Morocco has officially launched construction of what is set to become Africa’s largest tyre manufacturing facility, marking a major milestone in the country’s industrial expansion and its ambition to dominate automotive production across the continent. The project, located in the Batouya Industrial Acceleration Zone in Driouch province, was formally launched this week at a ceremony attended by senior government officials, regional authorities and representatives of the project developer, according to Morocco World News and local government statements. Once completed, the plant is expected to position Morocco as a leading tyre production hub serving European, African and Middle Eastern markets. The Driouch…
Author: Newsdesk
Kenya government plans to raise KSh125bn (about $969 million) through short-term syndicated loans to support its national road construction programme, according to Bloomberg. The borrowing will be used to bridge financing shortfalls that have slowed several highway and transport projects, as the government seeks to maintain momentum on infrastructure development despite tightening fiscal space. The move underscores the growing pressure on Kenya’s public finances as infrastructure costs rise faster than revenues. With limited room for new long-term borrowing, the government is increasingly relying on short-term financing mechanisms to keep projects running — a strategy that carries refinancing and repayment risks…
The Senate has constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee to harmonise and distil senators’ inputs on the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, as lawmakers intensify efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections. Ashenews reports that the decision followed a three-hour closed-door executive session held on Thursday, during which senators further scrutinised the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill currently before the National Assembly. Announcing the outcome of the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee was mandated to synthesise lawmakers’ views and address outstanding concerns on the bill. “The committee is mandated to contribute, galvanise…
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has appealed to Anambra Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, to consider reopening the Onitsha Main Market. The appeal was made by President-General, Sen. John Azuta-Mbata, in a statement issued by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Ezechi Chukwu. Ashenews gathered through NAN reports that the governor ordered the market’s closure for one week on Tuesday over traders’ continued observance of IPOB’s sit-at-home. Mbata said Ohanaeze understood the government’s concerns, noting that the decision was intended to ensure order, safety and long-term development. He urged the governor to consider the economic hardship confronting traders and families whose livelihoods depend largely…
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, has urged state governments to mobilize domestic funding to support the control and elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria. Salako, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mr Daju Kachollom, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a media conference ahead of the 2026 World NTDs Day celebration. The theme for the 2026 celebration is “Unite, Act and Eliminate NTDs towards the Achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” The minister said the control and elimination of NTDs remained a…
The ActionAid project, Strategic Partnership for Agroecology and Climate Justice (SPAC–West Africa), has supported more than 12,000 women farmers and youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through agroecology, also known as organic farming. Mrs Hajara Ramson, Project Lead for SPAC–West Africa, Nigeria, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ campaign and advocacy meeting on land ownership and market access for smallholder women farmers and young farmers in the FCT. Ramson said the project supported over 12,000 women and youths across the six Area Councils of the FCT over the past three years through capacity building and Training…
Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe says the state government has spent N800 million on the construction of the permanent office of the Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre (BioRTC) at Yobe State University, Damaturu. Buni stated this on Thursday at the inauguration of the centre in Damaturu. He commended the Director of BioRTC, Prof. Mahmoud Maina, for his exceptional commitment and personal contributions toward acquiring equipment valued at over N10 billion for the centre’s operations. According to the governor, the centre represents a major scientific asset that will promote inclusive, accurate and locally relevant medical research. “For too long,…
Mr Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication at MTN Nigeria, has said that the redevelopment of the Obalende Bus Park on Lagos Island will be completed within 21 weeks. Ogoro disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, following a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Lagos State Government on the project. He said the initiative aims to transform the existing Obalende Bus Park into a modern and well-structured transport hub through a public-private partnership between the state government and MTN Nigeria. According to him, the redevelopment will be executed in three major components: the main bus park,…
Gombe-based organizations, the Wildan Care Foundation (WCF) and the Advocacy Centre for Development (AC4D), have expressed concern over the rising incidence of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state. The organizations raised the alarm on Thursday in Gombe during an engagement with magistrates aimed at strengthening the prosecution of SGBV cases under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law. Executive Director of the Wildan Care Foundation, Zariyatu Abubakar, said the initiative was prompted by the high prevalence of SGBV cases across Gombe State. According to her, the organizations began stakeholder consultations with the Nigeria Police Force last year to…
The Federal Government on Thursday deployed 10 electric shuttle buses and 20 electric sedans at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja to boost operational efficiency. The Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Abdullahi Ganduje, said this during the inaugural ceremony, adding that the move marked an important milestone in FAAN’s ongoing efforts to improve service delivery. He further said that the event revealed effort being made towards modernising airport operations and aligning Nigeria’s aviation sector with global best practices. “It is my pleasure to be part of this momentous occasion marking the official deployment of electric…