Roadside bomb blast kills 26 in Nigeria’s restive northeast

At least 26 people have been killed as a truck hit an improvised explosive device in Nigeria’s restive northeast.

The blast on Monday killed men, women and children in Borno State, near the border with Cameroon, according to the military and residents. The region has been plagued for decades by armed groups including the ISIL affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, with violence flaring up in recent days.

“Twenty-six people died in the blast, comprising of 16 men, four women and six children,” a military officer speaking on condition of anonymity told the AFP news agency, adding that three further passengers were severely injured.

Borno State police offered no immediate comment.

The International NGO Safety Organisation, which provides security to foreign nongovernmental organisations in northeast Nigeria, said in an internal memo seen by the Reuters news agency that vehicles moving between the towns of Rann and Gamboru Ngala hit an IED.

“I took part in the funeral of the 26 people killed in the explosion; most of them were burned beyond recognition,” Akram Saad, a resident of the nearby town Rann, told AFP.

A video showed rows of bodies in white plastic bags laid on the floor of the morgue at Rann’s general hospital.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. But Abba Amma Muhammad, whose mother was killed, blamed the incident on Boko Haram.

Violence flares

Boko Haram’s uprising has plagued northeast Nigeria for the past 15 years, killing more than 40,000 people. The government has asserted that the groups are largely defeated, despite the persisting attacks.

ISWAP is also active in northern Borno and has launched sporadic ambushes on convoys and planted landmines along its highways.

The blast comes amid a flare-up of violence in northeast Nigeria in recent days, with the death toll rising to at least 50 people.

Boko Haram killed about 10 “vigilantes” from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the state of Adamawa, sources reported earlier on Monday, according to AFP.

On Thursday, the group killed 14 farmers in Borno’s Gwoza district, a local official said.

Borno State governor Babagana Umara Zulum on Friday told Nigeria’s defence minister and military chiefs that Boko Haram and ISWAP were entrenching themselves in Lake Chad islands, Sambisa Forest and Mandara mountains on the border with Cameroon as a result of “military setbacks”.

Aljazeera

Nigeria Upholds $220m Fine Against Meta Over Data Policies

A Nigerian court has upheld a $220 million (£165m) fine against Meta Platforms levied last July by the country’s competition and consumer protection agency for abusing its dominant market position to impose user policies that it said illegally collect user information without consent.

Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal said on Friday that Meta’s appeal against the fine had been unsuccessful.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) levied the fine after an investigation that began after Meta’s WhatsApp updated its privacy policy in May 2021 and concluded in December 2023.

Privacy

The probe, which was conducted along with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), found the privacy policy was imposed on Nigerian users without following standards of fairness.

The commission said Meta had provided documents and retained counsels that met with the agency.

The agency’s final order mandated steps and actions Meta must take to comply with local laws, Abdullahi said.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous countries and has some 154 million active internet users as of 2022, according to the country’s statistics agency.

The FCCPC said Meta had failed to engage a Data Protection Compliance Organisation and had not filed a Nigeria Data Protection Regulation audit report for two years.

Data rules

Meta has faced similar charges in other jurisdictions, including the EU, where privacy groups complained about the company’s plans to train its AI systems on users’ data without obtaining consent.

Meta said last year initially withheld the release of its multimodal Llama AI model in the EU due to “unpredictable” regulatory requirements, but began rolling out the feature in the EU last month.

The company’s use of EU data to train its AI models, which began this month, has been challenged by privacy advocates, who say it legally must obtain opt-in consent, rather than only allowing users to opt out.

By Matthew Broersma, Silicon

Aliko Dangote to Join the World Bank

 

The President/CEO of Dangote Group, among other industry executives, had on Wednesday, been invited to join the World Bank's Private Sector Investment Lab.

In response, the Nigerian billionaire accepted the invitation, noting that being icnluded in the group was an honor.

“I am both honoured and excited to accept my appointment to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, dedicated to advancing investment and employment in emerging economies,” he said.

“This opportunity aligns with my long-standing commitment to sustainable development and unlocking the potential of developing economies.

Drawing inspiration from the remarkable successes of the Asian Tigers, which have demonstrated the power of strategic investment and focused economic policy, I am eager to collaborate with fellow leaders to replicate such outcomes across other regions,” he added.

What the World Bank said

Under the broader expansion of its Private Sector Investment Lab, which is currently starting a new phase, the World Bank, on Wednesday, announced Dangote's appointment.

This new phase is aimed at scaling up ideas to attract private capital and generate employment in the developing world, as reported by the Punch.

The global lender also noted that the aforementioned new phase has expanded the Lab's membership to include industry executives with experience creating jobs in developing markets, which is consistent with the Bank's growing role in job creation as a major driver of growth.

During the announcement, they mentioned that they had invited the Nigerian billionaire, alongside Bill Anderson, CEO of Bayer AG, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chair of Bharti Enterprises, and Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, to the recent iteration of the Lab.

“These industries have a proven ability to translate investment into broad-based employment and economic opportunity”, the World Bank head Ajay Banga stated.

“We are grateful to the original Lab leaders who helped us deliver strong results in the initial work period,” he added.

Currently, according to the Dangote website, Dangote cement alone has been able to support 54,000 employment in four African nations where the business operates, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Senegal, and South Africa.

His recently established single train 650,000 barrels refinery also employs 29,000 Nigerians and 11,000 foreigners.

AXA, BlackRock, HSBC, Macquarie, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Ninety One, Ping An Group, Royal Philips, Standard Bank, Standard Chartered, Sustainable Energy for All, Tata Sons, Temasek, and Three Cairns Group were among the notable CEOs who launched the Lab.

By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa

Nigerian film to screen at 2025 Cannes Film Market

 

A Nigerian historical fantasy film, Osamede, will screen at the 2025 Cannes Film Market on May 17 at the prestigious Pavillon Afriques.

A statement made available to PUNCH Online on Thursday noted that the screening marks a pivotal step in showcasing African mythology on the global stage and positions Nigeria as a major contributor to the international fantasy genre.

Directed by Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards winner, James Omokwe (Chetam, Ajoche, Riona, Itura) and executive produced by finance and investment expert Lilian Olubi, Osamede tells the story of an orphaned girl in the 1897 colonial Benin Kingdom who discovers superhuman powers. With the mystical Aruosa stone in her grasp, she sets out to liberate her people from British colonial forces.

Olubi, who is scheduled to speak on the Cannes panel, said, “Nigeria has exported music and films globally, but with Osamede, we’re revolutionising how African historical narratives are presented by bringing the legendary Benin Empire’s mythology to life with production values and storytelling that mirror Hollywood fantasy epics. Beyond Budgets: Innovative Funding for Filmmakers.”

Omokwe, known for his compelling fusion of tradition and innovation, describes the film as a reclamation of African history through fantasy.

“Osamede goes beyond a fantasy film set in Africa. With this film, we’re reclaiming our historical narrative through the fantasy genre. What Black Panther did for Afrofuturism, we’re doing for African historical fantasy rooted in actual Benin Kingdom mythology. Our approach combines authentic cultural elements with cinematic spectacle in ways audiences haven’t seen before,” he said.

What sets Osamede apart is its evolution from a successful stage production to the big screen. Originally produced and performed by Olubi’s Gold Lilies Productions, the story was staged 12 times to sold-out audiences. This tested narrative structure gives the film a strong foundation, echoing the success of Broadway-to-screen transitions.

“Osamede arrives at a time when global audiences are increasingly seeking authentic cultural storytelling with universal appeal,” Omokwe added. “The film presents a rare opportunity to capitalise on the commercial potential of historical fantasy while introducing audiences to the untapped cinematic wealth of Benin Kingdom lore.”

The film’s international debut also aligns with the growing momentum behind Nigeria’s Screen Nigeria initiative, which aims to amplify the nation’s cinematic presence on the global stage. Osamede’s Cannes screening comes at a historic moment, alongside My Father’s Shadow, the first Nigerian film to be selected for Cannes’ Official Selection.

The film stars Ivie Okujaye Egboh, Lexan Aisosa Peters, William Benson, Tosin Adeyemi, Lancelot Imasuen, and Alexander Bud. Drawing comparisons to global hits like The Woman King, Osamede taps into the emerging genre of African historical fantasy, spotlighting the rich cultural and mythological heritage of the continent.

By Rotimi Agbana, Punch

Nigeria Moves to End Firewood Use with Nationwide Clean Energy Push

Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs has joined forces with major stakeholders in Nigeria’s energy sector to eliminate the health risks posed by firewood and traditional cooking methods, with a renewed commitment to tackling energy poverty among women.

Speaking at a multi-stakeholder engagement in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim expressed confidence that the collaborative initiative would significantly improve access to clean energy solutions, especially for women across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

“Over 80,000 women die prematurely from the toxic smoke of firewood and traditional cooking stoves; hence, the efforts aim to reach Nigerian women across all 774 local government areas,” she said.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted that the adoption of solar-powered agricultural tools and clean home energy systems would play a pivotal role in promoting healthier, safer living environments.

She described energy poverty as not merely a technical problem but a profound social injustice that disproportionately affects women.

“Energy poverty is not just a technical challenge. It is a social injustice. It locks women in cycles of unpaid labour, economic dependence, and health risks. In many communities, women spend up to eight hours a week gathering firewood,” she noted.

The minister announced plans to roll out clean energy technologies nationwide, including solar home systems, improved cooking stoves, solar-powered water pumps, e-mobility tools, and other productive-use appliances tailored to the needs of women in underserved communities.

Mr. Abba Abubakar-Aliyu, Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), shared progress made under the Nigerian Electrification Project, a $550 million initiative that has already benefited eight million Nigerians and 35,000 businesses, including 12,000 women-led enterprises.

He also revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved a $750 million off-grid energy project, with $410 million allocated for mini-grid development and $240 million for solar home systems.

Abubakar-Aliyu described this as a major opportunity to expand energy access across the country and reinforce efforts to empower women economically.

“So, there is a huge opportunity for us to replicate and to make sure that we scale this intervention across the country,” he stated.

Also addressing the gathering, Mr. Khalil Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), underscored the severity of energy poverty as a barrier to women’s progress, particularly in rural areas.

His remarks, delivered by Dr. Olayode Olasupo, Director of Manufacturing Services at NASENI, stressed that energy poverty affects every aspect of life, from clean cooking and lighting to accessing healthcare and educational services.

“This thereby limits access to critical services, restricts economic opportunities, and compromises health and safety,” he said.

By Abdullahi Jimoh, News Central