Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s long-term food security will rely heavily on private sector capital, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari. He made the remark in Abuja during a visit by a Food and Agriculture Organisation delegation led by Alessandro Marini of the FAO Investment Centre. Kyari said the government is reshaping the business environment to attract serious investors, noting that recent policy reforms are designed to cut risks and encourage long-term commitments. He added that discussions with institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have strengthened the shared view that private sector…
By Atoyebi Nike Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has launched its Southern Swamp Associated Gas Solutions project in Delta State, adding about 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to the domestic market. The facility also anchors future development within the Tunu Node, estimated at 820 million barrels of oil equivalent. Managing Director Tony Attah described the project as a major step in ending routine flaring across the company’s Tunu, Opukushi, Benisede and Ogbotobo operations. He said the gas output can power thousands of homes and strengthen industrial growth while creating jobs along the supply chain. Attah noted…
By Atoyebi Nike The National Information Technology Development Agency has issued a new cybersecurity alert on emerging weaknesses found in ChatGPT, warning that the flaws could expose Nigerians to data leaks and manipulated AI responses. Its Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team said researchers uncovered seven vulnerabilities in the GPT4o and GPT5 models. The weaknesses allow attackers to exploit indirect prompt injection by hiding instructions inside webpages, comments or URLs that ChatGPT processes during browsing or summarization. NITDA noted that malicious commands embedded in online content can force the model to perform unintended tasks, bypass safety controls or generate harmful…
By Atoyebi Nike Former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) has dismissed social media claims suggesting that Nigeria is edging toward becoming a failed state, describing such views as misguided and disconnected from the nation’s long-standing resilience. In a statement shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday, titled “Nigeria: An Unbreakable Nation Rising Through Challenges,” Buratai argued that assessments like the 2011 CSAT projections fail to acknowledge recent leadership reforms and the resolve of Nigerians to push through adversity. According to him, Nigeria has consistently weathered political upheavals, economic downturns and security crises that could have crippled…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s farmlands face growing pest invasions as climate change and expanding human activity create favorable conditions for destructive insects and plant diseases. This concern took centre stage in Abuja as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security opened a technical review of the draft National Integrated Pest and Plant Disease Management Strategy. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, shifting ecosystems and broader trade routes have increased the spread of crop-ravaging pests, leading to falling yields across several regions. The review session at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute brought together researchers, government officials, private companies and development…
By Atoyebi Nike The Dangote Petroleum Refinery will release 1.5 billion litres of petrol into the Nigerian market in December 2025, with another 1.5 billion litres scheduled for January 2026. The plan is designed to stabilize fuel supply during the festive season and the early weeks of the new year. Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, said the refinery will supply 50 million litres of PMS daily from December 1. He explained that the facility has been producing between 40 and 45 million litres each day but possesses enough stock to raise output. He added that concerns about local…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria has been classified as “critical” on the 2025 Instability Risk Index released by SBM Intelligence, scoring 52 out of 100. The rating places the country among Africa’s most vulnerable states, with major concerns across security, governance and economic stability. The index assesses four key clusters: Leadership and Governance (40%), Economy (30%), Geopolitics (15%) and History (15%). Nigeria posted scores of 16, 20, 6 and 10 respectively, resulting in its overall rating. SBM Intelligence noted that Nigeria continues to struggle with insecurity, rising poverty and the impact of recent economic reforms. It said the removal of petrol…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria is losing an estimated $9bn–$10bn worth of agricultural produce every year due to post-harvest losses, agriculture entrepreneur and CEO of Davidorlar Nigeria Ltd, Segun Alabi, has said. Speaking during an interactive session with House of Representatives correspondents in Abuja on Monday, Alabi said 30-50 per cent of the nation’s annual food output is wasted after harvest because of poor handling, weak storage systems, inefficient transportation, and inadequate processing capacity. He noted that the losses affect fruits, vegetables, grains, and other perishables, reducing farmers’ incomes and weakening national food supply chains. “Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest…
By Atoyebi Nike A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday granted a request by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to adjourn further proceedings in the criminal defamation case involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central. Justice Chizoba Oji fixed a new date for the hearing of the senator’s preliminary objection after confirming that the court had received a formal letter from the prosecution seeking an adjournment. The senator is standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal defamation over her claims that Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi…
By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has launched the Nigeria 2025 Petroleum Licensing Round to draw about $10bn in upstream investments and unlock as much as two billion barrels of crude oil. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission announced the programme in Abuja, listing 50 blocks across onshore, shallow-water, frontier and deepwater basins. NUPRC Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe said the round signals a renewed push to revive exploration and strengthen long-term production. He explained that the Commission has released full bid guidelines on its portal and adopted a two-stage process to improve credibility and ensure investor confidence, in line with…