Millions in northeastern Nigeria face hunger as aid agencies scale back operations due to funding cuts. The World Food Programme has shut down 150 distribution centers, leaving families uncertain about their next meal.
Monday, September 8, 2025
Video - Aid cuts deepen food crisis in northeast Nigeria
Millions in northeastern Nigeria face hunger as aid agencies scale back operations due to funding cuts. The World Food Programme has shut down 150 distribution centers, leaving families uncertain about their next meal.
Video - Kidnapping-for-ransom thrives in Nigeria
A new report by SBM Intelligence reveals that kidnappers in Nigeria demanded nearly $1.7 million in ransom between July 2024 and June 2025, highlighting the growth of kidnapping into a lucrative criminal enterprise. Despite government warnings against ransom payments, many families comply, thus encouraging kidnappers to continue the practice.
Related story: More than 2 million kidnapped in Nigeria in one year
Dangote calls for Africa’s prioritization of manufacturing over raw material export
The renowned entrepreneur encouraged operators in the manufacturing and industrial sectors across the continent to embrace a fundamental shift in mindset and develop robust regional value chains and deepen intra-African trade as inward solutions to boost overall development across the continent.
Dangote, who noted that current geo-political tensions and trade wars have caused major economies to reevaluate their traditional trade partnerships with a view to diversifying their supply chains, also urged African exporters to benefit from the current process to fill the gap by competitively supplying the required products.
These recommendations were contained in Dangote’s welcome address at the company’s Special Day at the ongoing 4th Intra-African Trade Fair holding in Algiers, Algeria, where he was represented by his Special Adviser and Representative, Engr. Ahmed Mansur.
“I am glad to be here at the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF). I am immensely grateful to the organisers – not only for inviting me and giving me the opportunity to speak – but also for going a step further by dedicating this remarkable day to my organisation, Dangote Group. To have today officially set aside as Dangote Day is both an honour and a privilege.
“I thank the conveners – The African Export Import Bank, the African Union Commission and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat – for organising this event. We appreciate the invaluable contributions you have made and the excellent work you continue to do in promoting, facilitating, and deepening trade and investment across the continent”, Dangote added.
According to him, “this year’s theme, “Gateway to New Opportunities,” resonates deeply as a powerful reminder of the huge potential and prospects that abound across the African continent. For too long Africa’s resources have been exported as primary commodities in their raw and unrefined state with limited domestic processing or beneficiation.
“There must be a fundamental shift in mindset and a deliberate re-orientation toward industrialisation and the development of Africa’s manufacturing sector. While this was always necessary in the past, it is even more urgent today, given the alarming rise in youth unemployment, and the need for sustainable, inclusive growth”, he added.
The business tycoon observed that current geo-political tensions and trade wars have caused major economies to reevaluate their traditional trade partnerships with a view to diversifying their supply chains.
“African exporters could benefit if they can fill the gap by competitively supplying the required products. Furthermore, global instability has encouraged African nations to look inward and actively pursue greater regional self-reliance. This inward focus can catalyse the development of robust regional value chains and significantly deepen intra-African trade”, he advised.
“At Dangote, we are very proud of our Afrocentric posture, driven by an unwavering commitment to the continent’s growth and industrial transformation. We have added value to limestone and created the largest cement company in sub Saharan Africa with an aggregate cement production capacity of about 52MMtpa across 10 countries,” Dangote stated.
“Similarly, our 3MMtpa urea plant has contributed to the attainment of fertiliser self-sufficiency. Nigeria, once solely reliant on imports is now a net exporter of granulated urea to destinations in Africa as well as to South America, North America and Europe.
“More recently, we have witnessed the commencement of operation of Africa’s biggest oil refinery – also the world’s largest single-train facility, with a capacity of 650kbpd. This landmark project is gradually reducing the region’s long-standing dependence on imports of refined petroleum products, particularly from Europe, while also generating surplus for export to global markets. As Africa becomes more self-sufficient in energy it should reduce our vulnerability to external shocks and supply disruptions.
“Africa’s potential and prospects are immense. However, this potential will only be fully actualised if individual nations take deliberate steps to improve their business environment. Unlocking new economic opportunities requires the implementation of appropriate policy reforms, investment in infrastructure, and attractive sector wide incentives to facilitate the inflow of private capital” Dangote concluded.
At the Dangote Special Day, which drew admirers and various attendees, various Business Units of the conglomerate such as Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, Dangote Salt (NASCON), Dangote Fertiliser, Dangote Polypropylene, and Dangote Packaging did presentations and urged greater collaboration among trade partners and manufacturers across Africa for the development of the continent.
At least 60 people dead in Boko Haram attack in northern Nigeria
More than 60 people were killed in overnight attacks by the jihadist group Boko Haram in the northern Nigerian state of Borno, local officials said. At least five of the people killed were soldiers.
The militants struck the village of Darul Jamal, the location of a military base along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The Nigerian Air Force said it killed 30 militants after it received reports of attacks on the village.
"In a series of three precise and successive strikes, the fleeing terrorists were decisively engaged, resulting in the neutralization of over 30 insurgents," Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame said, according to BBC News.
Ejodame said the insurgents were fleeing north from the town toward nearby bushes.
Residents recently returned to the rebuilding village after years of being displaced by fighting between Boko Haram and rival groups, including the West African branch of the Islamic State group, authorities said.
"This community was settled a few months ago and they went about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night," Gov. Babagana Zulum told local media. "Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience."
Zulum called for the immediate deployment of newly trained specialty guards to help the military defend vulnerable communities.
A decade ago, Boko Haram controlled large areas of Borno state before being pushed back.
The militants struck the village of Darul Jamal, the location of a military base along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The Nigerian Air Force said it killed 30 militants after it received reports of attacks on the village.
"In a series of three precise and successive strikes, the fleeing terrorists were decisively engaged, resulting in the neutralization of over 30 insurgents," Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame said, according to BBC News.
Ejodame said the insurgents were fleeing north from the town toward nearby bushes.
Residents recently returned to the rebuilding village after years of being displaced by fighting between Boko Haram and rival groups, including the West African branch of the Islamic State group, authorities said.
"This community was settled a few months ago and they went about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night," Gov. Babagana Zulum told local media. "Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience."
Zulum called for the immediate deployment of newly trained specialty guards to help the military defend vulnerable communities.
A decade ago, Boko Haram controlled large areas of Borno state before being pushed back.
Friday, September 5, 2025
Dozens die after boat hits tree stump in Nigerian river
At least 32 people have died in Nigeria's northern Niger state after a boat sank in a river, an official has told the BBC.
The boat was reportedly overloaded, carrying about 100 passengers including women and children, capsized when it struck a submerged tree stump on the River Niger in the Borgu area on Tuesday morning.
They were on their way to a nearby village to pay their respects to the family of someone who had recently died.
Abdullahi Baba Ara, the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) in the state, told BBC Hausa on Thursday that more than 50 other people had been rescued, with eight still missing.
Search operations are continuing.
Mr Ara said the government had set up a team of "water marshals" to stop boat operators from overloading their vessels and ensure passengers wear life jackets.
"Perhaps the water marshals were not on duty when this boat took off," he said, adding that investigations had started.
A local district head told the Reuters news agency that he had been at the scene soon after the accident.
"I was at the scene yesterday around 12 pm until 4 pm. The boat carried more than 100 people. We were able to recover 31 corpses from the river. The boat was also recovered and removed," Reuters quoted Sa'adu Inuwa Muhammad as saying.
Boat accidents are fairly common in Nigeria, often due to overloading, poor regulation and inadequate safety precautions.
About 25 people went missing last month after a boat accident in Sokoto state.
In December last year, 54 bodies were recovered from the River Niger after a boat that may have been carrying more than 200 passengers capsized.
The government has made it mandatory for water travellers to always wear life jackets, but this is often not enforced.
In February, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, set up a "Special Committee on the Prevention of Boat Mishaps in Nigeria", and in May the ministry announced that it would be distributing 42,000 life jackets across 12 riverine states in the country.
Later in the month, the National Inland Water Ways Authority (NIWA) kicked off a campaign they called "No Life Jacket, No Travel", and "No Night Travelling" in Niger and Kwara states where boat accidents have occurred regularly in the recent past.
Niger state is Nigeria's largest by land mass and people tend to travel a lot by water as it is often the fastest and cheapest means of getting around.
By Basillioh Rukanga and Chukwunaeme Obiejesi, BBC
The boat was reportedly overloaded, carrying about 100 passengers including women and children, capsized when it struck a submerged tree stump on the River Niger in the Borgu area on Tuesday morning.
They were on their way to a nearby village to pay their respects to the family of someone who had recently died.
Abdullahi Baba Ara, the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) in the state, told BBC Hausa on Thursday that more than 50 other people had been rescued, with eight still missing.
Search operations are continuing.
Mr Ara said the government had set up a team of "water marshals" to stop boat operators from overloading their vessels and ensure passengers wear life jackets.
"Perhaps the water marshals were not on duty when this boat took off," he said, adding that investigations had started.
A local district head told the Reuters news agency that he had been at the scene soon after the accident.
"I was at the scene yesterday around 12 pm until 4 pm. The boat carried more than 100 people. We were able to recover 31 corpses from the river. The boat was also recovered and removed," Reuters quoted Sa'adu Inuwa Muhammad as saying.
Boat accidents are fairly common in Nigeria, often due to overloading, poor regulation and inadequate safety precautions.
About 25 people went missing last month after a boat accident in Sokoto state.
In December last year, 54 bodies were recovered from the River Niger after a boat that may have been carrying more than 200 passengers capsized.
The government has made it mandatory for water travellers to always wear life jackets, but this is often not enforced.
In February, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, set up a "Special Committee on the Prevention of Boat Mishaps in Nigeria", and in May the ministry announced that it would be distributing 42,000 life jackets across 12 riverine states in the country.
Later in the month, the National Inland Water Ways Authority (NIWA) kicked off a campaign they called "No Life Jacket, No Travel", and "No Night Travelling" in Niger and Kwara states where boat accidents have occurred regularly in the recent past.
Niger state is Nigeria's largest by land mass and people tend to travel a lot by water as it is often the fastest and cheapest means of getting around.
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