Category Nigeria News

Traders of the Onitsha Main Market have reopened their shops in compliance with a directive by the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

Soludo had last Monday ordered that the market be shut down for one week due to the perceived compliance with the Monday sit-at-home order by non-state actors.

The governor also warned that if traders failed to open at the end of the one-week shutdown, the market would be closed for another week, and subsequently for longer periods.

However, a week after economic activities were grounded, the traders were seen trooping into the market.

READ ALSO: Soludo Shuts Down Onitsha Main Market For One Week Over Sit-At-Home



A visit to the market on Monday, Channels Television observed that many traders resumed their businesses as early as 8:45am.

Starting from Egerton, to Ose food stuff market, down to The Young Park, one of the major entrances into the Main Market, many traders are seen setting up their wares. From Emeka Offor Plaza to Sokoto road, and to Lagos line and Marine, many traders have opened their shops while customers have started to patronize opened shops. It is clear that the traders are complying to Government’s directives of ignoring the situation at home order.

Sit-At-Home ‘Order’

The order, which has been in place for about four years, disrupted economic and social activities across the South-East and has been publicly condemned by the Soludo administration.

The state government had urged residents to go about their lawful activities without fear and shunning the illegal order, which it describes as an economic sabotage on the region.

Security personnel, including the police and the army, among others, were later deployed to seal the market gates and ensure compliance.

For years, parts of Anambra State have observed a Monday sit-at-home that disrupted commercial and social activities, leaving markets, schools, and workplaces deserted.

The practice, imposed by non-state actors in the South-East, has been widely criticised for harming the state’s economy, forcing traders, transport workers, and students indoors, especially in hubs like Onitsha.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo has led efforts to end the shutdown.

In April 2022, he formally declared the sit-at-home over, announced amnesty for youths in hideouts, and promised a peace and reconciliation committee.

More reactions have trailed the death of a rising singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, following a snake bite in Abuja, with the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Saheed Kehinde, condemning the neglect of primary healthcare in Nigeria.

Kehinde said primary healthcare centres are key to a functional healthcare system in any country, adding that medicines like anti-snake venoms are simple, basic things that should be available in PHCs.

“I have always said, and I will continue to say it. The federal, state, and local governments are not listening. And the main thing is that primary healthcare is the most important thing in the healthcare delivery system.

“Primary healthcare should take about 60 to 70 per cent of the budgetary allocation, followed by secondary and tertiary. Unfortunately, in this country, governments face more secondary and tertiary healthcare and neglect primary healthcare, which is the basis of care in any country in the world.

“Any country that ignores primary healthcare has a failed health system. We have a failed health system in this country; that’s the truth,” he said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday.

Why Snake Bites Should Be Attended To Early

Kehinde explained that anyone who suffers a snake bite should receive immediate medical attention due to the possibility of complications that may arise, depending on the type of snake involved.

“What I heard was that when it happened, it happened at home, probably in the morning, and she was taken to one or two hospitals before she was taken to FMC Abuja, where she was given anti-snake venom, which was what I was not, which is different from the account in the public,” he said.

“But unfortunately, I think they said she came around 11, probably, the incident happened in the morning.

“And when you have a snake bite, there are certain things that are very important. The type of snake has the type of virulence — the danger it can cause.

“There are some snakes that are not toxic, some are toxic, and it depends on the toxicity. The anti-venom is to prevent complications that can arise from that bite.

“What it does is to go and prevent, or kill or inhibit the venom from getting into the body and do any damage; that is the function of anti-venom,” the doctor added.

Asked how much time one who has suffered a snake bite should receive treatment, the state NMA chairman said, “You see, you cannot say the particular time.

“That’s why, normally in the treatment of the snake bite, you have to identify the type of snake. The type of the snake determines the virulence, and also determines how widespread it will go.

“Therefore, the issue of time is very crucial in the sense that, within minutes, you should try to give the anti-snake venom.”

PPP In Primary Healthcare

He further urged state and local governments to collaborate with the private sector to strengthen healthcare delivery at the community level.

“Primary healthcare is not only provided by the government. They should also collaborate with the private sector in medical care, in the sense that private hospitals should also be giving primary care — very simple, with a lesser amount of money that the people will pay,” he stated.

Speaking on the primary healthcare system in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, Kehinde said, “In Lagos State, we have about 300 primary healthcare centres. With the population of Lagos, those primary healthcare centres cannot cover the whole of Lagos.

“How many of the 300 primary healthcare centres have doctors? That is the question you must also ask.

“The government should look into primary healthcare. All these anti-snake [venom], anti-rabies, all those simple basic things should be available.

“What does primary healthcare mean? It means the first place you go for health, and it should not be a distance from your house.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, says he was one of the targets of a coup plot and was meant to be shot by the orchestrators. 

General Musa spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, days after the military said some of the sixteen officers arrested last October will face trial over an attempt to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. 

“I was also a target, I am sure you know,” the minister, who is a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), said on the show.

“I was supposed to be arrested, and if I refused, I was supposed to be shot,” he added.

Military to Try Officers

In October, the military arrested “sixteen officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations”. 

But last week, authorities said “findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards required of members of the AFN.”

“Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before an appropriate military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations,” the Director, Major General, Samaila Uba, said in a statement. 

READ ALSO: Military To Try Officers Over Alleged Plot To Overthrow Govt

‘Unserious People’

Several top government officials and other prominent leaders were allegedly pencilled to be killed in the coup attempt.

Reports have linked the attempted coup to the cancellation of the 65th Independence Anniversary parade.

Ex-Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva’s house was raided over an alleged link to a coup plot.

According to General Musa, those involved in the coup plot were “unserious individuals”.

“I think these guys were a bunch of unserious individuals. If you look at the calibre of persons [involved in the attempted coup], I don’t know what got into their heads to think they can take on the Armed Forces like that,” the minister said.

The minister said Nigerians would have fought against the coup plotters as they have done in the past.

“What I even said is that even Nigerians would have fought them. Remember, Nigerians have fought against military rule for quite some time. Mr President has been one of them, so for them to wake up one morning and think they can do that in Nigeria, I think they need to reset their brain,” he said.

Nigeria has had a history of coups, especially between 1966 and 1993. But the country returned to democracy in 1999 and has since been in a democratic setting. 

South African singer Tyla has won the ‘Best African Music Performance’ award at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The pop star, who recently clocked 24, clinched the prize with her song Push 2 Start, marking her second win in the category.

Tyla had previously won the same award at its inaugural edition in 2024 for her global hit Water, becoming the first artiste to win the title twice since the category was introduced.

The latest win pushed the songstress’s influence on the global stage and reinforced her position as one of Africa’s most successful contemporary young pop exports.

The Best African Music Performance category was created in 2024 to recognise recordings that showcase African music. The 2025 award was won by Tems.

READ ALSO: 2026 Grammy Awards Winners [FULL LIST]

Tyla’s wins have drawn attention to her ability to push amapiano, pop and R&B into a sound that resonates with international audiences.

“Push 2 Start,” lifted from her self-titled debut album ‘Tyla’ released in 2024, gained widespread popularity through streaming platforms and social media dance challenges.

The song combines amapiano influences and pop, focusing on themes of romance and self-confidence.

Highly Contested Category

This year’s category featured a strong line-up dominated by African heavyweights, particularly from Nigeria w

Other nominees included Burna Boy (Love), Davido featuring Omah Lay (With You), Ayra Starr featuring Wizkid (Gimme Dat), and Eddy Kenzo & Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).

Beyond the award, Tyla’s success reflects a remarkable career trajectory.

Since emerging from Johannesburg and signing with an international label in 2021, she has achieved major commercial milestones, including a top-25 debut on the Billboard 200 and global chart success with Water.

Eighty worshippers who escaped abduction during a bandit attack at Kurmin Wali community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have returned to their homes.

However, dozens of others remain in captivity, as security operatives intensify efforts to rescue the victims.

This is according to the village head, Ishaku Danazumi, who said the eighty returnees fled when armed men stormed the community during a church service on January 18th, 2026, abducting several people and forcing others to escape for safety.

He said that the returnees were hale and hearty upon their return, nearly two weeks after the incident

Danazumi disclosed that although 80 worshippers escaped from being abducted by the bandits, 86 other worshippers are still in the custody of the kidnappers.

Security sources attribute the return of the displaced residents to intensified military operations targeting bandit hideouts across Kajuru and nearby forest corridors.

The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mansir Hassan, said that the Divisional Police Officer of Kajuru had visited the community where he saw the victims, after which they were profiled and debriefed.

READ ALSO: Gov Sani Visits Kajuru After Abduction, Promises Speedy Return Of Victims

Last month, over 100 people were abducted when gunmen attacked three churches.

Initially, authorities denied the incident after the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state first disclosed the incident.

But the Nigeria Police Force spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, days after, said the incident “did happen”.

Governor Uba Sani visited the community following the incident, assuring residents of the safe return of the abductees.

“The people of Kurmin Wali, just like other communities in Kaduna State, have absolute trust and belief in our government. Because they know we are running an inclusive government.

“We protect the lives of everyone, irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation. We are one in Kaduna State. And I’m happy the people of Kurmin Wali have understood that clearly.

“That is the reason why when we came in here, you can see how they received us warmly, even those that are mourning, even those that are grieving, they are with the government.”