ActionAid Nigeria has called for urgent reforms in the implementation of the Federal Government’s National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Wheat Intervention Programme, warning that structural and operational gaps are limiting its impact on local wheat production and food security. The organisation made the call in Abuja on Wednesday while presenting its assessment report titled “Beyond the Official Narratives: ActionAid Nigeria Community Scorecard Report on the NAGS-AP Wheat Dry Season Farming Programme in Nigeria.” Suwaiba Muhammad-Dankabo, Deputy Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, said the programme was designed to reduce Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported wheat, currently estimated at about 90…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Nigerian fintech and digital services company Plug.ng has launched a Global eSIM solution designed to provide seamless internet connectivity for Nigerians travelling abroad, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards and reducing dependence on expensive international roaming services. The new service, unveiled on June 15, 2026, allows travellers to activate mobile data plans digitally and stay connected in more than 150 countries without changing their primary phone numbers or searching for local network providers upon arrival. The company said the initiative was developed to address one of the most common challenges faced by international travellers, reliable and affordable internet access…
The Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has argued that Nigeria’s insurance penetration could witness a dramatic rise if pension assets currently managed outside the insurance industry are reintegrated into the sector. Speaking at the 2026 Inaugural Annual Insurance Week at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mrs. Ekeoma Ezeibe, NCRIB President, said the separation of pension administration from the insurance industry remains one of the factors limiting the sector’s growth and penetration. According to her, countries such as South Africa and Kenya have achieved significantly higher insurance penetration rates partly because pension-related assets and products contribute substantially to the overall…
The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting it plans to introduce new taxes on petroleum products and telecommunications services, clarifying that recommendations contained in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest Article IV Consultation Report do not constitute government policy. The clarification came amid public concern following the IMF’s suggestion that Nigeria consider extending Value Added Tax (VAT) to fuel products and reintroducing excise duties on telecommunications services as part of efforts to boost government revenue. In a statement issued by Maryann Duke, Senior Special Assistant on Communications and Press to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy,…
Nigeria has launched FreeTV, a new national digital television platform that will give households access to more than 100 television channels without any monthly subscription fees, marking a major milestone in the country’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. The Presidency disclosed the development ahead of the platform’s official rollout on June 17, describing it as a key component of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme aimed at expanding access to quality digital broadcasting services nationwide. According to the Federal Government, FreeTV will provide viewers with clearer picture quality, improved sound, and a wider variety of television content at no recurring…
Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, the incoming Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), has called for stronger collaboration between insurers, banks, fintechs and other financial institutions as Nigeria’s insurance industry enters the final stretch of its recapitalisation exercise under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025. Nwachukwu, who will be formally installed as the 27th Chairman of the NIA on July 3, said the sector is at a critical turning point, with operators working to meet the July 2026 recapitalisation deadline set by the new law. Speaking at a pre-investiture briefing in Lagos, she described NIIRA 2025 as one of…
The philanthropic arm of MTN Nigeria, the MTN Foundation, has disclosed that it has invested more than N32 billion in social intervention programmes since its establishment in 2004, impacting over 32 million Nigerians across thousands of communities nationwide. The disclosure was made by Joseph Akpata, Manager, Development Portfolio at the MTN Foundation, during an Anti-Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) stakeholders’ conference held in Ilorin, Kwara State. Akpata said the Foundation has executed projects in education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and capacity building, reaching beneficiaries in more than 30,600 communities and about 90 local government areas across the country. “Since we started in…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a N450 billion Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTBs) auction, scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, with settlement set for June 18, sparking questions over a discrepancy with the Debt Management Office (DMO)’s revised borrowing programme, which earmarked as much as N1 trillion for the June auction. The auction notice, issued to Primary Money Market Dealers (PMMDs), indicates that investors will bid for Treasury Bills across three maturities under the Dutch Auction System. According to the CBN, the N450 billion offer comprises: N150 billion in 91-day Treasury Bills N50 billion in 182-day Treasury Bills N250…
Microsoft has urged Nigeria to move from artificial intelligence policy development to practical implementation, stressing that the true value of AI lies in delivering measurable benefits for government, businesses, and citizens. The call was made by Mrs. Nonye Ujam, Microsoft’s Director of Government Affairs for West Africa, during the AI Summit Nigeria held in Abuja. The summit, organised by Microsoft in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and MTN Nigeria, was themed “From Policy to Progress: Accelerating Responsible AI Adoption for Nigeria’s Digital Decade.” Speaking at the event, Ujam acknowledged Nigeria’s efforts in developing frameworks to support…
Meta has announced that its social media platform, Threads, has surpassed 500 million monthly active users, marking a significant milestone in its rapid rise as a major player in the global social networking landscape. The company disclosed the achievement on Tuesday, while also unveiling a suite of new features designed to strengthen user engagement and make communities on the platform more interactive and accessible. According to Meta, the platform’s growth has been largely driven by vibrant communities built around shared interests such as sports, books, parenting, music, and lifestyle conversations. Meta said the latest milestone underscores the growing demand for…