Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned that the abuse and poor handling of naira banknotes are significantly increasing the cost of printing and replacing them. The warning came on Wednesday during the launch of a nationwide sensitization campaign on proper naira handling, held in Abuja. Delivering a keynote address, the CBN’s Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate, Dr. Bala Bello, represented by the Director of Currency Operations and Branch Management Department, Dr. Adedeji Adetona, stressed that the naira is more than just a medium of exchange. “The naira is more than a means of payment. It represents our national pride,…

Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the immediate past Rivers State Administrator, arrived in Aso Rock on Wednesday and was greeted by President Bola Tinubu, along with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede. Ibas, who resigned from the Rivers administration on September 17 after six months in office, arrived at the State House at 6 p.m. and was led into the meeting by Edun and Olukoyede. Wednesday’s meeting comes three days after the former sole administrator rebuffed calls from the Rivers State House…

Billionaire business mogul and chairman of the Ibru Organisation, Olorogun Oskar Ibru, has died at the age of 67. According to a statement released by his family and carried by Arise News on Wednesday, Oskar Ibru died following a brief illness. Further information about his demise was not revealed. Ibru was an important player in Nigeria’s corporate sector and one of the most notable successors to the Ibru dynasty. He helped to sustain and extend the conglomerate founded by his late father, Olorogun Michael Ibru, whose commercial empire included shipping, oil and gas, real estate, and commerce. Joke Silva mourns…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has promised the Yoruba that their interests will be central to his presidency if elected in 2027. Atiku, who contested the 2023 election under the Peoples Democratic Party, said on Wednesday that fears of his government favoring his Fulani kinsmen were unfounded. In a statement issued by his media consultant, Kola Johnson, the ex-vice president cited his marital and personal ties to the Yoruba as evidence of his long-standing. He said, “I count myself extremely lucky indeed to have had a wife from amongst this noble species of the human race, which by this token…

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, called Donald Trump “Islamophobic” and “racist” on Wednesday after the US president appeared to suggest the British politician wanted to introduce sharia law in the UK’s capital city. Khan, of the center-left Labour Party, and Trump, a Republican, have been exchanging insults for years, with the latest escalation originating from remarks the president made at the United Nations this week. “I think President Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he is Islamophobic,” the Mayor of London told Sky News. During his speech to the UN General Assembly…

One person has been killed and two others were injured after being shot by a suspected sniper at a Texas immigration center, according to officials. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the event in Dallas. The sniper attack occurred on Wednesday morning inside a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center. The incident followed a series of attacks against ICE facilities across the United States in recent months. The motivation and objectives of the attack are unknown. Officials told Fox News that no law enforcement officers were hurt. “While…

The Ondo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has praised Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a man of resilience and calm leadership whose qualities have inspired the party. In a statement released on Wednesday in Akure, Chief Bakkita Bello, PDP caretaker chairman in the state, welcomed Fubara back to office “after a political distraction meant to derail the will of the people.” According to Bello, the governor’s mandate from the people of Rivers cannot be taken away. “Your return is not only a victory for democracy but also a profound reaffirmation that the mandate freely given by the…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has praised the opening of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office, describing it as evidence that “the voice of reason has prevailed.” Natasha, who represents Kogi Central, was suspended from the Senate for six months in March. On Tuesday, she regained access to her National Assembly office, with supporters celebrating as she entered Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, which had been opened by Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms. Although the Senate is now in recess and will not reconvene until October 7, 2025, the announcement elicited strong emotions, particularly from opposition leaders. In a…

Hugo Ekitike has apologized to Liverpool fans after being sent off for removing his jersey following his late League Cup victory over Southampton, a celebration dubbed “stupid” by manager Arne Slot. Liverpool provided another late show at Anfield on Tuesday, as the 23-year-old new signing slipped home Federico Chiesa’s pass five minutes from time to seal a 2-1 victory over second-tier Southampton. At halftime, the France forward replaced £125 million ($168 million) British record signing Alexander Isak, who had already established his account for the club. Ekitike was initially booked for punching the ball away in frustration. Shea Charles equalized,…

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has called on the Dangote Refinery to make its fuel supply more accessible to marketers and sell products at affordable rates. Ikem Ohia, DAPPMAN’s representative, told Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday that tighter collaboration with the refinery will assure consistent supply and put an end to fuel lineups around the country. He denied rumors of a schism with the refinery, arguing that marketers merely want a transparent agreement that ensures consistent delivery. “Our key interest is to have petroleum products offered at reasonable prices consistently, in a way…