Latest Nigeria government News

13 people including children die in stampedes in Nigeria at Christmas charity events

Dec. 21, 2024 12:09 PM EST

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 13 people, including four children, were killed in two separate stampedes in Nigeria as large crowds gathered to collect food and clothing items distributed at annual Christmas events, the police said Saturday. The two accidents came days after...

France's military is being ousted from more African countries. Here's why

Dec. 20, 2024 00:17 AM EST

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — It's been a tumultuous month for France and its relationship with former colonies in Africa, as its influence on the continent faces the biggest challenge in decades. As Paris was devising a new military strategy that would sharply reduce its permanent troop...

Several children killed in stampede at a holiday fair event in Nigeria, state governor says

Dec. 18, 2024 12:50 PM EST

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Several children have died during a stampede on Wednesday at a holiday funfair in southwestern Nigeria, authorities said. The incident happened at the Islamic High School in Basorun, Oyo State, near the economic hub of Lagos. Security forces attended the scene...

Nigerians press for solar jobs and electricity, with little success

Dec. 18, 2024 10:09 AM EST

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In sun-drenched Nigeria, 14 new solar farms were supposed to jumpstart a meager solar industry and generate huge amounts of power, about one-fifth as much as the country’s entire electric grid offers on a good day. “We were very excited because we were...

West Africa regional bloc sets up court for crimes under dictatorship in Gambia

Dec. 15, 2024 17:19 PM EST

SERREKUNDA, Gambia (AP) — West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS on Sunday approved setting up a special court to try crimes committed in Gambia during its military dictatorship. The landmark decision was announced at the summit of regional heads of state in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja....

West Africa regional bloc approves exit timeline for 3 coup-hit member states

Dec. 15, 2024 12:51 PM EST

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — West Africa’s regional bloc ECOWAS approved Sunday an exit timeline for three coup-hit nations after a nearly yearlong process of mediation to avert the unprecedented disintegration of the grouping. In a first in the 15-nation bloc’s nearly 50 years of...

In Nigeria's lithium boom, many mines are illegal and children do much of the work

Dec. 12, 2024 07:50 AM EST

NASARAWA, Nigeria (AP) — Dressed in a faded pink dress, 6-year-old Juliet Samaniya squats under scorching skies to chip at a jagged white rock with a stone tool. Dust coats her tiny hands and her hair as she works hour after hour for less than a dollar a day. The landscape around her is dotted...

Nigeria confirms that at least 27 people died and more than 100 are missing after boat capsized

Nov. 29, 2024 13:47 PM EST

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 27 people died and more than 100, mostly women, were missing on Friday, after a boat transporting them to a food market capsized along the River Niger in northern Nigeria, authorities said. About 200 passengers were on the boat that was going from the...

Nigeria turns to natural gas as transport prices soar after petrol subsidies were removed

Nov. 24, 2024 03:29 AM EST

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — When Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu ended the costly subsidies that made petrol affordable for many in Africa's most populous country, Ahmed Halilu knew his e-hailing cab business in the capital, Abuja, was about to run into huge losses. Transportation costs...

Police in Finland arrest five suspects over separatist violence in southeast Nigeria

Nov. 21, 2024 10:58 AM EST

HELSINKI, Finland (AP) — Police in Finland said Thursday they had detained five suspects in connection with deadly violence in southeastern Nigeria and were seeking a court extension of the detentions. The police did not identify the suspects, only saying that a dual...