Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Heavy flooding has left widespread destruction in Hong and Demsa Local Government Areas of Adamawa State after hours of relentless rainfall on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Entire communities were submerged, forcing many residents to flee their homes as water levels rose rapidly. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as household belongings, crops, and livestock were swept away by the surging waters. In several villages, houses made of mud bricks collapsed under the pressure, leaving families without shelter. Farmlands already nearing harvest were inundated, threatening the livelihoods of thousands dependent on agriculture in the two LGAs. Local authorities have…

By Atoyebi Nike Housing and Urban Development Minister Ahmed Dangiwa outlined the initiative at a stakeholders’ workshop on the National Land Registration, Documentation, and Titling Programme (NLRDTP), themed “Moving from Inception to Implementation.” The scheme branded “Land4Growth” will replace Nigeria’s fragmented, paper-based land management with a digitized and transparent national framework. Less than 5% of land nationwide is currently formally titled, leaving millions without secure ownership proof and depriving governments of significant revenue. Dangiwa said the programme targets a 50% increase in formal land registration within 10 years, alongside the rollout of standardized Land Information Systems and Geographic Information Systems.…

By Atoyebi Nike Lawmakers have launched an inquiry into the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme following mounting concerns that it has failed to deliver meaningful relief to struggling citizens despite its vast budget. Speaking at the National Assembly, Committee Chairman Abubakar Kusada (APC, Katsina) said numerous complaints from the public triggered the investigation into the multi-billion-naira initiative, jointly funded by the Federal Government and the World Bank. Designed to cushion the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, fuel subsidy removal, and exchange rate unification, NG-CARES is in the final year of its first four-year phase, which…

By Atoyebi Nike Nine new private universities have been cleared to operate in Nigeria following Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval on Wednesday. Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa announced the decision after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. The newly approved institutions include Tazkiyah University, Kaduna State; Leadership University, Abuja; Jimoh Babalola University, Kwara State; Bridget University, Mbaise, Imo State; Greenland University, Jigawa State; JEFAP University, Niger State; Azione Verde University, Imo State; Unique Open University, Lagos State; and American Open University, Ogun State. Alausa explained that the current administration inherited 551…

By Atoyebi Nike The United States has given the green light for a possible $346 million Foreign Military Sale to Nigeria, covering an extensive package of munitions, precision bombs, precision rockets, and associated support equipment. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed the approval in a statement dated August 13 and has formally notified the US Congress. The proposed package is designed to enhance Nigeria’s ability to counter terrorism, combat illicit trafficking, and strengthen security in the Gulf of Guinea, without altering the military balance in the region. Nigeria’s request includes 1,002 MK-82 500-pound general-purpose bombs, 1,002 MXU-650 air foil…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s drive to lead in energy innovation gained a boost on Wednesday as the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) entered into a strategic partnership to advance research, innovation, and human capital in both petroleum and renewable energy sectors. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed at PTDF’s headquarters in Abuja, formalizes collaboration between PTDF and NNPCL’s Research, Technology and Innovation subsidiary, with a focus on emerging technologies, sustainable energy solutions, and energy security. PTDF Executive Secretary Galadima Aminu described the agreement as a “bold step towards national progress,” emphasizing its potential…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s petroleum supply chain saw a marked slowdown in June 2025, with total fuel evacuation volumes falling to 1.44 billion litres, a drop of more than 290 million litres from May. Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) released on Wednesday showed the monthly figure represented a 16.42% decline compared to May’s 1.77 billion litres. This translates to an average daily evacuation of 48 million litres. Director of Public Affairs at the NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, clarified that the actual daily average was higher than earlier reports suggesting 38.94 million litres. He noted that…

By Atoyebi Nike A coordinated manhunt is underway in Nasarawa State after 16 inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi, early Tuesday, leaving five correctional officers injured. The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed that seven fugitives were swiftly rearrested, while nine remain at large. According to spokesperson Abubakar Umar, the escape followed a violent attack on warders by a group of inmates who overpowered security personnel during the early morning hours. Two of the injured officers are reported to be in critical condition and are receiving urgent care at a government hospital. The NCoS said security operations involving…

By Atoyebi Nike Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for coordinated international pressure on Russia to secure a “fair peace,” warning that Moscow shows no signs of ending its war. Writing on social media before departing for Berlin on Wednesday, Zelensky stressed the need to “learn from the experience of Ukraine and our partners to prevent deception on the part of Russia.” He said his team had engaged in more than 30 conversations with global leaders and top officials ahead of meetings with European heads of state and US President Donald Trump. The talks come as Russian forces make limited…

By Atoyebi Nike The naira continued its slide against the US dollar in the official foreign exchange market on Tuesday, marking its second straight day of depreciation this week. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed the local currency closed at ₦1,537.09 to the dollar, down from ₦1,535.92 recorded on Monday. This represents a daily loss of ₦1.17. In the parallel market, however, the naira held steady at ₦1,570 per dollar, the same rate recorded on Monday. So far this week, the currency has shed ₦3.53 in value against the greenback, despite an uptick in Nigeria’s external reserves,…