Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – Smartcash Payment Service Bank is positioning itself to gain greater influence in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding fintech sector by introducing zero-fee transfers and a savings product offering up to 15 percent annual interest compounded daily. Transaction fees, transfer charges and savings rates have increasingly become key competitive factors among digital banking platforms seeking to attract and retain customers in the country. Against this backdrop, Smartcash is attempting to distinguish itself by eliminating transfer charges while offering relatively high returns on savings. The move represents a departure from the conventional fintech revenue structure, where fees from transfers typically cover…

Manny Ita  – Janet Jackson has reportedly expressed strong criticism of the upcoming biographical film about her late brother Michael Jackson, leading to a heated disagreement with fellow sibling Jermaine Jackson following a private family screening. According to a report by TMZ cited by The Daily Beast, the disagreement occurred after members of the Jackson family gathered in Los Angeles to watch Michael, a forthcoming film depicting the life and career of the King of Pop. The report said Janet Jackson, 59, reacted negatively to the film after the screening, while Jermaine Jackson, 71, “loudly applauded” the production. The disagreement…

Manny Ita- Canal+ has announced plans to invest about €100 million to revive growth at African pay-television operator MultiChoice Group, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, following a decline in subscribers and revenue. The French media company disclosed the investment plan in its 2025 financial results released on Wednesday, months after completing the acquisition of MultiChoice. According to the financial report, MultiChoice ended 2025 with 14.4 million subscribers, down from 14.9 million recorded a year earlier, reflecting pressures in several operating markets across Africa. The company also reported that revenue fell by six per cent to €2.4 billion, while…

Manny Ita  – President Masoud Pezeshkian has outlined conditions for ending the ongoing conflict between Iran, United States and Israel, including the payment of reparations for damages caused by the war. Mr Pezeshkian disclosed the conditions in a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday, saying he had reiterated Iran’s position during discussions with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan. “Talking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region. The only way to end this war—ignited by the Zionist regime & US—is recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm…

Manny Ita  – The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has disclosed that the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States is inflicting heavy economic losses on the Middle East’s tourism industry, with an estimated $600 million in international visitor spending lost each day due to travel disruptions across the region. The council said in a statement published Wednesday that the ongoing hostilities are affecting aviation operations, tourist confidence and regional connectivity, placing pressure on airlines, airports and other segments of the travel sector. “The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates that the escalating conflict in Iran…

Manny Ita  – FirstBank of Nigeria has introduced a new mortgage financing initiative designed to expand access to homeownership for Nigerians by offering loans at a single-digit interest rate. The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF) and is backed by a ₦1 trillion federal mortgage intervention fund aimed at improving access to long-term housing finance across the country. The initiative comes at a time when many Nigerians have struggled to afford homes due to rising property prices, persistent inflation and high commercial lending rates that have historically made mortgage…

Manny Ita  – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, a San Diego clergyman accused of embezzling church funds, according to a bulletin issued by the Vatican. The Vatican confirmed that Shaleta stepped down from his position at Saint Peter’s Chaldean Cathedral in East County. The resignation was accepted in February but was not publicly announced until Tuesday. The Vatican also named Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as interim replacement. Shaleta pleaded not guilty on Monday to more than a dozen felony charges related to $272,000 in missing church funds. Prosecutors allege that the bishop pocketed $30,000…

Manny Ita  – Member countries of the International Energy Agency (IEA) have agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil into the global market in an effort to cushion supply disruptions triggered by the escalating war in the Middle East. The decision, described as the largest release of emergency oil stocks in history, was announced on Wednesday by IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol during a live broadcast. According to the agency, the move is intended to offset the impact of the near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies. “IEA countries will be…

Manny Ita  – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Lamido Abubakar Yuguda, former Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The nomination, which is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, was announced in a statement issued on March 11 by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the presidential spokesperson, the nomination complies with Section 8(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which stipulates that the Governor and Deputy Governors of the apex bank must possess relevant financial experience. Onanuga explained that Yuguda’s…

Manny Ita  – Nigerian troops have reportedly regained control of a military formation and surrounding areas in Ngoshe, a village in Borno State, following a fierce operation against insurgents linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. The recapture operation was carried out with support from the Civilian Joint Task Force and local hunters after terrorists earlier attacked the community, killing several people and abducting dozens of residents, including women and children. Reports indicate that the attackers had briefly overrun the military facility before troops mounted a counteroffensive to reclaim it. According to a security source familiar…