The United States has announced a proposed $11bn (£8.2bn) weapons sale to Taiwan, one of the largest arms packages ever offered to the island, further heightening tensions with China. The deal, subject to approval by the US Congress, includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), self-propelled howitzers and a range of advanced missiles. It is the second arms sale to Taiwan since President Donald Trump returned to office in January. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence welcomed the move, saying it would strengthen the island’s ability to build “rapid and robust deterrence capabilities” in the face of growing regional threats. China…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Facebook is testing a new restriction that limits how many links some users can share, unless they pay a monthly subscription starting at £9.99. Notifications sent to a small group of users in the UK and US indicate that, without a subscription, they will be allowed to share only two links per month in Facebook posts. Meta confirmed the move is part of a limited test. A Meta spokesperson said the trial is designed to assess “whether the ability to publish an increased volume of posts with links adds additional value” for subscribers. Social media analyst Matt Navarra said the…
BP has appointed Meg O’Neill as its new chief executive, marking a historic first as the first woman to lead a major global oil company. She replaces Murray Auchincloss, who is stepping down less than two years after taking the helm. The London-based energy giant said Auchincloss will exit after succeeding Bernard Looney, who was dismissed in 2023 for serious misconduct linked to undisclosed workplace relationships. O’Neill, currently CEO of Australia’s Woodside Energy, is expected to double down on BP’s renewed focus on oil and gas, as the company scales back ambitions in renewables amid pressure from investors concerned about…
MTN Nigeria has strengthened its disability inclusion drive, increasing the representation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in its workforce from 0.9 per cent in 2021 to 2.13 per cent in 2025. The disclosure was made at the company’s headquarters during the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD), themed “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.” Speaking at the event, Esther Akinnukawe, the Chief Human Resources Officer, described the progress as the result of intentional structural reforms, not charity. Represented by GM, OE&P, Inyang Osazuwa, she said MTN’s diversity agenda is driven by “investment and accountability,” supported by a…
FCMB Pensions, a subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc, is aiming to grow its assets under management (AUM) to ₦1.2 trillion by December 2025, building on its current base of over ₦1.1 trillion and more than ₦200 billion paid to retirees and beneficiaries. Christopher Bajowa, the firm’s Managing Director, disclosed this at the company’s 20th anniversary celebration in Abuja, noting that FCMB Pensions is positioning itself as a major industry player, with Personal Pension Plans (PPP) identified as the next frontier for growth. Bajowa said pension inclusion remains a key challenge, as expanding the number of contributors has been slow. He…
Accion Microfinance Bank (MfB) has called for a shift to digital, data-driven and value-chain-based financing to expand access to capital for Nigeria’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The call was made at the Financial Inclusion Seminar 2025, organised by Accion MfB under the theme “Unlocking MSME Value Chain to Drive Growth and Prosperity: The Evolving Role of Financial Institutions.” Experts at the event said traditional collateral-based lending no longer meets the needs of MSMEs, which contribute about 48 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and employ over 84 per cent of the workforce. Speaking at the seminar, Taiwo Joda, Accion…
Nigeria’s music industry generates about $600 million annually and could more than double to $1.03 billion by 2033, according to Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy. Musawa disclosed this in the foreword to Basslines to Billions: Nigeria’s Music Market Intelligence Report, a landmark study that provides data-driven insight into one of Africa’s most influential creative sectors. Developed by the National Council for Arts and Culture in collaboration with RegalStone Capital, the report estimates current annual revenues at $600.7 million (about ₦901.6 billion), with projected average growth of 7 per cent per year. “Nigeria’s music is…
President Bola Tinubu has proposed a ₦58.47 trillion 2026 budget that places security, health and human capital development at the heart of Nigeria’s fiscal priorities. Presenting the Appropriation Bill, titled “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity”, to a joint session of the National Assembly on Friday, Tinubu proposed ₦5.41 trillion for defence and security, the single largest sectoral allocation, and ₦2.48 trillion for health. Infrastructure is allocated ₦3.56 trillion, while education receives ₦3.52 trillion. Tinubu said the spending plan reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda and is structured as a “coherent programme of national renewal.” “Without security, investment will…
…Says transparency non-negotiable #FixPolitics Initiative has called on the Federal Government and its tax agency to immediately publish the Memorandum of Understanding with France’s tax authority, in full, for informed public scrutiny. In a statement signed by Anthony Ubani, its Executive Director, #FixPolitics Initiative argued that the Federal Government’s interpretation of the content and intent of the MoU “does not suffice”. According to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the MoU is intended to support technical cooperation, capacity building and digital transformation within Nigeria’s tax system. Expressing concern over widespread public reaction to the government’s relationship with France regarding the country’s…
The Federal Government has announced the reopening of 47 Federal Unity Colleges, nearly one month after their closure over heightened security concerns in parts of the country. The Ministry of Education confirmed the development in a statement issued by Boriowo Folasade, its Director of Press and Public Relations. According to the ministry, the schools were reopened after security measures were strengthened within and around the affected campuses, allowing academic activities to resume safely. “Students have returned to their schools without incident. Many are concluding their December academic programmes, while others have completed their examinations,” the statement said. The ministry stressed…