The Government of Japan has donated food assistance valued at $853,000 to support humanitarian efforts in North-East Nigeria, where millions of people continue to face severe food shortages caused by conflict, displacement and economic hardship. The donation, channelled through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), is expected to provide life-saving support to vulnerable households across the region, particularly in the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. According to the WFP, Japan’s contribution comes at a critical time as the humanitarian situation in northern Nigeria continues to deteriorate, with millions of residents struggling to meet their daily needs. The…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
Providus Bank and Unity Bank have officially completed their merger and have commenced operations under a new identity, ProvidusUnity Bank, following the conclusion of all regulatory, shareholder and judicial approval processes. The merged financial institution said the development is a step in Nigeria’s banking industry, creating a stronger and better-capitalised bank with an expanded national footprint to better serve individuals, businesses and communities across the country. According to the bank, the consolidation combines Providus Bank’s digital banking expertise, innovation and customer-focused service with Unity Bank’s extensive branch network and nationwide presence, adding that the integration would strengthen financial inclusion, improve…
The Federal Government has announced plans to officially launch the Digital National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) on July 1 as part of efforts to strengthen education planning, governance, and service delivery across the country. The National Project Coordinator of the Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit (SPOIU) in the Office of the Minister of Education, Mr. Adebayo Onigbanjo, disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja on Monday. According to Onigbanjo, DNEMIS is a flagship component of the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure being implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative. He said the platform is designed to standardise…
A non-governmental organisation, Nurture and Empower Her Initiative (NEHI), has unveiled a menstrual hygiene handbook titled Bleed with Pride to educate adolescent girls in Bauchi State on menstrual health management and help them navigate puberty with confidence and dignity. The handbook, written by the Executive Director of NEHI, Florence Uzoanya, was formally launched on Wednesday at Government Girls College (GGC), Bauchi, during a sensitisation programme attended by students from six secondary schools across the state. About 60 students, comprising mostly adolescent girls and a few boys, participated in the programme. They were trained on menstrual hygiene management, what to expect…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has condemned the alleged assault and manhandling of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, by security operatives within the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja. In a statement issued on Wednesday, CISLAC Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described reports of Sowore’s treatment following court proceedings, which revoked his bail and ordered his remand at the Kuje Correctional Facility, as deeply troubling and inconsistent with democratic norms and the rule of law. According to the organisation, eyewitness accounts indicated…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks, payment service banks, fintech firms and other financial institutions to immediately freeze all accounts, assets and transactions linked to individuals and Bureau De Change (BDC) operators suspected of financing terrorism. The directive, contained in a circular dated June 24, 2026, mandates financial institutions to identify and place restrictions on all accounts associated with six individuals and four BDC operators listed by the Nigerian authorities over alleged terrorism financing activities. According to the apex bank, the action is in line with the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and…
The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has won the 2026 edition of the Young Ocean Scholars University Research Competition held in commemoration of World Hydrography Day under the aegis of the National Hydrographic Agency. Team FUTA, consisting of three members—Dr. Ifechukwu Nzelibe, a lecturer, and two students, Adepoju Jethro and Aborisade Ayomiposi, all from the Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, emerged as winners of the research competition organised by the National Hydrographic Agency at the Lagos Oriental Hotel on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The research was centred on the theme for the 2026 World Hydrography Day celebration, “Transforming How…
Nigeria’s broad money supply (M3) rose to N129.21 trillion in May 2026, reflecting continued expansion in liquidity within the financial system despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) sustained monetary tightening measures aimed at curbing inflation. Latest monetary data released by the apex bank showed that broad money supply increased from N124.99 trillion recorded in April to N129.21 trillion in May, representing an increase of N4.22 trillion within one month. The latest figure also marks the highest level recorded in the country’s monetary history. Broad money supply, also known as M3, measures the total amount of money circulating in the…
Despite sustained efforts by the government and financial institutions to deepen digital payments and financial inclusion, Nigerians continue to hold significant amounts of cash outside the formal banking system, with the figure rising to N5.19 trillion in May 2026. Latest Money and Credit Statistics released by the Central Bank of Nigeria showed that currency held outside banks increased from N5.08 trillion recorded in April to N5.19 trillion in May, representing a month-on-month increase of N109.34 billion or 2.15 per cent. The development underscores the continued reliance on cash transactions across the country, despite years of investments in digital payment infrastructure…
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, on Tuesday, received the Global CEO of MasterCard, Michael Miebach. Though details have not been made available as of the time of filing this report, ASHENEWS understands that Miebach’s visit underscores MasterCard’s interest in deepening its engagement with Nigeria’s financial sector and digital economy. According to reports, Mastercard told Nigerian officials that it currently facilitates about $2 billion in foreign exchange inflows into Nigeria annually through its various payment and remittance platforms. The company also highlighted its anti-fraud capabilities, noting that its technologies help prevent nearly $200 billion worth…