Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), in partnership with the African Climate Research for Development (AFCR4D), will host the maiden International Conference on Climate-Smart Agriculture from December 8-12, 2025, at its main campus in Ogun State. According to Professor Olusegun Idowu, Director of FUNAAB’s Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), the conference theme: “Advancing Climate-Smart Innovation for a Resilient and Productive Agriculture in the Third World” will bring together researchers, policymakers, and development experts to discuss sustainable food systems and climate resilience. FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Professor Babatunde Kehinde, will serve as Chief Host,…

By Atoyebi Nike The entire Enugu State caucus in the House of Representatives has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the move on Thursday after reading their resignation letters from the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party. The defection, witnessed by Governor Peter Mbah, marks a major political shift, as the APC now controls all eight House seats from Enugu. Speaking after the announcement, Nnolim Nnaji, representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West, said the lawmakers’ decision was driven by their desire to align with Governor Mbah’s development agenda and connect Enugu to the national mainstream. Other…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government on Thursday launched the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) Automated Payment Solution for inbound international delivery items, a move expected to streamline customs payments and enhance transparency in parcel delivery nationwide. The launch in Abuja marked a major milestone in NIPOST’s digital transformation, driven by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, who said the initiative reflects “a new model of modern public service built on partnership and innovation.” Represented by Permanent Secretary Rafiu Adeladan, Tijani said the collaboration between NIPOST and its private-sector partners  Paystack, Sendbox, and Messenger  demonstrates what…

By Atoyebi Nike The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced that its enrolment portal is now fully restored and operational, following several weeks of technical disruptions that halted new registrations across the country. The outage, which left many Lagos residents stranded, was earlier reported , as applicants were turned back from the NHIA office in Yaba due to an inability to verify National Identification Numbers (NINs). In a statement signed by Emmanuel Ononokpono, Acting Director and Head of Media and Public Relations, the NHIA said the disruption stemmed from a financial process issue affecting NIN verification during its interface…

By Atoyebi Nike The African Union (AU) has announced a $30 billion initiative to modernize airports and airspace systems across Africa over the next decade, aimed at strengthening connectivity and advancing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The plan was unveiled at the 3rd Financing Summit for Africa’s Infrastructure Development in Luanda, according to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA). It includes $10 billion for airport upgrades, $8 billion for communication and meteorological systems, and $12 billion for institutional reforms and private sector engagement. A joint AU study with AFCAC, ICAO, and the World Bank projects Africa’s passenger traffic to…

By Atoyebi Nike The Senate on Thursday confirmed Dr Bernard Doro as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria after a brief screening session that lasted less than 30 minutes. Lawmakers unanimously endorsed Doro’s nomination following his pledge to ensure fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in Nigeria’s humanitarian interventions. “I will create a humanitarian ecosystem that is inclusive, guided by impartiality and independence,” Doro told senators before he was asked to take a bow and leave. President Bola Tinubu had earlier forwarded Doro’s name to the Senate for confirmation in line with Section 147 (2) of the 1999 Constitution. Doro’s…

By Atoyebi Nike US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to ease trade tensions after what Trump described as “very productive” talks in South Korea. Speaking after the meeting, Trump announced that the United States would lower tariffs on Chinese imports, adding that both nations were “close to signing a trade deal.” He hailed the meeting as a “breakthrough moment” following months of renewed economic friction. Trump also revealed that China had agreed to grant the US greater access to its rare earth minerals, key components in electronics and defence industries. “Beijing will give us better…

By Atoyebi Nike The House of Representatives has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the revival of Nigeria’s first-generation universities, including Ahmadu Bello University, the University of Ibadan, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. This followed a motion by Aderemi Oseni (APC, Oyo), who said the institutions that once symbolised academic excellence now suffer from neglect, poor funding, and dilapidated infrastructure. Oseni also criticised the poor quality of TETFund projects, noting that some new buildings already show signs of decay. The House resolved to investigate all TETFund projects across federal universities and directed relevant committees to report within four weeks.…

By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Tinubu has approved a 15 per cent ad-valorem import duty on petrol and diesel imports into Nigeria to protect local refineries and stabilise the downstream market. In a letter dated October 21, 2025, and made public on October 30, Tinubu directed the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority to immediately implement the policy under a “market-responsive import tariff framework.” The move follows a proposal from FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji, who said the new tariff would align import costs with domestic market realities and strengthen local refining under…

By Atoyebi Nike The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has called for an urgent review of Nigeria’s tax incentive policies in the fossil fuel industry, warning that continued fiscal support contradicts the nation’s energy transition agenda. Speaking at the launch of a new report titled “Assessing the Role of Tax Incentives in Nigeria’s Fossil Fuel Industry: Implications for Energy Transition, Policy Direction and the Path to a Sustainable Future” in Abuja on Tuesday, CISLAC Executive Director Auwal Rafsanjani said fiscal incentives must align with Nigeria’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. “Incentivising the fossil fuel industry on the…