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‘Misleading And Alarmist’ — NCoS Slams TB Hotspot Claims On Custodial Centres.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed a recent report alleging that custodial centres across the country have become hotspots for tuberculosis, describing the publication as misleading, sensational and inconsistent with realities on the ground. According to Nivo News, the Service said the report relied on sweeping generalisations and failed to reflect verified conditions within correctional facilities nationwide.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections J.N. Osuji, the NCoS explained that it had earlier provided the reporter with detailed information on tuberculosis prevention, treatment and control measures in line with national and international standards. However, it expressed concern that the final publication adopted what it termed an alarmist narrative that unfairly portrayed custodial centres as unchecked disease hubs.
The Service stressed that tuberculosis remains a global public health challenge affecting both custodial and non-custodial populations. It noted that Nigeria’s tuberculosis response is coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines, with the NCoS playing an active supporting role.
Contrary to the claims made in the report, the NCoS said health clinics operate within custodial centres nationwide, supported by collaborations with federal and state health authorities, non-governmental organisations and development partners. These partnerships, it said, ensure routine screening, laboratory diagnosis, treatment initiation, adherence monitoring and referrals to higher health facilities where necessary. Inmates diagnosed with tuberculosis are reportedly placed on approved treatment regimens at no cost.
The Service further stated that some names and cases referenced in the report could not be traced to any known custodial centre records, emphasising that responsible journalism demands accuracy, balance and reliance on verifiable data rather than conjecture or sensational headlines.
While acknowledging challenges such as ageing infrastructure and congestion in some facilities, the NCoS maintained that these issues reflect broader systemic challenges and do not amount to neglect of inmate welfare. It cited its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as evidence of its capacity to manage communicable diseases, noting that proactive screening, isolation protocols and inter-agency cooperation prevented active cases in custodial centres.
The NCoS added that ongoing efforts are being made to decongest facilities through jail delivery initiatives, closer judicial collaboration and expanded use of non-custodial measures. It also disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the recruitment of additional medical and healthcare personnel to strengthen healthcare delivery and disease surveillance across custodial centres. Reaffirming its mandate, the Service said it remains committed to protecting the health, dignity and human rights of all persons in custody, while welcoming constructive criticism rooted in factual and balanced reporting.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed how he rejected an offer of political asylum from the United States despite warnings that he could be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The former leader also recounted how he left the Nigerian Army to pursue farming before his return to the country led to his arrest and imprisonment under the administration of late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
Obasanjo shared the experience while discussing his encounter with Abacha in an interview featured in a video published by BBC News Pidgin on Tuesday.
The 89-year-old explained that he ventured into agriculture after leaving office as Nigeria’s military Head of State in 1979.
According to him, his farming business was progressing successfully until Abacha allegedly made plans to eliminate him.
Obasanjo said he had not intended to retire from the Army at the age of 42, but had reached the highest position possible in the military, having become a four-star general and Head of State.
He said, “When I was leaving government as military head of state, there was, I was leaving too early. I didn’t join the army to retire at the age of 42.
“Now I had to retire at the age of 42. At the age of 42, I had become a four-star general. There’s nothing else I can do in the army. I’ve become the military head of state. That’s the highest political office I could rise.
“So what can I do? I decided I would go into farming. It really was going well, and it went well until I was arrested. Abacha had decided that I must be liquidated; otherwise he would not be able to have his way.”
The former President further disclosed that he was unaware of the alleged plan against him until the American ambassador to Nigeria contacted him while he was travelling.
According to Obasanjo, the ambassador informed him that the US government had offered him political asylum because it anticipated that he would be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.
However, he said he rejected the offer because he believed he had committed no offence that warranted an arrest.
He explained that upon arriving in Nigeria, his passport was seized, and he headed to his farm, only to discover that security operatives had surrounded the premises.
Obasanjo said a plain-clothes police officer later approached him, claiming that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) wanted him to assist with an issue.
He recalled rejecting the invitation, insisting that the AIG should personally come to his farm if he needed his assistance.
The former leader said he eventually drove himself to the police station, where the AIG informed him that he had been instructed to arrest him.
Obasanjo added that he was subsequently detained, and former US President Jimmy Carter later intervened on his behalf, leading to his placement under house arrest.
However, he said security operatives returned one night while he was playing squash at about 1 a.m. and took him away to prison.
He said, “I didn’t know that it was a decision of Abacha that some of us must not be kept free; otherwise, he would feel unsafe. I was put in a place. Then President Jimmy Carter came. He pleaded, and then they put me under house arrest.
“Then they came one day; I was playing squash at about 1 am. They came and said they were taking me away. And they took me away, and from there, I went to prison.”
Nigerian music producer Krizbeatz has recounted an experience from a visit to the residence of popular Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The producer shared the story while speaking about his Christian faith during an interview on the Zikoko podcast.
Krizbeatz described himself as someone who grew up in the church and has continued to maintain a connection with Christianity.
Recalling his encounter with Tiwa Savage during a music production session, he said he visited the singer’s home to work on her song titled Energy.
However, he was surprised by what he found the award-winning singer doing when he arrived at her residence.
According to him, Tiwa Savage was reading the Bible at the time.
He said, “I am the producer of Tiwa Savage’s song ‘Energy.’ The day I visited her house to produce the song, I saw her reading the Bible.”
Meanwhile, Tiwa Savage recently responded to a social media user who questioned her decision to describe herself as an African Baddie.
The controversy started after the man criticised the singer for using the description despite being in her 40s.
He wrote, “African baddie at 40… this one no serious.”
Reacting, the singer disclosed that she is 46 years old and expressed confidence in her appearance, financial status and music career.
She also dismissed the criticism while promoting her forthcoming song, African Baddie.
Tiwa wrote, “46, fine, paid, unbothered and dropping my super hottttt record ‘African Baddie’ on Friday. What exactly is the problem, boy?😂 #AfricanBaddie.”
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed how he rejected an offer of political asylum from the United States despite warnings that he could be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The former leader also recounted how he left the Nigerian Army to pursue farming before his return to the country led to his arrest and imprisonment under the administration of late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
Obasanjo shared the experience while discussing his encounter with Abacha in an interview featured in a video published by BBC News Pidgin on Tuesday.
The 89-year-old explained that he ventured into agriculture after leaving office as Nigeria’s military Head of State in 1979.
According to him, his farming business was progressing successfully until Abacha allegedly made plans to eliminate him.
Obasanjo said he had not intended to retire from the Army at the age of 42, but had reached the highest position possible in the military, having become a four-star general and Head of State.
He said, “When I was leaving government as military head of state, there was, I was leaving too early. I didn’t join the army to retire at the age of 42.
“Now I had to retire at the age of 42. At the age of 42, I had become a four-star general. There’s nothing else I can do in the army. I’ve become the military head of state. That’s the highest political office I could rise.
“So what can I do? I decided I would go into farming. It really was going well, and it went well until I was arrested. Abacha had decided that I must be liquidated; otherwise he would not be able to have his way.”
The former President further disclosed that he was unaware of the alleged plan against him until the American ambassador to Nigeria contacted him while he was travelling.
According to Obasanjo, the ambassador informed him that the US government had offered him political asylum because it anticipated that he would be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.
However, he said he rejected the offer because he believed he had committed no offence that warranted an arrest.
He explained that upon arriving in Nigeria, his passport was seized, and he headed to his farm, only to discover that security operatives had surrounded the premises.
Obasanjo said a plain-clothes police officer later approached him, claiming that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) wanted him to assist with an issue.
He recalled rejecting the invitation, insisting that the AIG should personally come to his farm if he needed his assistance.
The former leader said he eventually drove himself to the police station, where the AIG informed him that he had been instructed to arrest him.
Obasanjo added that he was subsequently detained, and former US President Jimmy Carter later intervened on his behalf, leading to his placement under house arrest.
However, he said security operatives returned one night while he was playing squash at about 1 a.m. and took him away to prison.
He said, “I didn’t know that it was a decision of Abacha that some of us must not be kept free; otherwise, he would feel unsafe. I was put in a place. Then President Jimmy Carter came. He pleaded, and then they put me under house arrest.
“Then they came one day; I was playing squash at about 1 am. They came and said they were taking me away. And they took me away, and from there, I went to prison.”
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