Firewood Jollof, the organisers of the annual Firewood Jollof Festival, have announced that preparations are in top gear for the 2025 edition of the African cultural festival, themed “Unifying African Jollof.” The announcement was made recently at a press conference held in Lagos to unveil plans for this year’s festival. Speaking at the event, Chizoma Chukwueke described Firewood Jollof as more than a food festival. “It is a platform that drives local business, tourism, and cultural exchange. Last year, we supported small vendors and attracted about 10,000 visitors from different states and some from beyond our shores. This year, we…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
The Federal Government has announced a ₦12 billion investment in digital economy research to strengthen Nigeria’s global competitiveness and accelerate digital transformation. Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, revealed this at the opening of the 18th International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) in Abuja, themed “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance Through Cooperation, Innovation and Inclusion.” According to Dr. Tijani, the funds will establish three research clusters across 18 universities focused on artificial intelligence, connectivity, and digital skills and literacy. “This investment will drive innovation and build Nigeria’s capacity to lead in…
By Elvis Eromosele Phenomenal is one word that has been used to describe the growth of the Nigerian telecom sector. The rise from under half a million lines to 165 million in 24 years is truly phenomenal by any standard. It’s not surprising therefore, that the question on the lips of many today is whether the Nigerian telecom sector has reached its limit. Proponents of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) say there’s still room to grow. This was the central focus of the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 6.0) in Lagos, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) Potential: Status,…
Chowdeck, Lagos-based on-demand delivery platform, has achieved a major milestone, surpassing one million monthly orders for meals and everyday essentials across Nigeria in October 2025. The achievement was announced by Femi Aluko, Chowdeck’s CEO and co-founder, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. “I am super pumped to share that last month, @chowdeck hit over 1 million orders in Nigeria in a single month,” Aluko wrote. “Our daily order volumes have grown from an average of 30,000 a few weeks ago to over 40,000, and the numbers are still increasing daily.” The company noted that it is now the…
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, has announced 50 new tax reliefs and exemptions to ease the burden on low-income earners, average taxpayers, and small businesses. The reforms, which take effect January 1, 2026, mark a major step toward creating a fairer and simpler tax system. Describing the package as “one of the most people-focused tax reforms in Nigeria’s history,” Oyedele said the initiative aims to reduce pressure on the poor, support small enterprises, and improve tax compliance and ease of doing business. Key Highlights of the Tax Reliefs 1. Personal Income Tax (PAYE):…
Nigeria’s neighbouring countries, Togo, Niger, and Benin, owe a combined $19.97 million for electricity supplied between January and June 2025, according to data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). NERC’s report shows that the three international customers, Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique (SBEE) of Benin, Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo (CEET), and Société Nigérienne d’Électricité (NIGELEC) of Niger, paid only $14.81 million out of the $34.78 million invoiced by the Nigerian market operators during the first and second quarters of 2025. Country Breakdown Paras-SBEE made no payment for its combined invoices of $5.19 million for the two quarters. Paras-CEET paid $0.63…
The Lagos State Government has announced plans to automate the approval process for telecommunication infrastructure projects through a new digital platform, the Telecommunication Infrastructure Regulatory System (TIRS), set to launch in February 2026. In a statement, Prince Oyekanmi Elegushi, General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), said the initiative will enhance transparency, streamline operations, and ensure all telecom infrastructure projects comply with state regulations and safety standards. Elegushi explained that TIRS will automate approvals for telecom masts, towers, and right-of-way (RoW) permits for fibre optic cables. The system aims to reduce physical interactions by up…
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for completing 2025 admissions into public universities to November 17, 2025, following appeals from institutions affected by unforeseen disruptions. In a statement signed by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, its Public Communication Adviser, JAMB said the extension was approved to ensure fairness and inclusiveness across universities. The move comes after Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, initially set October 31 as the deadline for public university admissions, with all tertiary institutions expected to conclude admissions by December 31, 2025. According to JAMB, the extension became necessary due to two main…
UAC of Nigeria Plc (UACN) has confirmed the deposit of ₦19.2 billion in escrow toward the acquisition of CHI Limited, makers of the popular Chivita and Hollandia brands, from The Coca-Cola Company. The landmark transaction, which has received approval from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), marks a major step in UACN’s strategic expansion within Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. “This deal has been years in the making,” said Group CEO Fola Aiyesimoju. “It reflects our disciplined, long-term vision to build a stronger, more diversified consumer brand portfolio.” According to UACN’s Q3 2025 financials, the ₦19.2 billion…
…Record Profit Marks a Strong Rebound MTN Nigeria Communications Plc recorded a landmark ₦750.19 billion profit after tax in the third quarter of 2025, a dramatic turnaround from the ₦514.9 billion loss in the same period last year. The result represents a 245 per cent year-on-year growth, underscoring a robust recovery and operational efficiency. Following this performance, the Board approved an interim dividend of ₦5 per 2 kobo share, signalling a return to profit distribution after a challenging 2024. Data and Digital Services Lead Revenue Growth Total revenue rose 57.4 per cent year-on-year to ₦3.73 trillion from ₦2.37 trillion in…