Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Isaac Odugbesan, ‘Oba Femi’ victory over Brock Lesnar. Photo credit: Topps Ripped The previous match saw Oba Femi dominate key moments, even absorbing Lesnar’s signature “F5” before sealing victory with a chokeslam. Nigerian professional wrestler and former shot putter, Isaac Odugbesan, popularly known as Oba Femi in World Wrestling Entertainment, has opened up about his transition from an Olympic medal hopeful to a WWE superstar. The former shot putter returned to the spotlight earlier this month after defeating WWE veteran Brock Lesnar in under five minutes at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. The match saw Oba Femi dominate key moments,…

Elegbede Abiodun BUA Cement has released its first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2026 unaudited financial statements with about N355 billion revenue, representing 22.1 per cent increase over N290.8 billion in the corresponding first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The cement maker on the Nigerian Exchange Limited in its profit loss figures announced profit before tax of N192.7billion in Q1 2026, representing an increase of 93.2 per cent from N99.7 billion in Q1 2025 with profit after tax at N176.4 billion in Q1 2026, a growth of 117.4 per cent from N81.1billion in Q1 2025. According to the company, the…

Elegbede Abiodun United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has made public its audited financial results for last year, recording total assets growth of 9.4 per cent to N33.2 trillion, up from N30.3 trillion at the end of 2024. The bank, which has promised to continue to consolidate its strong fundamentals, grew customer deposits from N24.3 trillion in 2024 to N27.2 trillion, despite a shrinking savings culture. The results released to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Friday showed that the group also delivered strong gross earnings of N3.09 trillion. The slight fall in earnings last year was addressed in quarter one…

Elegbede Abiodun With support from First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and the Bank of Industry (BoI), Sam Pharmaceutical Limited has opened a new manufacturing factory in southwestern Nigeria, expanding local drug production capacity as the country pushes to reduce reliance on imported medicines. The plant, located in Ota, Ogun state, meets the World Health Organisation (WHO) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and was financed with by FCMB and BoI. The facility has the capacity to produce more than 400 million tablets, 50 million capsules, two million bottles of syrup and one million pouches each month, company said. Nigeria has been…

Elegbede Abiodun A file photo of Aliko Dangote at the refinery The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced that the expansion of the Dangote Refinery to a production capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day will generate employment for no fewer than 95,000 skilled workers at the peak of construction. According to a statement by the firm, Dangote disclosed this at the weekend in Lagos during his induction as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, describing the project as a major milestone in Nigeria’s industrial transformation. According to him, the expansion underscores the group’s…

NRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji Credit: NRS Elegbede Abiodun The Nigeria Revenue Service has described as false and misleading a viral infographic claiming that a new vehicle tax has been imposed by the Federal Government, effective July 1. The NRS made this known in a statement by Mr Dare Adekambi, Special Adviser to the NRS Chairman, Dr Zach Adedeji, and spokesperson for the service. According to Adekambi, the infographic directs owners of private, commercial, and corporate vehicles to pay an unspecified vehicle tax rate online or at approved banks and agencies. He said the material, which bore no identifiable author, further…

Elegbede Abiodun In five years, crude oil trading rose to 1.71 million barrels per day, the highest level. NNPC Limited increased crude oil production and expanded gas infrastructure between April 2025 and April 2026, as part of efforts to improve operational efficiency and strengthen energy supply. The gains reflect a shift toward resolving legacy asset disputes, scaling gas development and adopting a commercial operating model across its assets. Crude oil trading rose to 1.71 million barrels per day, the highest level in five years, while its upstream subsidiary recorded a peak production of 365,000 bpd in December 2025. The company…

Manny Ita  – The Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) has pledged improved returns for shareholders following the approval of an ₦8.9 billion dividend at its 32nd Annual General Meeting held in Lagos. Chairman of the board, Temitope Popoola, assured investors that increasing dividend payouts remains a priority, although recent regulatory changes have required a more cautious approach. He explained that new capital requirements introduced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have compelled firms in the capital market to retain more earnings to strengthen their financial base. The approved dividend translates to ₦1.78 per share, reflecting what the company described…

Manny Ita  – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticised Seyi Makinde over comments referencing the violent “Operation Wetie” era, describing his remarks as reckless and potentially dangerous. In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, accused the governor of making statements capable of inciting unrest and undermining national stability. The APC said it was particularly troubling that a sitting governor would invoke such a sensitive historical episode given his responsibility as chief security officer of his state. Mr Makinde had made the remarks during a political gathering in Ibadan, where opposition leaders met…

Manny Ita  – Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Yair Lapid have announced a joint political list to contest this year’s elections, in a coordinated effort aimed at unseating incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a televised joint statement on Sunday, Bennett said, “I am pleased to announce that tonight, together with my friend Yair Lapid, I am taking the most Zionist and patriotic step we have ever taken for our country.” He added that the alliance would be called the Beyahad (Together) party, which he said would “lead to a great victory and open a new…