Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have opened a new chapter of collaboration aimed at improving data sharing and harnessing public infrastructure for national development. This came as the Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, paid a courtesy visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a strategic step to strengthen governance. Yakubu lauded the NBS for maintaining Nigeria’s largest official database on national life, while highlighting INEC’s role in managing the country’s most extensive database of adult citizens,…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has assured that the recently announced 5 percent fuel surcharge will not be enforced immediately, nor in January 2026 when other new taxes signed into law by President Bola Tinubu are expected to take effect. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Edun explained that the fuel levy forms part of the federal government’s broader tax reform and is not an entirely new measure but a harmonisation of existing provisions. “As of today, no immediate plan to implement such a charge,” the minister…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s Dangote refinery has dismissed fears of fuel shortages despite an ongoing nationwide strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which began on Monday and has drawn support from local and international unions. “There is no fuel shortage, everything is going on,” refinery spokesman Anthony Chiejina said on Tuesday, confirming that discussions were continuing with the government and labour representatives. The dispute centres on allegations that tanker drivers hired by the refinery are barred from joining NUPENG. Union president Williams Akporeha claimed Dangote was imposing conditions to weaken organised labour, describing it…
By Atoyebi Nike African ministers of livestock and agriculture have pledged sweeping reforms to transform food and nutrition security by placing livestock and animal-sourced foods (ASFs) at the heart of the continent’s food systems. The commitments were made during the first ministerial deep dive on livestock at the African Food Systems Forum in Dakar, co-hosted by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), AU-IBAR, and GIZ, with 13 countries participating. Despite hosting 85% of the world’s livestock keepers, Africa produces just 2.6% of global milk and spends $50 billion yearly on food imports. With demand for meat projected to triple and…
By Atoyebi Nike The Avocado Society of Nigeria (ASN) says it is set to transform the nation’s avocado sector by introducing the high-yielding Hass variety, projected to generate more than N12 billion annually. ASN President, Ambassador Adeniyi Sola-Bunmi, explained that the Hass avocado matures in three years, has higher market value, and could position Nigeria for global competitiveness. He noted that smallholder farmers dominate local production but remain discouraged by misconceptions that avocados take too long to bear fruit. To scale output, ASN has established a demonstration farm and international nursery in Abeokuta to produce export-grade seedlings, while also developing…
By Atoyebi Nike Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has returned to public activities after taking a short medical rest over the weekend. Obi announced on Saturday that he had fallen ill during a tourism event in Enugu and, on his doctor’s advice, suspended engagements within and outside Nigeria. By Monday, he resumed official appearances, beginning with a visit to a small and medium enterprise (SME) he had earlier pledged to support. Describing the business MDH, a textile firm Obi said it reflects Nigeria’s creative and entrepreneurial potential. He stressed the importance of SMEs to national growth, noting that…
By Atoyebi NikeThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is strengthening its response to Lassa fever as regional leaders, scientists, and health experts gather in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for the second ECOWAS Lassa Fever International Conference (ELFIC 2025). The four-day event, running from September 8 to 11 and organised by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), aims to boost cooperation on research, surveillance, prevention, and treatment of the deadly viral disease. Lassa fever, which is endemic in parts of West Africa, poses serious risks, with one in five cases progressing to severe illness affecting organs such as the liver,…
By Atoyebi Nike Mastercard has released a new whitepaper, Harnessing the Transformative Power of AI in Africa, outlining the continent’s opportunities, challenges, and roadmap for responsible artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. The study projects Africa’s AI market to grow from $4.5 billion in 2025 to $16.5 billion by 2030, driven by mobile-first innovation, youthful demographics, and rising venture capital flows. It argues that AI can unlock transformative outcomes across agriculture, healthcare, education, energy, and finance if deployed responsibly. The report highlights regional progress: South Africa leads in AI investment and infrastructure readiness; Kenya leverages its “Silicon Savannah” to deploy AI in…
By Atoyebi Nike The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called 13 domestic airlines to an emergency meeting over rising cases of flight delays, cancellations, and poor passenger treatment. The session, scheduled for Wednesday in Abuja, was confirmed by NCAA spokesperson Michael Achimugu, who said the regulator is concerned about growing complaints from travellers and recent incidents of unruly passenger behaviour linked to airline lapses. Issues to be discussed include persistent delays, passenger handling and welfare, refund and compensation complaints, safety enforcement, and the planned rollout of RFID baggage tagging and real-time flight monitoring technology. Achimugu warned that airlines must…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigerian companies are ramping up investments in privacy protection as they expand artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, with 40% of firms now dedicating over 30% of their IT budgets to data security, according to a new report. The study, The AI Privacy Equation: The Nigerian Model of Responsible AI Adoption, conducted by Arion Research on behalf of Zoho and released during Zoholics Nigeria, revealed that 94% of organizations have appointed dedicated privacy officers a figure surpassing global averages. The financial sector is leading the way, applying AI to customer service automation, software development, and marketing while embedding privacy…