By Esther Ososanya Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has delivered a sobering warning to the continent’s leaders: Unless powerful fuel import interests are confronted head-on, no new refinery will ever be built again in sub-Saharan Africa. Speaking at the Global Commodity Insights Conference in Abuja, the billionaire industrialist declared that entrenched rent-seeking, offshore fuel cartels, …
By Esther Ososanya Security chiefs in the Federal Capital Territory have intensified efforts under Operation Sweep, a coordinated multi-agency crackdown on criminal activities, following a high-level strategy meeting held in Abuja. The meeting, convened between FCT Service Commanders and the Director of Security, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), focused on assessing field reports, identifying operational …
By Esther Ososanya Dealmaking in the U.S. upstream oil and gas sector dropped sharply in Q2 2025. Investor caution increased as energy and equity markets turned volatile. Merger and acquisition (M&A) deals fell by 21%, totalling just $13.5 billion between April and June. This slump contrasts sharply with recent performance. In 2023, the sector recorded …
By Esther Ososanya The United States Mission in Nigeria has issued an important clarification on visa rules, stating that the expiration date on a U.S. visa does not determine how long a visitor can remain in the country. In a public advisory posted Friday via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the mission stressed that …
By Esther Ososanya Acting Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), Prof. Lar Patricia Manko, has rejected claims by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike that the university illegally seized 11,000 hectares of land. She clarified that the land was legitimately allocated by the federal government and is critical to the institution’s long-term growth. …
By Esther Ososanya The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended renaming the International Conference Centre (ICC) after President Bola Tinubu, dismissing claims of sycophancy. Speaking at his monthly media parley in Abuja on Thursday, Wike said the decision was based on merit, not politics. He said, “That centre is booked until 2027, …
By Esther Ososanya The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has clarified details surrounding the armed robbery incident that occurred in Zone E, Apo Resettlement, on June 23, 2025, cautioning against the spread of misinformation that could derail ongoing investigations. The development was made public via an official press release signed by the FCT Police …
By Esther Ososanya In a rare and striking speech at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings, Jason Miller, a top communication strategist and former senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, laid out a bold recalibration of U.S.-Africa trade relations, one grounded in what he called “partnerships over promises.” Addressing policymakers, industry leaders, and investors in …
By Esther Ososanya Seven officers of the Nigerian Navy were on Tuesday, decorated with new ranks of Lieutenant Commander at a promotion ceremony held at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja. The event, referred to in naval tradition as the “shipping of stripes,” was made public through a statement issued by Commodore A. Adams Aliu, Director …
The U.S. House of Representatives has banned WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform owned by Meta Platforms, from all official government-issued devices, citing data security concerns. According to a memo issued Monday by the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, the House’s Office of Cybersecurity flagged WhatsApp as a “high risk” app. Reuters reported that …
