₦airaland Forum

A statement signed by ABIODUN OLADUNJOYE director of information at the State House, had said the Japanese government would create “a special visa category for highly skilled, innovative, and talented young Nigerians who want to move to Kisarazu to live and work..."

Global Rights Index 2025

The 10 Worst Countries for Working People

1. Bangladesh🇧🇩
2. Belarus🇧🇾
3. Ecuador🇪🇨
4. Egypt🇪🇬
5. Eswatini🇸🇿
6. Myanmar🇲🇲
7. Nigeria🇳🇬
8. Philippines🇵🇭
9. Tunisia🇹🇳
10. Türkiye🇹🇷

A building foundation has collapsed at an excavation site within Radio House, Area 8, Garki, Abuja, claiming the life of a 25-year-old man.

Confirming the incident in a statement issued on Monday, the Federal Fire Service (FFS) said its personnel from the National Headquarters promptly responded to a distress call on Sunday, August 24, 2025, when the incident occurred.

The National Public Relations Officer of the Service of the FFS, DCF PO Abraham, who confirmed the incident, said rescue teams recovered the victim’s body from the rubble and handed it over to his family.

The FFS, while expressing condolences to the bereaved family, stressed the urgent need for strict adherence to safety regulations while constructing buildings.

“The Federal Fire Service commiserates with the bereaved family and urges construction companies to strictly adhere to safety standards in order to prevent similar incidents in the future,” the statement said.

The incident added to the growing list of building collapses in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in recent months.

In July 2025, a two-storey building under construction reportedly collapsed in the Gwarinpa area, leaving two workers dead and several others injured.

Similarly, in May 2025, a partially completed structure at Jabi District reportedly caved in during heavy rainfall, trapping construction workers before emergency responders could reach the site.

In March 2025, at least three people reportedly lost their lives in another building collapse in Kubwa, a satellite town in Abuja, raising renewed concerns about substandard construction practices and weak regulatory enforcement.

Urban development experts and civil society organisations have consistently raised alarm over the spate of collapses in Abuja, attributing them to poor engineering practices, use of substandard materials, and disregard for approved building plans.

Residents have urged the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and relevant regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of construction projects and sanction erring developers.

Oil reserves (billion barrels)

1. 🇻🇪 Venezuela: 303.8
2. 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: 258.6
3. 🇮🇷 Iran: 208.6
4. 🇨🇦 Canada: 170.3
5. 🇮🇶 Iraq: 145
6. 🇰🇼 Kuwait: 101.5
7. 🇦🇪 UAE: 97.8
8. 🇷🇺 Russia: 80
9. 🇱🇾 Libya: 48.3
10. 🇺🇸 US: 47.1
11. 🇳🇬 Nigeria: 36.8
12. 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan: 30
13. 🇨🇳 China: 26
14. 🇶🇦 Qatar: 25.2
15. 🇧🇷 Brazil: 12.7

(US EIA)

Top Countries by Average Wealth per Person in 2025

🇨🇭 Switzerland - $687K
🇺🇸 U.S. - $621K
🇭🇰 Hong Kong - $601K
🇱🇺 Luxembourg - $567K
🇦🇺 Australia - $517K
🇩🇰 Denmark - $448K
🇸🇬 Singapore - $442K
🇸🇪 Sweden - $394K
🇳🇱 Netherlands - $371K
🇨🇦 Canada - $369K
🇳🇴 Norway - $368K
🇫🇷 France - $367K
🇧🇪 Belgium - $349K
🇬🇧 U.K. - $340K
🇹🇼 Taiwan - $312K

Source: UBS Global wealth report 2025

20 most disliked countries in the world:

1. China 🇨🇳
2. USA 🇺🇸
3. Russia 🇷🇺
4. North Korea 🇰🇵
5. Israel 🇮🇱
6. Pakistan 🇵🇰
7. Iran 🇮🇷
8. Iraq 🇮🇶
9. Syria 🇸🇾
10. India 🇮🇳
11. UK 🇬🇧
12. Japan 🇯🇵
13. Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
14. Germany 🇩🇪
15. Nigeria 🇳🇬
16. Turkey 🇹🇷
17. South Korea 🇰🇷
18. Afghanistan 🇦🇫
19. Philippines 🇵🇭
20. Italy 🇮🇹

Mirasteel:
Khamas didn't slaughter them, israhell did that and it has been confirmed, they did all that so that they can put the blame on Khamas, the thing about you guys here is that you are all brainwashed.

FreeStuffsNG:
83% of those killed by the US-backed Isreal Defense Forces are civilians, babies and women. This was confirmed by Isreal Intel report.

You faced the weak and vulnerable to kill them and left Hamas terror group fighters was intentionai, it is war crime and act of cowardice.

Everyone behind this genocide must be held to account, prosecuted and jailed. The hostages must be freed, killing of babies and women must stop and the war end with 2-state solution.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, says the federal government’s plan to spend N142 billion on bus terminals is further proof of “misplaced priorities.”

On August 14, the federal executive council (FEC) approved N142.02 billion for the construction of ultra-modern bus terminals across the six geopolitical zones.

Sa’idu Alkali, minister of transportation, described the project as the “first direct federal government investment” aimed at transport infrastructure outside of road construction.

Alkali added that the initiative was conceived by the ministry of transportation to boost safety, improve passenger comfort, and support economic activities.

Reacting on Friday, Obi faulted the decision, noting that it reflects “poor judgment and lack of leadership focus.”

The former Anambra governor compared the allocation to the health sector, noting that the combined budget of all federal teaching hospitals and psychiatric centres in the country is less than N100 billion in the 2024 budget.

“The difference between the success and failure of development in any nation is how you prioritise your scarce resources,” the post reads.

“The recent announcement that a sum of ₦142 billion has been approved by the federal government for the construction of one bus terminal in each of our six geopolitical zones further affirms the lack of competence, lack of focus, and poor leadership.

“In the 2024 budget, which is the operational budget today, the entire budget of all the teaching hospitals across all the federal universities in the country, as well as the federal psychiatric centres, is under ₦100 billion, yet the government has approved ₦142 billion for bus terminals.

“This is disturbing, considering that health is one of the most critical areas of development, which is deteriorating and remains grossly underfunded.

“WHO recently reported that over 20 million Nigerians are living with mental health issues.”

Obi also described the move as a “tragic irony” that highlights the government’s failure to prioritise essential services.

Nnamdipapa:
Ok, today I was out to do an oil change and decided to branch by my favorite Afghani store where I usually buy provisions when in the vicinity. Now, I came across an organic crate of egg for $16.99, 30 medium sized eggs in a crate.
Now, I remembered I spoke with a friend in Lagos last week who priced a similar crate of egg at 6000Naira, Yes ! you heard me right! 6000Naira! Folks in Nigeria do not know how good they have it Living in Nigeria so next time you complain about Nigeria, remember a fresh organic crate of egg goes for N6000 and things are way cheaper in Nigeria compared to the western countries.

So, there is something that should make one happy living in Nigeria
I am waiting on pins and needles for the minimum wage crew.

REDshouse:
U go explain tire ...instead of you to not reply ...


Keep shalayeing

🇳🇬MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY

PROPORTION OF POOR PEOPLE

BY ZONE:
1 South West: 40.0% — 4 in 10 are multidimensionally poor

2 South East: 49.0%
3 South South: 62.6%
4 North Central: 66.3%
5 North West: 75.8%
6 North East: 76.5%

BY STATE: 5 Least Proportion
1 🟣Ondo: 27.2%
2 🟣Lagos: 29.4%
3 🟢Abia: 29.8%
4 🟢Anambra: 32.1%
5 🟤Edo: 35.4%

🟣SW 🟢SE 🟤SS

#Statisense

Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has been renamed by traditionalists in the State as ‘Orisaseyi Omimakinde’.

At the celebration of 2025 Isese Day held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, the traditionalists, clad in their distinctive white attires and regalia, marked the occasion with reverence and joy, as they celebrated the Yoruba tradition and paid tributes to Governor Makinde.

The Isese Day, also known as the ‘Traditional Worshipers Day’, is an annual celebration to showcase the rich cultural heritage and traditional beliefs of the Yoruba people.

August 20 has been set aside for traditionalists to gather for prayers, perform rituals, and express gratitude to the deities (Orishas) that are central to their faith.

This year’s Isese Day celebration in Oyo State was particularly special, as the traditionalists publicly acknowledged and appreciated Governor Makinde for his unwavering support and commitment to promoting and preserving their traditional practices.

In a symbolic gesture, the traditionalists jointly christened the governor as “Orisaseyi Omimakinde,” which translates to “the traditionalists’ oracle of prosperity.”

The traditionalists offered prayers and libations to the ‘Orishas’, seeking blessings and guidance for the prosperity and unity of Oyo State.

In honouring Governor Makinde with the new name “Orisaseyi Omimakinde,” the traditionalists recognised his support and advocacy for their cause, as well as his commitment to promoting cultural diversity and religious harmony in Oyo State.

SeverusSnape:
How was that even possible?? Like how

Is hypnosis real?. Someone should regale me.

20 Ghanaians Trafficked To Akwa Ibom Rescued By Nigerian Police Following INTERPOL Tip-Off, Victims ‘Likely Hypnotised’

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says its operatives have rescued 20 Ghanaians, comprising 10 females and 10 males, trafficked to Uyo Local Government Area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Timfon John, who made this known in a statement issued in Uyo, the state capital, on Wednesday, said the rescue followed a formal request for assistance from the Ghana Police Service and INTERPOL.

The police spokesperson said the operation was carried out around 4:17 pm on August 18, 2025, when police operatives acting on credible intelligence surrounded a fenced compound in Obio Etoi village in Uyo Local Government Area, where the victims were being held.

John said, “On August 18, 2025, operatives of the Command successfully rescued 20 Ghanaians trafficked to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

“The victims, made up of 10 males and 10 females (names withheld), were rescued from a compound in Obio Etoi village after a joint operation following a request for assistance from the Ghana Police Service and INTERPOL.”

According to the PPRO, the rescued victims have been unable to give useful information, raising suspicion that they may have been placed under hypnosis.

“The victims presently appear disoriented and have been unable to provide useful information, leading investigators to suspect they may have been hypnotised,” John stated.

“Investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated to the public as they become available.”

Human trafficking remains a persistent challenge in Nigeria, particularly in the Southern region of the country.

In July 2025, security operatives in Cross River State reportedly rescued 14 Cameroonians, including minors, who were allegedly trafficked into the state under false pretences of employment.

Similarly, in May 2025, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reportedly intercepted 23 victims in Edo State en route to North Africa for forced labour.

In Akwa Ibom itself, it was reported that the police in March 2025 rescued 12 young women who were lured from different parts of West Africa with promises of jobs but were later confined in a hideout in Eket.

Rights groups have repeatedly warned that traffickers often use coercion, spiritual manipulation, or hypnosis-like practices to keep victims submissive.

"Two Catholic Sisters, Bank MD Arrested" — EFCC Alleges Tampering With Shareholders’ Records At CAC To Evade N1.2bn Loan Repayment

Madonna University Deputy VC Anagboso Allegedly Created Fraudulent Debenture, Stripped Majority Shareholders of Holdings

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested two Catholic Church sisters for allegedly and unlawfully tampering with shareholders’ documents at the Corporate Affairs Commission.

The suspects, Rev. Sisters Annette Ezekwem and Gertrude Okafor (personnel of Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State), were arrested alongside the Managing Director of Mayfresh Mortgage Bank Limited, Aba, Abia State, Mr. Mark Egbegolu, over allegations of fraudulent meddling with shareholders’ names and dates of birth, allegedly aimed at evading repayment of a N1.2 billion loan obtained in 2020.

Investigations by South-East PUNCH revealed that the principal suspect in the deal, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Madonna University, Prof. Martin Anagboso, who allegedly initiated the fraudulent process at the CAC, was arrested penultimate week by the anti-graft agency.

It was gathered that the DVC, Anagboso, created a debenture in favour of Mayfresh Mortgage Bank Limited to secure a N1.2 billion loan in 2020. To evade repayment of this loan, the suspect, in connivance with accomplices now at large, allegedly altered CAC records to strip majority shareholders of their lawful holdings and silence their demands for repayment.

The suspects allegedly intended to alter the names and dates of birth of Chief Steven Edeh (Late), Arc. John Paul, and Mrs. Maria Edeh-Omeogo, who are major shareholders at Mayfresh Mortgage Bank, to divert payment of the loan.

Their arrest reportedly followed directives from the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to the EFCC to investigate the unlawful tampering with the bank’s records at the CAC.

Reacting to the development, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre condemned the acts and called on authorities to investigate the alleged fraud.

The Executive Director of the Centre, Dr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, urged authorities to investigate the fraud and charge the principal suspect to court.

He said, “The principal suspect and all identified accomplices should be charged to court without delay, and it must be ensured that this case is neither compromised nor swept under the carpet.

“We demand prompt prosecution to send a strong message that Nigeria will not tolerate economic sabotage and that its institutions are committed to protecting lawful business interests.”

Efforts to reach the suspects for comments on the development were futile, as calls made to the MD’s phone number, including those of the DVC and others, were not answered. Messages sent to their mobile numbers had not been responded to as of the time of filing this report on Monday.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said that the continent is losing more than $580 billion every year through corruption and illicit capital outflows, a loss that continues to undermine the continent’s economic progress and deepen its debt woes.

AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina, who stated this in a Bloomberg interview, said the losses are so severe that they outweigh the continent’s ability to finance infrastructure and development, even as Africa’s total debt burden nears $2 trillion.

“It doesn’t matter how much water you pour into a bucket if the bucket is leaking. If you’re able to reduce the leakages to illicit capital, also corruption and all of these things, Africa will be able to keep a lot of these resources and meet the amount of infrastructure it needs,” Adesina said.

$1.6 billion lost daily

The AfDB estimates that Africa loses about $1.6 billion every single day to what it calls “financial leakages.”

This includes $90 billion annually in illicit financial flows, $275 billion lost through profit-shifting by multinational corporations, and $148 billion siphoned off due to corruption.

These losses come at a time when the continent is grappling with an annual infrastructure financing gap of up to $170 billion, a shortfall that must be addressed if Africa is to unlock economic growth and create jobs for its youthful population. Instead of channelling resources into such projects, many African governments are overwhelmed by soaring debt-service costs.

A joint study by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center and the Institute for Economic Justice recently found that debt servicing in Africa has climbed to its highest level since the early 2000s debt crisis.

Shockingly, more than half of African governments now spend more on interest payments than on public healthcare.
Adesina stressed that while access to concessional financing and debt restructuring are important, curbing corruption and illicit outflows remains the single most crucial step to safeguarding Africa’s resources and reducing its reliance on debt.

What you should know

The AfDB, in its recently released 2025 African Economic Outlook, had expressed , stating that the country is projected to spend 75% of its revenues on interest payments in 2025.

According to the Bank, a country’s debt-to-GDP ratio may be low and still face high debt burdens if substantial shares of revenue are channeled towards debt service payments.

The AfDB further explained that while many African countries experienced declining debt levels in 2022–2023 due to favorable interest-growth differentials, this trend remains vulnerable.

A slowdown in economic growth or a rise in interest rates, the Bank noted, could reverse recent gains. Moreover, reckless fiscal behavior and excessive borrowing, especially on commercial terms, could undermine progress.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, will not be responding to the threat and 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, a statement from the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, has revealed.

The conflict centres on a recent chieftaincy title conferred by the Ooni on an Ibadan-based businessman.

The Alaafin had issued the ultimatum, demanding that the Ooni revoke the title of “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” bestowed upon Chief Dotun Sanusi, the owner of Ilaji Hotels and Resorts.

In a statement on Monday, the Alaafin described the Ooni’s action as an “affront” to his authority and a disregard for Yoruba tradition and law.

The Alaafin’s office maintained that only the Alaafin of Oyo holds the exclusive right to confer chieftaincy titles that cover the entire Yorubaland.

In a terse response via his facebook handle, Moses Olafare stated that his principal has directed against issuing a formal press release on the matter, calling the Alaafin’s threat an “empty threat.”

“My Principal has directed me against issuing a Press Release on the Empty Threat of the Alawada Babasala. I beg to disappoint you, gentlemen of the press,” Olafare wrote, adding that the matter would be handled in the “public court of opinion.”

Olafare further stated, “Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us. No Press Release please (sic) 48 Hours My Foot!!!”

This recent clash emphasises a long-standing rivalry between the two prominent Yoruba monarchs over supremacy and traditional jurisdiction.

Oba Abimbola Owoade ascended the throne as the 46th Alaafin of Oyo in January 2025, and his reign has been marked by renewed claims to the exclusive right to confer titles with a pan-Yoruba scope.

The Alaafin’s statement also referenced a Supreme Court ruling and the Ooni’s instrument of office, which he claimed limits the Ooni’s traditional authority to the Ife region.

National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in its ongoing crackdown on human trafficking syndicates, intercepted 25 women suspected to be victims of labour exploitation en route to Saudi Arabia.

The agency, in a press statement on Monday by its press officer, Vincent Adekoye, said the clampdown was part of efforts to disrupt organised trafficking activities by some criminally inclined agencies that specialised in the recruitment and trafficking of Nigerians to destination in the Middle East.

Adekoye stated that the development came just as the agency commenced a manhunt for the owner and workers of a popular travel agency suspected of playing a prominent role in the recruitment of the victims.

He said the unsuspecting victims were picked up in front of a popular hotel in the highbrow area of Wuse II, Abuja, where they had gathered, awaiting their trafficker.

Adekoye added that the operation was a continuation of renewed surveillance activities and monitoring embarked upon by the agency, targeting some black spots within several major state capitals across the country.

Adekoye recalled that Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, had a few weeks ago, ordered operatives of the agency to intensify monitoring in some state capitals across Nigeria in response to the reported surge in the activities of human traffickers who now recruited from remote villages and communities for exploitation.

He stated that the directive was in addition to the enhanced working relationship and collaboration with sister law enforcement agencies and partners along some of the red flag routes.

Adekoye revealed that during interrogation, the victims, whose ages ranged from 17 to 43 years, claimed they were recruited from Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states by some persons with a promise to travel to Saudi Arabia to take up jobs as domestic workers, specifically house help.

He quoted one of the victims to have said, “Some people came to our village and told my parents that they would assist me to travel abroad to work as a house help in Saudi Arabia. They assured us that the job there will pay us very well, and we will be able to come and take care of our parents and families.

“They asked us to come and wait for them here so that they will give us the travel document and the necessary instructions on how to go. They have not given us any documents, like an international passport and a visa, and we are worried that none of them is here to attend to us as they promised.”

He said a good number of the victims confessed that they were in Abuja for the first time, and they were stranded.

Speaking on the development, Director General of NAPTIP, Bello, frowned on the activities of the traffickers who fed on the vulnerability of victims in remote parts of the country. He warned that some trafficking gangs now used Abuja as a centralised coordination point for trafficking.

Bello said, “I wish to alert our partners and stakeholders to the new modus operandi of a human trafficking syndicate that uses the Federal Capital Territory as a muster point for their nefarious activities.

“You will recall that a few months ago, some victims were intercepted and rescued from a hotel located close to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, just as they were about to be trafficked to some destination countries in the Middle East.

“Now, we have intercepted another 25 women. The sad aspect of the whole thing is that they excitedly jumped at the offer from the traffickers without knowing the harrowing experience and the level of exploitation that awaits them in the destination country.

“Well, the good news is that we have successfully disrupted this trafficking process, and we are closing in on the agency whose name features prominently in the whole thing.

“Let me use this medium to call on the umbrella body of travel agencies, the Association of Recruiters, Licensed Placement Agency of Nigeria, and other regulatory bodies, to rise to their responsibility of regulating the activities of their members.”

The NAPTIP director-general added, “The mindless exploitation of victims of human trafficking in those destination countries remains a source of serious concern to NAPTIP, so this scenario must stop.”

A Chinese tech firm is racing to deliver what could be the world’s first “gestation robot”.

The idea from Kaiwa Technology, based in Guangzhou, involves a humanoid designed with an artificial womb embedded in its abdomen, intended to carry a fetus through ten months of gestation and deliver a baby, according to Chinese media outlets.

Slated for debut by 2026 and expected to sell for under 100,000 yuan (around $13,900), the robot aims to offer a pregnancy alternative for those who wish to avoid the burdens of human gestation.

The announcement has triggered intense public discourse—from ethical unease to hopeful possibilities for the infertile.

Recently, Chinese researchers introduced GEAIR, the world’s first AI-powered breeding robot, capable of autonomous cruising and cross-pollination to cut costs, shorten cycles, and boost efficiency.
Humanoid birth machine

The bold vision of a humanoid surrogate pregnancy robot was presented at the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing by Zhang Qifeng, founder of Kaiwa Technology and affiliated with Nanyang Technological University, according to ECNS.

According to Qifeng, it is not merely an incubator but a life-sized humanoid equipped with an artificial womb in its abdomen, capable of replicating the entire process from conception to delivery.

The core innovation lies in artificial womb technology, where a fetus develops in artificial amniotic fluid and receives nutrients through a hose, mimicking natural gestation. Dr. Zhang claimed the technology is already mature in laboratory settings and now needs integration into a humanoid form to enable real human–robot interaction during pregnancy, according to Oddity Central.

Qifeng anticipates that a prototype of his pregnancy robot will be ready within a year, priced at under $13,900. On the topic of ethical and legal considerations, he said discussions have already been held with authorities in Guangdong Province, and related proposals have been submitted as part of ongoing policy and legislative deliberations, reports Chosun Biz.

Artificial wombs have shown promising results in animal studies. In 2017, researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia successfully nurtured a premature lamb—equivalent to 23 weeks of human pregnancy—in a “biobag,” a transparent vinyl sac filled with warm, saline-based artificial amniotic fluid. Nutrients were delivered via a tube attached to the umbilical cord, allowing the lamb to grow wool within four weeks, according to Chosun Biz.

However, current artificial wombs function more like neonatal incubators, supporting life only after partial gestation. For Dr. Zhang’s concept to work, the technology must advance to support fertilization, implantation, and full-term pregnancy—details he did not disclose, leaving questions about the scientific, ethical, and legal challenges ahead.

Another notable development showcased at the 2025 World Robot Conference is the world’s first AI-powered breeding robot—integrating artificial intelligence and biotechnology to revolutionize crop breeding.

Led by researchers at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the team used gene editing to create male-sterile flowers, enabling the robot to produce hybrid seeds efficiently.

Combined with advanced methods like “de novo domestication” and “speed breeding,” GEAIR forms the world’s first “intelligent robotic breeding factory,” capable of rapidly generating high-quality plant varieties.

GEAIR has already been applied to develop a male-sterile soybean system, potentially boosting China’s hybrid breeding capacity and crop yields. Xu noted that the project establishes a closed-loop system for intelligent, fully autonomous robotic breeding—pioneering AI-driven agriculture.

According to researchers, with biotechnology as the foundation, AI as the driver, and robotics as the operator, the innovation demonstrates China’s leading role in merging AI with biological breeding.