The Federal Government has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to immediately suspend enforcement of its ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic products in PET bottles below 200ml. The directive, issued on Wednesday by Terrence Kuanum, the Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), also instructs NAFDAC to stop sealing factories and warehouses over the issue. The suspension follows concerns raised by the SGF’s office and the National Security Adviser (ONSA) about the security and economic implications of enforcing the ban before full implementation of…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Payaza has strengthened its East African presence after securing a Payment System Operator (PSO) license in Uganda, enabling the fintech to operate directly within the country’s regulated financial ecosystem. The move is a major step in Payaza’s mission to simplify cross-border payments for African businesses, allowing mobile-first transactions, multi-currency settlement, and secure processing under Uganda’s regulatory framework. Ugandan and international merchants can now access regional markets more easily through Payaza’s growing African payments network. The PSO license gives Payaza direct operational authority in Uganda, eliminating reliance on third-party intermediaries and unlocking key capabilities: Local and International Payment Processing: Merchants…
The United States is set to deploy about 200 troops to Nigeria to train the country’s military in its fight against Islamist militants, a U.S. official confirmed on Tuesday. The move comes weeks after President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on what he described as Islamic State targets in Nigeria. It also marks an expansion of Washington’s security engagement in Africa’s most populous nation. Last week, the U.S. military acknowledged sending a small team of personnel to Nigeria but did not specify the number. The latest disclosure provides clarity, indicating that the 200 troops will reinforce a handful of U.S.…
Residents of Kutaho and Kugir communities in Aribi Ward, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have fled their homes following a midnight bandit attack that left a Catholic catechist, his heavily pregnant wife, and about 30 others abducted. The attack, which occurred around 2 a.m. on Monday, has forced over 90 per cent of residents to seek refuge in neighbouring villages. Confirming the incident, the Parish Priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Kutaho, Rev. Fr. Linus Matthew Bobai, said the communities had earlier received threats and ransom demands before the assault. “Before the incident, they called one of…
By Prince Charles Dickson Nigeria does not lack early warning signals. It lacks early response. Across the country, communities whisper the coming danger long before the first shot, yet those whispers evaporate into our harmattan air. In meetings, workshops, and dashboards, we map the risks with the precision of meteorologists. But on the ground, especially in states like Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, now Kwara, Niger and an increasing list, violence still arrives like an appointment everyone secretly knew about but no one prepared for. A few months ago, during fieldwork in one such places, an elderly woman told me something that…
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External, with 86.26 per cent of candidates obtaining five credits and above. Prof. Dantani Wushishi, NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, announced the results on Tuesday at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State. A total of 96,979 candidates registered for the examination, 51,823 males (53.43%) and 45,156 females (46.56%). Of these, 95,160 candidates sat for the exams across 16 subjects. In English Language, 93,425 candidates sat for the exam, with 73,167 (78.32%) scoring credit and above. In Mathematics, 93,330 candidates took the…
Six years after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced the Global Standing Instruction (GSI) to curb loan defaults, microfinance banks (MFBs) and fintech lenders say gaps in its implementation are worsening non-performing loans across the digital lending space. While commercial banks can recover unpaid loans by debiting funds from a borrower’s accounts across participating banks, most fintechs, finance houses and microfinance institutions remain excluded, a loophole operators say serial defaulters are actively exploiting. Launched in 2020, the GSI was designed to strengthen credit discipline by allowing creditor banks to recover overdue principal and accrued interest without seeking fresh consent…
Real estate emerged as the most preferred investment asset among investors in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda in 2025, according to Risevest’s Cost of Living Report 2025. The report analysed more than 19,000 validated survey responses across the four countries, revealing a strong tilt toward property as investors seek stability, long-term growth, and protection against economic uncertainty. According to the report, real estate accounted for the largest share of investment allocations among respondents: Real estate – 22.32 per cent Stocks – 20.51 per cent Mutual funds – 18.10 per cent Fixed deposits – 7.54 per cent Cryptocurrency 5.28 per…
CyberSafe Foundation has unveiled Resilio Africa, a three-year cybersecurity resilience initiative aimed at strengthening institutions and communities against escalating cyber threats across Sub-Saharan Africa. Speaking at the launch in Lagos, Confidence Staveley, Founder and Executive Director of CyberSafe Foundation, said the project will support 200 Critical Community Institutions in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. The initiative is projected to protect more than 2 million people and secure over 15 million public records across the four countries. Funded by Google.org, Resilio Africa will provide participating institutions with free cybersecurity tools, risk assessments, threat intelligence, and incident response frameworks to…
Nigeria’s National Pension Commission (PenCom) has increased the allowable investment limits for equities across major Retirement Savings Account (RSA) fund categories, in a move aimed at easing liquidity constraints and improving asset allocation flexibility within the pension industry. The adjustment, announced in an addendum issued on February 9, 2026, amends the Revised Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets released in September 2025. The new limits take immediate effect and apply to all licensed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and custodians. PenCom revised Section 9 of the regulation, raising exposure ceilings for ordinary shares as follows: RSA Fund I: 30%…