Nigeria Roundup: Underpaid lecturers, deportation row, Dangote milestone

Nigerian lecturers rank among lowest paid in Africa

University lecturers in Nigeria have emerged among the worst paid in Africa, with professors earning an average of $366 (about ₦500,000) monthly. Findings by local publication Punch show that Nigerian professors earn around $4,400 annually, far behind their South African counterparts who make $57,471 yearly. Other African nations with far smaller economies, including Eswatini, Lesotho, Gabon, Sierra Leone, and Comoros, pay higher. Lecturers in Nigeria have warned that the disparity is worsening brain drain, poor morale, and the flight of academics to government, private, and foreign institutions.

Deportation dispute as U.S., Ghana, and Nigeria clash over returnees

Confusion surrounds the deportation of 14 West Africans from the United States to Ghana. While Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the 13 Nigerians and one Gambian were subsequently repatriated to their home countries on humanitarian grounds, lawyers for four deportees insist they remain in Ghana. Nigeria’s government has also pushed back, saying it was not briefed about its nationals being sent to Ghana, a move critics argue raises legal and diplomatic questions.

UN warns of worsening school closures in West and Central Africa

Nearly 15,000 schools have been shut across West and Central Africa, disrupting the education of more than 3 million children, according to a new UN report. The closures are linked to growing insecurity, conflict, and displacement, with Nigeria and Cameroon worst affected. In Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, more than 80% of schools are closed, affecting over 600,000 children, while in Nigeria, nearly 500 schools remain shut. UNICEF and the Norwegian Refugee Council warn that girls are particularly vulnerable, with risks of child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence rising.

Solar-powered recycling plant

A new solar-powered recycling plant has been launched in Onne, Rivers State, by West Africa Container Terminal (WACT)-APM Terminals Nigeria in partnership with Garbage In Value Out (GIVO). The facility can process up to 300 kilograms of plastic waste daily — about 90 metric tons annually. Community members will also earn income by exchanging plastic waste. Project leaders said the initiative will cut 2,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, create jobs for local youth, and provide a sustainable solution to drainage blockages in the maritime community.

Dangote Refinery exports first gasoline cargo to U.S.

Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery has exported its first gasoline cargo to the United States, marking a milestone in the country’s refining and global trade ambitions. About 320,000 barrels of gasoline were shipped aboard the Gemini Pearl tanker and discharged at Sunoco’s Linden terminal in New York Harbour. The sale, brokered through Mocoh Oil and global trader Vitol, highlights the refinery’s ability to meet strict U.S. fuel standards. The shipment expands Dangote’s export reach, which had previously focused on Europe and West Africa.