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Meet Navy Captain Kelechi Ndukwe, First Nigerian To Command A US Warship

Published

5 months ago

February 8, 2025

Kelechi Ndukwe, a Nigerian-American naval officer, is crested in history as the first Nigerian to command a US Navy warship.

This comes on the heels of his promotion from Commander to Navy Captain in the United States Navy.

Ndukwe’s promotion crowns more than two decades of dedicated service in the Navy. His military journey began in 2003 when he was commissioned as an auxiliaries officer after earning a master’s degree in national security and strategy studies from the US Naval War College.

He made history in 2021 when he took command of the USS Halsey (DDG-97), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, succeeding DeVere J. Crooks.

Before assuming command of the USS Halsey, Kelechi Ndukwe served as the ship’s executive officer.

His previous leadership roles include commanding the USS Devastator (MCM 6), a minesweeper stationed in Bahrain, from 2013 to 2015. His promotion to Navy Captain is a testament to his exemplary service and a moment of immense pride for the Nigerian-American community.

Throughout his distinguished career, Ndukwe has served aboard multiple warships across key global regions, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Gulf, and the Western Pacific Ocean.

A 2002 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Ndukwe has also served in the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), the highest-ranking military officer in the United States.

His promotion adds to the growing list of Nigerian-born officers excelling in the US Navy.

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Putin Says Will Speak With Trump On Phone Today

Published

21 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he would speak with US counterpart Donald Trump on the phone Thursday, their first publicly announced call in over two weeks.

The two have been in regular contact since Trump took office in January and have discussed issues like the Ukraine conflict and economic cooperation.

Putin did not say what the two would discuss in Thursday’s call.

“I will talk to the US president today,” the Russian leader told the media during a visit to an exhibition centre in Moscow.

Trump confirmed the call on Truth Social, saying it would start at 10.00am (1400 GMT).

The two leaders have praised each other in recent weeks, despite Moscow’s ongoing assault on Ukraine.

Putin said last week that he had “great respect” for Trump and that US ties were improving. Trump said Putin’s statements were “very nice”.

AFP

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NAFDAC Warns Against Use Of Excess Hydroquinone In Cosmetics

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned users of bleaching creams to refrain from using products containing excessive hydroquinone to safeguard their health.

NAFDAC Bauchi State Coordinator, Mr Hamis Yahaya, advised in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Tuesday.

Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent used to treat hyperpigmentation, such as melasma and age spots.

Yahaya said that the approved quantity of the chemical substance in cosmetics was only two per cent.

According to him, NAFDAC conducts checks on market products to ensure public health and safety.

“The black colour provides natural protection against harmful radiation due to melanin content.

“Applying creams with hydroquinone contents more than two per cent is harmful. Mixing creams by non-experts is wrong.

“Hydroquinone affects the health of the users gradually, including causing cancer,” he said.

Yahaya urged the media to raise awareness about the dangers of cosmetics that could endanger consumer lives.

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AU Helicopter Crashes In Somali Capital – State Media

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An African Union helicopter crashed Wednesday at the airport in the Somali capital Mogadishu with eight people onboard, state media said.

The aircraft was part of the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), tasked with fighting the Al-Shabaab militant group.

The state media agency Sonna said the AUSSOM helicopter, carrying eight people, “crashed during landing at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde Airport this morning after departing Balidoogle”.

“The fire has been contained, and authorities are assessing the situation,” it said in a post on X.

Sonna quoted the country’s civil aviation authorities as saying that “flight operations remain normal”.

There were no further details given, but unverified clips and images shared online showed a plume of black smoke over the city.

The AUSSOM mission faces funding difficulties, even as fears of an Al-Shabaab resurgence are stoked by attacks in the Horn of Africa nation.