Category: Science

FG Launches GMO TELA Maize Seeds in Nigeria

19Jun

By adminNo Comments

Agriculture, Nigeria, Science

FG Launches GMO TELA Maize Seeds in Nigeria

Nigeria’s federal government has launched a new Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) maize variety named TELA, despite widespread concerns and opposition from citizens. The initiative, ostensibly aimed at boosting maize production, has been criticized as prioritizing corporate and governmental interests over public health and ecological safety. The TELA maize was developed at the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in collaboration with the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF). The project received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners. See Also: Nigeria: Why I Spoke Directly to Nigerian Leaders – Bill Gates At the launch event in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sena...

Insecurity: Govt Does Not Operate in Secrecy, Malami Says as he Reacts to Reports he Advised Buhari To Suspend Constitution

3Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Science

Insecurity: Govt Does Not Operate in Secrecy, Malami Says as he Reacts to Reports he Advised Buhari To Suspend Constitution

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) has debunked speculation that he advised President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend Nigeria’s Constitution and enforce and enforce martial law. Malami discredited the report in its entirety, asking Nigerians to disregard the speculation. The AGN in a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Umar Gwandu said the Minister never asked President Buhari to suspend the Nigerian constitution as a solution to worsening insecurity in the country. According to Malami, the media report should be disregarded as fabrications of anti-constitutional democratic stability in Nigeria. He described himself as a t...

Missing Fighter Jet May Have Crashed, Two Pilots Unaccounted for – Air Force

2Apr

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, News, Nigeria, Safety, Science, Transportation

Missing Fighter Jet May Have Crashed, Two Pilots Unaccounted for – Air Force

The Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet which went off the radar during a Boko Haram operation in the North-East on Wednesday may have crashed. Intelligence report gathered by the Nigerian Air Force on Friday said the jet might have crashed although the whereabouts of the jet or the two pilots on board remain unknown. According to SaharaReporters, military sources said the jet crashed in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, although the NAF has not confirmed any location. Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, the Chief of Air Staff, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Thursday to coordinate the ongoing search and rescue mission for the Alpha Jet which got lost during the Boko Haram combat mission in the North-East. Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF Director of Public Relations and Informat...

Senate asks Buhari to Declare State of Emergency on Insecurity

17Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, Nigeria, Science, Terrorism, Violence

Senate asks Buhari to Declare State of Emergency on Insecurity

The Senate has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency over escalating insecurity across the nation. It made the call following kidnap of students and teachers of Government Science Secondary School, Kagara, Niger State by gunmen on Wednesday morning. The lawmakers further called on the President Buhari led administration to implementation the various recommendations of the Senate on how to tackle insecurity. These resolutions of the Senate followed a motion on a matter of urgent public importance on the incident by Senator representing Niger East, Mohammed Sani Musa. Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the frequent incidents of kidnapping of students would reverse the gains made in school enrollment over the years in the North. He said parents wou...

NIN Mandatory for Bank Account Opening, Voter Registration – Pantami

15Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, Interview, News, Nigeria, Science

NIN Mandatory for Bank Account Opening, Voter Registration – Pantami

Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, says the national identification number (NIN) is compulsory for transactions such as bank account opening, payment of taxes and voter registration. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, he said the government is determined to ensure that all citizens have NIN. Pantami quoted section 27 of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) act as stating that benefitting from government services as a citizen without NIN is an offence punishable by imprisonment. “This is most important in the area of NIN, which is a mandatory number, based on the NIMC order of 2007 that has actively been neglected for years, ” he said. “It is key to our national planning, budget, security, social development and many more. But it was neglected despite...

Okezie Ikpeazu Charges Security Agencies To Arrest Killer-herders

3Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Fulani Herdsmen, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety, Science

Okezie Ikpeazu Charges Security Agencies To Arrest Killer-herders

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged heads of security agencies to arrest killer-herdsmen in the state. A statement by Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi-Kalu, condemned the recent destruction of farmlands by cows grazing openly in violation of extant laws. It also condemned the activities of criminal herdsmen suspected to have masterminded the recent kidnap around Abia North. According to the statement, Ikpeazu has directed security agents to bring to justice all those involved in the criminal activities. It reads: “Government has activated all relevant components of the state security architecture to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens, residents and visitors. “We, therefore, call on the people to go about their legitimate businesses without f...

Exclusive: How Anambra State Won Covid-19 War

16Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Armed Forces, Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Science

Exclusive: How Anambra State Won Covid-19 War

The Anambra State Government has said that proactive plans and effective management of limited resources were key factors that enabled the state win the COVID-19 war. The Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Creative Security, Retired Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi, disclosed this while welcoming students in the Nigeria Study Tour Group 8, Senior Course 43 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, to Anambra State on behalf of the state government. The students, made up of senior officers from the Nigeria Navy, Air Force, Army, an officer from the Counterterrorism Unit of the Nigeria Police Force as well a man from the Department of State Security, DSS, is in the state as part of a mandatory research course to help the students create an academic balance...

Alleged Unusual Deaths in Enugu Community: We’ve Sent Patients’ Samples for Investigation – Enugu Govt

5Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Science

Alleged Unusual Deaths in Enugu Community: We’ve Sent Patients’ Samples for Investigation – Enugu Govt

Following reports of alleged unusual deaths in Ette Uno and Umuopu communities of Enugu Ezike, in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, the State Ministry of Health said it has collected samples from patients and sent to the National Reference Laboratory for investigation. Igbo-Eze North LGA shares a boundary with Kogi State. A statement by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Emmanuel Ikechukwu Obi, added that the State Rapid Response Team of the Ministry visited Igbo-Eze North LGA and met with the LGA Rapid Response Team, disclosing that “on-the-spot-check and outbreak investigation have revealed a number of deaths from an illness with symptoms suggestive of a disease of Public Health Importance”. Dr. Obi stated that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC...

Nigerians React to News of FG’s Receipt of Covid-19 Vaccine from Russia

4Sep

By adminNo Comments

Africa, Covid-19, News, Nigeria, Science

Nigerians React to News of FG’s Receipt of Covid-19 Vaccine from Russia

When the news broke today that the Federal Government had taken delivery of Covid-19 samples from Russia, Nigerians reacted with a lot of pessimism and even scorn. While Nigeria's minister for health, Osagie Ehanire, said that the country indicated interest in the vaccine as a way of "exploring all knowledge in terms of therapeutics and vaccines,” Nigerians wide assumed that the vaccines were received in large quantities for immediate use on Nigerians. The minister stated that what was received was samples. It is however not clear if there will be human trials in Nigeria with those samples. With all the mystery that appears to have shrouded the issue of the pandemic, Nigerians are not receiving this news with enthusiasm. We have captured some comments on social media from a wide s...

FEC Approves N8.49bn For Purchase of COVID-19 Testing Kits

12Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Finance, News, Nigeria, Science

FEC Approves N8.49bn For Purchase of COVID-19 Testing Kits

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has today ratified the sum of N8.49bn for the procurement of 12 items for the testing of deadly COVID-19 by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). President Muhammadu Buhari gave the approval during a virtual council meeting on Wednesday. The minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire presented the memo on behalf of the centre at the Council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja after which it was considered and approved.