The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Head of Transparency International (TI) Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, has been honoured with the Transparency International Amalia Award for Individual Professional Excellence, one of the organisation’s highest distinctions for outstanding contributions to the global fight against corruption. Rafsanjani received the award on July 1 during the Transparency International Movement Awards Ceremony, held at the close of the TI Summit 2026 in Berlin, Germany. The summit ran from June 29 to July 1 at the Transparency International Secretariat and featured both physical and virtual participation. Named in honour…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Nigerian government has commenced the rollout of one million free hybrid cocoa seedlings to farmers as part of efforts to revive the country’s industry of the product, improve productivity and strengthen the country’s position in the global cocoa market. The initiative, announced on Wednesday, is aimed at supporting cocoa farmers with improved planting materials capable of delivering higher yields, while encouraging the rehabilitation of ageing plantations across cocoa-producing states. The programme is also expected to enhance farmers’ incomes and boost Nigeria’s export earnings from the crop. Officials said the distribution of the hybrid seedlings forms part of the Federal…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of 46 microfinance banks across the country, citing their failure to comply with regulatory requirements for continued operation. The apex bank, in a statement signed by the Acting Director of the CBN’s Corporate Communications Department, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali, on Wednesday, explained that the revocation takes effect from July 1, 2026, following the approval of the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso. According to the CBN, the action was taken in line with the powers conferred on it under Sections 12 and 13 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA),…
As climate variability intensifies and production costs continue to rise, agricultural experts have urged farmers to place greater emphasis on soil health, describing it as one of the most valuable assets for improving productivity, resilience and long-term profitability. In a statement, Omnia Nutriology® said soil has evolved beyond being merely the medium in which crops grow, becoming a strategic production asset that influences nutrient efficiency, water utilisation, crop resilience and overall farm performance. The company’s Biologicals Lead, Venessa Moodley, said the traditional perception of soil as a passive component of farming systems was changing as producers faced increasing pressure to…
The Lagos State Government has appealed to residents to remain calm following persistent heavy rainfall and flash floods that have affected several parts of the state over the past two weeks, while announcing immediate measures to improve drainage infrastructure. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the immediate dredging and maintenance of 28 additional primary drainage channels as part of efforts to strengthen flood control across the state. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the recent downpours constituted an extreme weather event that produced an unusually high volume of rainfall within a short period, overwhelming drainage systems…
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a flash flood warning for Lagos and several coastal states, urging residents to take precautionary measures as widespread rainfall is expected across southern Nigeria on Tuesday. According to the agency’s latest weather outlook, persistent rainfall could trigger flash flooding in low-lying and coastal communities, particularly in Lagos and other states along the southern coastline. Flash floof projected states NiMet forecast light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms in many parts of the southern region throughout the day, with states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River identified as areas likely…
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCenter has launched a continental digital platform aimed at improving access to credible biotechnology and biosafety information across Africa. The newly unveiled platform, known as the Biotech Africa Database, is designed to provide country-specific information on biotechnology crop approval decisions and key regulatory requirements governing the import, export and transit of biotech products. According to ISAAA AfriCenter, the portal will serve as a one-stop repository for accurate and up-to-date information on biosafety regulations, approval decisions and regulatory processes across the continent. The platform, developed in collaboration with various partners, is…
Zimbabwe cleared its IMF obligations in 2016 but is still locked out of new IMF loans due to unsustainable debt and arrears to other creditors. The IMF itself classifies Zimbabwe as being in external debt distress.
State-sponsored mass wedding programmes in Northern Nigeria, though often designed as social welfare interventions, could place enormous pressure on the already overstretched health and education systems, a development expert, Dr. Balarabe Shehu Kakale, has stressed. Kakale, in an opinion article published in TheStories, warned that recent mass wedding initiatives by the Zamfara and Kano state governments may generate between 6,000 and 10,000 additional maternal, child health and schooling cases within six years, thereby increasing the burden on critical social infrastructure. The Zamfara State Government recently sponsored the marriage of hundreds of low-income couples, including widows and orphans, while the Kano…
Nigeria’s external reserves have climbed to $51.04 billion, marking the highest level in approximately 17 years and signaling a major milestone in the country’s economic recovery trajectory. Key facts MetricDetailReserve Amount$51,035,544,733.65 Date RecordedJune 18, 2026 Previous High$51.07 billion (January 20, 2009) June Gain+2.5% ($49.80B → $51.04B) May Gain+$1.22 billion What drove the Increase The reserve buildup reflects stronger foreign exchange inflows and improved liquidity conditions in Nigeria’s external sector. The trajectory shows consistent momentum: June 1: $49.80 billion June 5: Crossed $50 billion mark ($50.12B) June 15: $50.81 billion June 18: $51.04 billion This follows a $1.01 billion gain in the first half of June alone, extending May’s positive momentum. CBN…