Anambra State First Lady, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has emerged as the winner of the Health Activism category at the 2026 BudgIT Active Citizens Awards, beating other leading health advocates to clinch the prestigious national recognition.

The award, now in its third edition, celebrates individuals and organisations making exceptional contributions to civic engagement, social development, accountability and sustainable development across Nigeria.

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Dr. Soludo earned the honour for her outstanding work in promoting preventive healthcare, community wellness and public health advocacy through her Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to improving the health of communities across Anambra State.

She was selected ahead of renowned Nigerian health and gender rights advocate Ramatu Ada Ochekliye and public health and social impact professional Sidney Sampson following a rigorous evaluation process.

Nominees were assessed on innovation, impact, sustainability, inclusion, leadership and measurable community outcomes.

Receiving the award, the First Lady described the recognition as both humbling and a renewed call to deepen her commitment to public service.

“Like a family driven by one common goal, we have shown that when communities take ownership of their health, lasting transformation becomes very possible,” she said.

She dedicated the award to members of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, healthcare workers, volunteers, community leaders, development partners and residents of Anambra State for embracing the vision of healthier living.

Dr. Soludo also expressed gratitude to BudgIT, Civic Hive and the Ford Foundation for the recognition, noting that it would inspire the initiative to expand its programmes and continue promoting healthier communities across the state.

In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor’s Wife, Daniel Ezeigwe, said the award reflects growing national recognition of the impact of Dr. Soludo’s healthy living campaign, describing it as a model for advancing preventive healthcare and healthy lifestyles.

According to Ezeigwe, the First Lady has championed several people-centred initiatives since assuming office.

These include statewide fitness campaigns, maternal and child health advocacy, nutrition education, environmental sanitation, the Healthy Living Pad Bank for schoolgirls, free seed distribution to households and the Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap Initiative, which is aimed at tackling childhood malnutrition.

“These programmes have touched thousands of lives while reinforcing the importance of prevention as the foundation of a healthier society,” Ezeigwe said.

He added that the latest recognition underscores Dr. Soludo’s unwavering commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Anambra residents while contributing to Nigeria’s broader public health development.

Four people were injured after a petrol tanker carrying approximately 60,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) burst into flames while offloading fuel at AYM Shafa Filling Station in Area 3, Garki, Abuja, on Thursday night.

The filling station, located beside the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) office along Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti Way, witnessed panic as the fire spread to part of the adjoining three-storey FCT-IRS building before emergency responders brought the situation under control.

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The Federal Fire Service (FFS), in a statement issued on Friday by its National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services, DCF Paul Abraham, confirmed that the blaze was successfully extinguished through a coordinated emergency response involving multiple firefighting appliances, medium water jets and foam compound.

According to the statement, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, personally led the operation as Incident Commander and remained at the scene until the early hours of Friday to ensure the fire had been completely extinguished.

The Fire Service disclosed that the four injured victims, all adult males, were evacuated by a National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) ambulance to a nearby hospital, where they received treatment and were later discharged.

Following a thorough inspection of the site, officials confirmed there were no further fire outbreaks or additional casualties, while all emergency personnel and equipment safely returned to their respective stations after the operation.

The FFS commended residents, motorists and members of the public for cooperating with safety directives throughout the emergency.

It also acknowledged the support of sister agencies, including the FCT Fire Service, NEMA, the Nigeria Police Force, and other emergency responders for their swift intervention.

The agency further announced that an investigation has commenced to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of the incident in a bid to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

“The Federal Fire Service remains committed to safeguarding lives, property and critical national assets through prompt, professional and coordinated emergency response,” the statement added.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) has announced a reduction in the ex-depot prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel).

A company statement on Wednesday has it that the price reduction, which is part of reaffirmation of the company’s commitment to providing affordable, high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market is effective Thursday 6th of August, 2026.

Under the new pricing structure, the refinery has reduced the ex-depot price of PMS to N1,165 per litre, down from N1,215 per litre, representing a reduction of N50 per litre. Similarly, the ex-depot price of Diesel has been reduced to N1,570 per litre from N1,650 per litre, amounting to a decrease of N80 per litre.

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The price review reflects Dangote Refinery’s ongoing efforts to enhance energy affordability, improve access to refined petroleum products, and support economic activities across Nigeria. The refinery remains committed to ensuring stable supply while leveraging operational efficiencies to deliver value to consumers, businesses, and stakeholders.

As Africa’s largest refinery, Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting the nation’s economic development through the supply of world-class petroleum products.

The company reaffirmed its dedication to contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy and passing on the benefits of improved operational efficiencies to consumers whenever market conditions permit.