The central and West African Virus Epidemiology for Root and Tuber Crops (WAVE) has launched a sensitisation campaign for cassava farmers in Kebbi State to curb the spread of a new cassava mosaic virus across Africa. The programme was held on Tuesday at Tungar Noma community in Argungu Local Government Area. The aim is to educate farmers on how the virus affects cassava plantations and threatens food security. Addressing the farmers, the Country Director of WAVE, Prof. Ibrahim Umar, said the organisation, in collaboration with Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero, had established six demonstration plots across the…
Author: Newsdesk
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State on Tuesday officially commissioned the first phase of the Aba Ring Road project, designed to ease vehicular movement and decongest traffic in the commercial city. Speaking at the ceremony in Aba, Otti said the project is part of his administration’s efforts to improve road infrastructure and enhance connectivity across the state. The first phase of the road stretches 4.9 kilometres. The governor said the project would be managed by the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA). According to him, when completed, the ring road will allow commuters and motorists travelling to neighbouring states such as…
The People, Planet and Peace Foundation, a Nigerian non-governmental organisation (NGO), says it will collaborate with the Rotary Club Lomé Zenith to plant trees and mitigate the impact of climate change in Togo. Mr. Olatunji Francisco, Lead of the Climate Beyond Borders Caravan (CBBC), an initiative of the Foundation, made this known on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of a three-day CBBC event in Lomé. Francisco said the two organisations had resolved to embark on a tree-planting project to prevent soil erosion, support biodiversity, and provide communities with sustainable resources, timber, and long-term economic stability. He noted that Togo is…
The Aliko Dangote Foundation, in partnership with the Niger State Government, on Tuesday distributed 25,000 bags of 10kg rice to vulnerable households across the 25 local government areas of the state. The distribution exercise was inaugurated by the wife of the governor, Fatima Bago, at the Government House in Minna. Bago described the intervention as timely, saying it demonstrated the impact of collaboration between philanthropic organisations and the government in supporting vulnerable persons. She said the donation would provide relief to many households and make the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration memorable for beneficiaries. The governor’s wife commended the Foundation for the…
Dr. Yusuf Ahmadi, a radiologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, has called for urgent measures to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system to better handle emergencies, citing staff shortages, insecurity, inadequate equipment, and pressure on personnel. He told reporters on Tuesday that hospitals need better preparation and standardised facilities to respond effectively to emergencies and deliver quality healthcare nationwide. According to him, many hospitals are constrained by poor funding, rising insecurity, and insufficient manpower, all of which continue to weaken healthcare delivery across the country. “The workload is too much, and many hospitals lack the basic equipment needed for daily operations…
The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) has extended Eid-el-Kabir greetings to waterways users, operators, and stakeholders across the state. This was contained in a statement on Tuesday by Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, Special Adviser on Blue Economy to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Emmanuel urged commuters and boat operators to prioritise safety while travelling on inland waterways during the festive period and the ongoing rainy season. “As Muslims commemorate this season of sacrifice, love and devotion, LASWA urges all commuters and operators to prioritise safety on the waterways,” he said. He advised passengers to avoid night travel due to reduced visibility and weather-related…
Procurement experts have identified poor data visibility and outdated procurement systems as major barriers limiting Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption across many African organisations. The experts spoke on Tuesday during the Digital Procurement Africa Summit held in Lagos and powered by Gloopro. The summit, themed ‘Accelerating Procurement Transformation for Large Enterprises in the Digital Era’, attracted procurement professionals, supply chain managers, and business leaders. Olumide Olusanya, Chief Executive Officer of Gloopro, said many African organisations still struggle with procurement digitisation despite growing global interest in AI-driven procurement systems. According to him, procurement transformation depends heavily on organisations building structured, accessible, and…
Stakeholders on children’s rights have called on the Senate to urgently fast-track the passage of the Child Online Protection Bill (HB244), warning that Nigerian children are increasingly exposed to harmful online content. The call was made on Tuesday in Abuja during a press briefing organised by Gatefield, a public strategy and media group, and the Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre as part of Children’s Day commemoration. According to data cited by the Nigerian Communications Commission, nine in 10 Nigerian children have experienced at least one form of online risk, while more than half have been directly exposed to cyberbullying, grooming,…
The Acting Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Umar Girei, has warned boat operators across the country to strictly adhere to waterways safety regulations during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. Girei gave the warning in an interview with newsmen at the NIWA headquarters on Tuesday in Lokoja. He noted that festive periods usually witness increased movement on inland waterways, especially in riverine communities, making strict compliance with safety measures imperative. Girei outlined key safety directives for operators and passengers, including a ban on overloading, compulsory use of life jackets, prohibition of night travel, avoidance of alcohol consumption while…
Some food traders and consumers in Lagos State have lamented poor patronage ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The traders and consumers made this known in separate interviews with reporters on Tuesday in Lagos. They attributed the situation to high food prices and inadequate funds. A foodstuff trader in the Cele area of the state, Mrs. Patience Akpan, described this year’s patronage as unusually low compared to previous Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. “The patronage this Eid-el-Kabir is a far cry from what we experienced last year. “It feels as if many people are more interested in observing the public holidays than celebrating. “I…