The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, has inaugurated a major tree-planting exercise along sections of Zaria’s ancient city walls. The initiative represents a historic blend of cultural preservation, environmental sustainability and ecological action. The event, which took place on Monday, marked the completion of the Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative (WECRI), an impactful environmental project executed by the civil society group Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative (BTG). Supported by the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), BTG has successfully planted 6,000 trees under the WECRI project — 2,000 each in Chikun, Zangon Kataf and Zaria…
Author: Newsdesk
The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has warned that delays in decisions on the 6GHz spectrum band are stalling essential mobile network infrastructure as the world transitions from 5G to early 6G networks. This was contained in a statement issued by GSMA Director-General Vivek Badrinath on Monday. The 6GHz band is a radio frequency used for wireless communications that can provide additional capacity for mobile networks. The upper 6GHz band, covering 6.425 GHz to 7.125 GHz, is regarded as valuable mid-band spectrum for mobile connectivity. Badrinath explained that timely decisions on the spectrum would give operators the certainty…
Residents seeking healthcare in public hospitals across satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have alleged persistent cash-only payment practices. The claims persist despite the Federal Government’s push for a cashless economy and the increased adoption of electronic payment platforms nationwide. A survey by reporters found that some patients and caregivers at government-owned hospitals said they were required to pay cash for services, while others claimed receipts were not issued afterwards. Some respondents further alleged that when cash was unavailable, they were directed to nearby Point-of-Sale (PoS) operators or given private account details for transfers, raising concerns about accountability…
Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, has called on influential citizens, wealthy individuals and private organisations to adopt public health facilities within their communities. Ugwu, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, made the call on Sunday in Enugu while elaborating on his “Community Health Stewardship” model, which he proposed during the 251st Inaugural Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The lecture, delivered on September 3, was titled “The Mother, the Child and the State: My Triumphant Journey from Evidence to Action.” He noted that effective community contributions through health stewardship would supplement public funding. According to…
Prof. Ofem Enang has called for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare system to tackle the rising burden of chronic diseases, inadequate specialist training, brain drain and infrastructural deficits. Enang, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Calabar and Consultant Endocrinologist at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), made the call in an interview with reporters in Calabar on Sunday. He said the country must shift from a model focused mainly on treating advanced illnesses to one that prioritises prevention, early diagnosis and continuous disease management. Enang identified diabetes and other endocrine disorders as major public health challenges, noting…
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast cloudy skies, thunderstorms and moderate to heavy rains across the country from Monday to Wednesday. NiMet stated this in its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, advising residents to take precautions during thunderstorms. MondayIn the northern region, the agency forecast thunderstorms with moderate rains over parts of Adamawa, Kebbi and Taraba in the morning, followed by thunderstorms with moderate rains over most parts of the region later in the day. In the North-Central region, thunderstorms with light rains are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa…
Denis Mancha, the Parish Priest of St Finbarr’s Catholic Church, Rayfield, Jos, has advised Nigerians to regularly plant trees to ensure a healthy environment. Mancha, who gave the advice in his sermon on Sunday in Jos, said that regular tree planting would mitigate the impact of climate change on the environment. The priest, who decried the spate of deforestation in the country, called on Nigerians to desist from such practices. “If we must cut a tree, let’s plant two or more; that’s how to preserve our environment and address global warming. “These trees give us oxygen, and we in turn…
Rising energy and transportation costs are putting pressure on household incomes in Lagos, making the transition to cleaner energy difficult for many residents. Residents, workers and renewable-energy operators spoke in separate interviews about the impact of rising energy costs. Mr Cyprian Udoh, a civil servant, said rising energy costs were negatively affecting workers, leaving many with little or nothing to save. Mrs Ogonna Igwe, a trader, said rising transportation costs were eroding traders’ profits and making it increasingly difficult to sustain their businesses. Mr Moses Alabi, a Lagos Island worker, said high transport fares had forced some workers to seek…
Some shop owners and residents in Lagos communities have called for stronger enforcement of noise regulations over persistent disturbances. They spoke in separate interviews with reporters about noise pollution in Amukoko, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, and around Pen Cinema, Agege. Reporters observed that generator noise, vehicle horns and mosque announcements were audible at Ajose Street Roundabout, Amukoko. Mr Olumide Adebayo, a shop owner at Amukoko, said excessive noise had become a regular experience, affecting his ability to rest peacefully. He said inadequate electricity supply had forced businesses to rely on generators, making it difficult for residents to escape the noise. Adebayo said residents…
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, says the Federal Government is rebranding the livestock sector through innovation, technology and modern practices to attract youths into agriculture. Maiha said this in Kano on Saturday at the Arewa Agric and Innovation Summit 2026, where he delivered a keynote address. He said the summit provided an opportunity to bring together youths from across the North and other parts of the country to explore innovative solutions to challenges in agriculture. He said the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration was a significant step toward transforming the…