Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy skies, thunderstorms, and moderate rainfall across different regions of the country between Thursday, September 25, and Saturday, September 27, 2025. According to the forecast released by NiMet’s Central Forecast Office, the northern region will experience intervals of sunshine and isolated thunderstorms with light rains in parts of Taraba, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Jigawa, Borno, and Yobe. By the weekend, moderate rains are expected in Sokoto, Zamfara, and other northeastern states. In the central region, cloudy conditions with chances of thunderstorms and light rains are projected over Niger,…

By Atoyebi Nike Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for Nigeria to be granted a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, describing it as a matter of fairness, representation, and credibility for the global body. Delivering Nigeria’s statement at the general debate of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Shettima argued that Africa’s continued underrepresentation undermines the UN’s relevance. “The United Nations will recover its relevance only when it reflects the world as it is, not as it was. When the UN was founded, we were a colony of 20 million, absent from the…

By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Tinubu has declared that terrorists despise Nigeria because the nation chooses tolerance over tyranny, warning that violence never ends where it begins. Delivering Nigeria’s national statement at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Wednesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented Tinubu, said extremist groups sought to divide humanity with toxic rhetoric. “We are despised by terrorists because we choose tolerance over tyranny. Their ambition is to divide us and to poison our humanity with a toxic rhetoric of hate,” Shettima stated. Tinubu stressed that Nigeria’s stand against…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria will join the global maritime community this week to commemorate the 2025 World Maritime Day, themed “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.” The event will spotlight shared responsibilities in ensuring the sustainable use of oceans for present and future generations. In a statement on Tuesday, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stressed the importance of citizen, government cooperation in unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain. “Ocean resources carry transgenerational importance. We must safeguard them while recognising the immense opportunities they hold for humanity,” the minister said, urging stronger collaboration to maximise…

By Atoyebi Nike China’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, has reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Nigeria, describing the relationship as a growing “comprehensive strategic partnership” with expanding political, economic, and cultural dimensions. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at a reception to mark the 76th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, Dunhai said 2025 was a pivotal year for China’s development, Africa-China relations, and global diplomacy. “The Chinese nation’s great rejuvenation has entered an irreversible historical trend,” the envoy said, pointing to China’s rapid economic growth and long-term stability over the past seven decades. He also cited poverty…

By Atoyebi Nike The Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has forecast that the naira could appreciate to between ₦1,300 and ₦1,400 per dollar before the end of 2025, citing ongoing economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Rabiu made the projection after meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. He praised what he called Tinubu’s “bold and decisive reforms”, arguing that the measures have already begun to ease foreign exchange pressures and improve business confidence. “I expect that the exchange rate is going to strengthen even further. I expect that the rate should come…

By Atoyebi Nike Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has introduced a new in-app message translation feature to help its more than 3 billion users communicate across languages while maintaining privacy. The rollout, which began on Tuesday, allows users to long-press any message, tap Translate, and choose a preferred language. On Android, users can also enable automatic translation for entire chat threads. Initially, Android users will access six languages which includes English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic  while iPhone users will have more than 19 options. Meta stressed that translations happen directly on users’ devices, ensuring messages remain protected…

By Atoyebi Nike The Kano-Jigawa branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has applauded the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals for its role in reviving struggling industries across the country. Speaking at the ongoing MAN Annual Products Exhibition at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, the branch chairman, Muhammad Bello Isyaku Umar, said the refinery’s intervention in lowering diesel prices and ensuring steady availability of petroleum products has brought relief to manufacturers grappling with high energy costs. “These measures are already helping dying companies come back to life by reducing production expenses, stabilising operations, and sustaining jobs,” Umar noted, adding that…

By Atoyebi Nike The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has urged the Federal Government to immediately review doctors’ salaries and introduce stronger incentives to stem the ongoing migration of health professionals abroad, popularly known as ‘Japa’. Speaking at the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Katsina State, NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, praised members for their resilience through what he described as a year of “triumphs and travails.” He warned that poor pay and harsh working conditions were driving an unprecedented exodus of Nigerian doctors, leaving critically ill patients without adequate care. “The strongest reward to motivate health…

By Atoyebi Nike As the September 30, 2025, deadline for updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) approaches, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group have called on governments to submit ambitious 2030 and 2035 targets aligned with the 1.5°C pathway. Speaking after a joint virtual media session on September 23, the groups, representing nations most exposed to climate impacts, said survival depends on urgent action. “Our uncompromising message is that the survival of our nations depends on urgent and ambitious climate action,” they declared, stressing that COP30 in Belém must deliver a credible plan…