Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Google has significantly expanded its digital mapping coverage in Africa by adding millions of previously undocumented buildings to Google Maps, thanks to an ambitious artificial intelligence and satellite imagery project aimed at bridging infrastructure data gaps across the continent. The project, led by Google Research, involved deploying machine learning models to analyze satellite images, particularly in under-mapped, remote, and informal settlements. According to Abdoulaye Diack, Programme Manager for Google Research, nearly half of all buildings currently visible on Google Maps in Africa were mapped through this effort. “When we started, many African neighborhoods didn’t appear on Maps,”…

By Atoyebi Nike The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has officially called off its nationwide warning strike, asking all members across the country to return to work immediately. In a circular titled “Suspension of the Ongoing Nationwide Nurses’ Strike” and signed by the association’s National President Comrade Haruna Mamman and General Secretary T.A. Shettima, the union directed state chapters to mobilize for full resumption of services. The strike, which began on Wednesday, was a seven-day warning protest over outstanding demands, including review of shift allowances, improved uniform allowance, and the creation of an independent salary structure tailored…

By Atoyebi Nike The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has extended humanitarian aid to 500 households affected by the recent flood disaster in Adamawa State, distributing essential relief materials to victims in Yola South Local Government Area. The materials were handed out on Saturday, with the NSA’s younger brother and Adamawa State APC Organizing Secretary, Mustapha Atiku Ribadu, overseeing the exercise. He said the assistance aimed to ease the suffering of families whose homes and livelihoods were devastated by last Sunday’s flooding. Each beneficiary household received food items including rice, spaghetti, noodles, cooking oil, as well as blankets, mats,…

By Atoyebi Nike The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), has launched a new initiative to strengthen Benue State’s social protection systems, with a focus on vulnerable populations. Funded by the European Union, the project titled Support to Sustainable Social Protection Systems aims to enhance service delivery to children, displaced persons, people with disabilities, and the poorest households in four pilot states: Benue, Abia, Oyo, and Sokoto. UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi on Monday. She explained that the initiative…

By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to delivering stable and uninterrupted electricity across Nigeria before the end of his administration, the Federal Government has assured. Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, gave this reassurance during the commissioning of the 1X15 MVA 33/11KV Injection Substation in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos on Saturday. He said the project will boost power supply to communities including Abaranje, Igando Road, Okerube, and others, enhancing local businesses, creating jobs, and reducing outages. “The Tinubu-led government views energy as the backbone of national growth. That’s why we are pushing reforms that improve generation,…

By Atoyebi Nike Humanitarian agencies have warned that the situation in Gaza is deteriorating rapidly and could lead to an irreversible humanitarian collapse unless the fighting ends immediately. At least 56 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the enclave on Monday alone, including 27 individuals reportedly trying to access humanitarian aid, according to local health officials. The escalating violence has crippled relief efforts, with aid groups struggling to reach vulnerable populations amid continuous bombardment and access restrictions. Calls for a ceasefire have intensified as the civilian toll grows, pushing Gaza further into crisis.

By Atoyebi Nike The Government of Ghana has issued a stern warning to MultiChoice Ghana, demanding a 30% reduction in DStv subscription prices by August 7 or face the suspension of its broadcasting license. The ultimatum comes amid growing public anger over recent price hikes, with officials accusing the pay-TV provider of charging Ghanaian customers significantly more than viewers in other African countries—despite the strengthening of the local currency, the cedi. In April, MultiChoice raised DStv package prices by 15%, a move the government now deems “unjustified.” Member of Parliament Samuel Nartey George, a vocal critic of the pricing model,…

By Atoyebi Nike Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has dismissed allegations that northern Nigeria is being sidelined under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that northerners occupy several top government positions. “You can’t talk about marginalization when the Minister of Defence, National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, and heads of Civil Defence and Immigration are northerners,” he told journalists after meeting with the President. He also highlighted key ministries like Agriculture and Health, both led by northerners, adding, “The record speaks for itself.” Sani stressed that northern Nigeria’s challenges—especially in education and security are historical and require collective action…

By Atoyebi Nike The Tinubu Media Force (TMF) has urged state governors to take immediate action to address rising food prices and deepen investments in education, healthcare, and skills training. Speaking after a strategic meeting in Lagos, TMF National Coordinator, Gbenga Abiola, said state governments must align with President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda, which emphasizes human capital, food security, and affordable public services. “Governors need to invest in their people. Education, healthcare, and skills are the foundation for long-term prosperity,” Abiola said. He highlighted the urgent need to combat inflation and hunger by creating food hubs at the regional, state,…

By Atoyebi Nike The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has urged African nations to focus on creating bankable energy ventures that can attract needed investment and support a sustainable energy future. Ojulari made the appeal on Monday during the opening of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council’s 2025 Annual International Conference and Exhibition in Lagos. According to him, Africa must not only compete for international capital but must also present compelling, investment-ready energy projects. He emphasized the need for cooperation among governments and industry players to build a sector…