The Latest Breaking News from Nigeria

African democracy on the line as ‘bellwether’ Nigeria goes to polls

Presidential election comes as fuel shortages and currency woes take toll on continent’s most populous country

The Guardian - UK · Feb 9, 2023

Fuel and cash shortages rile Nigerian voters heading into election

At a fuel station in Nigeria's commercial capital, tempers flare and harsh words are exchanged as motorists wait in line for hours to fill up their tanks at one of the few outlets with petrol left in the vicinity.

Reuters · Feb 9, 2023

Nigeria Supreme Court extends deadline to ditch old banknotes

Nigeria's Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Friday's deadline to end the legal tender status of old banknotes, which had caused a cash crisis in the nation.

Radio France Internationale · Feb 9, 2023

Doctor accused of organ trafficking posed as cousin of donor, UK court told

Obinna Obeta’s successful transplant allegedly then inspired plot to bring man from Nigeria to donate a kidney

The Guardian - UK · Feb 7, 2023

Nigeria panel conducting army probe says it will refer rights violators for prosecution

A special Nigerian human rights panel began investigating on Tuesday Reuters reports that the army massacred children and ran a secret abortion programme when fighting Islamist insurgents and said it would refer for prosecution those it considered guilty of rights violations.

Reuters · Feb 7, 2023

Ten years ago I began my campaign against FGM — now we’re winning

On February 6, 2003, Stella Obasanjo, the then First Lady of Nigeria and spokesperson for the Campaign Against Female Genital Mutilation, made the official declaration on “Zero Tolerance to FGM” in Africa during a conference organised by the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices. Since that day, activists, world leaders and…

Evening Standard · Feb 7, 2023

Can Atiku Abubakar succeed in sixth run for Nigerian presidency?

Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former vice president, is promising hope and restoration if he becomes president. Can he win?

Al Jazeera · Feb 7, 2023

Nigerian rights panel, underfunded and overmatched, begins probe of powerful military

A special panel named by Nigeria's National Human Rights Commission launched an investigation Tuesday into recent Reuters reports on rights abuses by the country’s army. Those familiar with the commission’s past work say it faces stiff challenges.

Reuters · Feb 7, 2023

Printers of Nigeria election regalia lose out as ad campaigns pivot online

A loud whir filled the back of a print shop in Nigeria's capital Abuja as machines churn out grinning faces of presidential election frontrunners on posters, flyers and food packaging.

Reuters · Feb 7, 2023

Sub-Saharan Africa is 'new epicenter' of extremism, says UN

A new report by the U.N.’s international development agency says that sub-Saharan Africa is the new global epicenter of violent Islamic extremism and that people are increasingly joining as a result of economic factors and less by religious ones

The Independent UK · Feb 7, 2023