Author: Alade Adisa

Nigeria suffered a widespread electricity blackout on Wednesday, the 12th time in 2024, after its national grid collapsed.The country’s national power grid is prone to frequent collapses, with the resulting power shortages proving an obstacle to economic growth and investment in Africa’s most populous nation.The World Bank estimates that the Nigerian economy loses $29 billion a year due to its unstable power supply, which causes electricity blackouts across the country.Here is why Nigeria’s grid is failing. WHAT CAUSES BLACKOUTS?Nigeria’s aging power infrastructure is at the heart of the crisis. Transmis sion lines and substations, some of which are more than…

Debates are raging over South Africa’s announcement that it is relaxing visa rules for Nigerian nationals planning to visit the country for tourism and business.President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement after he hosted his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Tinubu, last week for bilateral talks to strengthen ties.Tensions between citizens of the two African giants had previously led to deadly xenophobic attacks in both countries – with business premises raided and goods looted.Nigeria is the main destination for South African exports and investments in West Africa. On the other hand, South Africa imports Nigerian oil and gas.South Africa’s economy has not been…

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it is committed to conducting a hitch-free 2025 Hajj operation.Its Executive Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, gave the assurance during a meeting with Chief Executives of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions, held on Wednesday at the Hajj House in Abuja.He also emphasised the commission’s dedication to overcome it’s challenges and reposition Hajj operation for greater efficiency.The chairman had outlined several challenges upon assuming office, including unresolved claims and operational bottlenecks which hindered progress of some essential activities.Usman, who assured the stakeholders of ongoing efforts to address challenges of Hajj operation,…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has granted UZMA Aviation Services Limited an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) to commence commercial flight operations.The certificate was awarded on Wednesday in Abuja.Capt. Chris Najomo, the Acting Director-General of the NCAA, commended the management of UZMA Aviation Services for meeting all regulatory requirements and standards during the application process.However, he urged the airline to continue upholding safety, security, efficiency, and excellence throughout its operations.In response, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, the Chairman of UZMA Aviation Services Limited, expressed gratitude to the NCAA for its support.He acknowledged the NCAA’s commitment throughout the AOC process, from the initial…

President Bola Tinubu has stated that the interest and welfare of the citizens of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger remain a priority for the leaders of ECOWAS. The President made this remark on Wednesday during a meeting with the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who was on a state visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He stressed that wisdom and diplomacy would be key to reintegrating these countries into the regional body. Tinubu, who serves as Chairman of ECOWAS, pointed out that the leadership of the three countries had been reluctant to present transition programmes with clear timelines.“Our relationship…

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reduce the price of petrol to N300 per litre ,to make things easy for Nigerians during the festive season.George, the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, made this plea at an interactive session with newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.The price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, is currently above N1,000 per litre.According to the elder statesman,Nigerians are going through hardship, the President should give an order to reduce fuel price, specifying time frame the people will enjoy such window of…

A message by Head of Corporate Communication of Transmission Commission of Nigeria (TCN), Dr Friday Adakole Elijah on Wednesday afternoon announced that the national grid, for the umpteenth time, has collapsed.

The Kaduna State Government says it is collaborating with the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) to strengthen the state’s Agricultural Policies to boost smallholder farmers’ ability in the maize and rice value chain.Murtala Dabo, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, made this known while hosting a one-day Stakeholders’ and Media Engagement on the State’s Policy and Agricultural Systems Strengthening (PASS) project.Dabo, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Abubakar Abba, said the project, being funded by AGRA, would guide the ministry in policies that would foster the harmonisation of initiatives for the growth of the agriculture sector into…

THE Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Life Stock Management Service (LMS), Dr Bala Muhammed, Director has called on Nigerians to accord all living beings compassion, respect and justice.Muhammed made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja in commemoration of the International Animal Rights Day celebrated every December 10.He said the essence of humane treatment and handling of animals lay “in our ethical responsibility as stewards of the planet.”He identified animals as sentient beings capable of experiencing pain, joy, and suffering.“By treating them humanely, we acknowledge their rights to live free from harm, exploitation,…

When he was inaugurated for the first term on May 29, 2019, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo anchored his administration on what he called THEMES Agenda.The acronym stands for Transportation and Traffic Management, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos State a 21st Century Megacity, Entertainment and Tourism, and Security and Governance.The agenda guided the first term of the administration of Sanwo-Olu, the 15th Governor of Lagos State.Analysts scored the administration high in the realisation of the set goals.At his inauguration for the second term on May 29, 2023, the governor advanced his administration’s agenda, tagging it THEMES Plus…