European champions Spain produced a composed and clinical performance to defeat France 2-0 and secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Spain will now face either England or Argentina in Sunday’s showpiece at the New York New Jersey Stadium as they chase a second World Cup title, having first lifted the trophy in 2010. After an evenly contested opening spell, Spain broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after France defender Lucas Digne brought down teenage sensation Lamine Yamal inside the box. The goal allowed Spain to…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
By Elvis Eromosele There was a time when building or renovating a house in Nigeria was stressful mainly because of funding and planning. Finding competent hands to execute the work was rarely the biggest hurdle. A plumber? A neighbour would recommend a reliable Beninoise artisan. A skilled tiler or POP installer? Togolese craftsmen were often just a phone call away. Bricklayers, aluminium fabricators, painters, and electricians, the informal network always delivered. Today, that reality has vanished. Contractors now watch projects stall for weeks or months due to the unavailability of skilled workers. Homeowners delay renovations indefinitely, unable to find reliable…
The Lagos State Government has reopened registration for the second batch of its 2026 Computer-Based Test (CBT) screening into Model Colleges and Upgraded Junior Secondary Schools, offering another opportunity to eligible pupils who missed the first examination. The registration exercise, which began on July 14, will close on August 15, 2026, according to a statement issued by the Lagos State Examinations Board (LSEB) through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. The board said the second screening is specifically designed for candidates who were unable to participate in the first exercise because their examination dates clashed with those of other…
The Federal Government has approved a special production-linked tax credit for Shell Plc’s Bonga Southwest Aparo deepwater oil project in a bid to unlock an estimated $20 billion in investment and boost Nigeria’s crude oil production. According to a Bloomberg report, President Bola Tinubu approved fiscal terms granting Shell and its partners a tax credit of $11.50 for every barrel of crude oil produced from the project, more than double the standard incentive available under Nigeria’s current fiscal framework. The incentive is expected to pave the way for a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the long-delayed Bonga Southwest Aparo project,…
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has defended its new Airport Car Hire Rank Management System (ACHRAMS) after protests by airport taxi operators over claims that they were being compelled to replace their vehicles with 2020 models. The controversy erupted after a viral video showed distressed airport cab drivers appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, alleging that the new requirements would force them to buy vehicles costing between N18 million and N30 million despite the country’s economic challenges. However, FAAN said the protest stemmed from resistance to its digital taxi management platform rather than any new vehicle policy.…
The Federal Government has pledged to provide land for credible investors seeking to develop mass housing projects as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s estimated 17 million housing deficit. Muttaqha Darma, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, made the commitment during a meeting with a Chinese delegation led by Chief Engineer Lewis Chima, who presented a proposal for a large-scale affordable housing partnership. In a statement issued on Tuesday by Badamasi Haiba, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, the minister said the proposal aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme, which prioritises affordable housing through public-private…
The Federal Government has suspended the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination following widespread criticism from parents, students and education stakeholders. The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Monday that it had withdrawn its June 18, 2026, circular proposing the fee adjustment to allow for broader consultations before any final decision is made. In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the government said the suspension was approved by Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister…
The Bank of Industry (BOI) has unveiled an €85 million long-term financing facility to expand local cocoa processing, reduce Nigeria’s dependence on raw cocoa bean exports and strengthen value addition across the cocoa industry. The facility was announced on Tuesday by Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BOI, at the Cocoa Value Addition Summit 2026 in Abuja. Speaking at the summit, themed “From Bean to Brand,” Olusi said the bank is shifting its financing strategy towards promoting local processing and manufacturing rather than the export of unprocessed agricultural commodities. The €85 million facility is being provided…
Zuma Agric Radio (88.5 FM) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have entered into a strategic partnership to improve farmer education, expand access to agricultural knowledge, and promote sustainable rural development across Nigeria. The collaboration will see both organisations jointly develop and produce agricultural radio programmes, co-brand dedicated Radio IITA–Zuma FM segments, and implement capacity-building initiatives for farmers and young people. Participants in selected training programmes will receive jointly certified IITA–Zuma certificates. As part of the agreement, IITA will serve as the technical partner for the annual Zuma Agricultural Harvest Festival, contributing exhibitions, expert presentations and live broadcast…
The Federal Government has inaugurated a 15-member Ministerial Advisory Committee to strengthen economic policymaking, improve policy coordination and accelerate the implementation of ongoing fiscal and economic reforms. The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday in Abuja by the Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy It is chaired by Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, Sterling Bank Managing Director, and comprises leading economists, business executives, policy experts and private sector representatives. Speaking at the inauguration, Oyedele said the advisory body would provide independent, evidence-based recommendations to help government anticipate economic risks, improve policy execution and ensure reforms translate into…