The Nigerian air force said Tuesday it will acquire 50 new aircraft to strengthen its capabilities against armed gangs and terrorists in northwest Nigeria. Nigerian Chief of Air Staff Hassan Bala Abubakar made the announcement at the opening of new military facilities, including two aircraft hangars in northwest Katsina state. Abubakar said the aircraft would include 12 AH-1 attack helicopters, 24 M-346 combat planes, 12 AW109 multipurpose helicopters and a pair of Casa 295 transport aircraft. He did not disclose the cost, nor did he say who would provide the aircraft. He said Nigeria is expected to receive them by…

The federal account allocation committee (FAAC) says some revenue-generating agencies (RGAs) owe the federal government over N2.9 trillion. According to FAAC, the total unresolved amount due to the federation account was N2,977,561,881,021.29 and $36,329,376.24. This was made known in the minutes of the FAAC reconciliation meeting with the revenue-generating agencies on April 19. FAAC disburses allocations from the revenues generated into the federation accounts every month — comprising of multiple accounts specific to the revenue-generating agency. The bulk of the revenue shared at FAAC meetings by the federal, state, and local governments are earnings from oil exports, taxes, and other…

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, denounced the killings in the South-East over the group’s agitation for secession. He also appealed for an out-of-court settlement of his ongoing treason trial by the Federal Government. The IPOB leader, who has been in detention since 2021 following his re-arrest in Kenya and repatriation to Nigeria, made the appeal on Wednesday when he appeared for the continuation of his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja. A viral video clip on Wednesday captured him denouncing killings in the South-East fuelled by IPOB’s agitation for separation of…

A severe heatwave during the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia led to the deaths of over 900 pilgrims. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the extreme temperatures, reaching up to 51.8°C in Mecca, resulted in at least 600 fatalities among Egyptian pilgrims. The total death toll was reported at 922, with many of the deceased being elderly or infirm individuals participating in the largely outdoor pilgrimage, which took place during the intense Saudi summer. The harsh conditions prompted relatives to scour hospitals and turn to social media, posting pictures and seeking information about their missing loved ones. Besides Egypt, fatalities…