A Somos Company and provider of numbering intelligence and mobile identity solutions, XConnect, has partnered with SONIO, an identity orchestration solutions provider, to enhance fraud prevention and compliance for banks, fintech firms and other regulated sectors. The partnership integrates XConnect’s network APIs into SONIO’s Identity Orchestration Platform, enabling enterprises to strengthen digital onboarding and identity verification through a single integration. According to the companies, the collaboration will benefit regulated sectors such as fintech, banking, online sports betting, gambling and other enterprises that require secure identity verification and compliance processes. ALSO READ New CBN measures to boost trust, curb fraud —…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Walk into any marketplace in Nigeria today, and you’ll hear the same exhausted refrain: “Politics is for them, not for us.” As we hit the mid-point of 2026, that sentiment has never felt more grounded in reality. With nearly every Governor’s Lodge now flying the APC flag, the map of Nigeria has turned a monolithic blue. On paper, the ruling party calls this “national integration.” But to the average Nigerian, it feels like the walls are closing in on our right to choose. The “joining the win” syndrome In Nigeria, we have a saying: “If you can’t beat them, join…
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, visited the access gates at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Friday to assess the performance of the newly introduced hybrid payment system for vehicles entering the airport. The visit followed the ministry’s directive restoring the hybrid arrangement—allowing both cash and electronic payments—after the earlier suspension of the fully cashless access gate system, in line with instructions from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. During the inspection, the minister monitored traffic flow at the gates and interacted with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) overseeing the implementation. He expressed satisfaction with…
The Council of Legal Education has released an updated list of 114 universities across the country that have been given approval to admit students into the Law programmes, including the Northwest University Sokoto (NWUS). The approval was contained in a public notice issued by the Secretary of the council through the Nigerian Law School and dated March 12, 2026. According to the notice, only universities accredited by the council are authorised to admit students into law programmes in Nigeria. “The Council of Legal Education hereby informs the general public, prospective students, parents, guardians and other stakeholders that only universities accredited…
Nigeria cements its status as Africa’s powerhouse, ranking as the continent’s largest producer of crude oil, palm oil, and rice, according to fresh data from Alpha Index. These rankings spotlight Africa’s dominance in global resources, from energy to agriculture. Ghana leads gold production, powering its export economy. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) dominates copper and cobalt, critical for batteries and electronics. Botswana rules diamonds, Ethiopia coffee, and South Africa boasts platinum, iron ore, manganese, sugar, maize, and timber. ALSO READ FG grants N250bn facility to BOA for smallholder farmers ALSO READ Nigerian needs 25m tonnes of maize yearly for…
Nigeria awoke once again to the grim reality of a war that refuses to end. Reports that more than 40 Nigerian soldiers were killed by terrorists in Borno State have sent shockwaves across the country. Whether the final number is slightly higher or lower, the tragedy remains the same: dozens of brave men in uniform paid the ultimate price while defending their nation. Each fallen soldier represents far more than a statistic. Behind every casualty is a grieving family, a shattered home, and a community that has lost a protector. For a country that has battled insurgency for well over…
Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has performed the Umrah pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, where he offered prayers for peace, security and unity in Nigeria. The revered monarch, who also serves as President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), undertook the lesser pilgrimage on Thursday, March 5, 2026, corresponding with the 16th day of Ramadan 1447 AH. A photograph released by the Sultan’s media team after the spiritual exercise showed the leader of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria alongside his two sons, Amir and Walid. During the pilgrimage, the Sultan prayed for Nigeria, the Muslim community…
The Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) has admitted 3,717 students into its science-based faculties and colleges, out of a total of 6,505 students admitted for the 2025/2026 academic session. This highlights the growing interest in science, technology and health-related programmes at the institution. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bashiru Garba, disclosed this during the university’s matriculation ceremony held at the S. A. S. Galadanci Convocation Arena on the main campus in Sokoto on Wednesday, where the newly admitted students formally took the oath of studentship. ASHENEWS observes that the science-based admissions form a major share of the 6,505 students admitted into…
The Northwest University Sokoto (NWUS) has expanded its international academic collaborations through a strategic partnership with India’s IPSC Pain and Spine Hospital and its academic arm, IPSC University, New Delhi, to support the redesign and development of the Northwest University Teaching Hospital (NWUTH) to meet global healthcare standards. The collaboration complements the university’s earlier partnership with the University of Lahore, Pakistan, aimed at strengthening medical education and research. NWUS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mukhtar Umar Bunza, said the initiative reflects the institution’s vision of “building a home of knowledge that speaks to the world.” According to him, upgrading the teaching hospital…
The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has summoned former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, to explain an alleged ₦210 trillion flagged as unaccounted for in the company’s audit reports covering 2017 to 2023. Kyari was summoned alongside former Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajia Isa, and former Group General Manager of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Bala Wunti. Chairman of the committee, Aliyu Wadada, issued the summons on Thursday after lawmakers reviewed the company’s audited financial statements. He said the former management team is expected to appear before the committee alongside…