News at its Zenith
News at its Zenith
By Akinsuroju Olubunmi FUT Minna secures N844.5m research grant from TETFund The Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna has announced the reception of a significant National Research Fund (NRF) amounting to N844.5 million from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). Prof. Farouk Adamu-Kuta, the Vice Chancellor, revealed this development during a news conference marking the […]
By Akinsuroju Olubunmi Unveiling ancient secrets: Temple ruins and aqueduct discovered in Greece The ministry revealed that a temple, likely destroyed by fire in the sixth century B.C., has been partially unearthed. Another temple emerged towards the century’s end in the same area. Simultaneously, ongoing research delves into the sanctuary and its temples, aiming to […]
Image: BIOSECURITY QUEENSLAND Deathly fire ants create “flood rafts” to spread during Australia’s floods. One of the most invasive species in the world is spreading throughout storm-ravaged Australia thanks to fire ants that are building rafts to travel on floodwaters. Fire ants are regarded as super pests because they devour local plants and animals, which can lead to significant changes in ecosystems and agricultural loss. People can also be killed by their stings. The uncommon rafting behaviour is proof that “fire ant densities are increasing” in Australia, according to the Invasive Species Council (ISC). In light of the recent extreme weather, it is advising […]
By Akinsuroju Olubunmi Red Sea tensions: U.S. strikes yemen as vessel hit amid Houthi escalation. In a notable escalation, the U.S. military conducted fresh strikes in Yemen against anti-ship ballistic missiles controlled by Houthi rebels. This move comes as a Greek-owned vessel was hit by a missile in the Red Sea, further intensifying concerns over […]
By Akinsuroju Olubunmi FUTA students rally against soaring tuition fees. Students at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo, took to the streets on Monday in protest against the school management’s decision to hike fees. The students claim the fees have been raised by more than 300 percent, and they vehemently demand a return to […]
FILE PHOTO: Tuberculosis-Bacteria. By punchng.com People Live in Terror-induced Poverty, Tuberculosis Exacerbates the Anguish. Experts are gravely concerned about the growth of tuberculosis in Borno State, which is being fueled by destitution, malnutrition, and other issues orchestrated by the insurgency. Hadiza Idris of the Dala ward in the Jere Local Government Area of Maiduguri city has been worrying about her health and changing body for, well, God knows how long. All she knew was that she suffered from severe dyspnea, ulcers, fever, and limb weakness on a regular basis. Whenever she wanted to use the restroom or complete other home chores that she could do on her own, she frequently needed assistance getting up from her spouse, kids, or other relatives around. She was unaware that such illnesses were signs of a more serious condition. When her health worsened in December 2023 and she lost the ability to stand. Every time she tried to stand up, she would stumble due to her extreme vertigo. Someone needed to support and assist her. had to visit the Borno State Chest Diseases Centre as a result. She received a fast diagnosis of tuberculosis there. This was the underlying illness that caused the previous series of illnesses she had. She got started on the necessary treatment right away. She was prescribed medications to take for six months in order to heal. The disease is wreaking havoc on Borno State’s population, which is already plagued by Boko Haram and the fear of ISWAP. Experts say that the 10 local government areas in the Northern Borno Senatorial District have been affected the hardest. During the 13th Joint Operations Review held in Yola, Adamawa State, in November 2023, the World Health Organization expressed concern over the concerning rate of tuberculosis in Borno State. “It is concerning how common tuberculosis is in Borno. According to reports, Walter Mulombo, the WHO’s Head of Mission and Country Representative in Nigeria, said that Borno “may be a ticking time bomb for tuberculosis explosion in Nigeria.” The state’s commissioner of health, Prof. Baba Malam-Gana, represented Governor Babagana Zulum at the Yola Review convergence. It was reported that the governor likened the concerning tuberculosis situation in his state to the catastrophic effects of the Boko Haram insurgency, which had destroyed half of the state’s medical facilities and supplies. Speaking to reporters recently, Dr. Bukar Bintube, a consultant pulmonologist at the Borno Chest Diseases Centre, stated, “According to the WHO, the rate at which tuberculosis is spreading in Borno State is out of control, particularly in Northern Borno.” This is not implausible given the Boko Haram insurgency, which drove people from their ancestral areas and brought hardships and low socioeconomic conditions with it. Dr. Bintube went on, “We looked into it and discovered that there is not enough medical staff in Northern Borno because we noticed that the majority of patients with chest illnesses come from that region. There is a severe lack of medical workers in the area. Dr. Bintube disclosed that the health institution receives 40 to 50 new and old TB patients every Monday, the most of them are from Northern Borno, but he would not disclose the precise number of TB patients in the state. The reporter noted that this is quite reminiscent to the scene at other secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities around the state. The Consultant Pulmonologist bemoaned and asked why there were still fresh TB cases in the state. We are currently concerned about the new cases. Why are new cases necessary? It indicates that the rate of poverty in the community is high. This indicates that the illness is affecting more people than anticipated, the speaker stated. Therefore, he recommended that in addition to giving the Centre more equipment, the state government should also fully equip and hire more people in all local government healthcare delivery institutions so that they can address the prevalence of tuberculosis in impoverished rural communities. Dr. Bintube bemoaned the lack of sufficient medication and said that, since Governor Zulum ordered the state Ministry of Health to supply pharmaceuticals to the institution in 2020, no government body has contacted the centre to supply drugs. The majority of the medications we have been receiving come from the Leprosy and TB Control Programme in the Netherlands. We also have a screening machine from WHO,” the pulmonologist added. He urged all parties involved in the health sector, particularly state and federal lawmakers from the Northern Borno Senatorial District, to work with the state government to address the issue. Speaking about his experience with TB, Bukar Bulama, a motorbike rider in Bulumkutu Kasuwa, Jere LG, said that at the beginning of the crisis, he mistook his symptoms for a fever or the flu. “When I first noticed the symptoms more than five months ago, I assumed it was just a slight cough and fever or illness. […]
Artemis I in 2022 demonstrated the rocket and capsule to get astronauts to the vicinity of the Moon. Image: NASA NASA postpones the crewed lunar return, Artemis. The next opportunity for US space agency astronauts to set foot on the Moon won’t come until September 2026, at the latest. The planned date for the return of humans to the lunar surface, which was last accomplished in 1972, has been slipped by one year. According to NASA, the postponement of the Artemis III mission will allow for additional technological advancements. In essence, the NASA still lacks spacesuits for astronauts to wear and a craft to land people on the moon. Agency Administrator Bill Nelson stated that safety came first when announcing the postponement. Telling reporters, “We won’t fly until we’re ready,”. The Artemis II crew (L-R): Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman. Image: NASA Additionally, NASA is delaying the Artemis II preparatory mission until September 2025. Four astronauts will circle the moon in this mission, but they won’t touch down. This flight was scheduled for the end of the year until today. Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen make up the crew that is now undergoing training. 2022 saw the occurrence of Artemis I. […]
Image: CBS Tornadoes, snow, and flooding kill people across the United States. A series of violent winter storms slammed over areas of the eastern United States and Canada, killing at least three people and knocking out power to over 500,000 residences. In Florida, where multiple tornadoes were reported, strong winds flipped automobiles and knocked […]
The 1.2-tonne Peregrine spacecraft is one of a clutch of US projects aiming to land in 2024.Image: ASTROBOTIC US private Moon mission encounters difficulties with its Peregrine lander. There have been technical issues with the US Moon mission, which was launched privately on Monday. The project’s parent company, Astrobotic, claims that a “anomaly” on board […]
By Akinsuroju Olubunmi Military success: 233 Illegal refineries destroyed, 112 oil thieves apprehended in 2023 In a significant accomplishment, the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army reported the destruction of 233 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region, accompanied by the arrest of 112 suspects throughout the year 2023. Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, the General […]
