The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says three international electricity customers—Togo, Benin Republic and Niger Republic—owe Nigeria a total of $17.6 million (over N25 billion) for power supplied under bilateral arrangements. The disclosure is contained in NERC’s Third Quarter (Q3) 2025 report, which shows that the three countries were invoiced $18.69 million by the Market Operator for electricity supplied during the period but remitted only $7.125 million, leaving an outstanding balance of $11.56 million for the quarter. In addition, the regulator noted that the international customers paid $7.84 million toward legacy invoices amounting to $14.07 million, leaving an unpaid balance…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has updated its glossary to include several Nigerian-originated words, among them “mammy market,” “nyash,” and “amala.” The December 2025 update, released on the OED website on Wednesday, features more than 500 new words, phrases, and grammatical forms, reflecting the growing global influence of Nigerian language, culture, and cuisine. Other Nigerian-originated words added to the dictionary include “moi moi,” “abeg,” “biko,” and “Ghana Must Go.” Internet slang such as “DM,” “brainfart,” and “chug” also appeared in the update. In addition to new entries, more than 1,000 existing definitions were revised, while editors explored the historical development…
The Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, in accordance with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The proceedings commenced during plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, when the Majority Leader, Major Jack, formally presented a notice of allegations of gross misconduct against the governor. Relying on constitutional provisions governing impeachment, Jack read out seven allegations levelled against Fubara. The allegations include the demolition of the House of Assembly complex, alleged extra-budgetary expenditure, withholding of funds statutorily allocated to the Assembly…
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has rejected a request by Alhaji Aliko Dangote to withdraw his petition against Farouk Ahmed, the immediate past Authority Chief Executive/Chief Executive Officer (ACE/CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Dangote had accused Ahmed of corrupt practices. In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, ICPC spokesperson John Odey said the commission had already commenced investigations into the allegations in the interest of Nigerians and would not halt the process. “The ICPC will therefore continue to investigate this matter in line with its statutory mandate and…
No fewer than 521 digital lending companies have come under the regulatory oversight of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) as the agency moves to sanitise Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital credit market. This follows the expiration of the January 5 deadline for full compliance with the Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025. The FCCPC had directed all digital lenders—whether app-based, online or operating through other non-traditional channels—to register with the Commission and comply with the new rules on or before January 5, 2026. With the deadline now passed, FCCPC records show a surge in compliance,…
Bandits have attacked the National Park Service (NPS) office in Oloka, Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, killing five officials. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday night, was confirmed on Wednesday by police authorities in the South-West state. Spokesman of the Oyo State Police Command, Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the incident but said security chiefs were already en route to the affected area. “Yes, there was an attack by yet-to-be-identified men on officials of the National Park Service. The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, and other service chiefs are currently on their way to the location,” he said.…
The United States has removed six common childhood vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended immunisation schedule, reducing the number of diseases covered from 17 to 11. US health officials announced the overhaul on Monday, following a December 5, 2025, directive by President Donald Trump ordering a review of the country’s childhood vaccine schedule against those of wealthy peer nations, including Denmark, Germany and Japan. According to an analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the changes move the US from one of the developed countries with the highest number of recommended childhood…
Former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has faulted the reported invasion of Venezuela by United States special forces, accusing President Donald Trump of recklessly “playing with World War III.” Akinyemi said the action amounted to a blatant violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty and exposed what he described as Trump’s double standards in global diplomacy. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, the former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs recalled how Trump had earlier accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of instigating a third world war at the onset of the Russia–Ukraine conflict. “At his first meeting…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) have challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to hear a suit filed by Aso Savings & Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings & Loans Plc over the revocation of their operating licences. Counsel to the CBN, Onyeka Ezeah, and NDIC’s lawyer, Abubakar Shehu, raised the objection on Monday before Justice Emeka Nwite when the matter came up for the defendants to show cause. Justice Nwite had, on December 29, declined to grant an ex parte application by the plaintiffs seeking to restrain the CBN…
The Vice-Chancellor of Northwest University, Sokoto (NWUS), Professor Mukhtar Umar Bunza, has reaffirmed the university’s commitment to strong inter-institutional collaboration with a courtesy visit to the College of Medical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). Professor Bunza, who led a delegation of senior officials from NWUS, was received by the Provost of the UDUS College of Medical Sciences, Professor Abdulgafar Jimoh. He explained that the visit was aimed at deepening academic and professional cooperation between the Colleges of Health Sciences of both institutions, particularly in teaching, research, and clinical training. According to the Vice-Chancellor, collaboration remains critical to the growth…