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Wole Soyinka Slams NBC For Banning Eedris Abdulkareem’s Protest Song
Published
5 months agoon
By
Editor
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
READ ALSO: NBC Bans Eedris Abdulkareem’s Protest Song ‘Tell Your Papa’ From Radio, TV
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
“The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
READ ALSO: NBC Asks Court To Set Aside Judgment Restraining It From Imposing Fines On Broadcast Stations
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that it creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: NBC Has No Powers To Fine Broadcast Stations, Court Rules
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”
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News
5% Fuel Surcharge: What Nigerians Should Know
Published
24 minutes agoon
September 6, 2025By
Editor
Confusion has erupted online over a supposed 5% fuel surcharge under Nigeria’s new tax laws, with many fearing a sudden increase in fuel prices.
The chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, on Saturday through a post on X, clarified what is fact and what is fiction.
The controversy arises from the recent passage of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, which consolidates and harmonises previous tax laws.
Some social media posts suggested that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had introduced a new surcharge on fuel, sparking public concern.
Oyedele clarified: “The charge is not a new tax introduced by the current administration. The provision already exists under the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (Amendment) Act, 2007. Its restatement in the new Tax Act is for harmonisation and transparency rather than immediate implementation.”
According to Oyedele, the surcharge is meant to fund road infrastructure, an area that has historically suffered from underfunding.
Over the years, Nigeria’s road network has faced chronic maintenance challenges, resulting in potholes, travel delays, and higher vehicle operating costs.
Oyedele further noted that the surcharge is intended to create a dedicated, predictable funding source for road construction and maintenance.
READ ALSO:Nigerian Lawmakers Approve Tinubu Tax Reform Bills
Oyedele addressed key questions raised by citizens:
Will the surcharge start automatically in January 2026?
No. It will only take effect when the Minister of Finance issues an order published in the Official Gazette:
“The surcharge does not take effect automatically with the new tax laws. It will only commence when the Minister of Finance issues an order published in the Official Gazette as stated under Chapter 7 of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025. This safeguard ensures careful consideration of timing and economic conditions before implementation,” Oyedele stated.
Does it apply to all fuels?
No. Household energy products such as kerosene, LPG, and CNG are exempt. Clean and renewable energy products are also excluded to support Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.
Why maintain the surcharge amid economic hardship?
Oyedele explained that the fund is meant as a dedicated mechanism for road maintenance:
READ ALSO:FG Sues Binance For $81.5bn In Economic Losses, Back Taxes
He said, “The surcharge is designed as a dedicated fund for road infrastructure and maintenance. If implemented effectively, it will provide safer travel conditions, reduce travel time and cost, lower logistics costs and vehicle maintenance expenses, which will benefit the wider economy. This practice is virtually universal with over 150 countries imposing various charges ranging between 20% to 80% of fuel products to guarantee regular investment in road infrastructure.”
Could subsidy savings cover road funding instead?
The Chairman of theCommittee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms said: “While subsidy savings will provide some funding, they are insufficient to meet Nigeria’s huge and recurring road infrastructure needs among other public finance needs. A dedicated fund ensures reliable and predictable financing for roads, complementing the budget and ensuring roads are not left underfunded.”
Does this contradict the tax reform objective of easing citizens’ burden?
READ ALSO:Tax Reform Bills Offer 55% To States In New Sharing Formula
Oyedele reassured: “The reforms have already reduced multiple taxes and removed or suspended several charges that directly affect households and small businesses, such as VAT on fuel, excise tax on telecoms, and the cybersecurity levy. By harmonising earmarked taxes, government is reducing duplication and ensuring a more efficient tax system.”
Why not remove the surcharge entirely?
He clarified: “Yes, the surcharge has been removed from the FERMA Act and incorporated into the new tax laws which are designed to provide a forward-looking legal framework for Nigeria. Keeping this provision in place within a harmonised legal framework ensures Nigeria is prepared to address critical challenges, such as sustainable road financing and even climate change impacts. It is not about immediate implementation, but to ensure the law provides a clear and effective framework for when it becomes necessary in the future.”
In summary, Oyedele stressed that the surcharge is not new, not immediate, and selectively applied. Its inclusion in the law is about transparency, preparedness, and sustainable funding for Nigeria’s roads, and it aims to address long-standing gaps in infrastructure financing.
(PUNCH)
News
Scientists Find Proof That Breast Cancer Recurrence Can Be Eliminated
Published
7 hours agoon
September 6, 2025By
Editor
In a medical breakthrough that could transform breast cancer care, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have shown it’s possible to detect and destroy the “sleeper” cells that cause the disease to return years after treatment.
In a landmark clinical trial, researchers used existing, repurposed drugs to eliminate these hidden cells in most breast cancer survivors, pushing survival rates above 90 per cent. The findings, published in Nature Medicine, offer the strongest proof yet that breast cancer recurrence may no longer be inevitable.
The principal investigator, Dr Angela DeMichele of Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, said, “The lingering fear of cancer returning is something that haunts many breast cancer survivors. Our study shows that by targeting dormant tumour cells, we can prevent recurrence—and give survivors a real chance at a lasting cure.
“This changes the game. We finally have a proactive strategy—not just waiting for cancer to come back, but stopping it before it does,” DeMichele said.
The trial, known as CLEVER, enrolled 51 breast cancer survivors who had completed treatment but still harboured microscopic traces of dormant tumour cells, also called minimal residual disease (MRD). Standard scans cannot detect these cells, which can “wake up” years later and fuel incurable metastatic cancer.
READ ALSO:Popular American Actor, Joe Marinelli Dies Of Stomach Cancer
Patients received either one or two study drugs, both already FDA-approved for other conditions. The results stunned researchers. Dormant tumour cells were cleared in 80 per cent of participants, and the three-year survival without recurrence exceeded 90 per cent for patients on single therapy and reached 100 per cent for those on combination therapy.
Further, only two patients have relapsed after more than three years of follow-up.
“This sleeper phase is the window where cancer is most vulnerable. explained senior author Dr Lewis Chodosh, chair of Cancer Biology at Penn. Surprisingly, drugs that don’t work against active tumours can be highly effective against dormant cells. That’s the key—we’re hitting cancer while it’s asleep,” explained senior author Dr Lewis Chodosh, chair of Cancer Biology at Penn. The trial builds on decades of Penn research uncovering how dormant breast cancer cells survive in the body, sometimes for decades, and what biological pathways sustain them. By targeting autophagy and mTOR signalling—mechanisms that help the sleeper cells persist—the researchers found a way to wipe them out before they reactivate.
The implications are profound. Until now, breast cancer survivors at risk of recurrence had little more than “watch and wait”. For the 30 per cent of patients whose cancer returns, the disease has been incurable.
READ ALSO:Marijuana Smokers Prone To Head, Neck Cancers — Study
The Penn team is now preparing larger clinical trials to confirm the results and explore whether this approach can be applied to other cancers with similar dormant-cell behaviour.
For millions of breast cancer survivors worldwide, the research opens the door to a future where remission means freedom—not fear.
Delayed breakfast linked to early death for elderly
How late you eat breakfast could be more important than you think. A major new study has revealed that older adults who push their first meal of the day to later hours face a higher risk of illness and even early death.
The research, published in Communications Medicine by scientists at Mass General Brigham and collaborators in Turkey, tracked nearly 3,000 people in the UK for more than two decades. The results were clear: as people age, breakfast and dinner times creep later, but those who delay breakfast are more likely to suffer from depression, fatigue, poor sleep, and declining health, and they die sooner.
“Breakfast timing may be an easy-to-monitor marker of health in older adults,” said lead researcher Hassan Dashti, PhD, RD, of Massachusetts General Hospital.
READ ALSO:How Australian Doctor Treated Own Brain Cancer With Personal Research Studies
“Our findings show that late breakfasts are tied not only to health challenges but also to higher mortality. This gives fresh meaning to the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”
The team found that people genetically inclined to be “night owls” also tended to eat later, compounding risks as they aged. Meanwhile, those who stuck to consistent and earlier meal routines showed signs of healthier ageing and greater longevity.
The findings could spark a rethink of popular diet trends such as intermittent fasting, which often encourages delaying the first meal. While the approach may benefit younger adults, the study suggests it could be harmful for seniors.
For doctors, families, and carers, the message is simple: watch the clock. A later breakfast may be more than just a habit – it could be a warning sign.
(VANGUARD)
News
30-minute Exercise Slashes Cancer Cell Growth – Study
Published
7 hours agoon
September 6, 2025By
Editor
A new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has revealed that just 30 minutes of vigorous exercise—either resistance training or high-intensity interval training—can reduce cancer cell growth by up to 30 percent. The research, led by PhD candidate Francesco Bettariga, focused on myokines, proteins released by muscles during exercise that possess anti-cancer properties.
The study found that a single workout session significantly boosted myokine levels, even in breast cancer survivors whose bodies have been compromised by treatment.
Blood samples taken before, immediately after, and 30 minutes post-exercise showed a 20–30 per cent reduction in cancer cell proliferation due to the surge in myokines. While this effect has been observed in healthy individuals, Bettariga’s study is among the first to confirm similar benefits in cancer survivors.
READ ALSO:Frequent Ejaculation No Guarantee Against Prostate Cancer – Urologists
The research also explored how consistent exercise improves body composition, reducing fat mass and increasing lean muscle – key factors in lowering inflammation, a known driver of cancer recurrence and mortality.
Fat tissue releases inflammatory markers that can fuel tumour growth and suppress immune function. Exercise, by reshaping body composition, helps neutralise this threat.
Quick fixes to reduce fat mass, such as dieting alone, would not have the same beneficial effects. Bettariga emphasised that weight loss without exercise fails to preserve muscle mass and does not stimulate the production of beneficial myokines.
READ ALSO:Marijuana Smokers Prone To Head, Neck Cancers — Study
This study adds to a growing body of evidence positioning exercise as medicine – not just for prevention, but as a therapeutic tool during and after cancer treatment. With implications for treatment protocols worldwide, these findings could help redefine survivorship and recovery.
You never want to reduce your weight without exercising, because you need to build or preserve muscle mass and produce these chemicals, which you can’t do through just diet alone.
Whether you’re a cancer survivor or simply health-conscious, the message is clear: 30 minutes of sweat could be a powerful shield against cancer.
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