AMBC News, Port Harcourt (2026)

05/09/2026

UN Approves New Map Showing Africa's True Size

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to encourage governments, schools, and tech companies worldwide to stop using maps that make Africa look smaller than it is.

Adopted on Friday, the resolution is the culmination of an African-led campaign against the 16th-century Mercator projection, the most widely used map in the world.

Only the United States voted against the decision supported by 164 member states. Six countries – Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine – abstained.

Togo led negotiations, building on an African Union-backed campaign. Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said a fair map does not change the world’s geography, “it changes how we see the world”.

The resolution says correcting distortions is an act of “cognitive justice and memorial reparation” and references Equal Earth, developed in 2018, as a projection that more accurately represents relative size.

The resolution does not ban the Mercator projection, but urges the use of the Equal Earth projection and other equal-area maps to teach the limitations of any flat map in representing a spherical planet.

The U.S. said the resolution “mocks the work and purpose” of the U.N., calling the proposal an attempt to update cartographic proportions and part of “the more radical ideological project it belongs to.”

Washington’s representative cited the mention of reparations and “cognitive justice”, saying such initiatives like it “barnacles on” the UN’s work and the reason the institution is losing its credibility.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, however, indicated Paris was planning to abandon Mercator for its maps of the world, aligning France with the broader effort advocated by the African Union.

Ukraine expressed its support for amending historical distortions affecting Africa and other Global South areas, but protested how some maps using Equal Earth portray Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia.

27/08/2026

Federal Government Introduces 365m Naira Yearly Award For Top Nigerian Scholars

The Federal Government has launched a ₦365 million annual National Laureate Prize to honor exceptional scholarly research, innovation, and intellectual achievement throughout Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, presented the program on Wednesday in Abuja, characterizing it as part of broader endeavors to transform higher institutions from mere credential-granting centers into engines of research, technological breakthrough, enterprise, and national growth.

Addressing a press conference regarding the initiative, Alausa noted that the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize was structured to accord nationwide acclaim and substantial financial incentives to researchers and students whose academic contributions can resolve Nigeria’s developmental hurdles or be commercialized into viable enterprises.

He stated that the award would highlight extraordinary undergraduate projects with market viability, as well as distinguished master’s theses and doctoral studies demonstrating clear industrial and societal applications.

The minister added that specialized categories would also honor accomplishments in pivotal disciplines, including Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Agriculture, Law, and Teaching Innovation.

The enterprise is being executed jointly by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Per Alausa, the administration’s intention extends past merely celebrating academic talent, as the award aims to reshape public perception around scholarship and inspire Nigerian youth to view research and enterprise as avenues toward national prestige, business creation, and financial prosperity.

“Scholarship matters; research matters; innovation matters; and intellectual excellence deserves a prominent place in our national consciousness,” he said.

Alausa affirmed that the accolade would offer a formalized national framework for discovering research assets capable of being commercialized or applied toward mitigating urgent domestic issues.

He further declared the creation of the Dr. Stella Adadevoh Prize for Medicine and Medical Innovation, instituted to honor the late medical practitioner whose bravery and expertise proved crucial to Nigeria’s successful suppression of the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

The minister emphasized that the trustworthiness of the scheme rests upon the impartiality of its evaluation workflow, promising that all submissions will be subjected to an open, competitive, and merit-driven review.

“Excellence must be the determining factor,” he said, adding that the process would be insulated from political, institutional and personal influence.

He indicated that entries would likewise conform to the National Policy on the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank, which he noted would fortify the archiving, record-keeping, and public availability of Nigeria’s scholarly output.

Alausa asserted that Nigeria cannot continue supporting an educational model centered primarily on issuing diplomas without converting insights into actionable remedies and tangible economic worth.

He explained that the government is steering higher education toward an ecosystem where research translates into enterprise, innovation expands into industry, and intellectual assets generate countable national growth.

“The innovator matters, the scholar matters, the researcher matters, and the rigour of our laboratories and intellectual institutions deserves national celebration,” the minister said.

27/08/2026

NICRAT DG Commends President Tinubu For Approving Design, Construction Of National Cancer Institute

The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for approving the design, construction, furnishing, equipping, supervision and commissioning of a flagship National Cancer Institute.

He gave the commendation in a Press Release in Abuja, noting that the approval is a clear “demonstration of care and concern for the health and general well-being of all Nigerians by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government.”

This approval, the NICRAT DG said, also brings to the fore the President’s penchant for embarking on bold interventions meant to better the living standard of Nigerians at all levels.

“The facility will strengthen cancer research, treatment, innovation, capacity building and also provide world-class cancer services in Nigeria.

“This approval and many other steps taken by the President Tinubu-led government like the recent upgrading of more cancer centres, with three facilities in Kastina, Benin, and Enugu already completed, shows commitment, capacity and willingness to give Nigerians a better life,” Prof. Malami said.

While commending the wisdom behind the approval given by the President, Prof. Malami said: “Even though the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) three years ago, has brought the country to the global limelight in terms of the fight against cancer, however, the approval by President Tinubu of the construction of the National Cancer Institute with state-of-the-art equipment will give Nigeria more visibility and dignity among comity of nations in terms of cancer care and research.”

“On the other hand, the project will make Nigeria a destination of choice by many countries in Africa and beyond in terms of cancer treatment and research, hence, It will generate and improve Nigeria’s foreign exchange.

“The state-of-the-art Institute, will no doubt, escalate cancer research and innovation in Nigeria. This is because many oncology experts will take advantage of the well-equipped Institute and the conducive environment to conduct innovative research in different areas of cancer.

“The Institute will also be a hub and a reference point for the training and retraining of oncology experts and researchers across Africa. It will equally be a centre for the development of highly skilled cancer care professionals, strengthen evidence-based policy-making, promote innovation and technology-driven cancer care, and foster collaboration with leading institutions within Nigeria, Africa and globally.”

The approval by the president, Prof. Malami further noted, will lay what he described as a foundation for a stronger healthcare system that is battle-ready and capable of responding more effectively and promptly to the evolving health needs of Nigeria’s growing population.

He also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, for his strategic leadership and commitment to transforming Nigeria’s health sector, as well as the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, for his persistent advocacy, commitment and support in helping to move this important vision from aspiration to reality.

“NICRAT also acknowledges with deep sense of appreciation the support and encouragement received from the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom,” he said.

The NICRAT boss expressed the commitment of the Institute to “continue to work with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, development partners, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the private sector and other critical stakeholders in cancer space to build a coordinated national cancer control system that delivers measurable impact.

“The Management and Staff of NICRAT, therefore, assure Mr. President of their commitment to work hard to ensure that this landmark project delivers on the promise of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

27/08/2026

FIVE FIGURINES, when vengeance takes centre stage.

In Cinemas nationwide 13th November 2026

27/08/2026

Power Project Committee Member Who Collected $30m Bribe Aircraft Forfeited

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the commission secured the forfeiture of an aircraft allegedly linked to a member of a committee monitoring a power project in Nigeria who was accused of collecting about $30 million in bribes.

Olukoyede made the disclosure on Wednesday while speaking at the Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime in the United Kingdom.

According to him, the aircraft was recovered through the EFCC’s non-conviction-based asset forfeiture process and has since been added to Nigeria’s presidential air fleet.

“This aircraft was forfeited by someone who was supposed to be a member of monitoring committee of a power project in Nigeria. We discovered he collected a bribe of about $30 million in Nigeria,” Olukoyede said.

“He forfeited that about three months ago and it has been added to the presidential air fleet at the moment.”

The EFCC chairman said the commission secured the forfeiture within about two months of approaching the court.

He explained that Nigerian law empowers the commission to seek the forfeiture of assets suspected to represent proceeds of crime even before a criminal conviction is secured.

Olukoyede compared the mechanism to similar asset recovery frameworks operating in countries such as Australia and Canada.

“We have similar to what is obtainable in Australia and Canada that empowers us to apply the forfeiture to proceeds of what is suspected to be proceeds of crime,” he said.

He explained that the process begins with an ex parte application to a High Court based on what he described as probable suspicion that an asset constitutes proceeds of crime.

“You apply ex parte to the High Court upon a probable suspicion of the proceeds of crime,” he stated.

The EFCC chairman cited the aircraft case as one example of the commission’s increasing use of asset tracing and non-conviction-based forfeiture to recover property suspected to have been acquired through financial crimes.

Olukoyede further disclosed that over the past three years, the commission had recovered and forfeited to the Federal Government cash and assets valued at more than $500 million.

He also referred to a property containing about 753 housing units which, according to him, was forfeited in connection with a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria who is facing criminal charges in three courts.

“That property contains about 753 housing units we forfeited from an erstwhile governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. We have criminal charges against him in about three courts,” Olukoyede said.

Olukoyede also spoke about an investigation into former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, saying the commission had traced 57 properties allegedly linked to him following an investigation into suspected abuse of office.

“Sometimes last year, I opened investigations upon reasonable suspicion of criminal abuse of office by the immediate past attorney-general of Nigeria,” he said.

“We discovered that within eight years of his being in office, we were able to trace about 57 such properties to him. We’ve been able to forfeit about 48.”

Olukoyede said the commission’s ability to successfully pursue forfeiture cases depends heavily on effective asset tracing, credible intelligence and cooperation from the judiciary.

He also called for stronger protection for whistleblowers, arguing that individuals who provide credible information leading to the recovery of stolen Nigerian assets should be encouraged and protected.

According to him, whistleblowers whose information results in successful recoveries may receive between 2.5 per cent and five per cent of recovered assets.

“The citizens must be encouraged with your whistleblower protection,” he said.

“If any of you is privy to where Nigerian asset is stolen or taken to anywhere in the world, we have an incentive for you. Between 2.5 and 5 percent is going to go back to you upon recovery.”

26/08/2026

Burna Boy Lifts His Ferrari Testarossa Into Acquired 26th Floor Penthouse

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian music star Burna Boy’s vintage Ferrari Testarossa may have found its forever home inside his expensive penthouse in Ikoyi, where the iconic vehicle is set to become the ultimate luxury lounge room centerpiece instead of resting in a traditional garage.

Trending videos and photos capture the breathtaking moment the red Ferrari Testarossa made its high-altitude ascent atop a custom-built platform, which a heavy-duty crane hoisted from street level directly into the under-construction 26th-floor penthouse located in the upscale Lagos neighborhood of Ikoyi.

To safely integrate this actual vehicle into the apartment’s interior layout as a timeless piece of artwork, all combustible fluids—such as petrol (gasoline) and motor oil—must be thoroughly drained to ensure strict compliance with residential building codes and fire safety regulations.

Estimated to be a 1984–1991 model year and valued between $150,000 and $250,000 globally, Autojosh understands that this classic masterpiece reportedly cost Burna Boy up to ₦1.6 billion due to extreme luxury shipping costs and steep local import duties.

The Ferrari Testarossa is just one of several elite vehicles in the singer’s impressive automotive collection, a fleet spearheaded by a Venum-branded Bugatti Chiron featuring bespoke touches like custom “Burna Boy” graphics emblazoned across its massive carbon-fiber rear wing.

Rounding out this spectacular garage are a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, a Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, a Ferrari Purosangue, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, McLaren Senna, Lamborghini Revuelto and a Urus, alongside a Rolls-Royce Dawn and a Rolls-Royce Cullinan that are both uniquely fitted with diamond-encrusted bonnet ornaments.

24/08/2026

NAFDAC Orders Manufacturers To Commence Nationwide Recall Of Banned Alcoholic Beverages

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has ordered manufacturers of alcoholic beverages below 200ml to commence nationwide recall and stop further production of the products.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye gave the order at a news conference held in Lagos on Monday to brief the media on its ongoing banned enforcement on the production and sale of sachets alcoholic and pet bottles below 200ml.

Recall that NAFDAC in January announced a nationwide ban following the Federal Government’s prohibition of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and pet bottles below 200ml.

Mrs Adeyeye had said that the agency unveiled its second-tier of its nationwide pop-up operations where banned pack sizes were found at distribution centres, leading to the closure of the factories that violated the agency directives.

She said the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and Association of Food, Beverage and To***co Employers (AFBTE) were required by NAFDAC to sign irrevocable enforcement undertaken on behalf its members.

The D-G said the undertaken was by the unions to intimate their members to desist from producing the banned products before their facilities could be open.

The NAFDAC Boss said the agency also imposed investigative charges on defaulting companies found to have violated regulatory directives relating to the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages in prohibited package sizes.

According to her, the affected companies are required to settle the applicable charges within the stipulated period and comply fully with all regulatory directives issued by the Agency.

Speaking further, Mrs Adeyeye emphasised that all recalled products shall be subjected to inventory verification and destruction under NAFDAC supervision in accordance with the terms of the enforcement undertaking.

She disclosed that before the reopening of any facility involved in producing prohibited alcohol, NAFDAC would require evidence that production lines for banned package sizes were permanently disabled or reconfigured to prevent repackaging.

She disclosed that before the reopening of any facility involved in producing prohibited alcohol, NAFDAC would require evidence that production lines for banned package sizes were permanently disabled or reconfigured to prevent repackaging.

“The dismantling or reconfiguration of the production lines shall be carried out under the direct supervision and verification of NAFDAC officers.

“The reopening and continued opening of any facility shall be subject to full compliance with the nationwide recall directive of the agency,” she said.

Adeyeye warned that companies that failed to comply with the undertaking risked severe sanctions, including continued closure, placement on NAFDAC’s Regulatory Watchlist, suspension or revocation of registrations, prosecution and other lawful measures.

She said that the ban on alcoholic beverages in sachets and pet bottles below 200ml in the country was not an abrupt decision, adding that it evolved over several years through consultations between regulators, manufacturers, and government agencies.

Adeyeye recalled that the agency, in 2018, raised concerns over the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content drinks sold in sachets and small bottles.

The D-G said regulators argued that the products were cheap, easy to conceal, and readily accessible to minors, prompting discussions with NAFDAC, Ministry of Health, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, DIBAN and AFBTE.

According to her, a five-year moratorium was given to the manufacturers after argued that an immediate ban would lead to job losses, plant closures, and financial losses.

“A memorandum of understanding was signed in December 2018. The agreement provided a five-year moratorium for manufacturers to gradually phase out alcohol in sachets and small-volume containers.

“The industry was given until Jan. 31, 2024 to reconfigure production lines, shift to larger packaging formats and phase out sachet alcohol and small bottles,” she said.

Mrs Adeyeye noted that the full enforcement was backed by an independent research that underscored the devastating effect of underage drinking.

It revealed that 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of the underaged procured drinks in sachets while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of the underaged procured drinks in pet bottles.

According to the D-G, NAFDAC remains committed to protecting public health and reducing harmful alcohol consumption, particularly among vulnerable populations, including children and young persons.

She said the agency would continue to work with industry stakeholders while ensuring strict compliance with regulatory directives designed to safeguard the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.

24/08/2026

Jonathan Was Born Before The Telephone: Meet The World's Oldest Animal Still Alive At 194

In a world defined by rapid change, one resident of the remote South Atlantic island of Saint Helena remains a steadfast anchor to the past. Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise and the world’s oldest living land animal, is officially entering his 194th year.

Believed to have hatched circa 1832, Jonathan’s life spans nearly two centuries of human milestones. To put his age into perspective: he was born before the invention of the telephone (1876) and the lightbulb (1879).

He arrived on Saint Helena in 1882 as a fully mature adult (at least 50 years old).

He has outlived 31 governors of the island and witnessed the transition from the Napoleonic era to the digital age.

Despite his age, Jonathan’s health remains remarkably stable. While he is now largely blind due to cataracts and has lost his sense of smell, his hearing remains acute. He spends his days on the lush grounds of Plantation House, the Governor’s official residence, where he enjoys a specialized diet of high-calorie fruits and vegetables his favorites being bananas and hearts of lettuce.

Jonathan is a national treasure, says his dedicated veterinary team. He is more than just a record-holder; he is a living link to a world that no longer exists.

In 2022, Guinness World Records officially recognized him as the oldest chelonian (turtles, tortoises, and terrapins) ever recorded. As he approaches his bicentennial, Jonathan continues to be a symbol of endurance, attracting global attention and appearing on the local five-pence coin.

For now, the world oldest celebrity is content to simply bask in the sun, reminding us all of the quiet power of a life lived slowly.

24/08/2026

A wave of grief swept through Ilaro on Monday morning as the remains of late Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan Ogogo arrived at the Ilaro Central Mosque in Ogun State, ahead of his burial.

Footage capturing the moment, which surfaced online on Monday, August 24, showed a significant crowd of mourners who had gathered to receive the actor's body, reflecting the deep affection fans and community members held for him. The atmosphere was visibly sorrowful as people came out in their numbers to pay their final respects.

According to the Chief Imam of Ilaro, Ogogo is to be laid to rest on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with the funeral conducted in accordance with Islamic rites.

Taiwo Hassan Ogogo built a formidable career in the Yoruba arm of Nollywood, becoming one of the most recognisable faces in Nigerian cinema. His work earned him a devoted following both within Nigeria and among Yoruba-speaking audiences abroad, making the news of his passing a significant moment of mourning for the entertainment industry.

Veteran actor Jide Kosoko had earlier confirmed Ogogo's passing and announced the burial details, leaving fans across the country heartbroken. Ogogo was 66 years old at the time of his death.

Fuji music icon, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, became emotional during a live stage performance while mourning the death of veteran Nollywood actor, Ogogo broke down in tears while paying tribute to the late actor and reflecting on his legacy in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

20/08/2026

BREAKING: Tinubu Diverts EFCC Funds to NELFUND

President Bola Tinubu has directed that all liquid funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be channelled into the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to support the education of Nigerian students.

The directive was announced on Wednesday by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

Alausa said the Council also approved the President’s directive for the transfer of unclaimed dividends from the capital market trust fund and the dormant account trust fund to NELFUND.

The measures are aimed at strengthening NELFUND’s financial capacity. More than 1.2 million students are currently benefiting from the scheme.

President Tinubu further directed the Ministers of Finance and Education, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Debt Management Office to work together to establish the legal framework for the transfer of the funds and unclaimed dividends to NELFUND.

NELFUND is the Federal Government’s interest-free student loan scheme that supports tuition and student upkeep.

AMBC News

05/09/2026

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

26/08/2026

24/08/2026

24/08/2026

24/08/2026

20/08/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Listing takedown request