Vice-President Kashim Shettima has challenged presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to subject their records in public office to scrutiny ahead of the 2027 general elections. Shettima said political experience should not be measured by the number of years spent in public office but by tangible achievements, institutional development and the leaders produced by those seeking the presidency. He spoke on Friday at the All Progressives Congress presidential rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where President Bola Tinubu and other senior APC leaders campaigned ahead of the 2027 election. The Vice-President specifically questioned Atiku Abubakar’s claim to having the…
Author: Newsdesk
Banks’ deposits with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rose to N8.311 trillion on November 6, despite the apex bank absorbing N724.32 billion through an Open Market Operations (OMO) auction. The latest figure, based on CBN data analysed by Nairametrics, highlights the persistent surplus liquidity in the banking system despite the regulator’s efforts to drain excess cash. Funds placed by banks under the CBN’s Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) increased by N347.44 billion, or 4.36 per cent, from N7.964 trillion on November 5. It was also N1.345 trillion, or 19.3 per cent, higher than the N6.966 trillion recorded on November 4.…
Nigeria’s efforts to develop indigenous treatments for sleeping sickness and river blindness are 70 per cent complete. Prof. Martins Emeje, Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Lagos on Saturday. Emeje said the agency was collaborating with the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis (and Onchocerciasis) Research (NITR) to develop natural medicine formulations to treat the two neglected tropical diseases. The collaboration, formalised through a memorandum of understanding in January, aims to use nanoscience and nanotechnology to develop effective dosage forms from natural medicinal products. The DG said the project’s initial 12-month…
The United States has announced a reward of up to $20 million for information on Iran’s nuclear programme, including its facilities, equipment and personnel. The US Central Command said Friday that the State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme was offering the reward, alongside possible relocation, for information that could assist the United States. The programme, established in 1984, provides financial rewards for information considered important to protecting US lives and national security interests. The State Department said Iran’s alleged lack of compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards obligations had resulted in the agency losing “continuity of knowledge” about Iran’s…
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has blamed his defeat at the 2022 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary on his decision to trust the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s assurance that he would support his candidacy. Amaechi said Buhari advised him not to campaign or negotiate with delegates because the former president would announce him as his preferred candidate. He made the disclosure during an interview on Mainland 98.3FM’s The Situation Room programme in Lagos on Friday. According to Amaechi, Buhari’s assurance was made in writing, a document he said he would publish in his forthcoming book. He said his…
The Federal Government says it has built 21 model veterinary hospitals in 21 states to strengthen food security, improve animal health and boost livestock productivity. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, disclosed this on Friday while inaugurating one of the hospitals in Ondo Town, Ondo West Local Government Area, Ondo State. Maiha said the hospitals were intended to reposition Nigeria’s livestock sector as a key driver of economic growth, food security, employment and sustainable livelihoods. He said they were constructed and equipped through the World Bank-supported Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES). “These hospitals are dear to President…
The Delta Government on Friday unveiled a digital projects tracking portal as part of an e-governance initiative to promote transparency, public accountability and access to information about projects across the state. The Executive Assistant to Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori on New Media, Felix Ofou, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Asaba. He said the briefing highlighted the activities and achievements of the New Media and State Webmaster’s Office, particularly the digital infrastructure being developed to improve governance and public access to government information. Ofou said the New Media Office introduced the online affidavit system adopted by the state government, describing it…
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and Sahel Capital Fund Manager Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore ways to expand financing for agribusinesses in Nigeria. The partnership aims to reduce financing costs for agribusinesses and jointly address challenges affecting agricultural productivity and value chains. Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja on Friday, Mezuo Nwuneli, managing partner of Sahel Capital, commended NADF for its efforts to address key challenges in the agricultural sector. He said the fund’s support for ginger production, provision of farm inputs and promotion of irrigation demonstrated its commitment to tackling constraints across…
The National Executive Committee Chairmen Forum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has threatened a nationwide protest against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if the commission fails to implement a Federal High Court judgment removing Senator David Mark-led interim leadership of the party. The forum also demanded that INEC immediately delete the names of Mark and members of his dissolved Interim National Working Committee from its portal and replace them with those of Nafiu Bala Gombe and other officials it considers legally recognised. The forum’s Secretary, Kennedy Odion, made the demands while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, a…
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has attributed the latest decline in electricity supply across the country to inadequate gas supplies to thermal power plants and reduced water levels at hydroelectric stations. It said the constraints had reduced thermal generation and power allocations to electricity distribution companies (DisCos), leading to increased load shedding and fewer hours of electricity for consumers. In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, NISO said gas shortages had prevented affected thermal plants from operating at available capacity, while reduced water inflows into reservoirs had limited hydroelectric generation. The system operator said the combined constraints…