NEWS
Wike Reconstruct Deidei Market Road to Life Camp

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
In order to create more access to Deidei international market, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike said his administration has concluded arrangements to reconstruct the Market Road to Life Camp.
Wike stated this at the weekend during the commissioning of 5-kilometer temporary access road connecting Saburi 1 and 2 communities to the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) and the old Keffi, Dei-Dei International market road, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where the Minister assured residents of the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises.
According to the Minister, “Mr. President has directed that this Dei-Dei Market Road be reconstructed to Life Camp so the market can regain its international standard.
I assure you, in the next one month, we will flag it off, and by this time next year, we’ll be back to commissioning it.He added that streetlights, initially excluded from the project’s original plan, will now be installed as part of the upgrade.
Praising the leadership of the AMAC Chairman, Wike lauded the council’s ability to execute projects that directly impact the community.
He said, “Your chairman has shown capacity, and when a young man washes his hands well, he eats with elders. It would be unfair not to reward his effort”.
He promised the inclusion of the Zaudna to Kagini Road project in the 2025 budget.
“We are not concentrating development only in the city. President Tinubu has directed that every community must feel the impact of governance,” he said.
Wike also emphasized plans to renovate schools and improve education for children in the area, urging residents to remain patient as the government works to address longstanding challenges. “Things have been tough, but with your support and patience, this administration will deliver a better Nigeria,” he concluded.
Residents of Saburi, who turned out en masse to show appreciation for the government’s efforts, expressed satisfaction with the projects and pledged their continued support for the administration.
Earlier, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Hon. Christopher Maikalangu praised Wike, for his exceptional commitment to rural and urban development in the FCT, describing him as a “God-sent leader” who has brought unprecedented progress to communities in AMAC.
“On behalf of the people of AMAC, I express our deepest gratitude for delivering this beautiful Saburi access road in record time. Bulldozers and caterpillars moved in immediately after the flag-off, dispelling any doubts about the project’s completion,” Maikalangu said. He added that the Gbagyi people have given Wike the title “Wike Abowoweyi,” meaning “The Magician of Our Time,” in appreciation of his tangible impact on their lives.
Maikalangu highlighted the positive impact of the road project on the Gwagwa Ward, noting that it has boosted business and economic activities in the area. He also applauded Wike for approving the construction of police stations in Saburi and Takushara, emphasizing that the projects will enhance security and improve the quality of life for residents.
Asking for further intervention, Maikalangu appealed for the construction of access roads to Zaudna, Kaba, and Kagini, which have been neglected for decades. “These communities require two bridges before road construction can begin, and I urge the Minister to come to their aid,” he said.
Maikalangu also called for additional attention to AMAC, citing its large population and numerous communities, and expressed hope that the administration would tackle other pressing challenges such as the Karshi to Kutasa road.
Foreign News
Thousands Protest in Pakistan After Drone Strike Kills 4 Children

Thousands of people in north-west Pakistan on Tuesday blocked a highway by placing the coffins of four children who were killed by a suspected drone strike.
The protests in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan region began earlier on Monday after a family home was hit, local resident Mohamed Jamal Dawar said.
It is not clear who was behind the incident.
Local activist Zahid Wazir said the drone was operated by the Pakistani military.
He said the home was likely mistaken as a hideout used by Islamist militants.
Pakistani intelligence officials said the explosives were fired by a quadcopter that was being operated by the Taliban militants to target a nearby military post, but that it missed the target.
An independent verification was not possible as the region is inaccessible to outsiders.
Activists of a local rights group, the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, which is against the militarisation of the region by both the military and the Pakistani Taliban, vowed to continue the protest.
“We will continue to demand justice for our kids,” Wazir said.
The Pakistani military and Islamist militants have been fighting each other in the region for more than two decades.
More than 80,000 Pakistanis, an overwhelming majority of civilians, have lost their lives in years of violence. (dpa/NAN)
Health
Group urges Nigerians to embrace healthy habits to prevent diseases

The Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg) has advised Nigerians to embrace healthy preventive lifestyle habits to prevent the root causes of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases.
The President of SOLONg, Dr Moyosore Makinde, gave the advice in an interview in commemoration of the “Global Lifestyle Medicine Week” on Tuesday in Lagos.
NAN reports that the Global Lifestyle Medicine Week, taking place from May 18 to May 24, 2025, has the theme “Celebrating Healthy Habits: Inspire Change with D.
R.E.A.M.S.”Makinde, also an International Board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician, said the week was dedicated to raising awareness about the transformative power of lifestyle medicine in improving health outcomes and reducing the burden of chronic diseases worldwide.
According to her, lifestyle medicine empowers people to live healthier, happier and longer lives.
She explained that the D.R.E.A.M.S. acronym highlighted the six key pillars of lifestyle medicine that guide individuals toward healthier lives namely: Predominantly plant-based Diets, positive Relationships or social connections, Exercise, Avoidance of toxic substances, Mental wellness and stress management, and restorative Sleep.
She said that these pillars had been proven by scientific research to not only manage and prevent chronic diseases like coronary heart disease, diabetes, dementia and Alzheimer’s but also to promote a more sustainable and harmonious relationship with ourselves and with our planet.
Makinde added that it contributed to planetary health and the stability of our ecosystem.
“SOLONg is proud to announce its participation in Global Lifestyle Medicine Week, taking place from May 18 to May 24, 2025.
“Scientific studies, including numerous randomised clinical trials and longitudinal studies, have consistently shown the remarkable benefits of lifestyle interventions in reducing the incidence of chronic conditions.
“Additionally, these healthy habits play a pivotal role in strengthening resilience against infectious diseases.
“The ongoing impact of several pandemics has underscored the importance of adopting healthy behaviours, as poor lifestyle choices have been associated with worse disease severity and slower recovery times,” she said.
Contributing, the General Secretary of SOLONg, Dr Chika Anozie, said that Global Lifestyle Medicine Week aimed to foster a community of like-minded individuals and healthcare professionals committed to lifestyle medicine.
Anozie, also a Family Physician, said that SOLONg would organise various activities to mark the week, including a Webinars and educational workshops on lifestyle medicine topics.
She added that there would be courtesy visits and community outreach programmes promoting healthy habits, as well as social media campaigns sharing lifestyle medicine tips and resources.
“As we observe Global Lifestyle Medicine Week, it is clear that the need for Lifestyle Medicine is greater than ever.
“This is a clarion call for the government to create policies that promote healthy lifestyle practices while restricting behaviours that contribute to disease.
“We urge medical institutions to prioritise the accreditation of Lifestyle Medicine programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
“It is equally important that health professionals receive the proper training to effectively communicate these life-saving messages to the public.
“The Society encourages individuals to embrace the principles of healthy living, which are not only lifechanging but also long-lasting,” she said.(NAN)
Foreign News
Man Executed in Indiana For Killing Police Officer

Benjamin Ritchie, 45, had been on Indiana’s death row since 2002, when he was convicted of killing Beech Grove Police Officer Bill Toney during a chase on foot.
Benjamin Ritchie, 45, had been on Indiana’s death row since 2002, when he was convicted of killing Beech Grove Police Officer Bill Toney during a chase on foot.
Ritchie was executed at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, according to Indiana Department of Correction officials.
IDOC said in a statement that the process started shortly after midnight and Ritchie was pronounced dead at 12:46 a.m.
Ritchie’s last meal was from the Olive Garden and he expressed love, support and peace for his friends and family, according to the statement.
Under state law, he was allowed five witnesses at his execution, which included his attorney Steve Schutte, who told reporters he had a limited view of the process.
“I couldn’t see his face. He was lying flat by that time,” Schutte said. “He sat up, twitched, laid back down.”
The process was carried out hours after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take the case, exhausting all of Ritchie’s legal options to fight the death sentence.
Dozens of people, both anti-death penalty advocates and supporters of Toney, stood outside the prison until early Tuesday.
Indiana resumed executions in December after a year’s long hiatus due to a scarcity of lethal injection drugs nationwide.
Prison officials provided photos of the execution chamber before Joseph Corcoran’s execution, showing a space that looks like an operating room with a gurney, fluorescent lighting and an adjacent viewing room.
They’ve since offered few other details.
Among the 27 states with death penalty laws, Indiana is one of two that bars media witnesses.
The other, Wyoming, has conducted one execution in the last half-century.
The Associated Press and other media organisations filed a federal lawsuit in Indiana seeking media access, but a federal judge denied a preliminary injunction last week that would have allowed journalists to witness Ritchie’s execution and future ones.
The judge found that barring the news media doesn’t violate the First Amendment nor does it single out the news media for unequal treatment.
The execution in Indiana is among 12 scheduled in eight states this year.
Ritchie’s execution and two others in Texas and Tennessee will be carried out this week.
Ritchie was 20 when he and others stole a van in Beech Grove, near Indianapolis.
He then fired at Toney during a foot chase, killing him.
At the time Ritchie was on probation from a 1998 burglary conviction.
Toney, 31, had worked at the Beech Grove Police Department for two years.
The married father of two was the first officer of the small department to be killed by gunfire in the line of duty. (AP/NAN)