Author: Ogochukwu Ndubuisi

Holcim Sells Interest in Lafarge Africa to Xuaxin for $1bn Chinese Xuaxin and Swiss cement maker Holcim have signed an agreement for the sales of Lafarge Africa Plc for $1 billion, according to a regulatory filing on the Nigerian Exchange.  Holcim announced plans to exit Nigerian business through sales of its total 83.81% stake in Lafarge Africa to the Chinese cement company for $1 billion. With four plants spread across Nigeria, Lafarge Africa has installed cement production capacity of 10.5 million tons per annum. Details from the deal revealed that the transaction is expected to close in 2025, subject to…

Kano Approves N7.7bn for infrastructure Development Projects The Kano State Executive Council has approved over N7.7billion for the execution of various infrastructure development projects across the state. This is contained in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa, in Kano on Saturday. He said that the decision was reached during its 21st meeting presided over by the Gov. Abba Yusuf. According to the Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye, the approved funds will be allocated to several projects. ‘He listed the projects to include over N1.89billion approved for the construction of the Tudun Yola off Gwarzo Road to Dansudu…

FG Set to Establish Digital Technology Hubs in 200 Communities Federal Government has resolved to establish digital technology hubs in 200 rural communities across the six geopolitical zones in the country as part of its first implementation phase. Mr Tokoni Igoin, the Special Assistant to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, said in a statement in Abuja on Sunday . Igoin emphasised the transformative impact of technological advancements on the global economy, education, communication, and connectivity. He acknowledged that many rural communities in Nigeria remained constrained by limited access to essential digital infrastructure, hindering their economic and educational…

VFS Global Inaugurates New Visa Application Centres in Lagos VFS Global has inaugurated a new Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Nigeria to enhance visa application experience for travellers. Mr Marc Owen, Director for Visa, Status and Information Services at UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos. According to Owen, VFS was recently awarded the contract to provide UK visa services in 142 countries worldwide. “VFS Global is proud to announce that residents of Nigeria, travelling to the UK can now book appointments to submit their visa applications through VFS Global’s new state-of-the-art Visa…

FCCPC Probes GTBank, MTN, Others Over Alleged Consumer Rights Violation Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has inaugurated a major inquiry into widespread consumer complaints against leading players in the banking, telecommunications, and aviation sectors. A statement issued by Mr Ondaje Ijagwu, the Director Corporate Affairs of the Commission on Sunday in Abuja, said it would engage Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) over reports of network failures that hindered customers from accessing their funds. Ijagwu said the Commission would also engage MTN Nigeria for persistent complaints of undelivered data services, unexplained data depletion, and inadequate customer care. He said that…

NIS Streamlines Process of Obtaining Emergency Travel Certificate Mr Sunday Olubiyi, Passport Control Officer (PCO) of the Ogun State Immigration Command, (NIS), says the process of obtaining an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC), a product of the NIS, has been streamlined for efficiency. He revealed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abeokuta. Olubiyi said that the ETC is dedicated for Nigerians living abroad, especially for applicants with expired passports who require a single-journey travel certificate to the country. He said that the Command was already witnessing patronage of international travel passport, despite the…

NPA Activates Burutu Port to Boost Solid Minerals Exports Poised to consolidate the gains made in the facilitation of exports, the Management of Nigerian Ports Authority has assured of providing the technical guidance and allied support necessary for operationalization of Burutu Port in Delta State. The Managing Director/CEO of NPA Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho gave the assurances when he received the Chairman and Executives of Akewa Colmar Terminal Limited (ACTL), the concessionaire of Burutu Port on Thursday 28th November, 2024 at the NPA Headquarters in Lagos. Speaking during the meeting, Dantsoho said “to deepen our competitiveness, we must deepen our capacity…

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has secured a 300 million Euro development partnership with France, an official statement revealed.

NCC Set to Launch Simplified Telecom Tariff Plans on December 13 The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans to introduce new tariff plans for telecom operators on December 13, 2024. This move aims to simplify telecom services, reducing confusion about data and airtime usage ¹. According to Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, the new tariff plans will limit telecom operators to a maximum of seven tariff plans. This change is designed to provide relief to telecom consumers and clarify misconceptions regarding data and airtime usage ². The NCC has also addressed complaints about data…

Aliyu presents N526.9bn proposal to Sokoto assembly Gov. Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State on Friday presented the proposed 2025 Appropriation Bill of N526.9 billion to the State House of Assembly. Tagged the Transformation and Infrastructural Sustainability Budget,” the governor highlighted plans to implement a new minimum wage of N70,000 for state workers starting from January 2025. He expressed gratitude to the civil servants for their support to his administration. Aliyu disclosed that the budget comprised N176.3 billion for recurrent expenditure and N349.4 billion for capital expenditure. “This allocation reflects a focus on capital projects, which takes 66 per cent of…