Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

File photo: Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Taiwo Oyedele has been sworn in as Minister of State for Finance at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the President’s office at approximately 2:30 pm on Monday. It has come five days after the Senate confirmed Oyedele’s nomination. Our correspondent had earlier observed Oyedele and his wife being cleared by Villa security at approximately 2:09 pm, with the new minister dressed in a navy blue suit while his wife wore white traditional attire. The Senate had on Wednesday, March…

Manny Ita  – The Nigerian Navy has destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery operating in the Okolomade community of Rivers State as part of its ongoing anti-crude oil theft operations under Operation Delta Sentinel. Naval authorities said the discovery was made during a routine patrol by personnel deployed to protect critical oil infrastructure and curb economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region. The illegal refining site, located in a creek within the community, was reportedly producing refined petroleum products from stolen crude oil before it was dismantled by naval operatives. According to the Navy, the facility had previously been destroyed but…

L – R: Partner and Leader, Tax and Regulatory Service, PwC, Mr. Chijioke Uwaegbute; Group Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane; Executive Director and Chief Operations and Information Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Stanley Amuchie; Tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Mr. Ike Eze; and Arise TV Business News Anchor, Mr. Rotus Oddiri; at the Fidelity Diaspora Summit 2026 themed, “Navigating the New Tax Policy and Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Nigeria” recently. Tier-one lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its leadership in the diaspora banking sector with the successful hosting of the Fidelity Diaspora Summit 2026, a global virtual…

The Chairman of Polaris Bank, Dr. Kassim Gidado, has urged newly inducted banking professionals to uphold integrity, embrace continuous learning, and demonstrate ethical leadership as they navigate the rapidly evolving financial services landscape. Dr. Gidado, made the call while delivering his remarks as the Special Guest of Honour at the 2026 Stream 1 Chartered Banker Induction Ceremony organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). The ceremony which held in Lagos at the weekend, celebrated the induction of 2,037 professionals into the prestigious Chartered Banker and Microfinance Certified Banker cadre of the Institute, marking a significant milestone in…

Zenith Bank Plc has made public the opening of a new branch in Manchester, United Kingdom, marking another significant milestone in the bank’s international growth and its commitment to strengthening financial connections between Africa and global markets. The official opening ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday, 17 March 2026, is expected to attract government officials from Nigeria and the United Kingdom, regulators, investors, customers, and business leaders from both countries, underscoring the growing economic ties and investment opportunities between the two markets. The new Manchester branch will complement Zenith Bank’s existing operations in the United Kingdom and serve as a strategic hub…

Igbinedion Education Centre, Benin City, Edo Relative of one of the students involved in a viral bullying incident at Igbinedion Education Centre, Benin City, has issued a heartfelt apology for their son’s actions. In a statement released on Sunday and signed by Tim Asoro, the family expressed shock and embarrassment over the video, which showed two male students beating and kicking another student lying on the ground, while a third student recorded the incident. A thumbnail of the viral video…Photo Credit: Edo Police Command “Watching the video has been one of the most distressing and heartbreaking experiences of our lives…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revised its rules on dormant bank accounts and removed the requirement for customers to provide an affidavit when they want to reactivate such accounts. In a circular dated March 12, 2026, sent to banks and other financial institutions, the CBN explained that the affidavit requirement has been cancelled following feedback from stakeholders. The change is intended to make the process of reactivating dormant accounts easier for customers while still protecting the financial system from fraud and abuse. Even though affidavits are no longer required, banks and other financial institutions must still carry out…

File photo: President Bola Tinubu Elegbede Abiodun This is to make families across Nigeria feel the spirit of oneness during this sacred period. Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a political support group of President Bola Tinubu, has received directives from the President to distribute rice nationwide in support of citizens observing Ramadan and Lenten fasts. This was disclosed by the Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, in a statement on Saturday. According to the statement, the exercise was aimed at strengthening “national unity and demonstrating compassion during a period that holds deep spiritual significance for both…

Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another shone as winner of the Best Picture prize at the 98th Academy Awards held on Sunday night in Los Angeles, United States. The film also won Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, as well as Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film Editing. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, which led the nominations with 16 nods, secured several awards including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography. Other notable winners included Jessie Buckley, who won Best Actress for Hamnet, while Sean…

Elegbede Abiodun Says when the naira appreciates against the dollar, the naira value of foreign assets held by the monetary authorities may decline when converted from foreign currency. Cash held outside Nigeria’s banking system fell by N197.68bn in one month to N5.21tn in January 2026, even as the amount of money circulating in the economy remained broadly flat, and bank reserves dropped sharply, according to the latest Money and Credit Statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The figures showed that currency outside banks declined from N5.41tn in December 2025 to N5.21tn in January 2026, representing a month-on-month drop…