The World Health Organisation, WHO, on Monday raised the alarm that shrinking global health funding is colliding with rising disease threats and conflict, creating dangerous vulnerabilities just as countries finalise new agreements meant to prevent the next pandemic. Opening the 158th session of the WHO Executive Board, Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world is facing a defining moment for global health security. Sudden and severe cuts to bilateral aid have also caused huge disruptions to health systems and services in many countries,” Tedros disclosed. “4.6 billion people still lack access to essential health services, and 2.1 billion people face financial hardship because of health costs. “The pandemic taught all of us many lessons especially that global threats demand a global response.

PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRANThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Investment, Mohammed Alsuwaidi, has vowed that their size of investment into the Nigerian economy over the next couple of years would run into tens of billions of dollars. Federal minister, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, expressed excitement at Investopia making its debut in Africa and particularly in Nigeria for the first time. She noted that the FMITI is hosting investors from the UAE, Africa and across the world. “We need FDI and the UAE has this capital, the gulf in general has capital. He said the signing of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between Nigeria and the UAE, provides a strong framework to accelerate trade, investment, and private sector collaboration.

Nigeria’s private sector recorded its first contraction in over a year at the start of 2026, as weak demand dragged new orders to a standstill and slowed business activity, according to the latest Stanbic IBTC Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The headline PMI fell sharply to 49.7 in January from 53.5 in December, slipping below the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction. Output rose only marginally as a result, while purchasing activity and stocks of inputs increased at much slower rates. Purchase prices rose sharply amid higher raw material costs, pushing input price inflation to a three-month high. The Stanbic IBTC PMI survey, compiled by S&P Global from responses from about 400 private sector firms across agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail and services, is regarded as a key early indicator of economic trends.

Diplomats have called for stronger efforts to translate existing cooperation frameworks into concrete, bankable business projects, highlighting that challenges to EU-Nigeria trade relations range from information gaps, regulatory uncertainty and access to finance. According to the Head, Foreign Trade Office in Nigeria at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Ms Justyna Sitarska, EU-Nigeria relations are supported by multiple trade, investment and cooperation frameworks, including policy dialogue, Global Gateway initiatives and bilateral engagements. She said trade missions played a critical role in educating European and Nigerian partners to bridge perception gaps, often fuelled by negative media coverage. Consul General of France to Lagos, Mr Laurent Favier, said French companies had maintained a long-standing presence in Nigeria across several sectors, employing about 16,000 Nigerians. He described Nigeria as a strategic partner, but noted challenges such as visa processes, infrastructure, and the country’s international image.

Adebayo made the call in Numan, Adamawa State, while receiving a traditional title from the Bachama kingdom, led by the Hama Bachama, Homun Daniel Shaga. Adebayo emphasised the central role of education and agriculture in national development, describing education as a public good and rejecting the notion of private ownership of knowledge. “There is nothing called a private school. Anywhere knowledge is taught is a public place,” he said, while acknowledging the historical contributions of missionaries and traditional institutions to education in Nigeria. “This generation will not be a wasted generation,” Adebayo said.

As part of measures to bridge the technology skills gap, research and innovations in the country, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, has partnered with a private company, MiGO Mobile Nigeria. The partnership has led to the unveiling of a tech hub, christened Care and Research Development Centre, on campus. He stated that the centre would enable students to gain first-hand technology transfer, participate in research and development of MiGO devices, and provide internship and employment opportunities. He particularly expressed delight that the partnership also offers students an annual scholarship, with two students already awarded as a maiden set. He emphasised that the initiative was driven by vision to bridge the gap between the theory and practicals.

The National Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Abdulrahman Mohammed, has said that the party will soon release a timetable for outstanding congresses in some states as part of moves to organise a seamless national convention. It is high time to focus on the mandate given to us as Caretaker Committee members to put our party on the right track,” he said. Mohammed expressed appreciation to members of the BoT for their support, describing it as critical to the success of the caretaker committee. “I want to appreciate our BoT Chairman, the Secretary and all members for your genuine support to the National Caretaker Committee under my leadership. Mohammed reaffirmed the PDP’s status as a national party with enduring structures and legacy, warning against complacency among stakeholders.

The Kano State Police Command has announced a partnership with the Youth Society for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Social Vices (YOSPIS) and the Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation (AMGF) to combat hate speech and fake news across the state through a sensitisation workshop. ALSO READ: SEC, Police partner to crack down on crypto scramsThe workshop is designed to sensitise key stakeholders, including political actors, journalists, social media influencers, online media editors, and police officers, on the dangers of hate speech and fake news, and how to address their growing spread. Resource persons drawn from the media, legal profession, and the police are expected to facilitate the sessions. Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, urged all invited participants to attend and actively contribute to discussions aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence and public safety. The police command also appealed to residents to avoid spreading unverified information and inflammatory content, and to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

A former Chief of Staff (CoS) to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, has stated that the success or otherwise of any government largely depends on those appointed as the National Security Adviser (NSA), Chief of Staff (CoS), and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). “They are three that I can tell you clearly: the National Security Adviser, Chief of Staff and the Secretary to the Government. The Tucano helicopters were released, and Nigeria was removed from the list of countries of particular concern. That tells you the importance of those offices and how to use them quietly and effectively to get results,” Gambari stated. He cited instances involving two Supreme Court justices and the Ministers of Power and Agriculture, who were removed over corruption allegations.

…Soludo marks 10,000 shops for demolitionCommercial activities resumed on Monday in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State, as traders in the Onitsha Main Market and other markets opened their shops, with heavily armed security agents deployed to provide security. During the order, traders and other commercial centres usually locked up their stores in compliance, thereby paralysing the economic life of the zone, with the Onitsha Main Market said to have lost billions of naira. ALSO READ: Onitsha main market reopens amid tight securityIrked by the order, Governor Charles Soludo had last week shut down the Onitsha Main Market for one week, with a threat to extend the same measure to other markets where traders complied with the IPOB directive. The Chairman of the Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalaugo, denied rumours that some non-state actors had threatened him to shut down the market. Mrs Nwada Chinyere, a trader at the Emeka Ofor Plaza within the Onitsha Main Market, lauded the presence of the police, army and state-owned security outfits, Agunechemba and Udogachi.

The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has moved to strengthen livestock development in Sokoto State, convening key stakeholders to identify priorities and tackle potential implementation risks. At the engagement on Monday, the State Project Coordinator, Sirajo Abubakar, said the meeting was aimed at sharpening project outcomes and aligning interventions with on-the-ground realities. “L-PRES is a six-year, World Bank–supported project focused on improving productivity, commercialisation and resilience across selected livestock value chains,” Abubakar said. Earlier, the Chairman of the Sokoto State Butchers Association, Malam Abdullahi Mujinyawa, welcomed the initiative, saying it provided a platform to address long-standing challenges confronting actors across the livestock value chain. The engagement signals a renewed push by L-PRES to deliver targeted, inclusive and resilient livestock interventions in Sokoto and beyond.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raided a popular, highly rated hotel (name withheld) located around the famous 33 areas of Onitsha, Anambra State, arrested four suspected traffickers, and rescued 17 alleged victims of human trafficking as part of the renewed onslaught on the activities of some human traffickers across the country. Four of the victims were said to be infected with HIV and are currently being counselled by a team of caregivers from NAPTIP and volunteers from the Anambra State Aids Control Agency (ANSACA). During interrogation, the victims disclosed that they were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom States and trafficked to Onitsha for alleged prostitution. “The Agency has also invited the owner of the hotel for interrogation with a view to determining the next sanction on the facility. “As said a few weeks ago, NAPTIP shall continue to double its efforts and scale up activities to ensure a good chase for the human trafficking criminal elements in the country,” the NAPTIP Director General stated.

The Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to regenerate the Makoko community in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, insisting that it has no intention of demolishing homes or displacing residents. According to him, the action was taken in the interest of public safety, noting that the structures posed a serious risk to lives. He spoke alongside the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, and the General Manager of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), Mr Saheed Animashaun. He added that all urban renewal projects being undertaken by the state are designed with a human face and are not intended to displace communities. The state government further clarified that the core Makoko fishing settlement was not affected by the demolitions, which were limited to structures under high-tension electricity cables.

I am also interested in all the happenings in Oyo State PDP. He dismissed claims that party members were being intimidated, arguing that recent court cases had weakened such threats. They have no option but to recognise the Caretaker Committee,” Wike stated. Despite the challenges facing the PDP, Wike maintained that the party remains a strong political force capable of recovery. The announcement followed the faction’s 105th meeting of the PDP National Executive Committee held on Monday in Abuja.

Anne O’Brien saw her son leave for a holiday on a Greek island, only to return home in a coffin. For more than four years, the family of Niall O’Brien (21) have sought justice. Last Tuesday, a Trinity College Dublin law graduate was found guilty of causing the death of Niall, a University of Limerick student, after a confrontation on the island of Ios. “My son went to Ios to have the holiday of a lifetime and he came home to me in a coffin,” Mrs O’Brien told the court. Today on The Indo Daily, Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Sunday Independent journalist Mark Tighe, to discuss the trial, the witness testimony, and both families' strong reaction from the case.