The Federal Government has released a list of 48 individuals and entities allegedly linked to terrorism financing in Nigeria. The list was published on Saturday by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC) as part of ongoing efforts to curb terrorism-related activities. The disclosure highlights intensified measures by authorities to identify and track persons and organisations suspected of supporting terrorist operations. The publication includes individuals and groups reportedly connected to various extremist organisations operating within and outside Nigeria. The Nigeria Sanctions Committee noted that the list comprises persons and entities suspected of involvement in terrorism financing activities. The list includes individuals allegedly…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Grow Further has announced a Phase II grant to scale an artificial intelligence-driven crop disease detection project in Tanzania, targeting improved productivity among smallholder farmers. The initiative supports the continued development and expansion of kilimoAI, a smartphone application designed to help farmers identify and manage crop pests and diseases in real time. The tool was developed by researchers from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute, under the leadership of Neema Mduma. The application allows farmers to take photos of affected crops, such as maize and beans and receive rapid diagnoses powered…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will begin enforcing a new set of BVN rules from May 1, introducing stricter controls on mobile banking access, device changes, and identity verification. The policy is aimed at reducing fraud, limiting unauthorized account access, and tightening security across Nigeria’s banking system. Under the new rules, customers will only be able to link one device to their mobile banking app at a time. If a user logs in on a new device, the previous device will be automatically logged out. The CBN also said switching to a new device will require additional verification before…
The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) has opened applications for its 2026 Young Leaders Programme, offering early-career agricultural journalists a global platform to sharpen leadership skills and expand professional networks. The programme, organised in partnership with Alltech, is designed for journalists aged 35 and below who are members of IFAJ-affiliated guilds. It combines leadership training, mentorship, and international exposure, positioning participants for future roles in agricultural communication. Selected candidates will participate in a three-day Young Leaders Boot Camp scheduled for September 13–15, 2026, followed by full participation in the IFAJ Congress to be held in Osijek from September 16–20,…
Pope Leo XIV embarks on Monday on an 11-day tour of four African nations—Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea—marking his first major international trip since becoming pontiff last year. Covering over 18,000 kilometers (11,000 miles), the US-born leader will tackle dialogue with Islam, peace efforts, inequality, and human rights amid global uncertainty from the Middle East war and energy shocks. The 70-year-old, who succeeded as head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in May, will deliver 11 speeches, preside over seven masses, and visit a dozen sites before the trip ends on April 23. This marks his third outing beyond…
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, has commended Dangote Industries Limited—particularly its fertiliser arm—for its growing role in addressing Africa’s deepening food security challenges. Mohammed made the remarks during a visit to the company’s industrial complex in Ibeju-Lekki, where she highlighted the importance of scaling practical, home-grown solutions through stronger global partnerships. She reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to promoting scalable interventions capable of mitigating food shortages across the continent, while urging greater international collaboration to support ongoing industrial initiatives. “The UN’s job here is to amplify and bring visibility to solutions that can mitigate a food security…
Several Nigerian states boast land areas comparable to—or even larger than—those of entire sovereign nations, highlighting the country’s immense geographic scale. A viral social media post by data enthusiast Ismaeel (@IsmaeelData) lists the top 10, drawing from Wikipedia’s compilation of Nigerian state areas and international sources like the CIA World Factbook and UN data. Fact-checking confirms the figures are accurate and current as of official records, with minor rounding differences that don’t alter the comparisons. Here’s the verified ranking: Niger State (76,363 km²) exceeds the Czech Republic (78,867 km²) slightly in some metrics, but the official Czech land area is 78,866…
The Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) has dismissed a staff member, Garba Ahmed, following findings of serious misconduct involving the illegal uploading of unqualified students for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation. The decision was approved at the institution’s 176th Governing Council meeting held on April 1, 2026, according to a special bulletin issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Ismaila Mohammed Yauri. The bulletin stated that Ahmed, who was attached to the Registry Department before his dismissal, was found guilty after due consideration by the council. His dismissal takes immediate effect from the date of the council’s…
The national rollout of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) UniPod—an innovation hub aimed at driving youth-led tech development and entrepreneurship—began on Tuesday at the University of Lagos. The initiative, a collaboration between the Federal Government, the United Nations Development Programme, and UNILAG, is part of UNDP’s Africa Timbuktoo Initiative. It is designed to position Nigerian universities at the forefront of a continent-wide push to harness innovation for economic growth and job creation. Representing Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia described the programme as a turning point for university-driven innovation. “This is not just a forum for dialogue, but a platform…
The National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has commenced its 2025/2026 annual hatching exercise, aiming to produce approximately 25,000 chicks. The university’s Director of Public Affairs, Auwalu Umar, disclosed this in a statement, noting that the exercise began on March 31, with over 3,000 grandparent stock (GPS) chicks already hatched. He said the output includes Shikabrown grandparent stock and broiler foundation stock, mainly to serve as replacement stock for the institute’s existing flock. Umar added that the 25,000 target represents a significant increase from the 17,000 chicks produced in the previous cycle, underscoring the institute’s…