Author: Atoyebi Adenike
By Atoyebi Nike Qatar has officially submitted its bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, aiming to bring the global sporting event to the Middle East for the first time, officials announced on Tuesday. The bid, led by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), builds on the Gulf state’s growing reputation for hosting international sports, including the FIFA World Cup 2022. “This bid represents a new milestone in Qatar’s journey,” said Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in a statement via the Qatar News Agency. “It reflects our commitment to using sport as…
By Atoyebi Nike Suspended senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has criticised Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of contempt of court and acting above the Nigerian Constitution, after security operatives blocked her from resuming duties at the National Assembly on Tuesday. Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, was denied entry despite a ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court nullifying her six-month suspension by the Senate. Speaking to journalists at the Assembly complex, the senator described the obstruction as a “deliberate act of contempt” and questioned the legality of her suspension. “Akpabio cannot be greater than the Nigerian Constitution,” she…
By Atoyebi Nike The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has postponed the enforcement of new fees and penalties for delayed document downloads on its upgraded registration portal until September 1, 2025. The delay follows widespread challenges reported by users since the portal’s launch on June 30. Initially set to begin on August 1, the charges target documents not downloaded within seven days of approval. In a public notice on Monday, the CAC cited difficulties with downloading files, payment processing, and uploading post-incorporation filings as key concerns raised by users. “We are working tirelessly, alongside our technical partners and stakeholders, to stabilize…
By Atoyebi Nike Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan gained access to the National Assembly on Tuesday after her convoy was initially blocked at the entrance. The lawmaker, currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, attempted to resume duties following a court order directing her recall. Security operatives stopped her black vehicle at the gate, preventing her from entering the premises. A vehicle ahead of hers, which reportedly carried activist Aisha Yesufu, was also denied access. Despite the blockade, Senator Natasha stepped out of her car and proceeded on foot into the National Assembly, accompanied by a small group of supporters.
By Atoyebi Nike Taraba State has marked a major step forward in agricultural innovation with the first harvest from its revived Greenhouse project, producing green pepper and cucumber through advanced, soil-less farming methods. Project Manager Navon Gil hailed the development as a breakthrough in sustainable agriculture. “This marks a new dawn for greenhouse farming in Taraba. The technology is world-class and here to stay,” he said in a statement from Abuja. Gil credited the successful harvest to the adoption of hydroponics and the renewed commitment of the state government. Once nearly abandoned, the greenhouse formerly known as the Cucumber Farm…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria and Egypt have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and an enhanced Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) aimed at strengthening aviation ties and expanding cooperation in air transport, technical exchange, and infrastructure development. The signing took place in Abuja during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdellatty. The agreement, initially discussed at the 2024 International Civil Aviation Negotiations (ICAN), is expected to expand route access, boost tourism and trade, and promote knowledge transfer between the two nations. Describing the deal as…
By Atoyebi Nike Prominent activist Aisha Yesufu has pledged to accompany embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the National Assembly today, as the Kogi Central lawmaker moves to resume legislative duties despite ongoing resistance from the Senate. The lawmaker’s return follows a July ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declared her suspension unlawful and called for her reinstatement. However, the Senate President’s legal team has appealed the judgment, insisting that it violates legislative autonomy. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, Yesufu condemned the Senate’s refusal to abide by the court’s decision, describing…
By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s economy expanded to a nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of N372.8 trillion in 2024, propelled by the services, agriculture, and industry sectors, according to newly released rebased data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). However, this economic leap has failed to ease the soaring cost of living, with headline and food inflation rising to 22.22% and 21.97% respectively as of June 2025. The long-awaited GDP rebasing covering the years 2019 to 2024 marks the second such exercise since 2014, intended to better reflect structural changes and the growing contributions of underreported sectors like real estate,…
By Atoyebi Nike The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Eastern zone, has raised concerns over an alleged N5 billion financial crisis affecting its members due to unreleased payments by NNPC Retail Ltd. In an open letter signed by Zonal Chairman Prince Bobby Eberechi Dick and Zonal Secretary Emmanuel Inimgba, IPMAN said the unpaid funds, which marketers deposited into the NNPC Retail portal over a year ago, have pushed many members to the edge of collapse. Some marketers have reportedly lost their properties after defaulting on loans secured to make those payments. The association called on the Nigerian National…
By Atoyebi Nike Generative AI models from Google and OpenAI reached gold-level scores for the first time at the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), but human contestants still outperformed them. Held this month in Queensland, Australia, the IMO saw five young mathematicians achieve perfect scores, while AI models fell just short. Google’s Gemini chatbot solved five of six problems, earning 35 out of 42 points a gold medal score, according to IMO president Gregor Dolinar. “Their solutions were astonishing… clear, precise, and mostly easy to follow,” Dolinar noted. OpenAI reported a similar result for its experimental reasoning model, also scoring…