Author: Gbenga Oluranti Olaleye

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, has stated that the current levels of poverty in Nigeria are deeply rooted in the country’s history, dating back to the pre-Independence era. Fasua made these comments on Tuesday, April 8, during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show, where he also acknowledged the ongoing surge in hunger across the nation. Fasua pointed out that poverty in Nigeria is not a new phenomenon, but rather an inherited issue that has persisted for generations. He noted that while poverty is a global issue, Nigeria’s unique historical context has made it particularly…

Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the Take-It-Back movement, has firmly rejected any plans to join a proposed coalition of former presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, ahead of the 2027 general election. Sowore made his position clear in an interview with Arise TV’s Politics Today, stating that he would not align with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) or participate in the coalition being discussed by opposition figures. Sowore expressed his discontent with such coalitions, arguing that they are essentially repeating the same mistakes that led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) coalition in 2013 and 2015. …

Oil stocks have taken a significant hit as US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, combined with increased production from OPEC+, led to a sharp decline in global oil prices, marking some of the lowest levels in years. Analysts have also revised their oil price forecasts for 2025 downward, predicting weak demand due to the ongoing trade war and the additional supply from OPEC+. BusinessDay’s analysis reveals that the Dow Jones US Oil & Gas Index dropped nearly 9% on Friday, with a 15.8% loss over the past two days. Similarly, the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry…

The Presidency announced on Monday that the Automobile Compressed Natural Gas (AutoCNG) initiative has secured over $491 million in investments over the past year. The announcement was made by Michael Oluwagbemi, Programme Director and CEO of the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI), during a “Meet the Press” briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Oluwagbemi revealed that the initiative has generated significant employment opportunities, with more than 9,000 direct jobs and 75,000 indirect jobs created across the country. He further highlighted the impact of the programme on Nigeria’s vehicle conversion industry. “Nigeria’s capacity to convert vehicles from petrol and diesel to…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has disclosed that Africa loses a staggering $88.6 billion annually to corruption and illicit financial flows (IFFs). This amount represents 3.7 per cent of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a figure that highlights the significant economic and social challenges posed by these issues. The revelation was made by ECOWAS’ Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, during a regional certification training on financial investigation for anti-corruption institutions in Niger state on Monday, April 7. Represented by Ebenezer Asiedu, the head of the commission’s Democracy and Good Governance Division,…

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their recent foreign travels, accusing them of being unprepared for governance at a time when the country is facing significant challenges. Wabara expressed his dismay over the timing of their trips, with Tinubu on a two-week working visit to France and Shettima in Dakar, Senegal, to represent the President at the country’s 65th Independence Day celebrations on April 4. The PDP leader described the dual absences of both the President and the Vice President…

The newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Olatunji Owoade, has expressed deep gratitude for his ascension to the throne, attributing it entirely to divine will rather than political manoeuvring or external influence. In his first public statement after being crowned the 46th Alaafin, Owoade made it clear that his emergence was not influenced by any political connections, notably stating that he had never met Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde or former Senator Monsurat Sunmonu during the selection process. Oba Owoade, who was crowned on Saturday, April 5, after completing all the required rites and ceremonies, shared his thoughts during…

The Minister of Youth, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has called on the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to adjust its orientation programme, advocating for a later start to daily activities in a bid to improve the welfare of corps members. Speaking at the 2025 annual management conference in Abuja, themed ‘Transforming the NYSC Scheme to Meet the Yearnings of Contemporary Nigerian Graduates and Society’, Olawande suggested that camp drills begin at 7:00 am instead of the usual 4:00 am. He argued that this adjustment would allow corps members to rest properly, making them more active and engaged during…

Two prominent figures of the Labour Party (LP)—Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State—have called for a crucial meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The meeting is set to take place on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. According to a notice jointly issued by Obi and Otti, the NEC meeting will be followed by an interactive town hall engagement with major stakeholders and other key party organs. The engagement will be held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, providing a platform for broader discussion on…

The management of Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences, Eleyele, has confirmed that 75 of its students have successfully received financial support through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The college’s Provost, Gbonjubola Owolabi, made the announcement during a meeting with the management staff on Friday at the college’s premises in Eleyele, Ibadan. The funds, she revealed, were received on Thursday, April 3, and they will help ease the financial burden on the students pursuing their education at the institution. Owolabi expressed her gratitude for the initiative, highlighting that a total of 78 students had applied for the loan, and…