By Enuma Aghadinuno, Abuja

Livebridge Properties and Investment Limited has extended medical and humanitarian support to more than 1,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and persons living with disabilities in the Karamajiji community, Abuja.

The outreach, organised as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, provided beneficiaries with free medical consultations, health checks and essential medications, as well as food items, wheelchairs and other relief materials.

Speaking during the exercise, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Livebridge Properties and Investment Limited, Dr.

Nwaneri Obinna Flaker, said the initiative was driven by the company’s commitment to supporting vulnerable people within its host communities.

Flaker said the company had made it a regular practice to reach out to persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups at least once or twice a year.

“We have taken it upon ourselves to give back to our host community as a company. We have made it a norm every year, at least once or twice in a year, to come to the disabled persons community,” he said.

According to him, interactions with residents over the years showed that many members of the community faced basic health challenges that could be addressed through primary healthcare interventions.

“We come here and reach out to them medically. From our interactions and past interviews, it has come to our knowledge that they suffer certain ailments which ordinarily basic primary healthcare can actually attend to,” he said.

The Livebridge CEO also highlighted the challenge of healthcare affordability, particularly the rising cost of medicines, which he said was making access to essential healthcare difficult for many Nigerians.

He called for stronger government intervention in primary healthcare delivery to ensure that vulnerable citizens can access basic medical services and essential drugs.

“The cost of medications is often beyond the reach of the average citizen. We believe the government should intervene, especially in primary healthcare delivery, as many Nigerians are unable to access these essential services,” Flaker said.

He described the outreach as an expression of love and humanity, stressing that the company’s intervention was not based on religion, ethnicity, gender or race.

“The message of love was preached by God Himself. God loves us unconditionally. It cuts across race, religion and ethnic nationality. There is no discrimination; we just love,” he said.

Flaker further urged other corporate organisations and individuals with the capacity to support vulnerable Nigerians to contribute to humanitarian efforts in their communities.

“Nothing is too small. Reach out to those in need. There is someone somewhere today who doesn’t know where the next meal will be coming from,” he said.

Also speaking, the Head of Customer Service at Livebridge, Ejembi Alice, said the company considered it important to support vulnerable communities, particularly amid the prevailing economic challenges.

“If those who can support themselves are struggling, just imagine the plight of individuals with disabilities. That’s why we are here today to offer relief and show compassion to this community,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Abdullah Yusuf expressed appreciation to the company for the gesture and prayed for its continued growth and development.

“We are very happy. May God bless you more,” he said.

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has warned operators of pepper and grinding machines against using rusty or poorly fabricated equipment.

The agency said such equipment could expose consumers to metal contamination and other food-safety risks.

Afolabi Solebo, LASCOPA General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, gave the warning in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

Solebo said the warning followed concerns raised at the 2026 Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition.

The conference had the theme, ‘From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.

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He urged operators across Lagos to replace traditional cast-iron and unsuitable locally fabricated machines with stainless-steel and food-grade equipment.

Solebo said the widespread use of grinding machines by households, food vendors and restaurants made compliance with food-safety standards imperative.

He listed hospitals, boarding schools, caterers, traders and small-scale food businesses among other users of the machines.

According to him, worn, rusty or corroded grinding equipment could increase the risk of metal contamination during food processing.

The LASCOPA boss also warned that accumulated food residues, dirt and grease from previous grinding activities could compromise food safety and quality.

He said: “Operators must understand that food safety is not optional.

“The use of unsafe or poorly maintained grinding machines exposes consumers to avoidable health risks.”

Solebo said the use of hygienic and food-grade equipment was critical to safeguarding public health.

He disclosed that LASCOPA’s Monitoring and Enforcement Officers would intensify compliance checks at food-processing and grinding points across the state.

The agency, he said, would take appropriate regulatory action against establishments found using unsafe or unsuitable equipment.

The general manager advised operators to clean grinding machines thoroughly after every use and remove accumulated food residues.

He also urged operators to maintain hygienic surroundings and regularly inspect and maintain grinding components.

Solebo said proper maintenance would help prevent food contamination and cross-contamination during processing.

He advised consumers to remain vigilant when patronising grinding points, particularly where equipment appeared deteriorated or unhygienic.

The LASCOPA chief also appealed to politicians and public-spirited individuals providing grinding machines through empowerment programmes to prioritise stainless-steel and food-grade equipment.

He described consumer protection as a shared responsibility between regulators, operators and consumers.

Solebo assured Lagos residents that LASCOPA would sustain consumer enlightenment, market surveillance and enforcement activities across the state.

He urged residents to report unsafe or unhygienic food-processing practices to the agency for investigation and appropriate action.

“Consumers should not remain silent when practices capable of compromising their safety are observed,” he said. (NAN)

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a man, Manaseh Bitrus Jatau, in connection with the death of his 35-year-old girlfriend, Rebecca Ojonike Jeremiah, in the Romi area of Kaduna.

The command, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, said the deceased’s lifeless body was found along Mai Angwa Street, Romi, on September 5, 2026.

According to the statement, the body was discovered at about 7am with cotton wool stuffed in the deceased’s nostrils.

It said police detectives from the Romi Outstation visited the scene and rushed the woman to St.

Gerald Hospital, Kakuri, where a doctor confirmed her dead.

The command said her corpse had been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.

Preliminary investigation, according to the police, showed that Jatau was the last person to call the deceased and had asked her to meet him at Ebano Joint, Romi.

The suspect was subsequently traced and arrested at his workplace, Tomato Jos Company, in the Maraban Jos area of Kaduna.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to having had a fight with the deceased in his room over a phone call from another lady, which resulted in her death,” the statement said.

The police further alleged that Jatau confessed to dumping the deceased’s body in an open field close to his house in an attempt to conceal the incident.

The command said the suspect remained in police custody while investigation continued, adding that he would be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, condemned acts of violence and urged members of the public to embrace peaceful resolution of disputes.

He also assured residents of the command’s commitment to securing justice for victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.