The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has earmarked N12.29 billion for the printing of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and N500 million for hand sanitisers as part of its proposed N873.78 billion budget for the 2027 general elections. The commission presented the budget proposal on February 12 before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters in Abuja, outlining projected costs for election operations, technology, logistics and administrative expenses. According to a breakdown of the estimates, N12,292,700,300.26 is allocated specifically for printing PVCs for eligible Nigerians registering or updating their records under the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
The Federal Government’s decision to extend the ban on raw shea nut exports until February 2027 has reignited debate about Nigeria’s industrialisation strategy. At its core, the policy reflects a familiar ambition: move Nigeria away from exporting raw commodities and toward processing and manufacturing higher-value products at home. The question, however, is whether the country is structurally prepared to make that leap, or whether the ban risks unintended economic consequences. Nigeria is one of the largest producers of shea nuts globally. Yet much of the value chain remains outside its borders. Raw nuts are exported, processed abroad into shea…
The Federal Government has extended its ban on the export of raw shea nuts by one year, shifting the deadline from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s domestic processing industry and increasing value addition. The decision, approved by President Bola Tinubu, was announced on Wednesday, just hours before the initial six-month emergency ban, introduced on August 26, 2025, was set to expire. According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the extension aligns with the administration’s “Renewed Hope” Agenda, which seeks to reposition Nigeria from a…
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has completed a digital capacity-building programme for staff of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), reinforcing efforts to modernise public institutions and promote data-driven governance. The initiative included the donation of 35 laptops and specialised training aimed at transitioning the Commission from largely manual processes to a more technology-enabled oversight system. The programme was implemented under NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All (DL4All) initiative, which is designed to enhance digital competencies across government institutions and align with the Federal Government’s broader reform agenda focused on economic transformation and improved service delivery. The training, conducted at…
Global Internet use surged in 2025, with more than six billion people, about three-quarters of the world’s population, now online, according to the Facts and Figures 2025 report released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The figure marks an increase of over 240 million new users compared to 2024, when global Internet users stood at 5.8 billion. However, despite steady progress, 2.2 billion people remain offline, only slightly down from 2.3 billion the previous year. While connectivity continues to expand, the ITU warns that digital divides are increasingly defined not just by access but by quality, affordability, and skills. “In…
Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, Chairman of the Telecom Group and former Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, has called on the Federal Government to establish a dedicated Science, Technology and Innovation Trust Fund to accelerate Nigeria’s advancement in space science and frontier technologies. Ekuwem made the appeal on Tuesday while delivering a lecture at the 4th Adigun Ade Abiodun Public Lecture held at the University of Lagos. He argued that sustained, targeted funding is essential to unlock Nigeria’s innovation potential and strengthen its position in the global technology landscape. According to him, a specialised innovation fund would stimulate research-driven enterprises,…
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Lagos State Chapter heartily congratulates Tunji Disu on his appointment as the Acting Inspector General of Police by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 24 February 2026. Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, PhD, fnipr, frpa, the Chapter’s Chairman, describes this appointment as a well-deserved recognition of his distinguished service, exemplary leadership, and unwavering commitment to professionalism within the Nigeria Police Force. As a valued member of the Lagos State Chapter of NIPR, AIG Disu has consistently demonstrated a strong appreciation for strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and responsible public information management in policing. The Chairman particularly recalls…
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has sealed an offtake agreement with 12 major and independent oil marketers to distribute between 60 and 65 million litres of petrol daily across Nigeria, in a move expected to stabilise supply and deepen the country’s fuel self-sufficiency. The landmark arrangement in the downstream oil sector was disclosed by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, in Lagos. Dangote said the structured agreement guarantees adequate domestic supply while allowing surplus volumes to be exported. “We have agreed an offtake framework to supply up to 65 million litres daily for the domestic market. Any surplus, estimated at…
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector have raised fresh concerns over the Federal Government’s decision to proceed with its proposed tax stamp system for excisable goods, warning that the move could undermine the fragile recovery recorded in the industry. Industry sources who spoke to journalists said the initiative, also referred to as a track-and-trace system, would impose additional financial and operational burdens on manufacturers, with likely ripple effects on consumers through higher product prices. The tax stamp system is a regulatory mechanism requiring a high-security physical label or digital code to be affixed to excisable products such as alcohol, tobacco, and…
No fewer than 34 listed companies on the Nigerian Exchange paid a cumulative N540.37 million in penalties for late submission of financial statements during the 2024/2025 compliance cycle, with insurance firms accounting for over 70 per cent of the total sanctions. This is according to the latest X-Compliance Report released on February 20, 2026, by NGX Regulation Limited. The report details governance and disclosure lapses across sectors, while also highlighting companies that met regulatory deadlines ahead of schedule. The sanctions were imposed for defaults in filing both audited annual financial statements (AFS) and interim unaudited financial statements (UFS), in line…