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The increasing number of mentally-deranged people in Nsukka town of Enugu State has become a source of worry to the residents of the university community. Those who spoke to THE WHISTLER demanded urgent action from relevant agencies to evacuate the patients for treatment.

“They are now multiplying daily,” according to an Okada operator at Odenigbo roundabout, Ifeanyi Agbedo. “Everyday new faces emerge. I don’t know if they are being dumped in Nsukka by some disgruntled persons or they are migrating from somewhere. Some of them are not shabbily dressed, implying that they are newly infected. Some are almost going naked. They should not be left to be roaming along the roads because they constitute road hazards to both motorists and pedestrians.”
A resident of Enugu road, Uchenna Ogbodo, said the prevalence of mad men and women in the town is becoming an eyesore. In her words, “Some of them walk naked. It makes the environment indecent. They walk unclothed in public. Concerned authorities should find a solution because it is getting out of hand. I am yet to hear that they hurt anybody, but allowing them freely does not portend a serene environment which we project. I saw many of them by dustbins, eating whatever they can lay their hands on.”

Johnpaul Ezea lives at Alor-Uno, Nsukka. He said, “I suspect that they are evacuated from neighbouring states to Nsukka. Some of them don’t understand Igbo; some speak Igbo very well. Some are natives. I know one said to be a native of Ede-Obara in Nsukka here. Some are very young, and one wonders what can make adolescents mad! Security agencies should do more to unravel where they are coming from.”

A social worker, Dr Sunday Agbo, said the situation might be difficult to handle because there are no psychiatric and rehabilitation centres in the state.

According to him, “The Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Enugu is a tertiary health institution. It is more of a teaching hospital. The management won’t go about mopping up mental-challenged people for treatment. The closest place they can be treated is at Irrua in Edo State. But who will take up the responsibilities? Some of them may be hard-drug related. They need to be isolated at rehabilitation centres and given psychotherapeutic support. Unfortunately, Enugu-based Borstal Training Institute has been abandoned for decades. The core mad ones are also treatable. In the interim, the local government authorities can isolate and evacuate them to any centre where they can be taken care of. It is a responsibility of the government to handle.”

Residents React As Mentally-Challenged Persons Flood Enugu is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The former Lagos State Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Pastor Dayo Ekong, on Wednesday said her defection to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, followed the new party’s promising and emerging future.

Ekong, who disclosed this in Lagos, decried the LP’s protracted leadership crises and legal battles since 2023.

Noting that she currently serves as the Southwest Vice Chairman of the NDC, said activities were in top gear to organise hitch-free congresses in the zone.

“I have moved on and gone to NDC, in fact, I am currently the National Vice Chairman of the party for the whole of Southwest,” she said.

Ekong said she decided to dump the LP to protect her political future.

“I am a politician and I have political aspirations. The way political parties are beset by all sorts of problems and leadership crisis is sickening.
One just has to find a way to achieve goals at the end of the day.So, I have to move forward.”

On the chances of NDC in the zone, Ekong said, “We all know that NDC is making waves everywhere now. It is a new political party and the hope of the future”.

Why I dumped LP for NDC — Lagos Chair, Ekong

Experts have urged African countries to strengthen bankable projects to attract private capital and accelerate the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 

The experts said this at the ongoing 12th African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, focused on mobilising large-scale investments through innovative financing instruments monitored virtually.
 
They made the call at a private sector session convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in partnership with Convergence Blended Finance and the International Institute for Environment and Development.
 
The Participants emphasised the need to move from fragmented initiatives to coordinated and structured approaches that can deliver measurable results.
 

They said blended finance, innovative debt instruments, and risk-sharing mechanisms are critical tools for unlocking private investment.
 

Ms Ngone Diop, Director of ECA Subregional Office for West Africa, said shrinking fiscal space was limiting Africa’s ability to finance development.
 
She called for urgent adoption of innovative financing solutions and stronger public-private partnerships.
 

According to her, such measures are necessary to mobilise investments and accelerate SDG implementation across the continent.
 

Also speaking, Ms Soumaya Iraqui, Chief of Section at ECA’s Subregional Office for West Africa, said fiscal pressures had intensified in recent years.
 

She said that fiscal space in West Africa had narrowed significantly between 2020 and 2025, with rising debt levels posing structural constraints.
 

Iraqi officials emphasised that the situation underscored the urgency of developing sustainable and attractive investment pathways.
 

The session also highlighted the growing role of debt-for-climate and debt-for-development swaps in expanding fiscal space.
 

Participants cited ongoing initiatives in Senegal, The Gambia, and Ghana as examples of innovative financing in practice.
 

They said such mechanisms could reduce the cost of capital and support investments in climate action and social development.
 

The experts agreed that stronger coordination among governments, development partners, and the private sector was essential.
 

They added that building credible, well-prepared projects would be key to attracting large-scale private investment.
 

The session formed part of the ARFSD-12 Private Sector Forum focused on strengthening partnerships to accelerate SDG progress in Africa.

Africa Must Strengthen Bankable Projects To Attract Private Capital – Experts  is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Hon. Abbey Awara Ukpukpen has formally joined the race for the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives after obtaining the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination and expression-of-interest forms ahead of the 2027 general election.

“I dedicate these forms to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. El Roi, the God of my journey,” she stated shortly after picking the forms at the APC secretariat on Wednesday.

Ukpukpen is not new to the legislature. She won the 2018 Obudu State Constituency bye-election and served as a member of the 8th Cross River State House of Assembly.

She subsequently served as Special Adviser on Gender to the Cross River State Government. The role brought her close to the women and girls she had always said she wanted to serve.

She is also respected within APC circles. The Cross River chapter of the party recently commended her work in the 2023 presidential campaign through the Grassroots Independent Campaign Council. She has joined the “Prince is Coming 2027” movement in Ikom to mobilise support for Governor Bassey Otu’s second term bid.

She holds a degree in Environmental Protection and Resource Management from the University of Calabar and attended Federal Government Girls College, Calabar.

Abbey Ukpukpen Joins Abi/Yakurr Reps Race, Picks APC Forms is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has said Murtala Sule Garo was chosen as deputy governor because of his experience and commitment to the state’s development.

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Mustapha Muhammad, the governor said Garo was selected after carefully reviewing several candidates. He explained that the decision was based on past performance, competence and the ability to contribute meaningfully to Kano’s progress.

Yusuf made this known during the 39th Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Kano.

He said the government wanted someone who could effectively support its development plans.

Garo’s name was sent to the State House of Assembly last week after the former deputy governor, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, stepped down.

The Assembly quickly screened and confirmed him.

The governor praised the lawmakers, led by Speaker Jibril Ismail Falgore, for their swift action in approving the nomination.
He also said Garo would be sworn in soon and urged the public to support him in carrying out his duties.

Yusuf congratulated the new Head of Service, Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Maimota, noting that she had already made valuable contributions while serving in previous roles.

He called on civil servants and stakeholders to support her in her new position.

Gov Yusuf defends choice of Garo as deputy, cites experience, commitment to Kano

The Kano State Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Ahmed Muhammad Wada, has called on public servants to uphold ethical and professional responsibility as the foundation of public service delivery.

This was contained in a press statement issued following the inauguration of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) at Federal Government College, Kano.

Commissioner Wada, who was represented by Chief Superintendent Ibrahim Garba of the ICPC Legal Services Department, Kano State Office, made the call during the ceremony, urging members of the newly established unit to regard their appointment as a responsibility to promote accountability within the institution.

He described the ACTU as a key implementation structure of the ICPC’s corruption prevention mandate, designed to strengthen transparency and provide a practical framework for combating corruption at the institutional level.

“You are expected to treat this responsibility as a turning point in ensuring that the affairs of this institution are conducted with integrity and accountability,” Barr. Garba said on behalf of the commissioner.

He added that the establishment of ACTUs in institutions such as schools represents a strategic approach to embedding anti-corruption values early in the system.

Earlier, the principal of the college, Hafsat Adebayo, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention aimed at promoting integrity within the education sector.

“This move will go a long way in nipping corruption and related offences in the bud at various levels of society,” she said, adding that the unit would help keep both staff and students accountable in their daily conduct.

Speaking on behalf of the ACTU, Dr Dawah Iliyasu Sodangi described the inauguration as a call to duty, noting that members had been sensitised on corrupt practices and preventive measures.

He said the unit would serve as an ethical guide within the institution, reinforcing integrity and responsible behaviour among stakeholders.

ICPC urges ethical conduct at inauguration of FGC anti-corruption unit

The prevalence of malaria among children under five years old in Enugu State has dropped to 9.9 per cent, according to the state Health Commissioner, Prof George Ugwu.

Ugwu said the feat was achieved through sustained interventions and expanded healthcare access across the state. He spoke during his briefing to mark the 2026 World Malaria Day celebration in Enugu.

According to him, malaria remains among the dreaded diseases worldwide, adding that it constituted a serious threat in Nigeria, particularly to children under five and pregnant women.

Quoting him, “Malaria remains a severe public health challenge in Nigeria, Enugu State inclusive. It continues to be a leading cause of illnesses and deaths, particularly among children under five and pregnant women. Between 2015 and 2021, malaria parasite prevalence among children under five in Enugu rose from 10.5 per cent to 24 per cent, higher than the national average, which informed an urgent intervention necessary.”

He said as a result of the challenge, the state initiated strategic interventions, including free diagnostics, treatment, prevention tools, and expanded community-based programmes.

In his words, “We have achieved a remarkable reduction in prevalence to 9.9% in 2025. This shows that progress is possible when government, partners, and communities work together.” He commended development partners, including ECEWS, Jhpiego, WHO, UNICEF, and the media for their support in strengthening malaria response efforts across the state.

Prof Ugwu however cautioned that the feat was being threatened by extreme weather events, insecurity, humanitarian emergencies, economic pressures, and growing resistance to anti-malarial drugs and insecticides. He said, “We must therefore act with urgency and determination to sustain and accelerate our progress.”

Speaking on the 2026 World Malaria Day, with the theme, “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must”, the health commissioner stated that Enugu State “has the tools, science, vaccines, diagnostics, and proven interventions needed to eliminate the disease”.

According to him, “For the first time in history, the tools, science and strategies to eliminate malaria are within our reach. We have the capacity, vaccines, diagnostics, and proven interventions to make elimination possible. We must act decisively to prevent resurgence because malaria does not wait. When interventions slow, malaria resurges rapidly and lives are lost.”

He advised residents of the state to adopt preventive measures, such as sleeping under insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, elimination of stagnant water, early testing, and completion of treatment to consolidate the efforts of the state government.

He said Gov Peter Mbah had made malaria elimination a top priority, with major investments in free malaria testing and treatment across hundreds of health facilities, equitable access to rapid diagnostic testing and first-line therapies, stronger data systems, and integration of malaria services into primary healthcare.

He also announced the enrolment of 1,000 pregnant women into the state Universal Health Insurance Scheme as part of this year’s commemoration of the World Malaria Day. He said the enrolment would protect mothers and babies.

THE WHISTLER reports that activities lined up for the celebration include road walk, free test-and-treatment outreaches in five selected communities, and a high-level consultative grand finale at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on April 30.

Our correspondent reports that malaria is caused by anopheles mosquitoes.

Malaria Prevalence Drops To 9.9% In Enugu State, Says Commissioner is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has expressed shock over the attack on a church gathering in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, where gunmen reportedly killed a pastor and abducted several worshippers during an open-air crusade.

CAN, in a statement signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, described the incident as disturbing.

The apex Christian body condemned the attack, and urged the government to take immediate action to stop further attacks and bring the perpetrators to book.

“This is not just an attack on a church; it is a brutal assault on our shared humanity and the sanctity of life,” the statement added.

CAN extended its condolences to the family of the slain pastor, saying it stands in full solidarity with the victims and the entire Christian community in Ekiti State.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been taken, and we call for their immediate and safe release,” it said.

“This latest tragedy comes amid a disturbing pattern of attacks. Only recently, gunmen struck communities in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting residents including clergy, their families, and other community members. These repeated incidents underscore a deepening security crisis that can no longer be ignored,” it went on.

“This attack further heightens concerns about the safety of lives and the protection of communities. No one should have to live in fear, and no place of worship must ever become a hunting ground for criminals.

“We must be unequivocal: the protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of government. We call on the authorities and security agencies to act swiftly, decisively, and transparently.

“Those responsible for this atrocity must be apprehended and brought to justice without delay. Every necessary effort must be made to rescue those abducted unharmed.

“We also urge the government to immediately strengthen security presence, especially in vulnerable and rural communities, and to deploy proactive intelligence measures to prevent further attacks.

“At the same time, we must all speak out firmly. The killing of a Pastor and the abduction of worshippers gathered to commune with their Creator is deeply troubling. It reflects a grave disregard for life, for faith, and for the moral fabric of our society.

“We have a duty to communicate these concerns clearly, firmly, and without equivocation to the appropriate authorities. Nigeria must not normalise the killing of worshippers or the abduction of innocent citizens in places of refuge.”

Ekiti church attack: CAN expresses shock, demands decisive action

Former FBI Director James Comey, one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent political adversaries, has been indicted for a second time by the Trump administration over a beach photo he posted on social media last year that officials claim was a coded threat against the life of the president. He is expected to surrender to federal authorities on Wednesday.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina indicted Comey on two felony counts related to threats against the life of the president. If convicted on both counts, the 65-year-old could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

The charges centre on a photo Comey posted on Instagram in May last year showing seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47.” The number 86 is slang for eliminating something or someone, while 47 corresponds to Trump’s designation as the 47th president. Trump was blunt about his interpretation, saying “a child knows what that meant. It meant murder.”

Comey deleted the post the same day, saying he did not realise some people associated those numbers with violence. In a video response on Substack, Comey said “I’m still innocent, I’m still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary, so let’s go.” His lawyer said they would fight the charges and look forward to vindicating both Comey and the First Amendment.

This is the second attempt by the Trump administration to prosecute Comey, who served as FBI Director from 2013 until Trump fired him in 2017 during the agency’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

He has since become one of Trump’s most vocal critics. The first prosecution attempt, on charges of lying to Congress, was dismissed last year after a judge ruled the prosecutor handling the case had been unlawfully appointed.

The new indictment comes weeks after Trump dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi, with Blanche, previously Trump’s personal lawyer, now leading the Justice Department.

It was filed three days after Trump was evacuated from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner following an alleged assassination attempt. The case has been assigned to US District Judge Louise Flanagan in North Carolina.

Ex-FBI Director Comey Indicted Over Social Media Post is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Champion Breweries Plc (“Champion” or “the Company”) has released its unaudited financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2026, marking a significant milestone as the Company presents its first consolidated Group financial results following its recent strategic expansion.

The Group reported revenue of ₦14.36 billion, +69% for the period, representing a strong increase compared to the prior year, driven by the consolidation of its newly acquired subsidiary. Operating performance remained resilient, with operating profit rising to approximately ₦3.02 billion at the Group level, reflecting continued discipline in cost management and operational efficiency.

Despite a softer consumer environment and lower volumes in the core domestic market, the Company maintained a solid gross profit margin of 48%, supported by improved cost efficiencies and disciplined commercial execution. This underscores the strength of Champion’s underlying business fundamentals.

The transition to a Group structure follows the Company’s acquisition of an 80% equity interest in enJOYbev B.V., whose performance is now consolidated into the Group accounts for the first time.

This strategic expansion has already begun to contribute positively to earnings, with the subsidiary delivering operating profitability within the reporting period. While the Company recorded a net loss at the standalone level, primarily driven by financing costs associated with its recent strategic investments, Group-level profitability remained positive, with profit after tax of approximately ₦881 million. This reflects the early benefits of diversification and the strengthening of Champion’s earnings base through its expanded portfolio.

Importantly, the Company continues to generate finance income from invested funds, reflecting prudent treasury management and supporting overall liquidity. This provides additional stability as the Group advances its strategic initiatives.

Looking ahead, Champion Breweries Plc remains confident in its outlook. With the Group structure now in place, improved earnings contributions from its expanded operations, and a clear focus on market execution, the Company expects a progressively stronger performance trajectory in the coming quarters.

Management reiterates its commitment to delivering sustainable value to shareholders, strengthening market positioning, and navigating prevailing economic conditions with discipline and resilience.

About Champion Breweries Plc.

Champion Breweries Plc is a leading Nigerian beverage company engaged in the brewing, marketing, and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The Company now operates as a Group, with an expanding regional footprint following its strategic investment in enJOYbev B.V.

Champion Breweries Plc reports Q1 2026 results, announces transition to group reporting structure