The Kano State Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association has called for urgent government intervention to establish tomato processing industries to sustain production and reduce post-harvest losses. The association’s chairman, Sani Danladi-Yadakwari, made the appeal during an interview with journalists in Kano on Tuesday. Danladi-Yadakwari also urged the government to make farm inputs more affordable for farmers. He said the call had become necessary because the absence of tomato processing companies and reliable off-takers remained one of the biggest challenges facing farmers in the state. “Many farmers are often forced to transport their produce outside Kano, and sometimes outside the…
Author: Newsdesk
ValueJet is set to launch two new routes — Owerri to Abuja and Accra to Banjul — as part of efforts to expand connectivity and strengthen regional integration across West Africa. The airline will begin daily flights on the Owerri-Abuja route on May 18, creating a direct link between the South-East geopolitical zone and Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the airline’s Managing Director, Capt. Omololu Majekodunmi. READ ALSO: FG pledges support for IOM climate migration investment initiative Majekodunmi also announced that the airline would commence operations on the Accra-Banjul route on…
The Federal Government has pledged support for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) initiative aimed at mobilising investment to address climate-induced migration in West and Central Africa. The Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, made the commitment on Tuesday in Lagos at a regional conference organised by the IOM. Lawal, who was represented by the Director of Climate Change in the ministry, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, said Nigeria would continue to support efforts to bridge the gap between climate policy and financing. The conference, themed “Migration and Climate Action in West and Central Africa: From Policy Commitment to Climate Mobility Investment,”…
The Lagos State Government has onboarded 19 accelerators for the implementation of the N10 billion Lagos State Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (LASMECO). LASMECO is a single-digit interest, collateral-free financing scheme targeted at cooperative-based Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The signing ceremony, held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment (MCCTI) office in Alausa, Ikeja, marked the formal commencement of the programme’s application and processing phase for eligible cooperative societies across the state. Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, described the selection of the accelerators as rigorous, transparent…
The Lagos State Government has identified mandatory health insurance and expanded public-private partnerships as key to closing a N100 billion healthcare funding gap and achieving universal health coverage. The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this on Tuesday at the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja. The briefing formed part of activities marking the seventh anniversary of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat. Abayomi said the state was intensifying reforms aimed at expanding insurance coverage, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and positioning Lagos as a leading…
Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State has urged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to uphold the values of discipline, unity, loyalty, and peaceful coexistence during their service year. Ododo gave the charge on Tuesday at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream II Orientation Course at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Asaya, Kogi. Represented by his Deputy, Joel Salifu, the governor commended the corps members for their exemplary conduct, teamwork, discipline, and patriotism throughout the three-week orientation exercise. He noted that the virtues displayed during the programme were strong indicators of a successful and impactful…
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Lagos State Chapter, says only about 30 per cent of farmers in Nigeria currently use mechanised tools, while the majority still operate at subsistence level. The Deputy Chairman of the association, Mr. Shakin Agbayewa, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Lagos. Agbayewa attributed the low adoption of mechanisation to poor access to land, finance, and modern farm equipment. He noted that most farmers still rely on crude implements and manual labour, which limits productivity and prevents expansion into commercial farming. “Most farmers in Nigeria today are still subsistence farmers.…
Hopes for a peace deal between the US and Iran faded on Tuesday after President Donald Trump said a ceasefire with Iran was “on life support” as Tehran rejected a US proposal to end the conflict. Tehran also maintained its list of demands, which Trump described as “garbage.” READ ALSO: Nigeria’s UN envoy calls for urgent global action on security threats Iran has called for an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, where US ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. It also demanded sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damage, and an end…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said countries must not leave people stranded at sea when they have the capacity to safely manage health risks under the International Health Regulations. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus made the remark during an online media briefing on hantavirus, 10 days after the organisation was first notified of the health emergency. Ghebreyesus said WHO requested assistance from Ulisses Silva when the ship approached Cabo Verde, leading to the evacuation of three passengers who developed symptoms linked to the virus. He explained that the situation had exceeded Cabo Verde’s capacity to safely manage the complete disembarkation…
Dr. Kelechi Nwanchor, a lecturer at the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), has called on the Federal and State Governments to invest in large-scale palm tree plantations. Nwanchor, who lectures in the Department of Crop Production and Landscape Management, made the call on Tuesday in Abakaliki while speaking with reporters at the university’s CAS Campus. He noted that Ebonyi State possesses vast arable land suitable for the rapid cultivation and growth of palm trees. The don described palm trees as highly valuable economic crops with enormous benefits across the agricultural, nutritional, and industrial sectors. “Palm trees are very important across the…