Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has announced the signing of a $100 million livestock offtake agreement between Nigeria and the Saudi Export and Import Bank. Bago, who disclosed this during the FirstBank Agric and Export Expo in Lagos, said the deal would begin with an initial $10 million tranche. He explained that the agreement is expected to open Nigeria to a livestock market worth about $2.5 billion annually in the Middle East, following disruptions in supply from the Sahel and Sudan. According to him, the deal will not only cover meat but also other by-products such as tripe,…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
A sweeping new analysis published in The Lancet has reinforced growing concerns that air pollution—especially from tiny airborne particles—significantly increases the risk of dementia. Researchers from the University of Cambridge conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 51 studies across several countries, involving more than 29 million people who had been exposed to outdoor air pollution for at least one year. The findings highlight fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and black carbon (soot)—all of which are emitted from vehicles, power plants, industries, and wood burning—as major contributors to dementia risk. Each 10 µg/m³ increase in PM₂.₅ was associated…
China has introduced a rare “two-headed” fire truck that can drive at full speed in either direction without turning, ideal for emergencies in tunnels or narrow streets. First seen in Nanjing, the $1.43 million MAN BAI Janus 4000 “Bifronte” carries 4,000 liters of water, 500 gallons of foam, and full firefighting gear. Inspired by the deadly 1999 Mont Blanc Tunnel fire that killed 38 people, the truck was designed in Germany and built in Italy. Capable of 120 mph both ways, fewer than 10 exist in Asia, making it a lifesaving rarity. China has introduced a rare and innovative “two-headed”…
Invasive white Italian snails in Australia are using mutated mucus enzymes to withstand pesticides, posing a growing threat to the country’s agriculture, a new study has revealed. Researchers from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) discovered that trails left by the white Italian snail Theba pisana contained high levels of an enzyme capable of neutralising pesticide toxins, effectively making the pests resistant to conventional control methods. “This mutated enzyme has previously been found in insects like ticks and flies that developed chemical resistance over time,” said UniSC PhD researcher and lead author Inali Lutschini. “Its abundance in land snails,…
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed a total of ₦5.99 trillion to states and local governments across Nigeria between January and June 2025, with Lagos and Rivers States emerging as the highest recipients. According to figures released for the first half of the year, Lagos State (inclusive of its local governments) topped the allocation chart with ₦464.51 billion, followed closely by Rivers State with ₦374.56 billion, and Delta State with ₦368.75 billion. The zone-by-zone FAAC allocation chart for January–June 2025, showing how each region shared from the ₦5.99 trillion disbursement. In regional terms, the South-South zone received the highest…
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Leonard and Nkiruka Okorkwo Foundation (LANOF), Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF), and other stakeholders, on Tuesday unveiled the 2025–2030 Revised National Youth Manifesto in Agriculture. The government also launched the 2025 Nigerian Youth in Agribusiness Call to Action at the event held in Abuja. Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, described the initiative as a “youth-owned roadmap for agricultural transformation” in the country. Represented by Mrs. Safina Abdullah, Deputy Director of Planning and Policy Coordination at the ministry, Kyari said the unveiling represented a call to duty. He explained…
The Managing Director of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, has officially resumed duties following his reappointment for another four-year term by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yelwa chose to resume not at the Commission’s headquarters, but in the field, at the long-abandoned Mana Water Scheme in Bida, Niger State. The Managing Director’s first official outing underscored N-HYPPADEC’s ongoing intervention to upgrade the power supply to the water facility from 11kVA to 33kVA, complete with the provision of a new transformer. The project complements the Niger State Government’s rehabilitation of the scheme, which had been out…
By Abdallah el-Kurebe I August 20, 2025: Climate and environmental experts in West Africa have sounded the alarm on the poor state of climate journalism in the region, revealing that media coverage is often limited, reactive, and lacks depth. The concern was highlighted at the recent virtual launch of the West African Journalists for Environment, Science, Health, and Agriculture (WAJESHA) a new non-profit journalism network dedicated to improving science-based reporting across the sub-region. Organized by the Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS), the launch event on August 15, 2025, united journalists, researchers, and development advocates from West Africa,…
In this exclusive interview with Abdallah el-Kurebe, the Editor-in-Chief of ASHENEWS, the President of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN), Arc. Kabir Ibrahim shares his expert views on the current state of agribusiness in Nigeria. He discusses critical aspects such as food production, value addition, policy reforms, investment mobilization, and youth engagement in the sector. Arc. Ibrahim also outlines the major challenges facing agribusiness players today and suggests strategic solutions to drive growth and ensure food security across the country. EXCERPTS: How would you assess the…
The Federal Government has approved a significant subsidy on kidney dialysis in federal hospitals across Nigeria, reducing the cost per session from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000—a 76% cut aimed at easing the burden on patients battling kidney disease. The initiative, rolled out in January 2025, covers 11 federal hospitals across the country’s six geopolitical zones. The designated facilities include: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute-Metta, Lagos FMC, Jabi, Abuja University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan FMC, Owerri University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri FMC, Abeokuta Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos FMC, Azare University…