Nigeria could tap into the projected $650 billion global artificial intelligence (AI) expansion by strategically developing its coal reserves, a strategic policy and national development research organisation has said. The Galadiman Ruwa Center for Strategic Leadership and Communication made the submission in an open memo to President Bola Tinubu, urging urgent policy action to position the country within emerging energy–technology value chains. Speaking on the memo on Monday in Zaria, the centre’s founder, Dr Ja’afaru Sa’ad, said competition for AI dominance was increasingly becoming an energy-driven race, as major technology firms require large-scale, stable electricity supply to power data centres…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has condemned the wave of killings and abductions that continue to ravage the nation. Years of complaints and unfulfilled promises have failed to halt the violence, leaving communities devastated and citizens wary of empty condolences that offer no real protection. In a statement made available to ASHENEWS on Sunday, and jointly signed by CSN Secretary General Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo and National Director of Social Communications Very Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh, the church expressed “profound outrage and sorrow at the ongoing assault on human life and dignity.” The recent spate of attacks,…
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Monday joined protesters at the National Assembly in Abuja under the “Occupy NASS” movement. The demonstration followed the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, through third reading, with lawmakers removing the phrase “real-time” transmission of election results. Despite Senate clarifications disputing claims that electronic transmission was rejected outright, protesters insist the legislation must explicitly mandate “real-time electronic transmission” of results. ALSO READ Electoral Act: Senate to hold emergency plenary session on Tuesday ALSO READ Senate decision on result transmission threatens electoral transparency…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, as a foremost symbol of national peace and unity. Tinubu made the remark at the 10th Convocation Ceremony of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), held on Saturday at the university’s main auditorium in Ekiti State, where the Sultan received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration. Represented by the Sarki Fulani of Lagos, Mohammed Abubakar Banbado II, the President said the Sultan had distinguished himself as a bridge-builder and multifaceted leader whose contributions had strengthened harmony…
The naira ended the week on a stronger note at the official foreign exchange market, appreciating to N1,363 per dollar on Friday, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). CBN trading figures show the local currency followed a broadly stable but firmer trajectory throughout the week, supported by modest accretion of external reserves, even as the divergence between official and parallel market rates persisted. The currency opened the week at N1,384.5 per dollar on Monday, strengthened to N1,367 on Tuesday and N1,359 on Wednesday, before slipping slightly to N1,368 on Thursday. It recovered on Friday to close…
The naira ended the week on a stronger note at the official foreign exchange market, appreciating to N1,363 per dollar on Friday, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). CBN trading figures show the local currency followed a broadly stable but firmer trajectory throughout the week, supported by modest external reserve accretion, even as divergence between official and parallel market rates persisted. The currency opened the week at N1,384.5 per dollar on Monday, strengthened to N1,367 on Tuesday and N1,359 on Wednesday, before slipping slightly to N1,368 on Thursday. It recovered on Friday to close at N1,363…
Bitcoin plunged below $60,000 Friday, erasing all post-election gains and marking its sharpest decline since the 2022 FTX collapse. The cryptocurrency shed more than 50% from its record high of $126,080 set in early October 2025, wiping out roughly $2 trillion from the broader digital asset market. Market sentiment hits record lows The Crypto Fear & Greed Index cratered to 5—its lowest ever since launching in June 2023—signaling “extreme fear” across markets. Ethereum tumbled below $1,900, down 38% year-to-date, while total liquidations reached $2.67 billion in 24 hours, with long positions accounting for $2.31 billion. “Bitcoin’s decline resembles a perfect storm…
BUA Cement Plc has won the Most Compliant Listed Company award on the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) at the 2025 Made of Africa Awards (MOA) hosted by the NGX Group in Lagos on Wednesday. The award recognises the company’s adherence to market rules and corporate governance standards. The Made of Africa Awards celebrate brokers, issuing houses, trustees, fund managers, listed companies and other market participants for excellence in value delivery, compliance and overall market impact. Other award recipients included First Trustees Ltd., which won Best Trustee in terms of deal value, while Legend Internet Plc received the Market Debut Excellence…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered two new political parties — Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) — bringing the total number of registered parties in Nigeria to 21. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja. Amupitan said DLA emerged as the only association out of 171 applicants to meet registration requirements, while NDC was approved following a court order. He noted that the associations were assessed in line with Sections 222 and 223 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), relevant provisions…
Nigeria’s economic activity maintained strong growth momentum in January 2026, with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 55.7 points, marking the fourteenth consecutive month of expansion. This is according to the latest PMI report released by the apex bank, which shows broad-based improvement in business conditions across agriculture, industry, and services. The index remained well above the 50-point threshold separating expansion from contraction, indicating continued gains in output, demand, and business confidence. Of the 36 subsectors surveyed, 31 recorded growths, underscoring the breadth of the recovery. Sectoral data showed the industry PMI at…