The Consumers Value Awards (CVA) has become a major platform for gauging consumer satisfaction in Nigeria. In this interview, Akinte Ekine, Convener of the award, discusses the CVA’s growth, how it’s impacting brands, and the long-term vision for shaping a more consumer-centric marketplace. After three years of CVA, how would you assess the concept and consumer participation? The Consumers Value Awards has grown significantly over the last three editions. What started as a vision to give consumers a voice in rewarding value-driven brands has now become a national movement. Participation has risen steadily each year, both in terms of brands…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is firming up a cybersecurity framework for securing digital infrastructure and enhancing online safety for consumers in the Nigerian communications industry. The framework, with likely implementation timeline by telecom licensees set for 2026, will address security challenges arising from the emerging technologies towards creating a more secure digital economy in Nigeria. During the second phase of the cybersecurity framework development meeting with relevant stakeholders, hosted by the Commission in Abuja on Wednesday, following the initial meeting held earlier in the year, Abraham Oshadami, NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services (ECTS), stressed the need for a water-tight…
The Nigerian government has announced a significant increase in the cost of standard passports. Starting September 1, a 32-page passport with five-year validity will now cost ₦100,000, and a 64-page passport with 10-year validity will be ₦200,000. According to a statement from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), these new fees apply only to applications made within Nigeria. Fees for Nigerians living abroad will remain unchanged at $150 and $230, respectively. The NIS cited the need to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport as the reason for the price hike. This is the second time in a year…
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has successfully recovered N4.57 billion from employers who failed to remit their workers’ pension contributions. This recovery effort took place over five quarters, from the first quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025. According to Mr. Oguche Agudah, the CEO of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), the recovered amount includes N2.12 billion in outstanding contributions and an additional N2.45 billion in penalties. The funds were recovered from 138 employers who broke the law by not remitting pension contributions as required. Shifting to Proactive Enforcement Agudah stated that PenCom is moving…
The Federal Government has launched a new online portal that allows Nigerians to report fraudulent activities in housing estates. The platform, overseen by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (FMHUD), is designed to protect citizens from real estate fraud by providing a safe and easy way to submit complaints. The portal, which can be accessed at https://reports.fmhud.gov.ng, lets users file complaints and upload evidence of fraudulent practices. Once a report is submitted, the Ministry will work with relevant partners, including professional bodies, law enforcement, and the judiciary, to investigate the case. According to Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, Minister of…
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector are sounding the alarm: up to half of the country’s over 40 licensed Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) could fail within the next five years. Experts argue that simply holding a license may not be enough to survive in a market dominated by major players like MTN and Airtel. The key to sustainability, they say, lies in strategic planning, niche market targeting, and a focus on local realities. The Path to Success for MVNOs At the recent Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum hosted by Business Remarks in Lagos, industry leaders outlined a clear path for MVNOs…
Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, Former Minister of Works and Housing, has called for legislation to make facility management and maintenance compulsory for public and private buildings across Nigeria, warning that failure to institutionalise the practice could undermine infrastructure sustainability. Fashola, who delivered the keynote address at the IFMA Global Africa Conference 2025 in Lagos, stressed that sustainable facility management was critical to job creation, climate change adaptation, and efficient use of public resources. According to him, while building construction employs only about 30 per cent of professionals in the industry on a short-term basis, over 70 per cent derive…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set an October 31, 2025, deadline for all banks, mobile money operators, and other financial institutions to fully adopt the new global payment messaging standard, ISO 20022. The directive, issued in a new circular, also mandates that all payment terminals must have geo-tagging capabilities. This move is aimed at creating a more standardised and secure payment system in Nigeria. Starting October 20, 2025, the CBN will begin validation checks to ensure that all domestic and international payment messages are formatted correctly according to the new standard. What the New Rules Mean For Financial…
By Elvis Eromosele At the recent African Defence Chiefs Conference, Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), pointed fingers at “sophisticated international syndicates exploiting security gaps” as the main culprits behind Nigeria’s crude oil theft. The claim drew attention and headlines as expected. After all, it is convenient to blame shadowy foreign actors for the billions of dollars Nigeria loses to oil theft each year. But that framing, while partially true, is dangerously incomplete. The crisis of crude oil theft is not simply an external conspiracy; it is also a deeply Nigerian problem.…
Nestlé Professional, the Out-of-Home business arm of Nestlé Nigeria, has extended its flagship Business of Food workshop series to Bauchi State, empowering over 250 food vendors, canteen operators, grillers, and caterers with vital culinary and business skills to thrive in Nigeria’s growing foodservice sector. Now in its 11th edition, the Business of Food workshop is Nestlé Professional’s platform for empowering micro, small, and medium-scale food vendors with the skills and confidence to run profitable, sustainable businesses while serving meals that are both nutritious and prepared to the highest hygiene standards. Designed in response to the challenges faced by operators in…