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…
Author: Newsdesk
Procurement experts have identified poor data visibility and outdated procurement systems as major barriers limiting Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption across many African organisations.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…
The Nigerian foreign exchange market is witnessing relative stability, supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and cautious monetary policy, with the naira strengthening to N1,375 per dollar. Recent trading showed the local currency holding firm within a narrow range against the US dollar, reflecting reduced volatility and improved market confidence. Market analysts note that the naira continues to face resistance around the N1,350/$ level, a key psychological and technical threshold. However, sustained foreign exchange interventions and commercial bank dollar sales have helped contain speculative pressures. A major factor supporting the naira is the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to maintain…
Dr Nicholas Baamlong, Plateau State Commissioner for Health, has described dementia as a disease, not a curse, and urged greater public awareness, early diagnosis, and improved care for affected persons. Baamlong made the statement on Tuesday in Jos while briefing journalists to commemorate the 2026 Dementia Africa Week. He described dementia as a condition that affects the brain and gradually damages a person’s memory, thinking, behaviour, communication, and ability to perform everyday activities. “A person living with dementia may begin to forget familiar faces, get confused easily, struggle to recognise places, repeat questions, lose direction, or experience major changes in…
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has paid a get-well visit to two officers of the agency who are currently receiving treatment at the National Hospital in Abuja. This is contained in a statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday in Abuja. The officers, Ayegh Zachariah and Shehu Ibrahim, sustained severe injuries after they were attacked by a violent mob. The incident occurred during a raid on a notorious drug joint in the Dawaki area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Friday. During…
African countries have called for stronger unity, trade integration, cultural diplomacy, solidarity, and inclusive development across the continent amid current security and economic challenges. The continent’s leaders and envoys made the appeal during the 2026 Africa Day celebration on Monday night in Abuja, themed “Advancing Africa’s Integration: The Role of Trade and Cultural Diplomacy”. Ashenews reports that Africa Day is observed annually on May 25 to honour the continent’s liberation from colonial rule and promote African unity, cultural diversity, and future progress. The envoys stressed the need for stronger cooperation among Africa’s 55 countries to advance peaceful coexistence, economic integration,…
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are partnering to strengthen maternal health and drive economic growth across Africa. The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on the sidelines of the AfDB Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, on Tuesday. The agreement seeks to position maternal health and demographic resilience as key pillars of Africa’s economic transformation. AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah said both organisations would explore innovative financing and implementation mechanisms to support investments in women and young people. He said the areas of focus include digital training for…