The Kebbi State Government has commenced the free distribution of 110 truckloads of fertiliser and 100 metric tonnes of improved seed varieties to about 120,000 farmers as part of efforts to enhance food production and strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate change during the 2026 wet farming season. Speaking at the official flag-off of the exercise in Birnin Kebbi, Governor Nasir Idris said the intervention was being implemented under the Climate Change Adaptation Seed Support Programme and the Kaura Agricultural Development Agenda (KADAGE). According to the governor, the initiative is designed to ease production costs, improve food security and help farmers…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Nigerian naira strengthened against the British pound on Thursday, appreciating in both the official and parallel foreign exchange markets as the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) monetary tightening measures continued to support the local currency. Market data showed the pound trading at about ₦1,825/£ at the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), improving from approximately ₦1,831/£ recorded at the close of trading on Wednesday. In the parallel market, the British currency exchanged at around ₦1,905/£, reflecting persistent demand for foreign exchange from importers, travellers and other end-users, although the spread between official and unofficial rates has continued to narrow.…
The naira strengthened against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Wednesday, appreciating to N1,369/$ after reversing part of the losses recorded at the close of June amid sustained liquidity in the foreign exchange market. Latest data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed the local currency gained N7 against the dollar from the N1,376/$ exchange rate recorded on June 30. The recovery follows a period of volatility in which the naira weakened to N1,389/$ on June 24 before gradually regaining ground during the closing trading sessions of June. Official market figures indicated that the…
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commenced the liquidation of 46 microfinance banks whose operating licences were recently revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), assuring eligible depositors that the process of verifying claims and paying insured deposits has begun. The corporation said it has formally taken over the failed institutions in line with its statutory mandate and warned members of the public against conducting any business with the affected banks or tampering with their assets, records or properties. According to the NDIC, once the CBN revokes a bank’s operating licence under the provisions of the Banks and…
Nigeria’s currency, the Naira, closed the month of June at ₦1,376.33 per US dollar in the official foreign exchange market, ending the period on a relatively stable note despite experiencing notable fluctuations during the month. Market data showed the naira traded within a wide range over the course of June, reflecting periods of pressure driven by changing foreign exchange demand and supply dynamics. However, the currency recovered towards the end of the month, helping it finish close to where it began. The official market recorded episodes of depreciation during the month before rebounding as improved dollar liquidity and sustained policy…
The Government of Japan has donated food assistance valued at $853,000 to support humanitarian efforts in North-East Nigeria, where millions of people continue to face severe food shortages caused by conflict, displacement and economic hardship. The donation, channelled through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), is expected to provide life-saving support to vulnerable households across the region, particularly in the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. According to the WFP, Japan’s contribution comes at a critical time as the humanitarian situation in northern Nigeria continues to deteriorate, with millions of residents struggling to meet their daily needs. The…
Providus Bank and Unity Bank have officially completed their merger and have commenced operations under a new identity, ProvidusUnity Bank, following the conclusion of all regulatory, shareholder and judicial approval processes. The merged financial institution said the development is a step in Nigeria’s banking industry, creating a stronger and better-capitalised bank with an expanded national footprint to better serve individuals, businesses and communities across the country. According to the bank, the consolidation combines Providus Bank’s digital banking expertise, innovation and customer-focused service with Unity Bank’s extensive branch network and nationwide presence, adding that the integration would strengthen financial inclusion, improve…
The Federal Government has announced plans to officially launch the Digital National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) on July 1 as part of efforts to strengthen education planning, governance, and service delivery across the country. The National Project Coordinator of the Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit (SPOIU) in the Office of the Minister of Education, Mr. Adebayo Onigbanjo, disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja on Monday. According to Onigbanjo, DNEMIS is a flagship component of the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure being implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative. He said the platform is designed to standardise…
A non-governmental organisation, Nurture and Empower Her Initiative (NEHI), has unveiled a menstrual hygiene handbook titled Bleed with Pride to educate adolescent girls in Bauchi State on menstrual health management and help them navigate puberty with confidence and dignity. The handbook, written by the Executive Director of NEHI, Florence Uzoanya, was formally launched on Wednesday at Government Girls College (GGC), Bauchi, during a sensitisation programme attended by students from six secondary schools across the state. About 60 students, comprising mostly adolescent girls and a few boys, participated in the programme. They were trained on menstrual hygiene management, what to expect…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has condemned the alleged assault and manhandling of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, by security operatives within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja. In a statement issued on Wednesday, CISLAC Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described reports of Sowore’s treatment following court proceedings, which revoked his bail and ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Facility, as deeply troubling and inconsistent with democratic norms and the rule of law. According to the organisation, eyewitness accounts indicated…