By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Donald Trump administration has halted funding for HIV/AIDS programs in Nigeria and other developing countries, a move that has drawn widespread criticism from global health experts and activists.

This decision comes despite ongoing efforts to combat the disease in regions that heavily rely on international aid to sustain healthcare initiatives.

The decision affects the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has been a critical source of funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in Nigeria and other low-income nations.

Over the years, PEPFAR has supported millions of individuals with life-saving antiretroviral treatments, helping to curb the spread of the virus in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Health experts fear this funding freeze could lead to devastating setbacks in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Amina Ahmed, a Nigerian health policy expert, warned of severe consequences for patients who depend on subsidized medication.

“This decision will leave many Nigerians living with HIV without access to treatment. It threatens to reverse years of progress made in reducing HIV-related deaths and new infections,” Dr. Ahmed said.

The suspension could also disrupt prevention programs, including mother-to-child transmission initiatives, which have been pivotal in reducing the number of newborns born with the virus.

Critics argue that the decision reflects a lack of empathy for struggling nations. Dr. Michael Jones, a U.S.-based global health advocate, described the move as a “callous disregard for human lives.”

The Trump administration has defended the decision, citing budgetary constraints and a shift in focus toward domestic healthcare priorities.

However, advocates argue that cutting off aid to developing countries will have broader implications for global health security.

Nigeria, which has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates globally, could face dire consequences.

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) estimates that over 1.9 million Nigerians are living with HIV.

Many of these individuals depend on PEPFAR-supported programs for their treatment and care.

The announcement has sparked calls for urgent action. Local NGOs and international organizations have begun lobbying for alternative funding sources to bridge the gap left by the U.S. withdrawal.

Advocacy groups are also urging the Nigerian government to increase its healthcare budget to reduce reliance on foreign aid.

The decision has drawn parallels to the global reaction following similar cuts during the early years of the AIDS epidemic.

Analysts warn that reducing funding for HIV/AIDS programs could lead to a resurgence of the disease, undermining decades of progress in public health.

As the global community reacts to this development, the focus remains on finding sustainable solutions to ensure that affected individuals continue receiving the care they need.

The Nigerian government and international stakeholders now face the challenge of mitigating the impact of this funding gap while maintaining momentum in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Ex-Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has revealed why he is not part of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain stated that he was never interested in any ministerial position and he had already informed Tinubu about it.

Recall that the Senate, in August 2023, declined to confirm El-Rufai as a ministerial nominee over a negative security report from the State Security Service (SSS).

While other nominees were approved, El-Rufai, alongside two others, was asked to resolve security concerns before confirmation.

In a tweet on Thursday morning, El-Rufai dismissed claims that he sought a position in Tinubu’s government, insisting that he had informed the president beforehand that he was not interested.

He said this while responding to presidential aide, Daniel Bwala who asked if his take on the APC would have been different if he were a member of Tinubu’s cabinet.

El-Rufai had criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for “straying away from its core values”, adding that he does not recognise his political party any longer.

He also criticized those making an issue out of his absence from the administration, calling them “latter-day converts” who lack moral integrity.

He tweeted:

“Good morning, @BwalaDaniel. I was cabinet minster 22 years ago, and was clear to Asiwaju that I was not interested in any position in his future government. The pathetic manner all of you latter-day converts to the Tinubu government make an issue of something that I never wanted in the first place is perhaps a reflection of the level of your moral flexibility.

“If I had remained in the Tinubu government, I will say or do the same on the tragedy within a party I was a founder, and the government that emerged from it – first in private sessions with those concerned, and then go public if no remedial actions are taken. Go and check my public service record from 1998.

“I am only responding to you because I still think you are a decent person who may need a job, and not in the class of Wendell Simlin and that Kaduna pretender that our voters retired in 2019 – these clowns are political mercenaries that receive humongous monthly stipends from the security vote to be the first to jump on X and other platforms to defend everything the Asiwaju government does or fails to do, no matter how indefensible it may be.

“Enjoy your special adviser position, my brother, but remember that allegiance to God and country comes first in human scale of accountability, before any person or authority. – @elrufai”.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A man has been nabbed in Ogun state for killing and dismembering his best friend for ritual purposes.

He handed over his friend to a ritualist in exchange for ₦5,000.

The ritualist later sold the victim’s head for ₦20,000.

The shocking incident came to light through a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), which included footage of several suspects paraded by the police.

Each of them reportedly admitted to their roles in the gruesome murder.

According to reports, the suspect deceived his friend by promising him a farm job. However, upon arriving at the location, he allegedly gave the green light for his friend to be killed.

The ritualist then carried out the act and later sold the victim’s head for ₦20,000.

The mastermind, a herbalist, was also forced to confess in the video.