Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The Leader of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has assured Nigerians that the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 will be concluded on or before December 2025 to ensure its use in the 2027 general elections. Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central, explained that the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari was unable to sign the final amendment due to the National Assembly’s late transmission of the bill to the presidency. He gave the assurance shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requested the Senate to confirm Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National…

By Atoyebi Nike About half of Conservative Party members in the United Kingdom have voted against Kemi Badenoch leading them into the next election, according to a new YouGov poll reported by Sky News. The survey found that 50% of members say Badenoch should not lead the Tories into the election, compared with 46% who support her. This leaves Robert Jenrick  who lost to Badenoch a year ago  as the members’ preferred leader. The poll of 652 Conservative members, conducted between September 26 and October 2, shows party members are divided over Badenoch’s future: 49% believe she will be out…

By Atoyebi Nike The President of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA), Mr. Akachukwu Nwokedi, has urged coordinated efforts to unlock Nigeria’s vast gas resources and power the country’s industrial renaissance. Speaking at the 3rd Gas Investment Forum (GIF 2025) held on October 7 at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, Nwokedi described natural gas as “an economic multiplier” that can boost energy access, food security, clean cooking, industrial competitiveness, and regional integration. He applauded the Tinubu administration for prioritising gas development and welcomed the participation of the International Gas Union president, calling it proof of Nigeria’s growing global energy relevance. Nwokedi…

By Atoyebi Nike The Adamawa and Taraba States Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized petroleum products, expired Tramadol drugs, foreign soaps, and donkey skins valued at over ₦112.5 million. Comptroller Garba Bashir disclosed this on Wednesday at the Command’s headquarters in Yola, noting that the seizures were made within six weeks along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon. According to him, the Command recorded 29 seizures with a total Duty Paid Value of ₦112,590,000. Items recovered include 20,600 litres of petrol packed in 824 jerry cans, 91 cartons of expired 50mg Tramadol capsules, 54 cartons of foreign soaps, and…

By Atoyebi Nike The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has briefed the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Hajj. The update was delivered during a virtual meeting held at NAHCON’s headquarters in Abuja, as part of ongoing consultations with Saudi authorities to ensure smooth coordination for the forthcoming pilgrimage. Professor Usman highlighted major milestones, including the successful reservation of initial camp booking slots and related services in line with the Saudi Hajj calendar. He also presented the list of approved airlines that meet Saudi aviation protocols,…

By Atoyebi Nike The world has officially crossed its first climate tipping point due to unchecked greenhouse gas emissions, according to the 2025 Global Tipping Point Report released on Monday, October 13. Produced by 160 scientists across 23 countries, the report warns that coral reefs crucial for a quarter of all marine life and coastal protection for hundreds of millions are now in irreversible decline because of ocean warming and acidification. Other ecosystems, including the Amazon rainforest, are also at severe risk. The report projects that the 1.5°C warming limit set by the Paris Agreement will be breached within the…

By Atoyebi Nike The European Union (EU), through the European Investment Bank (EIB), has approved a €190 million (about ₦320.5 billion) credit facility for Nigerian commercial banks to on-lend to agribusinesses, in a move expected to significantly expand financing for the country’s agricultural sector. The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning said the facility was announced during a meeting between senior EIB executives and a Nigerian delegation at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Belgium. The initiative focuses on strengthening the cocoa and dairy value chains while expanding financial institutions’ capacity to support agricultural enterprises. EIB’s Director for International…

By Atoyebi Nike Economists at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have attributed Nigeria’s rising borrowing costs to weak governance, poor macroeconomic management, and institutional inefficiencies, warning that the increasing use of syndicated loans poses additional fiscal risks. Speaking at an analytical session on “A Panorama of the External Financing Landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa” at the 2025 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, IMF economists Can Sever and Thibault Lemarie said domestic vulnerabilities, rather than unfair treatment by global markets, are driving higher debt costs across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Lemarie noted that once governance, macroeconomic fundamentals, and financial risks are…

By Atoyebi Nike The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has raised the alarm over the activities of foreign middlemen disrupting the country’s cashew industry. NCAN President Ademola Adesokan accused foreign traders of bypassing local processors and buying directly from farmers at inflated prices, exploiting them and violating international trade standards. He called for stronger regulation involving customs and immigration to protect the supply chain. “The industry is in urgent need of structure to protect the integrity of the supply chain,” Adesokan warned, noting that many farmers now struggle to sell at fair prices, pushing them into debt. NCAN’s National…

By Atoyebi Nike Residents of Umuahia, Abia State, on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest against what they described as harsh and unjustifiable electricity bills imposed by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). Operating under the banner of Concerned Umuahia Residents, the protesters marched from the EEDC office to the Abia State Government House, carrying placards that read: “We cannot pay ₦50,000 bill,” “Return electricity bill to status quo,” and “Electricity bill is now minimum wage.” Group leader Chukwuemeka Ozugbo said most households previously paid around ₦10,000 monthly but now receive bills between ₦50,000 and ₦70,000 without improved power supply. He…