The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have called for increased investment in local digital innovations to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth. They made the call at the 2026 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE), organised by NITDA in Abuja on Tuesday. The conference is themed: “Driving Nigeria’s Digital Future: Secure, Intelligent and Inclusive Systems.” The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Dr Aristotle Onumo, said the agency was targeting a N3 billion investment pipeline through its Builders’ Festival initiative. He…
Author: Newsdesk
The naira weakened to N1,353.50 per dollar, extending its losses as the exchange rate continued to climb in November. The depreciation reflects sustained pressure on the local currency, following earlier weakness at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). The naira had closed at N1,350.45 per dollar on November 5, after trading between N1,348 and N1,350.50 during the session. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the currency depreciated from N1,348 per dollar on November 4, having closed at N1,347.75 on November 3 and N1,346.01 on November 2. The naira lost N2.45 against the dollar between November 4…
Amnesty International has urged oil companies operating in Nigeria to contribute to a well-funded environmental restoration fund to finance the comprehensive cleanup of the Niger Delta. Mr Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, made the call on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during the presentation of a report titled “Nigeria: Lifting the Lid.” The report examined what the organisation described as 60 years of negligent oil operations by an oil firm in the Niger Delta. Sanusi said oil companies must take responsibility for the environmental damage caused by their operations and support restoration efforts in affected communities. He called on…
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says about 66,000 Nigerians have fled to neighbouring countries this year as escalating violence deepens a cross-border humanitarian emergency. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) disclosed this on Tuesday, appealing for $11.4 million to address the deepening humanitarian emergency affecting Niger, Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. UNHCR Director of External Relations, Dominique Hyde, raised the alarm during a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, following a visit to Niger’s southeastern Diffa region. Hyde said several hundred Nigerians had also sought refuge in Benin, underscoring the widening geographical consequences of insecurity…
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have called for increased investment in local digital innovations to accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth. They made the call at the 2026 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE), organised by NITDA in Abuja on Tuesday. The event’s theme was “Driving Nigeria’s Digital Future: Secure, Intelligent and Inclusive Systems”. NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Aristotle Onumo, said NITDA was targeting N3 billion in pipeline investments through its Builders Festival initiative. He said the initiative…
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage. The agreement provides a framework for improved pilgrimage operations, stronger coordination and enhanced protection of Nigerian pilgrims’ welfare. NAHCON disclosed this in a statement issued by its Head of Information and Publications, Shafii Mohammed, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday. Mohammed said the agreement was signed at the Super Dome in Jeddah by NAHCON Chairman, Amb. Ismail Yusuf, and Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Abdulfattah bin…
Media practitioners across West Africa have been urged to strengthen professional relationships to improve collaboration, enhance communication, combat disinformation and support regional development. Ms Maria Sanchez, Coordinator, Foundation for the Internationalisation of Public Administrations (FIAP), made the call on Tuesday in Lagos at a capacity-building workshop for journalists on countering misinformation, disinformation and malinformation. The workshop was organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in collaboration with FIAP, a Spanish public-sector organisation that supports improved public systems and democratic governance globally. Sanchez stressed the importance of grassroots engagement, describing the media and civil society organisations as critical…
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged journalists across the region to intensify efforts to counter electoral disinformation and promote credible information through responsible reporting. The ECOWAS Director of Communication, Mr Joel Ahofodji, made the call on Tuesday at a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists in Lagos. Represented by Mr Francis Chukwu-Emeka of the Communication Directorate, Ahofodji said credible information was critical to strengthening democracy, public trust, peace and security in West Africa. He said misinformation, disinformation and manipulated digital content were increasingly threatening democratic institutions and public confidence, particularly during elections. According to him, the emergence…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says Nigeria has recorded no new Ebola cases, 21 days after confirming an imported case of the Bundibugyo virus from Uganda. The NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, disclosed this in a national health security update issued on Tuesday. Idris said the agency had identified 62 contacts. Of these, 34 had completed their 21-day monitoring period, while 28 remained under surveillance. He explained that being identified as a contact did not mean a person had Ebola. Monitoring, he said, supported the early detection of symptoms and a prompt response. “The NCDC is sustaining…
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned patent medicine dealers in Ebonyi against selling or distributing fake, substandard and unregistered medicines. The agency urged dealers to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to prevent dangerous medicines from reaching consumers. The agency’s State Coordinator, Emeka Orajaka, gave the warning in Abakaliki on Tuesday at an awareness and sensitisation meeting with members of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPMED) in the state. Orajaka said the meeting aimed to educate dealers on how to identify, prevent and report the circulation of falsified and…