The Federal Executive Council has officially directed the full implementation of the suspended Naira-for-Crude agreement with local refiners. The Ministry of Finance disclosed this on its official X handle titled “Update on the Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira Initiative,” on Wednesday, 9 April, 2025. The first phase of the six-month deal involving the Federal Government, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, and Dangote Petroleum Refinery ended March 31, 2025. It has not been renewed and the Dangote refinery has since stopped selling refined petroleum products in naira due to the non-renewal of the naira-for-crude deal. In a new update…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
By Gbenga Nicholas A kidnapped victim, Adesiyan Michael, Deputy Director at the National Assembly Commission, has narrated how his abductors killed his wife in his presence while they were negotiating for ransom with members of his family, reports thegazellenews.com. Adesiyan shared his traumatic experience after he and his wife were abducted from their residence in Kubwa, Abuja, on Sunday, 26 January, 2025. He was held captive for 74 days before being rescued on Monday, 7 April, 2025. “I was chained for 32 days. These boys, aged between 17 and 21, are stark illiterates. They don’t even know what they’re doing. Most…
By Gbenga Nicholas The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a suspect involved in the assault of Yetunde Amole, a woman seen in a viral video being attacked near the Oriental Hotel area. A statement released on Wednesday, 9 April, 2025, by the Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, noted that the incident took place on April 7 at about 2:00 p.m., when the suspect, identified as Friday Onu, was caught attempting to steal Amole’s car battery. He asserted that in an act of courage, Amole tried to prevent the theft, leading to a physical assault by…
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has congratulated former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Olufemi Pedro, on the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. The honorary degree is being awarded as part of the institution’s 28th Convocation Ceremony, scheduled to hold on Thursday, 10 April, 2025, at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Main Campus, Lagos. In a statement released on Wednesday, 9 April, 2025 by her Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Desmond Utomwen, Princess Orelope-Adefulire described the honour as “well-deserved and…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a Balance of Payments (BOP) surplus of $6.83 billion for the 2024 financial year, marking a decisive turnaround from deficits of $3.34 billion in 2023 and $3.32 billion in 2022. This improvement reflects the impact of wide-ranging macroeconomic reforms, stronger trade performance, and renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economy. Stronger Trade and External Account Performance The current and capital account recorded a surplus of $17.22 billion in 2024, underpinned by a goods trade surplus of $13.17 billion. Petroleum imports declined by 23.2% to $14.06 billion, while non-oil imports fell by 12.6% to…
For women in the Lagos West Senatorial District, arguably Nigeria’s largest Senatorial District, Tuesday, 8 April, 2025, will remain a memorable day for them, reports thegazellenews.com. It was the day naira ‘rained’ for them. It was the democracy dividends delivered themselves at their doorsteps. It was the day they witness what is called true representation. It was the day they can rightly beat their chests and said “yes we are reaping the rewards of our loyalty, commitment and steadfastness for the All Progressives Congress (APC)”. The Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District in the Upper Legislative Chamber, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule,…
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie, founding Chairman of MTN Nigeria. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. A pioneer, statesman, and titan of industry, Dr. Dozie played a pivotal role in the emergence of mobile telephony in Nigeria and in shaping the MTN Nigeria story. He brought insight, experience, and leadership at a time when bold vision was essential. He was instrumental in securing the early support and investment that brought the Y’ello dream to life. On May 16,…
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku has said that the Commission will establish a sports institute to consolidate the gains of the Niger Delta Sports Festival and enhance sports development in the Niger Delta region. Ogbuku announced this during the closing ceremony of the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival organised by the NDDC at the Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom State. He noted that the sports fiesta brought together thousands of young athletes from across the nine Niger Delta states to compete in a wide range of sporting activities, aimed at fostering regional unity…
By Gbenga Nicholas, Abuja A total of 198,810 residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were enrolled in the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) in the last one year, including 10,065 pregnant women who were registered free. FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said in a statement on Tuesday, 8 April, 2025, that since the inception of the Wike-led Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), significant increase had been witnessed in the FHIS enrolment, with over 100 percent of annual enrolment target of 25,000 lives per annum surpassed by 17…
By Gbenga Nicholas, Abuja The House of Representatives will today hold an Investigative Public Hearing into the alleged misuse of government interventions and agricultural funding by various departments, agencies, schemes, and programmes operating outside the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. This development follows the House’s adoption of a motion titled “The Alleged Misuse of Government Interventions and Agricultural Funding by Departments, Agencies, Schemes and Programmes Outside the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.” The motion was debated and subsequently referred to the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security for in-depth investigation and legislative action. According to a press statement…