Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has raised alarm over potentially dangerous shortages of essential medical supplies. This is due to rising input and transport costs linked to the ongoing Middle East crisis. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, issued the warning on Thursday during the weekly high-level regional press briefing. Kaseya said the cost of key materials, such as polyester used in mosquito nets, has surged by up to 40%. Shipping expenses have spiked due to new war taxes and fuel surcharges, reaching $4,000 per container. He noted that delays in freight and supply chain…
Author: Newsdesk
Flutterwave has announced a major strategic shift following the acquisition of a banking licence in Nigeria, marking what the company describes as the beginning of a new phase in its mission to reshape financial infrastructure across Africa. The fintech firm said its founding goal was to solve long-standing challenges in Africa’s payments ecosystem, where cross-border transactions were often slow, unreliable, and fragmented. Over the years, it built payment rails that enabled businesses to move money more efficiently across markets, supporting both global companies and African enterprises expanding beyond their home countries. Flutterwave stated that it has processed more than 1 billion…
The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a National Cybersecurity Coordination Council as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s digital resilience and improve coordinated responses to cyber threats. The initiative, led by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, is designed as a non-statutory, multi-stakeholder platform that will bring together government agencies, private sector operators, and cybersecurity professionals to enhance information sharing and collective defence against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. The proposed Council comes in response to recent cybersecurity incidents affecting services and private institutions across Nigeria. It is expected to promote stronger collaboration between key institutions,…
The Federal Government has emphasized the critical link between food security and improved health outcomes. To this end, the government has unveiled a N17 billion intervention to support the National Community Food Bank Programme, aimed at tackling malnutrition and hunger across the country. Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the programme’s Trust Fund. The event brought together business leaders, government officials, and stakeholders from various sectors. Pate said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the well-being and…
The Ondo State Government, through the Livestock Productivity Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project, has distributed no fewer than 70 motorcycles to strengthen livestock extension services and support lead farmers in the state. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa flagged off the distribution on Thursday in Akure. He said the initiative was aimed at enhancing service delivery, improving food security, and boosting agricultural productivity. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Segun Omojuwa, the governor described agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy. He noted that the state’s economic growth depends heavily on effective agricultural extension services, which serve as a vital link between…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sokoto Zonal Office today March 1, 2021 arraigned Senator Umaru Tafida Argungu before Justice Mohammed Mohammed of the Sokoto State High Court on one count charge of criminal misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N419, 744, 612. 30 (Four Hundred and Nineteen Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twelve Naira, Thirty Kobo). The former Senator who represented Kebbi North in the 6th Senate, is alleged to have diverted the said sum which was paid by the Sokoto State government as 40 percent equity stake in Hijrah Investment…
…renews TCN MD Sule Abdulaziz’s tenure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Shu’aib Aliyu as the new Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) while also approving the renewal of Sule Abdulaziz’s tenure as Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The announcement was made in a statement released on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the statement, Professor Shu’aib Aliyu replaces Ahmed Aminu, who stepped down from the position to pursue the 2027 governorship election in Adamawa State. The presidency noted that Aliyu is…
Governor Ahmed Aliyu has called on the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to urgently address the poor aviation lighting system at Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, ahead of the 2026 Hajj airlift. The governor made the call during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, at his office in Abuja. Governor Aliyu described the airport’s inadequate lighting system as a serious challenge hindering smooth operations, particularly at night. According to him, the state is losing significant opportunities due to the inability of airlines to land at night because of the…
The Naira posted modest gains against the British pound, trading at about N1,836/£ in the official market, as the sterling weakened against the US dollar in global foreign exchange markets. After a prolonged depreciation phase, the naira has entered a broad sideways trend, with the GBP/NGN pair hovering around N1,836.5/£. Market dynamics indicate a shift from earlier panic-driven demand to a more balanced “willing buyer, willing seller” structure. Volatility has eased significantly. Metrics such as the Average True Range (ATR) show that the wide daily swings of N50–100/£ seen in 2024–2025 have largely subsided, signalling improved stability in the foreign…
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has given a N200 million support package for autism advocacy and caregiver development. The governor announced a donation of N100 million to the Kanyeyachukwu Foundation and another N100 million to autism-focused organisations under the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA). Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Thursday at an event held to mark the World Autism Awareness Day at the Lagos House, Marina. The event was also used to celebrate a teenage autism advocate and world record holder, Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, who arrived Lagos after a long-distance cycling advocacy journey that began in Enugu on…