Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Elegbede Abiodun The Nigeria Customs Service has turned to the ancient authority of traditional rulers in Oyo and Osun states to help win the battle against smuggling and shore up the country’s battered revenue base. Deputy Comptroller of Customs Wale Adewole, who serves as Acting Customs Area Controller for the Oyo/Osun Area Command, made the rounds this week, calling on three of the region’s most prominent monarchs — the Ooni of Ife, the Ogunsua of Modakeke, and the Ataoja of Osogbo. The visits were more than ceremonial. Officials are betting that the moral weight these rulers carry within their communities…

Elegbede Abiodun United Nigeria Airlines has issued a safety instruction asking passengers to carry power banks only in hand luggage and forbidding their use or charging during flights. According to a notice posted on its official X account on Wednesday, the airline said the measure follows regulations by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on lithium battery-powered devices. Following the new rules, passengers must keep power banks in their carry-on baggage, as they are not allowed in checked luggage. The airline also prohibited charging power banks or using them to charge phones or other electronic devices while onboard. Travellers were…

Manny Ita  – Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has acknowledged past extramarital affairs and apologized for his association with convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein after his name appeared in files released by the United States Department of Justice, according to remarks delivered during a town hall meeting with employees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Addressing staff on February 24, Gates described his contact with Epstein as a serious error while maintaining that he had no involvement in any wrongdoing connected to the disgraced financier. “It was a huge mistake to spend time with Epstein,” he said during the session. “To…

Manny Ita  – A group identifying itself as Ebira witches has issued a September deadline to the Kogi State Government to address a set of unspecified grievances, warning of consequences if their demands are not met, in a development that has stirred widespread reactions across the state and beyond. The group’s message reportedly surfaced through local channels and community intermediaries, claiming that persistent neglect, insecurity, and socio-economic hardship in Ebira land had compelled them to take the unusual step of issuing a formal ultimatum. While the authenticity and representativeness of the group remain unclear, the announcement has generated concern among…

Manny Ita – The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the implementation of new liquidity control measures aimed at curbing pressure on the naira and stabilising the foreign exchange market, as Governor Olayemi Cardoso cautioned that environmental threats pose significant financial risks to Africa’s economies. Speaking on Tuesday, Cardoso said the apex bank is deploying targeted monetary tools to manage excess liquidity in the financial system, which he noted has contributed to exchange rate volatility. He stated that the measures are part of broader efforts to restore investor confidence and ensure macroeconomic stability. “We are committed to deploying appropriate…

Manny Ita  – The ongoing rape investigation involving popular TikTok personality Mirabel has taken a new turn, with authorities confirming that she has been handed over to the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs for protective custody and welfare support as police continue their inquiry into the high-profile case. Officials said the transfer was carried out to ensure the safety, psychological support, and proper care of the young woman while investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged incident. The case has attracted widespread public attention and sparked intense debate across social media platforms. The Nigeria Police Force…

Manny Ita  – The Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, has stated that Nigeria must sustain an annual Gross Domestic Product growth rate of between 10 and 12 per cent over the next decade to attain the administration’s target of building a $1 trillion economy. Uzoka-Anite made the disclosure on Tuesday while addressing stakeholders at an economic policy forum, stressing that achieving the ambitious target would require coordinated fiscal reforms, increased private sector participation, and aggressive investment in productive sectors of the economy. She noted that the growth trajectory must significantly exceed current levels if the country is to…

Manny Ita  – Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a suspected high-ranking commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) believed to have played a central role in the June 2022 massacre at a Catholic church in Owo, Ondo State, in what security officials describe as a major breakthrough in the long-running investigation into one of Nigeria’s deadliest terror attacks in recent years. Security sources disclosed that the suspect was apprehended following months of intelligence gathering, surveillance operations, and inter-agency collaboration aimed at dismantling terror networks operating within the country. The arrest reportedly took place…

Manny Ita  – The Federal Government has intervened in the controversy surrounding Nigerian singer Simi following the resurfacing of decade-old social media posts allegedly linked to her time working at her mother’s daycare facility, as public calls for investigation intensified across the country. The development comes after screenshots of tweets attributed to the singer began circulating widely online in recent days, with some Nigerians alleging that the posts referenced inappropriate conduct involving children during her period of employment at the daycare. The claims triggered widespread outrage on social media, with numerous users urging authorities to examine the matter and determine…

Elegbede Abiodun Unilever Nigeria Plc and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have achieved a significant milestone in their joint youth empowerment initiative, equipping over 900,000 young Nigerians with employability, digital, and entrepreneurial skills through the Future-X Unilever Campus Ambassadors Programme (FUCAP). Now two and a half years old, the programme operates through a multi-channel ecosystem that combines UNICEF’s YOMA digital platform, Unilever’s social media presence, and an expanding network of higher education institutions. To date, more than 85,000 students have been reached through 30 physical career seminars held across universities and polytechnics nationwide, facilitated by trained Unilever Future Career…