Gist Arena

Nigeria to begin study on pre-exposure prophylaxis in Nnewi, Calabar, Jos • NACA roundtable calls for nationwide introduction of novel drug A new study has found that 100 per cent of participants taking Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention pill remained infection free. The study conducted at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco, United States (U.S.) involved more than 600 high-risk individuals, most of whom were men who have sex with men. These individuals were healthy at the time of enrollment and were put on a daily regimen of a blue pill called Truvada as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Lead author Jonathan Volk, a physician and epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center, described the study as “the first to extend the understanding of the use of PrEP in a real-world setting and suggests that the treatment may prevent new HIV infections even in a high-risk setting.” The U.S. Centers...

Seven persons, including a woman police officer and an aide to the wife of a northern governor, were among the injured when the popular Markaival Hotel, on Refinery Road in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, collapsed yesterday. It was learnt that the hotel collapsed the way Synagogue of All Nations Church in Okota, a Lagos suburb, crashed in 2014. The victims were mostly indigenes of other states who were in the town for a programme at the Christ Mercy Land Church, headed by Pastor Jeremiah Fufeyin, popularly called the Ijaw T.B. Joshua among his followers. Our correspondent’s checks revealed that the victims of the collapse were mainly religious pilgrims from outside of Delta State. The aide to the wife of a northern governor, simply identified as Adeza, told Otuaro that she left Abuja on Tuesday afternoon in search of a solution to some family problems.  “I am a Muslim, but I came here to see the man of God. Recently, I lost m...

A 25-year-old man who attempted to hide under the tyre carriage of a Medview aircraft on a domestic flight was apprehended yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) in Lagos. He was found by the pilot during his final check on the plane before its departure to Accra, Ghana. Airport workers hinted that he succeeded in gaining access into the tyre compartment of the aircraft which was ready for taxing on the Tarmac . He hid himself at the tyre compartment in the under carriage of the aircraft .A source hinted that final  inspection round the plane by the pilot drew his attention to some strange movements and object inside the  tyre compartment. The man was handed over to the police at the domestic airport where he confessed he has nursed the ambition of carry out the act for two weeks and had been holed up around the airport while perfecting his plan. The stowaway was said to have confessed that he did what he did out of ...

Chidinma, the little girl who survived the fire incident that killed 7 members of a family, has died.  She suffered some facial burns during the unfortunate incident. According to reports, she died this afternoon at the Gbagada General Hospital where she was receiving medical attention. So sad. RIP!

The National Space Research and Development Agency NASRDA, says Nigeria will experience a Lunar Eclipse on  Sept. 28th . Lunar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the earth comes in-between the sun and the moon, and the earth casts its shadow on the moon, so that the moon appears reddish. A statement by the agency which was signed and released yesterday September 9th by the Deputy Director. Media and Corporate Communications, Felix Ale, says the lunar eclipse would begin on  Monday September 28th  from  1:11am , and will be at its maximum by 3:47 am, with its final contact at  6:22am .

Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike says he has declared his assets to the relevant authorities and is not compelled to make it public. Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah, Wike said what is important in asset declaration is the sincerity behind it ... "The governor has declared his assets and this is exactly what he told newsmen during the tour of his administration’s projects. There is no law compelling him to make his declaration public. He has declared his assets and the declaration was made to the relevant authority. Let me also say that it is not just about asset declaration; it has to do with the sincerity of the person because some may over-declare when they want to steal in future. So, they declare to accommodate the theft in future.

This is some cheering news from the Defence Headquarters. At its maiden media chat which held in Abuja yesterday September 9th, The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Colonel Rabe Abubakar said the military is winning the war against Boko Haram as all the camps of the terror group have been destroyed. He said: “These terrorists have been subdued, even if they are adopting other means and as they are re-strategizing, we are also doing the same. We have been coordinating on the air and ground assault to make sure that these terrorists' hideouts are completely decimated.