Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nigeria Records N3.4 Trillion Trade Surplus In Q4 2024. Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of N3.42 trillion in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, according to the latest foreign trade report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The report revealed that total exports for the quarter amounted to N20.01 trillion, surpassing total imports valued at N16.59 trillion. This resulted in a positive trade balance, reflecting the nation’s strong export performance. Overall, Nigeria’s total trade for the quarter reached N36.6 trillion, marking a 2.20 per cent increase from the N35.8 trillion recorded in Q3 2024. On a…

Flamingos Soar To Victory In Pretoria: South Africa 1-3 Nigeria. Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, affectionately known as the Flamingos, delivered a commanding performance in Pretoria today, securing a 3-1 victory over South Africa in the first leg of their latest encounter. The result gives the young Super Falcons a strong advantage heading into the second leg next week. The match, held at a vibrant stadium in the South African capital, showcased Nigeria’s attacking prowess and resilience. Shakirat Moshood opened the scoring in the 20th minute, firing home a clinical finish to set the tone for the Flamingos’ dominance.…

Southern Kaduna Leaders Condemn Murder Of Catholic Priest, Demand Action On Insecurity. The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has expressed deep sorrow and condemnation over the abduction and killing of Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan. The tragic incident, carried out by terrorists, has once again raised serious concerns over the escalating insecurity in Kaduna State. In a statement issued over the weekend, SKCLA Chairman, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, described the killing as a painful loss to the Church and a disturbing sign of the worsening violence in the region. “We…

Tinubu Rejects N942bn Census Budget, Calls For Cost Reduction. President Bola Tinubu has declined the National Population Commission’s (NPC) proposed N942 billion budget for the forthcoming national housing and population census, citing the need for cost-cutting measures. Sources close to the discussions revealed that the President has urged the commission to explore more economical alternatives, including the deployment of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for the exercise. During a meeting at the State House on 24 February 2025, Tinubu met with NPC officials, led by Chairman Nasir Kwarra, where he expressed his concerns over the high cost.…

Tolaram Moves To Strengthen Control Over Guinness Nigeria With Mandatory Takeover Bid. Tolaram, through its subsidiary N Seven Nigeria, has initiated a ₦39.3 billion mandatory takeover bid (MTO) to acquire additional shares in Guinness Nigeria, further solidifying its control over the company. This follows Tolaram’s acquisition of a 58.02% equity stake in Guinness Nigeria on 4th October 2024 from Diageo. The transaction saw Tolaram purchase 1,270,943,368 ordinary shares from Atalantaf Limited and Guinness Overseas Limited—both subsidiaries of Diageo—for a cash consideration of ₦81.60 per share, amounting to ₦103.7 billion. Offer to Existing Shareholders In compliance with Part XII…

Governor Sanwo-Olu Calls For Urgent Action On Gender Equality At 2025 International Women’s Day. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has emphasised the need for decisive action in achieving gender equality as he led the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration alongside his wife, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Cecilia Dada. Under the theme **‘Accelerate Action’**, the event underscored the urgency of moving beyond rhetoric to implement tangible measures that empower women. Participants from the 20 local government areas and 57 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) received climate stoves to…

Chief Judge Reassigns Nnamdi Kanu’s Case To New Judge. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has reassigned the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to a new judge. This decision comes six months after the previous judge recused herself from the treasonable felony case against Kanu. Kanu’s legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the development, stating that the legal team received two significant official letters ahead of their routine visit to Kanu. “The first letter, from the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), was in response to our…

Amorim Acknowledges Time Constraints At Manchester United But Finds Inspiration In Arteta. Ahead of the battle between Manchester United and Arsenal this weekend, head coach Ruben Amorim has admitted that he does not expect to be given the same time Mikel Arteta had to transform Arsenal’s fortunes. Arteta took charge of the Gunners in December 2019, replacing Unai Emery, and has since turned the club into consistent title challengers. Despite winning the FA Cup in his first season, it took the Spaniard three years to secure a return to the Champions League. Reflecting on his own situation, Amorim stated,…

Electricity Generation Suffers Hit As Recent Milestone Changes. Barely two days after celebrating a peak electricity generation of 6,000 megawatts (MW), Nigeria’s national grid suffered a major collapse on Friday, plunging the nation into widespread darkness. The sudden drop saw power generation fall drastically from 5,623MW at 1:00am to 1,400MW by 3:00am, affecting millions of consumers across the country. The outage led several electricity distribution companies to issue public notices, informing customers of disruptions to the national grid. Ikeja Electric confirmed that its franchise area was off the grid, while Eko Electricity Distribution Company acknowledged the system failure and…

NECA Calls For Resolution Of Military Electricity Debt To Prevent Future Disputes. The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has urged the Federal Government to address outstanding electricity supply debts owed by military bases across the country. This follows a recent attack on Ikeja Electric by personnel from the Sam Ethan Airforce Base in Lagos, which left several individuals injured and caused damage to infrastructure. NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, emphasised the urgency of resolving the issue to prevent similar incidents in the future. He called on the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry of Defence to take immediate…

Pope Francis Shares Audio Message With Worshippers From Hospital. Pope Francis has sent an audio message to worshippers, marking his first public communication since being hospitalised in February. The 88-year-old pontiff, currently receiving treatment for double pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, recorded the message in his native Spanish. It was shared with worshippers at the start of the evening Rosary prayer in St Peter’s Square. In the message, Pope Francis expressed gratitude for the prayers offered on his behalf, saying: “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health. From the…

Federal Government To Cover Cost Of Dialysis And Radiotherapy For Nigerians. The Federal Government has approved a new initiative to cover the cost of dialysis and radiotherapy for Nigerians, providing much-needed financial relief for patients undergoing these critical treatments. Under the programme, the government will subsidise up to ₦40,000 per dialysis session and ₦400,000 per radiotherapy session, significantly easing the financial burden on those suffering from kidney and cancer-related illnesses. The initiative will be available in 10 designated federal hospitals nationwide, ensuring wider accessibility to life-saving treatment. This move marks a significant step in improving healthcare affordability…