Author: David Great

Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves have surged to $41 billion as of August 19, 2025 — the strongest level in nearly four years — according to the latest figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. The reserves, last recorded at such heights on December 3, 2021, represent a major rebound after months of depletion triggered by debt repayments and unstable global inflows. Analysts note that the increase reflects “stronger foreign exchange earnings and improved market confidence” in recent weeks. Data shows a swift buildup during August, with reserves rising from $39.54 billion on August 1 to $41 billion by August…

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has pledged to restore normal operations in local government councils across the state, which have been grounded since February 17 following a lingering power tussle between the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress. Speaking in Osogbo on Thursday during a reception organised in his honour by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party at the party’s State Secretariat, Adeleke assured residents that his administration would end the crisis and return local governments to full functionality. The dispute arose after the Akure Court of Appeal, in a February 10, 2025 ruling, reinstated APC-backed officials…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, has repatriated 51 more foreign nationals convicted and sentenced for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. According to a statement by the Commission, the repatriated convicts comprise “50 Chinese and one Tunisian.” The statement was signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The agency noted that the latest exercise brings the total number of foreign nationals repatriated to “102 in the ongoing exercise that commenced on Friday, August 15, 2025.” The EFCC explained that the convicts were part of the…

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, convicted and sentenced seven men arrested in a sting operation linked to internet fraud at a hotel near the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State. The convicts are Azeez Aliu Olalekan, Tijani Babatunde, David Damilola Ogunmuyiwa, Agada Prosper Osinakachukwu, Awwal Moshood, Amusa Wareez Oluwatobi, and Olujimi Damilola. They were among 93 suspects apprehended during an EFCC operation on August 10, 2025. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, arraigned them before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on charges bordering on impersonation, identity theft,…

The Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will officially ascend the throne as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, September 26, 2025. According to findings by The PUNCH, his nomination has already received the approval of the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. Further checks revealed that a state delegation visited Ladoja and members of the Olubadan-In-Council at his private residence in Bodija on Wednesday. Confirming the development, the media aide to the Olubadan-designate, Adeola Oloko, told PUNCH Online, “Oba Ladoja will be enthroned as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, September 26, 2025. The ceremony is billed for the ancient…

The Lagos State Government has reacted to claims by popular TikTok content creator, Habeeb Hamzat, also known as Peller, over a N36 million tax demand allegedly issued to him. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tax and Revenue, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, stated that the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, remains responsible for making fair judgments on tax matters. Peller, who rose to fame in 2024, had in a viral video during a livestream with singer Tobechukwu Okoh, also known as Peruzzi, criticised the government over what he described as excessive taxation. He said, “The task force said I should…

Real Madrid began their 2025/26 LaLiga campaign with a 1-0 victory over CA Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday night, extending their unbeaten run in opening fixtures to 17 consecutive seasons. Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after Juan Cruz brought him down in the box. The French forward made no mistake, sending Sergio Herrera the wrong way to secure all three points. The result also means Los Blancos are now unbeaten in 21 consecutive LaLiga matches against Osasuna. Despite the win, it was a largely scrappy performance…

Femi Otedola’s newly released book, Making It Big: Lessons from a Life in Business, has quickly risen to Amazon’s bestseller charts, securing a spot less than a day after its official launch. The highly anticipated book was unveiled on August 18 and debuted at number four on Amazon’s Best Sellers in Business Biographies & Memoirs category. It ranks just behind Gary Stevenson’s The Trading Game, Simon Squibb’s What’s Your Dream?, and Phil Knight’s classic memoir, Shoe Dog. The work details Otedola’s journey through the world of business, highlighting the risks he embraced, the challenges he endured, and the lessons that…

Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have apprehended three suspected armed robbers believed to be behind a string of high-profile robberies in Uyo metropolis. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. According to her, the arrest followed an intelligence-led operation that first led to the capture of one of the suspects, Ubong Patrick, 27, from Ikpa Ibiono community, Ibiono Ibom LGA. She explained that Patrick confessed to the crime during interrogation and later assisted the police in arresting two other gang members — Ibrahim Kanu, 20, from Gorore community, Adamawa…

The Federal Government, through the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has indicated plans to review the salaries of political office holders in Nigeria, describing the current pay structure as outdated and inadequate. At a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu currently earns ₦1.5 million monthly, while ministers receive less than ₦1 million — figures that have not changed since 2008. “You are paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria N1.5m a month, with a population of over 200 million people. Everybody believes that it is a joke,”…