From Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu 

The Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) has directed factories, companies and business operators within the capital territory to maintain a clean and safe environment around their premises or face sanctions.

The directive, issued by ACTDA Environmental Officer, Mr.

Jude Nworah, on behalf of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Authority Dr. Ossy Onuko, stated that operators are required to regularly cut and clear grasses within and around their premises, provide waste bins and ensure proper refuse disposal.

ACTDA announced that its enforcement team will commence routine inspections from February 15, 2026, warning that defaulters will be sanctioned with a fine of Three Hundred Thousand Naira or face legal prosecution.

Nworah said the inspection exercise will cover factories, companies and other business premises across Awka to ensure compliance with environmental sanitation standards.

He noted that the directive became necessary following the poor environmental condition previously observed in parts of the capital city, including blocked drainage systems and unclean gutters.

According to him, several establishments had earlier been served notices to carry out clean up and desilting of drainages, stressing that the enforcement process would not be compromised.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday assured residents that antivenom is fully stocked and readily accessible across all FCTA-owned hospitals and public health centres.

This assurance is coming few days after the death of singer and social media influencer, Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene, which triggered widespread anger and allegations of medical negligence.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Health Services and Environment Secretariat and personally signed by Dr.

Adedolapo Fasawe, its Mandate Secretary, in Abuja.

The Mandate Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration expresses her deepest condolences to the family of Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene, who sadly passed away following neurotoxic complications from a snakebite.

“The loss of a promising young life is deeply painful and distressing. I share in the family’s grief and reaffirm that such medically preventable deaths must be taken seriously, with strengthened measures to prevent recurrence”, she said.

She noted, “Snakebites remain a largely preventable public health emergency. Snakes inhabit rainforests, grasslands, farms, and semi-arid areas, and often hide near human dwellings in search of food or shelter—leading to increased human-snake encounters. In Nigeria, highly venomous species such as cobras, vipers, and puff adders are present. As a rule, all snakebites must be treated as venomous until proven otherwise.

“Prevention and First Aid

All FCT residents are urged to adopt primary prevention measures, including wearing protective clothing when in farms or tall grass, avoiding dark areas or using flashlights at night, clearing debris around homes, sealing entry points, and never handling snakes.

In the event of a bite, immediate first aid includes staying calm, immobilising the affected limb below heart level, removing constrictive items, gently cleaning the wound, and proceeding immediately to a hospital with antivenom. Harmful practices—such as cutting or sucking the wound, applying tourniquets, ice, or herbal remedies—must be avoided.

“Emergency Care, Anti-Venom, and Ambulance Services

The FCTA reassures residents that different forms and types of anti-snake venom are widely available across FCTA-owned hospitals and public health facilities. Stocking decisions are guided by collaboration with veterinary doctors, who help identify the most common snake species (venom strains) in the FCT. Accordingly, polyvalent and multivalent antivenoms are maintained, centrally stored in FCTA owned Abuja Central Medical Stores, and directly managed by the Secretariat to ensure quality, cold-chain integrity, and availability.

Prompt treatment is critical.

“While antivenom is most effective when administered early, its use does not guarantee recovery, particularly where neurotoxic symptoms have already manifested, underscoring the need for rapid evacuation.

“To reduce response times, the FCTA has strengthened secondary prevention through expanded road networks and the recent procurement and deployment of 12 ambulances, equipped to manage emergencies. Hospitals provide antivenom administration, immobilisation (without tourniquets), monitoring for adverse reactions, and supportive care. Tertiary care, including ICU admission, airway management, coagulation monitoring, and blood transfusion services, is available across FCT hospitals.

Quality Assurance and Emergency Access

“I want to reiterate that all healthcare facilities—public and private—must adhere strictly to approved clinical protocols. Monitoring and enforcement will be intensified, and facilities found negligent will face sanctions.

“For emergencies, residents should contact FCT Emergency Medical System and Ambulance Services Numbers – 090157892931, 090157892932”, she assured.

She therefore assured the residents that FCTA remains resolute in strengthening emergency systems, enforcing quality healthcare standards, and protecting the lives of all residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

US President Donald Trump announced he will be seeking $1bn (£730m) in damages from Harvard University in his administration’s ongoing feud with the institution.

The news comes after the New York Times reported that the Trump administration had to backtrack from its demand for a $200m payment in negotiations with the university.

Trump cited the story in a Truth Social post late on Monday, blaming Harvard for “feeding a lot of nonsense” to the New York Times.

Trump officials have accused Harvard of not doing enough to tackle antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests. Harvard has rejected the accusation.

Harvard has been a central target in the White House’s campaign to stamp out what it calls “woke” and “radical left” ideologies on American campuses.

In April last year, Trump revoked around $2bn in research grants to Harvard and froze federal funding.

The university sued the Trump administration over the move, saying no government “should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue”.

A US federal court later overturned the billions in funding cuts, ruling the government had violated university’s free speech rights.

The White House vowed to immediately challenge the “egregious decision”, saying Harvard remains “ineligible for grants in the future”.

Before Monday’s announcement, the government had been in discussions with Harvard over a potential deal to unfreeze federal funding.

“We are now seeking One Billion Dollars in damages, and want nothing further to do, into the future, with Harvard University,” Trump wrote on Monday.

He accused Harvard of “serious and heinous illegalities”, but did not clarify how he believed it had broken the law.

Trump has previously threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and take control of the university’s patents stemming from federally funded research.

Three other Ivy League universities, Columbia, Penn and Brown, struck deals with Trump to preserve funding that was at risk due to similar claims by the administration, rather than go to court.