Author: Ogochukwu Ndubuisi

FG Pegs University Admission Age at 16 The Federal Government has formally pegged the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions at 16 years. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, at the 2025 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). ”This policy decision reflects a balance between cognitive maturity and academic preparedness. 16 years is non-negotiable,” he said. He noted that provisions existed for clearly documented and justified exceptions like gifted children with accelerated educational progress. He warned institutions against attempting to circumvent the rule by altering age records, stressing…

Trump Leaves Door Open to Further Delay Tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump said he may delay planned tariffs on several countries beyond the newly set deadline of August 1. Asked whether the new date was firm, Trump told reporters: “I would say firm, but not 100 per cent.” “If they call up and they say we’d like to do something a different way, we’re going to be open to that,” he added. Trump said letters sent to over a dozen countries including Japan, South Korea and South Africa outlining planned tariffs were final, but added: “If they call with a…

SEC Engages Judges on ISA, Speedy Justice Dispensation The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) have engaged judges to better educate them on the provisions of the new Investment and Securities Act (ISA, 2025). Speaking at a two-day workshop, the Director-General of SEC, Dr Emomotimi Agama, said the workshop was part of the commission’s commitment toward ensuring that the provisions of the ISA 2025 were widely disseminated, discussed, and fully understood. Agama said the goal was to restore investors confidence, bring timely succour to aggrieved investors, and create a broad-based participation of Nigerians in wealth…

Reps Approves N774.77bn Maritime Admin’s Budget Proposal The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has approved the 2025 budget proposal of N774.77 billion for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The committee led by Rep. Khadija Abba-Ibrahim approved the proposal at a budget defence session with the NIMASA management in Abuja. The adoption followed the presentation of a summary of the projected revenue and expenditure by the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola. Represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Chidi Offodile, the D-G disclosed that N774.66 billion was the targeted revenue…

De-dollarization Drive: China Increases Gold Reserves to 2,330 Tons China’s central bank has extended its gold-buying spree for an eighth consecutive month, adding 70,000 troy ounces of gold to its official reserves in June. This brings the total purchases since November to about 1.1 million troy ounces or roughly 34.2 metric tons. China’s gold reserves now stand at approximately 73.9 million ounces, valued at around $208.643 billion as of February 2025. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has been steadily increasing its gold holdings, with a total addition of 480,000 ounces (14.930 tons) in recent months. China’s foreign exchange reserves…

Trade Tensions Rise: Trump Imposes 10% Tariff on BRICS Anti-US Policies Supporters US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on countries that support BRICS’ policies perceived as anti-US. This move is part of his broader strategy to protect American industries and workers from what he sees as unfair trade practices. Trump’s proposal includes a baseline tariff of 10% on all US imports and a 60% tariff on goods from China. He aims to address trade imbalances and promote domestic manufacturing through these measures. Critics argue that such tariffs could lead to higher prices for consumers…

Nigerian Postal Service Denies Drug Peddling Rumour The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) says it is not involved in any form of drug transportation. NIPOST was reacting to an online publication that alleged that it has been used to peddle drugs since Bola Tinubu became president of the country. The service, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja by Franklin Alao, NIPOST Director of Corporate Communications, said there was no iota of truth in the allegation. NIPOST said rather it works with security agencies and logistics stakeholders, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force, and the…

No Hidden Charges for NRBVN, CBN Clarifies The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has clarified recent speculations regarding charges related to the newly launched Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) platform,. In a statement by Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali, the apex bank affirmed that no hidden fees have been introduced. Sidi-Ali said that the BVN enrolment for Nigerians residing within the country remained entirely free of charge. According to her, the fee referenced in the reports applies solely to the recently launched Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN) initiative, a service designed specifically for Nigerians living in the…

Nigeria’s Electricity Debt: Benin and Togo Owe Over $11m for Q1 2025 Supply Nigeria is owed over $11 million by Benin and Togo for electricity supplied in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The debt arises from bilateral agreements between Nigeria and its neighboring countries, where Nigeria’s generation companies supply electricity to these nations. The breakdown of the debt shows that Togo made no payments, while Benin partially settled its debt, resulting in a combined debt of over $11 million. This significant shortfall has raised concerns about the viability of Nigeria’s cross-border electricity…

NDPC Fines MultiChoice ₦766m for Data Privacy Violations The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined MultiChoice Nigeria ₦766,242,500 for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).NDPC is a public institution that processes data in furtherance of its mandate as Nigeria’s data protection authority and rely on recognised lawful bases for data processing such as consent, legal obligation and contract. The commission’s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations, Mr Babatunde Bamigboye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja. According to Bamigboye, the fine followed an investigation launched in the second quarter of 2024 into suspected violations of…