A former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has tasked state governors and the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSEC) with tackling the growing challenge of out-of-school and Almajiri children in the country. Abubakar gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja at the graduation and prize-giving ceremony for 21 Almajiri youths trained in digital and technical skills by the Almajiri-to-Tech Foundation, in collaboration with New Horizons, Nigeria. The six-month training equipped the beneficiaries with skills in computer repairs, drone and robot building, as well as the repair of ten electrical appliances. Abubakar described the increasing number of Almajiri…
Author: Newsdesk
The medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called for increased awareness, prevention and early treatment of noma, a neglected tropical disease that primarily affects young children in poor communities. This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by MSF Field Communication Officer Abdulkareem Yakubu to raise awareness about the disease. The statement noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised noma as a neglected tropical disease in 2023. According to the statement, noma is a non-communicable disease that rapidly destroys facial tissues and bones, with children under the age of seven being the most vulnerable.…
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, civil society organisations and international partners to dismantle human trafficking networks. The Director-General of NAPTIP, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, made the commitment on Wednesday in Abuja during an awareness road walk organised to commemorate the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. She said the agency remained committed to its statutory mandate of preventing human trafficking, protecting victims, prosecuting offenders and strengthening partnerships at national, regional and international levels. “To survivors of human trafficking, let me say…
An agricultural technical expert, Mr Tony Ifeakandu, has called for coordinated efforts to tackle post-harvest losses in Nigeria’s tomato value chain, saying improved storage and preservation systems are key to stabilising supply and prices. Ifeakandu, the Managing Director of Autodex Nigeria Ltd., a vehicle and farm tractor assembly company, made the call in an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Lagos. He said recurring tomato scarcity and price hikes were largely caused by weak coordination among farmers, inadequate storage facilities and the absence of an efficient cold-chain system. According to him, most tomato farmers in northern Nigeria are smallholder producers…
Prof. Icha Onche, Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Jos, says the hospital has performed 154 major surgeries, treated 8,502 outpatients and generated ₦72 million in revenue since clinical operations began in 2025. Onche disclosed this on Wednesday in Jos while updating the public on the hospital’s achievements and services since clinical operations commenced on 20 October 2025. He said the hospital had carried out 159 surgeries in total, of which 154 were major reconstructive procedures. He added that 259 patients had been admitted and five patients had received major prosthetic fittings. Onche said the hospital continues to provide…
The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Gender Responsive Agricultural Systems Policy (GRASP) Fellows have called for the inclusion of women in agricultural policies to improve productivity, livelihoods, incomes and food security. The fellows made the call on the sidelines of the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week and the 10th General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) on Wednesday in Abuja. Dr Yetunde Oladokun, leader of the third cohort of AWARD GRASP Fellows and Principal Research Officer at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), said the session brought together stakeholders to discuss policy…
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday sensitised stakeholders and partners in disaster management on preparedness and camp management. It was reported that the one-day workshop, held on Tuesday, had officials of the Plateau Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), humanitarian and security agencies, community leaders, and others in attendance. Speaking, Mrs Bintu Wanna, Head of the Jos Operations Office of NEMA, said the exercise aimed at developing measures to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and mitigate the impact of flooding in the state. READ ALSO: [VIEWPOINT] Africa’s green transition must not become a new colonial project, by Dr Melania Chiponda Wanna described…
Nigeria’s outstanding consumer credit fell by 19.89 per cent to N3.78 trillion in 2025, marking the first annual decline in six years, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed. The figure dropped from N4.72 trillion recorded in the preceding period, according to the CBN’s 2025 Annual Report and Statement of Accounts. The apex bank attributed the contraction to the prevailing interest rate environment and shifts in the composition of bank lending. The decline was driven largely by a sharp reduction in personal loans, which fell to N1.85 trillion during the year. However, retail lending moved in the opposite direction,…
The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) says it will begin penalising commuters who pay cash on any of its regulated transport services from Aug. 1. The authority said the measure aims to promote accountability, transparency and full compliance with its cashless fare payment system across regulated transport operations. This was discussed on a LAMATA X Space with key stakeholders and transport leaders on the topic “Lagos Cashless Transit: What Aug. 1 Enforcement Means to You” on Tuesday. Commuters were also encouraged to report any driver or conductor requesting cash through LAMATA’s official email and customer service phone numbers. Head…
The Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has inaugurated the “Green Rising Campaign” with the planting of 1,000 tree seedlings. The aim is to promote youth-led climate action and environmental sustainability. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, said during the inauguration in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday that the initiative aligned with the institution’s commitment to environmental conservation. He said the campaign was implemented in collaboration with the Kebbi Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Kebbi Chapter. “Also in collaboration are the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency,…