Rural women farmers have urged the Federal and State Governments and the National Assembly to establish an annual national celebration and investment plan to recognise their contributions to agriculture and food security. Mrs Florence Ojo, Acting National President of the Smallscale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), made the call in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Thursday to mark the International Day of Rural Women. The day is commemorated annually on October 15, with the 2026 theme being “Rural Women Farmers Caring for Mother Nature”. Ojo said the occasion should recognise rural women’s contributions to food security and…
Author: Newsdesk
Some Level 14 health workers in Katsina State have opted for Level 8 appointments in federal institutions because of salary disparities, Umar Lawal-Bawale, an association chairman, has said. Lawal-Bawale, Chairman of the Katsina Branch of the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN), disclosed this on Wednesday. He spoke during a briefing by the Assembly of Health Care Professionals on the ongoing strike by health workers in the state. He said the industrial action was not solely about remuneration but also aimed at protecting healthcare delivery and addressing the growing exodus of professionals from the state’s health sector. According to him,…
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says admissions for malnutrition have risen by 18 per cent at its supported health facilities in northeast Nigeria, increasing from 17,000 cases in 2025 to nearly 20,000 in 2026. The ICRC disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday and signed by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Aliyu Dawobe, highlighting the growing burden of malnutrition in northeast Nigeria. Dawobe said the cases were recorded between January and September across six health centres and four hospitals supported by the ICRC, underscoring worsening nutritional challenges among vulnerable populations in conflict-affected communities. According…
The Karmajiji Disabilities Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has pledged the support of more than 500 eligible voters for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. Mrs Rahina Haruna, the community’s women leader, made the pledge in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Thursday. Haruna said that despite the challenges facing residents, they were ready to support Tinubu’s re-election bid. “The population of physically challenged and the virtually challenged in the community is growing. Right now, if you visit our neighbourhood, both our men, women, and students—we have reached about 500 voting people. “We pray that God elevates Tinubu’s…
The Jigawa Government says it will convert conventional irrigation pumps to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered pumps to reduce farmers’ production costs. Gov. Umar Namadi said this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by Ismaeel Ahmed, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV). He said the state government was expanding its collaboration with the initiative to develop alternative energy infrastructure to support irrigation and agricultural production. The governor said energy costs accounted for more than 50 per cent of farm expenditure, making agriculture less attractive. “As of today, energy costs constitute more than…
The Lagos State Government says traffic will be diverted on Independence Bridge, Lagos Island, as urgent repairs begin on Friday. The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, announced this in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday. Osiyemi said asphalt works on the bridge would begin on Friday night and continue through Saturday and Sunday. He said the repairs would cover both inbound and outbound lanes, with traffic management measures introduced to minimise disruptions. “Traffic management plans to help motorists navigate their journeys during the repair works include the partial closure of one section at a time, with a lane…
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says the controlled demolition of the distressed Great Nigeria Insurance House on Lagos Island will begin on Thursday. Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, disclosed this in a public safety advisory issued on Wednesday to residents, traders, motorists and the general public. Oke-Osanyintolu said the demolition was approved following structural assessments by relevant agencies, which confirmed that the building posed a significant risk to public safety. He said the exercise would be conducted professionally and in line with global best practices to prevent incidents and protect lives and property. According to the…
Cloudvantage Ltd. on Wednesday launched a local cloud platform to help financial institutions store and manage payment transaction data generated in Nigeria ahead of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Jan. 1, 2027, compliance deadline. The Managing Director of Cloudvantage, Mr Muhideen Ashiru, disclosed this at the launch in Lagos. Ashiru said the platform, developed in partnership with Rack Centre, would help banks, fintech companies and other businesses meet regulatory requirements. He said it would enable organisations to store sensitive data and run critical applications in Nigeria, reducing reliance on foreign cloud infrastructure. Ashiru said a second cloud region would…
The Niger State Agricultural and Mechanisation Development Authority (NAMDA) has unveiled a TELA maize variety to sensitise farmers and promote its adoption to boost production. Mr Abdullahi Ndafogi, Deputy Director of Research at NAMDA, stated this during a green field day exercise on Wednesday in Minna. The event was organised by the authority to educate farmers on the new maize variety, tagged “SAMMAZ 72T”. Ndafogi said the new variety had high yield potential, was drought-resistant and was tolerant to pests. He said the variety could yield 9.4 tonnes per hectare, surpassing the national average maize yield of six tonnes per…
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has urged the Federal Government to implement practical measures to integrate Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) into Nigeria’s climate policies, financing and green economic opportunities. Ms Nneka Okafor, Chair of the UN Disability-Inclusion Technical Working Group, who represented the UN Resident Coordinator, made the call at the National Summit on Disability-Inclusive Climate Action, organised by the Global Disabilities Green Initiative (GDGI) in Abuja. The summit, themed “From Belém Commitments to COP31 Implementation: Advancing Disability-Inclusive Climate Action in Nigeria”, brought together government representatives, development partners, disability advocates and civil society organisations. The News Agency of Nigeria…