General News
NESREA Lauds Public Vigilance as Pangolins Safely Handed Over in Kano and Akwa Ibom
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency has praised growing public support for wildlife protection following the handover of pangolins in Kano State and Akwa Ibom State.
Director-General Prof. Innocent Barikor commended the responsible action of a hunter in Akwa Ibom, who surrendered pangolins to authorities instead of attempting to sell them. He also highlighted the success of inter-agency efforts in Kano to curb wildlife trafficking, calling both cases “positive indicators of conservation awareness.”
Barikor warned that trafficking in wildlife—whether conducted online or offline—is a criminal offence under the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental (Control of Endangered Species in Domestic and International Trade) Regulations 2025. Violators will face prosecution.
In Akwa Ibom, local hunter Imo Etim alerted Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria after his traps caught two pangolins instead of grasscutters. The animals were handed to NESREA officials led by State Coordinator Mfon Nkanang and subsequently transferred to the National Park Service.
Prof. Barikor reaffirmed NESREA’s dedication to enforcing environmental laws, protecting endangered species, and encouraged citizens to continue reporting wildlife crimes to safeguard Nigeria’s biodiversity.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to either formally charge former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai in court or release him, stressing the importance of upholding the rule of law and due process.
According to reports from multiple sources, the monarch questioned the continued detention or investigation of El-Rufai without clear legal action, warning that such a situation could undermine public trust in Nigeria’s justice system. He emphasized that no individual should be held indefinitely without trial, regardless of political differences.
The Sultan also raised concerns over the reported presence of United States military personnel in Nigeria, describing the development as sensitive and requiring transparency. He urged the federal government to clearly explain the terms and purpose of any foreign military collaboration to Nigerians.
His remarks come amid growing public debate following confirmation that a small team of U.S. troops has been deployed to Nigeria as part of expanded security cooperation aimed at tackling insurgency and terrorism.
While Nigerian and U.S. officials have described the deployment as a strategic partnership to strengthen counterterrorism efforts, critics and stakeholders have continued to question the implications for Nigeria’s sovereignty and national security.
The Sultan called for caution, urging the government to prioritise national interest, accountability, and constitutional processes in both domestic political matters and international military engagements.
Operations at Berlin Brandenburg Airport were brought to a complete standstill on Wednesday following a one-day strike by service workers, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
The industrial action, organised by Germany’s Verdi labour union, forced the cancellation of all scheduled arrivals and departures, affecting approximately 57,000 travellers and grounding about 445 flights.
Airport authorities confirmed that no regular passenger flights could operate during the strike, citing disruptions across critical services including fire safety, air traffic operations, and terminal management.
The strike is part of an ongoing dispute over wages, with the union representing around 2,000 airport employees demanding better pay amid rising living costs. Union officials described the action as a direct response to what they called the employers’ failure to present a meaningful offer during negotiations.
Airport management, however, criticised the move as disproportionate, warning that it severely disrupted travel plans and added pressure to an already strained aviation sector.
Passengers were advised to contact their airlines for rebooking or refunds, as the shutdown left many scrambling for alternative travel arrangements.
The strike is expected to be temporary, with further negotiations between the union and employers scheduled for later in March.
Dr. Maruf Alausa, Minister of Education, is in London alongside senior government officials to receive President Bola Tinubu ahead of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education and skills development sector.
During the visit, Dr. Alausa underscored the launch of the second phase of Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) reform programme, emphasizing strategic partnerships with international institutions, investors, and development organizations, including Big Win Philanthropy.
The reform initiative seeks to reposition technical education as a key driver of youth employment and economic growth, addressing the country’s long-standing challenges of graduate unemployment and skills mismatch. Discussions are set to include collaboration with University of Birmingham and Coventry University, with the aim of enhancing research, faculty exchange, and the establishment of a full campus in Nigeria to improve access to international-standard higher education.
Dr. Alausa noted that strengthening global partnerships is critical to reversing the outflow of Nigerian students abroad, attracting foreign investment, and boosting local capacity in education and technical skills.
Officials say the outcomes of the London engagements are expected to shape the next phase of reforms in Nigeria’s education sector, particularly in technical training, international collaboration, and infrastructure development.