The Federal Government has inaugurated a community-based National Food Bank Programme to boost food security and expand access to nutritious food for vulnerable Nigerians, particularly households facing hunger and malnutrition. The initiative, championed by the Office of the First Lady under Oluremi Tinubu, aims to reach at-risk households—especially women and children—through coordinated nutrition support and inclusive, community-driven distribution systems. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, described the initiative as a strategic intervention designed to transition from emergency food assistance to a sustainable, well-structured national distribution system. Speaking at the inauguration on Thursday in Abuja, Kyari said millions of…
Author: Newsdesk
The organized private sector has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing food insecurity and malnutrition, pledging over $30 billion and ₦500 million to the National Food Bank Programme. It was reported that the Food Bank Programme is an initiative of the Office of the Wife of the President. The official inauguration of the programme’s Trust Fund on Thursday in Abuja brought together business leaders, government officials, and stakeholders across sectors. Speaking at the event, Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, lauded the Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, for her leadership and vision, noting that the initiative directly addresses the urgent…
The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 3, and Monday, April 6, as public holidays to mark this year’s Easter celebrations. The announcement was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. According to the statement, the minister congratulated Christians in Nigeria and the diaspora on the occasion and urged Nigerians to reflect on the virtues associated with the season. “The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated…
Prof. Peter Onwualu, President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), says African countries must transition from reliance on imported solutions to homegrown innovation driven by research commercialization. Onwualu, a former Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of the Africa X Summit scheduled for April 27 to 29. He noted that many solutions currently used to address the continent’s challenges are largely imported technologies or semi-processed inputs, making development efforts unsustainable. Despite Nigeria’s youthful and highly educated population, abundant natural resources, and the…
Switzerland has pledged more than $23m in fresh aid to Burkina Faso, reinforcing its long-term commitment to development and humanitarian support in one of the Sahel’s most fragile and security-challenged states. The funding, announced during a diplomatic visit to Ouagadougou, forms part of Switzerland’s 2026–2029 cooperation programme and reflects a broader strategy to maintain engagement in fragile African economies despite escalating insecurity and shifting geopolitical dynamics. The pledge was confirmed during a visit by Ignazio Cassis to Ouagadougou, where discussions centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation. According to regional reporting by APA News, the package totals more than CFA14bn ($23m) and will…
Rivers State government has announced a donation of ₦100 million to support Bille community in Degema Local Government Area, affected by gas emission, for interim relief measures. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dagogo Wokoma, made the remark when he represented Gov. Siminalayi Fubara on a visit to the community on Wednesday to assess the reported gas emission. He explained that the intervention was part of the interim relief measures to address the environmental situation affecting the community. He added the state government would provide potable water and essential medical services to residents as immediate palliative support. Wokoma said…
Ghana has moved to restrict the sale of a $1bn gold mine to locally owned firms, signalling a decisive shift in how Africa’s top gold producer intends to control its most strategic resource. The decision, reported by both international outlets and local media and reinforced by Reuters coverage of Ghana’s evaluation of local bids for the Damang mine, signals a broader shift in Ghana’s mining policy with implications for investor confidence, asset ownership, and long-term control of gold revenues. This is not just about the sale of Gold Fields’ Damang mine—it is about redefining who controls Ghana’s gold wealth. By limiting…
The Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says fintech, ICT and digital innovation, agriculture, and other key sectors will feature prominently at the Nigerian Diaspora Economic Conference (NAIDEC) 2026. The Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday ahead of the conference which will hold in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, from Aug. 13 to Aug. 16. She said the conference would focus on a structured, outcome-driven marketplace targeting high-impact sectors critical to Nigeria’s future growth. According to her, the high-impact sectors include fintech, ICT and digital innovation, agriculture and agro-processing, mining,…
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum on Wednesday donated ₦150 million to the families of three military officers who lost their lives in recent attacks in the state. This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Mr Dauda Iliya, in Maiduguri. Iliya said that the donations were made during condolence visit to the families of the officers who lost their lives during counter-insurgency operations in Maiduguri. Ashenews reports that the gesture, made on behalf of Borno government was part of the Zulum’s sustained support to families of fallen heroes and wounded-in-action personnel engaged in counter-insurgency operations across the…
The Labour Party (LP) has announced April 23 as the new commencement date for its long-delayed congresses, with its national convention scheduled for April 28 in Umuahia, Abia State. The development marks what party leaders described as a major step toward restructuring the party’s internal leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections. The announcement was made by the party’s National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, during an appearance on Arise Television. Usman explained that the decision reflects the party’s renewed commitment to unity, inclusiveness and internal democracy following months of internal disagreements and restructuring. “We had to postpone it for about 20…