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By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the coconut industry to create employment and expand opportunities across the value chain.The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, made this known at the launch of the 2025 coconut planting season held in Abuja.The theme for the season is “Coconut Revolution in Nigeria: Globally Competitive Advantage for the Actualisation of Coconut Sufficiency in Nigeria (COSIN).”According to Ogunbiyi, the event marked a significant milestone in the nation’s collective efforts to promote agricultural development, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister was represented by Mr Abdulrahman Balarabe, ...

By Victor Okoye The Organisers of the World Soccer Legends (War Against Cancer) International Charity Football Match are set to partner the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in fighting cancer in the country. Jacob Onu, the National Coordinator of the charity match, made the remarks during a courtesy call on NAN’s Editor-in-Chief, Mufutau Ojo, by members of the Main Organising Committee (MOC). NAN reports that the charity football match has been scheduled to be held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Oct. 4. The Charity football match is in collaboration with the Federal Miistry of Health, National Institute for Cancer Rescarech and Treatnent (NICRAD), National Sports Comission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Onu told the EIC that the goal of the ...

By Constance Athekame The Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (CIPEN) says it is working assiduously with stakeholders in the power industry to eradicate energy poverty from the country. Mr Israel Abraham, President and Chairman in Council, CIPEN said this in Abuja on Thursday while briefing newsmen to commemorate the institute’s 2nd Anniversary. Abraham said that as a regulator and a professional, the institute would not relent until energy sufficiency is achieved. ``I urge all major stakeholders in the power sector to partner with CIPEN in transforming the power engineering landscape by instilling a sense of sanctity, foster professionalism, eradicate mediocrity in Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). ``This is necessary for driving sectorial perform...

By Lucy Ogalue The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, says Nigeria’s sugar industry must meet its domestic production target in line with the objectives of the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP). Enoh made this known during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday in Abuja. The National Sugar Master Plan, introduced in 2012 and currently in its second phase, aims at achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production, creating jobs, and conserving foreign exchange Enoh reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the full implementation of the master plan as the guiding framework for the sugar industry’s operations. He said the core goals of the NSMP remained the significant ramp-up of local raw sugar production and a corresponding reduction in the countr...

By Joan Nwagwu The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) says the President Bola Tinubu’s reforms in the economic sector align with the desires of the Organised Private Sector(OPS). Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, the Director General of NECA said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at the 2025 edition of the Employers Summit, organised by NECA The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the summit is themed, “Enabling Sustainable Enterprise in a Transiting Economic: Aligning Fiscal,Trade and Regulatory Reforms for Rapid National Development. ” Oyerinde said the reforms being undertaking by the federal government are in alignment with the desires of employers. He said the summit was apt in bringing the critical stakeholders together to deliberate and agreed on the execution of ...

Marian Okpe-' AbunaHon. (Elder) Leke Abejide Chairman House of Reps Committee on Customs Having presented the 2025 budget of Nigeria Customs and Excise, the House of Representatives Committee on Customs directed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to stop the collection of the 7 per cent Cost of Collection (CoC) from July 1, 2025, in line with the provisions of its 2023 Act. The committee instructed the agency to instead commence the collection of 4 per cent Free on Board (FoB) charges on imports. The resolution was arrived at during the 2025 budget defense session held within the confines of the Nigeria National Assembly Abuja. The Nigeria Customs team led by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Bello Jibo, represented Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi, who is currently ...

Serious drama occurred at the senate public accounts committee penultimate Wednesday as it has launched an investigation into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited over discrepancies totalling N210 trillion in the company’s audited financial statements.In the course of its last session, Aliyu Wadada, chairman of the senate committee on public accounts, submitted that external auditors were invited to assist in the probe.“We and NNPC and external auditors are here because of discrepancies that we have discovered from their audited financial statements, which is in the public domain already,” Wadada said.“So any document that contradicts what is contained in their audited financial statement is in abhorrence here. We have no question.“I mean, as far as we are concerned, it’...

By Marian Okpe- Abuja At the 2025 Budget Defense, the Senate has increased the 2025 revenue target for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) from the proposed N6.584 trillion to N10 trillion, following a strong showing by the agency in its 2024 revenue performance.This unanimous decision was arrived at during the Nigeria Custom’s 2025 budget defense before the Senate Committee on Customs, chaired by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), who commended the Service for exceeding its 2024 revenue target of N5.079 trillion by over a trillion naira.The Committee was impressed by the achievement, the committee in unity, approved the 2025 revenue target and expenditure proposal presented by the NCS. The agency’s 2025 expenditure was put at N1.132 trillion. These figures will be presented at the Se...

By Marian Okpe- Abuja At the 2025 Budget Defense, the Senate has increased the 2025 revenue target for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) from the proposed N6.584 trillion to N10 trillion, following a strong showing by the agency in its 2024 revenue performance.This unanimous decision was arrived at during the Nigeria Custom’s 2025 budget defense before the Senate Committee on Customs, chaired by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), who commended the Service for exceeding its 2024 revenue target of N5.079 trillion by over a trillion naira.The Committee was impressed by the achievement, the committee in unity, approved the 2025 revenue target and expenditure proposal presented by the NCS. The agency’s 2025 expenditure was put at N1.132 trillion. These figures will be presented at the Se...

By Constance Athekame Abuja, June 24, 202The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has announced a collaboration with the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI) to train 4,000 Nigerian youths in electricity meter installation. The Director-General of NAPTIN, Mr Ahmed Nagode, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a one-day Stakeholders Engagement Workshop. The workshop, themed “Building Bridges: Research, Internship and Innovation for a Sustainable Nigerian Power Sector,” was organised by NAPTIN in collaboration with 5 Creators Ltd. Nagode explained that the initiative aimed to equip young Nigerians with practical skills to install electricity meters across the country. “The training programme is a pathway to employment and financial independence, contrib...

By Lucy Ogalue The Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN), says it will develop a homegrown project management framework, to address Nigeria’s long-standing project execution challenges in both the public and private sectors. The Registrar-General of CIPMN, Mr Henry Mbadiwe, said this at the Institute’s 2025 Mid-Year Training Programme and Induction Ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the framework is called Delivering Unified Controlled Agile Project (DUCAP). The three-day event is with the theme “Project Management Practices – A Guarantee of Sustained Growth in This Digital Age”. Mbadiwe said that it was a hybrid model that integrated international standards like PRINCE2 and the Association for Project Management...

By NAN The International College of Surgeons (ICS), in collaboration with its Nigeria Section, on Monday commenced a two-day free surgical outreach for indigent and vulnerable Nigerians in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach is part of activities marking the 58th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference (AGM-SC) taking place from June 23 to 27. The conference is themed “Surgical Safety in a Developing Economy: The Role of Technology and Healthcare Innovations”, with sub-themes focusing on healthcare financing models, public-private partnerships, and strategic tools for optimising surgical safety. Dr Charles Ugwuanyi, Chief Consultant Neurosurgeon and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, said the pre-conference surgical workshop was ...

By NAN Global Initiative for Leadership Success (GILS), the convener of the annual President Umar Musa Yar’Adua International Leadership summit says all is set for the 2nd edition of the programme. A statement made available to newsmen by the President/CEO of the initiative, Chief Sunnie Chukumele, in Abuja on Sunday, stated that the 2nd edition will be holding on Saturday June, 28 in Abuja. He said that the theme for the programme is “Electoral Management institution: “Midwife of True Democracy, Development and Prosperity”. According to him, this year’s conference is conceptualised on the premise of deepening the discourse on the electoral institution in Nigeria, Africa and indeed the developing nations of the world. Chukumele said that the conference would seek to link th...

"… calls on citizens to give the President a rousing welcome, support Gov. Sule for a hitch free State visit…" Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau PhD has hailed Governor Abdullahi Sule for embarking on life touching projects in the State that will stand the test of time. The Speaker, Dr. Danladi Jatau gave the commendation while speaking to newsmen in Lafia the State capital ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's visit to the State. The President is set to visit Nasarawa State tomorrow Wednesday 25th June, 2025 to commission some lagecy projects by the administration of Gov. Abdullahi Sule in Lafia the State capital. Speaking on the President's visit, Speaker Jatau said the development was heartwarming for the people of the State considering the l...

By Victor Okoye Some students of ITree Group of Schools on Monday embarked on a trip to the National Library in Ilorin, Kwara state to commemorate the school's 2025 Reading Week. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ITree Group of Schools have for the past 16 years always celebrated its reading week in the month of June on a yearly basis. Mrs Evelyn Balogun, an Educationist and Executive Director of ITree group of schools, Ilorin told NAN that the idea behind celebrating the week was to promote the "Reading culture" amongst the students of the school. Balogun said to usher in the school's 2025 Reading Week, the learners took a trip to the apex library- the National Library. She explained that the learners explored the National Library in Ilorin, Kwara State, adding...

As funeral arrangements begin for the late former Governor of Oyo State, Dr. Victor Omololu Sowemimo Olunloyo, the Oke-Odo Club, Kudeti, Ibadan, has paid a heartfelt tribute to the distinguished statesman, scholar, and community leader. Dr. Olunloyo, who passed away on April 6, 2025, at the age of 89, is being remembered by members of the club, Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole for his enduring legacy of academic excellence and public service. In a statement released, the Oke-Odo Club expressed its deepest condolences to the Olunloyo family and the people of Oyo State, describing Dr. Olunloyo as “a towering figure whose intellectual brilliance, humility, and dedication to the common good have left an indelible mark on generations.” The club’s statement read: “Dr. Olunloyo’...

By Victor Okoye Some students of ITree Group of Schools on Monday embarked on a trip to the National Library in Ilorin, Kwara state to commemorate the school's 2025 Reading Week. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ITree Group of Schools have for the past 16 years always celebrated its reading week in the month of June on a yearly basis. Mrs Evelyn Balogun, an Educationist and Executive Director of ITree group of schools, Ilorin told NAN that the idea behind celebrating the week was to promote the "Reading culture" amongst the students of the school. Balogun said to usher in the school's 2025 Reading Week, the learners took a trip to the apex library- the National Library. She explained that the learners explored the National Library in Ilorin, Kwara State, adding...

 By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The Deafblind Inclusion and Advocacy Network (DIAN) Nigeria, under the LionHeart Ability Leaders International Foundation, has called for national recognition, inclusion, and urgent action on deafblindness as a distinct disability.The foundation’s Executive Director, Mr Solomon Okeola, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.He noted that as the world prepared to mark the 2025 International Deafblind Awareness Week, DIAN was celebrating the resilience, strength, and unyielding spirit of persons living with deafblindness.“Deafblindness is a unique and complex dual sensory disability, distinct from either deafness or blindness alone.“In spite of several laws, persons with deafblindness remain excluded from nati...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer The Federal Government has assured that Abuja is safe for citizens and visitors alike, and security agencies are working round the clock to ensure protection of all residents . The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, gave the assurances in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja. Idris was reacting to the latest security advisory issued by the Embassy of the United States, restricting its staff members and their families from non-official travel to military sites or other government facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. “While the Federal Government recognises and respects the right of foreign missions, including the U.S. Embassy, to issue travel advisori...