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Saturday, 31 May 2025 04:28

What to know after Day 1192 of Russia-Ukraine war

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Trump envoy says Russian concern over NATO enlargement is fair

U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said Russia's concern over the eastward enlargement of NATO was fair and the United States did not want to see Ukraine in the U.S.-led military alliance.

Asked by U.S. network ABC News about a Reuters report that Russia wanted a written pledge over NATO not enlarging eastwards to include Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, Kellogg said: "It's a fair concern."

"We've said that to us, Ukraine coming into NATO is not on the table, and we're not the only country that says that - you know I could probably give you four other countries in NATO and it takes 32 of the 32 to allow you to come in to NATO," he told ABC late on Thursday. "That's one of the issues that Russia will bring up."

"They're not just talking Ukraine, they're talking the country of Georgia, they're talking Moldova," Kellogg said, adding that a decision on U.S. views of NATO enlargement was for Trump to make.

Kellogg said the sequencing of the peace talks would include an attempt to merge the two memorandums drafted by Ukraine and Russia into one single document with talks in Turkey on Monday.

"When we get into Istanbul next week we'll sit down and talk," Kellogg said, adding that the national security advisers from Germany, France and Britain would join discussions on the memorandum with the United States.

Kellogg said Trump was "frustrated" with Russia because he had seen "a level of unreasonableness" from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He scolded Russia for striking Ukrainian cities and said he had told Ukraine to turn up to talks.

A conservative estimate of dead and injured in the Ukraine war - from both sides combined - totals 1.2 million, Kellogg said.

"That is a stunning number - this is war on an industrial scale," Kellogg told ABC.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian troops liberate 13 communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russian troops liberated 13 communities in the Sumy and Kharkov Regions and the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the week of May 24-30 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"During the week, Battlegroup North units liberated the settlements of Loknya, Vladimirovka, Belovody and Konstantinovka in the Sumy Region in active offensive operations… Battlegroup West units liberated the settlements of Stroyevka and Kondrashovka in the Kharkov Region through decisive operations <…> Battlegroup South units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlements of Stupochki, Romanovka, Staraya Nikolayevka and Gnatovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said in a statement.

"Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlement of Shevchenko Pervoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations <…> Battlegroup East units liberated the settlements of Otradnoye and Zelyonoye Pole in the Donetsk People’s Republic through active operations over the past week," it said.

Russia hammers Ukrainian military sites in retaliation to Kiev’s attacks over week

Russian forces delivered five combined and two massive strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial sites, military airfields and a special operations and aviation center in retaliation to Kiev’s large-scale UAV attacks over the week, the ministry reported.

"On May 24-30 of this year, in retaliation to the Kiev regime’s large-scale attacks with fixed-wing assault UAVs and rockets of Western manufacture on civilian facilities on Russian territory, the Russian Armed Forces delivered five combined and two massive strikes by precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles on enterprises of Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, the infrastructure of military airfields, electronic intelligence and satellite communications centers, a firing position of a US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile system, a special operations and aviation center of the SBU [Ukraine’s Security Service], anchorages of combat and uncrewed boats, a shelter of an American-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher, armament and ammunition depots, production and storage sites of attack unmanned aerial vehicles, and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries," the ministry said.

"The goals of the strikes were achieved. All the designated military targets of the Kiev regime were struck," the ministry stressed.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 1,490 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 1,490 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy tanks and 22 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

During the week, combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery of the Battlegroup North "struck manpower and equipment of four mechanized brigades, two air assault brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, two assault centers of special operations forces, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army, three territorial defense brigades and a border guard detachment of Ukraine’s Border Guard Service," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,490 personnel, four tanks, 22 armored combat vehicles, 46 motor vehicles, 37 field artillery guns and six electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed nine ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 1,495 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 1,495 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy tanks and 13 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

During the week, Battlegroup West units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army, five territorial defense brigades, two National Guard brigades and a border guard detachment of Ukraine’s Border Guard Service," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,495 personnel, two tanks, 13 armored combat vehicles, including three American-made M113 armored personnel carriers, 83 motor vehicles, 11 field artillery guns and eight electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed 19 ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 1,615 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 1,615 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and 27 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

During the week, Battlegroup South units "inflicted losses on formations of seven mechanized brigades, an assault brigade, a mountain assault brigade, an airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian army and a National Guard brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,615 personnel, a tank, 27 armored combat vehicles, including two Canadian-made Senator armored personnel carriers, six field artillery guns, 48 motor vehicles and 11 electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed 21 ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 3,060 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 3,060 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and 39 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

During the week, Battlegroup Center units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of six mechanized brigades, an air assault brigade, an assault brigade, a jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian army, two marine infantry brigades, the Azov special operations brigade [outlawed in Russia as a terrorist group], a territorial defense brigade and two National Guard brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 3,060 personnel, a tank, 39 armored combat vehicles, including an M113 armored personnel carrier and a MaxxPro armored vehicle of US manufacture, 57 motor vehicles and nine field artillery guns in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 1,265 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 1,265 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and 22 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

During the week, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on formations of four mechanized brigades, a jaeger brigade, an air assault brigade, an airmobile brigade of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and two territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,265 personnel, a tank, 22 armored combat vehicles, 66 motor vehicles, 17 field artillery guns and 12 electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicts over 495 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted more than 495 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 23 enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade, a mountain assault brigade, three coastal defense brigades of the Ukrainian army, four territorial defense brigades and a National Guard brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 495 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, 54 motor vehicles, four field artillery guns and 18 electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed 23 ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russian air defenses down Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet, 1,439 UAVs over week

Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet, 30 American-made JDAM smart bombs and 1,439 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the week, the ministry reported.

"Over the week, air defense capabilities shot down a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 aircraft, 30 JDAM guided aerial bombs and 16 rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system of US manufacture, and also 1,439 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, including 907 outside the special military operation zone," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 663 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 60,423 unmanned aerial vehicles, 607 surface-to-air missile systems, 23,651 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,565 multiple rocket launchers, 25,396 field artillery guns and mortars and 36,191 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

Reuters/Tass

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Saturday, 31 May 2025 04:27

How BUA Group persistently violated its contractual obligations to Nigeria - Hadiza Bala Usman

On Thursday, 29 May, Abdul Samad Rabiu, chairman of the BUA Group, wrote an article riddled with falsehood by accusing an unnamed former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) of acting against the interest of his business organisation.

In the said article entitled, “Two years of President Tinubu: A business perspective,” he wrote: “We no longer worry about arbitrary shutdowns or politically motivated disruptions. Let me give a real example. We started a new business in Port Harcourt four or five years ago under BUA Foods, operating at the Rivers Ports under a concession with the Nigerian Ports Authority. It was going very well. One day, we woke up to a letter stating that the concession had been revoked, the terminal shut down, and the lease agreement terminated. There was no warning, no issue, no conflict.

“Later, we discovered that the Managing Director of NPA at the time decided to close the business simply because our operations were competing with those of her friend. She wanted to impress her friend. That was the only reason…”

Although the article otherwise stated factual and commendable efforts of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stabilise the business climate in Nigeria, his narration of the dispute between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the BUA Group are, to say the least, shameful.

He claimed in his article that “we woke up to a letter stating that the concession had been revoked. There was no prior warning, no issue, no conflict….” This is a blatant lie. It is not just that the BUA Group received numerous notifications and warnings about its negligence of contractual responsibilities; some of these warnings preceded my tenure as managing director.

The facts of the matter are as follows:

BUA Ports and Terminal Limited became concessionaires of Rivers Port Terminal B for a 20-year tenure through a concession agreement contract dated 11 May, 2006. The Terminal was handed over to them for use with effect from 10 August, 2006.
As part of the terms of agreement for the concession, BUA Ports and Terminal Limited was required to commence full reconstruction of Berths 5-8 within 90 days of the handover of the facility.
Ten years after taking possession of the terminal and operating it, BUA had not commenced the rehabilitation of the quays that it was required to commence in 90 days.
A notice of default was issued to the company on 11 February 2016, which was before my appointment as MD of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
The letter with the subject: ‘Non-compliance with the reconstruction of Berths 5-8 in line with your terminal development plan as contained in your lease agreement’, read in part: “We refer to the above subject matter and our earlier letters dated 19th May 2014 and 3rd February 2016. We observed that you had deliberately/and or refused to commence improvement on the reconstruction of Berths 5-8 in line with the laid down procedure in the approved development plan as contained in Appendix D of the executed agreement…”
Despite receiving the letter, dated 11 February 2016, from NPA, the company refused to honour this fundamental and material term of the lease agreement, which compromised the integrity of the other adjoining berths in the ports.
On 17 August 2016, the NPA, under my leadership, issued another notice of default drawing the attention of BUA to the failure to fulfil its obligations. Still, BUA did not commence the rehabilitation in line with the contractual obligation.
Then, three months later, on 11 November 2016, the NPA issued them a three-month termination notice referring to the several default notices served on BUA in relation to the non-fulfilment of the obligations under the lease agreement.
On receipt of the notice of termination, BUA Ports and Terminal sought and obtained a restraining order from the Federal High Court, Lagos, on 18 January 2018, barring the Authority from giving effect to the termination.
In compliance with the restraining order of the Federal High Court, the NPA thereafter allowed BUA Ports and Terminal Limited full access to the premises for peaceful operation, without any interference whatsoever
It is pertinent to note that the process for the default notices issued to BUA commenced in February 2016, before my appointment as managing director.
However, I proceeded to implement the recommendations to safeguard the sanctity of the agreement and protect the Federal Government of Nigeria from a defaulting concessionaire seeking to take advantage of the government by using its facilities without making the due investment enshrined in the development plan of the concession agreement.
While flaunting his access to former President Muhammadu Buhari, Rabiu refused to disclose that he abused this access to misinform the former president into reversing NPA’s decision, thereby issuing a directive that contradicted the existing contract and negating the country’s interests.
It is, therefore, curious that the chairman of BUA Group has continued to push this false narrative aimed at distracting Nigerians from seeing his company’s flagrant disregard of the binding contractual agreement.
The company and its chairman should refrain from cheap blackmail and commit to making the company a responsible corporate body that will make the country proud.

** Hadiza Bala Usman is the Special Adviser on Policy Coordination to President of Nigeria.

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Saturday, 31 May 2025 04:24

Tools made of whale bones reveal inventiveness of prehistoric people

Artifacts found at archeological sites in France and Spain along the Bay of Biscay shoreline show that humans have been crafting tools from whale bones since more than 20,000 years ago, illustrating anew the resourcefulness of prehistoric people.

The tools, primarily hunting implements such as projectile points, were fashioned from the bones of at least five species of large whales, the researchers said. Bones from sperm whales were the most abundant, followed by fin whales, gray whales, right or bowhead whales - two species indistinguishable with the analytical method used in the study - and blue whales.

With seafaring capabilities by humans not developing until thousands of years later, the Ice Age hunter-gatherers who made these implements would have been unable to actually hunt whales for their resources in the Bay of Biscay, a gulf of the Atlantic Ocean.

"These whales were likely opportunistically acquired from stranded animals or drifted carcasses, rather than actively hunted," said biomolecular archaeologist Krista McGrath of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, co-lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

"The majority of the bones were identified from offshore, deep-water species - such as sperm whale and fin whale - which would have been very difficult to hunt for these prehistoric groups. And there is no evidence from this time period that they had the level of technology that active hunting would have required, like seafaring boats," McGrath said.

The 71 whale bone artifacts analyzed by the researchers were found at 27 cave or rock shelter sites. The two oldest ones, both from the bones of fin whales, came from the Spanish Cantabrian sites of Rascaño, dating to about 20,500 years ago, and El Juyo, dating to about 19,800 years ago.

The rough age range of the artifacts was from 14,000 years old to more than 20,000 years old, but most were 16,000 to 17,500 years old.

The main raw material used to manufacture spear points at the time was antler from reindeer or red deer because it is less brittle and more pliable than land mammal bone. But whale bone offered some advantages, including its large dimensions, with some of the projectile points measuring more than 16 inches (40 cm) long, a size difficult to achieve using antler.

"They can be very long and thick, and were probably hafted on spear-style projectiles rather than arrows. They are usually found as fragments, many of which bear fractures related to use, and they were most likely used to hunt the main game animals of the time - reindeer and red deer, horse, bison and ibex," said archaeologist and study co-senior author Jean-Marc Pétillon of the French National Centre for Scientific Research.

Bone tools were used by members of the human evolutionary lineage dating back far before our species Homo sapiens emerged more than 300,000 years ago in Africa. The artifacts examined in this study pushed back the oldest-known use of whale bones for toolmaking by 1,000 to 2,000 years.

The objects were previously discovered at the various sites and kept in museum collections. The researchers used modern analytical techniques to determine the species from which the bones came and the age of the artifacts.

Humans living in this period of prehistory generally were inland hunters, obtaining most of their subsistence needs from the hunting of large hoofed mammals, Pétillon said. The new findings enhance the understanding of their exploitation of seashore resources, Pétillon added.

Previous research had shown that Ice Age people gathered seashells, hunted seabirds and fished for marine fishes as a complement to meat from terrestrial animals.

"The new findings tell us that these prehistoric groups were likely very well adapted to these coastal environments, and very likely had deep local ecological knowledge and understanding of their coastal habitats," McGrath said.

"Whale bones would have been for more than just making tools. There is evidence for their use as fuel as well - the bones contain large amounts of oil - among other things. And the rest of the whale would also certainly have been used – teeth or baleen depending on the species, meat, skin. A single whale provides a lot of resources," McGrath said.

Reuters

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Friday, 30 May 2025 04:51

NewsScroll analysis: Tinubu claims economic victory as Nigeria's poverty crisis deepens and rights deteriorate

President Bola Tinubu marked his second anniversary in office Wednesday with bold claims of economic progress, even as international bodies warn of persistent crises and new data reveals the true cost of his reforms on Nigeria's most vulnerable populations.

Economic Gains Questioned Amid Worsening Poverty

While Tinubu declared that "our economic reforms are working" and promised a "greater, more economically stable nation," the reality on the ground tells a starkly different story. His signature policies since 2023—removing petrol subsidies, cutting electricity price subsidies, and implementing two currency devaluations—have triggered what experts describe as the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, with inflation soaring beyond 23%.

The human cost of these reforms is becoming increasingly apparent. Nigeria already has 133 million people classified as multidimensionally poor—representing 63% of the population—and World Bank projections indicate that an additional 3.6 million Nigerians will join this devastating statistic by the end of 2025. This means that by year's end, nearly two-thirds of Africa's most populous nation will be trapped in multidimensional poverty, lacking access to basic healthcare, education, and living standards.

Tinubu attempted to justify his harsh measures by claiming they were necessary to prevent "runaway inflation, external debt default, and a plunging Naira and an economy in free-fall." He pointed to a narrowed fiscal deficit, from 5.4% of GDP in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, and claimed inflation was beginning to ease—though this reduction is largely attributed to statistical rebasing rather than genuine economic improvement.

The World Bank acknowledged that while Nigeria's government reforms are "essential," they have "piled pressure on its people, more than half of whom live in poverty"—a diplomatic way of confirming that Tinubu's policies are causing immediate suffering for promised long-term gains.

Security Claims Contradicted by Mounting Violence

Tinubu's claims of improved security ring hollow against mounting evidence of escalating violence. The president boasted that banditry in Nigeria's northwest had been curbed, highways were safer, and farmers were "back tilling the land." However, over 1.3 million people were internally displaced in the Northcentral and Northwest regions by April 2024, up from nearly 1.1 million in December 2023.

The statistics are devastating. Amnesty International reported that at least 10,217 people have been killed in attacks by gunmen during Tinubu's two years in office. Between December 2023 and February 2024 alone, gunmen attacked communities in Plateau state, killing 1,333 people, including 260 children. These figures expose the hollow nature of Tinubu's security claims and highlight the government's inability to protect its citizens.

Human Rights Deterioration Under APC Rule

Nigeria's human rights situation continues to deteriorate under Tinubu's All Progressives Congress (APC) government. Security challenges, including insurgencies, kidnappings, and communal violence, threaten the human rights of millions of Nigerians, while military and law enforcement agencies often engage in extrajudicial killings, torture, and other abuses.

The government's response to criticism and dissent has become increasingly authoritarian. Anti-police brutality protests have been met with violent crackdowns, and allegations of forced abortions and infanticide in conflict zones remain uninvestigated. The pattern suggests a government more interested in suppressing dissent than addressing legitimate grievances.

Threat of One-Party Dominance

The APC's endorsement of Tinubu for a second and final term in the 2027 elections raises serious concerns about Nigeria's democratic trajectory. With the party's control over federal institutions, its ability to deploy state resources for electoral advantage, and its increasingly authoritarian tendencies, Nigeria faces the real prospect of entrenched one-party rule.

The combination of economic policies that impoverish the majority while enriching the few, systematic human rights violations, and the suppression of political opposition creates a dangerous cocktail that threatens Nigeria's democratic foundations. The APC's dominance, coupled with weak opposition parties and compromised electoral institutions, suggests Nigeria may be sliding toward authoritarian governance disguised as democracy.

A Nation at a Crossroads

As Tinubu celebrates his economic "achievements," Nigeria finds itself at a critical juncture. With nearly 140 million people expected to be in multidimensional poverty by year's end, escalating violence claiming thousands of lives, deteriorating human rights conditions, and the specter of one-party rule looming, the president's anniversary rhetoric stands in stark contrast to the lived reality of ordinary Nigerians.

The question remains whether Nigeria's democratic institutions can withstand the pressures of economic hardship, security crises, and authoritarian drift, or whether the country will join the ranks of African nations where democracy exists only in name while real power is concentrated in the hands of a dominant party that has lost touch with the suffering of its people.

The World Bank may praise Nigeria's fiscal improvements, but for the 3.6 million Nigerians expected to join the ranks of the multidimensionally poor this year, such macroeconomic victories offer little comfort. Their reality—and that of the 133 million already trapped in poverty—tells the true story of Tinubu's first two years: economic policies that prioritize international creditors over domestic welfare, security strategies that fail to protect citizens, and a political trajectory that threatens to consolidate power at the expense of democratic accountability.

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Friday, 30 May 2025 04:49

Nigeria's $3bn fashion drain: How import dependence undermines local textile industry

Nigeria's fashion sector is hemorrhaging billions of dollars annually due to overwhelming reliance on imported fabrics, particularly the iconic Ankara prints that have become synonymous with Nigerian style, according to a comprehensive new analysis.

The Consonance Investment report "Who is Dressing 220+ Million Nigerians?" reveals a stark reality: approximately 90% of Ankara fabrics consumed across Nigeria and the broader African continent originate from foreign manufacturers, predominantly in China and India. This dependency translates to an estimated $3 billion in annual value loss for Nigeria's domestic economy.

Cultural Significance Meets Economic Reality

Ankara fabric holds deep cultural significance in Nigerian society, frequently worn as Aso-Ebi—a Yoruba tradition where families and friends don matching fabrics at weddings, funerals, and celebrations to demonstrate unity. Despite this cultural importance and Nigerians' substantial fashion spending habits, ranging from ₦36,000 to over ₦20 million annually per individual, the economic benefits flow primarily to overseas producers.

The report highlights a troubling disconnect: while Nigerian consumers collectively spend between $2.5 billion and $6 billion on clothing each year, the domestic fashion industry contributes merely $129 million (₦205 billion) to the nation's GDP—representing just 0.47% of total economic output.

Structural Challenges Plague Domestic Production

Local fashion brands and textile manufacturers capture less than 15% of Nigeria's clothing supply market, hampered by insufficient investment in domestic production capabilities and retail infrastructure. The report emphasizes that over 85% of fashion supply chains bypass formal local industry channels entirely.

"Most local brands have to build their own infrastructure across the value chain, i.e., from design to distribution," the analysis notes, highlighting the burden facing domestic entrepreneurs who must construct entire operational frameworks without adequate institutional support.

Import-Export Imbalance Tells the Story

The numbers paint a vivid picture of Nigeria's fashion trade deficit. Annual apparel and textile imports reach $6 billion, with an additional estimated $1.2 billion in smuggled goods entering the market. In stark contrast, Nigeria's fashion exports remain below $100 million annually, creating a massive outflow of foreign currency.

Informal Markets Dominate Retail Landscape

Nigeria's fashion retail ecosystem is heavily concentrated in informal markets, with traditional trading hubs like Balogun Market in Lagos, Onitsha Main Market in Anambra, and Wuse Market in Abuja accounting for approximately 60% of all fashion retail activity. This informal structure, while providing employment and accessibility, limits the industry's ability to scale and formalize operations.

The report identifies significant employment in manufacturing clusters, particularly in Aba, where approximately 25,000 people work directly in garment and leather production, with many more engaged in supporting industries. Additionally, at least 10,000 Nigerian fashion vendors operate through Instagram, creating a substantial informal e-commerce ecosystem.

Financing Remains a Critical Gap

Access to structured capital represents another major constraint, with less than 15% of Nigeria's fashion market receiving formal financing from banks or government agencies. The vast majority of fashion brands rely on self-funding, limiting their ability to scale operations, invest in equipment, or develop supply chains.

Untapped Potential Amid Fragmentation

Despite these challenges, the report characterizes Nigeria's fashion industry as possessing enormous untapped potential. The combination of strong domestic demand, significant cultural influence, and a large consumer base creates opportunities for growth—if structural barriers can be addressed.

The analysis suggests that with appropriate investment in domestic production capabilities, improved access to financing, and better integration of formal and informal market channels, Nigeria could capture significantly more value from its fashion consumption and potentially become a regional manufacturing hub rather than remaining dependent on imports for its most culturally significant textiles.

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Friday, 30 May 2025 04:48

Sidi Ould Tah elected President of AfDB as Akinwumi Adesina concludes tenure

Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania has been elected the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, succeeding Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina, who has led the institution since 2015.

According to a statement released by the AfDB, Tah was elected on Thursday during the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. He will officially assume office as the Bank’s 9th president on September 1, 2025.

The election was conducted by the AfDB’s Board of Governors, which consists of finance ministers, economy ministers, or central bank governors representing the Bank’s 81 regional and non-regional member countries. Niale Kaba, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development and Chair of the Board of Governors, announced the results.

To be elected, a candidate must secure at least 50.01% of both regional and non-regional member votes.

Tah emerged victorious from a field of five candidates that included Amadou Hott (Senegal), Samuel Maimbo (Zambia), Mahamat Abbas Tolli (Chad), and Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala (South Africa). The final list of contenders was approved by the Bank’s Board of Governors Steering Committee following the close of nominations on January 31 and was officially announced on February 21.

With more than 35 years of experience in African and international finance, Tah brings a deep well of expertise to his new role. He served for a decade as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he led a major institutional transformation—quadrupling its balance sheet, achieving a AAA credit rating, and elevating BADEA among the top development banks serving the continent.

Tah is also a former Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance in Mauritania and has held senior positions across multilateral institutions. His work has included spearheading crisis response initiatives, financial reforms, and innovative financing strategies, such as the creation of BADEA’s $1 billion callable capital program to support African multilateral development banks.

His election marks the end of a transformative era under Adesina’s leadership, during which the AfDB advanced its development impact across Africa.

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Friday, 30 May 2025 04:47

Here’s the latest as Israel-Hamas war enters Day 602

US proposes 60-day ceasefire for Gaza, plan shows

A U.S. plan for Gaza seen by Reuters on Friday proposes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 28 Israeli hostages alive and dead in the first week, in return for the release of 125 Palestinian prisoners sentenced for life and remnants of 180 Palestinian dead.

The plan includes sending aid to Gaza as soon as Hamas signs off on the ceasefire agreement.

** Israel has agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal for Gaza, the White House said on Thursday, and Hamas said it was reviewing the plan although its terms did not meet the group's demands.

As a U.S.-backed system for distributing food aid in the shattered enclave expanded, Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted a deal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

Netanyahu's office did not confirm the reports, but White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington that Israel had signed off on the proposal.

She did not detail its contents. A source briefed on the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the initial phase of the proposed deal would include a 60-day ceasefire and the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas said it was studying the proposal, and senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters the group was still discussing it.

But Abu Zuhri said its terms echoed Israel's position and do not contain commitments to end the war, withdraw Israeli troops or admit aid as Hamas has demanded.

Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March after only two months.

Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely and be dismantled as a military and governing force and that all 58 hostages still held in Gaza must be returned before it will agree to end the war.

Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war.

Reuters

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Friday, 30 May 2025 04:45

What to know after Day 1191 of Russia-Ukraine war

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russia reveals team for next round of Ukraine peace talks

Russia’s negotiating team for the next round of direct peace talks with Ukraine will remain unchanged, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. Presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will once again lead the delegation.

Moscow and Kiev last met for direct talks in Istanbul on May 16, marking the first formal negotiations since 2022. That round resulted in the largest prisoner exchange to date, with 1,000 individuals released by each side. The parties also agreed to prepare written proposals—a pair of memorandums—outlining their positions on a potential ceasefire ahead of the next meeting.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has proposed holding the follow-up talks on Monday, June 2, again in Istanbul. Zakharova later confirmed that the same Russian delegation will attend.

Her comments came after Medinsky, denied Ukrainian claims that Moscow is stalling the peace process. In a post on Telegram on Wednesday, he said he had called Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who leads Kiev’s negotiation team, and proposed “a date and location for the exchange of memorandums.”

“We are ready to begin substantive discussions on a framework agreement for a potential ceasefire,” the Russian official stated.

On Wednesday evening, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov confirmed that Moscow’s memorandum is ready, triggering a demand from Kiev that the document be released.

In a post on X Umerov stated that he had “handed over our document to the head of the Russian delegation, which reflects the Ukrainian position.”

“We are not opposed to further meetings with the Russians and are awaiting their ‘memorandum,’ so that the next meeting won’t be empty and can truly move us closer to ending the war,” Kiev’s top negotiator added.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday dismissed Umerov’s demands to see the Russian memorandum prior to any forthcoming talks as “unconstructive.”

“They should either confirm they are prepared for talks or say otherwise,” Peskov said.

The Ukrainian leadership had previously insisted on a 30-day pause in hostilities as a precondition for negotiations. Russia rejected the proposal, arguing that Kiev would use it to regroup its military. Ukraine later revised its position under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that for a full ceasefire to be achieved, Ukraine must halt its mobilization, stop receiving foreign weapons, and withdraw its forces from the territory Moscow claims.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukrainian drones damage hospital, homes in Russia's Kursk, official says

Ukrainian drones launched a night-time attack on Russia's western Kursk region, damaging a hospital and apartment buildings and injuring at least one person, the regional governor said early on Friday.

Across the border in Ukraine's Sumy region, the regional governor reported fresh fighting in villages near the border where Russia has been seizing territory. He said various areas in his region were constantly changing hands.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he wants to create a buffer zone in Sumy, which was used to help launch Ukraine's incursion into Kursk last year.

In the Kursk region, where Russia's military says Ukrainian forces who staged the incursion last August have been ejected, Governor Alexander Khinshtein said Ukrainian drones swarmed the main town, also called Kursk.

"Drone fragments damaged the No. 1 city hospital in Kursk. Windows were smashed. Fortunately, no patients were injured," Khinshtein wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "Falling drone fragments have also damaged high-rise apartment buildings.

Ukraine's military says its forces remain active in small areas of Kursk region.

Authorities in Sumy region, under constant Russian attack for months, acknowledged this week that Russian forces were in control of at least four villages near the border.

"Active battles continue in certain border areas, notably around the settlements of Khotyn and Yunakivka," Governor Oleh Hryhorov wrote on Facebook.

"The situation on the line of contact is constantly changing. In some places, we hold the initiative, in others the enemy is proving to be active."

Russia's Defence Ministry on Thursday said its forces had captured three more villages as it slowly advances through parts of eastern Ukraine.

These were Stroivka in northeastern Kharkiv region, where Moscow has long been applying pressure, and Shevchenko Pershe and Hnativka near the town of Pokrovsk, the focal point of Russia's westward drive for months.

Ukrainian military reports have made no acknowledgement of any of the three villages coming under Russian control. A statement on Thursday evening said Russian forces had launched 53 attacks over 24 hours near Pokrovsk.

RT/Reuters

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Friday, 30 May 2025 04:44

Money can buy you happiness. Here’s how

There’s not a single problem in my life that couldn’t be solved or at least ameliorated by a large influx of cash. But the point of the old saying that money can’t buy happiness is that the excitement that comes with buying expensive gadgets and tchotchkes rarely lasts. So maybe I’ve had the means to make myself happier all along.

“Research shows that strategic spending absolutely pumps up your happiness levels, but not in the way you may think,” says Jessica Weiss, a happiness researcher and author of the upcoming book, “Happiness Works: The Science of Thriving at Work.”

The key, she says, is to focus on purchases that bring you lasting joy — not just the rush that comes when you buy something advertised on Instagram — like these three investments in your future happiness.

1. Novel experiences. Trying new things comes with a dopamine release and the sensation that time progresses more slowly, says Weiss.

“Even small novel experiences like checking out a new farmer’s market, calling a friend you haven’t spoken to in ages, painting your nails an unexpected color, can create what researchers call “time abundance,” making life feel richer and more textured,” she says.

2. Time-saving purchases. Don’t think of hiring a cleaner or paying for meal delivery as wasteful, says Weiss, if it boosts your mental health.

“Research shows that time-saving purchases reduce stress more effectively than material splurges,” she says. “When you outsource tasks you dread, you’re not being lazy — you’re being brilliant. Your future self, the one not frantically cleaning before guests arrive, will thank you.”

3. Activities that boost relationships. Spending on friends and family can be both healthy and beneficial, says Weiss.

“After tracking people for more than 80 years, Harvard researchersdiscovered something surprising: close relationships predict happiness better than genetics, wealth, or fame,” she says. “That dinner with friends or plane ticket to visit your sister? It’s not just a purchase — it’s a deposit into your emotional retirement account, paying dividends for decades.”

CNBC

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Thursday, 29 May 2025 04:49

Nigeria faces escalating security crisis as over 10,000 die during Tinubu’s first two years in office

Nigeria's security situation has dramatically deteriorated during President Bola Tinubu's first two years in office, with armed groups and bandits killing more than 10,000 people across seven states, according to a comprehensive investigation by Amnesty International.

The human rights organization documented at least 10,217 deaths between May 2023 and May 2025 in Benue, Edo, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, and Zamfara states. Benue State recorded the highest casualties with 6,896 deaths, while Plateau State saw 2,630 people killed during this period.

New Armed Groups Emerge

The security landscape has become increasingly complex with the emergence of new militant organizations, including Lakurawa in Sokoto and Kebbi states, and Mamuda in Kwara State. These groups have joined existing threats like Boko Haram in terrorizing rural communities across Nigeria's northern regions.

Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International Nigeria, criticized the government's response to the crisis. "President Tinubu must fulfill his promises to Nigerians and urgently address the resurgence of the nation's endemic security crisis," Sanusi stated, noting that security measures implemented by the current administration have proven ineffective.

Villages Under Siege

The investigation revealed that 672 villages have been destroyed by bandits across three states, with entire communities forced to abandon their homes. In Zamfara State alone, 481 villages have been sacked while 529 villages remain under bandit control across 13 local government areas.

Daily attacks have become commonplace in Zamfara, with multiple incidents sometimes occurring within 24 hours. The state has recorded 273 deaths and 467 abductions over the past two years, with women and girls comprising the majority of kidnapping victims.

Systematic Destruction

The violence extends beyond killings to systematic destruction of infrastructure. In Benue State, attackers have deliberately targeted essential services, destroying boreholes, medical clinics, schools, grain reserves, and places of worship. All 23 local government areas in the state have experienced such attacks, with 148 villages completely destroyed across seven local governments.

The April 3 attack on Bokkos local government in Plateau State exemplified the brutality, with entire families murdered including children. Between March 27 and April 2, 2025, coordinated assaults targeted five communities simultaneously: Daffo, Gwande, Hurti, Manguna, and Ruwi.

Humanitarian Emergency Looms

The violence has displaced over 515,000 people across the affected regions, creating a looming humanitarian crisis. Benue State alone accounts for 450,000 internally displaced persons, while Plateau State has 65,000 displaced residents. Many communities have been forced to relocate multiple times as attackers target displacement camps and schools serving as shelters.

The displacement of farming communities threatens food security, as agricultural production has been severely disrupted. In Zamfara State's Dangulbi district, farmers watch their sweet potato harvests rot because bandits prevent transportation to markets. Many displaced persons have resorted to begging for survival.

Economic Extortion

Beyond physical violence, armed groups have implemented systematic extortion schemes, demanding tribute payments from rural communities via telephone. Residents face death threats if they fail to meet payment deadlines, creating a climate of economic terrorism alongside physical intimidation.

One resident from Maru local government in Zamfara State described the government's inadequate response: "The only relationship between us and the government is that they issue media statements after we are attacked and killed. When the next attack comes, they will issue another empty statement, while bandits escalate their atrocities."

International Obligations Unfulfilled

Under international human rights law, Nigeria's government has clear obligations to protect citizens' lives and ensure accountability for perpetrators. Amnesty International argues that authorities are systematically failing these responsibilities, creating a cycle of impunity that emboldens further violence.

The organization emphasized that time is running out as attacks continue to escalate daily across multiple states. The failure to hold suspected perpetrators accountable has created an environment where citizens feel completely unsafe, with insurgents and bandits increasingly bold in their operations.

Call for Action

Amnesty International demands immediate concrete action from Nigerian authorities to match their public commitments with effective security measures. The organization has monitored banditry attacks and farmer-herder conflicts since 2016, previously documenting government failures to protect rural communities in a 2020 investigation.

The current crisis represents a significant escalation of Nigeria's long-standing security challenges, with the emergence of new armed groups and the systematic nature of attacks marking a dangerous evolution in the country's instability. Without immediate and comprehensive intervention, the situation threatens to spiral into an even more severe humanitarian catastrophe.

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