The Senate has confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu, comprising 34 career diplomats and 30 non-career ambassadors. The confirmation followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs at plenary on Thursday. Tinubu’s request for approval was formally presented to the Senate on December 4. Presenting the report, committee chairman Senator Sani Bello said the nominees demonstrated strong knowledge of international diplomacy during the screening process and were found suitable for the roles. Among the confirmed non-career ambassadors are former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former ministers Olufemi Fani-Kayode and Prof. Isaac Adewole,…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Femi Otedola has increased his stake in First HoldCo Plc to 17.56 per cent after a ₦14.8 billion share purchase through a linked company. A disclosure on the Nigerian Exchange shows that Calvados Global Services Limited, owned by Otedola, acquired 369.99 million shares of First HoldCo at ₦40.06 per share on December 18, 2025. The transaction lifted daily trading volume to 385.6 million shares, reflecting heightened investor activity in the stock. Following the deal, Otedola’s indirect holdings are expected to rise to about 9.22 per cent, bringing his combined direct and indirect ownership to 17.56 per cent and cementing his…
TikTok has reached an agreement with Oracle and a group of U.S. investors to restructure its American operations. This move sharply reduces the risk of a nationwide ban ahead of a January deadline. The deal, expected to close on January 22, follows U.S. legislation that requires TikTok to sell or shut down its U.S. business due to national security concerns. According to Axios, citing an internal memo from CEO Shou Zi Chew, the arrangement will create a new joint venture to run TikTok’s U.S. entity. Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX will collectively own 45 per cent of the…
Dr. Ahmadu Fatimah-Binta, Medical Director of Susamsss Hospital, Principal Consultant at S5 PR Communications Ltd, and Chief Executive Officer of HealthFeed Initiative NGO, has been conferred with three prestigious honours in recognition of her exceptional leadership, integrity, and service to humanity. At a distinguished summit held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Yaba, Dr. Fatimah-Binta received: Doctor of Personnel and Human Resource Management (Honoris Causa) – Awarded by Highstone Global University, Texas, USA, following the recommendation of its faculty and approval by the Board of Directors. The award was conferred in recognition of her…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) are finalising plans to introduce a universal short code to simplify and speed up the resolution of banking complaints nationwide. The initiative will allow bank customers to lodge complaints by dialling a single short code, regardless of internet access or smartphone ownership. Officials say the move will reduce reliance on bank branches and improve access to redress, especially for underserved customers. Dr. Aisha Isa-Olatinwo, CBN Director of Consumer Protection and Financial Inclusion, said the project addresses Nigeria’s digital divide by giving all customers equal access to complaint channels.…
The Anambra State Government has rolled out the beta version of SmartGov, a digital platform enabling residents to access over 31 public services through a single online interface. SmartGov uses artificial intelligence to guide users through procedures and is accessible via web, WhatsApp, and voice-enabled channels, reducing reliance on physical offices and paperwork. At the platform’s core is NORA, an AI-powered assistant trained on government services. NORA answers queries in plain language and directs users to the correct service. The platform currently covers taxes, land and property, business, health, education, security, transport, and culture, with 24-hour multilingual support in English…
Hon. Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), a member of the House of Representatives, has raised the alarm over alleged discrepancies between the gazetted tax reform laws and the versions passed by the National Assembly. Dasuki raised the issue on Wednesday under a matter of privilege, saying his review of the gazetted laws showed material differences from the bills debated, harmonised and approved by both the House and the Senate. With the implementation of the new tax regime scheduled for January 2026, the lawmaker warned that the situation poses a constitutional concern that requires urgent attention. “I compared the gazetted copies with the…
SpaceX has taken a key step toward a long-anticipated public listing after informing employees it has entered a regulatory IPO quiet period, signalling progress toward a potential 2026 debut. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the Elon Musk-ed company issued an internal notice directing staff to avoid public discussion of its IPO plans, growth prospects, valuation or strategy. Such restrictions are standard under U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules ahead of a listing and apply to social media, interviews and public appearances. SpaceX remains privately held but is reportedly targeting an IPO that could raise more than $30 billion and…
The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to close Nigeria’s annual 3.6 million metric ton fish consumption gap, following an increase in local production to 1.4 million metric tons in 2025, up from 1.1 million metric tons. Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, disclosed this in Abuja at the ministry’s Q4 2025 Citizens and Stakeholders’ Engagement, noting that the growth reflects targeted interventions to boost fisheries and aquaculture, cut imports and strengthen food security. Despite the improvement, Oyetola said demand still far outstrips supply, stressing the need for sustained reforms, better coordination across the value chain, improved…
Lagride has secured a $100 million financing facility from United Bank for Africa (UBA) to scale its Drive To Own programme, enabling about 3,500 Lagos drivers to transition from daily earners into asset owners, business operators and mobility investors. The facility will expand Lagride’s technology-driven mobility platform and strengthen Lagos State’s transport ecosystem by providing bankable, structured financing for drivers based on verified performance data. Over the past 10 months, Lagride rebuilt its onboarding and operations for its drivers, known as Lagride Captains, introducing a performance-led Drive To Earn model supported by weekly and monthly rental plans. The system has…