Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that more than 1.5 million candidates have successfully registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with the registration deadline firmly set for February 26, 2026. The examination body disclosed the figures on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, noting that the surge in registrations reflects sustained interest among prospective undergraduates seeking admission into tertiary institutions across the country. Officials emphasized that the deadline remains unchanged and advised candidates yet to complete their registration to do so promptly. A spokesperson for the board stated, “As of today, over 1.5 million…

Manny Ita  – The Dangote Group has announced the sealing of  a $400 million agreement with Chinese heavy machinery manufacturer XCMG to supply advanced construction equipment for a major expansion of the Dangote Refinery. The project, announced today aims to raise the refinery’s processing capacity from its current 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day, a scale that would position it as the largest oil refinery in the world. Company officials said the newly acquired equipment will accelerate ongoing civil works, logistics infrastructure, and additional processing units required for the expansion. The deal reportedly includes large-scale earth-moving…

Manny Ita  – Armed bandits have abducted six travelers along the Naka–Makurdi road in Benue State, including four members of the Ansaarudeen Islamic Society, in an attack that has heightened security concerns along the busy corridor. The victims were reportedly seized while traveling through a vulnerable stretch of the highway known for recurrent criminal activity, with witnesses describing the incident as swift and coordinated. Local sources said the attackers intercepted the vehicle carrying the victims, forcing it to a halt before whisking the passengers away into nearby bushland. “They blocked the road suddenly and started shooting into the air. Everyone…

Telecom Policy: NCC Presents Landmark Review of Nigeria’s 26 Years Policy Elegbede Abiodun The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially launched a comprehensive review of the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000 — a framework that laid the foundation for the country’s telecom liberalisation and digital transformation. The move signals a pivotal moment for broadband expansion, telecom investment, digital innovation, and the broader economy. A Policy That Caused Revolution Introduced in 2000, the National Telecommunications Policy reshaped Nigeria’s communications landscape. At the time, the country had fewer than one million active telephone lines and limited private-sector participation. The policy opened…

MTN Reclaims Its Initial Towers, Acquires IHS Towers in $6.2bn Deal Elegbede Abiodun MTN has recovered its old telecoms towers it initially sold to IHS Towers, as MTN Group, yesterday, reached an agreement to acquire IHS Towers, the largest independent towers, operators, and developers of shared communication infrastructure globally, at an enterprise value of approximately $6.2 billion. The deal took weeks of negotiation between both parties, which was eventually concluded yesterday. IHS Towers’ Board of Directors unanimously approved the transaction and recommended it to shareholders. Founded in Nigeria in 2001, IHS Towers grew to become one of the largest…

TCN Restores Shiroro–Mando 330kV Transmission Line Elegbede Abiodun • Reaffirms the implications of vandalism, noting that such actions undermine the stability and reliability of bulk electricity supply across the region. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the successful restoration of the 330kV Shiroro–Mando Transmission Line 1, which is currently operational, the organisation said in a statement. The line was restored at the weekend, following the completion of repair works undertaken by TCN’s engineers, General Manager of Corporate Affairs of the company, Ndidi Mbah, stated. With the restoration of line 1, bulk power supply to Kaduna Electric has…

Keystone Bank donates delivery kits to pregnant women in Jigawa As part of its continued commitment to social impact and community wellbeing, Keystone Bank Limited recently donated delivery kits to pregnant women in Jigawa State. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Izore Lami Bamawo, noted that the initiative was carried out under the Employee Volunteering Scheme (EVS) Phase 2 Project. She explained that the programme was designed to enhance maternal health outcomes, promote safer childbirth, and improve access to essential maternal care supplies. She further disclosed that 150 expectant mothers benefited from…

FG, SMEDAN present fund to finance over 6000 youth entrepreneurs FILE: The Minister of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande Olawande assures of government’s readiness  to ensure that training programmes are translate into real economic opportunities. The Federal Government on Tuesday presented the GROW Fund to provide affordable financing for over 6,000 young entrepreneurs trained under the Inspire, Create, Start and Scale programme, in a move channelled to tackle the persistent funding gap confronting micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. The initiative, powered by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, was unveiled in Abuja.…

Lagos Fanti Carnival holds in April Lagos State Government has made open the Official Lagos Fanti Carnival, a celebration of Afro-Brazilian culture and the enduring legacy of the Fanti people. The event is slated for Monday, April 6, 2026, at Tafawa Balewa Square, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. On Tuesday, the government described the carnival as “a homecoming — a bridge between past and future, tradition and modernity,” emphasising its role in strengthening ties between West Africa and the diaspora. “The Official Lagos Fanti Carnival is a grand celebration of Afro-Brazilian heritage, honouring the rich cultural legacy of the…

Education: Aliko Dangote Foundation Spends N1.5bn on Bayero University’s PG students Elegbede Abiodun Dangote Foundation promotes quality education, and broaden empowerment opportunities for individuals. Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), chaired by Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth N1.5 billion with Bayero University Kano (BUK), for post-graduate students of the Dangote Business School located in the tertiary institution. The MoU, which was signed at the main auditorium of the Dangote Business School, Kano on Tuesday, provides a sum of ₦300 million annually over five years as scholarship awards to all eligible MBA, entrepreneurship, and…