There have been series of coups in West Africa in the last few years. A group of Malian colonels led by Assimi Goita ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020. The coup followed anti-government protests over deteriorating security, contested legislative elections and allegations of corruption.

In Chad, the army took power in April 2021 after President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north. Also, Special forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Conde of Guinea in September 2021.

Burkina Faso's army ousted President Roch Kabore in January 2022, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. There was a second coup eight months later when current junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traore, seized power in September following a mutiny.

Niger's presidential guards held President Mohamed Bazoum inside his palace in the capital Niamey on 26 July and subsequently announced they had overthrown his government. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is currently making efforts to restore democracy there.

Subsidies are intended to protect consumers by keeping prices low, but they come at a high cost.

Subsidies have sizable fiscal costs leading to higher taxes/borrowing or lower spending.

Removing subsidies and using the revenue gain for better use can promote sustainable and equitable outcomes.

President Tinubu cancelled fuel subsidy in June 2023, arguing that Nigeria cannot afford to continuing with the costly regime.

Africa Day (formerly African Freedom Day and African Liberation Day) is the annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity on May 25, 1963.

The organisation was transformed into the African Union on July 9, 2002 in Durban, South Africa, but the day continues to be celebrated on May 25.

Africans and non-Africans from around the world took to social media to share images of them in their traditional regalia and to share what this day means to them.

Africa Day is celebrated both in Africa and around the world with focus on the continent’s diversity, culture, vibrance, resilience among others.

The Arab League was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945, initially with six members.

Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan (renamed Jordan in 1949), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.

Yemen joined as a member on 5 May 1945. Currently, the League has 22 members.

Their meeting last last week sparked controversy following their ‘welcoming back’ of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.

Polls opened 14/5/23 in Turkey’s fiercely fought presidential and parliamentary election. Turkey is one of the world's earliest permanently settled regions and headquarters of ancient empires in including the Ottoman empire.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been in power for an unprecedented 21 years. The 69-year-old politician belongs to the Islamist Justice and Development Party, or AKP. He is Turkey’s longest-serving leader to date.

Erdoğan’s challenger, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, is the leader of the secular, center-left Republican People’s Party, or CHP. The 74-year-old is nicknamed “Gandhi Kemal” by Turkish media. He promises to reform Turkey’s financial institutions.

Under Turkey’s electoral rules, the winning presidential candidate must receive more than 50% of the ballots in the first round. If both candidates fail to get that, then the contest would go to a second round on May 28.

The fighting that erupted in Sudan's capital Khartoum and at other sites across the country because powerful rival military factions battle for control, increasing the risk of a nationwide civil war.

Forces loyal to Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and rival fighters of Mohamed Hamdan Daglo's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been battling for control.

Tension had been building for months between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which together toppled the civilian government of Omar el-Bashir in an October 2021 coup.

More than 400 people have been recorded as killed and thousands wounded, but the toll is expected to be far higher, with witnesses describing corpses lying on the streets as fighting rages.

Zamfara is a state in North-Western Nigeria. The capital of Zamfara state is Gusau. Until 1996, the area was part of Sokoto State. Zamfara is a densely populated area with the Hausa and Fulani peoples. The Zamfarawa are mainly in Anka, Gummi and Talata Mafara.

Yobe is a state located in North-Eastern Nigeria. A mainly agricultural state, it was created on 27 August 1991. Yobe State was carved out of Borno State. The capital of Yobe State is Damaturu; and its largest and most populated city is Potiskum.

Taraba is a state in North-Eastern Nigeria, named after the Taraba River, which traverses the southern part of the state. Taraba state's capital is Jalingo. There are over seventy-seven different tribes, and their languages in Taraba State.

Sokoto State is in the North-West of Nigeria. Sokoto is located near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. It is the seat of the former Sokoto Caliphate, the city is predominantly Muslim. It is and an important seat of Islamic learning in Nigeria.

Rivers State, also known as Rivers, is a state in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria (Old Eastern Region). Formed in 1967, when it was split from the former Eastern Region. The state capital, Port Harcourt, is a metropolis and is the commercial centre of the Nigerian oil industry.

Plateau State is the twelfth-largest Nigerian state. Its capital, and the entire plateau itself. Plateau State is described as "The Home of Peace and Tourism". With natural formations of rocks, hills and waterfalls, it derives its name from the Jos Plateau.

Oyo State is an inland state in southwestern Nigeria. Its capital is Ibadan, the third most populous city in the country and formerly the second most populous city in Africa. With a projected population of 7,840,864 in 2016, Oyo State is the fifth most populous in Nigeria.

Osun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It is named for the river Osun - a vital river which flows through the state - the state was formed from the southeast of Oyo State on 27 August 1991 and has its capital as the city of Osogbo.

Ondo State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. The state's capital is Akure, the former capital of the ancient Akure Kingdom. The State includes mangrove-swamp forest near the Bights of Benin.

Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created on 3 February 1976. Abeokuta is both Ogun State's capital and most populous city; other important cities in the state include Ijebu Ode, the royal capital of the Ijebu Kingdom, and Sagamu, Nigeria's leading kola nut grower.

Niger is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria and the largest state in the country. The state's capital is at Minna. Other major cities are Bida, Kontagora and Suleja. It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was divided into Niger State and Sokoto State.

Nasarawa State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria. Named for the historic Nasarawa Emirate, the state was formed from the west of Plateau State on 1 October 1996. The state has thirteen local government areas and its capital is Lafia.

Lagos State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Of the 36 states, it is both the most populous and smallest in area. Named for the city of Lagos - the most populous city in Africa - the state was formed from the Western Region and the former Federal Capital Territory on 27 May 1967.

Kwara State is a state in Western Nigeria. Its capital is the city of Ilorin and the state has 16 local government areas. Of the 36 states of Nigeria, Kwara is the ninth largest in area, but the sixth least populous, with an estimated population of about 3.2 million as at 2016.

Kogi State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria. It is the only state in Nigeria to border ten other states. Kogi State was formed from parts of Benue State, Niger State, and Kwara State on 27 August 1991. The state is nicknamed the "Confluence State" due to the confluence of the River Niger and the River Benue.

Kebbi state is a state in the north-western Nigeria. Named for the city of Birnin Kebbi - the state's capital and largest city, Kebbi state was formed from Sokoto state on 27 August 1991. Kebbi is the tenth largest in area and 22nd most populous, with an estimated population of about 4.4 million as of 2016.

Jigawa State is located in the north-western region of Nigeria. Created in 1991 from Kano State, Jigawa State is located on the border with Nigeria's national border with the Republic of the Niger. The state capital and largest city is Dutse. Jigawa state has 27 local governments.

Kaduna State is a north-western state in Nigeria. It is the fourth largest and third most populous state in the country. It is nicknamed the Centre of Learning, owing to the presence of numerous educational institutions of importance within the state such as Ahmadu Bello University.

Kano State is located in the north-western region of Nigeria. According to the national census done in 2006, Kano State is the most populous in Nigeria. Estimates taken in 2016 by the National Bureau of Statistics found that Kano State was still the largest state by population in Nigeria.

Katsina State is a north-western State of Nigeria. It was created in 1987, when it split from Kaduna State. Katsina State is nicknamed the "Home of Hospitality". Both the state capital and the town of Daura have been described "ancient seats of Islamic culture and learning" in Nigeria.

Ekiti State is a state in southwestern Nigeria, bordered by Ondo and Osun States. The Ekiti people are the Yoruba subgroup that make up most of the state's population. Ekiti State was formed in 1996 and its capital is Ado-Ekiti.

Enugu State is a state in the South-East of Nigeria, bordered by Benue, Kogi, Ebonyi, Abia and Anambra States. The state takes its name from its capital and largest city, Enugu. Enugu is the 29th largest in area and 22nd most populous.

Gombe State is in North-Eastern Nigeria, bordered by Borno, Yobe, Taraba State, Adamawa and Bauchi States. It is named after the city of Gombe - the state's capital. Economically, Gombe State is largely based around agriculture.

Imo State is in the South-East of Nigeria, bordered by Anambra, Rivers and Abia States. It takes its name from the Imo River which flows along the state's eastern border. The state capital is Owerri; and nickname of Imo state is the "Eastern Heartland.

Cross River State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named for the Cross River, the state was formed from the eastern part of the Eastern Region on 27 May 1967. Its capital is Calabar. It shares border with Benue State, Ebonyi State, Abia State, Akwa Ibom State and the Rep. of Cameroon.

Delta State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta - a large part of which is in the state - the state was formed from the former Bendel State on August 27, 1991. The State has 25 local government areas. Asaba is its state capital is while the state's economic centre is Warri.

Ebonyi State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is bordered Benue State, Enugu State, Cross River State and Abia State. Named for the Abonyi River - a large part of which is in the state's south - Ebonyi State was formed from parts of Abia and Enugu state in 1996 and has its capital as Abakaliki.

Edo State is a state located in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The state's capital and city, Benin City, is the fourth largest city in Nigeria, and the centre of the country's rubber industry. Created in 1991 from the former Bendel State, is also known as the heartbeat of the nation.

Bauchi is a city in northeast Nigeria. The Administrative centre of Bauchi State is the Bauchi Local Government Area within that State. It is located on the northern edge of the Jos Plateau, at an elevation of 616 m.

Bayelsa is one of the states in the South-South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta region. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State.

Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria. The state was created in 1976 among the 7 states created at that time. It derives its name from the Benue River which is the second largest river in Nigeria.

Borno State is a state in the North-East of Nigeria. It takes its name from the historic emirate of Borno, with the emirate's old capital of Maiduguri serving as the capital city of Borno State. The state was formed in 1976.

Abia State is in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to the southeast, and Rivers State to the south. It takes its name from the acronym for four of the state's most populated regions: Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Arochukwu. The state capital is Umuahia while the largest city and commercial centre is Aba.

Adamawa State is a state in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is bordered by Borno to the northwest, Gombe to the west, and Taraba to the southwest while its eastern border forms part of the national border with Cameroon. It takes its name from the historic emirate of Adamawa, with the emirate's old capital of Yola serving as the capital city of Adamawa State.

Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe River which bisects the state before flowing into the Bight of Bonny. Akwa Ibom was split from Cross River State in 1987. Its capital is Uyo and has 31 local government areas.

Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The State was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north. The State name was formed in 1976 from the former East Central State. Anambra state is named after Omambala River, a river that runs through the state.

The Hausa tribe is the largest ethnic group in west Africa? Hausa is one of Africa's most popular spoken languages after Arabic, French, English, Portuguese, and Swahili. By Hadiza Musa Yusuf

Hausa-speaking communities are found across Africa with the language spoken 17 countries. Worldwide population of Hausa is said to be 53,785,300. In Nigeria, the Hausas are mostly found in Northern Nigeria and are Predominantly Muslims. Farming is their main pre-occupation.

The Hausas are found in Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Germany, Ghana, Niger, Sudan, Gambia, Senegal, Algeria, Gabon and Togo. They have a unique culture seen in their mode of dressing, down to their food.

Hausa history began in Nigeria. Bayajjida a son of King Abdullah, a prince from Baghdad was exiled after Queen Zidam, (also known as Zigawa), had conquered the city. Forced to travel to Maiduguri, he married and settle for some time before migrating to Daura.

There are 195 countries in the world today. This total comprises 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations and 2 countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy See and the State of Palestine.

On 7 September 1927, U.S. inventor Philo Farnsworth's image dissector camera tube transmitted its first image, a simple straight line, at his laboratory at 202 Green Street in San Francisco. It is regarded to the first television in the world.

The ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth's surface, and 50-80 percent of all life is found under its surface. Millions of people rely on the ocean for their livelihood. A tiny fraction of water exists as water vapor in our atmosphere.

Usain Bolt is the fastest runner on the planet, setting the world record for the shortest 100m sprint time of 9.58 seconds. Usain Bolt is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist. He has a long list of other accomplishments and records to his name.

From 1960 to 1963, Nigeria was a sovereign state and an independent constitutional monarchy. Nigeria shared the monarch with Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and certain other sovereign states. The monarch's constitutional roles were mostly delegated to the governor-general of Nigeria.

Queen Elizabeth II visited more than 20 African countries during her reign, which saw the British Empire come to an end and independence sweep the continent. A special link to Britain endured through the Commonwealth of Nations, which the Queen led. It was a close - and sometimes complicated - relationship between the British monarchy and post-colonial Africa

During the British rule of Nigeria, Queen Elizabeth performed ceremonial duties in her capacity as the head of state of colonized Nigeria. She visited Nigeria twice. She came to Nigeria for the first time in 1956 as part of her royal tour to Commonwealth countries, from January 28 to February 16.

Not everyone in Africa is mourning the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Some young Africans instead are sharing images and stories of their own elders, who endured a brutal period of British colonial history during the Queen’s long reign.

There are 176,846 polling units in Nigeria. 93,191 are in Northern Nigeria, while 83,655 are in Southern Nigeria. The Northwest has the most Polling Units with 41,671, while the SE has the least with 21,631. All the registered political parties in Nigeria will be vying to get votes in as many polling units as possible.

The richest country in the world is Luxembourg. The country has high-income levels and a low unemployment rate. With its inflation rate at only 1.1%, its wealth is also extremely stable. According to the World Economic Forum, the primary factor for Luxembourg's high GDP is the large number of people working in this tiny, landlocked nation.

Nigeria was created on 1st January 1914. Lord Frederick Lugard, the governor of both the Northern Nigeria Protectorate and the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria signed a document consolidating the two, thereby creating the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.

Britain targeted Nigeria as a colony because of its resources. Britain began the colonisation of Nigeria in 1884. The colony was established at the Berlin conference which divided Africa by European powers. The British wanted products like palm oil and palm kernel, cotton, cocoa, groundnuts, palm oil, etc. to boost their economy.

Population of the world is almost 7.9 billion. With 4.6b Asia has the highest population, followed by Africa with 1.3b. Europe has over 700 million, while Latin America and Caribbean have 650 million. North America has over 360 million. With the lowest is Oceania with 42 million.

There are typically around 270 bones in human infants, which fuse to become 206 to 213 bones in the human adult. The reason the number of bones vary is because some humans may have a different number of ribs, vertebrae, and digits. They vary in size, shape, and strength.