Li Hengtian, Deputy Director at the China International Communications Group (CICG), disclosed this on Wednesday in Beijing at the opening of a Seminar for Renowned Nigerian Commentators. He also described Nigeria as China’s second-largest export market, third-largest trading partner, and a major investment destination in Africa. Li, who is also Deputy Director of CICG’s Education and Training Centre (organisers of the seminar), expressed hope that joint efforts by both countries would yield steady progress. “More and more Nigerian youths are travelling east to pursue the starlight of knowledge in Chinese institutions. More and more Chinese builders are heading west to…
Author: Newsdesk
The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has advised intending pilgrims in the state to avoid carrying kolanut to Saudi Arabia. The Director-General of the Board, Abubakar Ibrahim-Matawalle, made this known in a statement issued by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Sulaiman Dederi, on Wednesday in Kano. According to the statement, the directive is part of the rules and regulations guiding the 2026 Hajj exercise, which prohibit the transportation of certain contraband items to Saudi Arabia. READ ALSO: Tinubu says Nigeria to spend $11.6bn on debt servicing in 2026 “The restriction on kolanut is a directive from the Saudi Arabian authorities…
The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) says it is intensifying efforts to scale up annual vaccine production at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) from 150 million to 850 million doses. The project noted that the initiative would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for local vaccine production and improve response to animal disease outbreaks. National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr Sanusi Abubakar, disclosed this on Wednesday on the sidelines of the project’s mid-term review meeting. Abubakar said the project had also supported the establishment of a 40-million-dose strategic vaccine storage facility in the Federal Capital Territory, along with additional…
The Adamawa State Government has warned residents against farming, erecting structures, and dumping refuse on waterways ahead of the 2026 rainy season. Mrs Syngana Dahdah, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, issued the warning during an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Yola. Dahdah urged residents occupying water channels to vacate immediately to prevent loss of lives and property during flooding. “Many residents have diverted natural waterways into residential buildings and farmlands, thereby obstructing the free flow of water,” she said. “We are appealing to them to stop farming, building structures, and dumping refuse on waterways as the rainy…
A philanthropist, Dr. Christopher Ndubuisi, has pledged to provide a solar power system for the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Anambra State. This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr. Maureen Umeakuewulu. According to the statement, Ndubuisi, popularly known as “Ikenga Umuawulu”, also donated ₦20,000 each to in-patients at the hospital, drawing appreciation from patients and their families. The donations were made during a courtesy visit to the Chief Medical Director. Dr. Umeakuewulu said the visit reflected Ndubuisi’s enduring philosophy of “Let Love Lead”. Ndubuisi congratulated her on her appointment…
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have apprehended five suspected vandals and intercepted a truck loaded with vandalised railway tracks in Kaduna State. The operation was conducted around Kakau in Chikun Local Government Area on Tuesday night following credible intelligence. According to an operational report released on Wednesday, the troops intercepted a trailer conveying large quantities of vandalised railway tracks at about 9 p.m. READ ALSO: Navy backs hydrographic capacity The suspects were arrested and are currently in military custody undergoing preliminary investigation. The Army described the operation as part of ongoing efforts to curb infrastructure vandalism…
The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has announced May 24 and May 31 as the deadlines for registration for the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) and the May/June In-School Certificate Examinations respectively. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday in Benin by the board’s Assistant Director of Media and Protocol, Uchechukwu Olisah. The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Prof. Aminu Mohammed, urged schools, parents, guardians, and prospective candidates to complete their registration before the deadlines. Mohammed said registration for the May/June In-School Certificate Examinations closes on May 31, while the NCEE registration ends on…
Nigeria’s health stakeholders have called for urgent and coordinated reforms to improve rehabilitation services following an assessment that exposed significant gaps in the country’s rehabilitation system. They made the call in a communiqué issued on Monday after the National Stakeholders’ Validation Meeting on implementing Rehabilitation 2030 through WHO’s STARS and Rehabilitation Maturity Model frameworks. The communiqué was signed by the Rehabilitation Technical Group. The meeting brought together representatives from ministries, agencies, academia, development partners, professional bodies, and service providers to assess rehabilitation capacity, performance, and maturity across six key healthcare domains. According to the communiqué, none of the 50 assessed…
Esther Oladimeji, Curator of the Hakeem Shitta Photo Archives and Cultural Centre (HSPACA), says the organisation will release a documentary commemorating Nelson Mandela’s 1990 visit to Nigeria. Oladimeji told reporters in Lagos that the documentary marks the 36th anniversary of the historic visit by Mandela and his wife, Winnie. She said the documentary features rare photographs taken by the late Nigerian photojournalist Hakeem Shitta during the civic reception at Tafawa Balewa Square. According to her, the visit symbolised Nigeria’s unwavering solidarity with South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle. Oladimeji noted that Mandela arrived in Nigeria aboard a presidential jet on…
The Federal Government is modernising its armed forces by combining international partnerships, technology transfer, and local capacity development to become a self-reliant producer of defence equipment. The Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, disclosed this during a working visit to Monaco with senior ministry officials. This was contained in a statement by Mrs Enderline Chukwu, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, on Wednesday in Abuja. Musa said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s defence architecture through the proposed Multi-domain Hybrid Intelligence Shield (HIS) project. He noted that the ministry is engaging with MARSS UK Ltd…