Amnesty urges Nigeria to investigate deaths in army-run camp, military says report baseless

Amnesty International called on Nigeria to ​investigate reports that at least 150 people, ‌most of them children, had died in an army-run camp in north-central Kwara state - though the military ​said the reports were baseless.

The victims were ​reported to be among about 1,500 members of ⁠the Fulani community who were moved to the ​camp in Yikpata after facing escalating attacks by ​armed groups, Amnesty said on Thursday.

"Instead of finding safety, they face overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, restrictions on their ​movements, acute malnutrition and disease," Amnesty said ​in a statement.

The military dismissed the report of deaths. "There is ‌no ⁠verifiable evidence to support such an allegation," Major General Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, told Reuters.
"I doubt its veracity. Nothing like ​this has happened," ​he ⁠added.

Amnesty said its researchers who visited the camp in April spoke to ​survivors who said starvation and disease ​were widespread, ⁠with multiple bodies buried in single graves.

Communities have come under increasing pressure as Islamist militants from ⁠the ​north push into the ​region, security analysts have said.

By Ahmed Kingimi, Reuters

Adobe targets Nigeria’s booming creator economy with strategic Redington partnership

Magalie Meuris, Senior Channel Leader, South-West EMEA at Adobe, says the company is ramping up its Africa expansion, positioning Nigeria at the centre of a fast-growing global creative and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven economy.

Meuris said this during a media parley organised to announce Adobe’s partnership with Redington on Thursday night in Lagos.

“We are especially excited because this is not just another event, it reflects a clear ambition from Adobe to invest and grow in Africa,” Meuris said.

She highlighted that Africa’s creator economy, valued at over three billion dollars in 2023, was projected to grow to nearly 18 billion dollars by 2030, driven by rising digital adoption and mobile-first content creation.

She noted that Nigeria was a key part of this growth, with its creator ecosystem expanding rapidly as design, video and social content become essential tools for businesses and individuals.

“The creative economy is real, it is growing, and Nigeria is very much part of that,” she said.

Speaking on technology trends, she noted that Nigeria was emerging as one of the fastest adopters of AI globally, with strong usage across education, work and entrepreneurship.

She highlighted that about 88 per cent of Nigerian adults had used AI chatbots, placing the country about 26 per cent above the global average of 62 per cent.

Meuris said that the trend underscored Nigeria’s growing influence in the global digital economy and the increasing importance of local partners in shaping AI adoption strategies.

Speaking on Adobe’s strategy, she noted that the company was focused on strengthening its existing customer base, expanding into new markets and accelerating growth through AI-powered solutions.

She added that the partnership model remained critical to delivering innovation, enabling market access and ensuring long-term value for customers.

Also speaking, Ifeoma Anie, Head of Sales, Nigeria at Redington, said the partnership was aimed at unlocking access to world-class creative tools and bridging gaps in the local ecosystem.

“We are in a digital acceleration moment, where businesses are evolving, consumers are more connected and creativity is now at the centre of how brands communicate and compete,” Anie said.

Anie, who was represented by Olarotimi Faniyi, Systems Engineer at Redington, noted that although many Nigerian businesses and creators were ready to scale, they often lacked the right tools, support systems and platforms.

She said that the collaboration would combine Adobe’s global leadership in creativity and digital experience with Redington’s strong distribution network and market expertise.

Speaking on the impact, she noted that the partnership would enable partners to expand offerings, enter new markets and build recurring revenue streams, while empowering SMEs and creators to operate at global standards.

In his remarks, Mark Humphrey, Inside Channel Account Manager at Adobe, introduced new AI-powered solutions designed to improve productivity and content creation.

“We are really passionate about bringing new products to the Nigerian market and empowering everyone to create,” Humphrey said.

He highlighted that one of the flagship products, Acrobat Studio, was built as an all-in-one platform to help users comprehend, collaborate and create within a single application.

He noted that modern workplaces were facing increasing pressure from fragmented tools and information overload, leading to significant productivity losses.

Speaking on the solution, he noted that Acrobat Studio integrated AI capabilities to streamline document workflows, enhance collaboration and enable faster content creation.

He added that the platform would help businesses reduce the time spent on creating presentations and analysing documents, while improving efficiency and output quality.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the partnership is expected to deepen Adobe’s footprint in Nigeria while strengthening the country’s position in the global digital and creative

NAN

Related story: UK launches fund to boost production in Nigeria’s creative sector

Nigeria-Ghana onion trade resumes after weeks of disruption

The standoff, triggered by disputes at the border, halted onion shipments and caused significant losses for traders. It also led to shortages and rising prices for onions across parts of West Africa. Regional interventions helped ease tensions and restore the vital trade route.

CGTN Africa

Nigeria may lose U.S. security aid as lawmakers move to impose strict conditions

Nigeria could face tighter scrutiny over its security operations after U.S. lawmakers advanced a funding bill that places new conditions on American assistance to the country.

The legislation, approved by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, ties future security support to measurable progress in addressing violence, particularly in regions affected by attacks on Christian communities.

U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, a key backer of the bill, accused the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of failing to adequately respond to what he described as escalating violence, especially in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

The country has seen persistent clashes involving ethnic militias, criminal gangs, and jihadist groups.

“This bill takes serious steps to address this crisis,” Moore said, adding that the United States would not ignore the situation.

U.S.–Nigeria Military Aid and Security Cooperation Over the Years

U.S. security assistance has long supported Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), mainly through training, intelligence sharing, and limited military support.

The U.S.–Nigeria relationship is one of Washington’s most important in sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting Nigeria’s strategic role as Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy.

Between FY2019 and FY2023, the U.S. provided about $5 million in International Military Education and Training (IMET) funding, alongside roughly $500,000 under the Africa Military Education Program (AMEP) since FY2016 to strengthen Nigeria’s military institutions.

Under Donald Trump’s recent-term approach, U.S. policy toward Nigeria became more forceful, with heightened focus on insecurity and allegations of Christian persecution.

His administration combined pressure - warning of aid cuts and potential military action - with limited intelligence and counterterrorism coordination.

The relationship later shifted toward cooperation, with the U.S. supporting Nigerian-led operations through intelligence sharing, training, and advisory assistance rather than direct intervention.

However, engagement has become more cautious overall due to concerns over civilian harm, human rights, and accountability.

Some U.S. officials have framed aspects of it as religiously driven, contributing to a gradual shift toward conditional aid tied to civilian protection, governance reforms, and humanitarian support.

Stricter conditions and deeper oversight

The proposed legislation sets out clear benchmarks Nigeria must meet before accessing U.S. security assistance.

These include effectively responding to violence, holding perpetrators accountable, prioritising resources for internally displaced persons, and facilitating their safe return to ancestral communities.

It also directs that U.S. support prioritise atrocity prevention, the advancement of religious freedom, prosecution of armed groups including Fulani militias, criminal gangs, and jihadist networks, as well as improved accountability for police and security forces.

Additional provisions emphasise humanitarian assistance and support for faith-based organisations operating in conflict-affected areas, alongside efforts to disarm armed groups.

Beyond the conditions, the bill introduces heightened oversight.

Nigeria would be added to a list of countries requiring enhanced monitoring, with the U.S. Secretary of State mandated to submit detailed plans outlining how every dollar of assistance is allocated and spent, subject to direct congressional review.

"The bill we passed out of committee also adds Nigeria to the list of countries requiring much higher levels of oversight. The Secretary is required to submit a plan for every dollar appropriated to Nigeria, and every dollar spent will have direct Congressional oversight." Rep Moore added.

The move signals a shift toward more conditional engagement between Washington and Abuja.

If enacted, it could reshape bilateral security cooperation, placing increased pressure on Nigeria to demonstrate measurable progress in addressing violence, protecting vulnerable communities, and restoring stability in affected regions.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

Related story: Despite US troops and killer drones, Islamic State terrorizing Nigeria

President Tinubu nominates new oil regulator in second leadership change in four months

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as chief executive of ​the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), ‌the second leadership change at the petroleum regulator in four months, the presidency said on Tuesday.

Umar replaces Saidu Mohammed who ​was appointment in December after their predecessors abruptly ​quit, amid a high stakes clash between one agency ⁠and Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote.

Wednesday's nomination comes ​as Nigeria grapples with rising domestic energy prices, partly ​driven by higher global oil prices following the escalation of conflict involving Iran, which has heightened concerns about supply disruptions and ​increased volatility in international energy markets.

The presidency said ​the decision was made in the public interest and aimed at ‌strengthening ⁠regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector.

Pending Senate confirmation, the most senior official at the NMDPRA will oversee the agency in an acting capacity.

Umar ​has more ​than 25 ⁠years of experience across the energy, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. He previously worked at ​Dangote Cement, Nigeria’s largest cement producer, and ​has ⁠held senior roles involving operational management and large-scale project delivery.

The NMDPRA was established under a new law in ⁠2021 ​to regulate Nigeria’s midstream and ​downstream petroleum operations, a critical segment of Africa’s largest oil-producing economy.

By Camillus Eboh, Reuters