The Lagos State Government has asked the State House of Assembly to approve the issuance of a N200 billion bond to fund critical infrastructure projects, including rail expansion, healthcare facilities and major road projects. The request was conveyed in two letters from Abayomi Oluyomi, the Commissioner for Finance, which were read during Tuesday’s plenary, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The proposed bond forms part of the state’s N1 trillion Debt and Hybrid Instruments Issuance Programme, designed to finance strategic capital projects across Lagos. Oluyomi said proceeds from the proposed Series V N200 billion bond would be used…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a seven-day flood alert for 17 states, warning of a medium flood risk between July 21 and July 27 following rising water levels in major rivers across the country. The warning was contained in the agency’s National Flood Advisory (Alert No. NFA-2026-200) issued on Tuesday by NIHSA Director-General, Umar Mohammed, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The agency said increasing water levels at key river monitoring stations have heightened the risk of localised flooding along river channels and floodplains, urging governments and residents in vulnerable communities to take precautionary measures.…
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has announced plans to increase statutory pension contribution rates as part of a broader review of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014, a move aimed at strengthening retirement security for Nigerian workers. Omolola Oloworaran, PenCom Director-General, disclosed this on Tuesday during the 2026 Pension Consultative Forum for States, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Licensed Pension Fund Operators (LPFOs) in Lagos. Under the current pension framework, employers contribute a minimum of 10% of an employee’s monthly emoluments, while employees contribute 8%, bringing total mandatory contributions to 18%. PenCom now wants that rate increased. Oloworaran said…
The Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC) has clarified that its proposed 12-month billing rule will not cancel existing electricity debts, dismissing reports suggesting consumers would no longer be required to pay bills older than one year. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission explained that the proposed provision under its new Retail Electricity Supply Code is intended to ensure electricity suppliers issue bills within a reasonable period after electricity is consumed. It stressed that the rule will only take effect when the new Code becomes operational. LASERC said recent media reports had misinterpreted the proposed regulation, creating the…
France has become the first European country to approve a nationwide ban preventing children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, as lawmakers intensify efforts to protect young people from the platforms’ potential harm. The legislation, passed by both the French Senate and National Assembly on Tuesday, will take effect in two phases, culminating in January 2027 when every social media user in France will be required to verify their age before accessing platforms. President Emmanuel Macron, who had pledged to introduce the measure before the end of his presidency, welcomed the law as a major step toward…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for stronger collaboration among African countries to enhance the continent’s influence in shaping global telecommunications and digital economy policies. This call was made by Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, at the opening ceremony of the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference Preparatory Committee, which held in Abuja today. He said, “the meeting was convened to prepare Africa’s common positions ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) scheduled to hold in Doha, Qatar, later this year”. Welcoming delegates from…
Africa has overtaken Asia as the continent with the largest number of people experiencing hunger for the first time, according to a new United Nations report released on Tuesday. The report, jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and four other UN agencies, revealed that 309 million people in Africa suffered from hunger in 2025, representing 20 per cent of the continent’s population. In contrast, Asia recorded 292 million undernourished people, accounting for about six per cent of its population. The UN said the figures mark a significant shift in the global hunger landscape, even as the overall…
By Babafemi Ojudu Love him or loathe him, VeryDarkMan (VDM) has become one of the most talked-about public figures in Nigeria today. His videos ignite fierce debates. His methods offend some and inspire others. His critics accuse him of sensationalism; his admirers hail him as a fearless defender of the ordinary Nigerian. Yet beyond the arguments over his style lies a far more important question: Why has one young man, armed with nothing more than a smartphone, become one of the loudest voices demanding accountability in a nation of over 200 million people? The answer says less about VeryDarkMan than…
Unilever Nigeria Plc has reported strong financial performance for the first half of 2026, posting double-digit growth in revenue and profit despite a challenging operating environment. According to the company’s unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2026, revenue rose by 22 per cent to ₦119.9 billion, up from ₦98.1 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025. Gross profit increased by 30 per cent to ₦54.7 billion, compared with ₦42.1 billion in the same period last year, while net profit climbed to ₦15.6 billion, from ₦14.4 billion in the first half of 2025. Reflecting the improved performance, the Board of Directors approved an interim dividend of ₦2.00…
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has continued to galvanise the support of continental public relations community for the successful hosting of the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) scheduled to hold from 15th to 21st of November in Abuja. Speaking on Thursday at the Effective Communicators Conference (ECC) and the African Public Relations Association (APRA) Annual General Meeting in Swakopmund, Namibia, Professor Emmanuel Samu Dandaura, the Chairman of the WPRF Abuja 2026 Continental Advisory Committee and Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), described the forthcoming global event as a defining opportunity for Africa to shape…