections.

“The level of impatience among drivers in Aba is alarming. People rush unnecessarily and ignore safety warnings,” he said.

Uwalekwu added that similar incidents had been narrowly averted in the past, calling for greater discipline and adherence to railway safety rules by motorists.

Many bacteria, viruses and other harmful microorganisms spread through contaminated hands. People can pick up germs from surfaces and unknowingly transfer them to themselves or others.

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Armed men have kidnapped four residents and killed a vigilante in an attack on the Byazhin area of Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

A resident, who identified himself as Aliyu, said the attack occurred in the early hours of Thursday, noting that the assailants were heavily armed.

“The attack happened in the early hours of Thursday. The gunmen were about 28 who attacked the community. I think they might have camped in the area before they struck. Four residents were taken into the bush while one vigilante guiding the area was shot from behind and died as a result of the gunshot,” he said.

A security source, who confirmed the incident, said the slain vigilante had been buried.

He also disclosed that combined teams of security operatives had launched a search-and-rescue operation for the abducted victims.

“It is true. The vigilante had just been buried. The military, police and vigilantes came around. They are already in the bush in search of the criminals and to rescue the victims,” the source said.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, were unsuccessful, as calls to her line indicated it was not reachable at the time of filing this report.

The Byazhin area of Kubwa is a fast-growing suburb in the Federal Capital Territory known for recent security concerns.

The incident adds to a pattern of violent raids in the area, prompting renewed security operations and community vigilance.

Punch 

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, on Thursday, inspected roads damaged by heavy rainfall in Dandi Local Government Area, with affected communities calling for urgent intervention to restore access and prevent further deterioration.

The affected roads include the Kingakwai–Fana–Dakingari Road and the Fana Township Road, which serves as a key link between Fana town and neighbouring communities.

During the inspection, the member representing the area in the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Suleiman Fana, and the Commissioner for Works, Abdullahi Umar Faruk, briefed the governor on the extent of the damage caused by the rainfall.

Officials said sections of the roads had been severely affected by erosion and flooding, disrupting movement in the area.

The Commissioner for Works recommended the construction of additional culverts and other drainage structures to facilitate repairs and reduce the risk of future damage.

Idris, accompanied by government officials, assessed the affected sites and assured residents that steps would be taken to address the situation.

The inspection comes amid concerns over the impact of seasonal rainfall on road infrastructure across parts of the state.

Meanwhile, the governor also visited Kamba town, where he paid a condolence visit to former Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Samaila Abdulmumin Kamba, following the death of his wife, Hajiya Fatima Abdulmumin.

The late Hajiya Fatima, who died at the age of 65, was buried according to Islamic rites and is survived by nine children.

Kebbi: Heavy rainfall damages roads in Dandi