Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi NikeThe Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has resumed her legislative duties at the National Assembly after months of suspension, describing Senate President Godswill Akpabio as a “dictator.” Her return followed the unsealing of her office by the Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, after a Federal High Court in Abuja declared her suspension excessive and unconstitutional. Akpoti-Uduaghan, suspended in March for alleged misconduct, insisted she owed no apology and accused Akpabio of treating her like “a servant or domestic staff.” She added, “It is so unfortunate that we will have a National Assembly being run by…

By Atoyebi NikePresident Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has urged UN member states to acknowledge what he described as a “silent genocide” devastating his country for more than 30 years. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Tshisekedi demanded an independent international inquiry and sanctions against those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in eastern DRC. The region, rich in minerals, has suffered recurring violence, worsened by the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, which the UN accuses Rwanda of supporting. M23’s capture of Goma and Bukavu this year has displaced…

By Atoyebi NikeNigeria’s two major oil unions, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), have opposed the Federal Government’s reported plan to sell off 30-35 per cent of its stakes in joint venture assets managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). At a joint press conference in Abuja, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo and NUPENG leader Williams Akporeha warned that the sale would weaken NNPCL, bankrupt the company within years, and undermine Nigeria’s long-term economic security. The unions accused the Ministry of Finance of…

By Atoyebi NikeAfrican governments have been urged to view their upcoming national climate plans as opportunities to transform economies, create millions of jobs, and raise living standards across the continent. The call was made by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, who emphasised that the new plans formally known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement  could unlock large-scale investments, clean energy access, and resilient infrastructure. “Strong plans open the door to new industries, large-scale investment, more affordable clean energy accessible to all, and more resilient infrastructure, as climate disasters hit African nations harder each year,” Stiell…

By Atoyebi NikeThe West Africa Container Terminal (WACT)-APM Terminals Nigeria and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a $60 million roadmap to electrify containerised freight in line with the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy’s policies. The agreement, signed on Tuesday, commits APM Terminals to fully fund the project, which will advance Nigeria’s decarbonisation drive and reshape the country’s port and logistics ecosystem. Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals, Frederik Klinke, said Nigeria was strategically positioned to lead West Africa’s low-carbon transition.“We believe that Nigeria is ideally situated to lead West…

By Atoyebi NikeThe Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with UNICEF, has launched a continent-wide initiative aimed at transforming over 10 million lives by 2030 through programmes in education, digital inclusion, environmental sustainability, and financial literacy. The official launch took place on Tuesday in Lagos, marking the formal rollout of a platform already active in Nigeria and 13 other African countries since July 2024. Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said the foundation was designed to multiply the company’s social investments across Africa with a sharper focus on digital empowerment.“For the first time, the world will see in one…

By Atoyebi NikeMembers of the ECOWAS Parliament have identified artificial intelligence (AI) as a critical tool to enhance legislative drafting, expand citizen participation in policymaking, and reinforce democracy across the West African region. The position was advanced in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the Parliament’s 2025 Extraordinary Session, which featured the inaugural sitting and the Second Parliamentary Seminar under the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region.” In her opening address, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hajia Memounatou Ibrahima, described AI as a “global competitive tool” with the potential to bridge the…

By Atoyebi NikeBorno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has reiterated the Northern Governors’ Forum’s commitment to revitalising the New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC) as a driver of economic growth across the 19 Northern states. Governor Zulum, who chairs the Implementation Committee alongside the governors of Kwara, Zamfara, and Plateau, said the NNDC would be repositioned into a development finance institution with a diversified investment portfolio. Speaking at the committee’s inaugural meeting in Kaduna on Monday, Zulum commended the Forum for backing the restructuring process, which he described as vital to restoring the company’s role as the North’s strongest…

By Atoyebi NikeThe Nigerian National Assembly has postponed its resumption of plenary sessions from Tuesday, September 23, to Tuesday, October 7, 2025. The extension was announced in a memo signed by the Clerk of the Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, on Monday. “I am directed by the presiding officers of both Chambers… to inform all members and the general public that the Resumption date… is postponed to Tuesday 7th October 2025,” the statement read, adding that committee work will continue in the interim. The Assembly had gone on a two-month annual recess on July 23, 2025, during which only plenary sittings were…

By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged African nations to seize control of their mineral resources and drive reforms in the global financial system, which he said has historically exploited the continent. Speaking through Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the Second Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in New York, held on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, Tinubu stressed the urgency of financing Africa’s mineral sectors independently and strengthening control over global supply chains. “We must take the bull by the horns in financing our future. Never again shall we wait…