Nigeria

Armed bandits kill at least 46 civilians in attack on community in Nigeria

The attackers invaded the community on Wednesday at about 4:15 p.m. local time shooting indiscriminately at everything in sight and killing 46 people

Uncertainty in Nigeria affects Indian auto, pharma, and consumer firms

Consumer companies like Godrej and Dabur too have significant exposure to Nigeria

Nigeria drills for oil in new field as theft and extremism erode earnings

Nigeria on Tuesday began drilling oil and natural gas in the country's northern region, anticipating a boost to the nation's finances even as the new energy supplies face the threat from theft and extremist activity. President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the drilling within Kolmani oil field in northeast Gombe and Bauchi states, making it the first area where oil is being drilled outside the southern Niger Delta region. It has a reserve of up to 1 billion barrels of crude. The drilling began nearly three years after Nigeria announced the discovery of oil in commercial volume in the region, which is embroiled in a decadelong war against Islamic extremists. Analysts have raised questions about security measures to protect energy facilities there, while there are environmental concerns about tapping into more climate-changing fossil fuels. Crude oil has been critical in expanding infrastructure in the West African nation, accounting for 41% of total federal government revenue in 2021

US asks diplomats to leave Nigeria amid rising fear of terrorist attack

The State Department on Thursday ordered the families of U.S. embassy staffers in the Nigerian capital to leave due to heightened fears of a terrorist attack as it repeated a warning for all Americans to reconsider travelling to any part of the country and not to visit Abuja at all. The announcement came just two days after the department said it would allow nonessential personnel at the embassy in Abuja to depart voluntarily due to elevated security concerns. It did not provide details but the change suggested the U.S. has indications that an attack may be imminent. The department (has) ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees from Abuja due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks there, it said in a revised travel advisory for Nigeria. Nigeria has battled an Islamic insurgency in its northeast for more than a decade, but attacks have been rare in Abuja. In 2011, Islamic extremists linked to the Boko Haram group targeted the United Nations building

Over 1.5 million children at risk as devastating floods hit Nigeria

The floods, which have affected 34 out of the 36 states in the country, have displaced 1.3 million people. Over 600 people have lost their lives and over 200,000 houses have been damaged

UGC seeks report from university on brawl between Indian, Nigerian students

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday sought a report from GD Goenka University in Haryana's Sohna on clashes between Indian and Nigerian students on campus, according to officials. The UGC also directed the university to ensure such incidents do not recur. "It has come to the notice of the UGC that there were clashes between Nigerian and local students on campus of the university, which is causing tension among students," UGC Joint Secretary Surender Singh said. "The university has been directed to take appropriate action and send a detailed report to the commission. Also suitable measures should be taken to avoid such incidents in future," he added. Tension gripped the university campus, located near Sohna, around 50 km from the national capital, after clashes broke out between Indian and Nigerian students on the football ground last week. Six students were injured in the incident and the two groups filed cross-FIRs at the Sohna City police station. The university

Poverty in India fell by 415 million in 15 yrs; still has maximum poor: UN

Global Multidimensional Poverty Index has revealed that COVID-19 pandemic had set progress in reducing poverty back by 3-10 years

2 killed in north-central Nigeria after gunmen attack church during service

Gunmen attacked a church in north-central Nigeria during a service, killing a woman and her young daughter, a government official said Monday as the hunt for the suspects intensified. The motorcycle-riding assailants arrived at the Celestial Church on Sunday and fatally shot the two victims, according to Jerry Omodara, Kogi state's top security official. The church is located in the Lokoja area of Kogi state, 105 kilometers (65 miles) from Nigeria's capital city, Abuja. Sunday's violence renewed concerns about safety at houses of worship in Nigeria, where at least seven attacks have targeted churches or mosques so far this year. In June, a massacre in Ondo state left 40 worshippers dead. Authorities suspect that the assailants in the latest attack in Kogi had specifically targeted the church and its members. It looked like it was organized against that particular church, because their altar was burned with petrol they went with, Omodara said.

After the Gambia, Nigeria, Liberia issue alerts over Maiden Pharma's syrups

Nigeria has reportedly circulated the alert across all professional bodies, health care providers and supply chain associates

76 people killed after boat overturns due to rising floods in Nigeria

At least 76 people were killed in a boat accident in Nigeria's Anambra state on Sunday after a boat carrying 85 persons capsized following rising floods

Nigeria regulator seeks $70-million penalty in lawsuit against Meta

A Nigerian advertising regulator has sued Meta, accusing the owner of Facebook and WhatsApp of publishing unauthorized ads and seeking a 30 billion naira ($70 million) fine. The lawsuit filed in a local court by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, or ARCON, is the regulator's latest action that analysts say could hurt businesses highly dependent on digital ads for their growth. Nigerian advertising laws require the regulator to approve ads based on certain criteria with the involvement of an advertising practitioner in Africa's largest economy. Before you put out anything, it should be vetted and approved by ARCON first before exposure," the agency said Tuesday. Anything that has not been vetted and approved by ARCON is a violation of our law. A Meta spokesperson said the company doesn't comment on ongoing legal claims. The regulator published some details from the court filings, including a request for a declaration that the continued publication and exposure of variou

Japan's Daikin to begin assembling ACs in Nigeria in renewed push

Japan's Daikin Industries Ltd will begin assembling air conditioners in Nigeria as it renews a push into Africa that had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a regional head said on Thursday.

Sterling & Wilson wins $1.5-billion solar plants order from Nigerian govt

Sterling & Wilson Renewable Energy has bagged a reported USD 1.5-billion order from the government of Nigeria, along with its consortium partner Sun Africa, for setting up solar PV power plants. The order will be executed through Sterling & Wilson's US step down subsidiary Sterling & Wilson Solar Solutions Inc, the Reliance Industries-controlled company said in a statement on Friday without disclosing the order value. However, a source told PTI that this is a huge order valuing at USD 1.5 billion to build five 961 mw solar plants. The order involves development, design, construction and commissioning of solar PV power plants aggregating 961 mw at five locations along with battery energy storage systems with total installed capacity of 455 mw, the company said, adding these projects will be owned and operated by Niger Delta Power Holding Company, a Nigerian government entity. Financing for these projects are under negotiations between the US Exim, ING and the government of .

Despite govt measures, death toll of Lassa fever rises to 171 in Nigeria

The death toll of Lassa fever in Nigeria this year has risen to 171, despite measures by the government to reduce infections across the country, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC)

Tobi Amusan breaks world record in 100m hurdles semis, claims gold in final

Nigeria's Tobi Amusan broke the women's 100m hurdles world record after a spectacular performance in the semi-final at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, on Sunday

Gunmen kill five of family of Fusa community in central Nigeria: Police

Unidentified gunmen on Thursday attacked a community in central Nigeria's Plateau state, killing five people. The five victims belonged to a family in the Fusa community

Raymond appoints Coca-Cola veteran Atul Singh to lead the Group

Singh has worked at Coca-Cola for about two decades at several senior leadership positions and concluded his journey there as chairman, Asia Pacific and spearheaded its businesses across 25 countries

OPEC secretary-general Mohammad Barkindo dies, just weeks shy of departure

The Secretary-General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has died, Nigerian authorities and the oil cartel announced Wednesday.

Jihadis attack jail in Nigeria's capital, at least 600 inmates escape

Explosions and gunfire were heard at about 10 p.m. in the Kuje area of Abuja when the attackers arrived and forced their way into the prison through a hole created by the explosives.

Tinubu, ex-governor of Lagos, in pole position for Nigerian presidency

In a country with a long history of electoral fraud where the ruling party has a major advantage, Tinubu is now the front-runner to be next leader of Africa's most populous nation and top oil exporter