Media coverage of HIV/AIDS related issues in Nigeria recorded a boost on May 27, with the launch of the first-ever Media Handbook on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. The publication is a product of a collaboration between three organisations: Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria, Development Communications Network, (DevComs) and the United Nations Information Centre, (UNIC), Nigeria.

The death of Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, the elder brother of Nigeria's Afrobeat king Fela, will likely have repercussions throughout the country's health care system, health professionals said on Tuesday. "He was quite a visionary, dedicated, a hardworking medical practitioner and public health worker whose achievements have remained unmatched," said a close associate, Martins Olusola Ogundeji. "But I am afraid that his efforts in the field of health, especially in primary health scheme, may die with him. Since he left office as minister, there has not been anyone like him to continue the policies formulated under him," he said.

Three Nigerians sentenced to be stoned to death for having sex outside marriage will appeal before Islamic courts this week, turning the spotlight back on a bitter battle over Sharia law. In the best known case, 33-year-old mother-of-three Amina Lawal will on Tuesday begin her second appeal against her conviction for adultery at the Sharia Appeal Court in the northern city of Katsina.

The swearing in of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the governors of thirty-six states, and legislators elect, before the election appeals tribunal had reached their verdict on allegations of electoral fraud was a violation of due process, says CREDO for Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights. Holding a NEPAD meeting in Nigeria on the eve of the controversial inauguration could also be interpreted as a cynical attempt to use the presence of heads of state to endorse the ceremony, said the organisation. CREDO Coordinator Rotimi Sankore criticised the election timetable and elections tribunal process. “It is not about whether General Obasanjo or General Buhari, or any of the governorship candidates are the true winners or losers of the elections. It is about democratic principles and creating confidence in the electoral and judicial system. The right to political participation means that complainants and defendants should be confident of securing justice. The chances of this are reduced if officials assume office before the election tribunals have reached a verdict.”

A joint body of NGO’s has called on President Olusegun Obasanjo to reconsider his stand on the New Partnership For Africa's Development (NEPAD). The body described the establishment of NEPAD as an endorsement of World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) policies.

African leaders gathered here Wednesday to prepare their stall ahead of next month's meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) industrial powers, with two summits here on development and regional security. More than 20 heads of state and government were expected in the Nigerian capital for a meeting on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad).

The Nigerian President, Olesegun Obasanjo, is to be sworn in Thursday for a second four-year term of office - marking the first successful transition from one democratic government to another since the country's independence in 1960.

Fountain Neighbourhood Youths (FONEYO) is a group of young volunteers working in various neighbourhoods in Nigeria to help their peers lead "good" lives rather than fall into unhealthy, illegal, or dangerous behaviour patterns. Young volunteers assist with projects in their own neighbourhoods that are focussed on fostering good moral conduct by keeping young people busy and engaged - through meetings and social events, some of which have charitable aims.

The Country Director is required to have a master's degree in International Relations, Public Policy or related field with a minimum of five years of international management experience; or a bachelor's degree with a minimum of seven years of international management experience. Experience in Nigeria preferred – the Director should have excellent knowledge of Nigeria and a realistic view of the economic, social and political conditions in country, not only their effect on the development of reformed election systems, civil society and local governance issues, but also on practical daily living in the country.

Minister of Health Professor A.B.C Nwosu, Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Akira Matsui and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Representative, Dr. Ezio Gianni Murzi, were due this week to sign a N444.3 million Japanese grant for the provision of child health and Oral Polio vaccine to Nigeria.

The European Commission (EC) said it has initiated new Micro Project Programmes in the six states of the Niger Delta region worth 42 million euros (about N6.2 billion).The states covered by the programme are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Imo and Ondo. The project is aimed at improving the living standards of the impoverished settlements in the Niger Delta region.

The main pipeline supplying natural gas to Nigeria's biggest power station has been ruptured by explosives planted by suspected ethnic Ijaw militants, the navy said on Monday. The pipeline which was blasted on Saturday at the village of Ajama, near the oil town of Warri in the oil-rich Niger Delta, supplies gas from transnational ChevronTexaco's Escravos gas plant to the Egbin thermal power station, near Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos.

Nigeria is to get more funding and attention from international bodies in the area of polio eradication following the decision by the Global Polio Eradication initiative to revise immunisation campaigns in 93 countries where polio transmission has already been stopped.

An oil spillage has occurred at Egbebiri in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State. The oil spillage was from Idu, Well 5, one of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) facilities, and was said to have devastated farmlands, fish ponds and the only source of drinking water in the area.

Nigeria's main opposition presidential candidate has filed a court petition to nullify the re-election of President Olusegun Obasanjo on the grounds of widespread vote rigging and other irregularities. Muhammadu Buhari, who came a distant second to Obasanjo in the 19 April ballot, filed his claims on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The court serves as a tribunal to consider complaints arising from the elections. No date has yet been fixed for a hearing.

Nigeria has passed a policy on female genital mutilation 10 years after it was drafted, Panafrican News Agency reported Saturday. At a conference in Abuja, the Ministry of Health's director of community development, Morrison Amaeshi, said a recent survey had shown that four types of FGM were still practiced in the country. Amaeshi, who blamed tradition and cultural beliefs for "the slow progress towards its elimination," added that FGM "is not required by any religious injunction" and "causes great pains and damage." Amaeshi said general ignorance and substandard professional knowledge of the practice worsened the situation.

The Media Monitoring Group, a coalition of members of the Nigerian Union of Journalist and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, has commended the Federal Government, INEC and the people of Nigeria on the conduct and outcome of recent elections. The group noted a great improvement in terms of preparations by INEC as materials arrived on time at polling centres - a clear departure from the previous elections when there were reports of late arrivals at some polling units.

The purpose of this position is to provide strategic leadership, direction and good management in order to fullfill the goal of the Resource Centre.

A study has shown that Nigeria is among one of five countries in Africa where the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is on the increase in urban areas. The study, conducted by experts in the United States (US), reveals that the rate of Aids is on the increase in Nigeria, as well as other African countries like South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, and Cameroon.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), has announced a major change of strategy in its campaign to eradicate polio in Nigeria and two other countries. The strategy adopted so far by WHO has been built on routine vaccinations in countries whose health systems can afford it, and mass immunisation campaigns in the developing world. But the spokesman for WHO, Brent Burkholder, said that it was now time for a shift of emphasis. "The shift is just basically that we're focusing now on the endemic countries and the high-risk countries that are remaining," he said.