insert_link Health / Medical More African countries recall Johnson & Johnson cough syrup A batch of the children's cough syrup manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in 2021 has now been recalled by drug authorities in six African countries. This the BBC reports is after Nigeria's drug agency warned that it contained high levels of a toxic and potentially fatal substance. Drug regulators in Tanzania and Zimbabwe are the latest to recall the syrup as a precautionary measure. South Africa's drug regulator said batch […] today16 April, 2024
insert_link Africa Local manufacturing of drones is on the rise in Africa By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Rising demand for unmanned aerial vehicles used in various commercial applications is fueling the growth of the local drone manufacturing industry as startups and governments ramp up production within the continent. Following South Africa's successful test flight of the Milkor 380, a groundbreaking unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capable of carrying up to 1300 kilograms among other unique capabilities, the landscape is […] today11 April, 2024
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. today10 April, 2024
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 […] today10 April, 2024
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 […] today9 April, 2024
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 […] today8 April, 2024
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 […] today8 April, 2024
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 […] today2 April, 2024
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 […] today2 April, 2024
