insert_link Africa Nigeria investigates mysterious disease Health authorities in Nigeria have launched an investigation following the outbreak of a strange illness in the country's northwest state of Sokoto. todayApril 10, 2024 46
insert_link Africa West Africa’s falling fish stocks: illegal Chinese trawlers, climate change and artisanal fishing fleets to blame By Robert Paarlberg, Harvard University Average fish catches by traditional fishing communities along the west African coast have declined significantly over the past three decades. Along the Gulf of Guinea, stretching from Côte d'Ivoire to Nigeria, fishers launch their wooden canoes from the beach to catch small pelagic fish, like sardines and anchovies, which they sell into local informal markets to make a living. They have done […] todayApril 10, 2024 2
insert_link Africa Africa‘s most populous countries eye private investors to tackle housing challenge By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency A wave of government housing policies is set to change the urban landscape across the continent, in line with a report from the African Development Bank (AfDB). “The public sector is recognizing the link between housing and economic growth, and that not only can good housing contribute to the twin goals of economic growth and poverty alleviation, but that the opposite […] todayApril 9, 2024 12
insert_link Africa Twin rate cuts set Mozambique apart as African currency rally By Seth Onyango, bird story agency Mozambique’s central bank has decisively cut its benchmark lending rate to 15.75% from 16.5%, setting a precedent as the first African country to slash rates twice in 2024. The move highlights Maputo’s aggressive push for economic growth amid a wider trend of cooling inflation and currency stability against the US dollar across Africa. Rate cuts in the southeastern African nation, prompted […] todayApril 8, 2024 22
insert_link Environment Microplastics in Nigeria’s Osun River: new study flags alarmingly high levels The Osun River in Nigeria has high levels of microplastics in its water, sediment and fish. Gideon Idowu, Author provided Gideon Idowu, Federal University of Technology, Akure The Osun River is one of the major rivers in southern Nigeria. It flows from its source in Ekiti State, through several states, before emptying into Lagos state’s Lekki Lagoon. It is an important source of water for the communities that live around […] todayApril 8, 2024 16
insert_link Africa Why children are prime targets of armed groups in northern Nigeria Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images Hakeem Onapajo, Nile University of Nigeria Due to growing insecurity, Nigeria is gradually becoming one of the most dangerous places to live. The 2020 Global Terrorism Index identified the country as the third most affected by terrorism. There was a sharp increase in Boko Haram’s targeting of civilians by 25%, and killings by herdsmen increased by 26%, compared with the previous year. The two countries […] todayApril 2, 2024 7
insert_link Africa Cost of living relief on the cards as Kenya, Nigeria currencies gain ground By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Squeezed by painfully high prices for over a year, households in Kenya and Nigeria are beginning to get some relief as their national currencies strengthen against the US dollar and the cost of living starts to come down. In 2023, the shilling and naira were ranked among the worst-performing currencies in the world, according to data from Bloomberg and World Currency […] todayApril 2, 2024 10
insert_link Africa Africa begins licensing crypto as verified transactions hit US $117 billion By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Regulators in Africa are taking steps to bring crypto entities under official oversight as treasuries seek to blunt fiscal risks amid a surge in demand for digital assets. Authorities in South Africa and Nigeria, the continent's most 'crypto-ready' countries, are leading the continent's efforts to place crypto dealers under a licensing regime to protect consumers against money laundering and terrorism-related risks. […] todayApril 2, 2024 9
insert_link Africa The Toxic Air We Breathe: Greenpeace Maps Africa’s Air Pollution Hotspots Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa have emerged as Africa’s most polluted countries in terms of air pollution disease burden, with profound health consequences for Africa’s people and exacerbated impacts on climate change, a report prepared by Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace MENA can now reveal. Titled "Major Air Polluters in Africa Unmasked," the report investigates the biggest human sources of air pollution across Africa, focusing on major industrial and economic […] todayMarch 28, 2024 35
