Author: Akintayo Adams

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that between May 2023 and April 2024, Nigerians paid a total of ₦2.2 trillion as ransom due to the country’s escalating insecurity. This information comes from the latest NBS Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey. The report highlights that households affected by kidnapping incidents bore the brunt of these payments, underscoring the growing menace of criminal activities. An estimated 51.89 million crime incidents were recorded across Nigerian households during this period. Regionally, the North-West topped the list with the highest number of incidents at 14.4 million, followed by the North-Central region with…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a new policy capping daily withdrawals at Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals to ₦100,000 per customer. This directive, aimed at promoting a cashless economy, was detailed in a circular issued on December 17, 2024. Addressed to Deposit Money Banks, Microfinance Banks, Mobile Money Operators, and Super-Agents, the circular mandates immediate adherence to the new withdrawal limits. Additionally, the CBN has set a cumulative daily cash-out limit of ₦1,200,000 for agents and a weekly withdrawal ceiling of ₦500,000 per customer. The CBN clarified that these measures are designed to curb fraud, standardize operational practices, and…

Workers on the payroll of Oyo State Government will begin to receive the newly approved ₦80,000 minimum wage starting January 2025. This follows an agreement reached between the Oyo State Government and organized labour on the implementation of the minimum wage and consequential adjustments. The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, and the Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, signed the agreement on behalf of the government, while Kayode Martins of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Bosun Olabiyi of the Trade Union Congress signed for organized labour. The new minimum wage salary structure will take effect nominally from…

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, recently presented a ₦1.54 trillion budget for the year 2025 to the state House of Assembly. The budget, titled “Budget of Hope and Prosperity,” aims to stimulate economic growth, reduce inequality, and improve citizens’ well-being. Here are some key points: The budget prioritizes infrastructure, healthcare, housing, security, education, youth empowerment, job creation, and agriculture. Get instant and latest news updates via Our WhatsApp Community, X/Twitter or Google News online channel.

Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinícius Jr. has been named the Best Men’s Player of the Year at the 2024 FIFA The Best Awards. The 24-year-old forward received the prestigious award in Doha, Qatar, after an outstanding 2023-24 season with Real Madrid, where he played a key role in winning the UEFA Champions League and La Liga. Vinícius Jr. scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 appearances for Real Madrid last season. His exceptional performance throughout the year earned him this recognition, making him the first Brazilian to win the FIFA Best Player award since 2007.

The Nigerian Senate has advanced a bill aimed at banning the use of foreign currencies, including the Dollar and Pound, for all transactions within the country. Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, the bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, No. 7, to Prohibit the Use of Foreign Currencies for Remuneration and Other Related Matters,” seeks to ensure that all financial transactions, including payments and salaries, are conducted exclusively in the Nigerian Naira. Senator Nwoko emphasized that the persistent use of foreign currencies like the Dollar, Pound, and Euro undermines the value…

Nigerian stand-up comedian Bovi Ugboma has expressed his strong stance against beating children as a form of discipline. In a recent episode of “The Honest Bunch” podcast, Bovi emphasized that children should not be beaten, regardless of their misbehavior. He shared a personal experience involving his son, who, when angry, threw objects and broke the television on three different occasions. Bovi noted that while he was able to afford replacements, the situation could have been different if he couldn’t. He further explained that when disciplining children, it’s important to ask oneself if the goal is to correct the child or…

Temu, the popular e-commerce app owned by China’s PDD Holdings, has once again topped Apple’s list of the most downloaded free apps on the U.S. iOS store for the second consecutive year. This achievement highlights the growing popularity of Chinese apps in the world’s largest consumer market. ByteDance’s TikTok, despite facing uncertainties over its future in the U.S., managed to secure the third spot, while Temu’s competitor, fast-fashion giant Shein, ranked 12th. According to StatCounter data, Apple’s iOS holds over 56% of the U.S. mobile phone market. Temu’s success can be attributed to its aggressive pricing and direct shipping of…

Oyo State ranks third among Nigerian states in paying the highest minimum wage, as revealed by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, in a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital, on Monday. While Lagos and Rivers States, with their abundant natural resources, pay a minimum wage of ₦85,000, Oyo State offers ₦80,000. This is notable given that the Federal Government recently set the minimum wage at ₦70,000. Oyelade pointed out that although four other states—Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, and Niger—also pay ₦80,000, none has a workforce as large as Oyo’s. “Oyo ranks third among states paying…

Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, is in Abuja, Nigeria, to visit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The visit underscores the strong diplomatic ties between the two West African nations. During the meeting, both leaders discussed various bilateral issues, including economic cooperation, regional security, and strategies to enhance trade relations between Nigeria and Ghana. President Tinubu commended Mahama for his recent electoral victory and expressed optimism about the future collaboration between their administrations. The visit also provided an opportunity for the leaders to exchange views on the ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability within the Economic Community of West African States…