This week, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed nine deaths and 20 cases arising from fresh outbreaks of Lassa fever in seven states of the Federation. A breakdown shows that there were three deaths out of six confirmed cases in Plateau State while Nasarawa also recorded three deaths. Two persons died in Ogun State, one death was recorded in Taraba out of the six confirmed cases even as Edo, Ondo and Rivers States recorded one confirmed case each.

The recently inaugurated Senator Ken Nnamani led Committee on Electoral Reforms is about to kick start a round of public hearings in the six geo-political zones of the country where members hope to receive inputs from the general public towards reinforcing the bedrocks that define Nigeria’s Constitution and Electoral Laws in particular. These, of course, would ordinarily have been very laudable strides, but for the fact that the exercise is a journey that Nigeria had undergone several times in the past.

January 15 of every year is a date set aside to mark Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Yesterday, Nigeria observed the day as another memorial of her fallen members of the Armed Forces and War Veterans.

WITH the possible exception of Lagos, Rivers, Delta and Akwa Ibom states where the issue of pension is receiving some measure of attention, pensioners across the country have continued to lament non-payment of their entitlements by their respective state governments.

INFANT mortality remains one of Nigeria’s major health challenges. The country ranks the highest in Africa in terms of the number of neo-natal deaths and is second globally after India. Newborn deaths contribute to 32 per cent of mortality under five years.

A novelty was introduced to the nation’s drive towards self sufficiency in food production on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 when Lagos and Kebbi States launched the much-awaited LAKE Rice.The initiative is a partnership between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and his Kebbi State counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, not only to ensure food security but to showcase Nigeria’s potentials in rice production.

THE Federal Government on Friday, December 30, 2016, began the first phase disbursement of its promised N5,000 monthly stipends to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians. The pilot scheme which took off in nine States across the country is being paid to one million Nigerians out of the 25 million expected beneficiaries.

In a bid to recover looted funds from alleged corrupt individuals and organisations, the Federal Government recently announced through the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun the approval of the payment of not more than five per cent to any person who exposes corruption by providing relevant information leading to the recovery of public funds.

HOW the Presidency treats the corruption scandals involving the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) David Babachir Lawal, is perhaps, the greatest test of the integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader and the anti-corruption stance he has projected since he came to power in May 2015.

One of the attractions in the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign was the promise to constitute the National Council on Public Procurement (NCPP) if voted into power.

THE recent collapse of a church building that killed scores of people in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during a service with Governor Udom Emmanuel in attendance has become part of grim national statistics on the poor quality of buildings and their construction in Nigeria.

After spending all the seven months available to him in 2015 just forming his government, 2016 was the first true test of the character and purpose of the President Muhammadu Buhari regime. Faced with a withering economic recession, the war against Boko Haram terrorists in the North East, the return of militancy in the Niger Delta, the upsurge of Biafra separatists, his war on corruption and the menace of armed herdsmen and cattle rustlers, the President had quite a lot on his plate.

ON 9th November 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) following the retirement of the, Honourable Justice Mohammed Mahmoud as CJN, on November 10, 2016 on attainment of the mandatory age of 70 years.

SOME mindless commercial motorcycle operators and miscreants recently murdered the Apapa Zon B Head of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Tajudeen Olatunji Bakare, at Point Road in Apapa Local Government Area of the state.

THE storming of Camp Zero in Sambisa Forest by our gallant troops over the past weekend came as a befitting Christmas gift to Nigerians. An elated President Muhammadu Buhari issued a statement congratulating our forces for their bravery and described the feat as “victory” over the Boko Haram Islamist insurgents.