The Nigerian naira extended its downward trend on Tuesday, closing at N1,383 to the US dollar amid renewed pressure in the foreign exchange (FX) market and a continued decline in the country’s external reserves. Data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed the local currency weakened from N1,369/$ recorded on Monday, underscoring sustained depreciation in recent trading sessions. Intraday trading saw the naira fluctuate between N1,367.5/$ and N1,385/$, with a simple average rate of N1,380.19/$. Tuesday’s closing rate marks the weakest level since April 7, 2026, when the currency traded at N1,389/$. On a week-on-week basis, the naira…
Author: Newsdesk
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has assured stakeholders of seamless operations with no disruption during the rehabilitation of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos. Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, General Manager of the NPA’s Corporate Communication and Strategy Unit, gave the assurance during an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Lagos. The Federal Government announced that the Lagos ports rehabilitation will begin in Q2 2026, with completion expected within 48 months. In March, Nigeria and the UK sealed a £746 million export finance deal to support the redevelopment of the two major ports. Under the agreement, UK Export Finance (UKEF)…
The National Association of Retirees of State Governments has threatened a nationwide protest unless governors urgently review pension payments in line with existing labour laws. Mr. Simon Anchaver, President of the union, made the call in Yenagoa during the inauguration of the Bayelsa interim executive of the newly registered union. The union demanded that all 36 governors prioritise pension payments. It also called on President Bola Tinubu to establish a Ministry for Pension Affairs to guarantee annual budgetary allocations for pensioners’ welfare. The union criticised the arbitrary payment of pensions by some governors but commended Nasarawa State Governor for releasing…
The Enugu State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting malaria through strategic interventions, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said. Ugwu spoke on Tuesday in Enugu while briefing reporters as part of activities marking World Malaria Day (WMD), organised by the state Health Ministry and its partners. He noted that the state government has introduced free diagnostics, treatment, preventive tools, and expanded community-based programmes to tackle malaria. “This year’s theme, ‘Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must,’ captures the moment perfectly. For the first time in history, the tools, science, and strategies to eliminate malaria…
Dr. Farida Abdulmalik, Programme Director of Support for Women and Teenage Children (SWATCH), an NGO, has identified stigma, denial, and economic hardship as major drivers of new HIV/AIDS cases in Kano State. Abdulmalik spoke with reporters on Tuesday in Kano. “Stigma remains a major barrier to testing and treatment. Some patients fear their families or communities will find out, while others stigmatise themselves and withdraw from society,” she warned. She added that denial of HIV status contributes to complications and preventable deaths. “Denial is a serious issue. We have seen cases where pregnant women refused to accept their status, leading…
Many commuters in the Mararaba-Nyanya-Kurudu axis of the Federal Capital Territory were stranded on Tuesday as commercial tricycle operators stayed off the roads in protest. The operators were reportedly protesting alleged extortion by some union officials in the area. The FCT Chairman of Keke Operatives Positive Initiative (KOPI), Mr. Suleiman Babaji, told reporters that his members woke up on Saturday to a sudden hike in the daily ticket fee at Mararaba Park. “We woke up on Saturday to the sudden increase in ticket fees at Mararaba Park. The rise from N100 to N200 prompted an emergency meeting of unions, after…
The Zamfara Government on Tuesday approved N3.8 billion for the immediate rehabilitation of the first phase of the Gusau Water Supply Scheme. According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mahmud Dantawasa, the approval was granted during the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Gov. Dauda Lawal. Dantawasa explained that the decision followed a memorandum from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure requesting urgent intervention in Gusau’s deteriorating water supply system. “This forms part of the administration’s sustained efforts to address water scarcity and improve access to clean and safe water in the state capital,” he said.…
On Tuesday, April 28, China officially handed over the China-Aid Project of the ECOWAS Headquarters to the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria. Located on Airport Road, about 15 kilometres from the city centre, the complex spans 70,186 square metres, with a total floor area of 36,606 square metres. It comprises an office building, a conference centre, and supporting facilities including internal roads, utility networks, public plazas, parking areas, and a helipad—forming a modern complex that integrates administrative, conference, and service functions. The China-Aid Project, a flagship initiative under China–ECOWAS cooperation, was funded and implemented by the Chinese government. ECOWAS first…
Dr. Prince Mbachi, President of Africa Global Development for Positive Change Initiative (ADIafrica), has called on the African Union (AU) to abolish visa requirements across African countries to promote integration and development. Mbachi made the call during a scholarship presentation to 13 indigent university students from Egbeke Community in Etche LGA of Rivers State on Tuesday. Nine others received skill acquisition grants, while over 150 people benefited from free eye check-ups, with glasses provided to those in need. He expressed concern over the stringent visa processing requirements for intra-African travel, noting that easing movement across the continent would enhance trade,…
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has described China as West Africa’s most strategic partner, noting that China’s multifaceted engagement with the sub-region will continue to deepen. Touray made the remarks during the handover ceremony of the new multimillion-dollar ECOWAS headquarters complex, funded and built for the commission by China. He recalled China’s previous partnerships with ECOWAS, including providing strategic military equipment and vehicles to support the deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force. “This is not the first time China has partnered with ECOWAS to strengthen regional integration,” Touray said. “In the recent past, the Government of the…