The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) have partnered to boost private-sector investment. The two organisations are also collaborating to expand commercial opportunities for Nigerian startups and enterprises. This is contained in a joint statement issued on Monday in Abuja. The statement was signed by NITDA Director of Corporate Communications, Hadiza Umar, and Dr Segun Olugbile, NACCIMA Digital Economy Coordinator and Chairman of the Digital Economy Trade Group. According to the statement, the partnership aims to connect technology startups with corporate investors, business buyers and financing opportunities…
Author: Newsdesk
Some farmers in Bauchi have expressed dismay over poor harvests and low yields caused by a rice blast outbreak during the current cropping season. The farmers said the situation had exposed them to losses and made rice farming less attractive. A cross-section of the farmers disclosed this in interviews with reporters on Monday in Bauchi. Mr Kabiru Abdullahi, a rice farmer, said the outbreak ravaged his farm, resulting in low yields at harvest. He said the disease affected the rice plants following inadequate rainfall. Abdullahi identified low and irregular rainfall as a major obstacle to rice cultivation in the area.…
A legal practitioner, Mrs Adaku Mbama, says structural, procedural and enforcement challenges hinder the prosecution and conviction of perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria. Mbama, the pioneer chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Badagry Branch, said Nigeria had a relatively strong legal framework against GBV, but its implementation remained uneven. She identified the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, as a comprehensive law criminalising rape, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, stalking and economic abuse. According to her, the Act requires domestication by states, while differences in implementation, funding and institutional capacity limit its effectiveness. She said…
Kenyan authorities have detected an eighth case of Ebola in the country, a health ministry official said. The latest case involves a 49-year-old man who had symptoms including fever, high temperature, headaches and muscle pain, health ministry director Patrick Amoth said in an interview with Citizen TV late Sunday. “Today we tested 38 persons; one turned positive,” he said, adding that the man had been in quarantine since October 9. The man was a support staff member at a health facility, handling tasks such as laundry, Amoth said. He was likely exposed to the virus in the room of the…
Plateau State is grappling with an estimated 11,000 cases of tuberculosis (TB), amid concerns over shortages of essential drugs, insecurity and overcrowding in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, which health officials say are complicating efforts to contain the disease. The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the state’s Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Yohanna Bot, disclosed that 2,047 patients were identified and placed on treatment between July and September 2026, warning that the disease remained a major public health challenge. Bot spoke in Jos at the first biannual media advocacy meeting on the Global Fund AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (ATM) Integrated…
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast dust haze and thunderstorms across the country from Monday to Wednesday. In its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet predicted slight dust haze over most northern areas, with moderate haze over parts of Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi and Kaduna states. It forecast isolated thunderstorms accompanied by light rains over parts of Taraba State on Monday afternoon or evening. For the North-Central region, the agency predicted sunny skies with patches of clouds on Monday morning. Later in the afternoon or evening, isolated thunderstorms accompanied by light rains are expected over parts of Kogi,…
Member representing Wase Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, has mobilised traditional rulers, political leaders, security agencies and community stakeholders to strengthen the fight against banditry and other criminal activities in Bashar Chiefdom, Plateau State. The stakeholders met on Saturday at the palace of the Rekna of Bashar, Abdullahi Idris, to develop a coordinated response to insecurity, particularly in border communities and mining areas reportedly exploited by criminal elements. Wase said tackling insecurity required more than military operations, stressing the need for grassroots intelligence gathering, effective communication between communities and security agencies, and unity among local…
Traders and consumers in Lagos have expressed concern over financial losses caused by spoilt fruits and vegetables, blaming heat, poor transportation and inadequate storage. They spoke in separate interviews with reporters at Iddo Terminus, Mile 12, Balogun and Agboju markets. A visit to the markets showed traders displaying fresh produce, including carrots, cucumbers, watermelons, cabbage, bananas and leafy vegetables, while some kept their goods under tables to shield them from sunlight. Mr Taiwo Abdulhamid, a trader at Iddo Terminus Market, said he sometimes lost two to three kilogrammes of carrots for every 10 kilogrammes purchased. Abdulhamid said the losses could…
The Assembly of Health Care Professionals of Katsina State has suspended its seven-day warning strike following fresh commitments by Gov. Dikko Radda to address its demands. The Chairman of the assembly, Mr Ibrahim-Balange, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Katsina on Sunday. The suspension, which took effect at midnight on Oct. 18, followed a meeting between the association and Gov. Radda on Oct. 16. Ibrahim-Balange said the decision followed the state government’s commitment to reopen negotiations with the association and comprehensively review the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and professional allowances. He said the government also agreed to…
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it is prioritising simple, efficient and adaptable technologies to improve airport operations and passenger experience while catering to the country’s diverse population. FAAN’s Managing Director, Mrs Olubunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, said this in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday. The statement quoted Onabanjo-Kuku as making the remarks during a panel session at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, themed “Defining the Airport of the Future: Technology, Partnerships and People.” She said Nigeria’s more than 250 languages and diverse demographics made it necessary to adopt airport technologies that catered to different categories of passengers…