Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The United States Mission in Nigeria has revealed that more than 100 American companies are currently operating in the country, driving trade expansion, innovation, and entrepreneurship across critical sectors of the economy. This disclosure was made on Wednesday at the “Made in America, Loved in Nigeria” video contest award ceremony, held at Silverbird Galleria, Abuja, where the U.S. Mission honoured five Nigerian content creators for creatively highlighting the influence of American products, brands, and ideas in everyday Nigerian life. Celebrating Creativity and Bilateral Ties Delivering opening remarks on behalf of the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., the Country…

Nigerian Afrobeats megastar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, will headline the opening concert of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has confirmed. In a statement released on Thursday, CAF announced that Davido will lead a star-studded international lineup for the pre-tournament concert, underscoring the growing fusion of football, music and culture that now defines Africa’s flagship sporting event. Global Music Meets African Identity Also billed to perform are global hip-hop heavyweight French Montana, Moroccan singer Douaa Lahyaoui, French-Moroccan hitmaker Lartiste, and fast-rising act Says’z. French Montana’s inclusion carries…

Former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who was granted bail earlier today by an FCT High Court, made a high-profile appearance at the All Progressives Congress (APC), National Caucus meeting in Abuja, just hours after his release. Facing EFCC Charges, Yet Back in Politics Ngige is currently standing trial on an eight-count prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged abuse of office and acceptance of gifts totaling around ₦2.2 billion. Despite the ongoing legal challenge, he did not delay his return to active political engagements. Caucus Meeting Under Tinubu’s Leadership The meeting, presided…

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday confirmed 64 ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including prominent political figures Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, and Reno Omokri, a former presidential assistant. The confirmation followed the adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which stated that all nominees had been thoroughly screened and found qualified, suitable, and free of disqualifying issues. The approval exercise came 48 hours after the Senate had earlier confirmed three non-career ambassadors—Lateef Kayode Are (Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State), and Emmanuel Ayodele Oke (Oyo State)—bringing the total number of ambassadors…

FIFA has officially confirmed the prize money structure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, setting a new financial benchmark for the world’s biggest football tournament. The announcement comes after the FIFA Council approved a record-breaking financial contribution of $727 million related to the tournament, marking a substantial 50% increase compared with the most recent World Cup in Qatar. Record Prize Pool and Distribution At the centre of the announcement is a historic total prize pool of $727 million, with $655 million earmarked specifically for distribution to the teams that qualify for next year’s 48-team finals to be held across the…

The Lagos State Government (LASG), has announced a traffic diversion plan to facilitate urgent repair works on the damaged pedestrian bridge at Tincan First Gate, Apapa (inward Mile 2). The repairs are scheduled for Saturday, 20th December 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and are being carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works through the Office of the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos. Phased Repair and Traffic Management Plan The bridge repairs will be executed in two key phases to ensure both commuter safety and minimal disruption to traffic: Phase 1: Lifting and Placement of Bridge Beams The…

The resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has brought renewed attention to the fragile state of trust in national petroleum governance. His exit came barely 24 hours after Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, accused him of corruption — allegations that, though yet to be proven, struck at the heart of regulatory credibility. Almost simultaneously, Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), also stepped aside, deepening the sense of institutional upheaval across our oil and gas oversight bodies. Dangote, Regulation and a…

A dramatic aviation incident unfolded Tuesday evening at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, when a Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express crash-landed and somersaulted on the runway, leaving four people hospitalised. Emergency Diversion and Crash According to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the aircraft, registered 5N-ASR, was flying from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport when the crew declared an in-flight emergency and diverted to Owerri. The crash occurred around 8:00 pm during the aircraft’s approach to Runway 17, where it flipped upon landing. Despite the dramatic scene, no fatalities were reported. All four occupants…

In a major and sudden shift in U.S. immigration policy, the United States government has officially added Nigeria to a list of countries now subject to partial travel restrictions, significantly altering how Nigerian citizens may obtain visas and enter the U.S. under new security and documentation standards. What’s Happening? On December 16, 2025, the U.S. administration announced an expansion of its existing travel ban regime. While some nations face a full ban on entry, Nigeria and several other countries have been placed under partial entry restrictions, meaning that U.S. authorities will impose tighter controls on visas and travel privileges rather…

In a landmark decision aimed at boosting regional connectivity and making air travel more affordable, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has directed its 15 member states to implement a 25 percent reduction in air transport charges, effective January 1, 2026. The decision was announced at the conclusion of the 68th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, Nigeria. Why the Reduction? The move comes against a backdrop of persistently high airfares in West Africa — widely criticised by travelers, tourism stakeholders, and business communities alike. High aviation taxes and various airport…

The United States government has renewed its warning to Nigerians over visa fraud, stressing that falsifying information or submitting fake documents during the visa application process can result in permanent bans from entering the United States. The caution was issued by the United States Embassy in Abuja, which described visa fraud as a serious violation of US immigration law with lifelong consequences. Embassy Issues Strong Warning In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the embassy made its position clear: “Visa fraud has serious consequences. Lying or providing fake documents can lead to permanent visa bans under US…

Mobile network operators are ramping up investments in cybersecurity as cyber threats intensify and digital infrastructure becomes increasingly vital. According to a new GSMA study, operators now devote $15 billion to $19 billion annually to core security activities — a figure projected to climb to $42 billion by 2030. The Digital Heartbeat Under Threat Mobile networks carry what the GSMA calls “the world’s digital heartbeat”, supporting everything from financial transactions to emergency communications. As cyber threats escalate, these networks have become prime targets for hackers and malicious actors, with attacks ranging from DDoS campaigns to sophisticated persistent intrusions. Michaela Angonius, GSMA Head of…