Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The Yobe State Government has unveiled a major tree-planting campaign to fight desertification and restore degraded environments across the state. Governor Mai Mala Buni announced on Friday in Damaturu that a statewide environmental committee has been established to oversee the project, which will distribute and plant two million tree seedlings during its first phase. Under the initiative, each of the 17 local government areas will receive at least 3,000 seedlings, with additional trees made available for household planting. The governor noted that the programme is designed to take advantage of the August planting season. Deputy Governor Idi…

By Atoyebi Nike The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, positioning Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and possibly Peter Obi as leading challengers to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The decision was reached during the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, where Umar Damagum was also confirmed as the substantive National Chairman. Briefing journalists, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba said the NEC adopted the recommendations of its zoning committee, chaired by Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri. The move retains all current national offices in their zones while reserving the presidency…

By Atoyebi Nike The naira traded at N1,550/$ in the parallel market on Sunday, while the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) closed at N1,536.99/$, shrinking the gap between both markets to just N3.01. The currency’s performance was boosted by stronger reserves, which CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said have reached a four-year high, enough to cover 10 months of imports. He credited ongoing forex reforms, rising domestic production, falling inflation, and easing commodity prices for the naira’s relative stability. Meanwhile, global markets kept a close eye on the U.S. dollar after Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled an end to rate hikes,…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s flag carrier, Air Peace, will soon begin direct flights from Lagos to São Paulo following a new bilateral air services agreement between Nigeria and Brazil. The announcement was made on Tuesday during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the direct connection would strengthen ties between the two countries.“Increasing the direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies,” Lula said at a joint press conference. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that Nigeria’s…

By Atoyebi Nike Nestlé Professional, the Out-of-Home business unit of Nestlé Nigeria, says it has empowered more than 2,600 food vendors across 11 states since launching its Business of Food workshop series. The latest edition held in Bauchi State brought together 250 canteen operators, caterers, and food vendors for hands-on training aimed at improving culinary and business practices. Ibraheem Awelenje, Business Manager at Nestlé Professional Nigeria, said the initiative was designed to help small food businesses thrive in the country’s competitive food service sector.“Our goal is to see food vendors in Nigeria not just survive but thrive. Bauchi’s food entrepreneurs…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned of thunderstorms, moderate to heavy rains, and possible flooding across several parts of the country over the next two days. In its weather outlook for Tuesday, August 26, 2025, NiMet said thunderstorms with moderate rains are expected in Kano, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Jigawa, Kaduna, Gombe, and Bauchi states, both in the morning and later in the day. The agency cautioned that parts of Borno and Yobe face a high risk of flooding. For the Central Region, light rains are forecast over the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Niger in…

By Atoyebi Nike The global trade shake-up triggered by new U.S. tariffs is accelerating Africa’s cross-border payments ecosystem and renewing momentum for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), according to Eghosa Nehikhare, CEO of Multigate, a treasury management and cross-border payments solutions provider. In July, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed fresh tariffs of up to 30% on goods from South Africa and Algeria and 15% on exports from Nigeria and Ghana a move that risks further sidelining Africa in American trade flows. But Nehikhare says the tariffs are having an unexpected upside. “Trading relationships between Africa and Asia, particularly…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government on Monday unveiled a new digital portal designed to simplify teachers’ registration, certification, and professional development, as part of reforms to reposition Nigeria’s education sector. Speaking at the launch of the platform and the Strategic Vision for Nigerian Teachers in Abuja, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa said the initiative, developed by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), would provide a one-stop system for licensing, renewal, examination scheduling, and professional tracking. “It will also serve as a national database for teacher performance and career progression,” Alausa said. He added that the reforms extend…

By Atoyebi Nike The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Bashir Ojulari, has warned that crude oil theft across Africa is being driven by specialised international and continental criminal gangs exploiting gaps in security systems. Speaking on Monday at the opening of the Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Abuja, Ojulari said oil theft is not a purely localised crime but a sophisticated operation that demands cross-border collaboration to combat effectively. “Crude theft and its attendant illegal activities are by no means a purely localised occurrence; rather, these operations involve specialised international…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has called on African militaries to urgently develop joint cyber defence, counterterrorism, and intelligence-sharing capacities to address the continent’s fast-evolving security threats. Speaking at the opening of the inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja on Monday, Musa warned that terrorism, transnational organised crime, piracy, and climate-induced conflicts were becoming increasingly sophisticated, while cyber warfare and artificial intelligence were reshaping the battlefield. “The threats confronting us are borderless, asymmetric and digital. Africa must rise with equally dynamic responses built on unity, shared intelligence and joint operations,” he…