The Federal Government has confirmed an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu) in Kano State, affecting multiple bird species, including layers, ducks, guinea fowls and turkeys.

In a circular on Tuesday by Dr. Taiwo Olasoju on behalf of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, the government raised concerns about the heightened risk of the disease spreading, particularly during this season.

The circular urged state veterinary offices and relevant agencies to strengthen surveillance systems and implement strict biosecurity measures to curb the spread of the virus.

“We need to take adequate preventive measures,” the circular emphasised, calling for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to prevent the disease from spreading to neighbouring states and regions.

Authorities also recommended public awareness campaigns and close monitoring of poultry populations to detect and address new cases promptly.

Providing further details, the Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Kano State chapter, Dr. Usman Gwarzo, recounted the circumstances surrounding the first reported case.

“In December 2024, a young man from Galadanchi quarters in Gwale Local Government Area bought a duck from Janguza market in Tofa LGA and introduced it to his flock of hens and chickens. The duck suddenly died, followed by the chickens. The carcasses were taken to the Gwale Veterinary Clinic, where avian influenza was suspected,” Dr. Gwarzo explained.

He noted that samples sent for testing confirmed the presence of the virus in the first week of January 2025.

However, no similar cases have been reported from commercial poultry farms, providing some relief to poultry producers.

Experts urged poultry handlers to prioritise biosecurity, including disinfecting equipment, restricting access to poultry farms, and ensuring proper disposal of infected birds.

LEADERSHIP reports that bird flu outbreaks have been a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s poultry industry, often leading to significant economic losses.

This latest development came as the nation grappled with broader agricultural and economic concerns, highlighting the importance of swift and coordinated responses to health crises affecting livestock.

Quebec has recommenced three immigration pilot programmes offering skilled workers in artificial intelligence, information technology, and visual effects a route to permanent residency in Canada.

According to Quebec’s Immigration Service, the programmes which were launched first in 2021 aimed to address ongoing labour shortages in the industries and are now accepting new applications, targeting sectors critical to the province’s workforce.

To qualify, applicants must be 18 years of age or older, demonstrate financial independence, and intent to settle in Quebec to work in an eligible sector, and must not work for a company they control directly or indirectly.

For the Artificial Intelligence component, foreign workers need at least two years of full-time experience in AI or a related field, categorised as FÉER 0, 1, or 2 under the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Quebec graduates can apply with a recent master’s or doctoral degree in AI.

All applicants must secure full-time employment in Quebec’s AI sector, with salary thresholds of $75,000 outside Montreal or $100,000 within Montreal.

They must also submit an opinion from an expert committee confirming the position aligns with their qualifications.

The Information Technology and Visual Effects component requires applicants to have at least two years of relevant work experience and a technical college diploma or higher.

Applicants must also meet salary requirements based on the 9th decile of their profession’s wage scale and must not work in an ineligible sector or for a company they control.

Both components offer two application tracks based on language proficiency.

The Francophone profile requires a minimum French language proficiency of level 7 on the Quebec Scale of Competency Levels, which can be demonstrated through a recognized language test or academic records.

Alternatively, the Francization profile involves a commitment to learning French after selection through integration services.

For more eligibility information or to apply, candidates are advised to visit the Quebec Immigration website or contact the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration during business hours.

The owner of Ibadan-based broadcasting station, Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, has perfected his bail conditions and has been released from Agodi Correctional Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The broadcaster regained freedom with his co-accused, including Ooni of Ife’s ex-queen, Naomi Silekunola, and the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Abdulahi Fasasi.

They were all remanded over their alleged involvement in the Ibadan stampede that resulted in the deaths of 35 children in December 2024.

Giving a ruling on his bail application on Monday, Justice K. B. Olawoyin admitted the suspects to bail with a bond of ₦10 million each and two sureties in like sums.

However, Hamzat, after regaining his freedom on Tuesday, was received by a mammoth crowd at his broadcasting station, where he was captured in tears while addressing the people.

He told the crowd, “Oriyomi is back. At this time, I am in a moment of silence. Thank you very much.”

Recall that the Oyo State Government filed an 18-count criminal charge against Silekunola, Hamzat and Fasasi after the tragic incident.

The case, which was filed on Friday, January 10, 2025, at the State High Court, is marked with charge number I/05C/2025.

The trio were accused of offences including conspiracy to commit murder, manslaughter, criminal negligence, and other related charges.

The charge sheet obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday revealed that the accused individuals failed to provide adequate security, crowd control mechanisms, and medical facilities during the ill-fated funfair event held at the Islamic High School.

Their alleged negligence led to a stampede, resulting in the deaths of 35 children, with 14 victims identified in court documents.

The prosecution accused the defendants of conspiring to commit acts of criminal negligence, contrary to Section 517 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

According to the charge sheet, the trio “Did negligently omit to provide adequate security, crowd control mechanisms, and medical facilities, resulting in the death of Musiliu Sofiat, aged 8, and 34 other children.”

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has stated that documents signed by his predecessor, Hadi Sirika, indicate that a foreign airline would have taken over Nigeria Air.

In a viral video, Keyamo exposed some pages of the documents, explaining parts of the deed of agreements signed by Sirika and the Ethiopian government.

He insisted that the Nigerian government had no regrets about ending the agreement with Ethiopian Airlines over Nigeria Air, stressing that the country cannot give its aviation ecosystem to another entity.

Keyamo said, “You will be shocked if you look at this agreement. What it simply says is that a foreign government should come and take over our national carrier. Ethiopian Air was the single major shareholder in that deal. It is the same thing they did in Togo with Asky. We cannot be Togo. We are big and ambitious.

“We cannot give up our aviation ecosystem to another entity. What would have happened is that the Ethiopian government would now be the complete beneficiary of all our Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA) routes.

“A national carrier has first priority over all the BASA routes we have negotiated all over the world. If we give them all the routes we have suffered to negotiate, where will all those profits go? It is not Nigeria.”

This comes as Keyamo explained that Nigeria did not lose any foreign direct investment by not agreeing to the terms of Nigeria Air.

He said what the Ethiopian government was going to do was to get wet-lease aircraft and fly them as national carriers, with all the profits going to Addis Ababa.

The CEO of Nigeria Air would have been an Ethiopian, the financial officer Ethiopian, the director of operations Ethiopian, and all other key positions would have been reserved for foreigners. That is not a national carrier.

“In the document, it also says the people that will run Nigeria Air will not pay any tax to the Nigerian government. They are not also building any investments in the country. The documents also say Nigeria will be the guarantor of any loss they suffer here,” Keyamo further explained.

A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has alleged that there are efforts to transform the party into a subsidiary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP made this remark on Tuesday, January 14, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV’s Morning Show.

Ologbondiyan stated that the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagum, is unlawfully occupying his position.

Ologbondiyan’s comments were made in light of external influences that he believes are attempting to undermine the party.

He emphasized that while Damagum hails from the Northeast, there is a desire within the Northcentral region for the National Chairman position to revert to their area.

According to Ologbondiyan: “Like a proverb said, if there is no spilt on the wall, the lizard can’t come in, so definitely there will be issues in the party, but how much these issues are managed is one side, and how external influences come into them to finally disrupt and reduce the party to nothing else is also there.

“There are issues in the party. In the case of the National Chairman, the Northcentral believes that the position should return to them. Damagum is from the Northeast, and he is occupying that position.

“No matter how long he continues to stay there, Damagum is staying there illegitimately. It’s an issue in the party.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has said the priority of the House is to ensure the passage of the Appropriation Bill and the Tax Reform Bills.

The Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, while delivering a speech on the resumption of the House from the Christmas and new year recess on behalf of Abbas said both bills are pivotal to economic recovery and fiscal stability.

He said: “The legislative agenda of the House for 2025 prioritises the passage of the Appropriation Bill and the Tax Reform Bills, both of which are pivotal to economic recovery and fiscal stability.

“These reforms are essential for broadening the tax base, improving compliance and reducing dependency on external borrowing.

“The House will ensure that these reforms are equitable and considerate of the needs of all Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable.”

Abbas said as the lawmakers engage with the budget and other legislative priorities, they must remain meticulous in their scrutiny, ensuring that every proposal aligns with national objectives and delivers tangible benefits to the citizenry.

He was of the opinion that the planned Citizens’ Town Hall on the budget would further reinforce transparency and inclusivity in our decision-making processes.

Popular Nollywood actress, Stella Damasus has disclosed that her family’s name was initially Ojukwu before the Nigerian civil war.

She said this during an interview with popular media personality, Ebuka Obi Uchendu.

While reacting to the mistake people make with her name, ‘Damasus’, she explained that her grandfather’s name ‘Ojukwu’ was changed during the civil war to avoid being attacked.

The actress stated that her family’s name was assumed to be related to the late Biafran war general, Ojukwu.

Ebuka said; ” It was interesting that so many people didn’t even understand that your surname was not what it was. So many people were shocked at the revelation, are you as shocked as a lot of people were?”

Stella responded; “Damasus is my granddaughter’s first name. It’s a Greek name. My original surname was Ojukwu but that changed during the Biafran war when my people were attacked in Asaba because they thought it was the same Ojukwu.

“I was born into Damasus, and when I asked why, that was the reason they gave me.”

Parents of a 13-year-old student of Etoi Secondary School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State have cried out for justice in the case of their son who was gang-raped for three years after being hypnotised by a syndicate of six gay men.

However, operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command who launched investigations following a tip-off, swooped on the syndicate of ritualists specialising in the illicit gay practice with young male children within the age bracket of 10 and 13 years.

The gang, noted for their involvement in Sodomy and other unnatural sexual acts were successfully tracked with six of them arrested.

The suspects were paraded at the state Police Command along with others for sundry crimes of kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, vandalisation of public assets and utilities.

Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Baba Azare vowed to rid the state of crimes and perpetrators brought to justice.

“Based on information received from concerned journalists, a 13-year-old child reported being raped repeatedly for about three years by different men in sodomy practice.

“The operatives of the Command swung into action immediately and arrested, the following suspects: Okwudili Levi Okeke, a.k.a, Eze, aged 34 years; Idara Itam Daniel, aged 23 years; David Udoh James, aged 23 years; Udofia Edem Udosen; aged 29 years; David Bassey Bassey; aged 26 years; and Daniel Jacob Edet, aged 30 years.

“Investigation revealed that Okwudili Okeke, was recruited into sodomy and has had anal sex with several men in the state.

“This is a crime against humanity and will not be condoned. Suspects will soon be prosecuted after the completion of investigation,” the CP vowed.

CP Azare who took over the command late last month has assured of his commitment to addressing the security challenges facing the state especially the perennial farmers/herders’ crises, communal and boundary skirmishes.

“We are aware of issues such as Fulani herdsmen encroaching on farms and destroying crops, as well as senseless attacks on Fulani cows by troubleshooters.

“Let it be clear that the Police will not fold their arms and allow miscreants to unleash terror on law-abiding residents,” stressing effective enforcement of the anti-grazing law.

Following rising cases of vandalisation of public transformers and infrastructural facility across the state, the CP assured efforts have been stepped up to nip the crime and arrest the perpetrators.

Consequently, some suspects including one Prosper Brownson Jim, and his accomplice, Uduak Sunday Benson we’re apprehended for vandalisation of a transformer belonging to Sure Foundation Polytechnic at Ikot Akai, in Ukanafun LGA.

Police also recovery the transformer, transformer oil, armoured cables and charms from the suspects.

Other items recovered included four fire service trucks stolen by the agency’s officials and taken to the neighbouring Port Harcourt, Rivers state, with flour suspects arrested.

“The Command moved to recover the said trucks and further investigation revealed that the fire trucks were leased out to some multinational companies at the rate of N140,000 per truck per day for initial period of 3 years,” the CP explaine