Author: Ogooluwa Aremu

FG, Fidelity Bank Promote Fair Practices to Boost State Economies The Federal Government on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to strengthening international collaboration, improving investment facilitation and promoting governance transparency to enhance Nigeria’s global standing. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Udumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a goodwill message at a webinar hosted by Fidelity Bank Plc. The theme of the webinar is “Digital Fiscal Transparency: Unlocking Sub-national Opportunities for International Partners”. Udumegwu-Ojukwu, represented by Mr Abdulqadir Olanrewaju, Department of Economic, Trade and Investment of the ministry, said the initiatives align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed…

2027: INEC Unveils Draft Guidelines for Political Parties Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday unveiled the draft 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, did the unveiling at the consultative meeting with leaders of political parties on the review of INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties in Abuja. Amupitan said that the review became necessary following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026. According to him, Nigeria cannot navigate a 2027 horizon using a 2022 map. Amupitan called on political parties to take special note of…

Iran Reserves “Inalienable, Natural” Right to Defend Territory – President Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that Iran reserves the “inalienable and natural” right to defend its territory. Pezeshkian made the remarks when exchanging views with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the consequences of the “illegal” U.S.-Israeli war against Iran in a phone conversation. According to a statement published on the Iranian president’s office website, the two sides also discussed bilateral ties and the latest regional developments. Pezeshkian said Iran did not start the war, noting the U.S. and Israel launched military aggression against Iran in the middle…

Sri Lanka Issues Fuel, Energy Conservation Guidelines Amid Mideast Tensions Sri Lanka has issued guidelines to government institutions on the prudent use of fuel and energy amid possible disruptions to fuel imports caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East. The Office of the Commissioner General of Essential Services issued the guidelines to ministry secretaries, provincial and district secretaries, and heads of government and statutory institutions and called for measures to reduce fuel and electricity consumption across the public sector. Officials have been advised to avoid using individual vehicles to commute to work and instead use public transport or group…

The Nigerian government bondholders maintained hold on the naira assets, keeping the benchmark yield steadied. The average yield remained unchanged at 15.73% as the market shifted to a cautious mood.

The European single currency, the euro, loses its steeze in the forex market as the Iran war continues to boost demand for the US dollar amid a drive toward safer assets.

AXA Mansard Targets N3.617bn Profit in Six Months AXA Mansard Plc has revealed that it is targeting N3.617 billion in profit after tax for the first half of the 2026 financial year, according to a regulatory filing submitted to the Nigerian Exchange. The insurance company’s share price was flat at N15.2 when the earnings forecast was published last week. Market value of Axa Mansard Plc.’s 9 billion outstanding shares closed trading session last week at N136.80 billion, according to data obtained from the Nigerian Exchange. In its earnings forecast for the first half of the year, AXA Mansard Plc estimated…

DeXe (DEXEUSD) gained 10.5% to $6.67 over the past 24h, showing strong independent momentum amid a falling broader market, driven by sustained organic buying interest and high-volume accumulation.

XRP Climbs to $1.45 Amidst Crypto Regulatory Progress  Ripple (XRP) price surged to $1.45 over 24 hours, while its trading volume declined sharply amid regulatory progress and tech adoption, nudging the token toward cautious optimism. Price hovered around $1.45 on Saturday, with a 38% reduction in XRP trading volume to $1.31 billion, according to data from a crypto exchange. XRP’s path is being shaped by twin engines: regulatory tailwinds from the CLARITY Act and technological expansion into AI-driven commerce. Progress on U.S. crypto regulation, the CLARITY Act, boosts institutional confidence, supporting XRP’s price stability after initial profit-taking activities in the…

Messi Scores 900th Career Goal, Joins Ronaldo in Elite Club Lionel Messi scored his 900th career goal on Wednesday to become the second player to reach the mark in elite men’s ​football after Cristiano Ronaldo. The 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner brought ‌up the milestone with a left-footed strike in Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw with Nashville SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The 900th goal came 21 years after ​Messi scored his first in senior football for Barcelona as ​a 17-year-old in 2005. Inter manager Javier Mascherano said Messi’s tally ⁠was “insane”. “I’ve been lucky enough to see most, or…