The Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, has disclosed that cocoa has surpassed crude oil as Nigeria’s main export to Belgium since 2024. Leenknegt made this known during a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, at his palace in Ibadan on Tuesday. He said Belgium, famous for its chocolate industry, now relies more on Nigerian cocoa as a key raw material. “Oyo State is known for its cocoa production, and since 2024, cocoa has overtaken crude oil as Nigeria’s top export to Belgium. The rising price of cocoa is good news for farmers, as it means…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the news of Shell’s $2 billion Final Investment Decision (FID) on a new gas project in the shallow offshore HI Field, in OML 144. When completed, the new Non-Associated Gas (NAG) development project will deliver approximately 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscf/d) from 2028—equivalent to almost a third of the requirements of Nigeria LNG Limited’s Train 7 project. According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday, the announcement brings total significant upstream investment commitments through Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) in…
Nigeria’s National Assembly (NASS) is proposing that the 2027 general elections be held in November 2026, six months before the end of the current administration’s tenure. The proposal, contained in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, seeks to ensure that all election petitions are concluded before the May 29, 2027 handover, ending the era of post-swearing-in litigations. The draft bill was presented at a public hearing jointly organised by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja, with participation from INEC, political parties, and civil society groups. Under the amendment, presidential and governorship elections must be conducted not…
Dangote Cement, a subsidiary of the Nigerian conglomerate founded by Aliko Dangote, has officially commenced operations at its new cement plant in Attingué, Côte d’Ivoire, about 30 kilometers from Abidjan. The announcement was made by the Managing Director of Dangote Cement Côte d’Ivoire, Serge Gbotta, during a press briefing held at Novotel Abidjan-Marcory. The state-of-the-art facility, built on a 50-hectare site, boasts an annual production capacity of 3 million metric tonnes, making it one of the largest Dangote Cement plants outside Nigeria. The project, valued at 100 billion CFA francs, represents a strategic investment that underscores the company’s commitment to…
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent exercise of presidential pardon, describing it as “reckless” and a dangerous precedent that weakens Nigeria’s justice system and emboldens criminality.www.statehouse.gov.ng In a strongly worded statement titled “Tinubu’s Reckless Use of Presidential Pardon Undermines Justice and Emboldens Criminality,” and posted on his Facebook page on Sunday , Atiku said the decision to grant clemency to persons convicted of “grave crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption” was indefensible and contrary to the moral duty of leadership. Atiku said the constitutional power of pardon should serve as a…
The Federal Government’s recent decision to slash the cost of kidney dialysis from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000 per session has brought immense relief to patients at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, and across the country. The move represents a 76 to 80 per cent subsidy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at making life-saving dialysis treatment affordable for Nigerians battling kidney-related diseases. Across the country, 11 federal tertiary hospitals have begun implementing the initiative, including the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH); Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) in…
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has launched the African Manufacturing Market Intelligence and Network Analysis (AMMINA) platform — a data-driven initiative aimed at strengthening Africa’s health products manufacturing ecosystem and promoting regional health sovereignty. The launch took place on Saturday during the African Healthcare Manufacturing Trade Exhibition and Conference (AHMTEC) in Accra, Ghana, and was held virtually via webinar. According to the Africa CDC, the AMMINA platform is designed to provide comprehensive and actionable insights into Africa’s health manufacturing landscape. It captures critical data on manufacturers, production capacities, product portfolios, and market dynamics across the…
The Egg Sellers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (ESDAN) has refuted claims by some poultry farmers that its sellers are responsible for the consistent increase in egg prices. ESDAN President, Mrs. Olaide Graham, made this known in an interview on Saturday in Lagos, describing the allegations as false and misleading. Graham explained that the association’s core mission is to make eggs affordable and accessible to the average Nigerian, not to inflate prices. “We currently sell a crate of eggs for as low as ₦5,500. No other source of protein—be it fish or meat—offers 30 pieces for that amount. Eggs remain…
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has restated its commitment to promoting transparency, fairness, and justice in governance in line with the principles of the Ombudsman institution. Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Saidu Yahaya, made this known on Thursday during the 2025 Ombudsman Day celebration held in Kano. He described the occasion as a moment for reflection and renewal of the collective resolve to uphold fairness and accountability in public administration. Yahaya said this year’s theme, “Empowering Voices and Resolving Challenges,” underscored the importance of listening to citizens, valuing their feedback, and addressing their concerns without…
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of two senior officials of Sakaba Local Government Area in Kebbi State — Mr. Abubakar Bawa Makuku, the Sole Administrator and Caretaker Chairman, and Mr. Ahmed Abdullahi Fakai, the Director of Finance and Supply — over contract fraud and abuse of office involving the sum of N54 million. The duo was arraigned before Justice E. Gakko of the Federal High Court sitting in Birnin-Kebbi on multiple counts bordering on fraudulent contract awards, financial misconduct, and abuse of office. According to ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare, during the…