There was a time when shopping in Nigeria meant visiting a market, supermarket, boutique or electronics store, bargaining over prices and carrying purchases home. Today, millions of Nigerians can complete much of the same process with a smartphone: search, compare, pay and wait for delivery. It is as easy as 1234! From electronics and fashion to groceries, beauty products, books and locally made goods, online shopping is becoming a bigger part of everyday commerce. Platforms such as Jumia and Konga have helped establish e-commerce, while Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp have enabled thousands of small businesses to operate digital storefronts. Here…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Sunbeth Energies Limited has unveiled what it describes as Nigeria’s first self-service fuel station at its Ogba outlet in Lagos, introducing a digital fueling system that allows motorists to initiate, monitor and complete fuel purchases independently. The company said the innovation is designed to improve transparency, convenience and accountability in fuel retailing by giving customers direct visibility over the dispensing process. Under the new system, customers can initiate a transaction, monitor the volume of fuel dispensed in real time and confirm payment through an interactive digital interface. The development marks a shift from Nigeria’s traditional attendant-operated fueling model, where customers…
The Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has unveiled a new management board for the Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) as preparations begin for the 21st edition of the annual creativity festival. The announcement was made by the re-elected AAAN President, Lanre Adisa, at a press conference in Lagos, where he also unveiled the theme for this year’s festival: “From Glitch to Great.” The new LAIF Management Board is led by Funke Adekola as President and Jumoke Akinyele as Vice President. Other members are Victor Oyaroro, Tobi Williams, Rotimi Ade-Onajobi, Toheeb Balogun, Anne Obaseki, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, Segun…
The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has launched a dedicated mortgage product for Nigerians living abroad, offering eligible applicants access to up to N100 million in housing finance at an interest rate of 9 per cent per annum. The National Housing Fund (NHF) Diaspora Mortgage Loan allows eligible Nigerians abroad to register under the NHF Scheme, complete Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements digitally, make contributions remotely and apply for mortgage financing without travelling to Nigeria. The product was unveiled in London on Friday, August 7, 2026, at an event attended by government officials, housing and mortgage finance stakeholders, and…
The Federal Government has deployed 40 full-time Coastal Highway Guards to protect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from vandalism, hawking and other activities that could undermine the major infrastructure project. Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this during the launch of the guards in Lagos, according to a post by Jubril A. Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The guards will maintain a constant presence along the highway, monitor the corridor, report suspicious activities and incidents of vandalism, and restrict hawking, loitering and the use of commercial motorcycles and tricycles on the route.…
The Federal Government says it has reconstructed more than 10 bridges in each state of the federation and completed over 260 emergency road rehabilitation projects nationwide at a cost exceeding N250 billion over the past three years. Senator Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, disclosed this on Sunday during a stakeholder engagement and the flag-off of road projects in Lagos. Umahi also provided updates on the ongoing repairs of the Eko Bridge and the deployment of 40 highway guards to protect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. According to the minister, all 260 emergency road projects have been completed, describing the scale of…
By Opatola Victor The recent escalation between the Presidency and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria deserves careful reflection. This is not because the bishops are beyond criticism, nor because the government should never respond to public commentary. In every constitutional democracy, robust disagreement is both inevitable and healthy. Governments are entitled to defend their policies, and religious leaders are equally entitled to express their views on matters affecting the nation. However, statecraft often requires distinguishing between winning an argument and unprofitable self-sabotage. From a statecraft and diplomatic perspective, the Presidency may have a greater interest in managing this relationship than…
The Federal Government has directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to appoint Data Protection Officers (DPOs) and fully comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023, in a move aimed at strengthening data privacy, accountability and public trust across government institutions. The directive is contained in Circular No. 59805/S.I/74, dated July 27, 2026, and signed by Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). The circular was announced by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in a statement issued by its Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, Babatunde Bamigboye. According to the circular, President Bola…
…Partnership with Bergmans Security aims to digitise customs systems, strengthen trade facilitation and deepen continental economic integration The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has signed a 20-year concession agreement with Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited to drive customs modernisation across Africa, in a move aimed at accelerating intra-African trade and strengthening economic integration. The agreement, signed in Abuja, will be executed through Bergmans’ subsidiary, AfriTrade CMP Limited. It is designed to deploy advanced digital technologies to modernise customs administration, improve transparency, facilitate cross-border trade and enhance revenue collection across participating African countries. Speaking at the signing ceremony,…
Nigerian businesses and households expect inflationary pressures to ease over the next six months, but rising energy costs remain the biggest source of concern, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) July 2026 Inflation Expectation Survey. The survey found that although respondents anticipate a gradual decline in inflation-related spending, the cost of petrol, diesel and electricity continues to shape perceptions of rising prices more than any other factor. According to the report, energy costs ranked as the most significant driver of inflation perceptions among both businesses and households. Businesses assigned energy costs a score of 74.1 points, while households…