Page 3 - Nigeria

More survivors rescued 2 days after Nigeria boat mishap, death toll at 106

Police and villagers on Wednesday rescued more survivors of a boat that capsized in the Niger River in northern Nigeria killing more than 100 people as they returned from a wedding. Police spokesman Okasani Ajayi said at least 144 people have been rescued since the overcrowded boat capsized early on Monday during a late-night trip in north-central Kwara state's Pategi district. The district is 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Ilorin, the state capital. The death toll stood at 106, including some children, he said. It wasn't immediately clear how some of the rescued passengers survived for two days after the accident. Ajayi could not confirm the number of people still missing but locals estimated the boat carried close to 300 passengers. People are still there, he said of others believed to still be in the water. Boat accidents are common in many remote communities across Nigeria, where locally made vessels are commonly used for transport, with authorities often blaming overloading

At least 103 wedding guests killed when boat capsizes in northern Nigeria

A boat returning from a wedding capsized in northern Nigeria, killing at least 103 people, including children, officials said Tuesday. Residents and police were still searching for dozens of people who were on the overcrowded boat that capsized early Monday on the Niger River in the Pategi district of Kwara state, which is 160 kilometres from Ilorin, the state capital, according to police spokesman Okasanmi Ajayi. He said 100 people had been rescued so far. Most of those who drowned were relatives from several villages who attended the wedding together and partied late into the night, according to Abdul Gana Lukpada, a local chief. They arrived at the ceremony on motorcycles but had to leave on the locally made boat after a downpour flooded the road, he said. "The boat was overloaded and close to 300 persons were in it. While they were coming, the boat hit a big log inside the water and split into two," said Lukpada. The wedding was held in the village of Egboti in the neighbouring

Indian crew members of cargo ship return home after detention in Africa

Sixteen Indian crew members of a cargo vessel who were in detention for over nine months in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria have returned to India following the government's lengthy negotiations with the authorities concerned, official sources said on Sunday. Oil tanker MT Heroic Idun and its 26 crew members, including 16 Indians, were in detention since August last year. They were initially detained in Equatorial Guinea and subsequently in Nigeria. The ship and crew were accused of various crimes, including oil theft. "Following lengthy negotiations, all charges against the crew were dropped and the ship was released on May 27 after paying the fines. The Indian crew members have now returned to India," said a source. The sources said the Indian Mission officials remained in regular touch with the crew and undertook consular access on numerous occasions. "From the outset, the government of India, through its missions in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, and in bilateral meetings, took

Indian sailors who were detained in Nigeria return home after 9 months

Indian sailors who had been detained in Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria for nine months finally returned home on Saturday.The 16 sailors, who had faced accusations of oil theft by Nigerian authorities, arrived at Kochi Airport in Kerala after undergoing trials and reaching a settlement.They were warmly welcomed and greeted with garlands at the Kochi airport by their family and Indian Authorities.Notably, the 'MT Heroic Idun' crew who were in detention since August 22, were released with a warning to carefully conduct their maritime-related activities.Sanu Jose, one of the sailors who returned to India thanked the governments as he reached Kerala after 'lots of uncertainty'."I am very happy that I am now at home with my children. There was a lot of uncertainty about what would happen to our lives and we were told that our lives would end in Nigeria but I thank everyone including the government of India and Kerala government for helping us," Sanu Jose said while speaking to ANI.Another ...

Sandesara brothers fighting fraud charges in India flourishing in Nigeria

The selection of a firm owned by the family of the duo branded as fugitives by India to drill wells for the project is just the latest sign of how Nigeria has provided the brothers a haven

Sandesara brothers fighting fraud charges in India flourishing in Nigeria

The selection of a firm owned by the family of the duo branded as fugitives by India to drill wells for the project is just the latest sign of how Nigeria has provided the brothers a haven

Will end monopoly on petrol supplies: Nigeria's NNPC after tripling prices

Nigeria's state owned oil company NNPC will soon end its monopoly on petrol supplies, its chief executive told local television, a day after it nearly tripled prices at its fuel stations countrywide

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with Indian diaspora in Nigeria

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted India's growing importance on the world stage owing to its fast-expanding economy and progressive government actions as he interacted with the Indian diaspora in Nigeria. Singh arrived here on Sunday on a three-day visit, marking the first-ever visit of an Indian defence minister to the African country. He represented India at the swearing-in ceremony of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday. Later on Monday, Singh interacted with the Indian diaspora in Nigeria at an event organised by the Indian High Commission in Abuja, an official statement said on Tuesday. He emphasised the government's focus on Aatmanirbharta' and the significant progress made in defence exports in recent years towards achieving the objective of Make in India, Make for the World', it said. Singh highlighted India's growing importance on the world stage owing to its fast-expanding economy. The event was attended by members of the Indian community not just fr

Nigeria's Bola Tinubu to be sworn in as president amid hopes and scepticism

Nigeria's Bola Tinubu will on Monday take over as president of Africa's most populous country at a period of unprecedented challenges, leaving some citizens hopeful for a better life and others sceptical that his government would perform better than the outgoing one. A former governor of Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, Tinubu, 71, will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari to lead a country that by 2050 is forecast to become the third most populous nation in the world, tied with the United States after India and China. He has promised to build on Buhari's efforts to deliver democratic dividends to citizens in a country where deadly security crises, widespread poverty and hunger have left many frustrated and angry. And with his election still being contested in court by opposition parties and among many young Nigerians, Tinubu has also pledged to reunite the country. His manifesto of renewed hope prioritises the creation of sufficient jobs and ramping up of local production of goods, ..

Online gaming unicorn MPL forays into Africa, launches its app in Nigeria

MPL, which became a unicorn in 2021, has partnered with Africa's gaming publisher Carry1st to launch in the continent

Armed bandits kill at least 46 civilians in attack on community in Nigeria

The attackers invaded the community on Wednesday at about 4:15 p.m. local time shooting indiscriminately at everything in sight and killing 46 people

Uncertainty in Nigeria affects Indian auto, pharma, and consumer firms

Consumer companies like Godrej and Dabur too have significant exposure to Nigeria

Nigeria drills for oil in new field as theft and extremism erode earnings

Nigeria on Tuesday began drilling oil and natural gas in the country's northern region, anticipating a boost to the nation's finances even as the new energy supplies face the threat from theft and extremist activity. President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the drilling within Kolmani oil field in northeast Gombe and Bauchi states, making it the first area where oil is being drilled outside the southern Niger Delta region. It has a reserve of up to 1 billion barrels of crude. The drilling began nearly three years after Nigeria announced the discovery of oil in commercial volume in the region, which is embroiled in a decadelong war against Islamic extremists. Analysts have raised questions about security measures to protect energy facilities there, while there are environmental concerns about tapping into more climate-changing fossil fuels. Crude oil has been critical in expanding infrastructure in the West African nation, accounting for 41% of total federal government revenue in 2021

US asks diplomats to leave Nigeria amid rising fear of terrorist attack

The State Department on Thursday ordered the families of U.S. embassy staffers in the Nigerian capital to leave due to heightened fears of a terrorist attack as it repeated a warning for all Americans to reconsider travelling to any part of the country and not to visit Abuja at all. The announcement came just two days after the department said it would allow nonessential personnel at the embassy in Abuja to depart voluntarily due to elevated security concerns. It did not provide details but the change suggested the U.S. has indications that an attack may be imminent. The department (has) ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees from Abuja due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks there, it said in a revised travel advisory for Nigeria. Nigeria has battled an Islamic insurgency in its northeast for more than a decade, but attacks have been rare in Abuja. In 2011, Islamic extremists linked to the Boko Haram group targeted the United Nations building

Over 1.5 million children at risk as devastating floods hit Nigeria

The floods, which have affected 34 out of the 36 states in the country, have displaced 1.3 million people. Over 600 people have lost their lives and over 200,000 houses have been damaged

UGC seeks report from university on brawl between Indian, Nigerian students

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday sought a report from GD Goenka University in Haryana's Sohna on clashes between Indian and Nigerian students on campus, according to officials. The UGC also directed the university to ensure such incidents do not recur. "It has come to the notice of the UGC that there were clashes between Nigerian and local students on campus of the university, which is causing tension among students," UGC Joint Secretary Surender Singh said. "The university has been directed to take appropriate action and send a detailed report to the commission. Also suitable measures should be taken to avoid such incidents in future," he added. Tension gripped the university campus, located near Sohna, around 50 km from the national capital, after clashes broke out between Indian and Nigerian students on the football ground last week. Six students were injured in the incident and the two groups filed cross-FIRs at the Sohna City police station. The university

Poverty in India fell by 415 million in 15 yrs; still has maximum poor: UN

Global Multidimensional Poverty Index has revealed that COVID-19 pandemic had set progress in reducing poverty back by 3-10 years

2 killed in north-central Nigeria after gunmen attack church during service

Gunmen attacked a church in north-central Nigeria during a service, killing a woman and her young daughter, a government official said Monday as the hunt for the suspects intensified. The motorcycle-riding assailants arrived at the Celestial Church on Sunday and fatally shot the two victims, according to Jerry Omodara, Kogi state's top security official. The church is located in the Lokoja area of Kogi state, 105 kilometers (65 miles) from Nigeria's capital city, Abuja. Sunday's violence renewed concerns about safety at houses of worship in Nigeria, where at least seven attacks have targeted churches or mosques so far this year. In June, a massacre in Ondo state left 40 worshippers dead. Authorities suspect that the assailants in the latest attack in Kogi had specifically targeted the church and its members. It looked like it was organized against that particular church, because their altar was burned with petrol they went with, Omodara said.

After the Gambia, Nigeria, Liberia issue alerts over Maiden Pharma's syrups

Nigeria has reportedly circulated the alert across all professional bodies, health care providers and supply chain associates

76 people killed after boat overturns due to rising floods in Nigeria

At least 76 people were killed in a boat accident in Nigeria's Anambra state on Sunday after a boat carrying 85 persons capsized following rising floods