Nigeria is turning to China for support in a major push to scale up egg production and tackle rising food prices. The government plans to build six large industrial poultry farms with Chinese assistance, each capable of producing one million eggs per day.
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Nigeria partners with China to boost egg production
Nigeria is turning to China for support in a major push to scale up egg production and tackle rising food prices. The government plans to build six large industrial poultry farms with Chinese assistance, each capable of producing one million eggs per day.
Fresh COVID-19 case reported in Nigeria
The Government of Cross River State has reported an occurrence of COVID-19 in the state, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Henry Ayuk, the state’s Commissioner for Health, made the announcement at a news conference on Tuesday in Calabar.
According to him, the fresh case involved a Chinese national, who worked with Lafarge and flew into the country on 17 March, before taking ill.
The commissioner stated that the Chinese’ case became worse at the medical facility of his office and had to be taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
He explained that at the UCTH, his samples were taken and all protocols followed; it was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19.
“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” the commissioner said.
Mr Ayuk, a medical doctor, asserted that the Ministry of Health had, however, been repositioned by the current administration, to handle and manage any situation – diseases or epidemic outbreaks.
According to him, unfortunately, there have been silent infections and clear cases from time to time.
“But we are determined that for every ailment, every disease or outbreak, if it is identified here in the state, there should be no alarm.
“The state will do well in terms of surveillance or containment of an outbreak. Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it. So, there is no alarm.
“When this case was reported in about three or four days ago, we decided to be careful to confirm and ensure that the processes involved with identifying and confirming every case of COVID-19, are duly followed.
“The protocols have been followed and confirmed that a 53-year-old Chinese who work in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state has COVID-19,” he said.
On her part, Inyang Ekpenyong, the state epidemiologist, announced that in response to the case, the state emergency response unit had been activated.
She, however, noted that there was currently an ongoing contact tracing and line listing of those the Chinese may have been in contact with.
While noting the last case of confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cross River to be in 2022, the epidemiologist, however, feared that the Chinese may have contacted the virus here in Nigeria.
“The incubation period for this virus is usually between two to 14 days, but the Chinese flew into Nigeria from China on 17 March and started developing the symptoms on 10 April.
“This is well beyond the 14 days incubation period. Like I said, we are doing the line listing of those he may have come in contact with, as part of our containment efforts.
“We have also activated the emergency response center and deployed rapid response teams to Akamkpa, where the victim works.
“There is no way we can stop this disease, but we can stop the disease outbreak.
“It will be wrong not to contain or manage it by ensuring that people do not die,” she stated.
Similarly, Yewande Olatunde, a medical doctor and the World Health Organisation coordinator in Cross River, stated that the disease was still around.
“We must explore all preventive measures to protect ourselves.” she stressed.
Henry Ayuk, the state’s Commissioner for Health, made the announcement at a news conference on Tuesday in Calabar.
According to him, the fresh case involved a Chinese national, who worked with Lafarge and flew into the country on 17 March, before taking ill.
The commissioner stated that the Chinese’ case became worse at the medical facility of his office and had to be taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
He explained that at the UCTH, his samples were taken and all protocols followed; it was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms of COVID-19.
“We are, however, happy to report that he is doing well,” the commissioner said.
Mr Ayuk, a medical doctor, asserted that the Ministry of Health had, however, been repositioned by the current administration, to handle and manage any situation – diseases or epidemic outbreaks.
According to him, unfortunately, there have been silent infections and clear cases from time to time.
“But we are determined that for every ailment, every disease or outbreak, if it is identified here in the state, there should be no alarm.
“The state will do well in terms of surveillance or containment of an outbreak. Whatever it is, we will do our best to contain it. So, there is no alarm.
“When this case was reported in about three or four days ago, we decided to be careful to confirm and ensure that the processes involved with identifying and confirming every case of COVID-19, are duly followed.
“The protocols have been followed and confirmed that a 53-year-old Chinese who work in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state has COVID-19,” he said.
On her part, Inyang Ekpenyong, the state epidemiologist, announced that in response to the case, the state emergency response unit had been activated.
She, however, noted that there was currently an ongoing contact tracing and line listing of those the Chinese may have been in contact with.
While noting the last case of confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cross River to be in 2022, the epidemiologist, however, feared that the Chinese may have contacted the virus here in Nigeria.
“The incubation period for this virus is usually between two to 14 days, but the Chinese flew into Nigeria from China on 17 March and started developing the symptoms on 10 April.
“This is well beyond the 14 days incubation period. Like I said, we are doing the line listing of those he may have come in contact with, as part of our containment efforts.
“We have also activated the emergency response center and deployed rapid response teams to Akamkpa, where the victim works.
“There is no way we can stop this disease, but we can stop the disease outbreak.
“It will be wrong not to contain or manage it by ensuring that people do not die,” she stated.
Similarly, Yewande Olatunde, a medical doctor and the World Health Organisation coordinator in Cross River, stated that the disease was still around.
“We must explore all preventive measures to protect ourselves.” she stressed.
President Tinubu names Taiwo Oyedele as new finance minister
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has approved a minor cabinet shuffle that removed two ministers and promoted a junior official to the key post of finance minister, his office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Taiwo Oyedele, previously minister of state for finance, replaced Wale Edun as minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.
Housing and urban development minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa also exited the cabinet, with Muttaqha Rabe Darma named ministerial nominee for the role, the statement said.
Taiwo Oyedele, previously minister of state for finance, replaced Wale Edun as minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy.
Housing and urban development minister Ahmed Musa Dangiwa also exited the cabinet, with Muttaqha Rabe Darma named ministerial nominee for the role, the statement said.
Nigeria charges six people with treason for plan to overthrow president
Nigerian authorities have charged six people, including a retired major general and a serving police inspector, with terrorism and treason, over an alleged plot to overthrow the president, Bola Tinubu, according to a charge sheet seen by the Associated Press on Tuesday.
The six people accused of treason were all in custody.
A seventh suspect, former Bayelsa state Governor Timpre Sylva, is accused of helping to conceal the plot and is still at large.
The Nigerian government first said it had foiled a coup attempt in January, when it announced that several military officers would stand trial. They were part of a group of 16 military officers arrested in 2025 over what military authorities described as “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations", which fuelled rumours of a coup plot that the government initially denied.
Africa's most populous nation experienced five coups in the 20th century but has not seen one since it transitioned to democracy in 1999.
The alleged coup plot comes on the heels of a surge in coups and attempted coups in West and Central Africa, the latest in Benin and Guinea-Bissau late last year. The military takeovers, experts say, follow a pattern of disputed elections, constitutional upheaval, security crises and youth discontent.
The six people accused of treason were all in custody.
A seventh suspect, former Bayelsa state Governor Timpre Sylva, is accused of helping to conceal the plot and is still at large.
The Nigerian government first said it had foiled a coup attempt in January, when it announced that several military officers would stand trial. They were part of a group of 16 military officers arrested in 2025 over what military authorities described as “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations", which fuelled rumours of a coup plot that the government initially denied.
Africa's most populous nation experienced five coups in the 20th century but has not seen one since it transitioned to democracy in 1999.
The alleged coup plot comes on the heels of a surge in coups and attempted coups in West and Central Africa, the latest in Benin and Guinea-Bissau late last year. The military takeovers, experts say, follow a pattern of disputed elections, constitutional upheaval, security crises and youth discontent.
Monday, April 20, 2026
Turkey to train 200 Nigerian special forces soldiers under new defence deal
Nigeria and Turkey have struck a defence agreement to help Africa's most populous nation fight its 17-year-long jihadist insurgency, the Nigerian defence minister said on Saturday.
"We have agreed to move into training, production, improving on our defence industry cooperation," General Christopher Musa told Turkish media, according to the Anadolu agency.
Musa met with his Turkish counterpart Yaşar Güler at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 over the weekend.
The Nigerian defence minister specified that 200 members of the Nigerian army's special forces would be sent to Turkey immediately for training.
The agreement also includes the establishment of "a major military training facility in Nigeria," according to a statement from Abuja on Sunday.
The two countries are also set to collaborate in areas including technology transfer, intelligence sharing and advanced surveillance.
"We have agreed to move into training, production, improving on our defence industry cooperation," General Christopher Musa told Turkish media, according to the Anadolu agency.
Musa met with his Turkish counterpart Yaşar Güler at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 over the weekend.
The Nigerian defence minister specified that 200 members of the Nigerian army's special forces would be sent to Turkey immediately for training.
The agreement also includes the establishment of "a major military training facility in Nigeria," according to a statement from Abuja on Sunday.
The two countries are also set to collaborate in areas including technology transfer, intelligence sharing and advanced surveillance.
Diversify security partners
Besides radical Islamists from Boko Haram and its rival splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province, Nigeria is also plagued by gangs of armed criminals known as bandits who pillage, kill and kidnap in the northwest.
The country also has to contend with the worsening security crisis across the Sahel — the vast region bordering the southern Sahara desert — which has allowed jihadists to expand across west Africa.
Nigeria's longstanding security woes have drawn the ire of the United States in recent months, withPresident Donald Trump claiming that the country's Christians face "persecution."
In an attempt to reduce its reliance on the US, Nigeria has sought to diversify its security partners.
Musa's Turkey trip comes in the wake of President Bola Tinubu's visit in late January, the first by a Nigerian head of state in nine years.
Turkey is renowned for its inexpensive armed drones, of which it is the world's leading exporter.
"Turkey has improved dramatically regards production of military hardware and Nigeria is still developing," Musa said. “
The outcomes of this engagement mark a significant step forward in Nigeria–Türkiye (sic) defence relations," the Nigerian defence ministry added in a statement.
Besides radical Islamists from Boko Haram and its rival splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province, Nigeria is also plagued by gangs of armed criminals known as bandits who pillage, kill and kidnap in the northwest.
The country also has to contend with the worsening security crisis across the Sahel — the vast region bordering the southern Sahara desert — which has allowed jihadists to expand across west Africa.
Nigeria's longstanding security woes have drawn the ire of the United States in recent months, withPresident Donald Trump claiming that the country's Christians face "persecution."
In an attempt to reduce its reliance on the US, Nigeria has sought to diversify its security partners.
Musa's Turkey trip comes in the wake of President Bola Tinubu's visit in late January, the first by a Nigerian head of state in nine years.
Turkey is renowned for its inexpensive armed drones, of which it is the world's leading exporter.
"Turkey has improved dramatically regards production of military hardware and Nigeria is still developing," Musa said. “
The outcomes of this engagement mark a significant step forward in Nigeria–Türkiye (sic) defence relations," the Nigerian defence ministry added in a statement.
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