Category: 📈Trends

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Monday held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the president’s official residence.

The meeting followed Kwankwaso’s appearance at the opening of the Nigeria Forest Economy Summit 2025 held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

It is the second publicly known encounter between the two men in just over two years.

Their last recorded meeting in the Aso Rock Villa took place on June 9, 2023, days after Tinubu’s inauguration, making Kwankwaso the first presidential candidate to visit the President.

Addressing State House correspondents at the time, Kwankwaso said he discussed politics and governance with the president.

He also said he might work with Tinubu, but did not state the details.

Although Monday’s meeting was not open to the press, the visit came only weeks after the opposition African Democratic Congress announced a broad-based coalition aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 elections.

Kwankwaso, 67, is a veteran northern power-broker and founder of the “Kwankwasiyya” political movement.

He served two non-consecutive terms as governor of Kano (1999-2003 and 2011-2015), was defence minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo and ran for president on the ticket of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in 2023, finishing fourth but clinching an emphatic victory in Kano State.

The NNPP won the governorship and a majority of state assembly seats, which cemented Kwankwaso’s continued sway over Nigeria’s most populous northern state.

Although the NNPP is not formally part of the ADC-led coalition, opposition figures have courted Kwankwaso as they seek to unify disparate parties ahead of the 2027 presidential race.

Presidency sources contacted for this report could not confirm the details of the discussion between the two men.

One source said the meeting was held at the residence and was, therefore, off limits for most aides.

Nigerian Digital bank PalmPay has once again secured global recognition, earning a place on CNBC and Statista’s 2025 Top 300 Fintech Companies in the World list.

This marks the second consecutive year the fintech platform has been listed among the world’s most innovative and impactful financial technology firms, placing it alongside global giants such as Revolut, Nubank, and Ant Group.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Founding Chief Marketing Officer at PalmPay, Sofia Zab, described the recognition as a strong validation of the company’s commitment to financial inclusion across emerging markets.

“To be recognised as one of the world’s top fintech companies by CNBC and Statista is a powerful affirmation of our mission to build a more inclusive financial system,” she said.

Zab noted that PalmPay’s strategy combines cutting-edge technology with deep local distribution to meet the needs of underserved communities.

“Through a customer-first mindset, we’ve built Nigeria’s leading neobank,” she added.

PalmPay currently serves over 35 million registered users, processing up to 15 million transactions daily. In Nigeria, its core market, PalmPay operates as a full-service neobank, offering services such as transfers, bill payments, credit, savings, and insurance, all available through its user-friendly mobile app.

The company also maintains a nationwide network of over one million agents and merchant partners and provides POS and API-driven solutions for merchants and enterprise clients.

Group Chief Commercial Officer at PalmPay, Jiapei Yan, said the fintech platform is building a neobanking infrastructure that aligns with the realities of emerging markets.

“We are creating the infrastructure for a connected digital economy where people and businesses can thrive through reliable, inclusive financial tools,” Yan said.

He added that the CNBC and Statista ranking not only affirms PalmPay’s progress but also highlights the scale of opportunity in emerging markets.

PalmPay recently expanded into Tanzania and Bangladesh, using smartphone device financing as a gateway to digital financial services for new users in these regions.

“Our focus remains on closing financial access gaps for everyday consumers and businesses, while expanding the partner ecosystem that fuels our reach and impact,” Zab said.

Earlier this year, PalmPay was also ranked #2 overall and #1 in financial services on the Financial Times Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2025 list. The ranking reflected the company’s rapid scale and market traction, based on revenue growth between 2020 and 2023.

Nigeria Senate President Godswill Akpabio has mocked the political alliances forming against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying they cannot remove Tinubu the way former President Goodluck Jonathan was ousted in 2015.

This statement was made in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), where Akpabio spoke at length about ongoing efforts by opposition parties to unseat President Tinubu.

He dismissed the alliances as ineffective and expressed confidence in Tinubu’s re-election.

In his words: “The Niger Delta region has assessed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and found him fit to continue in office beyond 2027. Let other people who are conspiring— they did it before—this time around, the entire Niger Delta will speak with one voice. We’re telling the president: on your mandate we stand. No conspiracy.”

Akpabio emphasized that the people of the Niger Delta have resolved to endorse Tinubu in the next election, adding that the region has not enjoyed such recognition since 46 years ago during the tenure of Dr. Joseph Wayas.

He cited developments under Tinubu’s administration, such as the establishment of the University of Environment and a University of Science in Ogoni land, as evidence of the region’s inclusion and recognition under the current government.

The post has since stirred reactions on social media, with many Nigerians weighing in on Akpabio’s remarks and the unfolding political landscape ahead of 2027.

See some reactions below:

@kaldureem: “The Muslim-muslim alignment no get head again now they want to use regional alignment.”

@emally: “Tinubu was a main player in the removal of Jonathan,so it’s only proper for the south south and south East to help remove tinubu.”

@marceleso107: “Benin nor join this Una talk ooo. Una don tire for Muslim- Muslim relationship. Una switch come this side e nor go work.”

@abesvich: “You will collect.”

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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has maintains that Labour Party presidential candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, must notify him before any visit to the state.

Speaking in Benin City on Tuesday during the commissioning of the New Edo Line transport company, Okpebholo clarified that the requirement is not a threat but a necessary security measure to safeguard lives within the state, including those of visitors.

He emphasized that as the Chief Security Officer of Edo State, it is his duty to maintain safety and order, irrespective of political affiliations or status.

The governor said in part …

“I don’t need to read an encyclopedia for people to understand what I was saying.

My job is to save lives—both of Edo people and visitors. If telling him, as the Chief Security Officer of this state, to notify me is a crime, so be it. I have no regrets. I repeat, before coming to Edo—notify me. It is not a threat. We have made our statement clear.”

The governor cited a personal experience to reinforce his position, recalling a previous incident during Peter Obi’s visit to Edo State where security protocols were reportedly disregarded.

“I went through this same process. When I came to the airport, the Commissioner of Police advised me to remain at the airport. I ignored it. My police escort was shot dead right in front of me,” he added.

The Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s external loan borrowing request of over $21 billion.

The loan package, which was presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, Senator Aliyu Wamako, includes $21.19 billion in direct foreign loans, €4 billion, ¥15 billion, a $65 million grant, and additional domestic borrowing estimated at ₦757 billion through government bonds.

Also included in the plan is a proposal to raise up to $2 billion through a foreign-currency instrument within the domestic market.

According to Senator Wamako, the borrowing request was initially sent to the National Assembly on May 27, but deliberation was delayed due to a recess and documentation challenges from the Debt Management Office.

Commenting on the approval, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, said most of the loans had already been incorporated into the 2025 budget framework.

“With this approval, all revenue sources, including external and domestic borrowing, are now in place to ensure full funding of the 2025 Appropriation Act,” he stated.

The bodies of two students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, who were declared missing three weeks ago, have been found in a forest area along the border between Ondo and Ekiti States.

The deceased students, identified as Andrel Eloho Okah, a 200-level student of History and International Studies, and John Friday Abba, a 200-level student of Economics, were reportedly discovered lifeless in a bush over the weekend, according to TVC News.

While the exact circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear, security sources quoted in the report believe the students may have been victims of abduction.

“The two missing AAUA students were killed by suspected abductors, and their bodies have been found where they were hidden,” a source was quoted as saying.

The tragic discovery has plunged the university community into deep mourning, with students and staff expressing shock and heartbreak over the loss.

The President of the Students Union Government (SUG), Akeem Ologbon, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday. He said the discovery of the students’ remains has caused widespread sorrow on campus and recalled the proactive steps taken by the union when the students were first reported missing.

“Specifically, we reached out to the anti-kidnapping squad in Akure, which has the mandate and expertise to handle such sensitive cases. We also contacted all relevant security formations within the state and ensured that the newly appointed Commissioner of Police was fully briefed,” Ologbon said.

Ologbon added that the union also liaised with the Scorpion Squad of the Nigerian Police Force in Akure to ensure the matter received the necessary attention across multiple security agencies.

“As we continue to process this painful news, we urge all students and members of the university community to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information. The Student Union is in close contact with official sources and will disseminate only accurate and confirmed updates,” he advised.

He assured the student body that the union will pursue justice for the deceased with unwavering commitment.

Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouk Aliyu, has expressed sadness over how some Nigerians have taken to social media to criticise the late former President Muhammadu Buhari following his death on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

Speaking during an interview on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Monday, Aliyu, a close associate of the late president, condemned the online attacks, urging Nigerians to show respect for the dead.

“It is quite unfortunate that Nigerians are heaping insults on former President Buhari after he has died. Each of us must have done something wrong to someone in one way or the other. We all are humans and have our different shortcomings. Buhari is no exception,” he said.

Aliyu acknowledged that Buhari was not a perfect leader but argued that his contributions to the country’s development should not be overlooked or dismissed because of his perceived flaws.

“Though Buhari had his shortcomings, he should be respected and praised for his own contribution to our national growth and development,” he added.

His comments come amid a wave of mixed reactions from the public since the former president’s passing. While some Nigerians have paid glowing tributes to Buhari, others have criticised his leadership style and decisions during his time in office, particularly between 2015 and 2023.

Richest man, in Africa Aliko Dangote, is seeking regulatory approval to build what would become Nigeria’s largest and deepest seaport in Olokola, Ogun State, in a bold move to expand his industrial and export operations.

According to Bloomberg, the proposed Atlantic seaport, expected to transform Nigeria’s maritime logistics, will be situated about 100 kilometres from Dangote’s massive fertiliser and petrochemical complex in Lagos.

It is designed to significantly improve the group’s export capabilities and serve as a strategic hub for Dangote’s growing footprint in fertilizer, petrochemicals, and future liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations.

In a recent interview, Dangote confirmed that his group submitted paperwork in late June to initiate the project, describing it as “the biggest, deepest port in Nigeria.”

“It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves, but I believe this kind of investment will inspire other entrepreneurs to get involved too,” he said.

Currently, Dangote exports fertilizer and urea through a private jetty near his refinery. The new port is expected to integrate and expand those logistics, potentially rivalling major ports like the Chinese-backed Lekki Deep Sea Port, which began operations in 2023.

In addition to fertiliser exports, Dangote is planning to venture into LNG exports from Lagos, a move that would require the construction of pipelines from the gas-rich Niger Delta to the southern coast.

“We want to do a major project to bring in more gas than what NLNG is doing today. We know where there is a lot of gas, so we’ll run a pipeline all the way and bring it to the shore,” he said, referencing Nigeria LNG Ltd., the country’s largest LNG exporter.

Dangote currently uses natural gas from the Niger Delta as a feedstock for his fertilizer plant’s hydrogen production, a critical element in ammonia and urea manufacturing.

He emphasized that transformative projects like this, guided by bold vision and long-term strategy, are essential to reshaping Africa’s economic future.

Earlier this year, Dangote projected that his conglomerate is on course to generate $30 billion in annual revenue by 2026 and expressed confidence in overtaking Qatar to become the world’s leading urea exporter within four years.