The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Friday launched the Nigeria AgriConnect Compact, a World Bank-funded initiative aimed at transforming Nigeria into a leading regional food basket. The initiative focuses on boosting agricultural productivity, expanding processing, improving market access and mobilising private-sector investment across key value chains, including rice, maize and cassava. It also targets the creation of 2.56 million jobs by 2030, unlocking Nigeria’s significant agricultural potential and contributing to the country’s food and economic transformation agenda. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Abubakar Kyari, said Nigeria was not suffering from a shortage of agricultural programmes,…
Author: Newsdesk
The Federal Government says it will commence free anti-rabies vaccination of dogs in Gwagwalada, Kubwa and other parts of the country on Saturday, Sept. 26. Dr Samuel Anzaku, Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON) and Director, Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD), said this on Friday in Abuja. Anzaku spoke during a road walk organised to commemorate the 2026 World Rabies Day (WRD), marked annually on Sept. 28. He said the intervention would be implemented by the Federal and state governments in collaboration with development partners, veterinarians and other stakeholders. Anzaku said the campaign aimed…
The Oyo State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have committed to strengthening collaboration on food and nutrition security through the promotion of the “All Homes, A Garden” initiative in the state. The initiative aims to encourage households to cultivate food crops and vegetables in their backyards to improve access to fresh, nutritious and locally produced food, particularly for children and women. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, stated this on Friday while receiving UNICEF’s Chief of Child Nutrition and Development, Mrs Nemat Hajeebhoy, who led a team on a courtesy visit to the…
Dr Makinta Abdulkadir, an agronomist and Managing Director of Kanem Agro Allied Firm, has urged Borno farmers to adopt improved storage methods to reduce post-harvest losses. Abdulkadir made the call in an interview with reporters in Maiduguri. He identified moisture, pests, poor handling and inadequate storage facilities as major causes of post-harvest losses. The agronomist advised farmers to properly dry grains before storage and to use hermetic bags, airtight containers or improved silos to protect produce from moisture, insects and rodents. He also urged farmers to keep storage facilities clean, dry and well-ventilated, and to regularly inspect them for pests…
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday urged Nigerians to embrace unity of purpose, warning that the nation’s greatest setback remains disunity and a lack of shared responsibility among citizens. Sanwo-Olu spoke at a special Juma’at service and prayers held to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day. The event was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs at the Secretariat Community Central Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja. The governor was represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat. Sanwo-Olu said Nigeria’s abundant human and material resources could only translate into meaningful development if citizens and leaders worked together with a common sense…
The Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Disabled Persons has pledged continued support for the Cancer Trust Fund initiative of the Albinism Association of Nigeria. The commission made the pledge when members of the state chapter of the association embarked on an awareness walk to Government House, Umuahia, on Friday. Receiving the group, the Chairman of the Commission, Dr David Anyaele, said the government supports initiatives that protect persons with albinism from health risks. He said the proposed Cancer Trust Fund would help create awareness and sensitisation against skin cancer at the community level. Anyaele reaffirmed the commitment of…
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has urged women entrepreneurs to embed data protection in Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to build public trust. Dr Vincent Olatunji, NDPC National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, made the call on Friday at the Women Entrepreneurs and Executives in Tech Summit and Awards (WEETS) 2026 in Lagos. Olatunji, represented by Omoikhefe Ahimie, Manager of the NDPC Lagos Liaison Office, said responsible innovation requires businesses to protect personal data throughout AI product lifecycles. Speaking on “Protecting the Future You Are Building,” Olatunji said AI is creating opportunities for women to innovate and shape Africa’s digital economy. He…
The Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has expanded to 63 health zones across seven of the country’s 26 provinces. The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement on Friday that the expansion followed the identification of infections in two additional health zones. It also reported that 7,890 confirmed cases have so far been reported, including 3,799 deaths, with a crude case fatality ratio of 48.1 per cent. “The newly affected areas are Bulu health zone in Sud Ubangi province and Dungu health zone in Haut-Uélé province, which borders South Sudan. “The geographic…
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Special Marshals Zone RS2, comprising Lagos and Ogun, has emerged first in a national performance evaluation. The zone scored 96 per cent to lead other zones in the evaluation of Special Marshals activities nationwide, according to a statement made available to reporters on Friday in Lagos. The statement was signed by the Special Marshal (SM), Dr Olabisi O. Dennis, State Coordinator, RS2.1 Lagos Special Marshals. RS7, comprising the Federal Capital Territory and Niger, scored 94 per cent to place second, while RS6 came third with 90 per cent. RS5 came fourth, followed by RS12…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) allotted about N8.14 trillion through eight Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTB) auctions between July and September 2026, exceeding the N5.8 trillion target for the third quarter by 40.34%. The bulk of the allotments came from the 364-day Treasury Bill, which accounted for about N7.09 trillion, or 87% of total allotments during the period. Demand for the one-year instrument remained strong even as its stop rate fell from a Q3 peak of 17.70% in July to 15.89% by September 23. The CBN’s allotments varied sharply during the quarter, with the highest single-session allocation reaching N1.456 trillion…