Author: Abimbola Ogunaike

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has strongly condemned the violent assault perpetrated against one of its officers by a Volkswagen commercial bus conductor during a routine traffic enforcement operation at Ile-Epo Market, inward Abule-Egba, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. According to the agency’s spokesman, Adebayo Taofiq, the unfortunate incident occurred when a LASTMA patrol team, while carrying out its statutory responsibility of ensuring unobstructed vehicular movement and maintaining order on Lagos roadways, apprehended a Volkswagen commercial bus (LSR 989 XG) for causing severe traffic obstruction at the busy Ile-Epo Market corridor. The driver of the commercial vehicle vehemently resisted…

By Segun Adewale in Gombe The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recorded a clean sweep in the Gombe State Local Government Council elections, winning all chairmanship and councillorship seats contested across the state. The elections, conducted by the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC), were held in the state’s 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and the 13 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) established by the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya through an Act of the Gombe State House of Assembly. Announcing the official results over the Weekend, the Chairman of GOSIEC, Abdullahi Garba Talasse, declared that the APC won…

By Seye Oladejo The recent frenzy over Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s remarks encouraging beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Initiative to consider small businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn or producing kuli-kuli perfectly illustrates how Nigeria’s social media ecosystem has become a fertile ground for manufactured outrage rather than informed public discourse. The First Lady was neither unveiling the economic blueprint of the Federal Government nor suggesting that street vending represents the sum total of the Renewed Hope Agenda. She was speaking within the context of a social intervention programme designed to empower vulnerable Nigerians with grants-not loans-to start income-generating ventures…

By Segun Adewale in Gombe Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has declared that transforming Nigeria’s public institutions through innovation, merit, transparency and citizen-centred governance remains indispensable to delivering sustainable development and restoring public confidence in government. The Governor made the assertion while chairing the 2026 Nigeria Public Service Lecture Series and Awards held in Abuja Weekend to commemorate the United Nations Public Service Day. He was represented at the event by the Gombe State Head of Civil Service, Professor Mu’azu Shehu. Addressing senior government officials, policy experts, development partners and public servants from across the country, Governor Inuwa…

By Segun Adewale in Bauchi Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar, following the death of former Deputy Governor of the state and Wazirin Katagum, Architect Audu Sule Katagum, as well as to sympathize with other families who recently lost loved ones in Azare town. Speaking during the visit at the Emirs palace in Azare Weekend, Governor Bala Mohammed described late Architect Audu Sule Katagum as an accomplished administrator, patriotic leader, and respected elder statesman whose immense contributions to the development of Bauchi State and Nigeria…

By Segun Adewale in Bauchi The Bauchi State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has insisted that the party remains legally recognized and fully operational, despite a recent adverse ruling by the Federal High Court in Lokoja. The state chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigari, who stated this in a statement issued on Sunday and made available to Journalists in Bauchi revealed that the party’s legal team has already appealed the judgment. According to Maigari, the appeal was filed under the direct instructions of the NDC National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, and the National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe. Expressing…

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has officially unveiled the 12-man D’Tigers roster that will represent Nigeria at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers (Window 3) taking place in Luanda, Angola, from July 2–5, 2026. The tournament marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Nigerian basketball as Head Coach David Fizdale, takes charge of D’Tigers, for the first time, bringing with him decades of NBA coaching experience and a proven track record of developing elite talent at the highest level. Coach Fizdale will lead a talented blend of experienced internationals and emerging stars as Nigeria continues its…

By Akeem Busari The talents pool of Nigerian football keeps getting larger and the football world are not oblivious of the potentials of the ever-emerging Nigerian talented footballers. In what has been described by keen watchers of the global game, as a good catch, top Polish team Radomiak Radom Football Club which plays in the Premier league known as Ekstraklasa, has signed two prodigiously talented Nigerian players: Justin Okoro, a winger cum striker and Kaima Obiakor, a central defender, both 18 years old. The youngsters signed their first professional contracts, in a deal brokered by top Nigerian leading sports company,…

Pathway Advisors Limited has announced its role as Lead Issuing House to a N300 billion Commercial Paper Programme for Pivot Integrated Energy Services Limited, reinforcing its leadership in capital market advisory and energy sector finance. The transaction was formally concluded with the execution of programme documentation at Capital Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, following the completion of all regulatory and programme clearances. The signing ceremony marked a defining milestone in mobilising large-scale short-term capital for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector. Speaking at the event, Mr. Adekunle Alade, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pathway Advisors Limited, emphasized the strategic significance of the Commercial Paper issuance in financing working capital, thereby enabling high-growth energy businesses to scale efficiently and sustainably. “Nigeria’s downstream energy sector is undergoing a profound transformation, accelerated by the removal of fuel subsidies, the emergence of domestic refining capacity, and rising demand for reliable product supply across the country and the broader West African region. Companies like Pivot Integrated Energy Services Limited with a vertically integrated model, a strong track record, and a clear growth mandate are exactly the kind of issuers that the capital markets should be financing.” “Commercial paper, when structured appropriately, gives operationally strong businesses access to a deep and diverse pool of institutional investors, at tenors and costs that support the working capital intensity of petroleum trading and distribution. This transaction is a testament to what is achievable when credible issuers partner with experienced advisers to access the markets.” “The successful execution of this programme further affirms Pathway Advisors’ position as a trusted financial advisory and investment banking firm in complex, large-scale capital market transactions,” he stated. In his comments, Babajide Babatope, CEO/Managing Director of Pivot Integrated Energy Services Limited, described the commercial paper programme as a pivotal step in the company’s strategy to expand its supply capacity and strengthen its position as a leading integrated energy provider in Nigeria and West Africa. “Nigeria’s downstream energy market demands scale, speed, and the right capital structure to compete effectively. This commercial paper programme gives us the financial firepower to support our growing volumes, reinforce our supply chain, and serve our customers with greater reliability across the regions we operate in.” He noted that Pivot is one of the 20 approved offtakers in the Dangote Refinery PMS Consortium, with a target volume of 300 million litres per quarter, a position that underscores the company’sstanding in Nigeria’s post-subsidy energy supply architecture. He added that the CP Programme would also support the company’s accelerating regional push, including active operations in Ghana, where Pivot has delivered over 100,000 MT since April 2025, and a planned entry into Tanzania with deliveries targeted in Q3 of 2026.  Babatope further expressed appreciation to Pathway Advisors and other transaction parties for their professionalism, rigour, and commitment throughout the programme’s execution, and signalled his intention to continue deepening these partnerships as Pivot advances to subsequent phases of growth and financing.

African leaders on Monday, 29 June, 2026, made a compelling case for placing women at the heart of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), warning that the continent’s ambition to create the world’s largest single market would remain unrealised unless governments urgently remove structural barriers limiting female entrepreneurs and traders. Speaking at the 2026 HerAfCFTA Regional Conference in Abuja, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, said women already constitute the backbone…