Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Federation Accounts Allocation Committee. Photo: FAAC The Federation Account Allocation Committee shared a total of N2.04 trillion as revenue for March 2026, reflecting a N150 billion increase from the N1.89 trillion distributed for February, amid stronger statutory inflows. The disclosure was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa. Mokwa, “A total sum of N2.036tn, being March 2026 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States and the Local Government Councils,” at the April 2026 FAAC…

 2026 International Social Security Association (ISSA) West Africa Seminar in Abuja Elegbede Abiodun • Currently, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) covers over 7.5 million workers. President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerian workers from economic hardship, workplace injuries, and uncertainty after retirement. The president said that his administration was strengthening social protection systems to guarantee dignity and security for citizens. Tinubu said this during the opening of the two-day 2026 International Social Security Association (ISSA) West Africa Seminar in Abuja themed “Improving inclusiveness and accessibility of social security services through effective communication in West…

Elegbede Abiodun …claims that the government failed to pay winners were “false, misleading and unfair.” Winners of the Edo Carnival band competition have received their prizes, weeks after complaints over delayed payments. At a ceremony held on Saturday in Benin City, participants turned up to collect their rewards, bringing an end to the uncertainty that followed the carnival. The event had earlier drawn attention for its colourful displays and performances, but soon after, some participants took to social media to complain about delays in prize disbursement. The reactions sparked debate and raised questions around the organisation of the carnival. Speaking…

Governor Dauda Lawal For those who knew Zamfara State before Governor Dauda Lawal became Governor will appreciate the current situation in the state. The state, which used to be in the rubble, has been reconstructed into a powerhouse within its geographical location and has become an envy of others. All thanks to the visionary rescue mission 1.0 spearheaded by Governor Dauda Lawal, PhD, in 2023, when he was elected Governor of the agrarian and mineral-rich state. Just three years ago, education in Zamfara State was in a Comatose state. It was nonexistent. No functional primary and secondary schools conducive to…

File photo: Dangote Refinery By Elegbede Abiodun Crude oil supply from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s trading arm surged in April 2026, with shipment records indicating that more than 1.03 million metric tonnes, equivalent to about 6.8 million barrels or over 1.08 billion litres, were delivered to the Dangote Oil and Gas Company Limited within the month. An analysis of tanker vessel movements obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday shows that the deliveries were executed through eight crude cargoes handled by NNPC Trading, reinforcing the state oil firm’s role as a major feedstock supplier to the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote…

Ecobank Nigeria By Elegbede Abiodun Pan-African lender Ecobank is in talks with Bank of China to launch a direct local-currency-to-yuan settlement product for its customers by year end, its group CEO said, citing rising trade and commercial ties between Africa and China. The move by Togo-based Ecobank and the majority state-owned Chinese lender comes as some African markets explore alternatives to the dollar for cross-border payments, including the Chinese currency. “We are looking at opportunities for us to settle with, instead of going through the dollar, we do it directly with the Chinese yuan,” Jeremy Awori told Reuters, citing many…

Elegbede Abiodun France, ranked second globally, lead Group B, with South Korea ranked 15th and Hungary 19th completing the lineup. Nigeria’s D’Tigress have been drawn in Group B with France, South Korea and Hungary for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The eighth-ranked team face a competitive group widely described as open and highly challenging for qualification. D’Tigress will renew rivalries with France and South Korea, both of whom defeated them during the World Cup qualifiers in Lyon earlier this year. Nigeria lost 93–86 to France and 77–60 to South Korea, in spite of securing a convincing win over Colombia…

PalmPay On the strength of its participation in Nigeria’s payment infrastructure, including completing a live transaction on the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) National Payment Stack, fintech mobile banking platform Palmpay said it has become part of everyday financial life for 35 million users. This, according to the company’s Managing Director, Chika Nwosu, placed the platform within a broader network designed to enable interoperability between banks, fintechs, and other financial service providers. Nwosu, who made these known in Lagos, over the weekend, stated that at this level, performance is less about product differentiation and more about system reliability, transaction success…

Elegbede Abiodun • State House of Assembly are to pay ₦6 million. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has set a steep ₦100 million price tag for its presidential nomination form ahead of the 2027 general elections, placing it as the highest among all positions outlined in the party’s newly released timetable. The fee structure, contained in the schedule of activities signed by National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, shows that aspirants for the presidency will pay ₦30 million for the expression of interest form and ₦70 million for the nomination form, bringing the total to ₦100 million. Other elective positions…

Elegbede Abiodun BUA Foods Plc has been named Outstanding Consumer Goods (Foods) Company of the Year at the 2026 Industry Award Night organised by The Industry Newspaper in Lagos. The company was recognised for its strong contribution to Nigeria’s food industry, particularly in advancing food security, expanding access to quality products, and sustaining operational excellence across the country. According to the award panel, the recognition reflects BUA Foods’ “impactful presence in Nigeria’s food industry, driving food security and delivering quality products to Nigerians.” The award comes amid a strong run of corporate achievements for BUA Foods Plc. The company ended…