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BREAKING NEWS: HIV prevention drug declined in Nigeria, says UN

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A new report by the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has shown that the provision of pre-exposure prophylaxis—the medicine taken by people at risk of HIV to prevent infection from sex or injection drug use—has abruptly declined in Nigeria, Togo, and Uganda.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

The report, exclusively obtained on Friday and titled “Their future is on the line: Cost of inaction on HIV for children,” presents new modelling by UNAIDS, UNICEF, and Avenir Health on the potential impact of a 50 per cent reduction in intervention coverage— a plausible outcome if current funding cuts and related disruptions continue.

The analysis quantifies the human cost for children by comparing projected new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths across multiple scenarios.

Released ahead of the 2025 World AIDS Day, the report showed that high-impact HIV prevention programmes have succeeded in reducing by half the number of adolescent girls and young women acquiring HIV since 2010.

However, prevention programmes, including those focused on protecting adolescent girls and young women, have lost significant funding.

“Individuals at risk, including women, can protect themselves against acquiring HIV by taking antiretrovirals as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but reductions in donor funding have reduced availability and access to this prevention tool, with the exception of pregnant and breastfeeding women.

“Almost one quarter of the 56 countries surveyed in late April 2025 reported having less than six months of condom or PrEP stocks, and almost half reported supply chain management difficulties. PrEP provision has fallen in Botswana, Burundi, Ghana, and Lesotho, and steeply declined in Nigeria, Togo, and Uganda (among nine African countries reporting recent monthly data).

“HIV treatment coverage among pregnant women living with HIV rose to a remarkable 93 per cent [81–>98 per cent] in eastern and southern Africa in 2024. The situation is very different in western and central Africa, where only about 56 per cent [47–71%] of pregnant women living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy in 2024.”

The report noted that while governments have committed to increasing access to HIV testing and treatment, sudden changes in funding stand in the way.

It said women are experiencing reduced access to testing, delayed HIV diagnosis and treatment initiation, and disrupted prevention services.

“The number of pregnant women diagnosed with HIV and new initiations on treatment has declined in several countries. These declining numbers do not reflect a decline in HIV prevalence but reduced access to services.

“In many settings, HIV testing and treatment for mothers and children are offered through maternal and child health services, an integrated service modality that has contributed to high rates of HIV diagnosis and treatment for pregnant and breastfeeding women and HIV-exposed children. Reduced donor funding to these essential services jeopardises efforts to provide these critical services,” the report noted.

The findings indicated that at the current rate of progress, by 2040, the world would still see 1.9 million new HIV infections and 990,000 AIDS-related deaths in children.

“But if funding for HIV prevention and treatment continues to fall as current trends suggest, the world could face an additional 1.1 million new HIV infections and 820,000 additional deaths by 2040.

“In this worst-case scenario, by 2040, three million children would acquire HIV, and nearly 1.8 million would die of AIDS-related causes — the vast majority in sub-Saharan Africa. These are not statistics; they are children with dreams, families, and futures. They represent our shared humanity — and our collective failure if we do not act,” it warned.

On countries’ responses, the report said that despite significant funding cuts, nations are demonstrating leadership and innovation to safeguard hard-won gains in the paediatric HIV response.

“The Government of Nigeria approved $3.12 million for procuring HIV treatment and plans an AIDS Trust Fund. Ministries of Health simplified data management and reporting systems and harmonised supply chain systems for HIV, TB, and malaria; mobilised state resources to provide support; reassigned human resources; and adjusted drug quantities to limit the risk of stockouts,” it said.

It emphasised that global investments in the HIV response have prevented millions of new infections and deaths, but the job is not yet done.

“In 2024, an estimated 200 children died every day from AIDS. This loss of life is unacceptable. The time to act is now. We must close the current funding gap and prevent future funding shortfalls to ensure that every child, adolescent, and mother has access to life-saving HIV prevention and treatment services.

“This study provides the evidence needed to guide policymakers, donors, and global health leaders toward urgent, sustained investment — because action for children is the only option. Their future — and ours — depends on it,” it added.

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BREAKING: EFCC Seals Malami’s Residence, Housing Buhari’s Daughter and Third Wife

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Operatives of Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies on Wednesday ening cordoned off the residence of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, in what sources describe as a major escalation in an ongoing high-profile corruption investigation.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Authoritative sources told PRNigeria that several enforcement vehicles of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and armed operatives were deployed to the residence linked to Malami, where Nana Hadiza Buhari, his third wife and daughter of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is reported to be present.

The operation comes amid Malami’s continued detention by the EFCC over a wide-ranging investigation bordering on alleged corruption, money laundering, terrorism financing, and controversies surrounding the management of recovered Abacha loot, including inquiries into multiple bank accounts and suspicious financial transactions allegedly traced to his tenure in office.

Malami, who served as Nigeria’s chief law officer from 2015 to 2023, married Nana Hadiza Buhari in July 2022 in a private ceremony held at the Presidential Villa Mosque, Aso Rock, during the final year of the Buhari administration. She is the former president’s third daughter.

EFCC officials have maintained that although Malami was previously granted administrative bail, the bail was effectively revoked after he allegedly failed to meet key conditions attached to it. The commission insists that he remains in lawful custody pending further compliance and extended interrogation.

The agency’s decision to move operatives to Malami’s residence marks a significant intensification of the probe, which has dominated national discourse and reignited debate over the scope, independence, and methods of Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions—particularly when investigations involve politically connected figures.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Malami’s legal team nor representatives of the Buhari family had issued an official statement regarding the siege.

EFCC spokespersons also declined to comment on operational details, citing the sensitivity of ongoing investigations.

PRNigeria will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more facts emerge.

Details later…

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I Killed Retired Delta State Judge In Order To Steal Her Phones – Says Security Guard

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The 25-year old prime suspect in the murder of the retired Delta State Judge, Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, has confessed to have killed the judge in order to steal her phones and power bank just one week after he was employed as her security guard.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Godwin Mngumi, made the revelation after he was paraded by the Delta Police Command.

He disclosed how he engaged two others to dispossess the deceased of the items including a wristwatch, jewellery and a power bank.

While fielding questions from the Police spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, the suspect said he had just been employed as a security guard at the residence of the deceased when he committed the crime.

He noted that the period of his employment as “a week plus”, meaning he had spent less than two weeks before he murdered her.

“We did not plan to kill her; we only planned to take her phone. When we went there, we tied her hands and her legs. We took her phone, wristwatch, necklace and power bank,” he said.

The retired judge had two phones, and according to Mngumi, his accomplice, Nnaji Obalum, 21, kept the “big phone” — a Samsung — while the “small one” was sold for an undisclosed amount.

Obalum was also paraded alongside the prime suspect, and he admitted to have been arrested with the phone.

“The Samsung phone was found with me. I put my SIM inside,” he said.

Both suspects claimed to have regretted their actions and desired to be forgiven.

Edafe, who shared the footage of this engagement via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, further noted that the last of the three suspects are still at large.

He went on to encourage residents of the state to scrutinise prospective employees before granting them access to their homes.

He stated that the suspects will be charged before the Court for the alleged murder under the Criminal Law of the State, which attracts life imprisonment but that will be after the conclusion of investigations by the Police.

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Senator Ireti Kingibe Dumps Labour Party, Joins ADC

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The lawmaker who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, Senator Ireti Kingibe has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

Naija News reports that the lawmaker’s official registration with the opposition party is scheduled for Thursday (today) at the ADC national headquarters in Wuse, Abuja.

This was confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday by the Senator’s media aide, Kennedy Mbele.

He stated that the move marked Kingibe’s exit from the Labour Party (LP) and her entry into the ADC.

The statement noted that the registration ceremony will be attended by senior party officials, ADC candidates contesting the February 21 FCT area council elections, party supporters, and members of the media.

“Kingibe’s bold step of joining the ADC makes her the only serving senator in the new but vibrant opposition party,” Mbele said.

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