Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Communities and climate justice groups across Africa have begun a coordinated campaign demanding that TotalEnergies halt its fossil fuel operations on the continent, pay reparations, and support a just energy transition. The mobilisation, known as the “Africa Week of Action to Kick Total Out of Africa”, runs from Monday, August 18, to Sunday, August 24, 2025, spanning at least 10 African countries, including Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Senegal, Benin, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Togo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Online events are also taking place globally. The campaign is being spearheaded by communities directly affected by…

By Atoyebi Nike Industrial & Medical Gases Nigeria Plc (IMG) has opened a N6.39 billion Rights Issue to existing shareholders as part of its strategy to cut debt, improve liquidity, and fund long-term expansion. The offer, signed off over the weekend, covers 199,797,458 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N32 per share, allowing shareholders to acquire two new shares for every five held as of the May 21, 2025 qualification date. The subscription window will remain open for 28 working days. Chairman of IMG, Bayero Ado, described the move as “a crucial milestone” for the company’s growth trajectory.“This Rights…

By Atoyebi Nike The Borno State Police Command has safely recovered an unexploded ordnance (UXO) discovered on a farmland in Dikwa Local Government Area, following a report from a local farmer. In a statement on Monday, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Nahum Daso, said one Babagana Kachalla had alerted authorities after spotting a suspicious object buried on his land. Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid, immediately deployed the Commander of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Base 13, Maiduguri, and his team to the site. The object was identified as a Cluster Bomb Unit (CBU), measuring about 2.2 meters in length…

By Bagudu Mohammed Almost every day on social media, Nigerians vent their frustrations at the political class, especially at elected representatives who, in the eyes of the people, consistently fail them. Amidst this storm of grievances, one comment recently caught my attention and introduced a refreshing perspective. He declared: “If the wise ones refuse to aspire for the position of leadership, they will be led by the wisdom of fools.” The remark electrified the conversation, evoking nods of approval, strings of emojis, and an air of vindication among many who feel betrayed by those in power. Yet, another voice challenged…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has approved ₦142,028,576,428 for the construction of modern bus terminals across six states of the federation. The approval was granted at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and presided over by President Bola Tinubu. Minister of Transportation, Sai’du Alkali, told State House Correspondents that the terminals will be established in Abeokuta (South-West), Gombe (North-East), Kano (North-West), Lokoja (North-Central), Onitsha (South-East), and Warri (South-South). Alkali explained that the project was designed to address gaps in the nation’s transport system, which has long operated without standard terminals. He stressed that…

By Atoyebi Nike New Zealand will phase out paper applications for international student visas next month as the government accelerates its transition to a fully digital immigration system. From September 18, all applications for six categories of student visas must be submitted online through Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) upgraded ADEPT platform. The affected categories include English Language, Exchange, Fee-Paying, Pathway, New Zealand Government Scholarship, and Foreign Government Supported student visas. The shift marks a milestone in the country’s seven-year Our Future Services modernization program, led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which aims to centralize all visa…

By Atoyebi Nike The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced a new requirement for visa applicants, mandating the disclosure of all social media usernames and handles used in the past five years. The directive was revealed in a post on the Mission’s official X account on Monday, aligning with the U.S. Department of State’s ongoing efforts to strengthen national security through stricter screening procedures. According to the Mission, applicants must provide a complete list of their social media details on the DS-160 visa application form. Failure to do so, it warned, could result in immediate visa denial and possible…

By Atoyebi  Nike The Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment with the graduation of 69 trainees from the 27th edition of its Supply Chain Academy in Lagos. The ceremony, held at NBC’s Ikeja Plant, brought together key figures from government, business, and the community. Among the dignitaries were the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende; Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde; and the Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Adebanjo Moyosore. They commended NBC for equipping young Nigerians with technical and leadership skills relevant…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a fresh three-day weather forecast, warning of heavy rains, thunderstorms, and potential flooding in several parts of the country between Monday, August 18, and Wednesday, August 20, 2025. According to the outlook released by NiMet’s Central Forecast Office, northern states such as Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Taraba will experience moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms, especially on Monday and Tuesday. The agency flagged Maiduguri, Dutse, Katsina, Gombe, and Bauchi as high-risk areas for flooding. In the central region, light to moderate rains…

By Atoyebi Nike The Children’s Parliament in Katsina State has urged the government to domesticate the National Policy for Violence-Free Schools, Safety, and Security, in order to make schools safer for children across the state. The 34-member parliament made the call on Monday during its plenary session at the Katsina State House of Assembly chamber, presided over by Speaker Fadila Sani. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Halimatu Idris, representing Malumfashi, who stressed that implementing the policy locally was vital to ensuring secure, supportive learning environments. “Without safety in schools, education and future development remain at risk,” Idris said,…