Author: Ogochukwu Ndubuisi

NCC, ICANN Collaborate to Enhance Nigeria’s Cyber Resilience The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to collaborate with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in a webinar aimed at boosting Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) awareness in Nigeria. Scheduled for December 12 at 11:00am WAT, the webinar seeks to promote DNSSEC validation and achieve a 50% validation rate by year-end. This strategic partnership underscores the NCC’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s cyber security posture. DNSSEC, developed by ICANN, is a crucial suite of specifications that enhance the security of the Domain Name System (DNS) by preventing cyber…

FG to Enhance Aviation Safety with Digitalisation Mr Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has stated that the Federal Government would advance digitalisation in the aviation sector to enhance safety and security. Keyamo made this declaration at the inauguration of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Flight Data Centre (FDC) on Wednesday in Abuja. According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to modernising various sectors, moving from analog to more digital and efficient systems. Keyamo explained that the FDC would help NCAA regulate more effectively by improving efficiency, saving costs, and enhancing…

EU, Others Launch €40m Reproductive Health Programme in 3 States The European Union (EU) on Wednesday launched the 40 million euro Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (SARAH) programme in Sokoto, Adamawa, and Kwara states. It is aimed at improving reproductive health outcomes for women and adolescents. Funded by the EU, the programme will be implemented by the Federal Government in collaboration with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). At the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, expressed gratitude to the EU for its support. He was…

Tax Bills: NASS Will not Betray the Trust of Nigerians says Akpabio The President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, says the National Assembly will prioritise the interest of all Nigerians in considering the tax reform bills. Akpabio made the pledge on Wednesday in Abuja at a roundtable on the four tax reform bills organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). He said that the bill before the National Assembly represented a critical step forward in modernising Nigeria’s tax system. He explained that the bills, when passed into law, would ensure a more equitable distribution of…

FG moves to Rehabilitate Unused Buildings, Assets in Lagos The Federal Government on Tuesday confirmed its readiness to rehabilitate and upgrade unused and dilapidated buildings as well as assets in Lagos State in the coming months. Mr Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, confirmed this during an official facility assessment visit in Lagos. Dangiwa stated that the buildings, left unrehabilitated for some time, pose challenges and security concerns for the Lagos State Government. The minister lamented the deplorable state of various federal government buildings assessed, noting the lack of water and electricity supply, with most facilities in disrepair.…

Equities Investors Gain N184bn as Oil Stocks Rally Equities investors gained about N184 billion on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) trading platform as oil stocks rallied. In the local bourse, trading activities in the green for the second day straight as alpha seekers continue to hunt for value stocks. Hence, key performance indicators grew by 0.31% on the back of bullish sentiment that drove year-to-date returns higher to 31.74%. The All-Share Index grew by 302.71 basis points in today’s trading session to close at 98,509.68. Stockbrokers said the uptrend was driven by bargain hunting in some large and medium cap stocks…

Alia Presents N550.1bn as 2025 Budget Estimate to Benue Assembly Gov. Hyacinth Alia on Wednesday presented the sum of N550.1bn as the 2025 appropriation bill to the Benue State House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law. Alia told the lawmakers that out of the total budget size, N175.4 billion is for recurrent expenditure while the N374.7 billion is for capital expenditure. The governor said that the total estimate represented a 47.5 per cent increment over the 2024 revised and approved figure of N373 billion. He stated that the appropriation bill tagged “Budget of Human Capital Development, Food Security,…

Dangote Refinery Exports PMS to Cameroon …Dangote Refinery, Neptune Oil Announce their first export transaction of Refined Products to Cameroon In a landmark move for regional energy integration, Dangote Refinery and Neptune Oil jointly announced the first-ever export of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest oil refinery, to Cameroon. This milestone, resulting from a strategic collaboration between the two companies, underscores their commitment to strengthening economic ties between Nigeria and Cameroon while meeting the region’s growing energy demands. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of the Dangote Group, stated: “This first export of PMS to Cameroon is…

Chinese Yuan strengthens 7.1843 against dollar The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the Yuan, strengthened 53 pips to 7.1843 against the dollar on Wednesday. This is according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. In China’s spot foreign exchange market, the Yuan is allowed to rise or fall by two per cent from the central parity rate each trading day. The central parity rate of the Yuan against the dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day. #Chinese Yuan strengthens 7.1843…

Egbin Power Reiterates Commitment SDG 3 with Annual Medical Outreach Egbin Power has once again demonstrated its commitment to ensuring healthy lives and well-being of its communities through its 7th Annual Medical Outreach, aligning with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) – Good Health and Well-being. The three-day medical outreach, which was organised in partnership with Livewell Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation, offered a range of free medical services including cardiovascular, arthritis, dental, eye-check, diabetes tests, malaria treatment, hepatitis screening, and blood pressure examination for residents in its host communities – Egbin, Ijede, and Ipakan, attracting over…