Nigeria is set to secure a fresh $500 million loan from the World Bank, despite concerns over the country’s rising external debt profile. According to official project documents, the loan is scheduled for approval on March 30, 2026. The facility, valued at $500 million, will be financed entirely by the World Bank’s concessional lending arm, the International Development Association, through an IDA credit arrangement. The borrower is listed as the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while implementation will be overseen by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with participating state governments. The project is designed to boost…
Author: Newsdesk
The Zamfara State Ministry of Health has held a high-level stakeholders’ meeting to address the growing problem of illegal drug hawking and sales in selected Local Government Areas of the state. The meeting was chaired by the Commissioner for Health, Nafisa Muhammad Maradun, and brought together key players in the health sector and relevant enforcement agencies to agree on strategies for effective action. Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Maradun thanked participants for making time to attend despite their busy schedules, describing their presence as a strong indication of their shared commitment to safeguarding the health of Zamfara residents. She recalled that stakeholders had…
The Embassy of India in Mexico issued an advisory to Indian nationals residing in the country, after the violence escalated following the killing of drug lord “El Mencho” by the Army. The Embassy of India urged them to exercise caution and remain indoors amid escalating violence after Mexican soldiers killed a top drug cartel leader. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed on Sunday. “Dear all Indian nationals in Mexico. There are ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, Indian nationals in Jalisco State (areas of Puerto…
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Sunday, distributed farm tools to farmers and inaugurated a new high Islamic school in Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area. Governor Zulum was accompanied by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari. Zulum’s agricultural intervention aimed to boost dry-season farming and enhance the livelihoods of returnees who are gradually resettling in the community. Zulum said, “From the beginning of this administration, dry season irrigation farming was adopted as a strategic component of the state’s food security…
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to a suspected revalidated batch of SMA Gold First Infant Milk Formula (900 grams) being sold in Kaduna State. In a post on its official X handle on Sunday, NAFDAC said the suspected product was found with altered expiry dates and was linked to infant gastrointestinal distress in a four-month-old baby after consumption. The agency disclosed that the four-month-old infant’s diarrhoea case points to possible product deterioration, which risks acute gastroenteritis, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance in infants. Other potential risks include malnutrition due to compromised…
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Leo Stan Ekeh on his 70th birthday, describing him as a pioneering innovator in Nigeria’s information technology sector. This was contained in a statement issued by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday. Tinubu recalled the inauguration of Zinox’s indigenous computer products in 2001, describing it as a groundbreaking moment for local technology production in Nigeria. “Leo Stan Ekeh is one of Nigeria’s pioneering innovators in the information technology sector,” he said. The President commended Ekeh for his contributions to manufacturing and the growth of the nation’s information technology ecosystem, adding that he had…
The Organization for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA) has disclosed that Nigeria recorded between ₦3.5 trillion and ₦5 trillion in post-harvest losses in 2025. The President of OTACCWA, Mr. Alexander Isong, revealed this in an interview with reporters in Lagos. Isong also said the country lost an estimated 30 to 40 million metric tonnes of food across major value chains. “In 2025, Nigeria lost an estimated 30 to 40 million metric tonnes of food to post-harvest inefficiencies across major value chains, particularly tomatoes, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, fish, and root crops. “In monetary terms, this translates…
The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in Sokoto State has commissioned a 10,000-capacity poultry cold room facility at the Live Bird Market in Sokoto. The Live Bird Market serves as a central business hub for various types of poultry, where residents purchase birds for consumption and commercial purposes. The market also functions as a processing centre where poultry sellers store their products before distribution. However, the absence of a cold storage facility had long posed serious challenges to traders. Poultry sellers revealed that due to inconsistent demand—especially during festive periods—a significant portion of processed poultry often went to…
As foot and mouth disease continues to spread across South Africa, many livestock farmers are facing severe financial strain and uncertainty. With frustration mounting over delays and administrative setbacks, the private sector has begun stepping forward to offer practical support. Wiesenhof Coffee Roastery has partnered with the Southern African Agri Initiative to strengthen Saai’s disaster relief fund. The fund is aimed at assisting family farmers who have been heavily affected by the outbreak and the challenges surrounding its management. While official processes remain slow and markets unsettled, businesses are choosing to act. Four years ago, Wiesenhof pledged a portion of…
The Conquerors Assembly in Lagos on Sunday, distributed food items to the less privileged, to end its Encounter Crusade 3.0 programme. Senior Pastor of the church, Rev. Hezekiah Duro-Aina, said the initiative was a way of reaching out to the needy, as well as drawing them closer to the Lord. He stated this during the donation at the church’s auditorium in Akowonjo, adding that the food distribution was part of the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility. Ashewnews gathered through NAN reports that the food distribution which included rice and noodles, was part of activities to mark the programme tagged: ‘The Encounter…