Author: Moyosore Rokosu

The Federal Government of Nigeria has partnered with the World Bank in a new initiative aimed at reducing poverty and enhancing the living conditions of vulnerable groups nationwide. World Bank Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa Ousmane Diagana made the statement while meeting with Prof. Yilwatda Nentawe, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and his Minister of State, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, in Abuja. This development comes as the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) refuted recent remarks made by former Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Ndume, describing his criticism of the World Bank loans secured by President Bola…

Dangote Refinery has introduced a new cut in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, reducing it from N865 to N835 per litre. Anthony Echiejina, Dangote’s Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, made the pricing change official in a statement released in Lagos on Wednesday. He stated that the recent decline in global crude oil prices, which have dropped from above $70 to $64 per barrel in recent days, was the reason for the cut. The revised gantry price of N835 per litre reflects a 3.5% decrease from the N865 per litre rate that had…

When you hear someone say, “You’ll live long like tortoise,” it’s not just a playful blessing. In the animals kingdom, some creatures are really out here living their best lives for over 100 years and counting! While many of us are still hustling and praying for 70 years with good health in this Nigeria, some animals are clocking centuries without stress. No high BP, no fuel scarcity, just vibes and longevity. Let’s take a trip through the wild side and meet five animals whose lifespans will shock you. Some of them you’ve probably seen before, others live far away in…

The UEFA Champions League (UCL) semifinal lineup has been officially confirmed, featuring four top-tier clubs from four distinct European leagues who have earned their places in the final four. The route to the final is clearly obvious after a fierce round of quarterfinal matches. The first team to guarantee their spot in the semifinals was Paris Saint-Germain, who defeated Aston Villa by a slim margin of 5–4 on aggregate. Barcelona swiftly joined them, even though they lost to Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in the second leg of their quarterfinal match. Inter Milan also progressed after surviving a strong challenge from Bayern…

Petrol prices in Nigeria may drop further to approximately N800 per litre soon, driven by the continued decline in global crude oil prices and the reinstatement of the naira-for-crude swap arrangement for local refiners, according to insights from oil marketers and energy analysts on Wednesday. The possible price reduction coincides with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s second downward revision in less than a week, which saw it cut its ex-depot prices for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N835 per litre. Experts in the downstream sector suggest the N800/litre benchmark could be attainable if crude oil prices fall closer to $50 per…

Arsenal secured a dominant 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, following a 2-1 triumph in the second leg held Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Despite an early scare and a missed penalty from Bukayo Saka in the 13th minute, the Gunners, who entered the game with a 3-0 lead from the first leg, continued to dominate. The match remained goalless at halftime, with both sides picking up early yellow cards. David Alaba and Raul Asensio were booked in the 4th and 11th minutes, respectively, while Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya also received a…

The Nigerian naira strengthened against the US dollar on Tuesday in the official foreign exchange market, following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) injection of additional dollar liquidity to alleviate demand pressures. CardinalStone Partners Limited, an investment banking firm, reported that the CBN sold more than $30 million at rates ranging from N1,590.00 to N1,601.50 per dollar as part of its market intervention. As a result, the exchange rate at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) improved by 1.66%, closing at N1,599.00/$. In contrast, the parallel market witnessed a depreciation of the local currency by 31 basis points, with the…

Controversial Nigerian singer Badmus Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, evaded re-arrest on Tuesday following a new petition filed against him. Portable obtained freedom after veteran fuji artist, Okunola Saheed, popularly nicknamed Osupa, abandoned his appeal. Osupa had petitioned the police accusing Portable of criminal defamation, criminal intimidation, inciting public disturbance and cyberstalking. Acting on Osupa’s petition, the Kwara State Police command had on Monday dragged Portable before a Kwara State Upper Area Court in Ilorin. Potable was arraigned for offences deemed contrary and punishable under Section 392 (Criminal Defamation), Section 114 (Inciting Disturbance), Section 397 (Criminal Intimidation) of the Penal…

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, April 18, and Monday, April 21, 2025, as public holidays to mark Good Friday and Easter Monday celebrations. Mrs. Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Interior, made this declaration in a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday. The statement explained that the two-day holiday is to allow Christians across the country to celebrate the Easter season, which symbolises the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “These public holidays are intended to mark Good Friday and Easter Monday celebrations, respectively,” Ajani noted. Minister Extends Easter Felicitations The Ministry’s statement also conveyed…

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Monday made a slight downward revision to its oil demand growth forecast, attributing the change to the economic impact of U.S. tariffs on the global economy. According to a Reuters story that cited the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Monthly Oil Market story for April, the Secretariat has revised its 2025 demand prediction from 1.4 million barrels per day to 1.3 million barrels per day. Both forecasts are down 150,000 bpd from last month’s figures. The price of OPEC’s basket of twelve crudes fell to $66.25 a barrel on Monday,…