APC’s growth driven by grassroots support, not governors’ defections —Yilwatda
He said the APC remains focused on national development and democratic consolidation, stressing that the party does not take Nigerians for granted. Yilwatda highlighted economic improvements under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying governors are now better positioned to deliver development as a result of improved fiscal policies. Dismissing claims that Nigeria is drifting towards a one-party state, Yilwatda described such allegations as unfounded. Yilwatda reaffirmed that the APC is a disciplined party that welcomes all Nigerians who believe in its vision, whether or not they are card-carrying members. The APC chairman assured Nigerians that the party’s leadership is not complacent.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 08:44 UTC
Fintechs process 11 billion transactions in 2024 as startups raise $520m in equity —CBN
According to the CBN, the report offers a detailed assessment of Nigeria’s fast-growing digital finance ecosystem and outlines strategic priorities for its next phase of development. The CBN noted that the current growth trajectory aligns with the Payments System Vision 2025, which targets near-universal electronic payment penetration by 2030, underscoring fintech’s central role in Nigeria’s digital economy strategy. Drawing on surveys and extensive stakeholder engagement, the report examined the scale and maturity of Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem, underscoring interoperability, proportional regulation and effective execution as critical enablers of sustainable growth. While this performance reflects resilience amid global macroeconomic headwinds, the report warned that Nigeria’s fintech sector remains heavily dependent on foreign capital, exposing it to global interest rate cycles. Looking ahead, the CBN outlined three strategic anchors for the sector: enabling innovation-friendly regulation, advancing financial inclusion through digital finance, and deepening regional integration through regulatory harmonisation.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 08:44 UTC
NIES: AFRIPERF critical to Africa’s energy future — NUPRC
The Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has called for the strengthening of the African Petroleum Regulators’ Forum AFRIPERF as a critical platform for harmonising energy regulation across the continent and unlocking large-scale investment in Africa’s oil and gas sector. She made the call while delivering her keynote address at the Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) which was held at the International Conference Centre ICC on Monday in Abuja. She said, “Investors are not deterred by Africa’s geology; they are deterred by inconsistent rules. According to her, the Africa Energy Bank, headquartered in Nigeria, is mobilising African capital for African energy projects by helping to bridge financing gaps left by global capital withdrawal. Only then can we unlock the full transformative power of Africa’s resources for our people,” the CCE concluded.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 08:44 UTC
Diplomat harps on re-introduction of ‘Back to Land’ programmes
This development, he noted, has largely dampened the morale of students who cultivate school farmlands for practical studies. Akinremi, speaking at a press briefing heralding the 60th anniversary of Iroko Community Grammar School, Iroko, in Akinyele Local Government Area, tasked relevant authorities with putting in place necessary measures to checkmate the trend. ALSO READ: APC’s growth driven by grassroots support, not governors’ defections —YilwatdaHe said such measures include the construction of a perimeter fence, currently being undertaken by the school’s Old Students Association, and the engagement of security agents. He added that the celebration presents an opportunity to reignite pride, restore excellence, and secure a stronger future for Iroko Community Grammar School. “As the Old Students’ Association, we have resolved to take collective responsibility for restoring Iroko Community Grammar School to its old glory.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 08:44 UTC
Ibadan Mega Voice decorates Olaniyan as patron
Ibadan Mega Voice (IMV), one of the affiliate clubs of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) has formally decorated Alhaji Qazeem Olaniyan, Chairman of Omoola Travel and Tours, as one of its patrons, in recognition of his support for community development and a commitment to the progress of Ibadan. His love for Ibadan and its people resonates with the ideals of Ibadan Mega Voice. READ ALSO: Power probe: Reps tackle DisCos over unfulfilled obligationsIbadan Mega Voice is a non-partisan association of Ibadan indigenes in the communication field, committed to cultural promotion, responsible media engagement, advocacy and community-driven interventions. Through its activities, IMV has continued to amplify the Ibadan voice while championing initiatives that uplift society. The club expressed profound appreciation to Olaniyan for accepting the honour and for his kind gestures towards the association.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 04:19 UTC
Why my father’s assassination was easy — Murtala Muhammed’s daughter
Aisha Muhammed, daughter of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, has explained that her father’s simple lifestyle and rejection of the trappings of power made it easy for him to be assassinated. Speaking on ARISE News’ Morning Show on Monday, the Chief Executive Officer of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation reflected on her father’s leadership style as Nigeria marked the 50th anniversary of his assassination. “My father’s leadership style was clear. According to her, General Muhammed deliberately avoided heavy security details, motorcades and sirens, insisting on living like the ordinary Nigerian, a decision she said ultimately exposed him to danger. She explained that on the day of his assassination, he was travelling in traffic like every other road user.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 02:26 UTC
2026 budget: Anti-corruption network flags NDE, NPC over ‘mandate abuse’
The Anti-Corruption, Good Governance & Human Rights Network (AGHU-Network) has raised the alarm over what it described as “disturbing, dangerous and deeply troubling” provisions in the 2026 budget of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. The network accused National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the National Productivity Centre (NPC) of earmarking billions of naira for projects outside their statutory mandates. The group noted that the NPC alone was allocated ₦110.68 billion, representing over 60 percent of the entire ministry’s budget, while the NDE received ₦30.41 billion. “These duplications mirror long-standing corruption tendencies in Nigeria’s public finance system, where the same projects are recycled across budgets to inflate spending while unemployment remains stubbornly high,” the statement added. “Public institutions must return to purpose.”
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 02:24 UTC
Chef Hilda: In the news again with third Guinness record!
A couple of years ago, after Hilda Baci, Nigeria’s celebrity chef, set another Guinness World Record—this time for the largest pot of Jollof rice—social media lit up with mockery. Audacity of Hilda: In 2023, she cooked for 93 hours and 11 minutes, breaking the ‘cook-aton’ record for the longest cooking by an individual. Baci’s run for the largest Jollof rice serving began in September 2025. READ ALSO: Hilda Baci receives second Guinness World Record plaqueGender and generation barriers: This cook’s courage carries significant weight as a woman in a society that often overlooks women. A call beyond cynicism: Hilda Baci’s story is not about pots of jollof rice—it is about the audacity of youth.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 00:31 UTC
Oando reports Profit-After-Tax up 10 per cent to N241.3bn as upstream production rises 32 percent in FY 2025
The company announced a 32 per cent year-on-year increase in production by its upstream business, averaging 32,482 boepd. Oando reported a 10 percent increase in profit after tax to ₦241.3 billion compared to ₦220.1 billion in 2024, supported by higher upstream production, impairment reversals, and favourable tax adjustments. However, revenue declined 21 per cent to ₦3.21 trillion from ₦4.09 trillion in 2024, while gross profit decreased 82 per cent year-on-year to ₦27.8 billion, down from ₦155.9 billion in 2024. Over the year under review, we reinforced asset integrity, strengthened security across our operating areas, and materially improved uptime, delivering a 32 per cent year-on-year increase in total production. Operated Joint Venture production averaged approximately 80,545 boepd, translating to 32,482 boepd net to Oando, alongside a 30 per cent increase in crude oil liftings and a 59 per cent increase in gas sales volumes.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 00:05 UTC
FG signs MoU to train 10m Nigerians
Federal Government yesterday flagged off a free nationwide financial inclusion and literacy training programme targeting 10 million Nigerians, as part of efforts to deepen access to financial services and strengthen digital and enterprise skills across the country. Vice President Kashim Shettima said Nigeria would reap immense benefits from its demographic dividend only if young people and women were deliberately prioritised and equipped with the skills and ethical grounding required for a fast-evolving digital economy. The initiative, being driven by the Office of the Vice President through the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), is designed to provide Nigerians, particularly women and youths, with essential financial knowledge, investment awareness and digital competencies for sustainable wealth creation. To actualise the programme, the Office of the Vice President, through PreCEFI, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six professional bodies to jointly develop training curricula, certification pathways, digital skills initiatives and mentorship platforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s financial and enterprise workforce. The professional bodies are the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS); National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA); Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI); and the Nigeria Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE).
Source:The Guardian
February 02, 2026 23:39 UTC
WHO warns of pandemic gaps amid funding crisis
The World Health Organisation, WHO, on Monday raised the alarm that shrinking global health funding is colliding with rising disease threats and conflict, creating dangerous vulnerabilities just as countries finalise new agreements meant to prevent the next pandemic. Opening the 158th session of the WHO Executive Board, Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world is facing a defining moment for global health security. Sudden and severe cuts to bilateral aid have also caused huge disruptions to health systems and services in many countries,” Tedros disclosed. “4.6 billion people still lack access to essential health services, and 2.1 billion people face financial hardship because of health costs. “The pandemic taught all of us many lessons especially that global threats demand a global response.
Source:The Guardian
February 02, 2026 23:39 UTC
UAE pledges ‘sizeable investment’ in Nigerian economy
PHOTO: AYODELE ADENIRANThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Investment, Mohammed Alsuwaidi, has vowed that their size of investment into the Nigerian economy over the next couple of years would run into tens of billions of dollars. Federal minister, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, expressed excitement at Investopia making its debut in Africa and particularly in Nigeria for the first time. She noted that the FMITI is hosting investors from the UAE, Africa and across the world. “We need FDI and the UAE has this capital, the gulf in general has capital. He said the signing of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) between Nigeria and the UAE, provides a strong framework to accelerate trade, investment, and private sector collaboration.
Source:The Guardian
February 02, 2026 23:39 UTC
Nigeria’s private sector slips into contraction as PMI falls to 49.7
Nigeria’s private sector recorded its first contraction in over a year at the start of 2026, as weak demand dragged new orders to a standstill and slowed business activity, according to the latest Stanbic IBTC Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The headline PMI fell sharply to 49.7 in January from 53.5 in December, slipping below the 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction. Output rose only marginally as a result, while purchasing activity and stocks of inputs increased at much slower rates. Purchase prices rose sharply amid higher raw material costs, pushing input price inflation to a three-month high. The Stanbic IBTC PMI survey, compiled by S&P Global from responses from about 400 private sector firms across agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail and services, is regarded as a key early indicator of economic trends.
Source:The Guardian
February 02, 2026 23:39 UTC
Diplomats advocate coordination to boost Nigeria-EU trade
Diplomats have called for stronger efforts to translate existing cooperation frameworks into concrete, bankable business projects, highlighting that challenges to EU-Nigeria trade relations range from information gaps, regulatory uncertainty and access to finance. According to the Head, Foreign Trade Office in Nigeria at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, Ms Justyna Sitarska, EU-Nigeria relations are supported by multiple trade, investment and cooperation frameworks, including policy dialogue, Global Gateway initiatives and bilateral engagements. She said trade missions played a critical role in educating European and Nigerian partners to bridge perception gaps, often fuelled by negative media coverage. Consul General of France to Lagos, Mr Laurent Favier, said French companies had maintained a long-standing presence in Nigeria across several sectors, employing about 16,000 Nigerians. He described Nigeria as a strategic partner, but noted challenges such as visa processes, infrastructure, and the country’s international image.
Source:The Guardian
February 02, 2026 23:39 UTC
Nigeria’s future lies in agriculture, not oil — SDP’s Adebayo
Adebayo made the call in Numan, Adamawa State, while receiving a traditional title from the Bachama kingdom, led by the Hama Bachama, Homun Daniel Shaga. Adebayo emphasised the central role of education and agriculture in national development, describing education as a public good and rejecting the notion of private ownership of knowledge. “There is nothing called a private school. Anywhere knowledge is taught is a public place,” he said, while acknowledging the historical contributions of missionaries and traditional institutions to education in Nigeria. “This generation will not be a wasted generation,” Adebayo said.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 02, 2026 22:31 UTC