Growing research suggests the shingles vaccine may offer broader health benefits beyond preventing herpes zoster, including a potential role in reducing dementia risk. A new study published in The Lancet indicates that vaccination against shingles may reduce or delay dementia diagnoses among older adults, adding to emerging findings connecting the vaccine with improved cardiovascular outcomes and slower biological ageing. The study analysed health records of nearly 230,000 adults in Ontario, Canada, born between 1930 and 1960 and registered with primary care providers. Researchers leveraged the province’s 2016 immunisation programme, which offered the single-dose live-attenuated herpes zoster vaccine, Zostavax, free to…
Author: Editor
Many people ask why bank loans in Nigeria are expensive, difficult to access or short-term. One of the major reasons is loan repayment. When loans are not repaid, banks become more cautious, interest rates rise, and fewer people get access to credit. This is not just a banking issue. It affects traders, workers, small business owners and the wider economy. What does loan repayment mean? Loan repayment simply means paying back borrowed money as agreed, usually in monthly installments. When borrowers repay on time, banks are able to lend again to other people. When many borrowers do not repay, banks…
The naira strengthened against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange market, opening the week on a firmer note compared with levels recorded at the start of the previous week. Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday showed the local currency closing at N1,354.9 per dollar, improving from N1,384.5 per dollar recorded on the corresponding Monday last week. The gain comes ahead of the apex bank’s 304th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting later in February — its first for 2026 — as policymakers continue efforts to stabilise the foreign exchange market and contain inflationary…
The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has reaffirmed the commitment of Muslims in the area to follow the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto on all Islamic matters. Akeugberu stated this amid what he described as the resilience of Muslims in Yoruba land in the face of attempts by divisive elements, allegedly driven by political motives, to incite them against the leadership of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah. According to him, “The Ummah in Oyo Land will, by the will of Allah, follow the leadership of the Sultan in all Islamic-related matters.” He added that the…
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has denied reports suggesting it imports finished Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into Nigeria, describing the claims as misleading and inaccurate. In a statement on Monday, the refinery said publications attributed to S&P Global — and amplified through newspaper advertisements — misrepresented its operations and created a distorted picture of the country’s refining landscape. The company said the issue was addressed during an S&P Global forum held in the United Kingdom, where clarification was provided regarding its activities. It added that the forum acknowledged the refinery’s role in global refining developments following the explanation. ALSO READ Dangote targets…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will hold its 304th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Monday and Tuesday, February 23–24, 2026. The schedule was disclosed in a circular published on the apex bank’s website on Monday. The meeting comes as the CBN continues efforts to contain inflation, stabilise the foreign exchange market and strengthen macroeconomic conditions. The MPC — the bank’s highest policy-making body — formulates monetary and credit policies aimed at maintaining price stability. Using instruments such as the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Liquidity Ratio (LR), it guides interest rate conditions and overall…
Eleven Nigerian states have emerged as pacesetters in fiscal transparency after achieving full compliance with public finance disclosure indicators in a transparency scorecard tracking subnational accountability standards. The assessment, built around the States Fiscal Transparency League Table, evaluates the availability and accessibility of key fiscal documents, including approved budgets, citizens’ budgets, budget implementation reports, and audited financial statements. The exercise reflects growing efforts to institutionalise openness in public finance management and sustain reforms introduced under the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) programme. The initiative was designed to maintain momentum after the conclusion of the SFTAS intervention, which incentivised…
Nigeria’s persistent loan recovery challenges are no longer episodic banking problems. They reflect deeper structural weaknesses in the country’s credit system. This continues to undermine financial stability, limit credit expansion and slow economic growth. Increase in non-performing loans, repeated debt restructurings, and weak enforcement mechanisms have altered borrower behavior, which in turn is making loan default a rational economic decision rather than an exceptional event. Addressing this challenge requires fixing how credit is designed, enforced and incentivized across the banking system. Understanding this distinction is essential if Nigeria is to fix the problem. Loan default in Nigeria, a system failure, not…
Israel’s message to one of the intermediaries was that it would not participate in the US attack, and therefore asked Iran not to target it. This request was also met with a negative response from Iran, which explicitly stated that with the start of US military action, Israel would be attacked. This made Netanyahu threaten to attack Iran with a force “1,000 times more than they have known”, alluding to the use of nuclear bombs. The US and Europe have been, as part of their propaganda, telling whoever cares to listen that Iran would use the bomb if it had…
This weekend, the Emir of Machina, Alhaji Dr Bashir Albishir Bukar Machinama turbaned Dr. Kole Shettima as the Zanna Yuroma of the Emirate. This exalted position is only given to people with sufficient depth, maturity, sincerity and tact to talk truth to power. The onerous duty of the new Yuroma, therefore, includes warning the Emir if he engages on the wrong path. Dr. Shettima clearly has the qualifications to play such an important and delicate role and I wish him success in executing his role to the glory of Machina, Yobe and Nigeria.The turbanning was the crowning event in an…