Rights violations: ECOWAS court orders FG to pay journalist ₦10m damages

By Sola Ogundipe 

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay ₦10 million in damages to Jide Oyekunle, a journalist, after finding that security operatives violated his fundamental rights while he was covering the nationwide End Bad Governance protests in Abuja.

The judgment, delivered on June 22, 2026, in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/29/25, was secured by Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France), also known as Lawyers Without Borders France, under its European Union-supported eRIGHTS project.

The regional court held Nigeria liable for violating Oyekunle's rights to freedom of expression, personal liberty, human dignity and property following his assault, detention and the seizure of his mobile phone by police officers during the August 1, 2024 protest at Eagle Square in Abuja.

Oyekunle, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Correspondents' Chapel, was reportedly live-streaming the demonstrations when security personnel attacked and detained him.

In its ruling, the court held that the actions of the security operatives interfered with the journalist's ability to carry out his professional duties and amounted to a violation of Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression.

The court also found that the assault and detention breached Articles 5 and 6 of the Charter, which protect the rights to dignity and personal liberty. It further ruled that the temporary confiscation of Oyekunle's mobile phone violated his right to property under Article 14.

According to the judgment, Nigeria failed to demonstrate that the restrictions imposed on the journalist met the necessity test required under international human rights law. As a result, the court concluded that the conduct of the security operatives was excessive and unlawful.

The ruling is being widely regarded as a significant victory for press freedom and digital rights across West Africa, particularly at a time when journalists covering protests and other matters of public interest increasingly face intimidation and restrictions.

Reacting to the judgment, ASF France's Country Director in Nigeria, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, described the decision as a major affirmation of media freedom in the digital age.

"This judgment sends a clear message that a journalist's digital tools are extensions of the modern press and newsroom, and their arbitrary confiscation by security forces is a direct assault on the public's right to know," she said.

She added that the ruling strengthens the growing body of ECOWAS Court jurisprudence aimed at protecting journalists and human rights defenders who document protests and other events of public interest.

ASF France said it would continue to monitor Nigeria's compliance with the judgment while providing legal support to journalists facing similar violations.

The organisation noted that the ruling reinforces legal protections for journalism in the digital era, discourages technology-driven censorship and intimidation, and puts security agencies on notice that targeting journalists during public demonstrations could attract accountability.

The eRIGHTS project, under which the case was pursued, is funded by the European Union and seeks to promote and protect digital rights in Nigeria through strategic litigation, advocacy and capacity building. The initiative is being implemented by ASF France in partnership with the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).

Legal observers say the judgment further strengthens the ECOWAS Court's position as a critical regional mechanism for safeguarding civic space, press freedom and human rights across West Africa.

Nigeria halves malaria prevalence, strengthens ties with Global Fund

By Admin

Nigeria has cut malaria prevalence by half over the past decade, reducing the rate from 42 per cent in 2015 to 21 per cent in 2026, according to findings from the latest Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS), a major milestone in the country's battle against one of its deadliest public health threats.

The achievement came into focus during a high-level strategic meeting involving the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Executive Director of the Global Fund, Peter Sands, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative in Nigeria, representatives of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership, and senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The meeting reviewed progress made in the fight against HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria while exploring ways to strengthen collaboration and sustain momentum across the three disease programmes.

Speaking at the session, Prof. Pate said global health partnerships must deliver tangible benefits to citizens, stressing that stronger coordination among governments, development partners and implementing agencies produces better outcomes than fragmented interventions.

He commended partners for their continued support in combating HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria and pointed to several milestones recorded under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

Among them are the inauguration of the Advisory on Malaria Elimination in Nigeria (AMEN), advances in the local production of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and ongoing efforts to revitalise primary healthcare centres across the country.

While acknowledging the gains recorded in malaria control, the minister said Tuberculosis remains a major public health concern that requires greater attention and intensified action.

He also raised concerns over recurring supply chain challenges that have affected programme delivery in recent years, calling for a stronger, more efficient and resilient national supply chain system capable of supporting health interventions nationwide.

Prof. Pate further identified sustainability as a critical issue, emphasising the need to increase domestic financing for health programmes in order to safeguard existing gains and reduce dependence on external funding.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S., mni, also hailed the progress achieved in disease control programmes, particularly in HIV prevention.

She noted the growing acceptance and demand for long-acting HIV prevention products among beneficiaries and urged that similar innovations be explored and expanded across other disease areas where appropriate.

Speaking on behalf of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, Chief Executive Officer Michael Adekunle praised Nigeria's sustained leadership in malaria control and disclosed that the organisation had established an office in Addis Ababa, partly in response to issues and priorities consistently raised by Nigeria during previous engagements.

In his remarks, Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands acknowledged Nigeria's significant HIV burden and expressed concern that the country receives comparatively fewer long-acting HIV prevention commodities despite the scale of the challenge.

He commended the Federal Government's ongoing health sector reforms and praised the quality of Nigeria's recently submitted application under the new Global Fund Grant Cycle, expressing confidence in the country's determination to achieve stronger health outcomes.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by all parties to deepen collaboration, strengthen domestic ownership of health programmes, improve supply chain efficiency, expand sustainable financing mechanisms and accelerate efforts to eliminate HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria as public health threats in Nigeria.

Nigeria launches Healthcare Electrification Marketplace to drive private investment in health sector

By Admin

The Federal Government has launched a new investment-driven framework aimed at accelerating the electrification of healthcare facilities nationwide through sustainable private sector partnerships under the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI).

The initiative was unveiled in Lagos during the National Healthcare Electrification Investors Matchmaking Forum, where the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described it as a major milestone in implementing resolutions reached at the National Stakeholders' Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector.

Salako said the initiative represents a critical intervention in tackling energy poverty across Nigeria's health system, stressing that reliable electricity remains indispensable to effective healthcare delivery.

According to him, power supply is central to the operation of theatres, vaccine cold chain systems, incubators, diagnostic equipment, oxygen delivery systems, digital health technologies and emergency response services.

"Electricity is not merely a utility in a healthcare facility; it powers life-saving services and technologies that healthcare delivery depends upon. When electricity fails, healthcare delivery stagnates," he said.

The minister explained that the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative marks a departure from the traditional model of government and donor-funded infrastructure projects by introducing a sustainable Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) framework.

Under the arrangement, specialised energy service providers will finance, install, operate, maintain and guarantee reliable power solutions for healthcare institutions, enabling hospitals to focus on patient care and service delivery.

He said the framework is anchored on three pillars: blended financing, institutional readiness and national scalability.

Through a mix of government support, development finance, climate finance and private sector investment, the initiative is expected to unlock large-scale deployment of sustainable energy infrastructure across the health sector.

While the current phase targets federal tertiary health institutions, Salako said the long-term objective is to extend healthcare electrification to primary, secondary and tertiary facilities across both public and private sectors.

To ensure effective implementation, the Federal Government has established a governance structure that includes an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, a 24-member Inter-Agency Technical Committee, Facility Energy Management Teams in participating institutions and a dedicated Project Secretariat within the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The minister also highlighted efforts to strengthen the sector's investment readiness, including specialised capacity-building programmes for Directors of Finance and Accounts in federal tertiary hospitals. The training covers energy economics, project finance, sustainable business models and investor engagement.

Salako commended the United Kingdom Partnership for Accelerating Climate Transitions (UK PACT) and Landell Mills International for supporting the development of the framework and advancing sustainable healthcare electrification in Nigeria.

He urged investors, development finance institutions, commercial banks, climate financiers and energy developers to seize the opportunities presented by the initiative and deepen collaboration with government.

"This is the beginning of a marketplace where ideas become projects, projects become investments, and investments become reliable electricity for healthcare facilities across Nigeria," he said.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reaffirmed its commitment to working with public and private sector stakeholders to provide sustainable power for healthcare facilities and improve health outcomes nationwide.

Ebola: Africa CDC Council seeks stronger community action, cross-border cooperation

By Admin

The Advisory and Technical Council (ATC) of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has called for stronger community engagement, enhanced cross-border cooperation and increased frontline response capacity to contain the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak.

The call followed an extraordinary session of the council, Africa CDC's highest technical advisory body, where members reviewed the latest epidemiological developments and warned that the outbreak continues to expand in a challenging environment shaped by insecurity, population movement and transmission across multiple affected locations.

The council's deliberations built on earlier recommendations issued by the Africa CDC Emergency Consultative Group (ECG), an independent advisory body that has been guiding efforts to strengthen outbreak control, preparedness and cross-border coordination in affected and at-risk countries.

As of June 10, 2026, the outbreak had recorded a cumulative 681 confirmed cases and 126 deaths across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, representing a case fatality rate of 18.5 per cent.

The DRC remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for 662 confirmed infections and 124 deaths. Most cases continue to be reported from Ituri Province. Uganda has so far confirmed 19 cases and two deaths.

Across both countries, health authorities have recorded 25 recoveries, while 6,525 contacts remain under follow-up. The outbreak has also affected frontline health personnel, with 34 healthcare workers infected, including 29 in the DRC and five in Uganda.

ATC members expressed deep concern over growing insecurity in affected areas, citing attacks on health facilities, including incidents in which Ebola treatment centres were set ablaze. They warned that insecurity, coupled with misinformation, is undermining efforts to bring the outbreak under control.

According to the council, rebuilding and sustaining community trust must remain central to the response. Members called for stronger engagement with community health workers, traditional leaders and civil society organisations to improve public cooperation and outbreak management.

The meeting also cautioned against border closures and unnecessary travel restrictions. Such measures, the council noted, can disrupt essential services, discourage transparency and ultimately make disease surveillance more difficult.

Instead, Member States were urged to intensify joint surveillance efforts, strengthen information-sharing systems, improve referral mechanisms and coordinate risk communication activities across borders.

"Our assessment is clear: Africa must respond with science, solidarity and strong community engagement," said Dr Eduardo Samo Gudo, Chairman of the ATC.

Council members also identified several operational gaps hampering response efforts. These include shortages of epidemiologists, clinicians, laboratory specialists, logisticians and risk communication experts.

To address these challenges, the ATC outlined a number of priority actions. These include expanding laboratory capacity in hotspot areas through the deployment of molecular diagnostics and rapid diagnostic tests; strengthening case investigation, contact tracing, laboratory confirmation, isolation, clinical care, infection prevention and control measures; conducting readiness assessments in unaffected areas and closing identified preparedness gaps; reinforcing One Health surveillance by integrating human, animal and environmental health data; and improving humanitarian access and civil-military coordination to enable response teams to safely reach affected communities.

The council further underscored the need for African-led solutions backed by stronger domestic resource mobilisation, sustained financing and political commitment at all levels.

Given the continued spread of the outbreak and the operational challenges confronting response teams, the ATC recommended that Ebola should continue to be classified as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Concern.

The Africa CDC Advisory and Technical Council is a statutory technical advisory body established under the Africa CDC framework. Made up of experts from across African Union member states, the council advises the Africa CDC Director General and supports the Executive Council by providing evidence-based recommendations that guide continental policies, strategies and emergency response actions.

MILO: St Jude, King Amakree advance to finals

By Admin

 St. Jude Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, and King Amakree Academy, Rivers State, have secured places in the 26th MILO Basketball Championship National Finals after emerging champions of the Atlantic Conference held in Asaba, Delta State.

The two schools booked their tickets to the national finals after defeating their opponents in keenly contested finals at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

St. Jude Girls outclassed Urhobo College 46-25 to claim the girls' title, while King Amakree Academy edged the same school 47-44 in a thrilling boys' final.

Their victories mark the latest stage in this year's championship, which has attracted entries from more than 13,000 schools across Nigeria, underlining the growing popularity of the competition among secondary school students.

For St. Jude Girls, Anthonia Obokawe proved decisive. The Bayelsa star, wearing jersey number four, scored 12 points to help her team cruise to victory and was subsequently named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the girls' category.

In the boys' competition, Edmund Hart of King Amakree Academy delivered a standout performance, scoring 22 of his team's 47 points to earn the MVP award.

Speaking at the event, Category Manager for MILO at Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, said the championship remains an important platform for nurturing young talent and building life skills through sport.

"These students are not only competing for medals. They are learning teamwork, discipline, resilience and the confidence to overcome challenges. We are proud to support a platform that helps young people discover their potential and pursue excellence," he said.

The championship, now in its 26th year, has become one of the country's most enduring school sports competitions, producing generations of young athletes while promoting healthy competition and personal development.

The Atlantic Conference follows earlier regional qualifiers across the country.

In the Savannah Conference, Government Secondary School, Zing, Taraba State, won the girls' category, while Family Support Programme Secondary School, Katsina State, emerged champions in the boys' division.

At the Central Conference, Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue State, claimed the girls' title, while Father O'Connell Science College, Niger State, won the boys' category.

With the Atlantic Conference now concluded, attention shifts to the Western Conference, the final qualifying stage before the national finals.

The winners of that conference will join the already qualified schools at the 26th MILO Basketball Championship National Finals scheduled for July 2, 2026, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The event drew officials from the Delta State Ministry of Education as well as representatives of the Nigerian School Sport Federation (NSSF), the Nigeria Community Sport Federation (NCSF) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Water crisis puts 10m pupils, 161m Nigerians at risk

 

By Admin

More than 161 million Nigerians still rely on contaminated water sources even as millions of children are exposed to disease keeping them out of school and undermining their future.

The scale of the problem came into focus as Nigeria joined other African countries to mark the 2026 Day of the African Child on June 16, themed, "Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa," and drawing attention to a basic need that remains out of reach for many children across the country.

In a statement to commemorate the day, Save the Children International remarked that about seven out of every 10 Nigerian children are deprived of basic water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services even as only 26.5 percent of the population has access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities, while more than 10 million pupils attend schools without basic sanitation.

“For many families, the daily routine begins with a search for water, and in the rural communities, children often trek long distances to streams, ponds and other unsafe sources. What appears to be a normal part of life can carry serious consequences.

“Unsafe water and poor sanitation continue to fuel outbreaks of diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid. Health experts estimate that more than 70,000 Nigerian children under the age of five die each year from diarrhoeal diseases, many of them linked to poor hygiene, unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation.

“In many schools, children learn in environments without functioning toilets or places to wash their hands. Teachers say illnesses associated with poor sanitation contribute to absenteeism, while many adolescent girls miss classes because schools lack facilities that allow them to manage their menstrual hygiene safely and privately.

“The healthcare system faces its own challenges. Only six per cent of health facilities in Nigeria have basic WASH services, raising concerns about infection prevention and patient safety. Despite years of campaigns and investment, open defecation remains widespread. An estimated 22 per cent of Nigerians still practise it, increasing the risk of contamination of water sources and the spread of infectious diseases,” the statement noted.

Deputy Country Director, Save the Children International, Jane Mbagi Mutua said the situation demands urgent attention.

"Millions of children in Nigeria continue to face daily challenges because they lack access to clean water, safe sanitation and proper hygiene facilities. The urgency of action has never been clearer," she said.

According to Mutua, ensuring that every child has access to clean water and sanitation will require stronger commitment from governments, development partners, communities and the private sector.

She noted that children in poor and underserved communities continue to bear the heaviest burden, despite the fact that access to water and sanitation is recognised globally as a basic human right.

“The theme calls for renewed commitment from governments, partners, and communities to ensure that every child, regardless of where they live, has access to safe, reliable, and sustainable WASH services,” Mutua said, noting that to change the story for millions of children, urgent and collective action is needed.

“Government must increase funding and accelerate implementation of national WASH strategies, development partners and donors should prioritise long-term, sustainable WASH investments, and communities must embrace improved hygiene practices and support efforts to end open defecation.”

Further, Mutua said private sector actors can drive innovation and expand access through partnerships.

On his part, House Leader, Katsina State Children's Parliament, Muhammad Aminu said, “Every African child deserves clean water, safe sanitation, and good hygiene. This is not charity. It is an investment in health, dignity, education, and the future of Africa.”

His remarks reflect a growing concern that while access to clean water is often discussed as a development goal, for millions of children it remains an everyday struggle.

Stakeholders called for increased investment in water infrastructure, faster implementation of national WASH policies and greater efforts to end open defecation. They also want communities to play a more active role in promoting hygiene practices that can help prevent disease.

It was agreed that the reality is that millions will return home from school to communities without safe water, toilets or places to wash their hands. For them, the conversation about water and sanitation is not about targets and policies, but about health, safety and the simple chance to grow up without preventable disease.

After 50, poor sleep more dangerous than you think

 

By Admin

Health experts have urged people in their 50s and 60s to take sleep more seriously, warning that consistently poor sleep can increase the risk of several chronic health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

The warning comes amid growing concerns over the impact of sleep deprivation on physical and mental health, particularly among middle-aged and older adults.

Sleep expert and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of The Sleep Charity, Lisa Artis, said poor sleep should not be dismissed as a normal part of ageing, stressing that quality rest plays a critical role in maintaining overall health and wellbeing.

"Midlife is a key period for sleep because it is often when the risk of long-term health conditions starts to rise. For people in their 50s and 60s, poor sleep should not be seen as an inevitable consequence of getting older."

She said regular sleep deprivation has been linked to a higher risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, anxiety, depression and diabetes. It can also make existing health conditions more difficult to manage.

Her comments follow findings from a survey which found that sleep problems are widespread across different age groups.

The survey revealed that nearly 70 percent of respondents reported difficulty getting adequate sleep. Young adults were among the worst affected, with 80 per cent of those aged 16 to 24 reporting sleep challenges, while 77 per cent of respondents aged 35 to 44 also struggled to get sufficient rest.

Experts attributed the trend to rising stress levels, financial pressures, demanding work schedules and social anxieties.

Artis said sleep should be treated with the same importance as healthy eating and regular physical activity.

"One poor night's sleep is not necessarily a problem, but when poor sleep becomes a regular pattern, it places additional strain on the body and affects how well people recover, cope with stress and maintain good health," she explained.

Health experts say prioritizing sleep could play a major role in preventing chronic diseases and improving quality of life, particularly among older adults who face a higher risk of long-term health complications.