Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shows the naira weakened to N1,389/$ on Tuesday, as external reserves declined by about $850 million within three weeks. The currency came under mild pressure amid global volatility driven by geopolitical tensions and shifting investor sentiment. Intraday trading saw the naira fluctuate between N1,381/$ and N1,390/$, with an average rate of N1,386.3/$—underscoring a relatively tight but pressured trading band. This compares with N1,382.75/$ recorded before the Easter break. Activity in the NFEM window remained moderate, with interbank turnover at 48.66 million across 71 deals. On the reserves side, CBN data shows a…
Author: Newsdesk
The political landscape in Oyo State witnessed a notable shift on Monday with the appointment of Olufemi Onireti as Director-General of the City Boy Movement in the state—a grassroots mobilisation platform backing Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The appointment was announced in Abuja on Tuesday by the movement’s national Director-General, Francis Shoga, during the formal presentation of the appointment letter. The development comes days after Onireti resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he was an active member and a former House of Representatives candidate. ALSO READ Oyo PDP chieftain Onireti resigns, cites personal reflection His emergence is expected to reinvigorate…
Diagnostic accuracy among clinical health workers in Nigeria’s public health facilities has declined, falling from 56.2% in 2023 to 46.1% in 2025. This is according to findings from the National Health Facility Survey (NHFS) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Abuja on Tuesday. The report assessed diagnostic accuracy using vignettes across five priority diseases—diarrhoea, pneumonia, malaria, postpartum haemorrhage, and asphyxia—and highlighted gaps in healthcare delivery nationwide. It showed that the North-East recorded the highest diagnostic accuracy at 54.3%, while the South-West had the lowest at 36.7%. At the state level, Zamfara had the highest accuracy at 79.0%,…
No fewer than 1,176 artisans in Etsako Federal Constituency have benefited from the empowerment programme by Anamero Dekeri (APC-Edo), the constituency’s representative in the House of Representatives. Speaking at the presentation in Okpella on Wednesday, Dekeri said the initiative aimed to enhance skills and boost livelihoods. The beneficiaries come from the constituency’s three local government areas: Etsako East, Etsako West, and Etsako Central. Some were trained in hairdressing, farming, mechanics, and welding. Dekeri thanked political leaders in the state for creating an enabling environment to impact lives. He emphasized that democracy loses credibility if it fails to improve human life,…
The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has pledged urgent action to tackle water shortages in Dukku by upgrading existing infrastructure. Director of Operations Ilyasu Wara disclosed this on Tuesday in Dukku, headquarters of Dukku Local Government Area. The commission visited Dukku to assess conditions following complaints of severe water scarcity. Wara said the agency plans a rapid intervention to repair and expand the Dukku water scheme rather than starting a new project. “From what we have seen, this is something we can act on quickly. I will report back and push for immediate support,” he said. He…
The Lagos Chapter of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) has urged members to prioritise regular screenings and wellness practices to reduce occupational health risks. The call came on Tuesday during a virtual lecture marking World Health Day 2026, themed “Together for Health, Stand with Science.” Dr. Oluwabunmi Fatungase, Chief Medical Director at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, highlighted rising health risks among female engineers from sedentary lifestyles, stress, and environmental exposure. She identified non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, breast, and cervical cancers, as major concerns, emphasizing early detection through routine check-ups. Fatungase advised women to begin…
The Wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has described health as the greatest wealth and a fundamental measure of a thriving society. Soludo, also the Founder of Healthy Living Initiative, made the assertion in a statement on Tuesday to mark World Health Day commemorated every April 7. Ashenews gathered through NAN reports that World Health day is a global health awareness course under the sponsorship of the World Health Organisation. Soludo called for urgent efforts to build a strong and inclusive healthcare system in the country. She said no society could truly progress without prioritising the health and…
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), on Tuesday, commenced the screening of 173 Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) candidates from the South East zone for Overseas Scholarships Scheme. Ashenews reports that the exercise, held at the Geology Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), attracted applicants from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States. The PTDF overseas scholarship scheme is part of the Federal Government’s flagship initiatives aimed at building indigenous capacity and reducing reliance on foreign expertise in Nigeria’s energy industry. Speaking during the exercise, Mr Afam Ikwuemesi, Team Lead for the South East…
Zenith Bank has earned N291.8 billion from commissions and fees in the 2025 financial year. The company disclosed this in its financial results for the year, which was released on Tuesday. Bank fees and commission income include credit-related fees, which comprise advisory, penal, and commitment fees charged for administration and advisory services to customers up to the point of acceptance of offer letters. Other items under this segment are account maintenance fees (N1 on every N1,000 in respect of all customer-induced debit transactions) and card maintenance fees, charged monthly and valid throughout the card’s period. According to the bank’s results,…
Investor Bill Ackman has launched a $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group (UMG), the label behind global superstars including Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny, in a cash-and-stock transaction that could reshape the global music industry. The proposed deal, announced by Ackman’s hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management, would see Universal Music merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings, a special acquisition vehicle approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2023. This is according to a statement by the company as seen by AP News On April 7, 2026. Under the terms of the offer, Universal Music shareholders would…