The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig- Gen Mohamed Marwa (rtd), has called for a strong national response and sustained support for the alternative development programme recently initiated by the Agency to curb illicit cannabis cultivation, uplift rural communities and strengthen national security. The successful take off of the pilot scheme in Ilu Abo, Ifon, and Eleyewo in Ondo state last week clearly demonstrates that alternative development works when communities are engaged, supported, and empowered. “They have openly stated that this programme has renewed their hope in Nigeria and restored their confidence in government. The NDLEA boss said the dire reality of illicit cannabis cultivation and use in Nigeria made the Agency to look beyond law enforcement and consider a United Nations endorsed alternative to solving the cannabis conundrum. “Field assessments focusing on high-risk areas in the South West reveal that nearly 8,900 hectares of land are under cannabis cultivation, often hidden deep within forests and remote regions.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has issued more than 85,000 work permits over the past year in a bid to revive the country’s labour market. According to a report by TOLO News on Tuesday, the permits were granted to both Afghan citizens and foreign nationals, reflecting the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the workforce amid persistent economic challenges. In addition, around 20,000 people received vocational training in various skills during the same period, the report said. In recent years, the authorities have stepped up efforts to improve employment opportunities by expanding training programmes and enhancing access to the labour market, with the aim of supporting long-term economic stability.

African stock markets have expanded in recent years, driven by reforms, improved regulation and growing interest in domestic capital formation. Below are the top 10 African stock markets ranked by the number of listed firms. Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) – South AfricaAlthough it ranks behind Egypt and Nigeria by number of companies, the JSE is Africa’s most influential stock market. Casablanca Stock Exchange – MoroccoMorocco’s bourse is one of North Africa’s more stable markets, featuring a moderate number of listed companies and increasing participation from institutional investors. Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) – GhanaThe Ghana Stock Exchange remains relatively small, with few new listings in recent years, reflecting the challenges faced by smaller African capital markets.

“The availability and easy access to alcohol have been identified as a contributory factor to the increasing alcohol consumption among minors,” she said. Beyond the quantitative survey, the NAFDAC boss said qualitative data were gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. On drinking patterns, the NAFDAC chief said the survey showed that 54 per cent of respondents were occasional drinkers, while 24 per cent drank alcohol daily and 11 per cent consumed alcohol at least once a week. “Further analysis revealed that 63.2 per cent of minors and 54.0 per cent of the underaged drink alcohol occasionally. “Access to alcohol by children can be limited if pack sizes that can be easily concealed are not available.

As Oyo State clocks 50 years of its creation, the member representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide, has paid glowing tribute to Governor Seyi Makinde, former Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Brig. Olajide extended his felicitations to other legends, technocrats, traditional rulers, civil servants, professionals, artisans and citizens whose sacrifices, he said, have collectively written Oyo state’s history over the last five decades. From our founding leaders to today’s leadership, the story of Oyo state is one of courage and unyielding progress,” Olajide said. “As we celebrate 50 years of Oyo State, we must also renew our collective resolve to protect its legacy and work towards a future defined by inclusion, opportunity and sustainable development,” he added.

The Federal Government has announced plans to share electricity subsidy costs with state and local governments from 2026, ending the long-standing practice of bearing the burden alone. He urged MDAs to clearly reflect subsidy-related costs in their 2026 budget submissions and avoid shifting unfunded liabilities into the electricity market. Beyond electricity subsidies, Yakubu said the 2026 Budget would mark a departure from rollover budgeting and fragmented project lists, describing it as a single, coherent implementation framework designed to improve execution and accountability. The Budget Office chief added that the 2026 Budget would prioritise delivery-ready and finance-ready projects, noting that fewer but well-funded projects would deliver greater impact. The workshop is aimed at aligning MDAs with new budget expectations and strengthening the link between planning, financing and delivery in the 2026 fiscal year.

A hospital in Toulouse, France, called in a bomb disposal unit after doctors discovered a World War I artillery shell lodged inside a patient’s rectum during a medical procedure. According to reports by The Mirror and French outlet La Dépêche, the man told medical staff that he had inserted an object into his body, but did not specify what it was. “At the time of the extraction, the surgeon realised that it was a shell from the First World War, about 16 centimetres long and 4 centimetres wide,” a police source was quoted as saying. A security perimeter was established, and some staff and patients were asked to leave the area as a precaution. After examining the object, explosives experts determined that the shell dated back to the end of World War I and had been decommissioned, posing no danger.

The Governor made the assertion in a statewide broadcast on the ocassion of the celebration of 50th anniversary of the creation of Bauchi State on 3rd February, 2026. The Governor stated, “Today, I speak to you with a heart filled with gratitude, pride, and responsibility as we mark the 50th Anniversary of the creation of our dear State. The Governor further stated that, “Each administration, in its own way, contributed to the growth, stability, and continuity of Bauchi State. Bauchi State is, no doubt, a product of shared responsibility. Bauchi State occupies a total land area of 49,549 square kilometres representing about 5.3% of Nigeria’s total land mass,” he added.

Nigeria has officially handed over the headquarters of the African Energy Bank (AEB), a flagship institution established to mobilise capital for the continent’s energy priorities and strengthen energy value chains. During the event, the President of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) and Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Mamadou Colibaly, commended Nigeria’s leadership in advancing the initiative. “The African Energy Bank represents Africa’s commitment to finance, develop and secure its own energy future by Africans, for Africans,” Colibaly said. The African Energy Bank is a joint initiative of APPO member states and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), established with an initial capital of five billion dollars. The African Energy Bank is a pan-African financial institution jointly established by APPO member states and Afreximbank to provide tailored financing solutions for energy projects across Africa, and to finance and strengthen regional energy markets.

United States President, Donald Trump, has announced plans to seek $1bn in damages from Harvard University, escalating his administration’s long-running dispute with the institution. The announcement follows a report by the New York Times that the Trump administration had retreated from an earlier demand for a $200m payment during negotiations with the university. Officials in the Trump administration have accused Harvard of failing to adequately address antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests on campus, an allegation the university has rejected. In April last year, Trump revoked about $2bn in research grants awarded to Harvard and froze its federal funding. Other Ivy League institutions, including Columbia, Penn, and Brown, have reached agreements with the Trump administration to protect threatened funding rather than pursue legal action.

The two awards were presented to Oba Ladoja and Governor Makinde in Saturday in Lagos. Ajadi said he is not surprised that Gov Makinde was given Political Personality of the Year Award . “I stand with the Sun Newspaper on the choice of the Olubadan and Gov Makinde for the outstanding award. “Gov Makinde has remained an ideal Democrat, a strong contributor to the development of Nigerian democracy, good government and great development. “I pray that God will continue to give Gov Makinde more wisdom, strength and understanding as he is wrapping up his Second Term in the office”.

He said the APC remains focused on national development and democratic consolidation, stressing that the party does not take Nigerians for granted. Yilwatda highlighted economic improvements under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying governors are now better positioned to deliver development as a result of improved fiscal policies. Dismissing claims that Nigeria is drifting towards a one-party state, Yilwatda described such allegations as unfounded. Yilwatda reaffirmed that the APC is a disciplined party that welcomes all Nigerians who believe in its vision, whether or not they are card-carrying members. The APC chairman assured Nigerians that the party’s leadership is not complacent.

According to the CBN, the report offers a detailed assessment of Nigeria’s fast-growing digital finance ecosystem and outlines strategic priorities for its next phase of development. The CBN noted that the current growth trajectory aligns with the Payments System Vision 2025, which targets near-universal electronic payment penetration by 2030, underscoring fintech’s central role in Nigeria’s digital economy strategy. Drawing on surveys and extensive stakeholder engagement, the report examined the scale and maturity of Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem, underscoring interoperability, proportional regulation and effective execution as critical enablers of sustainable growth. While this performance reflects resilience amid global macroeconomic headwinds, the report warned that Nigeria’s fintech sector remains heavily dependent on foreign capital, exposing it to global interest rate cycles. Looking ahead, the CBN outlined three strategic anchors for the sector: enabling innovation-friendly regulation, advancing financial inclusion through digital finance, and deepening regional integration through regulatory harmonisation.

The Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has called for the strengthening of the African Petroleum Regulators’ Forum AFRIPERF as a critical platform for harmonising energy regulation across the continent and unlocking large-scale investment in Africa’s oil and gas sector. She made the call while delivering her keynote address at the Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) which was held at the International Conference Centre ICC on Monday in Abuja. She said, “Investors are not deterred by Africa’s geology; they are deterred by inconsistent rules. According to her, the Africa Energy Bank, headquartered in Nigeria, is mobilising African capital for African energy projects by helping to bridge financing gaps left by global capital withdrawal. Only then can we unlock the full transformative power of Africa’s resources for our people,” the CCE concluded.

This development, he noted, has largely dampened the morale of students who cultivate school farmlands for practical studies. Akinremi, speaking at a press briefing heralding the 60th anniversary of Iroko Community Grammar School, Iroko, in Akinyele Local Government Area, tasked relevant authorities with putting in place necessary measures to checkmate the trend. ALSO READ: APC’s growth driven by grassroots support, not governors’ defections —YilwatdaHe said such measures include the construction of a perimeter fence, currently being undertaken by the school’s Old Students Association, and the engagement of security agents. He added that the celebration presents an opportunity to reignite pride, restore excellence, and secure a stronger future for Iroko Community Grammar School. “As the Old Students’ Association, we have resolved to take collective responsibility for restoring Iroko Community Grammar School to its old glory.