The 98th Academy Awards took place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre, celebrating the best films released in 2025, and announcing winners in various categories of the 2026 Oscars. The ceremony, hosted for the second consecutive year by Conan O’Brien, lasted about three hours and 45 minutes. It was broadcast on ABC and streamed on Hulu. This year’s Oscars featured a garden courtyard–themed stage and live performances, including “I Lied To You” from Sinners. The ceremony also included a tribute by Barbra Streisand to Robert Redford, as well as the traditional In Memoriam segment. Security was reportedly heightened…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) says six healthcare workers contracted Lassa fever within one week, raising concerns about occupational exposure among frontline health personnel. The NCDC disclosed this on Monday in its Lassa Fever Situation Report for Epidemiological Week 9, covering February 23 to March 1. According to the report, the infections occurred as the country continues to battle the viral haemorrhagic disease across several states. The agency said that, cumulatively, 37 healthcare workers have been infected with Lassa fever in 2026. It added that Nigeria recorded 65 confirmed cases during the week under review, a…
The FinTech Association of Nigeria has commended recent regulatory measures introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying they will strengthen banking security, curb fraud and boost public confidence in the financial system. Mr. Oluwaseun Adesanya, National Treasurer of the FinTech association, said this in an interview in Lagos.Adesanya spoke on the sidelines of an induction and award ceremony organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) while reacting to the apex bank’s latest policies. According to him, the CBN introduced four reforms within two days between Tuesday and Thursday as part of efforts to enhance the…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has indicated that Nigerian banks may be required to raise additional capital following the outcome of a new stress-testing exercise designed to assess the resilience of their credit portfolios to economic shocks. In a directive to banks, the apex bank said the stress test will take effect from April 1, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen risk management and financial stability in the banking sector. According to the CBN, lenders that record a capital shortfall after the exercise will be required to raise fresh capital to bridge the gap within 18 months. The…
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total of N1.894 trillion as Federation Account revenue for February 2026 among the Federal Government, states and local government councils. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa. The revenue was shared at the March 2026 FAAC meeting held in Abuja. The N1.894 trillion distributable revenue comprised N1.274 trillion from statutory revenue and N619.119 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT). ALSO READ CBN sets ₦20,000 transaction limit for newly activated banking…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and other financial institutions to restrict certain banking services to large loan defaulters in a move aimed at strengthening financial stability and curbing credit abuse within the banking sector. In a circular dated March 12, 2026, and signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, Olubukola Akinwunmi, the apex bank instructed all lenders to deny additional credit facilities to large-ticket obligors whose loans have become non-performing. The circular, titled “Restriction of Banking Services to Non-Performing Large Ticket Obligors,” said the directive is part of the CBN’s mandate to promote a sound financial…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a temporary ₦20,000 transaction limit for customers who activate or reinstall mobile banking applications, as part of new measures to curb rising digital fraud. Under the directive, transactions carried out through a newly activated banking app will be restricted to ₦20,000 within the first 24 hours of activation. After the initial 24-hour period, normal transaction limits will be restored once the bank completes necessary verification checks. The policy is aimed at strengthening security across Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital banking ecosystem and reducing the risk of unauthorised account access, identity theft and fraudulent…
Nigeria’s deposit money banks (DMBs) placed nearly N7 trillion in excess liquidity at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) as of March 12, 2026, underscoring a persistent cash surplus in the banking system. Data released by the apex bank at the close of business on Thursday showed that banks deposited about N6.96 trillion at the facility on Wednesday, March 11, before easing slightly to N6.69 trillion on March 12. The trend reflects sustained liquidity inflows into the financial system, with banks opting to earn overnight interest from the CBN rather than expand lending immediately. Figures from…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced stricter controls on suspected fraudulent transactions, Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolment and access to customer data within the banking system. The measures were contained in a circular dated March 12, 2026, titled “Addendum to the Revised Regulatory Framework for Bank Verification Number (BVN) Operations and Watch-List for the Nigerian Banking Industry 2021.” Signed by the Director of Payments System Policy Department, Musa I. Jimoh, the circular was addressed to all banks, other financial institutions and payment service providers operating in Nigeria. ALSO READ CBN to banks: Restrict services to large loan defaulters…
The Nigerian Army has directed successful candidates for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 29/2026 to report for officer cadet training at the Officer Cadet Training Wing of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, in Kaduna State on March 27, 2026. The directive was contained in a public announcement signed by the Military Secretary of the Army and published through the Army’s official communication channels. According to the statement, the list of successful candidates has been released online and can be accessed via the Army’s recruitment portal. “The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public that the…