Stakeholders in Nigeria’s criminal justice system have called for stronger digital evidence management, inter-agency collaboration, and continuous capacity building to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals. They made the call during a specialised training on Cybercrime, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Evidence for members of the Joint Case Team on Cybercrime (JCTC) and designated Federal High Court judges on Friday in Lagos. The training was organised by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with the JCTC. The workshop was held under the Building an Environment Free of Human Trafficking in Persons and Violence Against Persons (TIPVAP)…
Author: Newsdesk
The Federal Government has clarified that it is not banning raw cocoa exports but is instead promoting value addition to maximise earnings from the commodity. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, stated this in a release issued on Friday in Abuja. Kyari said reports suggesting that the Federal Government planned to ban the export of raw cocoa beans did not reflect its policy. “Our objective is value addition, not an export ban,” he said. He noted that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the government is committed to building a globally competitive cocoa industry by…
The Federal Government says Nigeria’s animal disease control and eradication strategic plan requires a comprehensive overhaul to effectively tackle Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). Dr Samuel Anzaku, Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), made this known on Friday in Abuja at a two-day workshop to review the National Strategic Plan for PPR control and eradication. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), PPR, otherwise known as goat plague, is a highly contagious viral disease that kills up to 90 per cent of infected sheep and goats. The workshop was organised by the Pan-African Secretariat for the Eradication of PPR…
President Bola Tinubu has said the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is changing for the better under the leadership of Nyesom Wike as its minister, 50 years after its creation. Tinubu made the remark in Abuja on Friday night during a special thank-you dinner to celebrate the successful inauguration of 31 projects across the FCT in 28 days. Represented by Senate President Sen. Godswill Akpabio, the President commended Wike and his team for their sacrifices to ensure the nation’s capital works for everyone. He further commended the minister for demonstrating that “leadership is not measured by how loudly one announces…
The Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains active, with sustained transmission driving increases in reported cases and deaths. As of July 15, 2026, a cumulative total of 2,124 confirmed cases, including 828 deaths, has been reported from the DRC. The World Health Organisation (WHO) disclosed this in a statement on Friday. The health body also said German authorities had reported a laboratory-confirmed Bundibugyo virus case in a U.S. humanitarian worker who was medically evacuated from the DRC on July 13. “It is the second U.S. citizen treated in Germany. “In Uganda, no new…
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says the Climate Defence and Catalytic Fund will unlock private investment and strengthen Nigeria’s climate finance architecture for sustainable national development. Speaking through Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat on Friday, Sanwo-Olu addressed the Climate Finance Leadership and Recognition ceremony in Victoria Island, Lagos. The event also marked the official launch of the Climate Defence and Catalytic Fund and the closing ceremony of the maiden Climate Finance Preparedness Clinic. Sanwo-Olu described the fund as a landmark intervention designed to mobilise catalytic capital, support project preparation, reduce investment risks, and accelerate climate-resilient development across Nigeria. He said the fund…
Instanda, a pioneering no-code platform, on Friday urged insurers and financial institutions to adopt no-code platforms and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate innovation and shorten product development time. The Director of Client Success and Growth at Instanda, Mr. Will Wood, made the call during a webinar organised by the Fintech Association of Nigeria (FinTechNGR). The webinar, themed “The No-Code Era: Building Agility for Financial Services,” highlighted how these technologies can drive competitiveness in Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital economy. Wood noted that organisations relying on traditional software development often lose valuable time due to lengthy engineering processes, legacy systems, and bureaucracy. Instanda…
The Federal Government has distributed 20,160 bags of fertiliser to farmers in Lagos State to boost food production during the current planting season. The intervention is being implemented through the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The programme is being carried out in 26 states to improve crop production and strengthen national food security. Speaking at the distribution ceremony on Friday, Lagos Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said 12,090 bags were allocated to 3,040 members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN). She said the remaining 8,070…
The Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell, has called for sustained political leadership, stronger community engagement, and expanded partnerships to address Nigeria’s remaining child health challenges, particularly immunisation gaps. Speaking during a courtesy visit to Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Friday, Russell said Nigeria’s certification as free of wild poliovirus in 2020 showed that complex public health challenges could be overcome through collective action. She stressed the need to protect that achievement by ensuring every child receives routine immunisation, that missed children are reached, and disease surveillance remains robust. Russell described Sokoto as a…
The Ogun State Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on Friday distributed agricultural inputs to 2,740 cassava farmers. The distribution was carried out under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, aimed at boosting food security and farmers’ incomes. Speaking at the ceremony in Abeokuta, Mr Bolu Owotomo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, described the intervention as a strategic investment in the state’s agricultural future. Owotomo said the initiative was aimed at strengthening food security, improving farmers’ incomes, and promoting climate-smart agriculture across the state.…