Author: Ochiabuto Nnaji
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over his repeated failure to appear before it to respond to alleged financial discrepancies amounting to N210 trillion. The directive was issued on Wednesday by the committee chairman, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, following a voice vote by members of the panel. The committee is investigating audit queries covering the period between 2017 and 2023, during which it says massive financial figures in the NNPCL accounts remain insufficiently explained. At…
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Zichis Agro Allied Industries Plc has secured a N2 billion non-equity capital injection from its core promoters, Chilla Entertainment Limited and Winners Investment & Trust Limited, in a move aimed at accelerating the company’s ambitious N50 billion growth and expansion programme. The funding was disclosed in a statement jointly signed by the company’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Akabusi Anthonia Chinyere, and Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Chris A. Ogbaisi. According to the company, the capital infusion represents a major milestone in its long-term vision of building a fully integrated agribusiness enterprise with interests spanning animal…
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Finance, to withdraw the proposed Customs and Excise Tariff Amendment (CETA) Bill 2025. They warned that the measure could create conflicting tax regimes and undermine industrial growth, investment, and job creation. The association expressed concern over provisions in the bill that seek to replace the current specific excise duty of N10 per litre on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) with a percentage-based levy tied to retail prices. Speaking on behalf of operators in the Non-Alcoholic Drinks (NAD) sector, MAN called for a…
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Africa’s largest banking group, Standard Bank Group, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the growth ambitions of Dangote Industries Limited. The bank pledged to play a key role in the planned listing of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and finance future expansion projects across Africa. The assurance was given during a strategic visit by Standard Bank Group Chief Executive, Sim Tshabalala, and senior executives to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser complex in Lagos. Following a tour of the facilities, Tshabalala described the refinery as a transformational industrial project with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s economy…
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Executive Secretary of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, has called on Nigeria to move beyond telecommunications expansion. He said that they should instead focus on broader digital transformation as the next phase of its economic development. Aboki made the call at the Policy Review Workshop on the National Telecommunications Policy 2000, organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on behalf of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani. He said Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness will depend on how effectively the country translates its strong connectivity infrastructure into…
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed the Lekki office of PWAN Maxi Property and Business Solution Limited over allegations that the company failed to allocate 20 plots of land to a consumer despite receiving full payment. The enforcement action, carried out on Monday, followed an investigation by the commission into complaints of non-allocation of land and alleged non-compliance with regulatory directives. Speaking during the exercise, the FCCPC South-West Zonal Coordinator, Olubunmi Otti, said the action was taken pursuant to Section 150(4)(a) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018…
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Accion Microfinance Bank has reported a robust financial performance for the 2025 financial year, driven by improved macroeconomic stability, aggressive digital expansion, and deeper engagement with small business customers across its operating markets. Speaking at the bank’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Accion Microfinance Bank said the improved operating environment played a critical role in the bank’s “bullish” performance compared to previous years marked by economic and social disruptions. He noted that relative stability in inflation trends, exchange rate movements, and general market predictability in 2025 allowed the bank and…
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investments Limited has achieved a significant milestone in African infrastructure financing. The company secured a first close of US$76 million for its successor Climate Transition Fund, a pioneering investment vehicle designed to mobilise domestic institutional capital and accelerate climate-resilient infrastructure development across Sub-Saharan Africa. The fund, which is targeting US$200 million at final close, is the first integrated multi-currency blended finance platform specifically structured for African institutional investors. By combining US dollar and local currency investments within a single fund structure, it aims to address one of the biggest challenges confronting infrastructure financings…
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigeria’s total merchandise trade stood at N34,788.59 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to fresh data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The report shows a mixed trade performance, with exports recording steady growth while imports declined significantly within the review period. Total exports rose to N21,169.27 billion in Q1 2026, representing a 2.77percent increase compared to N20,598.48 billion in the same period of 2025. It also reflects an 11.63percent rise from N18,963.41 billion recorded in Q4 2025. READ ALSO: CBN Releases $1.26bn For Fuel Imports In contrast, total imports dropped…
Lagos, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Lagos State is set to showcase its rapidly expanding fintech ecosystem and technology-driven economy as key attractions for global investors at the forthcoming Invest Lagos 3.0 summit, positioning itself as Africa’s leading gateway for innovation-led investment. The Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, disclosed this during an appearance on The Coffee Table podcast, where she outlined the state’s strategy for attracting international capital and strengthening Lagos’ position as a premier investment destination. According to her, the June 8–9, 2026 summit will highlight sectors where Lagos has established a clear competitive advantage,…