According to the United Nation data, it indicates that 65 percent of the grains from the Black Sea Grain Initiative have gone to developing countries and 20 percent have gone directly to the least developed countries. After the Ukraine-Russia war, there has been a decline in grain supply across the globe, especially in the continent of Africa. Reacting to this development, the US department of state its Africa Regional media hub organised a press briefing on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the impact its collapse has had on Africa, and the United States’ effort to strengthen food systems on the…
Author: Editor Francis
Professor Anthony Killa from the Commonwealth Institute and Advanced Studies has analysed President Tinubu’s speech delivered on July 31st. Killa critiqued the less than hour-long speech, stating that it lacked “discontinuance” and emphasising the importance of understanding the evolution of time in his perspective on the speech. Regarding the fuel subsidy, Killa argued against its complete removal and instead proposed addressing abuse and mismanagement. He suggested solutions such as creating refineries, investing in alternative energy sources and mass transportation, and increasing revenue through refined oil exports. He said, “Some still argue that the real issue of the fuel subsidy regime…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued a stern warning to the public, advising against engaging in activities such as spraying, hawking, mutilating, or counterfeiting the Naira currency. During the CBN Fair held in the state capital city of Lokoja on Thursday, Dr. Isa AbdulMumin, the Director of the Corporate Communications Department of the apex bank, disclosed the warning against activities such as spraying, hawking, mutilating, or counterfeiting the Naira currency. The apex bank assured members of the public that the organisation will strive to sustain its efforts in ensuring availability of the currency for transactions. He urged members of…
A team from the West African regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States, left Niger without meeting the leader of the junta which seized power in a coup, a delegation member said Friday. AFP reports The ECOWAS delegation arrived in the capital Niamey on Thursday “but did not spend the night” as scheduled, nor meet with coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani or deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, the team member said.The delegation was led by former Nigerian president Abdulsalami Abubakar and was initially due to meet Tiani to present ECOWAS’s demands, according to the Nigerian presidency. Regional powerhouse, Nigeria, holds the…
On the resident doctors strike, the Federal government has instructed all Chief medical Directors and Medical Directors in the Federal Tertiary Hospitals. The government wants the medical directors to implement a no work,no pay policy on the striking resident doctors and to maintain an attendance register for all resident doctors willing to work. This was revealed in a letter made known to newsmen on Thursday, signed By the Federal Ministry of Health and addressed to the CMDs and MDs of all FTHs in the country. The letter, dated August 1, 2023, was titled, “Re: Incessant strike action by the Nigerian…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has entered into a strategic partnership with NIPCO Gas Limited to deploy Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations nationwide. This collaboration aims to offer cheaper alternative fuel options to motorists. Stay tuned for further updates on this significant development. The Giant Petroleum Company made this known in a press statement made available on his verify X platform. Adding that the collaboration aims to expand our CNG infrastructure, improve access to CNG, and accelerate the adoption of cheaper and cleaner alternative fuel for buses, cars and Keke NAPEP, which will significantly reduce the cost of…
Dr. Olufunmilayo Bankole, the Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health District I, is calling on citizens, especially nursing mothers and pregnant women, to actively support the State Government’s initiative to promote the practice of proper and exclusive breastfeeding. This essential measure will contribute to nurturing healthy and productive members of society among babies and infants. The Health personnel made the call on Wednesday at an awareness and sensitisation programme to celebrate this year World Breastfeeding Week themed: “Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a Difference for Working Parents”, she stressed the need on why nursing mothers and pregnant women must ensure that children…
General Salifou Mody, one of the officers involved in the coup in Niger, travelled to Mali and held meetings with officials from the country On Wednesday. Mody and his delegation attended a meeting with Col. Assimi Goita, who took control of the landlocked West African country nearly three years ago. Western countries fear that Niger will fall under Russia’s influence after the coup, especially as Mali has welcomed up to 1,000 fighters from the Wagner Group. Burkina Faso and another military junta-led Mali, have taken the unusual step of declaring that foreign military intervention in neighboring Niger after last week’s…
According to the Defence Headquarters, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is considering military actions as a last resort against the juntas who have seized control of the government in the Republic of Niger. The Defence Headquarters clarified that the Armed Forces of Nigeria have not received any orders to initiate military action, and emphasised that appropriate actions will be taken based on the outcome of the ongoing two-day extraordinary meeting in the nation’s capital. The Director, Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, a Brigadier-General, who made the clarifications at Defence Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, said Nigerian military cannot proceed…
On Thursday, hundreds of individuals supporting the coup in Niger assembled for a mass rally in the capital city, Niamey. Some of the demonstrators were seen waving enormous Russian flags during the event.AFP journalists said. The demonstrators converged at Independence Square in the heart of the city, following a call by a coalition of civil society associations on a day marking the country’s 1960 independence from France. Issiaka Hamadou, one of the demonstrators, said that it was “only security that interests us,” irrespective of whether it came from “Russia, China, Turkey, if they want to help us.” “We just don’t…
Power outages like these in Niger are uncommon, however, the nation is highly reliant on Nigeria as its primary source of electricity. According to a source close to the management of the Nigerien Electricity Company (Nigelec), Nigeria has suspended its electricity supply to Niger. This decision comes in line with the sanctions imposed by West African neighbors of Niger in response to the coup that has destabilized the country. “Nigeria disconnected since yesterday (Tuesday) the high voltage line that carries electricity to Niger,” the source said. AFP reports that a Nigelec agent for his part indicated that the capital, Niamey,…
Similar to the University of Lagos, students at the University of Jos have expressed their grievances over a significant 155 percent increase in school fees imposed by the institution’s management. The university management had on Saturday released a new school fee schedule for fresh and returning students, a development that many parents and students said was uncalled for. The approved charges for the 2022 academic session reveal that fresh students will be required to pay N213,000, whereas returning students will have to pay N160,000. Based on the gathered information from the last session, both fresh and returning students were charged…