Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike Gombe State Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, Mohammed Fawu, has called for urgent collective action to protect Northern Nigeria’s water resources, warning that climate change, population growth, and poor land use threaten millions of livelihoods. Fawu made the call on Tuesday at the opening of a stakeholders’ engagement for developing strategic catchment management plans for the Gongola, Gali-Lamurde, and Hawal-Kilunga basins. He described the initiative, supported by the World Bank-funded ACRESAL project, as a “blueprint for sustainable water management and resilience against environmental shocks,” noting that it will provide a framework for basin-wide conservation efforts…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria and Brazil have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two countries. The agreement was signed in Brasília by Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, and Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos, in the presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Minister Nnaji described the pact as a bold step in South-South cooperation, stressing its potential to unlock jobs, industries, and innovation across biotechnology, space research, digital…
By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has rolled out enhanced wheelchair assistance and special support services for passengers with disabilities, elderly travellers, and others requiring mobility aid at airports nationwide. The initiative, announced on Monday, is designed to ensure dignity, safety, and comfort for all categories of travellers, according to FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah. Orah explained that the services will cover the entire passenger journey, from check-in to boarding and on arrival. “Wheelchair services are provided from check-in through boarding and on arrival. Dedicated staff are available to offer guidance…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s crude oil production climbed to its highest level in six months in July, marking a steady recovery after earlier declines, according to new figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The country produced 1.507 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in July, slightly above the 1.505 million bpd recorded in June. This marks the second consecutive month Africa’s top producer has exceeded its OPEC quota. Including condensates, total liquid hydrocarbon output averaged 1.712 million bpd, with daily production ranging between 1.66 million and 1.84 million bpd, NUPRC said. NUPRC Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe,…
By Atoyebi Nike Rwanda’s head coach, Adel Amrouche, has released a 27-man provisional squad ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari, who has become a standout for the Amavubi and kept a clean sheet against the Super Eagles in a 2024 AFCON qualifier, headlines the list. Domestic champions APR FC dominate the squad with five players: goalkeeper Pierre Ishimwe, defenders Alex Nduwayo, Claude Niyomugabo, Fitina Ombalenga, and forward Gilbert Mugisha. Rwanda will face Nigeria on September 6 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, before taking on Zimbabwe…
By Atoyebi Nike The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bayero University Kano (BUK) branch, on Tuesday held a peaceful protest in Kano, urging the Federal Government to sign and implement its renegotiated agreement and pay lecturers’ withheld salaries. Branch Vice-Chairman, Comrade Yusuf Madugu, said the government had failed to act on the renegotiated 2009 agreement concluded in December 2024. He listed ASUU’s demands to include the payment of three and a half months’ outstanding salaries from the 2022 strike, proper funding of universities through revitalisation funds, improved wages and allowances, and respect for university autonomy. Madugu noted that since…
By Atoyebi Nike A Kaduna-bound passenger train derailed on Tuesday morning at Asham, along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, shortly after departing Abuja at 9:45 a.m. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) confirmed the incident on its official X account, sharing a video clip that showed several coaches off the track, with passengers including women and children scrambling out through windows and doors. In the footage, a female passenger who filmed the scene said she had been seated in the last coach and, upon exiting after the train halted, discovered that some coaches had overturned, with people gathered outside in confusion. As of…
By Atoyebi Nike The University of Lagos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed loan scheme for lecturers, describing it as a “Greek gift” and declaring that its members are not interested. The decision was reached on Tuesday during a special congress, where members reaffirmed their support for the strategies of ASUU’s national leadership in pressing for better funding of universities and improved welfare. Addressing lecturers after a march from the Main Gate through the campus, branch chairman Prof. Idowu Kehinde said the scheme was unnecessary if the government fulfilled its obligations.…
By Atoyebi Nike Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has filed a lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI in a U.S. federal court in Texas, accusing the companies of colluding to restrict competition in the AI market. The lawsuit seeks billions of dollars in damages, alleging that Apple’s integration of ChatGPT into its operating systems and App Store policies unfairly lock out rivals. xAI argued that without its exclusive deal with OpenAI, Apple would have “no reason to refrain from more prominently featuring the X app and Grok app” in its App Store. Musk reinforced the claim on his social platform,…
By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has called for collective efforts to protect Nigeria’s food systems from the growing threats of climate change through shared commitment to resilience, productivity, and food security. Mr. Ibrahim Tanimu, Director of Planning and Policy Coordination at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, made the call on Monday in Abuja during the FGN/IFAD Best Practice Workshop on Public-Private Partnerships for Climate Information Services and consultations on the Climate-Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience (CSAPR) Project. Tanimu warned that erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events are undermining farmers’ livelihoods, food security, and rural…