The Chief Innovation and Commercialisation Officer of Matna Foods Ltd., Dr. Tony Bello, has urged stakeholders to prioritise value addition to unlock the full industrial and economic potential of Nigeria’s cassava sector. Bello made the call in a statement on Saturday to commemorate the 2026 World Cassava Day. He noted that although Nigeria remains the world’s largest cassava producer, with annual output exceeding 60 million metric tonnes, the achievement is yet to translate into broad-based economic prosperity. “The future of cassava is not simply more production. The future of cassava is what it is becoming,” he said. According to Bello,…
Author: Newsdesk
A technology expert, Jessica Eni, has said that a community-centred approach, inclusive connectivity models, and workable policies are key to accelerating Nigeria’s slow 5G adoption rate. Eni, Legal and Policy Programmes Officer at Techsocietal, a tech-focused NGO, told reporters on Saturday that non-affordability and lack of infrastructure are the major reasons for the slow adoption of 5G. She noted that many Nigerians cannot afford 5G-enabled devices due to their high cost and expensive data requirements. Eni said: “There’s a huge gap between rural and urban areas in terms of internet accessibility. There are some rural areas where internet is not…
The Niger State Government has inaugurated a 28-member State Health Advisory Committee to build a more responsive, resilient, and sustainable health system. The committee was inaugurated on Saturday in Minna by Governor Umaru Bago, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Yakubu Garba. It comprises 21 health professionals and seven ex-officio members. The committee’s terms of reference include serving as a standing multi-stakeholder platform to provide independent, evidence-driven advice to the State Ministry of Health. It will also review action plans and implementation strategies, and recommend practical options to improve collaboration among researchers, policymakers, programme managers, and beneficiaries. Other mandates…
The Oboli Foundation for Health and Inclusion (TOFHI) has urged the Federal Government to strengthen Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) for the early detection of diseases such as diabetes. The foundation made the call on Saturday during its free diabetes screening and medical outreach for over 300 residents of Chibiri Community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. Dr. Sharon Olori, Founder of TOFHI, said strengthening PHCs would improve access to quality healthcare in rural communities. Olori explained that the intervention was informed by findings from a preliminary assessment of the community’s health needs. She noted that many residents…
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability and employee wellbeing by mobilising staff across its operations in 20 African countries for a continent-wide environmental clean-up exercise. The bank made this known in a statement on Saturday in Lagos. It said the exercise formed part of its quarterly “Jogging to Bond” wellness programme themed “The Power Within U”. The clean-up coincided with the 60th birthday of the bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, who joined employees to mark the occasion. The exercise was conducted simultaneously in cities including Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, and…
An electrical safety educator, Mr. Patrick Okoye, has advised Nigerians to avoid charging their mobile phones while sleeping, saying the practice increases the risk of fire outbreaks. Okoye gave the advice during an electrical safety awareness programme on Saturday in Awka. He explained that placing phones on mattresses, pillows, or under blankets while charging traps heat, causing devices to overheat and raising the likelihood of fire incidents. According to him, the risk is higher during the rainy season due to frequent thunderstorms, lightning, and unstable power supply, which often trigger electrical surges. “Many people do not realise that charging a…
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has pledged to actively support community policing initiatives in Abuja through the media. Ms. Grace Ike, the council’s chairman, made the pledge in Abuja during an operational tour of the FCT Command by Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Training and Development), Isyaku Mohammed. Ike assured that the media would continue to partner with the police to disseminate verified information, sensitise the public on safety measures, and highlight successful operations aimed at restoring public confidence. “We stand ready to support community policing initiatives that bring police and citizens together. Responsible and factual reporting helps…
The Jigawa State Government has initiated an agricultural intervention scheme to support 90,000 smallholder farmers in the state. Gov. Umar Namadi announced this at the inauguration of the 2026 Wet Season Agricultural Support Programme on Saturday in Dutse. He said the government would distribute fertilisers, other inputs, and 6,000 solar-powered water pumps to farmers, as well as 1,185 motorcycles to extension workers. Namadi stated that the state government would directly support 50,000 farmers, while 40,000 others would benefit through a partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and StarAgri. He noted that the intervention would promote irrigation, reduce production costs,…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)/Transparency International (TI) Nigeria has raised concerns over critical gaps in the recently passed constitutional amendment bill on State Policing. The organisation warned that without stronger safeguards, sustainable funding, and effective accountability mechanisms, the reform could open new avenues for political abuse, weaken public trust, and deepen inequalities in security provision across Nigeria. In a statement signed by its Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC/TI Nigeria noted that while decentralised policing could improve intelligence gathering, community trust, and local security responses, establishing State Police alone would not resolve…
Nigeria’s fiscal distribution remained heavily concentrated among a handful of states in the first quarter of 2026, with Lagos state emerging as the highest recipient of allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). Data compiled from official records showed that the 10 highest-earning states accounted for 40.1 per cent of the total net FAAC allocations distributed to the 36 states during the January to March period, underlining the persistent disparity in revenue receipts across the federation. Lagos led the pack with a cumulative net allocation of about N200.21 billion during the quarter, driven largely by its sizeable share of…