Early data from major auto markets suggests electric vehicles (EVs) are enjoying a renewed surge, with rising global fuel prices, linked to tensions in the Middle East, pushing more consumers toward battery-powered alternatives. However, analysts caution that it remains uncertain whether this momentum can be sustained. In the UK, EV sales hit a record high in March, with 86,120 units registered, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders. Plug-in hybrids led the growth, recording a 47 per cent increase. Industry experts say the spike reflects growing consumer anxiety over volatile fuel prices. Colin Walker of the Energy and…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to suspend the introduction of new policies and regulatory changes, in a move aimed at protecting businesses from sudden disruptions. The directive was announced in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Zahrah Mustapha-Audu, the Council’s Director-General. According to PEBEC, the decision forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to improve regulatory quality, promote policy consistency, and enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business environment. The council stated that the suspension will remain in effect until all MDAs fully comply with the Regulatory Impact Analysis…
Kemi Adeosun, former Minister of Finance, has disclosed that the Federal Government uncovered about 45,000 ghost workers after integrating the Bank Verification Number (BVN) into its payroll system. She made this known during a recent policy dialogue at the Citadel School of Government in Lagos, where she spoke on the role of technology in enhancing public sector efficiency. Adeosun, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from November 2015 until her resignation in September 2018, explained that the government’s wage bill was its largest expenditure at the time, significantly affected by inefficiencies in the civil service. According to her, earlier…
Nigeria’s labour market remains heavily tilted against women in formal employment, with only 10.5 per cent of employed women engaged in wage and salaried jobs as of 2025, according to the latest gender data report by the World Bank. The figure underscores the overwhelming concentration of women in informal and vulnerable work, despite their strong participation in the labour force. According to the report, about 80.7 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 and above are economically active. However, the majority are engaged in low-quality jobs that offer limited income security, stability, or social protection. The disparity becomes clearer when…
Nigeria’s business environment remained in expansion territory in March 2026, but momentum weakened significantly as economic pressures intensified across key sectors. This is according to the latest Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) released by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, which showed that the Current Business Performance Index fell sharply to 101.2 points in March from 117.2 points recorded in February. Although the index remains above the 100-point benchmark that signals expansion, the steep decline underscores a slowdown in the pace of growth. Compared to March 2025, when the index stood at 106.6 points, current performance also reflects softer year-on-year growth. The…
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to open the Ojota–Opebi Link Bridge to the public this week, marking a significant milestone in efforts to ease traffic congestion across key corridors in the state. The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Monday by Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. According to the statement, the bridge is among several landmark projects scheduled for commissioning during the two-day visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Lagos on Wednesday and Thursday. The Ojota–Opebi Link Bridge is designed to address persistent traffic bottlenecks along the Ojota,…
By Ishola N. Ayodele, fimc-CMC, ME “The burden of understanding in communication does not lie with the audience; it lies with the communicator.” Ishola Ayodele In April 2017, employees of United Airlines forcibly removed Dr. David Dao from a fully booked United Express flight. The CEO’s initial defensive response describing the brutalised passenger as “disruptive and belligerent” was widely decoded as callous, amplifying outrage on social media far beyond the incident itself. Within weeks, the company lost $1.4 billion in market value. That episode marked the beginning of my Communication without Communicating series. Similarly, the recent post titled “HOW EL…
Nigeria’s data protection regulator, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, has opened an investigation into Remita Payment Services Ltd. and Sterling Bank over a suspected large-scale data breach. The Commission disclosed that a formal Notice of Investigation was served on both organisations on April 1, 2026, following reports that sensitive personal and financial data of Nigerians may have been exposed. In a statement signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, the NDPC said the probe will determine: The types of personal data involved The scale and nature of the alleged breach Potential risks to affected individuals Measures taken to mitigate the incident The…
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has facilitated the release and return of three Nigerians who were stranded at an airport in South Africa following an immigration incident. The development was confirmed in a statement shared on the commission’s official X account on Sunday. According to NIDCOM, the affected individuals have now been cleared by South African authorities and are expected to arrive in Lagos on Monday. The commission, led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the detention but welcomed the safe resolution of the matter. The incident gained attention after a social media user, Just_Yemi (@YemiFirstson),…
Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) database has grown to 68.6 million as of March 2026, according to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System. However, the latest figures point to a slowdown in new registrations, coming just weeks after the Central Bank of Nigeria introduced stricter regulations governing enrolment and usage. Data from NIBSS shows that BVN registrations increased by 754,128 between January and March 2026, up from 67.8 million recorded at the end of 2025. This represents a slower pace compared to 2025, when 4.3 million new BVNs were added, largely driven by the Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN) initiative, which enabled…