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Banking

FirstHoldCo seeks ₦253bn raise to hit ₦1trn capital base

FirstHoldCo Plc, the parent entity of Nigeria’s oldest commercial lender (First Bank), is moving to double the regulatory capital ceiling for international banks, signaling a new phase of aggressive expansion and balance sheet fortification. In a notice for its 14th Annual General Meeting scheduled for May 29, 2026, the group proposed a special resolution to […]

Nigeria's FX reserves hits three-month peak
featured Finance

Nigeria’s external reserves drop $855m in five weeks

Nigeria’s external reserves declined by approximately $855 million within five weeks, falling from $49.18 billion on April 1, 2026, to $48.33 billion as of May 7, 2026. This is according to the latest figures released by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The development reflects renewed pressure on the country’s foreign exchange buffers, even as reserve […]

Banking featured

FUGAZ banks report ₦2.365trn bad loans in 2025

Five listed Nigerian Tier-1 banks, also known as FUGAZ have released their full-year audited 2025 results for the period ended December 2025, reporting a combined impairment charges on loans to customers of N2.365 trillion compared to N1.44 trillion booked in 2024, according to Nairametrics. This represents a 64 per cent YoY growth and marks the […]

Tech

Streaming platform Twitch allows users join viral ‘mogging’ beauty contests

A 19-year-old user, Sammy Amz, recently discovered a growing online trend after spotting a Twitch stream featuring a 1v1 “mog-off” contest between a streamer and a stranger. The format, popularized in certain online communities and frequently broadcast on Twitch, involves participants competing in real time over perceived physical attractiveness. Intrigued, Amz later visited Omoggle, a […]

OpenAI employees consider selling $6bn stock
Tech

OpenAI, EU in talks over access to new cyber model

OpenAI is reportedly in talks with the European Union over access to its new cyber-focused model, while Anthropic has yet to release its Mythos model to the bloc, according to the European Commission. On Thursday, OpenAI said GPT-5.5-Cyber, a specialised version of its latest AI system, is being made available in a limited preview to […]

Business featured

NESG flags weak revenue, structural gaps as key threats to fiscal stability

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group has cautioned that despite recent improvements in key fiscal indicators, Nigeria still faces considerable debt risks, pointing to weak revenue mobilisation, deep-rooted structural imbalances, and ongoing reliance on borrowing to fund budget deficits and maintain public spending. The policy advocacy organisation made this known in its latest review of Nigeria’s […]

Business

UK records lithium-ion battery fire every five hours – Report

Fire brigades across the United Kingdom are responding to lithium-ion battery fires roughly once every five hours, according to new figures, with fire chiefs warning that safety awareness and regulation have failed to keep pace with the rapid spread of the technology. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in rechargeable devices such as mobile phones, electric […]

Business

Betting affects African families’ spending on food, others – Shoprite CEO

Rising gambling activity across Africa is diverting household spending away from essentials such as groceries, entertainment, and mobile phone bills. Executives from some of the continent’s largest companies are now warning that the trend is putting increasing pressure on family budgets. “People are spending money in a black hole that could have spent on food,” […]

Aviation

Turkish Airlines plane evacuated as landing gear catches fire

A Turkish Airlines aircraft was evacuated in Nepal’s capital on Monday after a minor fire broke out shortly after landing, temporarily shutting down operations at the airport, authorities confirmed. The incident involved an Airbus A330 carrying 277 passengers and 11 crew members from Istanbul. According to officials, the fire started in the aircraft’s right rear […]

Ports and Airports

PEBEC to clean up Lagos port corridors May 14-15

The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council has announced plans to commence a two-day clean-up and enforcement exercise along the Lagos port corridors as part of efforts to improve trade facilitation and enhance efficiency at the nation’s seaports. The operation, scheduled for May 14 and 15, 2026, will be carried out through PEBEC’s Ports and Customs […]

Nigeria is finished if manufacturing sector dies, MAN warns
Policy and Regulations

MAN urges Lagos to simplify tax structure for manufacturers

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has called on the Lagos State Government to simplify its tax structure to support industrial growth, reduce business bottlenecks and attract fresh investments into the manufacturing sector. Chairman of MAN Apapa Branch, Raphael Danilola, made the appeal during the association’s annual business luncheon held in Lagos with the theme: “Simplifying […]