Author: Prima News

By Stephen Angbulu The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved an amendment to the National Mental Health Act to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, disclosed that the reform is targeted at reducing suicide deaths and attempts by 15 per cent by 2030. Briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting at the State House, Abuja, Pate said suicide remains a major public health concern in Nigeria and globally, citing World Health Organisation data showing it is responsible for more than 7,000 deaths annually in the country, with an estimated 300,000…

Stripe confirmed on Wednesday that it was buying OpenRouter. While the company didn’t disclose the deal price, sources told the New York Times that it paid $7.5 billion. That’s a huge step up from OpenRouter’s $1.3 billion valuation in May. To put that price into context, the founders alone will reportedly receive $1.5 billion from the sale — more than the startup’s entire valuation just three months ago. Investors will get the remaining $6 billion, according to the NYT. Stripe reportedly had to outbid others interested in the fast-growing startup, including Databricks. But the question is: What does a payments giant…

The National Democratic Congress Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has urged Nigerians to reject divisive politics and demand competent and accountable leadership ahead of the 2027 general election. Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, made the call in a statement posted on his verified X account on Thursday to mark the commencement of the 2027 presidential campaign. He urged Nigerians to reflect on the state of the country and the kind of nation they wanted to leave for the next generation, citing rising food prices, unemployment, high business costs and insecurity among the challenges confronting citizens.…

By Adedapo Adesanya The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, said the removal of petrol subsidy saved Nigeria N15.8 trillion between June 2023 and December 2025. Mr Oyedele disclosed this on Wednesday at a press conference, where he provided a breakdown of the financial impact of the federal government’s economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu, the same day that the campaign for the 2027 presidential elections commenced. He said the subsidy savings were reflected in the resources available to the federation, although they did not appear as a separate credit to the federation account under…

This is the second part of this report. Read the first part here. Grace* never saw a state budget document, she never read a federal appropriation law or examined a budget implementation report. She probably did not know that Nigeria’s HIV response was financed largely by international donors, or that governments at both the federal and state levels had, for years, pledged to assume greater responsibility for sustaining the programmes that kept people like her alive. What she knew was simple: the community health worker who discreetly delivered her antiretroviral medicines stopped coming, the counselling sessions ended, and the confidential…

A former Iranian diplomat and professor of international relations in Tehran, Abbas Khamayar, has cautioned that his country is losing patience with the increasing US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Khamayar told Al Jazeera that recent appointments in military leadership and private meetings suggest that “something is being prepared in the decision-makers’ circles — a surprise.” He noted that the issue has been a prominent topic of discussion among Iranians in recent days. “I do not believe the Iranians here will maintain their patience for much longer,” Khamayar warned, indicating that the ongoing naval blockade or the persistent…

Lazio are closing in on the signing of Senegalese striker Bamba Dieng on a free transfer, with the player set to undergo his medical on Thursday. The 26-year-old forward has agreed personal terms with Lazio as the Italian club moves forward with the deal. Dieng’s medical will be the next step before the transfer can be completed, with Lazio hoping to secure his arrival without paying a transfer fee. The move comes after Lazio’s proposed deal for Mauro Icardi will not happen, leading the club to turn their attention to Dieng as an attacking option. Dieng brings experience and attacking…

Desertification, the phenomenon whereby fertile land becomes unproductive and desert-like, is spreading at alarming rates across the globe due to rising temperatures, droughts and deforestation. Alarming Sword of Damocles “Land is our most vital infrastructure — underpinning food security, water, livelihoods and stability,” stressed UN Executive Yasmine Fouad ahead of a major UN conference to tackle desertification, COP17, taking place in Mongolia this week.In that vast land-locked nation dominated by the Gobi Desert and semi-arid grassland, land degradation is very tangibly threatening livelihoods. © ILO Housebuilding in Mongolia: lacking access to open seas, landlocked countries must rely on other nations for many imports and…

There aren’t too many streaming services that lean into membership perks for their subscribers, but Peacock is testing the waters with a rewards program. On Tuesday, the company announced the launch of a beta test for a select group of Peacock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers, aimed at providing “meaningful recognition, exclusive access, flexibility, and experiences that extend beyond traditional discounts.” The news arrives the same week the streamer announced a round of price hikes across its plans. The rewards membership is included with the streaming subscription at no extra cost, and is offered in three tiers based on how…

President Tinubu has directed EFCC recoveries and unclaimed dividends to fund NELFUND Student Loans. NewsOnline Nugeria reports that President Bola Tinubu has directed that eligible funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission be transferred to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to strengthen the Federal Government’s student loan programme. The directive also covers unclaimed dividends held under designated capital-market and dormant-account trust funds. Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the development on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting. Alausa explained that only liquid EFCC recoveries that are not tied to pending court cases or other legal…