Author: Adejuyigbe Adegoke

Passengers on an Arik Air flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt faced an unexpected detour on Wednesday when a loud bang from the Boeing 737-700’s left engine prompted the crew to divert the aircraft to Benin Airport. All 80 passengers and crew disembarked safely, and authorities, including the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, have launched an inquiry into the engine anomaly. The aircraft, registered 5N-MJF, had departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and was on approach to Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa when the sound was detected. Arik Air in a statement described the incident as a precautionary safety concern, prompting…

In a notable escalation of military cooperation between Nigeria and the United States, Washington has announced the deployment of approximately 200 U.S. military personnel to Nigeria. This decision, confirmed by U.S. and Nigerian officials on 11 February 2026, marks a significant deepening of bilateral efforts to confront long-standing security threats posed by Islamist insurgencies and other armed groups in West Africa. Purpose of the Deployment Contrary to some speculation, the U.S. has stated that the forces being sent are not intended to engage in combat operations. Instead, the primary mission of the troops will be to: Train and advise elements…

The Senate has scheduled an emergency sitting for Tuesday, 10 February 2026, amid explosive public reaction to the recent handling of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026. An official notice signed by Senate Clerk, Emmanuel Odo, instructed senators to return to plenary at 12:00 noon, overriding a planned recess to address pressing issues around the controversial bill. The emergency recall comes after the upper chamber’s decision to soften or remove explicit provisions on real-time electronic transmission of election results — a move that has sparked nationwide debate and intense political pressure. Protests Erupt at the National Assembly On Monday, 9…

Amid widespread confusion and debate over the cost of electricity meters in Nigeria, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has issued a clarification: while certain meter installations are free to consumers, not all electricity meters deployed in the country are automatically free of charge. This statement came as government agencies and power sector stakeholders sought to address misunderstandings surrounding various metering initiatives. The clarification was made by the Chairman of NERC, Musiliu Oseni, during a radio interview with Adeola Samuel-Ilori on Fresh FM on Saturday, where he explained that while meters supplied under government-funded programmes are free at the point…

In an age where creative expression is both currency and culture, Nigeria stands at the forefront of Africa’s digital content revolution. Earlier today, the Federal Government (FG), highlighted a staggering statistic — Nigerian creators are producing over 15,000 pieces of content daily — a figure that encapsulates both the promise and the complexities of our burgeoning digital economy. This remarkable volume, if accurate and verified by industry sources, speaks to a profound shift in how we tell our stories, express our identities, and participate in the global digital marketplace. Whether it’s a TikTok video, an Instagram reel, a podcast episode,…

The Federal Government has announced a six-week partial closure of sections of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway to facilitate critical bridge repair works on some of the busiest stretches of this major transport corridor linking Lagos to the interior of Nigeria. Urgent Repairs to Critical Bridge Structures The partial closure, set to last six weeks, is aimed at enabling urgent repairs on expansion joints — essential structural components that allow bridges to expand and contract safely — at three key bridges along the expressway: Kara Bridge Magboro Bridge Arepo–Punch Bridge Expansion joints that have deteriorated over time were found to be in…

On September 1, 2025, Union Bank of Nigeria formally completed its merger with Titan Trust Bank, a landmark consolidation that marks one of the most transformative events in the Nigeria’s banking sector in recent years. With the merger now finalised, Titan Trust Bank has ceased to exist as an independent entity, and its assets and operations have been fully absorbed into the Union Bank franchise. This strategic move blends Union Bank’s 108-year heritage with Titan Trust’s innovation ethos, resulting in a bank with expanded physical reach — over 293 service centres and 937 ATMs nationwide — and strengthened digital capabilities.…

The Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, and the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Sergeant Major Garric M. Banfield, underscored the United States’ commitment to shared security, counterterrorism cooperation, and economic stability across Africa during a digital press briefing hosted by the U.S. State Department’s Africa Regional Media Hub on Tuesday. The on-the-record briefing, the first of 2026, brought together journalists from across Africa and beyond and focused on AFRICOM’s priorities, evolving security challenges, and partnerships across the continent. Strengthening Partnerships Through Engagement General Anderson, who assumed command of AFRICOM in August 2025, emphasized the importance of…

I settled in my workstation this evening to express my views on unfolding events in my country today, 4th February 2026 via writing, and to my rude shock; I read across multiple credible sources, report that the Nigerian Senate, while passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, rejected a specific amendment that would have made real-time electronic transmission of election results compulsory. In practical terms my closer critique: Senators voted down a proposal to amend Clause 60(3) of the bill to require results to be transmitted electronically from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV), immediately after counting…

The National Examinations Council (NECO), has officially released the results of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External, posting a robust outcome in which more than 80 per cent of candidates earned five credits and above. The release was announced on Tuesday by the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, at a press conference held at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, and subsequently reinforced in a video statement shared on NECO’s official X handle. “It is my pleasure to declare the 2025 SSCE External Results released,” Prof. Wushishi said.He added that candidates can access…

Deliberations on the proposed amendment to Nigeria’s Electoral Act stalled once again on Tuesday as the Senate deferred open debate and resolved to meet behind closed doors, ending the day without a definitive decision on the highly anticipated reforms. Senators spent nearly four and a half hours in an executive session examining the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, led by Senator Simon Lalong, as well as inputs from a seven-member ad hoc panel set up last week to iron out disputed sections of the bill. When lawmakers eventually reconvened in open session at about 5:35 pm, no…

Introduction: A Landmark in Fintech Policy Dialogue The CBN Fintech Report 2026, titled “Shaping the Future of Fintech in Nigeria: Innovation, Inclusion and Integrity”, is the first comprehensive policy insight report by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the nation’s fintech ecosystem. Structured around extensive consultations — including nationwide surveys, closed-door workshops, and roundtables with fintech operators — the report reflects both the dynamism of Nigeria’s fintech market and the regulatory tensions inherent in its rapid evolution. Its launch marks a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s digital financial strategy, explicitly recognising fintech as a strategic driver of economic growth and financial…