El Niño Drought Devastates Southern Africa

The United Nations’ food agency says months of drought in southern Africa – triggered by the El Niño weather phenomenon – have had a devastating impact on more than 27 million people and caused the region’s worst hunger crisis. The World Food Program spokesperson, Tomson Phiri, said yesterday that this is the worst food crisis […]
World Bank Lowers its Economic Growth Forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa

The World Bank has lowered its economic growth forecast for sub-Saharan Africa this year to 3% from 3.4%, due to the destruction of Sudan’s economy in a civil war. In its latest regional economic outlook report, the bank however said growth is expected to remain comfortably above last year’s 2.4% thanks to higher private consumption […]
Customs Extends Verification Exercise for Private Aircraft

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has extended its verification exercise for the recovery of import duties on illegally imported private aircraft by one month, effective from 14 October to 14 November. Its spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, who announced this extension in a statement yesterday explained that this extension provides an additional window for operators of privately […]
New Basic School Curriculum to Begin Nationwide in January

The new curriculum for basic schools will take effect nationwide from January 2025. Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who announced this yesterday during a meeting with stakeholders, explained that under the new curriculum, pupils in basic schools will be required to acquire at least two skills, while plans are ongoing to ensure the teachers […]
FG Denies Responsibility for Petrol Price Hike

Federal Government says it is not responsible for the recent hike in the pump price of petrol, as it can no longer fix prices of petroleum products. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had raised the pump price of petrol to over N1,000 across regions in the country, except for Lagos which is N998. Reacting […]
NLC demands immediate reversal of New Fuel Pump Price

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the latest hike in the pump price of petrol, calling for its immediate reversal. In a statement late yesterday, its President, Joe Ajaero, criticised the federal government’s decision to raise fuel prices yet again without providing adequate relief measures for struggling Nigerians. The NLC also picked holes in […]
FG considers Zero VAT for Pharmaceutical Products

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has finalised the Executive Order Harmonised Implementation Framework that abolishes Value Added Tax (VAT), and Excise Duties on pharmaceutical products and medical devices. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, told journalists in Abuja yesterday that the development, which has been cleared for gazetting, was […]
FG Issues Fresh Flooding Warning To Nigerians

Federal Government has issued a fresh flooding warning to Nigerians; this time from the Jebba Dam. A statement by the Director General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, raised alarm that Jebba Dam is currently spilling excess water, although the agency is working closely with the operators of Kainji and Jebba Dams on the […]
Rwanda Begins Marburg Vaccinations

Rwanda has begun administering vaccine doses against the Marburg virus to try to combat an outbreak of the Ebola-like disease in the east African country, where it has so far killed 12 people. Its Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana said at a news conference yesterday in the capital Kigali that the vaccinations would focus on those […]
Osun, Kwara Declare Today Work-free for World Teachers’ Day

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and his Kwara State counterpart, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, have declared Monday a work-free day for teachers in both public and private schools across the states in commemoration of this year’s World Teachers’ Day. In a statement by the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, Governor Adeleke […]