Headline

Ecosystem Restoration: Foundation Plants 10,000 Trees In Edo

Published

5 years ago

October 8, 2021

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has disclosed its plans to plant 10,000 trees in Edo State, aimed at restoring the ecosystem in the state.

Mrs Edosa Esosa, the Edo coordinator, NCF, stated this during the tree planting exercise at St Maria Gorretti Girls Grammar School and Idogbo Junior Secondary School, all in Benin, Edo State on Friday.

Esosa who said the tree planting exercise is to save the school environment, added that it is in collaboration with the Edebiri family in honour of their late mother Omo’Oba Mary Mojisola Edebiri (Nee Awolesi).

“The idea to plant trees in schools is to provide the much needed shade and cooling, as well as creating a more pleasant and friendly environment for the school children to play.

“The tree planting exercise is to spread across the public schools in Edo. Today we are planting 50 trees at St Maria Gorretti with another 50 trees at Idogbo school

“Our aim is to ensure we plant trees in all public schools in Edo”, she said.

Esosa noted that the trees planted on school ground would also provide opportunities for environmental education, as well as getting young children to think about environmental conservation early.

The Edo NCF Coordinator disclosed that the foundation would establish a conservation club for school children to nuture them on the important of tree planting, nature conservation and biodiversity resource.

The Chairman of Grassroot Consultative Committee, Edo Forest Reserve, Mr Monday Iyayomwangbe said 5000 of Khayar seedlings and another 5000 Senegelisis seedlings are to be planted in the state.

According to him, the species of the two seedlings would help to regenerate and protect the ecosystem of the state.

“The benefits of tree planting cannot be over emphasis, part from the beautification of the environment, it helps develop plantations, as well as wind breakers to protect both residential, industrial and public structures.

“When we plant trees, it cools the environment, absorbs greenhouse gases, increase humidity and aesthetic beauty, provides food and improve wildlife habitat and the ecosystem,” he said.

He, however, called on organisations and well-meaning individuals in the state to collaborate with the government and NCF in combating climate change through tree planting and sensitisation against tree felling.

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.