In a major operation underscoring the nexus between border security and public health, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted a cache of contraband goods, including 10,000 bags of expired flour from Egypt and illicit drugs, valued at N1.99 billion, along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor between September 1 and October 9, 2025. The Customs Area Controller, Wale Adenuga, disclosed this on Thursday during his maiden press briefing at the command headquarters in Seme, Badagry, Lagos State, where he explained that the expired flour, concealed in five trucks and valued at N1.2 billion, could have posed grave public health…
Author: Gbenga OWOYEMI
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has unveiled a new policy framework aimed at achieving a minimum of 30% value addition on all exports of local raw materials. The initiative is designed to boost the competitiveness of Nigeria’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and enhance the nation’s industrial base. Deputy Director, Process Equipment Maintenance Division of RMRDC, Engr. Obassi Ettu, disclosed this at the Business Session of the pre-9th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) held in Lagos, on Wednesday. According to him, the policy became necessary because many of Nigeria’s raw materials have…
Veteran politician and elder statesman, Chief Bode George, has urged members of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) to champion the restoration of credibility and ethical standards in Nigeria’s media landscape. Speaking at the 9th Annual GOCOP Conference held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, George stressed the urgent need for the Guild to confront the twin challenges of fake news and the infiltration of untrained individuals posing as journalists. The conference, themed “Reconciling Campaign Promises with Governance Realities: Challenges and Prospects,” brought together media professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders to examine the role of journalism in strengthening…
Nigeria has successfully collected more than ₦600 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) from global digital service providers, including Facebook, Amazon, and Netflix, following amendments to the VAT Act that brought such companies into the tax net. The Special Adviser on Tax Policy to the Chairman of the Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Mathew Osanekwu, disclosed this during a workshop for media practitioners in Abuja on Wednesday. “These are not Nigerian entities, but they are now paying VAT under Section 10 of the VAT Act. They are registered in Nigeria and are also appointed as agents of collection,” Osanekwu explained. He…
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that the state attracted over $6 billion in direct foreign investment into its tech startup sector between 2019 and 2024, cementing its place as Africa’s leading innovation hub. Speaking at the GITEX Nigeria technology exhibition in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos now accounts for over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s tech inflows, while more than 70 per cent of Africa’s unicorns have emerged from the city. “We’re not just an economic powerhouse, we are Africa’s innovation capital,” he declared. The governor attributed this transformation to visionary leadership and long-term planning, recalling how Lagos…
In a major stride towards expanding access to education and empowering African youth, the Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has announced the selection of two Nigerian students, Terence Ifeanyichukwu and Ali Usman Mohammed, as recipients of the Airtel Africa Fellowship. The scholars will pursue undergraduate studies in technology, including Artificial Intelligence, at Plaksha University in Mohali, India, an institution globally recognized for reimagining engineering education for the 21st century. Launched in September 2024, the Airtel Africa Fellowship is the flagship educational initiative of the Airtel Africa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa, a leading telecom and mobile money…
Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant, has unveiled its highly anticipated campaign tagged “All in All, Everything ×2 – Category Month.” The month-long shopping festival, running from September 1 to 30, will deliver unmatched discounts across a wide array of products. Strategically crafted to empower households and businesses, the campaign offers shoppers a golden opportunity to unlock massive savings on premium items from globally renowned brands across diverse product categories. The core of the “Category Month” campaign lies in its dynamic, week-by-week approach. Each week, Konga will spotlight a specific category, delivering targeted discounts that excite and engage shoppers. For…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has underscored the urgent need for a water-tight approach to tackling the growing sophistication of cyber threats in the nation’s communications industry. Speaking at the second phase of the cybersecurity framework development meeting with relevant stakeholders in Abuja on Wednesday, the Commission’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services (ECTS), Abraham Oshadami, noted that given the increasing digitalization of services, the rapid growth of data exchange, and the complex nature of modern cyber risks, “the need for a robust, adaptive, and inclusive cybersecurity framework has never been more urgent.” The initiative, according to the NCC, is geared towards…
Artists in Nigeria now have access to a new digital toolset as TikTok officially rolled out TikTok for Artists in the country on Monday. Digital TimesNG reports that the all-in-one platform, which made its global debut earlier this year, is designed to empower musicians, record labels, and their teams with deeper insights into how their music resonates with fans on the app. Through daily-updated dashboards and comprehensive analytics, the platform provides transparent, actionable data on music performance, fan engagement, and audience trends. By making these insights available in real time, TikTok says it aims to help artists not only track…
FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited has reinforced its leadership role in Nigeria’s capital markets by serving as Exclusive Arranger and Dealer for Accion Microfinance Bank Limited’s debut ₦5 billion Commercial Paper (CP) Programme. The programme successfully opened with a ₦2 billion Series 1 issuance, marking Accion’s first-ever entry into the Nigerian capital market. The Series 1 issuance, which opened on August 20 and is scheduled to close on August 29, 2025, provides Accion with access to more diversified and cost-efficient funding sources. Backed by an A- credit rating from DataPro, the transaction underscores the bank’s strong fundamentals, liquidity, and ability to…