By Elvis Eromosele Numbers have power. They tell stories, shape opinions, and guide policies. But numbers can also mislead. They don’t always tell the whole story. Nowhere is this more true than what experts call Simpson’s Paradox. This is a statistical phenomenon where the averages tell a different story from the details. In simple terms, the big picture can look good while the smaller, more detailed parts show decline. In a country as large and complex as Nigeria, this paradox is not a classroom puzzle. It plays out in our economic statistics every day, often with damaging consequences for policymaking…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Union Bank of Nigeria has officially completed its merger with Titan Trust Bank Limited after receiving final approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This marks the end of a multi-year process that began with an acquisition agreement in 2021. As a result of the merger, Titan Trust Bank has been fully absorbed into Union Bank and will no longer operate as a separate entity. The combined institution will continue to operate under the Union Bank brand. With the merger, Union Bank has significantly expanded its network. It now has over 293 service centers and 937 ATMs, along with…
The Federal Government has announced a complete overhaul of the national curriculum for primary, secondary, and technical schools. The new framework is designed to reduce the number of subjects students are required to take, improve learning outcomes, and provide skills that are relevant in today’s world. The announcement was made by Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, Minister of State for Education, on behalf of Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education. Professor Ahmad explained that the review was a collaborative effort with key educational agencies across the country. Key Changes to the Curriculum The new curriculum focuses on streamlining subjects to…
Resident doctors in Kaduna State will begin an indefinite strike starting Sunday, September 1, 2025, at midnight. The doctors are taking this action in response to the state government’s failure to implement the 2024 Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and other agreed-upon welfare benefits. In a statement, the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Kaduna State chapter, said its members had been patient and continued to work beyond a previous deadline, hoping the government would honor its commitments. However, no changes were reflected in their August salaries, leading to the decision to strike. Dr. Richard Daniel, President of the ARD, explained…
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in observance of the U.S. Labor Day holiday. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria announced the closure on its official social media account, stating that all routine consular services, including visa interviews, passport renewals, and notarial services, will be suspended for the day. Services are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The Mission advised Nigerians seeking consular services to plan their appointments accordingly to avoid any disruption. The closure is a standard observance of a U.S. federal holiday that…
Nigeria’s data center market is projected to grow significantly, from an estimated $278 million in 2024 to $671 million by 2030. This forecast was shared with Chinese technology companies by the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) as part of an effort to attract investment. Joseph Tegbe, the Director-General of the NCSP, announced the projections while speaking at the Digital Silk Road Connection Event in China. He encouraged Chinese tech giants to invest early in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy, highlighting that the country already has a large number of internet users and a mobile traffic growth rate of 40% annually. A…
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The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced a new $80 customs duty for all parcels shipped from Nigeria to the United States. This new fee, which is effective as of August 29, 2025, applies to all shipments except for letters and documents. The new charge is a result of a U.S. Executive Order that has suspended the de minimis exemption on duty-free postal shipments. This means that all packages, regardless of their value, are now subject to a flat customs fee. The order, issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), requires postal services around the world to collect…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a new Medium-Term National Development Plan for 2026-2030. This new plan, which will be launched in December 2025, is designed to guide economic and social policies across all three tiers of government – federal, state, and local. It will replace the current 2021-2025 plan, which expires at the end of this year. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed the approval during a briefing to the media after a meeting of the National Economic Council. He explained that the previous plan failed to achieve its projected 7 per cent growth…
By Akin Alaka, When I checked this morning, a return ticket from Lagos to Yaoundé costs ₦1,711,928. A round trip from Lagos to London costs ₦1,069,659. London is 5.2 times farther away. For entrepreneurs, this means one thing: it’s cheaper to expand to Dubai than to a neighbouring African market. This pricing paradox reflects deeper infrastructure challenges across the continent. Have you experienced the multiple checkpoints between Lagos and Cotonou? I have, it violates and makes the ECOWAS protocols redundant. The Congo River separates Kinshasa and Brazzaville. Yes, two capital cities across a four-kilometre stretch of water without a single…