News

Environmental Activist Advocates Stricter Regulations On Pesticides Usage

Published

2 years ago

November 7, 2023

An environmental activist and Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, has advocated stricter regulations on the use of pesticides, saying “our right to a clean and healthy environment, a fundamental human right, is also under threat from the indiscriminate use of pesticides.”

This is as he called for development and adoption of alternative pest management methods, such as integrated pest management, biological pest control and use of bio-pesticides.

Bassey who took this position in his welcome address at HOMEF’s training for legal practitioners and rights groups held in Abuja, noted that excessive pesticide residue in “our food products currently affects our exports as these products are rightly rejected in international markets.

According to him, indiscriminate use of pesticides directly negates basic rights such as the right to a satisfactory environment as enshrined in article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“The use of pesticides has dire consequences for our right to life and health. Many pesticides are highly hazardous and cause acute and chronic health problems when people are exposed to them.

” Pesticides have been linked to a wide range of health issues, including cancers, neurological disorders, reproductive problems, and diverse ways of poisoning of farmworkers,” Bassey added.

While noting that pesticides can no longer be seen as a quick solution to agricultural challenges, the environmental activist called for an empowerment for agric workers with a view to imparting on them with knowledge and tools to protect themselves from pesticide exposure.

He said: “We need to urgently empower and revive our extension service system such that farmers in local communities are equipped with the right knowledge. The wider public must be informed of the highly hazardous pesticides, including the types, quantities, and locations.

“It is our duty to protect and preserve nature’s resources; to preserve our food culture and heritage. To do this, we must retrace our steps and recall every decision/permit that threaten our individual and collective wellbeing and that of the environment.”

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

51 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.