Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria is strategically positioned as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) $3.4 trillion market. Speaking at a Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) roundtable themed “Risk, Reform, Return” on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Shettima cited Nigeria’s recent upgrades by Fitch and Moody’s as evidence of strengthened economic fundamentals. “In April, Fitch upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign rating to B with a stable outlook, and Moody’s lifted its issuer rating to B3 with a stable outlook,” he noted, adding that…

By Atoyebi Nike The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced plans to deploy an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent to address a backlog of 7,000 company registration applications and ease service delays. Registrar-General/CEO of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, disclosed this on Monday in Kano during a stakeholders’ forum, noting that the AI tool will handle requests across compliance, registry, and customer service functions with improved efficiency. “In a bid to tackle the backlog of 7,000 registration applications… an AI agent was in the pipeline to handle requests across compliance, registry, and customer service with speed and accuracy,” the Commission…

By Atoyebi Nike The United States Mission in Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to global anti-corruption efforts, stressing that individuals engaged in corrupt practices—regardless of their social or political standing—risk being barred from entering the US. In a post shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, the Mission wrote: “Fighting corruption knows no borders or limits on accountability. Even when high-profile individuals engage in corruption, they can be barred from receiving US visas.” The statement recalls previous actions by Washington. In May 2023, the US imposed visa restrictions on certain Nigerians accused of undermining the country’s democratic…

By Atoyebi Nike Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle and senior staff redeployment in the state civil service as part of efforts to strengthen governance and improve service delivery. A statement on Monday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, confirmed that Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Transport. The Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, was redeployed to the Ministry of Environment, while the Commissioner of Humanitarian Affairs returns to his substantive role after temporarily overseeing the transport ministry. “All officials affected by the…

By Atoyebi Nike Russian authorities have subjected civilian detainees in occupied Ukrainian territories to torture, including sexual violence, in a “widespread and systematic manner,” the United Nations said on Tuesday. In its latest report, the UN Human Rights Office concluded that since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has consistently violated international law in its treatment of Ukrainian civilians. Investigators interviewed 216 civilians released from Russian detention since June 2023, with 92 percent providing “consistent and detailed accounts” of torture or ill-treatment. Survivors described severe beatings with sticks and batons, electric shocks to body parts, mock executions, threats against…

By Moses Amos French forward Ousmane Dembélé has written his name into football history after being crowned the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, securing his place among the sport’s all-time greats. The prestigious award, presented annually by France Football, honors the best player in the world over the past season. Dembélé’s dazzling performances, unmatched creativity, and consistent brilliance across club and international football have propelled him to the pinnacle of the sport. Known for his blistering pace, silky dribbling, and versatility, Dembélé has been instrumental for both Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team in 2025. His ability to decide games…

By Bagudu Mohammed The debate over whether Nigerian lecturers should be described as poor or rich is as intriguing as it is revealing about the human tendency to construct narratives that suit convenience. I recall an online exchange where a respected social critic, Baba Ali, asked with disarming curiosity: “Can Nigerian lecturers be said to be poor?” He wasted no time answering his own question with a firm “Certainly not!” The platform, however, fell into silence neither approving nor dismissing his hypothesis. Perhaps the quiet was not due to disinterest but rather the uncomfortable truth that no clear answer exists.…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 4.23% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its newly released Q2 GDP report. The growth marks a notable improvement from the 3.48% recorded in Q2 2024 and the 3.13% in Q1 2025, reflecting a strengthening economy supported by recent rebasing, increased oil production, and steady performance in non-oil industries. The NBS explained that the rebasing of the GDP, using 2019 as the new base year, provided revised quarterly estimates aligned with updated annual figures. Sectoral performance showed agriculture grew…

By Atoyebi Nike The House of Representatives has directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, to provide a detailed breakdown of the ₦2.4 trillion recently paid to contractors for federal projects. This followed confirmation from the Office of the Accountant-General that ₦2.4tn had already been disbursed, with another ₦760bn approved in warrants and cash backing, bringing total government commitments to ₦3.1tn. Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on Budget Implementation, Benjamin Kalu, issued a stern warning that the funds must reflect in visible projects. “It is wicked to declare a hospital complete when patients still die without…

By Atoyebi NikeThe Young Advocates for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future (YASIF), the Federal Ministry of Environment, and civil society groups have called for stronger public awareness campaigns to address Nigeria’s growing waste disposal challenge and its impact on the economy. The call was made during a cleanup exercise in Karonmajiji, Abuja, on September 20, 2025, held to mark World Cleanup Day. YASIF founder, Blessing Ewa, revealed that women trained in waste upcycling now earn up to ₦150,000 each from recycling pure water sachets. “What they once considered waste is now a source of livelihood,” she said. Lawrence Okechukwu of…