Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Adenike The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a weather forecast indicating thunderstorms and varying cloudiness across the country over a three-day period beginning Wednesday. In a weather outlook released on Tuesday in Abuja, NiMet said morning thunderstorms are expected on Wednesday in parts of Taraba, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. Afternoon and evening thunderstorms are also predicted across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Taraba. For the North-Central region, the agency forecast localised morning thunderstorms in Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), followed by afternoon and evening…
By Atoyebi Nike At least five people have died and 55 others were injured in Yola, Adamawa State, after a flood swept through several communities on Sunday, July 27. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the figures on Monday. Ladan Ayuba, NEMA’s Head of Operations in Yola, said the injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital. NEMA’s national spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel, also confirmed the fatalities and added that a team from the agency is on ground to support response efforts. He promised further updates as assessments continue. Meanwhile, local residents claim the actual…
By Atoyebi Nike Tragedy struck Banga village in Kaura Namoda LGA of Zamfara State, where armed bandits killed 38 kidnapped residents despite receiving N50 million as ransom. The Chairman of Kaura-Namoda Local Government, Mannir Haidara Kaura, confirmed the killings to Channels Television on Monday. According to him, a total of 56 villagers were abducted, and only 18 have returned alive. “From the information I got as the chairman of the local government, 56 were abducted by the bandits and only 18 returned. We took the remaining 18 people to hospital, they are on medication,” Kaura said. He added that plans…
By Atoyebi Nike The Director of Private Sector Development, Mary Adazanyo, says Nigeria’s new National Cashew Research Strategy is crucial to increasing cashew production from 400,000 to 700,000 metric tonnes annually. Speaking at the launch in Abuja, she said the goal can only be achieved through investment in research and development. She described the cashew sector as vibrant and noted Nigeria’s position as the sixth-largest producer globally. The new strategy, developed with the Science Institute of Nigeria and the German development agency GIZ, is the country’s first coordinated national plan for cashew research. Its focus areas include improving farming methods,…
By Atoyebi Nike The EFCC has raised alarm over a new fraud trend targeting Nigerians through fake airline ticket offers and investment deals. According to the Commission, scammers use malware to steal victims’ bank details. They lure people with online ads promising airline ticket discounts and other offers. In one case, victims were told to pay ₦500 and download an app linked to a foreign airline. The app gave fraudsters access to the users’ personal and banking details. The stolen funds were moved into accounts with microfinance banks and fintech platforms. The EFCC said most of the fraud is carried…
By Atoyebi Nike A bill currently under consideration in the House of Representatives has sparked widespread reactions, following its proposal to bar public and civil servants from accessing private hospitals or seeking medical care outside Nigeria. The bill, which also extends to public officials’ immediate families, aims to compel them to rely solely on public healthcare institutions. Sponsored by Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, the “Private Institutions and Health Care Service Providers (Prohibition) Bill, 2025” passed first reading on the House floor on Tuesday. Ogah described the bill as a “turning point” meant to…
By Atoyebi Nike The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has announced the expulsion of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, from its ranks, citing gross misconduct, false claims of membership, and activities contrary to the party’s constitution. The decision, according to a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, followed thorough investigations into what the party described as El-Rufai’s “deceptive political maneuvers” and unauthorized association with the party. “El-Rufai never registered with the SDP at his ward level as required by our constitution,” the statement read. “Yet,…
By Atoyebi Nike The United States Mission in Nigeria has cautioned that visa applications will be rejected if it is suspected that the applicant intends to travel to the U.S. primarily to give birth, with the aim of securing U.S. citizenship for their child. The warning was published on Monday through a post on the Mission’s official X handle (formerly Twitter), @USinNigeria. The statement emphasized that consular officers are mandated to deny visas in cases where there is reason to believe the applicant’s main travel objective is to deliver a baby on American soil. “Using your visa to travel for…
By Atoyebi Nike Hospitals in the Gaza Strip have confirmed two more deaths from famine and malnutrition in the last 24 hours, the territory’s Health Ministry announced on Monday. The latest fatalities bring the total number of reported famine-related deaths to at least 113. The Health Ministry described the situation as “catastrophic,” warning that the ongoing blockade and restricted humanitarian access have pushed many vulnerable residents, especially children and the elderly, to the brink of starvation. Medical workers in Gaza continue to operate under extreme shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. Several hospitals have reported increased admissions of severely undernourished…
By Atoyebi Nike The All Progressives Congress (APC) has named Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as its new National Chairman, following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje, former Kano State governor, who stepped down citing health challenges. Yilwatda, a former APC governorship candidate in Plateau State and key figure in the party’s 2023 presidential campaign, is known for his blend of technocratic expertise and political engagement. Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Yilwatda holds a PhD in Digital Systems Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering…