Author: kajarbi54

Nigeria’s inflation rate continued its downward trend in January 2026, easing to 15.1% from 15.15% in December 2025, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The slight decline signals a moderation in price pressures, with the statistics agency noting a 0.05 percentage-point drop in headline inflation. On a year-on-year basis, inflation fell sharply by 12.51 percentage points, down from 27.61% in January 2025, highlighting improving macroeconomic price conditions. Food inflation saw the biggest slowdown, falling from 29.63% in December 2025 to 8.89%, driven by lower prices of key staples such as maize, beans, palm oil, cassava, and…

Climate Change is more than statistics, it’s more than data points. It’s more than net-zero targets. It’s about the people, it’s about the people who are being impacted right now – Vanessa Nakate, Climate activist, Uganda.  Climate change has increasingly dominated discussions in both regional and global forums. Its effects are visible through intensified environmental events, including torrential rainfall that causes devastating floods, extreme heatwaves, prolonged droughts, and rising sea levels. These challenges are interconnected, and Africa often bears the brunt, with severe impacts on populations and significant economic setbacks – especially in countries with limited capacity to mitigate the…

The Office of the Ombudsman of The Gambia has recommended the construction of a new prison to ease congestion at Mile 2 and Janjanbureh Prisons. Due to a backlog in submissions, the Office presented a combined 2023/2024 Annual Activity Report before the Finance and Public Accounts Committee. It revealed that Mile 2 Prison had three cells housing a total of 93 inmates – 41 remand prisoners and 52 convicted prisoners. Similarly, at Janjanbureh Prison, the report disclosed that the facility had three cells accommodating 93 inmates, comprising 41 remand and 52 convicted prisoners. The report followed monitoring visits to prisons…

The Thirty-Ninth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) concluded on Sunday, following discussions on several regional and global issues. The two-day high-level deliberations by African Heads of State and Government were held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Assembly formally welcomed President Évariste Ndayishimiye as Chairperson of the African Union for 2026 and launched the AU Theme of the Year 2026: “Ensuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.” Key areas of deliberation included peace and security, institutional reform and governance, Africa and global governance (G20),…

Nigeria and Angola have formalised a new agreement to waive visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations. The memorandum of understanding, (MoU), was signed during the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sunday. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said the agreement would enhance mobility for government officials and help pave the way for stronger economic and private sector collaboration. He described the development as “significant,” saying it highlights the deep historical ties between the two nations, and referenced a landmark address delivered…

The African Union has unanimously endorsed Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama’s initiative to table a resolution at the United Nations seeking global recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity. The resolution also seeks reparations, including the return of looted artefacts. President Mahama made the announcement on Sunday while presenting his report to the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Advancing the Cause of Justice and the Payment of Reparations. The resolution, first introduced during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in September…

The Somali Defense Ministry on Sunday said it killed 15 al-Shabaab militants during a targeted airstrike in the south of the country. According to a statement from the ministry, the airstrike was carried out in coordination with international partners and targeted militants planting improvised explosive devices along a key road in the Middle Shabelle region. The operation resulted in the destruction of a vehicle and weapons allegedly intended for use in attacks against civilians. The al-Qaeda-affiliated group has waged an insurgency against the Somali government for more than 16 years, frequently targeting security forces, government officials, and civilians. Since July…

The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) have announced the success of a large-scale air and ground operation that resulted in the neutralization of approximately ten terrorists and the destruction of key weapons and equipment. According to a statement released by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Oumar Diarra the operation took place on Sunday, in a strategic area between Bambara-Maoudé and Inadjatafane in the Douentza region.  The forces said that swift coordination and responsiveness on the ground allowed them to gain the upper hand against armed groups attempting to reorganize in the area. The General Staff reaffirmed its…

A Nigerian entrepreneur has launched what is being described as Africa’s first homegrown global social media platform, marking a significant step in the continent’s expanding digital ambitions. The platform, LekeeLekee, was founded by media executive Nduka Obiagbene and is designed to bridge global technology standards with local African realities. Developed as part of a broader digital expansion strategy, the platform aims to create an ecosystem that empowers users, encourages authentic engagement, and builds inclusive online communities. In a statement announcing the launch, Obiagbene described the initiative as an opportunity to promote a more equitable digital landscape. He said the app…

Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), has foiled a major cocaine trafficking plot, dismantling a network operating across multiple airports and urban centres. Several suspects, including a Nigerian businessman and two Angolan nationals, were arrested in the operation and significant amounts of cocaine were seized, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to curbing drug trafficking. NDLEA officers apprehended Ibeanu Chukwudulue at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport with 52 wraps of cocaine concealed inside his body en route to China. On the same day, two Angolan nationals were arrested at Kano Airport carrying 1.33 kg of ingested narcotics. Airport authorities also intercepted…