In a recent development, the federal government has given the green light for the establishment of two new universities, expanding the private university count to 149 and the total number of universities nationwide to 274. The newly approved institutions are Lighthouse University, situated in Evbuobanosa, Edo state, and the African School of Economics, located in Abuja. The announcement came during a ceremony in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu sanctioned the approval during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on December 13, 2023. During the presentation of provisional licenses to these…
Author: Editor Francis
In response to recent allegations made by online news platform Sahara Reporters, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vehemently denied claims of a raid on Kwara State University (KWASU) hostels. Contrary to Sahara Reporters’ headline “BREAKING: Operatives of Anti-Graft Agency, EFCC, NDLEA Shoot At Students During Raid on Kwara State University Hostels,” the EFCC clarified that its Ilorin Zonal Command did not conduct any operations at KWASU on February 22, 2024. Additionally, there was no joint operation with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on that date. The EFCC further emphasized that the only operation conducted by…
In response to recent retirements within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has initiated significant changes aimed at strengthening the service’s leadership and optimising its operations. This was made known by Abdullahi Maiwada, Chief Superintendent of Customs and National Public Relations Officer for the Comptroller General of Customs, on February 23, 2024. The CGC has appointed two management members to act in key capacities and redeployed four others to bolster strategic initiatives and enhance service delivery across various departments. The newly appointed leaders are expected to bring fresh perspectives and expertise to critical…
For those venturing into the marketplace in search of basic necessities, the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on prices has become an undeniable reality. What once seemed confined to the realm of global finance now directly affects the cost of everyday goods. Take, for instance, the humble pepper seller; traditionally removed from the complexities of international currency markets, they now find themselves navigating its turbulent waters. Consider my recent personal experience with purchasing a router. Initially priced at 47,300 naira, the cost swiftly escalated to 52,000, only to skyrocket to 68,000 within the span of an hour. This dramatic volatility…
According to a recent report by Chainalysis, the amount of illicit funds laundered through cryptocurrency exchanges experienced a significant decline in 2023. The report, released on Thursday, disclosed a noteworthy drop of approximately $9.3 billion, decreasing from $31.5 billion in 2022 to $22.2 billion in 2023. The blockchain research platform attributed this decline to an overall reduction in crypto transaction volume, encompassing both legitimate and illicit activities. Chainalysis highlighted that centralized exchanges remained the primary destination for funds originating from illicit sources, a trend that has remained relatively steady over the past five years. However, the report pointed out a…
Eminent Nigerians gathered today in the ancient town of Owo, Ondo State, to pay their last respects to former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, whose final funeral rites took place at St. Andrew Anglican Church, Imola, Owo. The late former Nigeria Bar (NBA) president’s body was interred after a solemn funeral service. The funeral events commenced with rites in Ibadan, where Akeredolu resided and practiced law before venturing into politics. His remains were then transported to Akure before reaching his hometown of Owo. Yesterday, Akeredolu’s kinsmen performed the traditional Ajabue dance as part of the funeral proceedings, believed by the Owo people…
In a bid to alleviate the soaring cost of cooking gas in Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced its decision to discontinue the exportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, and focus on bolstering domestic supply. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, made this declaration during an internal stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja on Thursday. He emphasised the imperative of increasing the volume of LPG available domestically to drive down prices, citing recent escalations in the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas in major cities like Abuja, Lagos, and Kano.…
During the inauguration of security patrol boats in Apapa, Lagos State, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed that the necessary funds amounting to $1.1 billion for the rehabilitation of ports across the nation were nearing readiness. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had previously stated its intention to invest over $800 million in the first quarter of 2024 for the revitalization of all ports in Nigeria. The Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, highlighted this initiative during the 43rd Annual Council Meeting of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa in Lagos, emphasising the urgent…
In a recent statement to ABC News, AT&T revealed that the temporary network disruption experienced by its U.S. customers on Thursday was attributed to a software update gone awry, dispelling initial concerns of a cyberattack. The company clarified that the outage resulted from an incorrect process implemented during the network expansion. “We are continuing our assessment of today’s outage to ensure we keep delivering the service that our customers deserve,” the statement emphasised. Sources familiar with the situation confirmed to ABC News that the incident stemmed from a faulty software update, with no malicious intent involved. AT&T assured affected customers…
The rising cost of living in the country assumed another dimension on Thursday with an attack on a truck carrying food items in Suleja area of Niger State. This is just as hundreds of residents of Dikwa town in Borno State protested and raised serious concern over hunger, threatening to join terrorists in the state. The developments come amid the nationwide hardship that has triggered protests in different parts of the country. Early this month, there was a protest in Minna, the capital of Niger State, in which a group of women blocked the Minna-Bida Road at the popular Kpakungu…
The Senate Committee on Finance has dismissed the proposal presented by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) regarding a stay of action on the N2.7 trillion Tax Credit Fund intended for specific road construction projects under the Federal Ministry of Works. During a recent interface with the committee, FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, opposed the additional N2.7 trillion requested by the Ministry of Works, facilitated through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, to fund road projects under the Tax Credit Scheme. In response, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, countered Adedeji’s stance during a committee session on Thursday. Umahi clarified…
In a pioneering move set to revolutionize customer service across Africa, MTN Nigeria proudly unveils the continent’s first AI-powered chatbot, marking a significant milestone in the realm of technological innovation. Collaborating with industry giants Microsoft and Superbo, a leading chatbot service provider, MTN Nigeria has seamlessly integrated OpenAI technology into its Zigi Chatbot platform. This transformative integration, powered by ChatGPT version 3.5, promises unparalleled customer experiences, boasting swift responses, precise information delivery, and an immersive interactive interface. The successful deployment of OpenAI onto the MTN Zigi Chatbot heralds a new era of enhanced customer satisfaction, evident in the remarkable increase…