Author: Vincent Osuwo

Nigeria has been taken off the European Union’s (EU) list of high-risk countries, a change anticipated to facilitate trade, payments, and investment transfers between the nation and Europe, as reported by Business Insider. Business Insider stated on Wednesday that the European Commission verified that Nigeria, together with South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique, and Tanzania, had enhanced its AML/CFT frameworks and no longer exhibited “strategic deficiencies” according to EU evaluation criteria. The commission observed that the impacted nations had enacted reforms aligning their financial systems with the international standards established by the FATF. In response to the announcement, the Minister…

The abducted Edo medical doctor, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir, has regained his freedom after his family paid a ransom of N50 million to his abductors. Chronicle NG reports that Tahir was kidnapped alongside his younger brother on January 2, 2026, at their residence on City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, Auchi, while opening the gate to their compound. Tragically, his younger brother’s body was found near Orley River, along City Pride Road, Igbira Camp, on January 5. The doctor’s brother was killed by the kidnappers. The father of the victims revealed that the ransom was paid in two tranches of N20 million…

Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar has paid respect to fallen soldiers and serving members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, applauding their courage, sacrifice, and dedication to the country’s unity and security. According to a post on his verified X handle on Thursday commemorating Armed Forces Memory Day, Atiku and his family joined millions of Nigerians in sad memory of military personnel killed in the line of duty. “Today, my family and I join millions of Nigerians in solemn remembrance and deep gratitude to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces,” he said. The…

President Bola Tinubu led other key government officials to Abuja on Thursday for the Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Ceremony, which honored both lost and living soldiers. The event began with the parade commander submitting the parade state, followed by the vice president, Kashim Shettima, representing the president, inspecting the guard of honor, escorted by the commander of the Guards Brigade, Brig. Gen. Adebisi Onasanya. A fire party then took dignitaries to the cenotaph for the wreath-laying ceremony. The Last Post was sounded in honor of fallen heroes, and everyone present stood in reverence. An imam and a chaplain later…

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has asked Nigerians and leaders at all levels to renew their commitment to constructing a nation worthy of the sacrifices made by deceased Armed Forces members. Obi made the statement in a post on Thursday from his verified X handle to commemorate the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, which honors military soldiers who died in the line of duty. The former governor of Anambra State stated that the day serves as a solemn reminder of the courage and selflessness of warriors who fought on the front lines to safeguard the country, often at…

A filling station on the Bukuru Expressway in Jos, Plateau State’s capital, caught fire on Thursday morning, causing alarm among residents and motorists. The impacted filling station, located near the Jos South Local Government Secretariat, was engulfed in flames, with flames developing around the big underground petroleum discharge tank, raising fears about the possible extent of the damage. According to eyewitnesses, there were no firefighters on the site at the start of the event, while filling station employees worked feverishly to keep the blazing flames under control. “We just saw the fire this morning at a filling station popularly known…

The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has ordered all banks and fintechs to collect and remit a 7.5 percent value-added tax on certain electronic banking services, effective Monday, January 19, 2026, according to an email notice issued by payment platforms. The VAT would apply to electronic banking expenses such as mobile money transfers, USSD transaction fees, and card issue fees, according to an email notice sent to customers on Wednesday by Moniepoint. For example, if a bank costs N100 to make a transfer, the 7.5 percent VAT will be charged to the service fee rather than the money sent. “From…

Elon Musk’s platform X unveiled precautions on Wednesday to prevent its AI chatbot Grok from undressing actual people in response to global outrage over its creation of sexualized photos of women and children. The revelation comes after California’s attorney general opened an inquiry against Musk’s xAI, the developer of Grok, over the sexually explicit content, while numerous countries either barred access to the chatbot or initiated their own investigations. X said it will “geoblock the ability” of all Grok and X users to create images of people in “bikinis, underwear, and similar attire” in those jurisdictions where such actions are…

Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, has condemned the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) continued concentration of major tournaments and awards in Morocco, calling for broader inclusion of other African nations in hosting continental competitions. Oshoala, who plays for Saudi Women’s Premier League club Al Hilal, made the remarks on X on Thursday. “The big question here is when will this whole @CAF_Online compensation to Morocco end? Awards, tournaments, and all… it’s getting boring now. We need other countries to step up. “Everything concerning African football happens in Morocco; it feels like that’s the new HQ,” she said. The six-time African…

Nigerian football fans berated Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea for what they saw as biased and bad refereeing during the Super Eagles’ semi-final loss to Morocco on Wednesday night. Nigeria lost 4-2 on penalties after Yassine Bounou saved spot kicks from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi following a goalless draw in extra time at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The Eagles committed 29 fouls to Morocco’s 19 but only received two yellow cards, while the hosts were not cautioned once, raising suspicions of one-sided officiating. The Nigeria-Ghana rivalry caused many fans to assume the referee had an extra motivation against the…