Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Gombe State has been selected as one of only three Nigerian states to participate in the prestigious World Livestock Summit, Sommet D’élevage, in Clermont-Ferrand, France. The recognition, conveyed by the National Coordination Office of the World Bank-backed Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, follows an assessment ranking Gombe among the nation’s top performers in livestock sector reform. In a statement, National Project Coordinator Malam Sanusi Abubakar praised Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership, noting the effective role of the State Steering and Technical Committees, and described Gombe as a model for livestock transformation. The summit, regarded as…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s national grid collapsed again on Wednesday, leaving many parts of the country without electricity. In a statement, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the outage, saying the supply loss occurred at 11:23 a.m. and affected its entire service area. The company assured that efforts were ongoing with stakeholders to stabilise and restore the grid. Data shared by the Nigerian Independent System Operator showed that as of 12:25 p.m., most distribution companies had no power allocation. Abuja and Ibadan DisCos received only 20MW each, Benin 10MW, while Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Yola…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Tuesday suspended its two-day nationwide strike following a breakthrough meeting with the Federal Government and the Dangote Group. The industrial action, which caused fuel shortages and long queues in several states, was triggered by allegations that the Dangote Refinery barred employees and tanker drivers from joining recognised oil and gas unions. At the reconciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour, both parties agreed that unionisation is a legal right under Nigeria’s labour laws. Dangote Refinery committed to allowing its refinery and petrochemical workers to join…

By Atoyebi Nike The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, to appear before its Committee on Land Transport within 48 hours following his absence at an emergency session on railway safety. In a statement issued Tuesday by House Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., the Committee said the session was convened in response to the August 26, 2025 derailment of a Kaduna-bound train at Asham Station, which left passengers injured and halted services on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor. Committee Chair, Rep. Blessing Onyeche Onuh (APC, Benue), said lawmakers expected the minister to brief them on…

By Atoyebi Nike The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has ordered an immediate ban on loading from unauthorised points nationwide to tackle recurring boat accidents and strengthen safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways. NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, announced the directive in Abuja on Tuesday, warning that no passenger boat will be allowed to operate outside recognised and registered loading terminals. He added that commercial operators must enforce life jacket use, clearly display boat names and load lines, and ensure only licensed boats and drivers operate on the waterways. The move follows a series of fatal accidents in recent months. In…

By Atoyebi Nike Nepal has been plunged into its worst political crisis in two decades after violent protests forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. At least 19 people were killed in a crackdown that has fuelled nationwide anger. The unrest began over a social media ban and corruption but quickly escalated, with protesters torching parliament, government buildings, and politicians’ homes, including Oli’s residence. The army has deployed tanks and soldiers across Kathmandu, warning that looting and arson will be punished. Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel has called for calm and dialogue. International leaders, including UN Secretary-General António…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, on Tuesday convened a North Central zonal consultative forum in Lafia, Nasarawa State, to review the National Gender Policy in Agriculture and its Strategic Plan of Action (2025-2030). The meeting, supported by AGRA, GIZ and Care International, gathered stakeholders from government agencies, civil society, women farmers’ groups, youth networks, and development partners. Speaking at the forum, the Ministry’s Director of Special Duties, Kachalla Damaturu, said the consultation was designed to capture the voices of women, youths, and persons with disabilities in shaping Nigeria’s agricultural…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with relevant agencies to mitigate the impact of flooding across the country. Speaking in Abuja on Monday while receiving the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Flooding, led by Hon. Mandala Usman, the minister described flooding as “sensitive, worrisome, and largely man-made,” stressing that long-term solutions require collective action from citizens and government alike. Balarabe outlined existing measures including afforestation programmes, early warning alerts, public sensitisation, enforcement of environmental laws, flood equipment deployment, and training of officers. He also suggested practical interventions such…

By Atoyebi Nike The World Bank has reiterated that reliable electricity is critical to Nigeria’s healthcare delivery, stressing that access to clean and stable power can save lives and improve health outcomes. Speaking at the opening of the first National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector in Abuja on Tuesday, the Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Mathew Verghis  represented by Vinay Vurukutu said ongoing World Bank-funded energy initiatives were already transforming healthcare operations. He listed three major projects: the Nigeria Electrification Programme, which has powered 100 health centres and two teaching hospitals nationwide; the $650m IMPACT Project,…

By Atoyebi Nike The Kano State Government has announced a total ban on the unlicensed use of chainsaws for tree cutting, felling, and trimming in a renewed push to protect the environment and reduce deforestation. The Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad-Hashim, disclosed the measure at a press briefing on Tuesday, citing the 1999 Constitution, the NESREA Act 2007, and the National Environmental Regulations 2014 as legal backing. He said the move aligns with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) strategy, which targets a 60 per cent reduction in deforestation and restoration of degraded forests. To enforce…