By Patrick Idowu

Engineer Michael Oluwagbemi, Chief Executive of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, has announced that 175 new CNG refueling stations will be completed across Nigeria within the next year.

Speaking during a television interview on Friday, Oluwagbemi revealed that the initiative is collaborating with major stakeholders, including NNPC and the mainstream downstream gas infrastructure fund, to accelerate the rollout.

Twelve stations have already been commissioned, while construction is underway for many others.

He added that the entire northern region will soon benefit from CNG access, as deals have been secured for distribution.

Addressing safety concerns, Oluwagbemi assured Nigerians that all imported CNG kits will meet required standards, with oversight from the Standards Organization of Nigeria.

By Oso Abidemi

Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline, has suspended all flight operations across the country with immediate effect, citing safety concerns triggered by a strike action embarked upon by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

In a statement released on Wednesday, the airline said the decision was made to protect passengers amid the ongoing industrial action that has halted the issuance of critical weather reports used for safe aircraft landings during Nigeria’s heavy rainy season.

“We regret to inform you that due to the ongoing strike by NiMet, Air Peace is suspending all flight operations nationwide with immediate effect,” the statement read.

“NiMet is the agency responsible for issuing CNH (Current Nowcast of Hazardous Weather) reports, which are vital for safe landings in adverse weather.

Without these reports from the control tower, flight safety cannot be guaranteed.”

Describing itself as a safety-first airline, Air Peace emphasised that halting operations was a responsible move until NiMet resumes full service.

The airline apologised for the inconvenience and assured affected passengers that updates and rescheduling options would be provided.

Meanwhile, report has it that a wider shutdown of flight operations in Nigeria is looming as aviation activities continue to feel the ripple effects of NiMet’s strike, which stems from prolonged wage disputes.

The development occurred on the same day the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, commissioned the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna.

By Adé Yẹmí

Joy Mamkwe, a Biochemistry graduate of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has developed an innovative reusable sanitary pad made from banana trunks — an agricultural byproduct widely available in southern Nigeria.

The Abia State-born innovator says the eco-friendly pads are entirely locally made, hygienically produced, and tailored to help low-income women and schoolgirls cope with the soaring cost of disposable sanitary products.

“Sanitary pads are simply unaffordable for many, especially rural girls and peasant women,” Mamkwe said. “I wanted to create a sustainable and affordable alternative.”

Her research began in her final year in 2022 and progressed through her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Now in small-scale production, Mamkwe says she needs about N1.5 million to rent a space and purchase equipment to establish a standard factory — a key requirement for NAFDAC certification.

While some organizations have started placing bulk orders for schools and communities, she revealed she turned down an investor who demanded to be named co-founder, based on her mentor’s advice to retain full ownership.

Abia State Commissioner for SMEs, Mike Akpara, urged her to approach the ministry for possible support.

“We are willing to evaluate her invention and escalate it to the Governor if necessary,” he said.

Prof. Mabel Onwuka, Director of the Centre for Gender, Youth and Child Development at MOUAU, praised Mamkwe’s ingenuity.

The university’s women’s association has already purchased and distributed her pads during this year’s International Women’s Day celebration.

Mamkwe, who plans to pursue a master’s in Public Health, remains focused on scaling her innovation, empowering women, and fighting period poverty through science-driven solutions.