Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Video - Anger grows in Nigeria's south over oil spills
Oil production in southern Nigeria is at its highest level in the last two years. But it comes with a cost.
There is growing anger over pollution that is affecting local communities, an anger now threatening stability in the region.
Video - Nigeria working on improving tax compliance
Nigeria is cracking down on tax avoidance to help rebuild its finances. But experts say more needs to be done in changing public perceptions towards tax compliance.
Suicide bomber kills in Maiduguri, Nigeria
At least eight people were killed on Monday when a female suicide bomber detonated her explosives at a mosque in northeastern Nigeria.
The head of the Borno state emergency management agency, Ahmed Satomi, said the blast injured 15 others in the London Ciki area of Maiduguri, which has been at the epicentre of Boko Haram violence since 2009.
"The mosque was being guarded by civilian JTF [joint task force militia] during prayers," he told AFP.
"Unknown to them, the girl was being pursued from another part of town by residents who were suspicious of her movement at the time.
"When she approached the mosque, they demanded that she stop to be searched but she suddenly bolted into the mosque and set off her bombs."
"There were two girls that wanted to attack the mosque but one of them got stuck in barbed wire in the ditch dug near the area. The second one escaped and began to run as our operatives there began to chase after her," said spokesman Danbatta Bello with the Civilian-JTF self-defence force.
"She rushed to the mosque and detonated the second bomb."
The mosque collapsed in the blast. Police did not immediately comment.
Two other female suicide bombers were shot and killed in Maiduguri around the same time as the mosque was attacked, Bello said.
It is the second time in a week that four female suicide bombers have sought to cause carnage in Maiduguri.
Last Monday, at least 19 people were killed and 23 others injured when four women set off their bombs in the Molai Kolemari area of the city.
Boko Haram has increasingly used girls and young women to carry out attacks. Some young women who escaped the hardline group have said girls are drugged and forced to carry out suicide missions.
Nigeria's government late last year declared that Boko Haram had been "crushed" but deadly attacks continue. The Islamic group have killed more than 20,000 people, abducted thousands of others and spilled over into neighbouring countries.
Northeastern Nigeria is part of what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis in more than 70 years, with the World Food Programme estimating that more than 4.5 million people in the region need emergency food assistance. Boko Haram has disrupted both agriculture and markets.
The head of the Borno state emergency management agency, Ahmed Satomi, said the blast injured 15 others in the London Ciki area of Maiduguri, which has been at the epicentre of Boko Haram violence since 2009.
"The mosque was being guarded by civilian JTF [joint task force militia] during prayers," he told AFP.
"Unknown to them, the girl was being pursued from another part of town by residents who were suspicious of her movement at the time.
"When she approached the mosque, they demanded that she stop to be searched but she suddenly bolted into the mosque and set off her bombs."
"There were two girls that wanted to attack the mosque but one of them got stuck in barbed wire in the ditch dug near the area. The second one escaped and began to run as our operatives there began to chase after her," said spokesman Danbatta Bello with the Civilian-JTF self-defence force.
"She rushed to the mosque and detonated the second bomb."
The mosque collapsed in the blast. Police did not immediately comment.
Two other female suicide bombers were shot and killed in Maiduguri around the same time as the mosque was attacked, Bello said.
It is the second time in a week that four female suicide bombers have sought to cause carnage in Maiduguri.
Last Monday, at least 19 people were killed and 23 others injured when four women set off their bombs in the Molai Kolemari area of the city.
Boko Haram has increasingly used girls and young women to carry out attacks. Some young women who escaped the hardline group have said girls are drugged and forced to carry out suicide missions.
Nigeria's government late last year declared that Boko Haram had been "crushed" but deadly attacks continue. The Islamic group have killed more than 20,000 people, abducted thousands of others and spilled over into neighbouring countries.
Northeastern Nigeria is part of what the United Nations has called the world's largest humanitarian crisis in more than 70 years, with the World Food Programme estimating that more than 4.5 million people in the region need emergency food assistance. Boko Haram has disrupted both agriculture and markets.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Video - Nigerian entrepreneurs help riders, passengers beat traffic safely
Nigeria's biggest city Lagos is notorious for its terrible traffic. Motorcycle taxis or Okadas in the city are an easier way to get to your destination -- but authorities recently banned them from highways because of a sharp increase in accidents. Two young entrepreneurs want to make it easier for Okada riders and passengers.
HBO to adapt book by Nigerian novelist to TV series
Nnedi's works are usually laced with cultural norms- especially the ones that affect women, yet she skillfully shatters these stereotypes about Africans and women. The book 'Who Fears Death' is the story of a girl - Onyesonwu, who was conceived as a result of rape. The story takes us through her development to the point where she discovers a world full of mystical powers, where she learns that she must end the war between the two communities.
Also included in her tweet was the Executive Producer of the upcoming series. The writer stated that the prestigious George R. R. Martin will preside over the production process of the series. She wrote: "My novel WHO FEARS DEATH has been optioned by @HBO & is now in early development as a TV series with George RR Martin as executive producer. George is the author of best-selling series of fantasy books 'Game of Thrones' and is currently the Executive Producer of the HBO adaptation of his book- hit TV series Game of Thrones, and he's doing a great job with that, therefore Nnedi is in great hands".
According the author, the development has been in the works for a few years, but they just decided to come forward with it. She also revealed in another tweet that she will be overseeing the adaptation:"I am very involved. I also know George well (we met in 2014 and I stayed in touch); he's been a sort of mentor to me through all this. And all those involved know what this story is; Onyesonwu is in good hands."
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