The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, on Wednesday arraigned two suspected drug traffickers, Adeola Adeniyi and Wasiu Kareem, before a Federal High Court in Ibadan over alleged drug offences. Adeniyi, 52, and Kareem, 54, pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge bordering on possession and unlawful dealing in narcotics. Consequently, the presiding judge, Justice Nkeonye Maha, ordered the defendants to be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre. She adjourned the case until March 20 for trial. Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr D.O. Otunla, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Oct. 29, 2025, along…
Author: Newsdesk
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to developing Nigeria’s cassava bioethanol value chain as part of efforts to drive industrial expansion and economic stability. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, made this known on Wednesday in Abeokuta during a capacity-building workshop for stakeholders on the Cassava Bioethanol Value Chain Development Project in the South-West zone. He said the workshop aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to transform Nigeria’s agricultural strengths into industrial and economic gains. Represented by the Director of Economic Growth, Auwal Mohammed, the minister said the initiative is designed to move…
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) will train 40,000 maize and soybean farmers in Niger state, using advanced farming techniques under a climate-smart agriculture project. Mr. Isaac Eni, Project Coordinator of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), disclosed this during a Training of Trainers session for extension agents and selected community-based advisors in Minna on Wednesday. Eni explained that the project is funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and is titled “Enhancing the Productivity and Competitiveness of Smallholder Farmers in the Maize-Soybean Farming System in Niger and Kaduna States.” He stated that 44…
The Lagos State Command and Control Centre has proposed a strategic media partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to enhance public information management and emergency communication across the state. The General Manager of the centre, Mr. Femi Giwa, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to NAN’s Lagos Directorate on Wednesday. Giwa described NAN as Nigeria’s leading national news platform, well-positioned to amplify the centre’s messages nationwide. He stressed that accurate and timely dissemination of information during emergencies is vital to prevent rumors, reduce panic, and maintain public calm. According to him, the Command and Control Centre serves as…
Mercy Corps, a non-governmental organization (NGO), on Wednesday handed over a newly constructed veterinary clinic and a rehabilitated structure in Danmusa Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State to the state government. The project, which also included an upgraded 20,000-litre capacity solar-powered borehole, was implemented under the European Union-funded Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience (CPCRR) project. The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD). Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Commissioner for Livestock and Animal Husbandry in Katsina State, Prof. Ahmed Bakori, commended Mercy…
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing indigenous research and technology development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Malam Ahmed Aminu, Executive Secretary of PTDF, said this on Wednesday in Abuja during a combined peer review of the Annual Oil and Gas Research Grant Competition and the Endowment Research Programme. Aminu said the review marked the final stage of selected research projects covering thematic areas such as integrated pipeline monitoring, carbon nanotube-enhanced solar cells, and renewable energy from non-edible oil seeds. He added that the projects also focused on sustainable fuels and geological studies of…
The introduction of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) has led to a significant reduction in anaemia cases among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Dutse-Alhaji Primary Healthcare Centre in the Federal Capital Territory. Dr. Deborah Joshua, Officer-in-Charge of the facility, disclosed this on Wednesday during a media field visit organized by Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition (CS-SUNN) to sensitize pregnant women on the benefits of MMS. She explained that MMS simplifies supplementation by combining all essential nutrients into a single daily tablet. As a result, fewer women now present with anaemia, and those who were already anaemic are stabilized before delivery. “Most…
The Akwa Ibom State Government on Wednesday stepped up efforts to integrate women in fishing and fish processing into formal cooperatives, positioning Uruan’s vast aquatic economy as a launchpad for broader agricultural ecosystem development. Speaking at a women’s mobilisation and sensitisation programme in Uruan Local Government Area on February 25, Deputy Governor, Akon Eyakenyi said the push for cooperative-based fishing and hygienic fish processing schemes would enable women to benefit from the state’s N31 billion cooperative fund earmarked for the 31 local government areas. Eyakenyi described Uruan as a strategic fishing hub in Akwa Ibom, with strong trade and cultural…
A coalition of 19 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Cross River State has described the state’s Forestry Law 2010 as outdated and urgently in need of comprehensive reform to curb deforestation, strengthen institutions, and empower forest-dependent communities. The groups reached this conclusion after a six-month review of the law. They presented their findings and recommendations at a news conference in Calabar on Wednesday. Mr. Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of We the People, identified commercial agriculture—particularly the recent cocoa boom—as a major driver of deforestation in the state. He warned that the rapid expansion of monoculture cocoa plantations is creating “green…
Cybersecurity expert Mr. Oluwafemi Osho has called on Nigeria to embrace a development-first, risk-aware approach to ensure effective governance, regulation, and responsible innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Osho made the recommendation during an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Abuja. He noted that Nigeria has historically been more of a technology consumer than an innovator. He argued that AI presents a major opportunity to reverse this trend by building local capacity to shape the future of technology. He emphasized the need for a governance framework that protects citizens while fostering innovation. “Because AI systems rely heavily on data, Nigeria must…