Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed former Minister of Power, Rilwan Lanre Babalola, as Special Adviser on Power and Chairman of a newly created Presidential Task Force aimed at reforming the electricity sector. The announcement, made by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, came shortly after the nomination of Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the new Minister of Power. As part of the restructuring, the presidency renamed the Office of the Special Adviser on Energy to Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, allowing Babalola to focus fully on power sector issues. He will also lead the task force, which has…

Manny Ita  – The Federal Government has reached a landmark agreement with Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, effectively ending a long-running dispute over the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two in Lagos. Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, announced that the deal—approved by the Federal Executive Council—brings closure to one of Nigeria’s most prolonged aviation sector conflicts, which began after the concession of the terminal in 2003. The disagreement, which led to years of litigation and court rulings (including a Supreme Court judgment in favour of Bi-Courtney), centered on issues such as revenue rights and the scope of the concession agreement. As part…

Manny Ita – Nigeria OpensCampaign with Gritty Win at ITTF World Team Championships Nigeria began its campaign at the ITTF World Team Championships on a strong note, securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia in an intense opening clash. The Nigerian team showed resilience and composure throughout the encounter, battling from start to finish against a determined Saudi side. Leading the charge was Quadri Aruna, whose experience and skill proved decisive in guiding the team to victory. Aruna delivered a standout performance, winning crucial matches that kept Nigeria in contention during the tightly contested tie. He was well supported…

Elegbede Abiodun It was a decisive day for MTN Nigeria shareholders as they met today, April 30, 2026, and successfully voted to approve the highly anticipated sale of majority stakes in the company’s fintech arms. The investors passed Resolution 9, granting the company the mandate to implement a “Structural Separation Transaction” that transfers MoMo PSB and YDFS under a new financial holding company. The board’s advice for retail and institutional investors to vote in favour of the motion was overwhelmingly heeded. Prior to this vote, MTN Nigeria bore 100% of the financial and operational risks for these platforms. However, the…

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.  Elegbede Abiodun The association argued that textbooks are not creative works subject to competitive ranking, but structured academic outputs developed strictly in line with approved national curricula. The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has expressed reservations over the Federal Ministry of Education’s plan to introduce a classroom textbook ranking system for basic and secondary schools. Specifically, it described the proposal as a fundamental policy overreach with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s education sector. The Ministry had announced that the policy, expected to take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, would be implemented by a committee constituted…

Elegbede Abiodun Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO or the Group) has released its Unaudited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements as of March 31, 2026, to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE). The Group posted Profit Before Tax of ₦302.9billion on the back of strong performance posted on the core earnings lines of interest income and fee income which grew y-o-y by 17.5% and 7.1% respectively. Earnings capacity was driven by 1.3% growth in the Group’s Loan book (net) from ₦3.13trillion as of December 2025 to ₦3.17trillion in March 2026, enabled by 6.3% growth in Deposit…

As part of a sweeping, pan-African corporate reorganisation, MTN Group officially advanced its structural separation framework in Nigeria today. Following a successful shareholder vote at the Annual General Meeting, Nigeria now officially joins Ghana and Uganda in implementing the same structural separation on a phased, country-by-country basis. The telecommunications group, which indirectly owns 76.40% of MTN Nigeria, is actively pursuing its “Ambition 2030” strategy to become the continent’s leading Connectivity, Fintech, and Digital Infrastructure platform. The structural shift was officially approved at today’s AGM. The passed proposal outlines a shared ownership structure where a new financial holding company will be…

Manny Ita  – The Federal Government has unveiled a new partnership with private investors aimed at expanding the Lekki Free Trade Zone, with a strong focus on developing green energy manufacturing capacity. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to position Nigeria as a leading hub for sustainable industrialization in West Africa. According to officials, the expansion will prioritize the establishment of facilities dedicated to renewable energy technologies, including solar panel assembly, battery production, and other clean energy solutions. The move is expected to attract both local and international investors seeking to tap into the growing global demand for…

Elegbede Abiodun Says MoU has been sent to strengthen cooperation between the Nigeria Customs Service and the UAE Customs. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on 29 April 2026 held a diplomatic engagement with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Abuja, where both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations and customs cooperation between Nigeria and the UAE. During the engagement, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Salem Saeed, congratulated the CGC on his emergence as Chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO), describing it as a proud achievement for Nigeria and Africa. He…

Manny Ita  – Nigeria Air has announced a significant expansion of its regional operations, adding three new West African capitals to its daily flight schedule in a move aimed at strengthening connectivity and boosting economic ties across the subregion. The development marks a strategic step in positioning Nigeria as a central aviation hub, with increased frequency and accessibility expected to support business travel, trade, and cultural exchange. Industry observers note that the expanded routes will not only improve passenger movement but also enhance cargo logistics, offering new opportunities for exporters and regional enterprises. The airline’s growing network reflects renewed efforts…