Author: Maryam Sulaiman

To tackle a nationwide petrol scarcity, the government of Niger has introduced an overnight restriction on fuel sales across the country, allowing only select service stations to operate during these hours. Starting this week, petrol stations are prohibited from selling fuel between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Officials stated that this temporary restriction is intended to assist suppliers, such as the Nigerien Petroleum Company (Sonidep), in restocking facilities and to ensure smoother distribution and steady delivery of petrol during the shortage. Despite the government’s intentions, the restriction has placed a heavy strain on local workers, including taxi drivers. Driver Moussa…

Efforts to enhance accountability and streamline the administration of public property have prompted the House of Representatives to consider creating a National Public Assets Management Commission. This proposed body would oversee the documentation, evaluation, administration, and sale of government-owned assets across various ministries, departments, agencies, and public enterprises. Under the proposed framework, all public bodies would be required to register their property holdings within a central national database. The proposed legislation was introduced on the floor of the House last week. In addition to mandatory registration, public institutions would need to disclose any existing liabilities or legal claims tied to…

Health screening measures for international arrivals have been intensified across airports in Nigeria, where arriving passengers at Lagos airport have been queuing for routine body temperature checks. The heightened response follows the national confirmation of its first case involving the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. The infected individual had traveled from Uganda, passing through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during a layover. Returning from Italy via Addis Ababa, Nigerian traveler Patrick Akwongu expressed concern about the situation: “Yeah, I’m scared because we have been hearing about the news the way people are dying in the Congo. So we don’t need such…

A multi-storey building under construction collapsed on Friday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, leaving many people feared trapped under the debris and sparking intense outrage over dangerous construction practices. Eyewitness videos shared online recorded the dramatic moment the structure—believed to be approximately 18 storeys tall—crumbled into a vast cloud of dust. The incident occurred around lunchtime in Eastleigh, a densely populated commercial and residential district renowned for its vibrant markets and large Somali community. Emergency search and rescue teams quickly arrived at the scene but faced significant challenges accessing the site, as the collapsed structure was reduced to a…

State and local governments in Nigeria collectively receive roughly 85 percent of the country’s overall resources, leaving the federal center with only 15 percent despite its heavy obligations, according to Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele. Speaking on Thursday during an economic outlook session at Chatham House in London, Oyedele stated that the Federal Government remains the most resource-deprived level of government relative to its mandatory duties, which include defense, internal security, foreign relations, and election administration. He noted that the central government has also absorbed added commitments in primary healthcare and basic education, creating…

Renowned Nigerian actor Francis Duru has passed away at the age of 57 following a brief illness, his family confirmed. In an early Friday update shared on the actor’s official Instagram account, his family expressed gratitude to the public for their prayers, love, and understanding during this difficult time. “We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness,” the post reads. “We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.” His passing comes a few months after he publicly dismissed viral reports claiming he was battling a critical…

The Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness, Virus Disease Preparedness and Emerging Public Health Threats has assured the public that Nigeria possesses full capacity to manage Ebola within the country. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chairman of the Task Force and Chief of Staff to the President, offered this reassurance following an emergency session held at the State House. Gbajabiamila highlighted that the Task Force has been working quietly behind the scenes since its establishment in June, noting that these ongoing efforts directly enabled the swift identification of the index case reported on Tuesday. “It’s very important to note this. Since the issue…

Ten environmental campaigners in Tunisia have been handed sentences following their involvement in protests against industrial pollution from a major phosphate-processing plant located in the coastal city of Gabes. The demonstrations took place in 2020, with local residents and activists demanding immediate measures to address severe health and environmental issues linked to the state-owned facility. Defense attorney Hamida Chaieb confirmed that eight of the campaigners were given six-month suspended prison sentences, while two others received one-year prison terms. The legal action was initiated by the state-owned factory itself, which alleged that the demonstrators interfered with its day-to-day operations. According to…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that 75 million telecommunications subscribers have been reimbursed with airtime compensation so far in 2026 due to poor service quality. The regulator emphasized its ongoing efforts to compel service providers to upgrade network standards and swiftly address user complaints. Speaking on Tuesday at the 95th Telecom Consumer Parliament in Lagos, the Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Aminu Maida, highlighted the regulatory actions taken to protect consumers. “Under our Consumer Compensation Framework, 75 million subscribers have received airtime compensation for poor service so far in 2026, and we will continue to hold operators to…

A devastating traffic collision west of Cairo left 13 people dead and 34 others injured on Tuesday when a heavy truck collided with a tour bus, according to state media reports. State newspaper Al-Ahram confirmed the casualties, reporting that “13 individuals were killed and 34 others injured in the tragic collision between the bus and the truck on the Cairo-Asyut Western Desert Road”. Emergency teams and local authorities worked to clear the affected highway following the crash. Images from the scene showed a crane lifting the wreckage of the tour bus, which had its front end completely torn away, leaving…