The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has inaugurated a multi-agency logistics committee to strengthen preparations for the 2027 general elections, focusing on the timely and secure delivery of electoral materials across Nigeria. Prof. Joash Amupitan, INEC’s Chairman, inaugurated the committee on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, as the electoral body moves to address transportation, storage, and security challenges ahead of the polls. The committee is tasked with developing a comprehensive national logistics plan covering the storage, distribution, deployment, and retrieval of both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials. Speaking at the inauguration, Amupitan emphasised that effective…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Black-owned and -led businesses across five African countries face a combined financing gap of $209 billion, with Nigeria accounting for $131 billion, according to a new report by British International Investment (BII) and Swedfund. The report, Understanding the Investment Gaps in Black-Owned and -Led Businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, examines the representation of black-owned and -led businesses, their access to finance and the barriers limiting their growth. The study covers Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. It combines market analysis with consultations involving stakeholders to assess the scale of the funding shortfall and identify opportunities for investors, fund managers…
Africa-focused private investment firm Helios Investment Partners is stepping up investments in the continent’s sports and creative industries, seeking to close funding gaps, develop talent and expand employment opportunities for young people. The firm said on Wednesday that it was combining capital, industry expertise and regional networks to scale commercially viable businesses through its Helios Sports & Entertainment Group (HSEG). HSEG’s investment strategy spans sports intellectual property, talent, entertainment, venues and arenas. Its portfolio includes Professional Fighters League (PFL) Africa, NBA Africa, Zaria Group and The Malachite Group. Helios’ move comes as Africa’s sports and entertainment markets attract growing global…
The Federal Government is stepping up efforts to strengthen online security, improve digital infrastructure resilience and address emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative is being driven by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which convened an Internet Governance Symposium in Lagos to bring together government officials, industry players, technical experts, academics and civil society groups to discuss Nigeria’s role in shaping the future of the internet. Speaking at the hybrid symposium on Thursday, October 15, Dr Aminu Maida, NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said decisions about internet governance affect economic opportunities, public trust, security and…
The Federal Government says the National Policing Bill is 90 per cent complete and could be transmitted to the National Assembly within two weeks, advancing efforts to establish state police across Nigeria. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, disclosed this on Thursday, October 15, 2026, following a meeting of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill at the State House, Abuja. According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the committee is working to resolve outstanding issues and incorporate observations from state governors before submitting the…
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 14.63 per cent in September 2026, from 15.39 per cent in August, marking the fourth consecutive monthly slowdown in inflation this year. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the September rate was 6.35 percentage points lower than the 20.98 per cent recorded in September 2025. Month-on-month headline inflation also eased significantly to 0.06 per cent in September, down from 0.71 per cent in August, indicating that the pace of average price increases slowed during the month. The latest figures reflect a decline in food inflation on a monthly basis, although core inflation…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) is addressing corporate governance and financial reporting gaps as it advances preparations for a potential initial public offering (IPO), according to Bayo Bashir Ojulari, its Group Chief Executive Officer. Ojulari disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, saying the company had completed a preliminary assessment of its readiness for a public listing and was implementing measures to meet capital market requirements. The proposed IPO would mark a significant step in NNPC’s transition into a commercially driven energy company following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has assured Nigerians that its enhanced device compliance framework cannot access private information stored on their phones and other SIM-enabled devices, including messages, photographs, contacts and financial records. The Commission gave the assurance amid the rollout of stricter verification measures designed to identify non-compliant telecommunications devices and strengthen security across Nigeria’s telecoms industry. Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Engr. Edoyemi Ogoh, Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity at the NCC, said the framework relies on device identification details, including International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, to verify compliance with regulatory standards. According…
Interswitch, the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and other industry stakeholders have called for stronger, more secure and interconnected financial infrastructure to support Nigeria’s expanding digital economy. The call was made at the sixth edition of TechConnect, Interswitch’s flagship industry engagement series, which explored the theme, “Built for What’s Next: Designing Adaptive Financial Infrastructure for a Dynamic Market.” Participants highlighted the need for reliable payment systems, stronger cybersecurity, data protection and greater interoperability to enable businesses, financial institutions and government agencies to respond to changing market demands. In a keynote address, Dr Zacch Adedeji, NRS Executive Chairman, said financial infrastructure plays…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Delta State House of Assembly, Ughelli North Constituency II, Hon. Oke Umurhohwo, has unveiled a five-point legislative agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections. The agenda, announced by the Oke Umurhohwo Campaign Organisation, outlines his proposed priorities for legislative representation across Ughelli, Agbarho and Uwheru. In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Team, the Campaign Organisation said the agenda would form the basis of a public enlightenment series titled “What Representation Should Look Like,” aimed at explaining the responsibilities of state lawmakers and encouraging public discussion on effective representation. The…