Author: Friday Omosola

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Ondo/Ekiti Area Command has reiterated its commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment to boost trade facilitation and promote economic growth in Nigeria.  This assurance was given by the Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Morenikeji Bewaji, during a visit from delegates of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) at the Command’s headquarters in Akure. In a press statement by the Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Herbert Dzungwenen, who serves as the Command’s Public Relations Officer, quoted Bewaji as praising APFFLON’s critical role in Nigeria’s supply chain and logistics sectors. She described freight…

The Lagos State University (LASU) has announced the commencement of its 2023/2024 HND/BSc Conversion Top-Up Degree Programme. The university in a statement on Monday said the initiative seeks to eliminate the perceived disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor’s Degree holders, offering a platform for graduates to enhance their qualifications. The university added that the programme will provide opportunities for individuals dissatisfied with their degree classifications to upgrade their credentials. Available programs according to the institution include Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing, Computer Science, Mass Communication, Public Administration, Economics, Geography and several others. Admission requirements include relevant HND certificates with…

The Lagos State Government has commended the Supreme Court of Nigeria for its historic ruling affirming the constitutional authority of states to regulate lotteries and gaming activities within their jurisdictions.  In the case Attorney-General of Lagos State and Ors vs. Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors (Suit No. SC/1/2008), the court nullified the National Lottery Act, declaring the regulation of lotteries a residual matter under state control. Describing the judgment as a victory for federalism and the rule of law, the Lagos government lauded the contributions of key political figures, including President Bola Tinubu, who has championed the cause of…

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has proceeded on his annual leave, effective Monday. In a statement posted on his X page on Monday, Governor Diri emphasised that his absence would not disrupt governance or delay ongoing projects in the state. Reflecting on the year so far, he described it as exceptionally busy, particularly following his inauguration for a second term in February. “My absence will not in any way affect governance in the state, as the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has the mandate to take charge of all state functions,” he assured. The governor also addressed the…

The Ministry of Solid Minerals, under the aegis of the Federal Mines Officers, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to join the fight against illegal mining activities in Port Harcourt and beyond.   The appeal was made during a courtesy visit to the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the President of the ministry’s Port Harcourt branch, Engr. Naku Romos highlighted the detrimental effects of illegal mining on the nation’s economy and the already compromised Niger Delta environment. Romos, who assumed office in September 2024, emphasised the need for collaboration between the…

The Adamawa State High Court has convicted and sentenced twelve internet fraudsters to various jail terms following their arraignment by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).   The sentencing, delivered by Justices Kayanson Samuel Lawanson, Hammed Isha, Benjamin Manji Lawal, and Mohammed Ibrahim Tola, followed the defendants’ guilty pleas to charges of cheating and impersonation. The convicts include Oladele Pius, Emmanuel Bulus, Elijah Elisha, Alamin Mohammed Bappa, Jamilu Usman, Enoch Solomon, Emmanuel Anthony, Enebeli Samuel Israel, Dimas Hyellabulatin, Emmanuel Dike, Joshua Umoru, and Dan Eden Sunday. Each convict was arraigned between November 6 and 7…

In a major stride towards advancing agribusiness in Nigeria, the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brazil’s Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) to foster private-sector investment in fertiliser production, hybrid seed technology, and agricultural finance.   The MoU was signed by Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Temitope Fashedemi, and FGV President Professor Carlos Ivan Simonsen Leal during the G20 Leaders’ Summit. This collaboration builds on the Green Imperative Project (GIP), a $1.2 billion agricultural modernization initiative launched in 2018 to leverage Brazil’s expertise in tropical agriculture for Nigeria’s benefit. Over the…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has paid glowing tributes to two distinguished elder statesmen from Katsina State, Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, former Executive Secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), and Ambassador Ibrahim Zakari, former Director General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), both of whom passed away recently.   During a condolence visit to the families on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Shettima described the deceased as titans of their generation whose contributions to Nigeria’s development remain indelible. Reflecting on Kurfi’s passing, Shettima stated, “He is the last of the great titans. In African folktale, when such an elderly person dies, a…

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to harnessing Nigeria’s creative economy as a pivotal driver of economic diversification and global influence. Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the launch of the 2024 Abuja International Carnival, Tinubu emphasised the sector’s growing contribution to Nigeria’s non-oil GDP and its role in showcasing the nation’s cultural richness. “We are not here just to celebrate a carnival but to reaffirm the essence of who we are as Nigerians—a people of culture, art, colour, and shared values,” the President said at Eagle Square, Abuja, during the event-themed “Carnival of Renewed Hope: A…

 The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), M.B. Shehu has called for a strategic approach to domestic revenue mobilization as a catalyst for Nigeria’s national development.  His comments came during his presentation at the 2024 edition of the National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) conference held in Bauchi. Themed “Fostering Economic Growth in Challenging Times: Strategies for Policies and Partnership for Fiscal Sustainability and National Development,” the conference brought together key stakeholders, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, and other top financial and economic leaders from across…