RoundReports

The World Bank has approved a five hundred million dollars ($500m)  International Development Association (IDA) credit to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector through a new programme. According to World Bank, the initiative was designed to support smallholder farmers, improve value chains, and enhance food security. The project, known as the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains for Growth Project (AGROW), will run from 2026 to 2032.  It aims to raise productivity, expand market access, and generate employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people.   In a statement released on Thursday, the bank acknowledged agriculture as Nigeria’s largest employer, but stated that the sector continues to underperform due to low productivity, poor access to quality inputs, climate shocks, and weak market linkages.  Reports insisted that many smallholder farmers remain locked in subsistence farming, while food and nutrition insecurity persists nation...

Two migrants have died off the coast of France after a small boat got into difficulty during an attempt to cross the English Channel, French authorities have confirmed. Six other people were rescued, with one taken to hospital, after the incident near Gravelines, close to Calais, on Wednesday morning. The French maritime prefecture said the episode began at around 9.30 am when a small boat moved towards the shoreline where a group of about 30 migrants, including children, was waiting to board.  Witnesses reported scenes of confusion as people struggled to get onto the vessel. Eight migrants were eventually pulled from the water and taken onto a rescue boat, while two others could not be saved. At least 12 French police officers were present in the beach area at the time, officials said. A French navy helicopter was deployed to search the surrounding waters to ensure no one else had been left behind. READ ALSO : Trump Vows ‘Permanent Pause’ on Migration From Developing Nations The d...

The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of a 25-year-old woman, Nafisa Usman, for allegedly trafficking ammunition.   Usman, who hails from Kankara village in Katsina State, was intercepted at a major motor park after intelligence operatives received a tip-off.  She was found with 220 rounds of ammunition concealed inside bags of garri.   Investigations revealed that the consignments were sent to her by an officer based in Lafia, Nasarawa State.  Usman admitted she had never met the officer but regularly collected packages from Unguwa Ukwu Motor Park to deliver to contacts operating in the forests around Kankara.   READ ALSO : Gumi Links Nigerian Killings to Foreign Intelligence Operations She confessed to being involved in the trade for just two months, during which she trafficked consignments valued at N5 million.  It was said that the suspect revealed she regretted her involvement, while acknowledging the gravity of...

President Bola Tinubu will travel to Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday to commiserate with residents following a deadly assault by gunmen in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area.  Recall that the attack, which took place on Sunday, reportedly left at least 28 people dead and also resulted in multiple injuries after police said only 14 people died. Tinubu had initially been scheduled to visit Ogun State to inaugurate operations at the Gateway International Cargo Airport, according to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. However, Onanuga confirmed on Wednesday that Tinubu had postponed the trip in order to prioritise his visit to Plateau. “ Instead, he will head to Jos, capital of Plateau State, to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the recent gun attacks, which claimed the lives of innocent citizens ,” Onanuga said. READ ALSO : Plateau Governor Vows State Will Not Bow to Fear After Jos Attack From Jos, Tinubu is expected to travel to Lagos for Good ...

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has sanctioned the release of N100 million to provide immediate relief for residents of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area, following persistent gas emissions disrupting the community.   The intervention, announced on Wednesday during a government visit to the area, will fund the supply of clean drinking water and essential medical services to mitigate health risks posed by the environmental hazard.   Secretary to the State Government, Dagogo Wokoma, who represented the governor, assured residents that the administration is committed to tackling the crisis, which has reportedly lingered since November 2025.  Wokoma stressed that while the N100 million package is a temporary measure, efforts are underway to identify and resolve the root cause of the emissions.   READ ALSO : Wike Says No Group Can Dislodge His Rivers Political Camp He urged residents to remain calm and supportive of government initiati...

A fresh crackdown on illegal drug distribution has been launched in Delta State following the death of a 15-year-old boy after taking unprescribed medication. The teenager, identified as Gift Oberhirhi, died after reportedly ingesting 15 tablets of Dexamethasone allegedly handed to him by a friend, Destiny Akpofure, also 15.  Police say the substance was taken without any medical authorisation. Gift reportedly became unwell shortly after consuming the tablets and died while being rushed for treatment. The incident was reported at the Orogun Police Division, prompting officers to visit the scene and evacuate the body to the morgue at Orogun General Hospital for an autopsy.  READ ALSO : NDLEA Arrests Nearly 78,000 Drug Offenders, Seizes 14,847 Tonnes in Five Years Police added that the suspect has been arrested and remains in custody as investigations continue. In a statement, the Delta State Police Command said it has intensified intelligence-led operations targeting drug dens,...

Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Tuesday, 7 April, inaugurate Nigeria’s first University Innovation Pod (UniPod) at the University of Lagos. The initiative, developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Federal Government, is intended to bridge the gap between academic learning and the labour market by equipping students and researchers with the tools, mentorship, and financing needed to turn ideas into viable businesses.   Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, described the UniPod scheme as a “ deliberate step towards building a coherent national innovation system, one that links talent, research, industry, and investment in a more purposeful manner. ”  Hadejia explained that the first hub at UNILAG will focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), with additional centres to follow in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Benue, and Borno States.   UNDP Nigeria ...

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has distributed palliative relief materials to residents of Oguta Community in Imo State, as part of efforts to ease the impact of economic pressures across the Niger Delta. RoundReports understands that the distribution, carried out at the civic centre in Oguta, was coordinated through the Commission’s Directorate of Education, Health and Social Services.  READ ALSO : Burna Boy Seeks NDDC Partnership for Ahoada Development According to NDDC, the intervention aligns with ongoing measures to support vulnerable communities amid rising living costs. Speaking at the event, the NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, represented by the Director of Social Services, Jeremiah Oritsejolone, said the Commission remained focused on improving welfare and living standards across the region.  Ogbuku explained that the relief exercise forms part of wider social support initiatives designed to complement longer-term d...

Nigeria has recorded a decline in new HIV infections across its 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to fresh figures released on Wednesday by the National Data Repository (NDR). The updated dataset, which tracks national trends over the past decade, shows that new HIV cases have dropped dramatically to 21,389 in 2026, down from 111,513 in 2025, a year-on-year reduction of more than 90 per cent. New infections rose steadily from 228,014 in 2016 to a peak of 464,355 in 2020, before declining unevenly in subsequent years.  Annual totals stood at 237,756 in 2017; 215,231 in 2018; 27,181 in 2019; 451,402 in 2021; 330,690 in 2022; 238,748 in 2023; and 143,666 in 2024. Despite the national improvement, Lagos and Benue states recorded the highest number of newly identified infections, with 2,342 and 1,956 cases respectively.  They were followed by Rivers (1,185), Akwa Ibom (1,155) and Anambra (1,023), and at the other end of the scale, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara...

More than a million people living with heart disease in England are set to be offered a weekly weight loss injection to reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes.   The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved the use of semaglutide, sold under the brand name Wegovy, for overweight and obese patients with certain cardiovascular conditions.  According to reports, the drug, already prescribed for obesity and type 2 diabetes, works by slowing digestion and encouraging weight loss.   NICE said clinical trials also suggest semaglutide has a direct effect on the heart and blood vessels, with evidence showing a 20 per cent reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular events among trial participants.  The guidance recommends the jab for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or above, alongside statins, a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise.   READ ALSO : NCDMB Launches Overhaul of Nigerian Content Consultativ...