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NCS’s planned 4% FOB levy will harm industry — MAN

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has raised alarm over the Nigeria Customs Service’s reported plan to reinstate a 4% Free-On-Board levy, labeling it a potential catalyst for de-industrialization. In a statement Tuesday, MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, described the move as “unfortunate and retrogressive,” arguing it disregards the interests of manufacturers and other key stakeholders. MAN […]

Banking

Afreximbank launches $3b revolving credit facility for petroleum imports

The African Export-Import Bank has introduced a $3 billion revolving credit facility aimed at streamlining access to petrol, diesel, jet fuel, and other petroleum products for buyers in Nigeria, other African nations, and the Caribbean. The initiative, announced on Wednesday, targets sourcing from African refineries to reduce reliance on costly imports. Afreximbank projects the facility […]

has presented its 2024 Regulatory Impact Assessment, a comprehensive review aimed at overhauling existing telecom regulations
Telecommunications

Telcos order over $1bn in network gear from China — NCC

Nigerian telecom operators have placed orders exceeding $1 billion for network infrastructure from Chinese original equipment manufacturers, signaling a significant push to enhance service quality, the Nigerian Communications Commission announced Tuesday. The investment marks a revival of capital expenditure in Nigeria’s telecom sector, which serves over 160 million subscribers but has faced financial challenges in […]

Meta plans full AI-driven Ad creation by 2026 - Report
News

Meta launches AI assistant app to rival OpenAI, Google

Meta on Tuesday launched a standalone app for its Meta AI assistant, marking a significant step in CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to strengthen the company’s foothold in the increasingly competitive artificial intelligence space. The new app, separate from Meta’s core platforms—Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger—is aimed at boosting usage of the virtual assistant by offering […]

Spotify shares slide to 7% despite subscriber rise
News

Spotify shares slide to 7% despite subscriber rise

Spotify shares fell to seven per cent on Tuesday in a lower-than-expected second-quarter profits forecast, citing a sharp rise in salary-related taxes. This move overshadowed strong user numbers. The Swedish music-streaming giant reported that higher employee-related costs—largely tied to a spike in its stock price—led to 76 million euros ($86.47 million) in charges for the […]

France accuses Russia of repeated attacks since 2021
News

France accuses Russia of repeated attacks since 2021

France has publicly accused Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency of orchestrating a series of cyber attacks on government ministries, defence contractors, think tanks, and other institutions since 2021, in what it described as a campaign to destabilise the country. In a statement issued Tuesday, France’s foreign ministry identified the culprit as GRU unit APT28, a […]

Banks offload final $1.2bn debt From Musk’s Twitter buyout
News

Banks offload final $1.2bn debt from Musk’s Twitter buyout

A group of major banks, including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Barclays, and Mitsubishi UFJ, has sold the final portion of the debt tied to Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, now known as X, Reuters reported on Monday. The $1.2 billion in loans were sold at 98 cents on the dollar with a […]

Mastercard beats profit forecast as travel, leisure spending rises
Tech

Mastercard empowers AI agents to shop, process payments for you

Mastercard Inc. announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Microsoft Corp. and other top artificial intelligence firms to empower AI agents to shop and process payments online for consumers. The initiative, unveiled Tuesday, allows AI tools like Microsoft’s Copilot to autonomously search for products, present options, and complete purchases while suggesting optimal payment methods. For instance, a […]

News

Marks & Spencer suffers week-long outage after major attack by hackers

Marks and Spencer Group Plc., one of Britain’s leading retailers, is grappling with a severe cyberattack that has disrupted its operations for over a week, sources familiar with the matter revealed. The attack, identified as a ransomware incident involving the potent DragonForce malware, has locked down critical systems, halting online orders and impairing payment processing […]

Business

Adidas warns Trump’s tariffs may raise US sneaker prices

Adidas has cautioned that import tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump’s administration could drive up prices in the United States for popular sneakers like the Gazelle and Samba. These tariffs, part of broader trade tensions—particularly with China—affected a wide range of consumer goods, including footwear. “Since we currently cannot produce almost any of our products […]

C-One Ventures acquires Bankly to expand fintech footprint
News

C-One Ventures acquires Bankly to expand fintech footprint

Nigerian investment firm with interests in technology and finance, C-One Ventures, has acquired Bankly, a licensed microfinance institution known for serving Nigeria’s unbanked and underbanked communities. The acquisition, announced this week, includes Bankly’s operational assets, regulatory licenses, and entire team. These will be integrated into C-One’s expanding fintech ecosystem, which already includes Fulcrum, a supply […]