Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and non-bank acquiring institutions to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for transactions carried out with foreign-issued cards exceeding $200 per day, as part of measures to strengthen payment security in the country. The directive was contained in a circular dated December 18 and signed by the Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department at the apex bank, Mrs Rita Sike. The circular was addressed to all deposit money banks, payment service banks and non-bank acquirers operating in Nigeria. According to the new guidelines, MFA will be mandatory for withdrawals and online…

The Ekiti State Government has approved the payment of N458.8 million as severance benefits to former political office holders at the local government level across the state. The approval was disclosed on Sunday by the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr Folorunso Olabode, in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti. According to him, the beneficiaries are political office holders who served in the 16 local government areas of the state between 2022 and 2023. Olabode explained that the severance package covers a wide range of council officials who held political appointments during the period under review. These include vice chairmen,…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for the immediate suspension of Nigeria’s recently introduced tax laws, alleging that critical sections were modified after approval by the National Assembly and assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the alleged alterations as a grave constitutional breach and warned that the development raises serious concerns about the centralisation of power by the Executive. The ADC’s reaction followed a point of privilege raised on December 17 by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto) during plenary at the…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Lagos State to spend the end-of-year holidays, following official visits to Borno and Bauchi states as part of a three-state tour. The President arrived at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Saturday, where he was warmly received by Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, senior government officials and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Earlier reports had indicated that President Tinubu departed Abuja on Saturday for the tour, which combined official government engagements with social and condolence visits across the northern states. In Borno State, the President…

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has accused the Federal Government of presiding over what he described as the forging of laws, warning that the development poses a serious threat to constitutional governance, public trust and the rule of law. In a statement titled “Migrating from Padded Budgets to Forged Laws”, posted on his official X handle on Saturday, the former Anambra State governor alleged that there are documented discrepancies between bills passed by the National Assembly and the versions eventually published and implemented by the executive arm of government. According…

The Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army has issued a stern warning to terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements, declaring that they will face stiff resistance in 2026 and that no part of its area of responsibility will be allowed to serve as a safe haven for criminal activities. The warning was issued on Saturday by the Commander of the Guards Brigade, Brigadier-General Adebisi Onasanya, during the brigade’s annual ascent of Aso Rock in Abuja. The exercise traditionally marks the conclusion of the formation’s training activities for the year and serves as an opportunity to review operational performance and readiness.…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its C-130 transport aircraft, which was earlier detained by authorities in Burkina Faso, has resumed its ferry mission to Portugal after being released. The aircraft, which was conveying 11 Nigerian soldiers, departed safely from Burkina Faso and arrived in Accra, Ghana, on Friday, marking a key step towards its final destination in Portugal for scheduled depot maintenance. According to the NAF, the C-130 aircraft made a precautionary landing in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8 after experiencing technical issues mid-flight. Explaining the incident, the Director of Public Relations and Information of…

An All Progressives Congress (APC) pressure group in Kwara State, the Kwara Political Leaders of Thought (KPLOT), has strongly opposed calls for the zoning of the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that competence and capacity should take precedence over senatorial or sectional considerations. The group’s stance comes amid increasing agitation from political leaders and interest groups in Kwara North Senatorial District, who are demanding that the APC zone its 2027 governorship ticket to the area. Kwara North has never produced a governor since the creation of the state, a fact often cited by proponents of…

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has reiterated his long-held stance that he will retire from active politics after completing his tenure as governor, firmly dismissing speculation about any future presidential, vice-presidential or senatorial ambitions. Otti made the clarification on Friday at the Government House in Umuahia while responding to a viral video in which a commentator criticised his recent visit to Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto Correctional Centre. The critic alleged that the governor’s action was motivated by hidden ambitions for higher political office after his term ends. The governor said such views, while permissible in a democracy, were…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja, describing the budget as a key instrument for consolidating economic reforms and steering Nigeria toward stability and inclusive growth. Titled “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” the 2026 Budget was delivered in fulfilment of the President’s constitutional responsibility and marks a continuation of his administration’s policy priorities over the past two and a half years. Addressing lawmakers, Tinubu emphasised that the budget builds on extensive reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, restoring investor confidence and laying the…