Author: Africa News Nation

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has commended the peaceful conduct of the June 20 Ekiti State governorship election but expressed concern over alleged vote-buying, technical glitches associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), procedural inconsistencies and persistently low voter turnout. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, the coalition of civil society organisations supporting credible, transparent and inclusive elections said it deployed observers across all 16 local government areas of Ekiti State to monitor the governorship poll. The observation mission combined reports from accredited election observers stationed at polling units and citizen observers using the…

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja The Anti Sexual Violence Lead (ASVIOL) Support Initiative has intensified efforts to improve school re-entry opportunities for adolescent mothers and married girls in Kaduna State through its school-based intervention, the Aminiya Initiative, aimed at supporting vulnerable girls to return to and complete their education. The programme, supported by the Malala Fund, seeks to address the growing challenge of school dropout among girls who leave school due to pregnancy, early marriage, and other social pressures. It comes amid continuing concerns over gender disparities in education across northern Nigeria, where girls remain disproportionately affected by barriers such as…

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), through its Election Analysis Centre (EAC), has commended the people of Ekiti State, election officials, security agencies, and other stakeholders for their commitment to democratic governance and peaceful participation in the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election. In its preliminary assessment of the off-cycle governorship poll conducted on Saturday, June 20, 2026, the CDD-EAC noted that the election was largely peaceful, with the early deployment of election personnel and materials across many polling units, as well as a visible security presence that helped maintain order throughout the exercise. However, the…

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a final six-month tenure extension for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, allowing him to remain in office until February 2027. Adeniyi’s previous tenure extension was due to expire on August 1, 2026. The latest extension is aimed at enabling him to consolidate ongoing reforms within the Customs Service, particularly the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) initiative, a key government programme designed to facilitate trade and improve efficiency at the nation’s ports and borders. The extension will also ensure a smooth leadership transition within…

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, has issued a stern directive to 17 Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) under the Metro Area Command, ordering them to eliminate robbery and other criminal activities across Abuja within two weeks or face sanctions. The directive was delivered during a high-level security meeting held in Abuja over the weekend, where the police chief reviewed the prevailing security situation and outlined new operational measures aimed at tackling emerging threats within the nation’s capital. CP Sanusi expressed concern over the rising wave of criminal activities…

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja. Nigeria has recorded a major milestone in global agricultural innovation as Professor Chiedozie Ngozi Egesi, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, was named among the 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP) by the World Food Prize Foundation. The prestigious recognition, announced as part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of the World Food Prize, celebrates 40 outstanding innovators from 30 countries across six continents whose work is transforming food systems and agriculture worldwide. Professor Egesi, one of Africa’s foremost agricultural scientists, was honoured for his groundbreaking…

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja The Federal Government has reaffirmed its solidarity with victims and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, pledging renewed efforts to prevent abuse, strengthen protection mechanisms, ensure justice for survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable. This commitment was made by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in a statement marking the 2026 International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, observed annually on June 19. Speaking on this year’s theme, “Ending Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: A National Imperative for Peace, Security and Sustainable Development,” the Minister said the observance serves as a solemn…

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja Women in leadership have continued to earn recognition for their contributions to democratic development, inclusive governance, and grassroots mobilization across the country. This was further underscored with the emergence of Hon. Hajiya Bilikisu M. Onusagba as the Kogi State Women Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Chairperson of the Forum of State Women Leaders. Reacting to her appointment, the Adavi/Okehi House of Representatives hopeful, Hon. Aisha Ibrahim Adoke (PhD), popularly known as AIA, congratulated Hon. Onusagba on her new role, describing the appointment as a testament to her dedication, leadership qualities, and commitment to…

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) has called for heightened vigilance against voter apathy, vote buying, misinformation, and other threats to electoral integrity ahead of the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election. In a pre-election assessment released through its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), the democracy advocacy organisation described the Ekiti governorship poll as a critical test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 General Elections. CDD noted that while the pre-election atmosphere in the state has remained largely peaceful, concerns persist over declining electoral competitiveness, voter disengagement, electoral inducement, and…

By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have strengthened their partnership to combat the growing menace of vandalism and sabotage of electricity transmission infrastructure across the country. The renewed commitment emerged from a high-level strategic meeting held at the TCN Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, where officials from the three institutions agreed on the need for enhanced intelligence sharing, coordinated security operations, and the deployment of technology-driven surveillance systems to protect critical national assets. Speaking during the meeting, TCN Managing Director…