Author: Online Editor

Nigerian singer and songwriter Reekado Banks has hinted at a shocking revelation about a powerful figure in the entertainment industry who, according to him, has been stifling the growth of young talents through either incompetence or dark practices. Taking to social media, the Ozumba Mbadiwe crooner wrote: “One day, I’ll take an interview to talk about someone in the corners of the entertainment industry, who’s either absolutely CLUELESS or plain DEMONIC. “Somehow, the brightest budding talents fall in their lap and either through cluelessness or pure demonic activities, they agree to policies that effectively slow these talents down and, for…

…traditional marriage to hold before end of the year Despite growing disapproval of their romance amid the marital crisis between Afrobeat legend 2Baba and his estranged wife, Annie Idibia, his new partner, Natasha, may have hinted that wedding bells are ringing sooner than expected. It was observed that the pair recently visited popular Abuja-based clothier Seyi Vodi, and Natasha, seemingly unaware that cameras were rolling, casually asked when the wedding dress would be ready. The slip has since set tongues wagging, fueling speculation about their impending nuptials. 2Baba and Natasha’s relationship has been a subject of intense public scrutiny, with…

The King and Queen have postponed their planned state visit to the Vatican after doctors advised that Pope Francis still needed rest following his recent illness. Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that the visit had been postponed by “mutual agreement.” However, the wider state visit to Italy will proceed in April with some adjustments to the schedule. “Their Majesties send The Pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in The Holy See, once he has recovered,” the palace stated. The visit had been described as a “historic” occasion, coinciding with the Papal Jubilee year.…

The White House announced that the United States and Russia have agreed to ensure safe passage in the Black Sea following “technical-level” discussions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As part of the agreement, the US will assist in restoring Russia’s access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports. The deal also includes efforts to lower maritime insurance costs and improve access to ports and payment systems for these transactions. Additionally, both nations have committed to implementing measures aligned with the agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin “to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and…

The House of Representatives, at its plenary on Tuesday, passed through second reading a bill seeking to conduct general elections for the offices of the President, State Governors, National Assembly members, State Houses of Assembly members, and Local Government Area Councillors simultaneously on the same date. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive, and 34 other lawmakers, was presented for second reading by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere. As encapsulated in the bill, the date for the general election is to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in consultation with the…

…confirms appointment of Nwakuche Ndidi The Senate on Tuesday urged the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Nwakuche Ndidi, to put an end to jailbreaks in the country. President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, issued the directive in Abuja as lawmakers confirmed Ndidi’s appointment, stressing that addressing jailbreaks must be a top priority during his tenure as CG. Ndidi had been serving as the acting CG of the NCoS since December 15, 2024, after President Bola Tinubu appointed him to replace his predecessor, Mr. Haliru Nababa, upon the expiration of his tenure. “It is good that this is…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is beginning to see signs of progress in stabilising the foreign exchange (FX) market and curbing inflation, as recent policy reforms start to yield results. Olayemi Cardoso, the apex bank governor, stated this during an engagement with scholars from the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) at the CBN headquarters in Abuja. The engagement was part of the scholars’ Africa Trek initiative, which also included a stop in Ghana. The delegation comprised 50 students from 19 countries, including representatives from the Harvard Business School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. It marked the first time…

First Bank of Nigeria Limited has launched another FirstBank Digital Xperience Centre at Lekki, Lagos; reinforcing the bank’s commitment to digital innovation and commission of service excellence in the banking industry. First launched in 2021 at Victoria Island, Lagos, the FirstBank Digital Xperience Centre has since then expanded the innovation to four locations including: the University of Ibadan in August, 2023; Abuja Wutse new market in 2023, Banana Island Estate, Lagos in 2024, offering a unique self service and fully automated banking experience that aligns with global standards. MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria, Olusegun Alebiosu in his opening remarks explained…

A report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has disclosed that 11 Electricity Distribution companies (DisCos) raked in the sum of N509.8bn out of the 658.40 billion that was billed to customers in the fourth quarter of 2024. The report noted that this translates to a collection efficiency of 77.44 per cent of revenue collection. It stated that in comparison, the total revenue collected by all DisCos in the third quarter was N466.6bn out of the N626bn billed to customers, which translated to a 74.55 per cent collection efficiency. “The 77.44% collection efficiency recorded in 2024/Q4 is +2.89pp higher…

A last-minute goal from Tawanda Chirewa denied Nigeria victory as Zimbabwe secured a 1-1 draw in their Group C World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. Victor Osimhen broke the deadlock midway through the second half, finally breaching a resolute Zimbabwe defence but the Super Eagles failed to secure a third win of the campaign. It was Osimhen’s 26th international goal and seventh in World Cup qualifying, moving him past Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s record of six. Only Obafemi Martins (10) has now scored more World Cup qualifying goals for Nigeria. The match, played at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, saw Nigeria…