A 500-level Law student of the University of Abuja, Amra Salihu, has emerged winner of the 2026 Amnesty International Intervarsity Debate. The University of Abuja clinched first position with 86.1 points, defeating Imo State University, which came second with 73.7 points. Madonna University secured third place with 72 points. The Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Dr. Isa Sanusi, announced the winners at the grand finale of the debate, themed “Speak. Act. Defend Rights,” on Monday in Abuja. Sanusi said the organisation remains committed to expanding the annual debate competition across Nigeria to enhance young people’s participation in human rights…
Author: Newsdesk
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday held a stakeholders’ engagement and community outreach in Katsina as part of the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on floods and related hazards. The exercise aimed to strengthen disaster risk governance and build resilience against flood-related disasters ahead of the 2026 rainy season. Participants included officials from the Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), various ministries, departments and agencies, security agencies, humanitarian organisations, traditional institutions, women and youth groups, community representatives, and the media. Speaking at the event, NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar said the campaign was designed to promote early and…
Some environmental experts in the Niger Delta have called for urgent interventions to tackle persistent environmental pollution in the region. The experts spoke at the opening of the 2026 Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Port Harcourt. They noted that the persistent pollution had led to increased crises and destruction of means of livelihood. The 2026 Correspondents’ Chapel Press Week has the theme: “The Imperatives of Comprehensive Clean-Up of the Niger Delta Environment: Role of the Media.” Speaking at the event, the Traditional Ruler of Upata Kingdom, Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, called for a review…
The United Nations has called on the international community to urgently scale up support for both the Ebola response and the broader humanitarian efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric made the call on Monday in New York while giving an update on the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda. According to Dujarric, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. He added that the declaration highlights the high risk of further spread and the likelihood that the outbreak…
The Foundation for Human Capacity Development and Innovation on Monday organised the second edition of its annual inter-school spelling bee competition for primary school pupils in Suleja, Niger State. The event, sponsored by Rear Adm. Hamza Ibrahim, was held at the foundation’s premises and began with the national anthem. It was followed by remarks from one of the organisers, Fatima Adamu. Adamu described the foundation as a non-governmental organisation focused on education, innovation, and skills development for community empowerment. She said the spelling bee was designed to promote quality education and build confidence among young learners. According to her, the…
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed a rice mill in Kano State over environmental violations. The agency said the action followed repeated complaints from residents about the factory’s operations. The enforcement team, led by NESREA Zonal Director Abdulraheem Mudashir, carried out the exercise on Monday in Kano. Mudashir said the facility violated the National Environmental Regulations on Food, Beverages and Tobacco Sector, 2009, particularly provisions relating to permit conditions. He said the infractions included dust emissions and offensive odour affecting nearby communities. According to him, three compliance and abatement notices had previously been served on…
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said the government is ready to listen to the demands of the abductors of pupils, students and teachers kidnapped during attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area in order to secure their safe release. Makinde stated this on Monday while addressing journalists at his private residence in Kolapo Ishola Estate, Ibadan, following the kidnapping incident at Ahoro Esinele Community in Oriire Local Government Area. He, however, said the state would never surrender to terrorism, assuring that all efforts were being intensified to ensure the victims returned home unharmed. “We have now conclusively…
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, says Nigeria is expanding its port capacity and implementing major maritime reforms to position the country as a leading trade and logistics hub in West and Central Africa. Oyetola made the disclosure while declaring open the Mid-Year Session of the Board of Directors of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) on Monday in Lagos. The meeting, which has the theme “Ports of the Future: Combining Logistical Resilience with Inclusive Community Development”, was well attended by regional maritime stakeholders. The minister said the Federal Government had approved the…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that 63.3 per cent of Nigerians favour a reduction in interest rates ahead of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting scheduled for May 19–20, 2026. According to the CBN’s April 2026 Inflation Expectations Survey Report, released by its Statistics Department under the Economic Policy Directorate, 26.0 per cent of respondents preferred that rates remain unchanged, while 10.7 per cent supported a further increase. The survey showed a strong public preference for lower borrowing costs despite persistent inflationary pressures across the economy. ALSO READ CPPE warns CBN against further rate hikes ahead of…
Protests over fuel price hikes erupted across several towns in Kenya on Monday, while a nationwide public transport strike stranded commuters and forced many residents to walk to work. The Transport Sector Alliance had announced on Sunday that vehicles affiliated with its member associations would stop operations from midnight in protest against the latest increase in fuel prices. Police had earlier vowed to prevent disruptions. Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority raised retail fuel prices by as much as 23.5 per cent after a previous 24.2 per cent increase in April, citing pressure on global oil and gas supplies linked…