Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita President Bola Tinubu has finalized a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates during the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, marking a major step in strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations. The agreement is structured to remove trade barriers and integrate Nigerian businesses into Middle Eastern and global value chains, with the UAE committing to the immediate elimination of tariffs on more than 7,000 Nigerian products spanning agriculture and industry, while Nigeria will liberalize 6,243 products, removing tariffs on about 60 percent immediately and phasing out the remainder over three to five years.…

FG begins Lagos gold refinery operation, $600m lithium plant inauguration R-L: Saudi Arabian Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ibrahim Al-Khorayef; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake during the minister’s courtesy visit to his Saudi Arabian counterpart ahead of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 13th January, 2026. CREDIT: Solid Minerals Development Ministry Says Nigeria was ready to strengthen its partnership with Saudi Arabia. The Federal Government has announced the commencement of operations at a high-purity gold refining plant in Lagos, with three additional gold refineries at different stages of development across the country and a…

Air pollution: Ogun Govt commences air quality check over lead contamination The experts during the air quality monitoring exercise in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area…Photo Credit: Ola Oresanya Ogun government expresses commitment to the protection of public health through proactive environmental governance. The Ogun State Government has commenced a comprehensive air quality monitoring exercise in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area, following concerns over the impact of lead pollution linked to used lead-acid battery operations in the area and neighbouring Lagos border communities. The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, disclosed this in a statement shared on X (Formerly Twitter) on Tuesday,…

NELFUND disburses N161.97bn to 864,798 students The Nigerian Education Loan Fund says it has disbursed N161.97 billion to 864,798 students nationwide since the launch of its student loan portal, as part of efforts to expand access to tertiary education. The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, while briefing journalists on the progress, impact and challenges of the scheme. Sawyerr said the fund, which he described as a product of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was established to ensure that no Nigerian student would be denied education because of…

Nigeria welcomed US military supplies, Shehu Sani lauds support The military supplies. Photo credit: AFRICOM/X Former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, was pleased with the arrival of critical military supplies to Nigeria by the United States, describing the move as timely and commendable. He responded on Tuesday to reports of the delivery, saying the support would strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to tackle insecurity, particularly in the North-West region. “I read the reports that the US has delivered critical military supplies to Nigeria. That is a welcome development and commendable,” he said in a post via his X handle. The former…

US mission presents visa navigator for Nigerian applicants U.S Mission logo * The Navigator was designed to make the visa application process clearer. The United States Mission in Nigeria has introduced the Mission Nigeria Visa Navigator, an online resource designed to help visa applicants find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about U.S. visas. In a post obtained from the mission’s X handle on Tuesday, the tool provides guidance on various visa categories, application procedures, required documentation, interview processes, and common concerns faced by applicants. It is aimed at reducing misinformation and helping applicants better understand the…

Edo gov claims Ekpoma riot sponsored from abroad, to destabilize File photo: Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo. * Says incident had no connection with Ambrose Alli University students. The Edo State Government on Tuesday dismissed reports describing recent unrest in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, as a protest. The government said the incident was a coordinated riot aimed at destabilising the state. In a statement signed by Patrick Ebojele, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, the government said the violence was a “well-organised riot sponsored by a Nigerian resident in Russia and other locations overseas.” According to…

Manny Ita Prophet Joel Ogebe, recognized in various ministry circles as Prophet Joe Lorgbede, has formally transitioned into the multimedia landscape with the January 11, 2026, premiere of the official music video for his prophetic anthem, “My Blessing Is On The Way.” The project, which features the high-energy gospel minister Bidemi Olaoba, is being positioned by its promoters as a definitive prophetic declaration for the year rather than a standard musical release. The narrative of the song focuses on the assurance of divine timing and the physical manifestation of spiritual promises, utilizing visuals that attempt to translate the atmosphere of…

NCS regulates courier companies, introduces new operating standards Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adeniyi * Aims at aligning with global best practices. Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has inaugurated a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), aimed at regulating courier companies operating under the Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) Incoterm. Comptroller General of the Service, Bashir Adeniyi, said the initiative was designed to establish a unified framework for various operational aspects, including registration, manifest submission, declaration, valuation, clearance, delivery, and compliance monitoring, aligning with global best practices. According to a statement signed by the National spokesman of the agency, Abdullahi Maiwada, the…

Manny Ita The ₦58.18 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, titled the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” has generated widespread criticism across Nigeria, with civil society groups and opposition parties questioning its priorities amid rising inflation and economic hardship. While President Bola Tinubu has presented the budget as a pathway to economic stability and long-term growth, critics have described it as a “budget of elite comfort” because of several high-cost allocations linked to the presidency and key government institutions. A major source of controversy is the proposed increase in spending for the State House. The budget provides ₦11.25 billion…