The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has endorsed the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) call for local smartphone manufacturing, describing the initiative as a critical step toward accelerating broadband adoption, expanding digital inclusion and building Nigeria’s digital economy. Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, ALTON Chairman, made the remarks while reacting to recent comments by the Chairman of the NCC Board, Idris Olorunnimbe, who urged stakeholders to promote local smartphone production and introduce innovative financing models to make smart devices more affordable for Nigerians. According to Adebayo, Nigeria must deliberately move beyond being a consumer of imported technology to becoming a…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Ikeja Electric has appointed Mrs. Ogochukwu Onyelucheya as its Acting Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026, marking a new leadership transition aimed at strengthening operational performance, driving innovation and enhancing customer service. The appointment was announced in a statement issued in Lagos by the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Okotie, and made available through the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Onyelucheya succeeds Mrs. Folake Soetan, who has led Nigeria’s largest electricity distribution company since 2020. Announcing the appointment, Chairman of Ikeja Electric, Kola Adesina, described Onyelucheya as an experienced business leader whose appointment will build on the company’s…
Nigeria’s new vehicle market is expected to maintain strong growth in 2026, with sales projected to increase by 7.6 per cent, supported by the full operation of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, easing inflation and government incentives for electric vehicles (EVs). The projection is contained in BMI’s latest Sub-Saharan Africa Autos Report, which estimates that the country’s new vehicle sales grew by about 20 per cent in 2025 and will continue expanding despite lingering economic challenges. According to BMI, the full ramp-up of the Dangote refinery to its 650,000 barrels-per-day capacity in February 2026 is expected to improve domestic fuel supply,…
The Canadian government has announced a C$5.6 million investment to strengthen Black-owned businesses in Alberta through expanded training, mentorship, business advisory services and improved access to markets under its Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP). The funding was unveiled at the Black to the Future Summit in Edmonton by Eleanor Olszewski, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). The investment will support three Alberta-based initiatives designed to help Black entrepreneurs start, grow and scale sustainable businesses while addressing longstanding barriers such as limited access to financing, mentorship, professional networks and business development services. Announcing the initiative, Olszewski said Black entrepreneurs continue…
Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, has strongly cautioned West African leaders against rushing the adoption of the proposed “ECO” common currency. Speaking at a policy dialogue organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja, Sanusi warned that a monetary union cannot succeed without economic convergence, fiscal discipline, and genuine political commitment. Sanusi emphasised that while a common currency could reduce transaction costs and boost regional competitiveness, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is currently far from ready. “A currency is only as strong as…
The Federal Government has approved a wage increase of over 150 per cent for Nigerian seafarers, alongside officially launching a new digitised Seafarers’ Discharge Book platform. The developments were unveiled by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) during the 2026 Day of the Seafarer celebration in Lagos. The initiatives aim to strengthen the country’s maritime workforce, modernise administrative systems, and position local seafarers for global career opportunities. Dr. Dayo Mobereola, NIMASA Director-General, revealed that the National Joint Industrial Council successfully incorporated the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) wage scales into the conditions of…
…Finance Minister urges greater taxpayer education as CITN marks National Tax Awareness Day Taiwo Oyedele, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, has said that poor tax compliance, not the need for higher taxes, remains the country’s biggest obstacle to boosting government revenue and accelerating national development. Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Taiwo Oyedele,Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) to commemorate the 2026 National Tax Awareness Day, Oyedele said many Nigerians still see taxation as a means for government to collect money rather than as a critical tool for national growth. The…
The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has unveiled a sweeping reform programme aimed at modernising agricultural financing, expanding financial inclusion in rural communities, and strengthening support for Nigeria’s food security agenda. The initiative includes a major digital transformation drive, new strategic partnerships, and enhanced loan verification systems designed to improve access to affordable credit for genuine farmers while reducing fraud in government-backed agricultural intervention programmes. Ayodeji Sotinrin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, said the reforms are focused on modernising the bank’s operations, improving transparency, and expanding access to finance for smallholder farmers across the country. According to…
For every democracy, political parties are the vehicles through which citizens express their aspirations and choose leaders. Consequently, the process of registering political parties should inspire confidence, certainty and fairness. When that process becomes entangled in prolonged litigation, conflicting court orders and procedural disputes, it raises fundamental questions about the strength of democratic institutions. The recent decision of the Federal High Court in Lokoja to set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is one such moment. Although the dispute centres on the ownership of the party’s logo, its…
The Federal High Court in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), throwing the party’s legal status into fresh uncertainty pending the determination of a dispute over its logo. Justice Isah Dashen delivered the ruling on Friday after the Peace Movement Party (PMP) challenged the earlier judgment, claiming ownership of the logo used by the NDC in securing its registration. The decision effectively vacates the court’s December 10, 2025 judgment, which had ordered INEC to register the NDC as a political party. Speaking after the proceedings,…