Africa
Vultures on the brink of extinction
Kara Market, located along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at the boundary between Lagos and Ogun states, is a vibrant hub renowned for its cattle and ram sales.
The market, which also contains an abattoir, sees tonnes of livestock butchered and sold daily to meat and food vendors.
As with many open-air markets, cattle egrets hover in the skies above, but one bird that once dominated these scenes—the vulture—has become a rare sight.
A walk through various sections of the market ending at the abattoir, which shares a boundary with a flowing river, reveals an abundance of only cattle egrets, and not once was any vulture sighted.
When asked about the last time he saw a vulture, a butcher, who simply identified as Tijani, and has spent over 10 years in the market, could not remember.
“Ah! You won’t see igun (Yoruba name for vulture) here anymore. They don’t stay here, only these,” he said, pointing to an egret perched on a roof nearby.
He explained that vultures are now more commonly found in Ijebu areas like Remo, Iperu, and Sagamu, far from Kara Market.
“You can’t see them here,” he added, passing a photo of the bird I shared with him to his colleagues, who also concurred that the bird could not be found in the market.
While the butchers were aware that vultures eat dead and decaying carcasses, they admitted to not fully understanding the bird’s ecological importance.
This reflects a broader misunderstanding among many Nigerians about the role vultures play in maintaining environmental health.
Once a common sight in open-air markets and dumpsites, vultures are steadily disappearing.
In Lagos State’s Olusosun dumpsite, vultures that used to thrive among the mountainous waste have also become rare.
A worker at the 100-acre dump said the last time he saw one was in 2022.
The absence of vultures at Kara Market and Olusosun dumpsite is part of a larger, troubling trend seen across Nigeria.
Why are vultures so important?
These hard-looking creatures, with their bald heads, sharp beaks, and keen eyesight, were once a common sight, swooping down to feast on the carcasses of dead animals.
But now, many have to prod their memory to recall when they last saw one, especially in urban settings.
Their scavenging nature, which appears unsightly to some, serves a critical purpose in nature – preventing the spread of disease.
Without them, decomposing animals will litter the landscape, creating breeding grounds for deadly pathogens.
Vultures are nature’s disposal system. They take care of rotting carcasses and keep the environment clean and healthy.
The birds are nature’s only obligated scavengers, with each species serving a unique feeding function.
“They are adapted to efficiently dispose of rotting flesh and bone, as well as other organic waste, thereby reducing the spread of disease among wildlife and livestock, as well as abating the risk of pathogen spillover to humans.
“Without the presence of vultures, carcasses will remain exposed to the environment for weeks. The result is a build-up of harmful diseases and bacteria, such as anthrax, botulism, and rabies, which will negatively impact human life and wildlife,” wildlifefact.com explained.
A conservationist, Dr Mark Ofua, described vultures as nature’s frontline defence mechanism against zoonotic diseases.
“They play a crucial role in our biodiversity, and if we lose these birds, we will pay heavily for it,” Ofua explained.
He added, “When the population of vultures in India declined, there was an increase in rabies. Humans were dying from rabies. They were worried about the increase in cases, and when they investigated, they found that it was linked to the vultures’ near extinction.
“With the disappearance of vultures, animals with rabies die, but there are no vultures to clean them up. Instead, secondary scavengers, like mammals, eat them, but these animals don’t have the same protection that vultures have, so they fall ill and are eaten by other animals, which in turn come in contact with local dogs. These local dogs brought rabies into the human population.
“They act as nature’s dustbin, eating up dead and diseased animals that would otherwise have posed a threat to us. Now, with these vultures critically endangered, we have lost the frontline defence that nature provided, and we are exposed to diseases from dead animals that other scavengers will bring to our doorstep. Last year, we had cases of anthrax—these are some of the diseases these vultures protect us from.”
The birds’ scavenging habits helped to eliminate disease threats before they had a chance to spread. Their extremely corrosive stomach acids allow them to consume bacteria-ridden flesh without falling ill, effectively neutralising pathogens.
With their population in decline, there are fears of a rapid spread of zoonotic diseases.
Where have the vultures gone?
Vultures, once a common sight in Nigeria, are vanishing. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the seven species of vultures in Nigeria—the Egyptian vulture, hooded vulture, white-backed gyps, white-headed vulture, Ruppell’s griffon, palm-nut vulture, and lappet-faced vultures—are critically endangered.
The hooded vulture, still the most common, has seen a population decline of over 80 per cent in some regions of Nigeria, including Edo State, according to a 2018 study by Nosazeogie et al.
This steep decline has been attributed to a combination of habitat loss, poisoning, and poaching.
The conservationist remembered years ago when these creatures were seen freely on roads.
“As a child, I remember travelling towards the east. One very strong indicator that you were approaching the east was the sight of vultures lined up in trees along the roads or even on the ground, in their numbers, waiting for road kills.
“But in the last decade or two, we don’t see such sights anymore. Now, we are unbothered because apart from their consumption of road-kill, we don’t see what these vultures do for us, but their disappearance has strong implications,” he warned.
Various factors have contributed to the steady decline of vultures. Ofua noted that habitat loss and fragmentation are primary issues.
“Agriculture and construction are taking over our forests. As the forest is cleared, these birds lose their homes. Some species of vultures will only nest in specific, giant trees. When we lose these trees, the vultures lose their homes, which is a serious problem.”
Pesticide use on animals is another threat, as poisoned carcasses kill vultures when consumed.
Vultures are known for their excellent eyesight, and some traditionalists believe that their body parts can be used to see into the future.
The conservationist added that vultures are poached for traditional medicine, especially during election seasons, as people believe they can use them for rituals to win elections.
Mary Egbe, a Species Conservation Manager with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, said poaching and hunting for ritual purposes are significant threats.
A 2017 NCF survey discovered that Kano, Ibadan, and Ikare were hubs of vulture sales.
In these locations, wildlife and herb sellers buy vultures, either dead or alive, for their customers.
“Belief-based practitioners and other spiritualists use vulture body parts for the awure fortune charm. The survey also discovered that a vulture head could sell for up to N15,000, whereas the whole body could cost as much as N30,000,” 4vultures.org added.
There is also indiscriminate killing of vultures due to the belief that they are evil creatures.
What needs to be done?
Without vultures, Nigeria risks facing the same public health crises seen in other countries.
As vultures disappear, secondary scavengers take over. However, these animals lack the same disease resistance as vultures, increasing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission to humans.
A 2021 study by Van Den Heever et al., titled Reviewing the Role of Vultures at the Human-Wildlife-Livestock Disease Interface: An African Perspective, highlights the danger of vultures’ absence.
The study warned, “The absence of competitive regulation by these apex scavengers may result in changes in the composition of the vertebrate scavenger guild, with an increase in mammalian scavengers giving rise to increased contact rates at carcasses, which may increase the risk of viral disease transmission to humans, livestock, and other wildlife.
“Although the economic value of vultures in terms of the sanitation services they provide has been evaluated, their contribution to the economics of human health and veterinary care remains to be quantified.”
The species conservation manager, Egbe, stressed the need for massive awareness creation.
“People need to understand that every species plays a role. Vultures are specialised cleaners of rotten flesh and death. If you remove vultures from the ecosystem, you leave a void, and no other bird species has that level of speciality in removing rotting flesh.
“That creates an ecosystem imbalance with serious implications for both the government and the public, as some diseases, like rabies, are difficult to treat. It can be a public health menace when you remove specialist animals or species.
“We need to raise awareness that not all species are evil because they look unconventional. Their appearance is a result of ecological evolution in the way they feed,” Egbe said.
No technology can take on the role of vultures, Ofua insisted. He explained that their contribution to sanitising the ecosystem cannot be done by technology.
As vultures continue to vanish, more awareness must be raised about their role in maintaining a healthy environment.
Communities must work together with conservationists to protect these birds, while the government needs to enforce stricter laws against poaching and the illegal use of pesticides.
Without collective action, Nigeria risks facing the same public health crises seen in other countries that have lost their vultures.
Lessons from India
Between the 1990s and early 200s, India suffered a fatal public health crisis where over 500,000 people died due to the massive decline of their vulture population, a situation where 96 per cent of the vulture population was decimated.
Diclofenac, a drug used to treat sick cows, were ingested by the vultures, thus causing them to die en masse of liver failure.
Their demise led to secondary scavengers like local dogs taking up the role of scavengers. As the dog population exploded and came in contact with humans, there was a rise in rabies among humans.
Experts estimated that this public health crisis cost the Indian public health system an estimated $34bn between 1993 and 2006.
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Burkina Faso’s military government has halted a malaria eradication project backed by billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates and his foundation.
The project, run by the research consortium Target Malaria, focused on releasing genetically modified mosquitoes into the environment to help eradicate malaria.
On Friday, authorities ordered Target Malaria to immediately suspend all operations in the West African nation.
The move marks yet another clash between the government and international non-governmental organizations, many of which have faced intense restrictions under military rule.
The decision sparked heated reactions from civil society groups. Opponents of the project argue that Burkina Faso should focus on safer and more traditional solutions rather than experimenting with controversial genetic technologies.
A spokesperson for a coalition campaigning against the project stated that citizens “deserve protection through proven health measures, not risky experiments.”
Target Malaria, however, defended its work.
The group insisted that since 2012, it has complied with Burkina Faso’s national laws and worked closely with local authorities.
It expressed readiness to cooperate further with the government despite the sudden suspension.
The project has faced criticism not only within Burkina Faso but also internationally.
It became the target of online disinformation campaigns that claimed the genetically modified mosquitoes posed unforeseen dangers to the ecosystem.
While the first release of such mosquitoes took place in 2019, the long-term effects remain under global scientific debate.
Burkina Faso, one of the ten countries most affected by malaria, recorded more than eight million cases in 2024 alone.
The disease remains one of the leading causes of death in the country, particularly among children under five.
Supporters of the Target Malaria initiative argue that innovation is crucial to ending this deadly cycle, but critics fear it could introduce new risks.
This ban comes amid wider tensions between the military rulers and international organizations.
Since seizing power nearly three years ago, Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration has increasingly tightened control over foreign-funded NGOs.
In recent months, the government revoked the licenses of at least 21 groups, accusing some of pushing foreign agendas and destabilizing national sovereignty.
Analysts see the latest crackdown as part of a broader trend. Burkina Faso’s rulers are distancing the country from Western-backed projects while strengthening ties with alternative global partners.
However, the sudden halt to malaria research may come at a cost, as the country continues to battle one of the world’s deadliest diseases.
For now, the future of genetically modified mosquito projects in Burkina Faso remains uncertain.
The debate highlights the sharp divide between innovation and caution, science and politics, as the country balances urgent health needs with national sovereignty concerns
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has urged all Nigerians to acquire combat skills such as Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo to protect themselves in the face of increasing danger.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, August 21, General Musa likened learning martial arts to other essential survival skills, including driving and swimming.
“That one should be taken as learning driving, learning how to swim.
Whether we have war or not, it is a survival instinct,” he said.
He added that in Europe, swimming and basic security education are compulsory because citizens must understand and practice personal safety.
The defence chief emphasised that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should incorporate unarmed combat training into its programme to prepare graduates for real-world threats.
He explained, “That’s what the NYSC is supposed to do, but the NYSC has been watered down to three weeks. Self-defence is very important.
Unarmed combat, swimming, driving these are critical aspects of human survival. We should never take them for granted because they prepare us for the future.”
General Musa further encouraged Nigerians to remain situationally aware of their environment, alerting authorities to any suspicious activities or individuals.
He said, “The world we are in now is dangerous. We have individuals who don’t mean people well. They kill for whatever reason.”
Highlighting evolving threats, General Musa disclosed that terrorists increasingly use gold to finance their operations.
He noted that complex international networks make it difficult to immediately expose or prosecute these financiers. “Gold is the main source.
They circulate it through various channels, including foreign links, which complicates intervention,” he explained.
General Musa acknowledged that bad roads and challenging terrains hinder rapid military response to attacks.
He said, “Many Nigerians expect immediate intervention from the Armed Forces without understanding the logistical challenges. By the time information reaches us, terrorists have already struck and vanished because they move more quickly in these regions.”
He added that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the North-East further slow troop movement.
Regarding the Southeast, General Musa noted that the arrest of pro-Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa in Finland in November 2024 has improved security in the region.
He said, “Troops are actively pursuing Ekpa’s lieutenants in Imo, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Abia states. We will continue operations until all threats are neutralised.”
The CDS also praised the synergy among the Nigerian Army, Air Force, and Navy, which led to the arrest of Ansaru terrorist leaders, describing it as a major success in the fight against terrorism.
General Musa concluded by announcing an African Chiefs of Defence Staff conference to foster continental collaboration and enhance regional security efforts.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has slammed the Federal Government’s approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across Nigeria, describing it as a reckless misplacement of priorities.
Obi issued a statement on Friday, August 22, via his Official X formerly Twitter platform, warning that the project reflects poor leadership and lack of focus in managing Nigeria’s limited resources. He titled his statement, “₦142 Billion for Bus Terminals.”
According to him, the true test of leadership is how scarce resources are prioritized.
He stressed that investing such a huge amount in bus terminals while critical sectors like healthcare suffer shows a government that is out of touch with citizens’ realities.
Obi said: “The difference between success and failure in any nation is how leaders prioritise resources.
The decision to spend ₦142 billion on six bus terminals exposes a lack of competence and vision. It is a clear sign of poor leadership.”
The Federal Executive Council had recently approved the funds for the construction of one modern bus terminal in each of the six geopolitical zones.
The government described it as part of efforts to modernise transport infrastructure and improve mobility nationwide.
But Obi strongly disagreed. He compared the allocation to healthcare funding, pointing out that the combined budget for all teaching hospitals and federal psychiatric centres in Nigeria is less than ₦100 billion in the 2024 budget.
“This is disturbing,” Obi continued, “because health remains one of the most critical sectors of development. Yet it is underfunded and deteriorating rapidly.
The World Health Organization has reported that over 20 million Nigerians live with mental health conditions.
This is a tragic irony. How can the government ignore this crisis and focus on bus terminals?”
He argued that the health sector, alongside education and poverty reduction programs, deserves priority attention.
Obi insisted that until government spending reflects the real needs of Nigerians, the country will remain trapped in poor governance.
Many Nigerians have also taken to social media to express anger, echoing Obi’s concerns. Critics argue that the decision proves the Federal Government is disconnected from the economic struggles of ordinary citizens.
For Obi, the ₦142 billion project is not just a case of wrong timing.
He sees it as a clear example of governance failure and misplaced priorities.
Canada has carried out a new Express Entry lottery, inviting thousands of skilled workers to apply for permanent residency.
Financial Express report that the Announcement which came on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, marks one of the most significant rounds this year.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 4,200 candidates in the latest Express Entry draw.
The invitations were sent under the no-program-specified category, which means candidates from all economic immigration programs were considered.
To qualify, candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 507 points.
This cut-off is higher than several recent rounds, showing rising competition in Canada’s immigration pool.
Breakdown of Recent Express Entry Draws
The August 20 general draw came just a week after Canada held two smaller, targeted draws.
On August 14, 2025, IRCC issued 1,500 invitations in a Healthcare category-based draw, with a minimum CRS of 430.
On August 13, 2025, another STEM occupation draw invited 1,000 candidates, with a CRS cut-off of 481.
This means Canada has invited more than 6,700 candidates in August alone, highlighting its steady demand for skilled workers.
Why Express Entry Remains Key
The Express Entry system is Canada’s main pathway for skilled migration. It manages applications for three major programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Through this system, candidates are ranked by CRS points based on age, education, work experience, language skills, and adaptability. Higher scores improve the chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Impact of the Rising CRS
The 507-point cut-off has sparked concern among applicants.
Many worry that higher thresholds make it harder to qualify unless they boost their profiles with stronger English or French test results, higher education, or Canadian job offers.
Immigration experts note that Canada is prioritizing candidates who are more likely to integrate quickly into the economy.
With rising competition, applicants may need to explore provincial nomination programs (PNPs), which can add up to 600 extra CRS points.
Canada’s Immigration Targets
Despite higher CRS cut-offs, Canada’s immigration outlook remains ambitious.
The government has pledged to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.
Skilled workers make up a large share of this intake.
With labor shortages in sectors like healthcare, technology, and construction, Canada continues to use Express Entry to attract foreign talent.
What Applicants Should Do
Experts recommend that prospective migrants keep their profiles updated and monitor both general and category-based draws.
Targeted draws for healthcare, STEM, and trades occupations often have lower CRS cut-offs, giving candidates more opportunities.
For those struggling to meet the high CRS threshold, exploring study routes in Canada, provincial nominations, or job offers may increase chances.
The August 20 Express Entry draw shows Canada’s ongoing commitment to skilled immigration.
With over 4,200 invitations issued and CRS cut-offs climbing, the competition is intense.
However, the system continues to provide multiple entry points for determined applicants worldwide.
The Japanese government has officially designated the city of Kisarazu as the hometown for Nigerians, marking a major step in strengthening cultural diplomacy and workforce collaboration between both nations.
The announcement was made during the ninth Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) and confirmed by the Director of Information at Nigeria’s State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye.
According to the agreement, the Japanese government will introduce a special visa category for highly skilled and innovative young Nigerians who are willing to relocate to Kisarazu to live and work.
This initiative also extends to artisans and blue-collar workers from Nigeria who are ready to upskill and contribute to Japan’s economy.
At the same event, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) designated three other cities as hometowns for African nations:
Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture for Tanzania,
Sanjo in Niigata Prefecture for Ghana, and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture for Mozambique.
These hometown designations aim to foster manpower development, cultural exchanges, and economic partnerships that will benefit both Japan and the participating African countries.
Nigeria-Japan Partnership
Nigeria’s Charge d’Affaires and Acting Ambassador to Japan, Mrs. Florence Akinyemi Adeseke, received the certificate on behalf of Nigeria alongside Yoshikuni Watanabe, the Mayor of Kisarazu.
The ceremony highlighted the city’s longstanding relationship with Nigeria, as Kisarazu was the official host town for the Nigerian contingent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where athletes trained and acclimatised before moving to the Olympic village.
Local Japanese authorities hope that designating Kisarazu as Nigerians’ hometown will boost the city’s population, enhance regional revitalisation, and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Japan’s Vision for Africa
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, in his address at TICAD9, announced $5.5 billion in new investments across Africa.
He stressed the importance of mutual understanding, local solutions, and collaborative development, focusing on three key areas:
Private sector-led sustainable growth,
Youth and women empowerment.
Prime Minister Ishiba also acknowledged Japan’s challenges with an ageing population and shrinking agricultural land, calling on African nations to support Japan while benefiting from expanded cultural and economic opportunities.
What This Means for Nigerians
For Nigerians, the recognition of Kisarazu as their official hometown in Japan provides more than symbolic value.
It creates new employment opportunities, encourages skills transfer, and opens a pathway for closer cultural integration between both nations.
This strategic move underscores Japan’s commitment to forging deeper ties with Africa, while offering Nigerians a platform to thrive abroad
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