Author: Ogochukwu Ndubuisi

Lagos: Sanwo-Olu Presents N4.24trn Budget Proposal for 2026 Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, presented a N4.24 trillion budget proposal for 2026 to the Lagos State House of Assembly, describing it as a transformative plan for inclusive growth. Presenting what he called the last full-year budget of his administration, Sanwo-Olu said the budget proposal would build on the foundations laid by the 2025 Budget of Sustainability and advance the state’s long-term development trajectory. He tagged the 2026 budget – ‘The Budget of Shared Prosperity’. “This budget reflects our unwavering commitment to eradicate poverty, expanding opportunities and building a Lagos that works…

Alleged N4bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Ex-Governor Obiano’s Trial Indefinitely The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, adjourned the trial of former Anambra Governor Willie Obiano over alleged ₦4 billion fraud indefinitely. This followed an application by the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the matter be adjourned sine die. (Indefinitely) When the case was called before Justice Mohammed Umar, the prosecuting counsel Mr S.O. Obila informed the court that, the matter was coming up before the judge for the first time. He, however, said that he had instruction from the lead prosecuting counsel to ask the…

Malaysia to Ban Social Media for Under-16s in 2026 Malaysia is set to join the growing list of countries prioritizing child safety online by banning social media use for individuals under 16 starting from 2026. The move, announced by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, aims to protect young users from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams, and child sexual abuse. The government plans to work with social media platforms to implement age verification systems, potentially using electronic checks with identity cards or passports. This follows a broader effort to tighten regulations, with platforms having over 8 million users in Malaysia…

UK, Canada, Australia Unveil Joint Campaign Against Visa Fraud The UK, Australia and Canada, have unveiled a joint international campaign to combat visa fraud and protect people from exploitation by fraudulent immigration facilitators. A statement issued by the British High Commission in Abuja, said the initiative, which is tagged: #FightingVisaFraud campaign, was unveiled during the International Fraud Awareness Week. It explained that the campaign aimed to raise awareness of the serious consequences of visa fraud, noting that they had identified common patterns of visa fraud affecting their immigration systems. According to the statement, the visa fraud costs victims millions of…

Vacate PDP Secretariat Within 24 Hours or Face Legal Action, Lawyers/CSOs Tell Police A coalition of lawyers and civil society organisations (CSOs) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Nigeria Police Force to re-open the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat or face immediate legal action. The coalition, comprising Lawyers for New Nigeria (LNN), Good Governance Initiative Coalition (GGIC), and Arewa Lawyers Union (ALU), issued the threat at a joint news conference on Monday in Abuja. Mr Hassan Saraki, the National Coordinator of LNN, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said that the ultimatum was necessary to ensure the sustenance…

Health Sector Funding Still Below Global Commitments-Akpabio The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has said that the current funding levels for the health sector remain far below the commitments the National Assembly has made at continental and global levels. He made the remarks at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) held in Abuja on Monday. The hearing was on five bills, including the Sickle Cell Disorder Research and Therapy Centres (Establishment), sponsored by Sen. Sunday Katung (Kaduna South). The National Health Act (amendment) Bill sponsored by Sen. Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers West), seeks…

Africa Deserves Permanent Seats on UN Security Council – Tinubu President Bola Tinubu, says it is time for Africa to occupy permanent seats on the United Nations (UN) Security Council, with all attendant privileges, including the veto. Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said this on Monday during the first plenary session on Peace, Security, Governance and Multilateralism at the Seventh African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola. The Nigerian leader insisted that a comprehensive reform of the global governance system is long overdue. ” It is time for Africa to occupy permanent seats on the UN Security Council,…

MTN Nigeria Sets to Pay Shareholders Interim Dividend Telecommunication company MTN Nigeria Plc (Ticker: MTNN) is set to pay an interim dividend to shareholders this week, details from its corporate disclosure revealed. Following a bumper earnings harvest in the 9 months of financial year 2025, the telecom company board of directors announced a plan to share profit with shareholders in the form of a dividend. The telecommunication company has been on dividend holiday for two years, as FX liabilities exposed its balance sheet to significant fluctuation that damaged its earnings performance after naira devaluation.  “An Interim Dividend of N5 per…

Guinness Nigeria: Analysts See Upside Potential, Differ on TP Reflecting their different expectations, equities analysts at two leading investment firms have estimated significant upside potential for investors holding Guinness Nigeria Plc at N167 reference market price. Guinness Nigeria Plc lost about 2% of its market value last week due to soft selling pressures at the same time when the Nigerian bourse went down by more than N2 trillion. The brewer share price settled at N167, a moderate decline from its opening price of N170. Guinness Nigeria has peaked at N183.90 in the market, its highest value in 52 weeks. The…

Alleged $14.8m Fraud: Senate Summons NCDMB Executive Secretary The Senate has summoned the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian content Development and monitoring board (NCDMB), giving him two weeks to appear before the committee on local content over an alleged $14.86 million fraud linked to investments in Atlantic International refinery and petrochemical Ltd. Following an interactive session, the Senate resolved that the NCDMB management must provide the committee with full documentation on all transactions connected to the alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 by December 2. The directive follows recent reports from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declaring…