Author: Atoyebi Adenike

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…

By Atoyebi Nike Air Tanzania has launched direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Lagos, a development officials say will expand business opportunities, strengthen tourism, and deepen cultural ties between Nigeria and Tanzania. Speaking at a dinner to celebrate the inaugural flight, Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Selestine Kakale, said the new service would bridge geographical distance, reduce ticketing costs, and improve convenience for passengers. He noted that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, plays a central role in regional trade. “No nation in Africa can underestimate Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy, especially Lagos, which is the commercial hub of the…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and moderate rainfall across several parts of the country between Monday, September 22, and Wednesday, September 24, 2025. According to the three-day weather outlook issued by NiMet’s Central Forecast Office, thunderstorms with light to moderate rain are expected across northern states including Adamawa, Taraba, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Borno. In the central region, including the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Kogi, cloudy conditions with intermittent sunshine will give way to thunderstorms and moderate rain, particularly in the afternoon and evening hours. Southern states…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian naira gained about 1.2% against the U.S. dollar over the past week, strengthening from N1,519/$ to N1,497/$ as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) holds its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting to decide on interest rates. The sharpest daily movement was recorded on September 19, when the exchange rate dropped by 0.66%. The two-day MPC session, which began on Monday, September 22, will conclude with a policy announcement on Wednesday, September 23. Market analysts expect the CBN to lower its benchmark interest rate from 27 to 25 basis points, citing a firmer naira, declining inflation…

By Atoyebi Nike Efforts to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children in Adamawa State have yielded significant results, with more than 12,000 learners gaining access to education through a Global Partnership for Education (GPE)-funded programme supported by UNICEF and the state government. The initiative, which had initially set a target of 7,000 children, was implemented in Lamurde and Gombi Local Government Areas, where 120 community learning centres and 123 shade structures were established to provide access to schooling in underserved communities. Beyond reading and numeracy, participating children received lessons in hygiene, social behaviour, and resilience skills. According to Abdulraman Ado,…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has launched a verification exercise of disputed and newly drilled crude oil and gas fields in the Niger Delta to resolve ownership disputes and ensure fair revenue allocation. Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Shehu, told journalists in Asaba that the initiative is mandated by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He said the verification would cover states including Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo, Anambra, and Imo, where disputes over ownership of oil fields such as Aneize (OML 143), Eyine, and Ameshi have persisted. According to him,…

By Atoyebi Nike French media company Canal+ has finalised its $3 billion acquisition of MultiChoice Group, securing 46% control of Africa’s leading pay-TV operator. In a statement on Monday, MultiChoice confirmed that Canal+ now directly owns 200 million shares, marking the largest transaction in the French firm’s history. The deal creates a global media powerhouse with over 40 million subscribers in nearly 70 countries. Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada has been named chairman of the MultiChoice board, while David Mignot takes over as chief executive officer and Nicolas Dandoy as chief financial officer. MultiChoice also announced it will align its financial…

By Atoyebi Nike Bilateral trade between Nigeria and China rose by 34.7% to $15.48 billion between January and July 2025, compared with the same period in 2024. The Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Ms. Yan Yuqing, disclosed this at a reception on Sunday, noting that Nigeria has become China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa. She attributed the surge partly to the upgrade of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit. “From January to July 2025, bilateral trade reached US$15.483 billion, marking a 34.7 per cent year-on-year increase,”…

By Atoyebi Nike Civil-society group Citizen Monitors has asked the Federal Government to provide Nigerians with clear guidance and protections ahead of the 2026 tax law rollout. The new framework, which incorporates the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and Nigeria Revenue Service Act, has sparked debates and protests over some provisions, particularly the proposed 5% fossil-fuel surcharge. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has also denied reports that every Nigerian will need a Tax Identification Number (TIN) to open or maintain bank accounts. In a statement signed on Monday by its spokesperson, Olajumoke Alawode-James, the organisation welcomed the…