The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) unveiled the Payments System Vision 2028 (PSV 2028) on Monday to strengthen the country’s digital economy and trade. Speaking in Abuja, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said PSV 2028 aims to deepen financial inclusion and expand digital payments nationwide. He described the vision as a strategic roadmap to build a secure, resilient, inclusive and innovative payments ecosystem that will position Nigeria as a globally competitive payments hub. “Nigeria’s payments industry has become one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative sectors over the past two decades,” Cardoso said, adding that digital payments have enhanced economic…
Author: Newsdesk
The Lagos State Government has empowered 5,339 residents with business tools and equipment, while graduating 5,310 others from its tuition-free skills acquisition centres in the past year. This forms part of efforts to tackle poverty and promote economic self-reliance. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Bolaji Dada, disclosed this on Monday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. Dada said the interventions reflect the government’s commitment to reducing poverty, creating jobs, and strengthening entrepreneurship. She noted that the state is investing in human capital development through its…
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has extended maintenance work on the Jos, Bauchi and Gombe 330kV single-circuit transmission line to complete Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) installation. TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Yola. Mbah said the maintenance, which started earlier this year, would now run until June 30, 2026. The extension will allow contractors to finish OPGW stringing along the 276-kilometre Jos-Bauchi-Gombe transmission line corridor. She noted that customers of Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) and Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) will experience limited power supply during the…
The Federal Government has welcomed the unveiling of the “Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer Workforce: A Global Crisis”, describing it as a timely call to strengthen cancer care systems worldwide. Dr. Uche Nwokwu, National Coordinator of the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), made this known in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, following the report’s unveiling at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago. Nwokwu said the report highlighted an urgent global shortage of cancer care workers and projected a shortfall of 100 million cancer workforce personnel by 2050 amid rising cancer cases worldwide.…
The Anambra State Ministry of Health has directed all proprietors and operators of mortuaries in the state to register their facilities and renew expired licences in line with the Public Health Law. The directive is contained in a public notice issued by the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Chukwulobelu Ugochukwu, on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike. According to the notice, all unregistered mortuaries currently operating in the state must immediately begin the registration process. Facilities with expired registrations or those due for renewal have also been directed to regularise their status without delay. The ministry stated…
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Monday protested the abduction of 42 pupils and teachers from public schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15. Members of the association, joined by civil society organisations, marched in their hundreds through Bodija, Mokola, Iwo Road, Gate/Bus Stop, and the state Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan. The protesters carried placards with inscriptions demanding the immediate release of all the victims. READ ALSO: Niger commissioner celebrates children’s day with orphans Speaking to journalists, student leader Mr. Moses Olawole decried the government’s negligence and delayed response in securing the release…
Nigeria’s banking sector recorded a further decline in asset quality in January 2026, with the non-performing loans (NPL) ratio rising to 8.03 per cent, following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) withdrawal of key regulatory forbearance measures. The latest figure, contained in the CBN’s January 2026 Economic Report, represents an increase of 0.52 percentage points from 7.51 per cent recorded in December 2025 and remains well above the prudential benchmark of 5.0 per cent. The rise in bad loans came seven months after the apex bank ended regulatory forbearance that previously allowed banks to restructure troubled facilities without immediately classifying…
The West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) says between 30 and 45 per cent of patients are malnourished upon admission into tertiary health facilities. The Founder and President of WASPEN, Dr. Teresa Pounds, disclosed this at a virtual news conference on Monday while announcing the society’s Fifth Annual Clinical Nutrition Conference, scheduled for June 22 to 25 in Asaba, Delta State. Pounds described hospital malnutrition as a silent epidemic, noting that it remains one of the most under-recognised threats to patient safety and recovery despite its serious impact on health outcomes. She added that the figure rises…
Mrs. Hadiza Kuta, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Niger State, on Monday marked this year’s Children’s Day with orphans drawn from across the state. Kuta, while addressing the children, said the event, originally scheduled for May 27, was postponed due to the Eid-el-Kabir festival. She expressed appreciation to the state government for providing resources to cater for vulnerable children and improve their well-being. “Our goal is to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive, fulfil their potential, and contribute positively to society,” she said. She stated that the celebration aimed to renew…
The naira closed at N1,372/$1 at the end of May 2026, reflecting a marginal depreciation of 0.36 per cent compared with N1,367/$ recorded at the close of April. Despite the slight monthly decline, the local currency posted a strong year-on-year gain against the dollar. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the naira appreciated by N213.50 against the dollar compared with N1,585.50/$ recorded at the end of May 2025, representing a 13.5 per cent annual gain. The performance reflects improving stability in the foreign exchange market amid sustained monetary reforms, stronger FX liquidity and rising investor confidence.…