On December 3, 2024, my good friend and comrade, Moussa Tchangari, was arrested at his home in Niamey by plainclothed officers. He was later charged with “criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise,” “undermining national defence,” as well as “intelligence with enemy powers.” It has been very painful to me ever since because he was just returning from my 70th Anniversary Birthday Symposium in Abuja, where comrades had assembled to debate the contributions of activists and progressive intellectuals to improving the lives and livelihoods of Africans, and he was one of several comrades attending from outside Nigeria. Tchangari’s English was…
Author: Editor
The Bauchi State Government has received family planning commodities and consumables worth N50 million from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen reproductive healthcare services and reduce maternal mortality across the state. The donation is aimed at improving access to quality family planning services, promoting healthy pregnancies, and enabling families to make informed reproductive health decisions. Speaking during an advocacy visit to the Bauchi State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination, the UNFPA Reproductive Health Specialist and Officer-in-Charge of the Kaduna Sub-Office, Dr. Audu Alayande, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Bauchi State in reducing maternal deaths…
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the names and photographs of 124 Nigerians identified for deportation as part of its ongoing immigration enforcement operations targeting foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes. The updated list, published on the DHS website on Wednesday, places the affected Nigerians on what the agency described as its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register, a category reserved for non-citizens with criminal convictions who are subject to removal from the United States. According to the DHS, the publication of the list aims to highlight individuals arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of…
Le Nigeria a franchi une étape importante vers la modernisation de son secteur de l’élevage en prévoyant la mise en place d’un Système national centralisé de gestion de l’information sur le bétail (NLIMS), une initiative susceptible de transformer la prise de décision tout au long de la chaîne de valeur animale du pays tout en faisant progresser les efforts régionaux visant à construire des systèmes agro-sylvo-pastoraux résilients. Le ministère fédéral chargé du développement de l’élevage a récemment validé cette nouvelle plateforme numérique, conçue pour servir de référentiel unique des données sur le bétail à l’échelle nationale. Le système doit soutenir…
Efforts to combat Lassa fever in Nigeria have received a significant boost as the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), in collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), and the International Research Center of Excellence (IRCE), launched a major research initiative in Bauchi State aimed at supporting the development of an effective vaccine and strengthening disease surveillance. The Executive Director and Principal Investigator of IRCE/IHVN, Professor Alash’le Abimiku, disclosed this during a press briefing themed “Learning from Lassa Fever Survivors,” held at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital. Professor Abimiku explained…
The Senate on Wednesday rejected a motion seeking a full investigation into the controversial N1.3 billion allocation to the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), even as the scandal continued to deepen with fresh documents linking the disowned body’s director-general to a federal government-approved foreign trip. Senate declines probe of PFIPC Senator Suleiman Kawu (APC, Kano South) had moved to compel Senate committees to investigate the budgetary inclusion of the PFIPC, its operations and the process that led to the approval of N1,302,978,784 in the 2026 Appropriation Act. Kawu argued that the matter had raised grave concerns about administrative…
Across Africa, few indigenous foods enjoy the universal acceptance, cultural significance and economic relevance of Akara. Whether served as breakfast in Lagos, sold in bustling markets in Accra, prepared in households in Cotonou or enjoyed in northern Cameroon, this humble fried bean cake has become one of the continent’s most recognizable traditional foods. Although it is known by different names and prepared with slight regional variations, akara remains a powerful symbol of Africa’s shared culinary heritage, food security and entrepreneurship (McCann, 2009; FAO, 2023). In Nigeria, it is popularly known as Akara, particularly among the Yoruba people, although it is…
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through its Nutrition Department, has said that Nigeria is making commendable progress in strengthening its nutrition information system to support evidence-based planning, coordination, and accountability in the nutrition sector. The ministry disclosed at the Second Quarter 2026 Meeting of the National Nutrition Technical Working Group (NNTWG), held from June 24 to 25 in Abuja. It, however, noted that despite the significant progress recorded so far, much more still needs to be done. The 2026 NNTWG meeting, themed “Strengthening Nutrition Routine Information System,” attracted more than 140 participants, who attended physically and virtually.…
Like several wars, the US-Iran war has been an ill wind that has forced multinationals to count their losses, and it will take years to rebuild what has been destroyed. At the same time, we continue to mourn the deaths of several innocent victims: children, women, and the elderly. This tragedy reinforces a central lesson: war brings destruction, but dialogue remains the only path to lasting peace. In my earlier article, I cited the African proverb, ‘when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers’. Although it is old, the proverb remains relevant because it captures a reality that…
The Nigerian Government has condemned the killing of two Nigerian citizens in South Africa amid escalating anti-foreigner protests, warning that it may adopt stronger measures if attacks targeting Nigerians continue. In a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government described the incidents as deeply troubling and urged South African authorities to ensure justice for the victims while guaranteeing the safety of Nigerians legally residing in the country. According to the ministry, the victims, Emeka Charles Iroegbu and Musa Yunana Joe, were both killed on June 28 under separate circumstances. The…