Special Reports

Sunday, 12 January 2025 04:51

Cattle from Northern states to southern Nigeria declined 50% in the last couple of months. Here’s why

Cattle traders are facing an existential threat, especially in the northeastern part of Nigeria, with stakeholders calling for urgent intervention to save the sector. Investigation by Weekend Trust revealed that as a result of the spate of insecurity ravaging parts of the country and the ban on open grazing in some states, with no serious alternatives like ranches put on ground, cattle breeders are forced to migrate to countries like Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Sudan and Central Africa. Our correspondents who went round and interacted with market officials, cattle traders and residents across the North-East region, report that stakeholders in the…

Thursday, 09 January 2025 04:33

Nigeria ranks fourth globally in consumption of sugary drinks linked to diabetes, heart diseases

A groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine reveals that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) cause approximately 340,000 deaths annually from Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease worldwide. The research, conducted by Tufts University's School of Nutrition Science and Policy, analyzed data from 184 countries over three decades. In 2020 alone, SSBs were associated with 2.2 million new Type 2 diabetes cases and 1.2 million cardiovascular disease cases, with developing regions bearing the heaviest burden. Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America show particularly alarming trends. SSBs account for over 20% of new diabetes cases in Sub-Saharan Africa and nearly 24% in Latin America and…

Sunday, 05 January 2025 04:40

Survivors of recent crashes were sitting at the back of the plane. What does that tell us about airplane safety?

Look at the photos of the two fatal air crashes of the last two weeks, and amid the horror and the anguish, one thought might come to mind for frequent flyers. The old frequent-flyer adage is that sitting at the back of the plane is a safer place to be than at the front — and the wreckage of both Azerbaijan Airlines flight 8243 and Jeju Air flight 2216 seem to bear that out. The 29 survivors of the Azeri crash were all sitting at the back of the plane, which split into two, leaving the rear half largely intact.…

Wednesday, 01 January 2025 05:19

The world ushers in 2025 with celebrations and traditions across time zones

From the Pacific Islands to Africa and beyond, the world ushered in 2025 with a dazzling array of celebrations, marking the transition to the New Year in unique and spectacular ways. Pacific Islands Lead the Charge The festivities began in the Pacific, where Christmas Island (Kiritimati) in Kiribati became the first to welcome 2025 at 11:00 a.m. (Nigerian time) on December 31. Shortly after, New Zealand followed suit, with Auckland hosting vibrant fireworks displays viewed by thousands atop the city’s volcanic peaks. Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji joined the revelry, followed by Australia, where over a million people gathered at Sydney…

Saturday, 28 December 2024 04:37

54% of Nigerian children found to be multi-dimensionally poor. This is what that means

A recent report, titled *The Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Children in Nigeria*, has revealed alarming statistics about the state of child poverty in Nigeria, with 54 percent of Nigerian children classified as multi-dimensionally poor. The report, launched on November 20, 2024, during the World Children’s Day celebration, was developed by the Federal Government with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to address critical child welfare issues in the country. The findings of the report identify several factors contributing to this severe deprivation, including corruption, widespread unemployment, lack of political will, ongoing violence and insurgency, and insufficient investments in…

Sunday, 22 December 2024 03:10

Christmas blues: Nigerian families face unprecedented holiday hardship

As Christmas 2024 approaches, an unprecedented wave of economic hardship is forcing Nigerian families to make difficult choices between tradition and survival. With food inflation soaring above 40 percent in Abuja alone, many households are going to bed hungry, while others struggle to maintain even a shadow of their usual holiday celebrations. The harsh reality is evident in markets across the nation's major cities. At Mile 12 International Market in Lagos, trucks laden with tomatoes, peppers, and vegetables create an illusion of abundance. But behind this facade, a complex web of challenges drives prices ever higher. Truck owner Shehu explains…

Saturday, 14 December 2024 04:51

Cooking oil linked to colon cancer in early study, tied to inflammation

Melissa Rudy Researchers have revealed another potential reason to avoid ultraprocessed foods. Seed oils — which are plant-based cooking oils that are often used in processed, packaged foods — have been linked to an increased risk of colon cancer, according to a new study published this week in the medical journal Gut. Researchers at University of South Florida (USF) Health and Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute analyzed 162 tumor samples from colon cancer patients, according to a USF press release. They found that the tumors contained "an excess number" of molecules that cause inflammation and "a shortage" of healing molecules.…

Friday, 13 December 2024 04:56

Nigeria's health facilities struggle with drug availability, equipment shortages, NBS survey reveals

A recent national health facility survey by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has highlighted significant challenges in Nigeria's primary healthcare system, with only 34 percent of essential drugs available in primary health facilities (PHFs). The comprehensive 2023 report, released on Wednesday, uncovered multiple critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure and service delivery. Key findings include: Drug and Medical Equipment Availability: - Only 34.3% of essential drugs were available in primary health facilities - 50.6% of essential drugs were available in secondary health facilities - Just 29.9% of public primary facilities have functional basic medical equipment - Regional disparities exist, with…

Thursday, 28 November 2024 04:57

Antibiotic drugs failures intensify as antimicrobial resistance increases among Nigerians - Report

On a quiet July night in 2020, Moshood Lawal woke up feeling pain in his abdomen. It was sharp, relentless, and spreading from the right side. As a long-time ulcer patient, this was not like the pain he was used to. As the pain intensified, the 64-year-old pharmacist knew something was wrong. Before dawn, Lawal was already admitted to the National Hospital in Abuja, where doctors revealed the source of his pain to be kidney stones. “After the diagnosis, I was given two options; either go for surgery or try an advanced technology to break the stones into particles I…

Wednesday, 27 November 2024 04:57

Food prices soar: Beans cost 254% more, eggs up 140% – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed alarming food price increases in October 2024, with brown beans experiencing the most dramatic surge of 254.23% compared to the previous year. According to the NBS Selected Food Prices Watch report, key food items saw significant price hikes: - Brown beans: Increased from N790.01 to N2,798.50 per kg - Eggs: Rose from N1,112.22 to N2,671.60 for 12 medium-sized agricultural eggs - Sliced bread: Jumped from N760.82 to N1,550.24 - Local rice: Climbed from N819.42 to N1,944.64 per kg - Boneless beef: Escalated from N2,948.03 to N5,858.58 per kg Regional variations were notable,…

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Monday, 25 November 2024 04:09

Commercial drivers lament low patronage as workers, students resort to trekking

Some commercial drivers operating within the Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, have decried low patronage by residents, attributing it to the economic challenges in the country. They said this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Enugu. According to them, the recent increase in the pump price of petrol by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had worsened the situation. A commercial driver, Okwy Ozor, said the profit he got from the transport business had reduced since the federal government announced the removal of fuel subsidy and subsequent increase in the pump price of…

Sunday, 24 November 2024 04:45

Mai Shayi lament as financial strain drives away tea, bread and eggs customers

Tea selling joints are often regarded as lifesaving places for most bachelors, and to a larger extent, households in times of emergency. The business, also known as fast food in some quarters and one of the most lucrative in disguise, has kept the pockets of its operators full for decades owing to the numerous services rendered. Tea lovers, especially bachelors, always patronise the joints in the morning and evening. And most of them are often located by roadsides in makeshift shops where they can be easily seen. Although they may appear insignificant, some people have made it a habit to…

Friday, 22 November 2024 04:39

Nigeria’s food security crisis deepens, NBS survey reports

Two-thirds of Nigerian households cannot afford nutritious food, according to a new National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) survey comparing data from 2018/19 to 2023/24. The study reveals a sharp decline in food security, with 62.4% of households worried about having enough food to eat—a significant jump from 36.9% five years ago. Nearly 64% of families reported limiting their diet variety due to financial constraints, while 60.5% reduced their portions. The survey also highlighted infrastructure challenges. While 82.2% of urban households have electricity access, only 40.4% of rural homes are connected to the power grid. Those with electricity face an average…

Monday, 04 November 2024 03:56

Nigeria's hunger crisis deepens with 33m at risk, FG & UN in joint report say

Nigeria faces one of its worst hunger crises with more than 30 million people expected to be food insecure next year, a one third jump from this year due to economic hardship, a joint report by the government and United Nations said on Friday. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is grappling with a cost of living crisis that led to deadly protests in August. Economic hardship has worsened after President Bola Tinubu started austerity reforms, including devaluing the naira and ending a decades-old petrol subsidy, fuelling inflation. The analysis, conducted twice a year in 26 states and the federal capital,…

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