Nigerian investor and philanthropist, Tony O. Elumelu, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of colleagues in the fire incident at Afriland Towers, describing the experience as one of the toughest moments for the UBA community. In a series of posts shared on Wednesday, Elumelu confirmed that members of his team were among those who died in the tragedy. “We and others lost colleagues in the fire at Afriland Towers. As a community, we are grieving for all and doing what we can to support their families and loved ones,” he wrote. He also addressed the initial response by the…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Enugu State Government has signed a ₦100 billion joint venture agreement with Songhai Sustainable Initiative in Nigeria and Tribu Limited to transform the abandoned Heneke Integrated Farm in Ezeagu Local Government Area into a world-class agro-industrial hub. The deal, signed on Tuesday at the Government House, Enugu, officially created Enugu Tribu Songhai Farms Ltd, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will oversee the rehabilitation, expansion, and management of the 10,000-hectare project. Announcing the agreement in a statement, Dan Nwomeh, Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Peter Mbah, said it was part of the administration’s efforts to reposition Enugu…
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has pledged its support to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the ongoing fight against corruption in the country. NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), gave the assurance during a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja. He commended the Commission for sustaining the anti-graft war despite enormous challenges. “Corruption is the greatest threat to Nigeria’s growth and development. The NBA stands firmly with the EFCC in this fight, and we are ready to collaborate in ensuring that justice is served and that public confidence in our institutions is restored,” Maikyau said. In…
President Bola Tinubu has officially lifted the State of Emergency in Rivers State, directing Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly to return to their offices on Thursday, September 18. In an official statement, the presidency said: “It gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State shall end with effect from midnight today. The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including the Speaker Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September…
TikTok has intensified efforts to protect women in the media industry from Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), reaffirming its commitment to online safety while strengthening corporate social responsibility initiatives. The announcement was made during a roundtable in Abuja, organized in partnership with the Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC). Duduzile Mkhize, TikTok Outreach and Partnerships Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the platform is hosting a series of Women in Media Safety Roundtables across the region to better understand online threats and develop actionable solutions. “As the digital landscape evolves, women and vulnerable communities continue to face unique online threats that…
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to increase the value of global trade by almost 40 percent by 2040, driven by cost reductions and productivity gains, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said Wednesday. In its latest annual World Trade Report, the WTO highlighted AI as a rare bright spot amid global trade disruptions caused by high tariffs imposed by the United States on its trading partners. “AI holds major promise to boost trade by lowering trade costs and reshaping the production of goods and services,” WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said while presenting the report. Simulations by the WTO suggest that…
The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to investigate Dangote Group’s road safety practices following the rollout of its newly launched Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for direct supply of petroleum products to filling stations nationwide. In a statement signed by its management, DAPPMAN said: “While DAPPMAN supports the introduction of CNG trucks as a cleaner energy initiative, safety cannot be compromised. The Dangote Group has a well-documented history of fatal road crashes linked to poorly trained or unsupervised drivers. Only weeks ago, Nigerians mourned the lives lost…
The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), has announced enhanced efforts to secure a stable and uninterrupted fertilizer supply for Nigerian farmers, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for food sovereignty. According to Tajudeen Ahmed, Executive Director, Portfolio, the initiative has launched a new phase, PFI 3.0, aimed at ensuring a steady supply of raw materials to blending plants and ultimately making Nigeria self-sufficient in crop production for both food and industrial purposes. “As of September 2025, more raw materials have been supplied or ordered than the total supplied in 2024. Additional arrangements with fertilizer raw material manufacturers have been concluded to…
Two employees of Nigeria’s Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) have pleaded guilty to diverting salaries meant for former staff of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebute Meta, Lagos. The accused, Shola Onasanya, Chief Accountant, and Halimat Olalere, Principal Executive Officer in the accounts department, both operated at the IPPIS Payroll Desk Office at FMC. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) revealed that the duo diverted a total of ₦1.17 million between January and December 2023. They allegedly failed to remove ex-employees from the payroll system, allowing their salaries to be paid into Olalere’s account,…
The Federal Government has announced new incentives to strengthen agricultural investment under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The reforms aim to unlock Nigeria’s food production potential through policies designed to attract investment in agriculture and infrastructure. Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed the initiatives on Tuesday in Abuja during the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) National and Sub-regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. He emphasized that hunger is a global security issue, calling on Nigeria to mobilize its strengths for a future of abundance. “Nothing unifies humanity as much as hunger. It is the great equalizer that reveals…
The United Bank of Africa (UBA) has assured the public that all its staff and customers are safe following a fire at a building housing one of its branches on Broad Street, Lagos Island, on Tuesday. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the fire originated from the inverter room in the basement of Afriland Tower, a six-storey building, prompting the evacuation of occupants. Deputy Controller General Ogabi Olajide said fire crews from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu stations responded quickly, preventing the fire from spreading further. In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, UBA clarified that the…
British inflation held steady at 3.8 percent in August, official data showed Wednesday, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) will keep interest rates unchanged at its meeting this week. The figure matched July’s reading, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The BoE cut borrowing costs to four percent in August, the lowest level in two and a half years, but economists widely anticipate that the central bank will maintain the key rate through the remainder of 2025. The UK economy has faced headwinds in recent months. July’s GDP growth stagnated, while unemployment remained at a four-year…