Nigeria is grappling with one of its worst flood disasters in decades, with over 200 bodies recovered, more than 500 people still missing, and hundreds of homes submerged in Mokwa.
In a major tech milestone, Starlink has officially launched in the Democratic Republic of Congo, expanding internet access in underserved regions. Meanwhile, the MultiChoice–Canal+ merger has cleared a key hurdle as the Competition Commission recommends approval with conditions.
On the innovation front, the Nigerian government has signed a $7.5 million agreement with the Bill Gates Foundation to establish an AI Hub aimed at solving national challenges. Gates also made headlines with a bold pledge to eradicate malaria in Nigeria within two decades and plans to channel $200 billion into health and education initiatives across Africa.
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Check out all the top stories below:
NIGERIA FLOODS: OVER 200 BODIES RECOVERED, MORE THAN 300 HOMES UNDERWATER
Over 200 bodies have been recovered following the massive flood that tore through Mokwa communities on May 28, 2025, causing widespread destruction.
The Niger State Government has said a total of 1,354 people were directly affected by the flood disaster in Mokwa, with widespread damage across communities.
According to the Nigerian Red Cross, “Heavy rainfall began around 3:00 AM while many residents were asleep,” setting off a disaster that caused loss of life and overwhelming grief across Mokwa.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Murtala Bagana, shared these figures during Vice President Kashim Shettima’s visit on Wednesday. According to Bagana, 4,534 individuals were displaced, 458 households were hit, and 265 buildings were either destroyed or badly damaged.
The flood also washed away two major roads and caused five bridges to collapse — including the critical Goodwill Bridge on the Mokwa–Jaba Road.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shared a lengthy statement on X on May 30, saying, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the affected families and the good people of Niger State at this difficult time.”
To ease the burden on affected residents, Tinubu has approved the immediate release of ₦2 billion for the rebuilding of all homes destroyed by the flood in Mokwa, Niger State. The funds are expected to support swift reconstruction efforts and help displaced families return to normal life as soon as possible.
NIGERIA FLOODS: OVER 500 MISSING AFTER DEADLY FLOODING IN MOKWA
The flooding began on May 29 during the early hours of the morning, catching residents off guard in their homes. Nigeria is suffering a devastating loss amid what is being referred to as the worst flooding in 60 years.
The flooding occurred in the town of Mokwa, heavily impacting the districts of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa following torrential rains.
STARLINK LAUNCHES IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
After being granted a license by the Congolese telecom regulator (ARPTC), Starlink has launched its services in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With this launch, Starlink is now available in 22 African countries.
Starlink offers high-speed, low-latency internet that could reshape access to education, healthcare, and e-commerce in areas that have long lacked reliable connectivity.
MULTICHOICE–CANAL+ DEAL GETS THE GREEN LIGHT
The Competition Commission has given a green light to the proposed MultiChoice takeover by French media giant Canal+, with a few conditions attached. Following a deep dive into the merger filed in September 2024, the Commission concluded the deal wouldn’t reduce competition in the local market. But to address wider public concerns, it recommended conditions around employment, local operations, and representation.
Canal+, a company owned by Vivendi, offered to buy MultiChoice for R125 per share, which makes the deal worth about R35 billion. This values MultiChoice at around R55 billion. The Competition Commission says the deal can go ahead, but only if certain conditions are met to protect public interests. Now, the Competition Tribunal will review this and make the final decision.
These include ensuring that the merged entity supports historically disadvantaged individuals (HDIs), keeps jobs safe for at least three years, and keeps MultiChoice rooted in South Africa. Canal+ also pledged to boost local content, encourage exports, and maintain diversity in DStv’s news programming.
“The Commission is of the view that the proposed transaction is unlikely to substantially lessen or prevent competition in any market,” it said. They estimate the total impact of the public interest commitments at around R26 billion over three years.
The merger now awaits a final decision from the Competition Tribunal. As Deputy Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu noted, “The Commission is satisfied that the conditions attached to this merger sufficiently address the concerns raised during the investigation.”
RWANDA ROLLS OUT ELECTRIC BUSES IN KIGALI
Rwanda has launched its first electric bus route between cities, led by electric vehicle company BasiGo. The move signals growing investment in clean energy transport solutions in the region.
The new fleet of 12 electric buses will connect Muhanga to Kigali, Nyanza, and Huye, offering a zero-emission travel option.
These modern buses are designed with inclusivity in mind, featuring wheelchair accessibility and enhanced passenger comfort. To support the new service, BasiGo is installing a DC fast-charging station in Muhanga, ensuring efficient and reliable operations on these high-traffic routes.
This initiative is part of BasiGo’s broader strategy to expand electric mobility across Rwanda, with plans to deploy services in the Southern, Eastern, Western, and Northern provinces.
TOGO’S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS POSTPONED TO JULY 17
Togo’s municipal elections, initially planned for July 10, have been rescheduled to July 17, 2025.
The Ministry of Territorial Administration confirmed the new date in a statement, following a presidential decree. The move comes after political parties, especially opposition groups, urged a short delay to allow more time for preparation.
As a result, the deadline for candidate submissions has been extended to midnight on June 1. Security forces, including defense and paramilitary personnel, will now vote early on July 14 so they can maintain order on election day.
The official campaign period will run from July 1 to July 15, giving political parties and independent candidates the chance to share their platforms with voters nationwide.
The government also announced a revision to the number of seats available. While a recent decree had temporarily raised the total to 1,667, the count has been reverted to 1,527 to align with the original 2018 legal guidelines.
This vote will mark Togo’s second round of local elections since the reintroduction of communes in 2019—a key step in the country’s ongoing decentralization strategy.
FG SIGNS $7.5M DEAL FOR AI HUB IN NIGERIA WITH BILL GATES FOUNDATION
Nigeria has signed a breakthrough deal with Bill Gates to launch the Nigerian AI Scaling Hub, backed by $7.5 million in funding and technical support from the Gates Foundation.
The agreement, sealed during a high-level meeting with the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, focuses on using AI to tackle national issues and boost digital inclusion.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to shift Nigeria from a tech consumer to an innovation leader, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision.
Gates Foundation members Paulin Basinga, Uche Amaonwu, and Bunmi Okunowo expressed confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to lead Africa’s AI space.
BILL GATES COMMITS TO ENDING MALARIA IN NIGERIA WITHIN 20 YEARS
Bill Gates has set his sights on eradicating malaria in Nigeria within the next two decades. Speaking on Tuesday [03 June 2025, in Lagos after receiving one of the country’s highest honours—the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR)—from President Bola Tinubu, the Microsoft co-founder said, “Some of our goals will seem ambitious; for example, in the next twenty years, we hope to eradicate malaria.”
Gates acknowledged the challenge, noting the disease’s staggering toll—Nigeria accounts for nearly 31% of global malaria deaths. President Tinubu hailed Gates as an inspiration to leaders across the globe, commending his dedication to uplifting the underprivileged.
Health Minister Mohammed Pate called the honour “well deserved,” pointing to Gates’ $2 billion investment in Nigeria’s health, agriculture, and digital sectors. He also credited Gates and Aliko Dangote for helping improve immunisation in Northern Nigeria and supporting the fight against polio.
OVER 8,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED DUE TO FLOODING IN ETHIOPIA
Over 8,000 residents have been displaced after heavy flooding from Lake Turkana and the Omo River hit the Dasenech district in South Omo Zone, South Ethiopia. According to Umer Nakuwe, Deputy Administrator and Head of the Peace and Security Administration Office, “the flooding began on Sunday, 02 June 2025, affecting five kebeles surrounding Omorate town.” Displaced families are currently seeking refuge in a highland area called Bufbuf.
Umer highlighted a worrying trend: “since 2020, it has been overflowing up to three times annually,” and warned that “Omorate town is at risk of being completely submerged.”
A local resident added, “this kind of disaster happens frequently,” noting that “more than 20,000 people have now been displaced.”
ETHIOPIA HONORS BILL GATES WITH HIGHEST STATE AWARD
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday [01 June 2025] awarded Bill Gates the Ethiopia Special Order—its highest national honor—in a ceremony at the National Palace.
The accolade celebrates the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 25 years of impactful work across Ethiopia’s most vital sectors, from healthcare to agriculture. Prime Minister Abiy praised Gates’ journey from tech innovator to “global philanthropist,” noting the Foundation’s “humility, respect, and an unwavering belief in human equality.” Since 1999, the Foundation has partnered with local institutions to improve health systems, enhance crop productivity, and support Ethiopia’s digital ID efforts. Its contributions have led to real progress in child health and economic inclusion. As Gates accepted the award, both leaders emphasized a shared vision for continued collaboration, especially in climate-resilient agriculture and digital health—marking a new chapter in Ethiopia’s development partnerships.
LIBERIA, DR CONGO, THREE OTHERS TO SERVE ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL
Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia, and Liberia have been elected to the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, winning uncontested races for non-permanent seats. Their two-year terms will officially begin in January 2026.
They will serve through the end of 2027 on the UN body responsible for maintaining international peace and security, joining Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia—who were elected last year and will remain through 2026.
The incoming group will take over from Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, whose terms conclude in December 2025.
The UN Security Council has 15 seats: five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – who hold veto power, and ten non-permanent members chosen for two-year terms.
Every year, new countries are elected by secret ballot, and to win, they must get support from two-thirds of the 193 countries in the General Assembly.
ZIMBABWE TO CULL 50 ELEPHANTS DUE TO OVERPOPULATION
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has approved a plan allowing the Save Valley Conservancy to cull 50 elephants due to overpopulation. ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo confirmed that permits were issued to carry out the elephant management process.
An aerial count in 2024 found that Save Valley Conservancy had 2,550 elephants, well above its ecological limit of 800.
To ease this pressure, 200 elephants have been moved to Hurungwe and Sapi over the past five years.
ZimParks said that “elephant meat from the cull would be distributed to local communities, while the ivory would remain state property under ZimParks’ safekeeping.”
The plan to cull 200 elephants was first shared last year, drawing criticism from some conservation groups.
BILL GATES TO INVEST $200 BILLION IN AFRICA’S HEALTH AND EDUCATION
Bill Gates has committed to spending the bulk of his fortune on transforming health and education in Africa over the next 20 years.
In Addis Ababa [on Monday, 02 June 2025], the philanthropist said, “By unlocking human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity.”
He challenged young African innovators to explore how AI can improve healthcare and explained his choice to donate 99% of his wealth, saying he doesn’t want to be remembered as someone who “died rich.”
The Gates Foundation plans to focus on saving lives, fighting infectious diseases, and reducing poverty on the continent.
DAVIDO MEET PRESIDENT TINUBU IN LAGOS
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hosted Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, his elder brother Dr. Deji Adeleke, and Afrobeats star Davido at his private residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, 03 June 2025, evening. The visit, which took place ahead of the Eid el-Kabir celebrations, was shared by Governor Adeleke on his official Twitter (now X) account.
Speaking about the visit, Governor Adeleke said,
“This evening, alongside the scion of the Adeleke dynasty, my elder brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke, and my nephew, whom we are immensely proud of, David Adeleke, popularly known as @davido…”He added that they,
“…paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his Lagos residence ahead of the Sallah celebration.”
Though the details of their private meeting weren’t disclosed, the visit comes shortly after Davido’s recent appearance at the Presidential Villa, pointing to ongoing ties between the Adeleke family and the presidency.
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The post Top Stories in AFRICA this week: Nigeria Floods, Bill Gates visits Africa, Starlink and more appeared first on YOMZANSI. Documenting THE CULTURE.
