Author: Ogochukwu Ndubuisi

Mining Firms Risk Losing Titles Over Community Agreement Breaches- Alake The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has warned that mining firms breaching Community Development Agreements (CDAs) risk losing their mining titles, as the Federal Government tightens enforcement. Alake gave the warning on Friday in Abuja at the opening of a two- day ministerial retreat of the ministry. The retreat focused on the theme: ‘Accelerating Solid Minerals Sector Transformation: Delivering on Ministerial Mandate Through the Seven Priority Areas.’ Alake said he had directed the Permanent Secretary to submit a list of companies that had failed to sign or implement…

WHO Initiates Clinical Trial for New Ebola Treatment in DR Congo A major international clinical trial aimed at finding effective treatments for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), a rare form of Ebola, has commenced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The World Health Organization (WHO) said this in a statement on Thursday. The development, according to the statement, raises hopes for improved survival during the country’s ongoing outbreak. “The Platform Adaptive Randomised Trial for New and Repurposed Filovirus Treatments (PARTNERS) began enrolling patients on Thursday. “To assess whether two antiviral therapies, monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir…

FG Clears N39.6bn Pension Arrears The Federal Government has cleared N39.6 billion in longstanding pension arrears, providing relief to thousands of retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS). The development was announced in a statement issued by Efe Ovuakporie, Head, Information and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Finance, on Friday in Abuja. Ovuakporie stated that this was disclosed when the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, received the Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Tolulope Odunaiya, on a briefing According to Odunaiya, the payments covered inherited pension liabilities owed to retirees…

Google Play Launches $1m Fund to Boost African Game Developers Google Play on Friday inaugurated a one-million-dollar Indie Games Fund to support emerging game developers across 32 African countries with funding, technical support, and mentorship. The Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Google Play, Mr Ben Wilson, said in a statement that the initiative reflected Google’s commitment to nurturing Africa’s growing gaming ecosystem. Wilson said that Africa’s creative talent had produced a vibrant game development community, but limited access to capital had constrained many promising studios. He said that bringing this fund to the continent underscored…

Canada, Nigeria Trade Reaches C$3.2bn as LBS Advocates Deeper Partnership The Lagos Business School (LBS) has called for deeper Canada-Nigeria economic collaboration as bilateral trade between both countries reached C$3.2 billion in 2025 amid shifting global trade dynamics. The Dean of LBS, Prof. Olayinka David-West, made the call on Thursday in Lagos during a fireside chat with the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr Carlos Rojas-Arbulu. The event had the theme: “Leading Africa’s Future: Business, Purpose, and the Canada-Nigeria Partnership.” David-West said Canada had become one of the leading destinations for Nigerians seeking education, business opportunities and migration,…

WHO Declares Hantavirus Outbreak Over, Warns of Escalating Ebola Crisis World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the recent Hantavirus outbreak over. The declaration was made after the final person exposed aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius completed quarantine, tested negative, and returned home. Speaking during an online briefing on Thursday, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said that no new infections have been recorded since May 25, marking the end of the international public health response to the outbreak. According to him, the outbreak resulted in a total of 13 confirmed cases and three deaths. “Health authorities successfully identified and…

Dangote Cement Targets 80Mta Capacity, 10Mt Exports by 2030 Dangote Cement Plc says it is accelerating its pan-African expansion, targeting 80 million tonnes of annual production capacity and 10 million tonnes of cement and clinker exports by 2030. The Chairman of the company, Mr Emmanuel Ikazoboh, disclosed this at the 17th Annual General Meeting of the company on Thursday in Lagos. Ikazoboh said the expansion strategy was driven by rapid urbanisation, infrastructure development, housing deficits and population growth across Africa. According to him, the company is positioning itself to play a leading role in Africa’s industrialisation. He said the commissioning…

NPA Expects 33 Ships Carrying Petroleum Products, Food Items No fewer than 33 ships laden with petroleum products, food items, and other goods are expected to arrive at the Apapa, Lekki Deep Sea, and Tincan Island ports in Lagos. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) disclosed this in its Daily Shipping Position released on Thursday. It said that the arrival would be between July 2 and July 10. According to NPA, 12 of the expected vessels will berth with containers carrying different goods, while the remaining 21 ships are expected to carry bulk urea, petrol, general cargo, crude oil, fresh fish,…

Customs LFTZ Command Records N408.8bn Revenue in 2026 Half Year Lagos Free Trade Zone (LFTZ) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has generated N408.8 billion in revenue between January and June 2026. The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Hauwa Abubakar, disclosed this at a news conference and stakeholders’ sensitisation programme held on Thursday in Lekki. Abubakar said the figure represented 28.85 per cent increase over the N317.3 billion collected during the corresponding period of 2025. Abubakar said the command surpassed the previous year’s performance by N91.5 billion, attributing the growth to improved compliance, operational efficiency and sustained engagement with stakeholders…

BOI Unveils Maiden Impact Report, Disburses N644.9bn, Records 1.68m Jobs in 2025 The Bank of Industry (BoI) has unveiled its maiden 2025 Annual Development Impact Report, with Managing Director Dr Olasupo Olusi describing the year as a defining moment in Nigeria’s banking history. Olusi, at the unveiling of the report on Thursday in Abuja, said 2025 marked the first full year of executing BOI’s 2025-2027 Corporate Strategy. According to him, it is also the year the institution deliberately shifted from measuring success by disbursement volumes to measuring the development impact created. He disclosed that the bank disbursed a total of…