Monday, December 26, 2016
Video - Nigeria's Aruna Quadri first African to reach table tennis quarters
The Olympic Games were not just about winning medals, some athletes like Aruna Quadri made history by breaking new ground in Table Tennis.
Friday, December 23, 2016
Video - CBN's special auction to clear backlog of dollar obligations
Nigeria's Central Bank will hold a special foreign exchange auction to clear a backlog of outstanding dollar demand for selected sectors. It has asked commercial lenders to submit the backlog for dollar demand from fuel importers, airlines, as well as manufacturing and agricultural firms. These sectors have seen severe foreign exchange shortages hamper, at best, but more often, cripple their operations.
Nigeria denies plastic rice being sold in Nigeria
Nigeria's government has denied reports that "plastic rice" was being sold in the country, days after the customs service said 2.5 tonnes of the contraband had been confiscated.
Health Minister Isaac Adewole tweeted that tests by the food safety agency found "no evidence" of plastic material.
Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu said on Wednesday the fake rice was intended to be sold during the festive season.
Rice is Nigeria's staple food.
Mr Mamudu has not commented on the health minister's statement.
It is not clear where the seized sacks came from but rice made from plastic pellets was found in China last year.
Mr Adewole said the agency would "release detailed findings to public as soon as it concludes investigations", urging Nigerians to remain calm.
Mr Mamudu had said the rice was very sticky after it was boiled and "only God knows what would have happened" if people ate it.
The BBC's Martin Patience in Lagos, who felt the rice, said it looked real but had a faint chemical odour.
The Lagos customs chief had called on "economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal" business activity.
Health Minister Isaac Adewole tweeted that tests by the food safety agency found "no evidence" of plastic material.
Lagos customs chief Haruna Mamudu said on Wednesday the fake rice was intended to be sold during the festive season.
Rice is Nigeria's staple food.
Mr Mamudu has not commented on the health minister's statement.
It is not clear where the seized sacks came from but rice made from plastic pellets was found in China last year.
Mr Adewole said the agency would "release detailed findings to public as soon as it concludes investigations", urging Nigerians to remain calm.
Mr Mamudu had said the rice was very sticky after it was boiled and "only God knows what would have happened" if people ate it.
The BBC's Martin Patience in Lagos, who felt the rice, said it looked real but had a faint chemical odour.
The Lagos customs chief had called on "economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal" business activity.
Related story: Plastic rice confiscated in Nigeria
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Video - Boko Haram: Behind the Rise of Nigeria's Armed Group
An investigation into the origins and ideology of the rebel group and its bloody rise.
Abuja airport closed for repairs
Nigeria says it will close the main airport in the capital Abuja, in order to carry out a major upgrade.
The airport will be closed for six weeks, starting in February 2017.
The announcement comes after airlines threatened to stop flying to Abuja because of safety concerns over the state of the runway.
During the repairs, domestic and international flights to Abuja will be diverted to the city of Kaduna more than 160km (100 miles) away.
BBC Nigeria correspondent Martin Patience says passengers diverted to Kaduna will face a two-hour journey along a road that has recently been hit by a spate of kidnappings.
The hour-long flight from Nigeria's commercial centre Lagos to the capital is used as a shuttle by many businesses.
Critics are warning that the closure will prove hugely damaging to the country's economy, which is already reeling from its worst recession in decades.
But the government says that by carrying out the major work in one go, it will not have to make smaller repairs in the future.
The airport will be closed for six weeks, starting in February 2017.
The announcement comes after airlines threatened to stop flying to Abuja because of safety concerns over the state of the runway.
During the repairs, domestic and international flights to Abuja will be diverted to the city of Kaduna more than 160km (100 miles) away.
BBC Nigeria correspondent Martin Patience says passengers diverted to Kaduna will face a two-hour journey along a road that has recently been hit by a spate of kidnappings.
The hour-long flight from Nigeria's commercial centre Lagos to the capital is used as a shuttle by many businesses.
Critics are warning that the closure will prove hugely damaging to the country's economy, which is already reeling from its worst recession in decades.
But the government says that by carrying out the major work in one go, it will not have to make smaller repairs in the future.
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