Author: Adewale Kupoluyi
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has warned of thunderstorms, rainfall, and strong winds across parts of the country on Monday, April 13, urging residents and operators to take safety precautions. In its forecast released, NiMet said northern states will experience sunny conditions in the morning, with isolated thunderstorms over Adamawa and Taraba expected later in the day. It added that hot and sunny conditions will prevail in most areas during the morning, before giving way to localised rainfall, lightning, and gusty winds in the afternoon and evening. For the central region, the agency projected cloudy conditions in the morning with intervals of sunshine,…
The European Union, alongside the Federal Government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, has called for urgent action to end food waste and promote sustainable consumption and production. They groups noted that when food is wasted, the water, energy, and labour that went into producing it are also wasted, while accelerating climate change and undermining global efforts to build a zero-waste circular future. This was disclosed in a statement by the EU delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Speaking in Abuja, during the commemoration of this year’s International Zero Waste Day, with the theme “Food waste reduction: Minimisation…
The Senate has intensified efforts to reposition Nigeria’s agricultural colleges and research institutions by seeking support from key global partners for reforms, technology transfer, and investment. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja, saying the committee had engaged diplomatic missions of Malaysia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, as part of broader plans to revitalise agricultural education and research in the country. He noted that the National Assembly is committed to leveraging international expertise to improve productivity, strengthen institutional capacity, and promote…
Global food commodity prices rose for a second consecutive month in March, driven largely by higher energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Near East. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations said in its report released. The FAO Food Price Index, a benchmark that tracks monthly changes in international prices of a basket of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, representing a 2.4% increase from February and standing 1.0% higher than its level a year earlier. “Price indices across all commodity groups, such as cereals, meat, dairy, vegetable oils, and sugar, rose to varying degrees, reflecting not…
The World Bank has approved a US$500 million International Development Association credit to boost Nigeria’s agriculture sector under a new programme targeting smallholder farmers, value chains, and food security. The funding would support the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains for Growth Project, also known as AGROW, which aims to improve productivity, strengthen market linkages, and create jobs across the country. A press statement obtained from the World Bank’s website read, “The World Bank has approved a US$500 million International Development Association credit for the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains for Growth Project, aimed at increasing smallholder farmers’ productivity, strengthening agricultural value chains, and creating jobs…
German companies are intensifying their focus on Nigeria’s rapidly growing food sector, projected to reach Euros€222bn by 2026, as both nations seek deeper cooperation to enhance food security and drive economic growth. Trade between Germany and Nigeria reflects growing economic ties. According to Trading Economics, Germany’s exports to Nigeria nearly doubled from US$500 million in 2021 to US$963.4 million in 2024, driven by machinery, vehicles, chemicals, electronics, and agricultural inputs. Nigeria exports cocoa and related products to Germany, further strengthening bilateral trade. Speaking at a recent networking reception in Lagos for a German business delegation attending Agrofood Nigeria 2026, the German Consul-General,…
As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, the Transport Unit of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, Kogi State, has embarked on a large-scale tree-planting exercise and distribution of seedlings in commemoration of the 2026 International Day of Forests. In a statement, the company disclosed that 13 schools were also provided with seedlings, even as it planted hundreds of trees. Speaking at the event, the Divisional Director Transport, Col. Hemant Rana (rtd), said, “Forests play a vital role in regulating our climate, supporting biodiversity, and providing essential resources for humans”. Rana, represented by the Assistant Divisional Director, Transport, Mr. Abdullahi Aliyu, stated…
The Federal Government, in partnership with China, is planning a US$900 million investment in large-scale poultry projects aimed at producing up to six million eggs daily, as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s protein deficit and strengthen food security. The Director-General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership, Joseph Tegbe disclosed this in an interview in Abuja, explaining that the initiative represents a shift in the bilateral relationship from infrastructure-focused cooperation to deeper development partnerships anchored on agriculture, industrial production, and technology transfer. According to Tegbe, the plan involves the establishment of six integrated poultry farms across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones,…
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development convened a two-day meeting in Abuja to assess and address Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a viral disease affecting sheep and goats, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen livestock health and productivity. Speaking at the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) meeting, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON) and Director of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, highlighted the importance of evidence-based approaches to disease control. “This meeting provides an opportunity to evaluate the burden of animal diseases in Nigeria. By establishing reliable databases, we can guide targeted interventions and inform government…
Nigeria’s push towards export diversification showed measurable progress in 2025, as non-oil exports stood at N12.36 trillion, up from N9.09 trillion in 2024. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show that agricultural products contributed 41.04% of total non-oil exports, highlighting the strong role of agriculture in Nigeria’s export performance, with exports driven primarily by cocoa, which accounted for 24.61% of total non-oil exports. According to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigeria’s non-oil export volume also rose to 8.02 million metric tonnes in 2025, up from 7.29 million metric tonnes in 2024, representing a 10% increase. This indicates that the growth in…
