The 2025 Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago shows New Delhi consistently leads the world in lost life expectancy due to air pollution, with residents losing an average of 8.2 years if current pollution levels persist—down from nearly 10 years in 2018. India has made strides in tackling air pollution—establishing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2019, launching the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), deploying the GRAP emergency response, expanding real-time monitoring infrastructure, and leapfrogging to BS6 fuel standards—but progress remains uneven. In 2023, Delhi’s average fine-particulate (PM₂.₅)…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Switzerland has thrown its weight behind Nigeria’s quest for a Category ‘C’ seat on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for the 2026/2027 biennium. Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Felix Egloff, delivered the letter of support to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, during a courtesy visit in Abuja on Thursday. “This is a big boost for our campaign,” Oyetola said, hailing the endorsement as proof of Nigeria’s growing influence in the global maritime sector. “With our vast resources and commitment to international standards, Nigeria deserves its place at the IMO table.” The minister highlighted Nigeria’s 200…
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of an illegal gold mining site in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, gave the directive following reports of unlawful mining activities in the area. He tasked the Mining Marshals to seal off the site to prevent environmental and public health risks. The move comes after an earlier operation on August 16, 2025, in which the marshals recovered and sealed a similar site around the District 2 Extension layout in Gwagwalada. Sixteen suspects arrested in connection with that incident are set…
Nigeria and Brazil have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the health sector through a proposed five-year joint action plan. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, who was part of the delegation, said the renewed engagement reflects a strong commitment to South-South cooperation for mutual benefit. The plan is aimed at implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July between Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and that of Brazil. The proposal was made during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, which his host, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, described as…
The Sokoto State Government has approved ₦3.08 billion for the renovation of nine general hospitals across the state. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Wurno, said the projects cover General Hospitals in Silame (₦308.7m), Wamakko (₦292.9m), Kware (₦350.4m), Goronyo (₦331.2m), Binji (₦297.6m), Gada (₦313.4m), Wurno and Illela (₦590.2m), noting that the upgrades are part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery. The approvals were part of the resolutions of the State Executive Council at its 9th regular meeting presided over by Governor Ahmad Aliyu. Also approved were ₦2.4 billion for the continuation of the Tesha–Illela–More road project and ₦394.7 million for…
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced a significant increase in the cost of international passports, effective September 1, 2025. Under the new rates, the 32-page passport with five-year validity will now cost ₦100,000, up from ₦26,000, while the 64-page passport with 10-year validity will rise to ₦200,000. The NIS explained that the adjustment was part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving service delivery, curbing racketeering, and aligning passport issuance with global standards. The sharp increment has already sparked mixed reactions. Some Nigerians have taken to social media to express concerns over affordability, warning that the hike could place additional…
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will host a series of high-level meetings in Lusaka, Zambia, from September 1 to 11, 2025, aimed at strengthening regional collaboration on climate services, disaster preparedness, and early warning systems. The events, organised in partnership with the Government of Zambia and supported by the European Union through the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) Programme, include the 31st Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-31), the Climate Experts Meeting (CEM), and a validation workshop for the SADC Multi-Hazard Early Warning System. Themed “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together within the SADC Region”—aligned with the…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a sweeping directive to payment service providers and financial institutions to geo-tag every Point of Sale (PoS) terminal across the country within 60 days—or risk having them deactivated. The move, announced on Monday, targets more than 4.2 million PoS machines operated by banks, fintechs, and licensed super-agents such as Moniepoint, OPay, and PalmPay. Why the crackdown? The apex bank explained that the measure is designed to combat fraudulent practices, cloned devices, and “ghost” terminals that have plagued Nigeria’s payment system. By enforcing geo-tagging, the CBN hopes to ensure that each PoS terminal…
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Professor Adenike Oladiji, has called on Nigerian youths to embrace agriculture with creativity and innovation, saying farming can become a profitable business venture and not just a tradition. Speaking at the flag-off of a compulsory agriculture course for all 200-level students of the institution, CSP 210: Farm Operations, held on August 17, 2025, at the University Farms, Professor Oladiji challenged undergraduates to see agriculture as an opportunity for enterprise, sustainability, and national food security. “Innovation in farming is not merely a choice; it is an imperative,” she said. “By…
China has donated one million dollars to Nigeria to support victims of the recent floods that ravaged several states. The grant was formalised on Wednesday in Abuja during the signing of exchange notes between the Chinese government and Nigeria’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, said the gesture reflects China’s solidarity with Nigeria during a difficult period. “In times of difficulty, China and Nigeria always stand together,” he said, noting that China itself has also suffered severe flooding in recent months. He added that the support underscores China’s confidence in Nigeria’s resilience and ability…