By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Thursday gave an immediate waiver of fees for the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the Nigerian Law School’s Abuja campus.

Wike revealed this during a meeting with the school’s management in Abuja.

He also declared an “Emergency” on the construction of staff quarters and other critical infrastructure to enhance the institution’s learning environment.

The FCT Minister while responding to an appeal from the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr.

According to the FCT Minister, “Luckily, the Department of Land is t/here. We are going to waive the fee for C of O for you immediately. But it’s quite unfortunate that since the time they moved the law school to Bwari, they don’t have the C of O. So you’re occupying an illegal institution. I was thinking the first thing the government would have done as the school was coming in was to give you a C of O to show that you are a rightful owner”.

He described the lack of official documentation for government institutions as a trend that his administration is actively correcting.

He noted, “It’s not only you. I think even the Department of State Services, the SSS, they just got their C of O. That’s not encouraging at all”.

The Minister directed the Director of Lands to waive all processing fees for the school’s C of O, and issued a firm directive to ensure the document is processed and ready within one week.

He noted that regularizing the land is essential to move the school from what he colloquially termed an “illegal session” to rightful ownership.

Beyond land matters, the Minister committed the FCT Administration (FCTA) to several high-priority projects aimed at resolving overcrowding and improving staff efficiency.

Wike announced that 10 staff quarters have already been completed and will be commissioned as part of the President’s third anniversary. He further pledged to construct an additional 10 units using existing prototypes to save on design costs.

According to him, work is progressing on two new hostels—one for male students and one for female students—to alleviate overcrowding.

The Minister confirmed he has approved the budget for a new auditorium and questioned why the contractor had not yet moved to the site.

To modernize administrative functions, Wike directed the school to liaise with the FCTA General Counsel, Salman Dako, to explore digitization solutions similar to ongoing efforts at the FCT High Court.

Minister Wike emphasized that these interventions are part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader agenda to support legal education and the judiciary.

He noted that the President is currently constructing “presidential apartments” for judges to ensure their security, welfare, and autonomy.

“Anything we can do to help our children, we are willing to do that,” Wike stated.

He also added that the staff quarters must be treated as an emergency project to ensure rapid delivery.

Dr. Odusote congratulated the Minister on his appointment and praised the visible infrastructure developments across the FCT, while highlighting the specific challenges of disrepair and infrastructure deficits facing the Law School.

Australian researchers on Thursday revealed that alcohol consumption causes a higher proportion of cancers in Australia than previous estimates.

According to a statement of the University of Sydney, the study estimates that around 4.6 per cent of all cancers in Australia are caused by alcohol consumption, which also increases the risk of developing cancer by 19 per cent.

The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, analyzed alcohol consumption behavior among 225,000 people in the Australian state of New South Wales’ 45 & Up Study.

The study’s lead author Peter Sarich from the University Of Sydney School Of Public Health said “cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Australia.

“While the science on the causes of cancer continues to evolve, the evidence is now clear that reducing alcohol consumption is an effective strategy for preventing cancer.’’

Researchers estimated that over 7,800 cancer cases diagnosed in Australia in 2024 were attributable to alcohol, exceeding earlier estimates of between 2.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent.

The study found cancer risk rises with increased alcohol intake. For every 10 drinks consumed per week, the risk of cancer increased by 19 per cent.

The risk rose by 46 per cent for liver cancer, 27 per cent for cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus, 18 per cent for breast cancer, and 16 per cent for colorectal cancer, according to the study.

Sarich said if Australians followed national guidelines of no more than 10 drinks per week, more than 3,700 alcohol-related cancer cases annually could be prevented.

He added that only around half the population is aware that alcohol causes cancer.

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

The Cross River State Government has refuted a publication by online platforms alleging the discovery of 10 new persons with COVID-19 symptoms, describing the report as misleading and inconsistent with the state’s current public health records.

In an official rejoinder issued on Thursday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr.

The clarification follows a report titled “Cross River Identifies 10 More Persons with COVID Symptoms,” which suggested a possible spread of the virus in the state.

However, the Commissioner explained that the ten individuals referenced in the report are merely contacts of the confirmed case, identified through routine contact tracing, and not new or suspected infections.

“As clearly communicated during our press briefing in Calabar on April 21, there are no additional confirmed cases in Cross River State,” Ayuk stated.

He further explained that none of the identified contacts is currently exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19, emphasizing that they do not fall under the category of suspected or confirmed cases.

To ensure public understanding, the Ministry outlined key distinctions: contacts are individuals who have had close interaction with a confirmed case; suspected cases are those showing symptoms; while confirmed cases are individuals who have tested positive through laboratory diagnosis.

Ayuk noted that, in line with standard public health protocols, the identified contacts have been placed under home isolation and are being monitored daily by health officials for any signs of the virus.

“This is purely a preventive measure and does not indicate any new infections,” he stressed.

The state government reiterated its commitment to transparency and timely dissemination of accurate health information, urging residents to disregard unverified reports and rely on official updates from the Ministry of Health.

While encouraging continued adherence to basic preventive measures, the Commissioner assured citizens that there is no cause for alarm, as the situation remains under control.