Day: August 22, 2025

Nigeria gears up for Digital Nigeria 2025 as NITDA inaugurates LOC

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has inaugurated the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2025 Digital Nigeria International Conference, billed to hold from November 11 to 13 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja. The annual event, which has grown into Nigeria’s foremost platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation in the digital space, will run with the theme: “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion and Global Competitiveness.” The theme reflects the country’s determination to harness technology for inclusive development, sustainable growth, and global…

Nigeria, JICA seal $31m startup boost at TICAD 9

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria has secured fresh backing for its innovation ecosystem as the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, advanced strategic collaborations with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Tokyo during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).   Talks focused on the $11.2 million Abuja Startup Hub, set to serve as a centre of excellence for entrepreneurship, and JICA’s $20 million early-stage technology startup fund, which will be matched with another $20 million from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA)…

Customs, ICPC strengthen Anti-Corruption drive with management sensitisation in Abuja

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has organised a sensitisation programme aimed at boosting the operational effectiveness of its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU). The event held in Abuja on Thursday, August 21, 2025, brought together top management staff of the Service. Declaring the programme open, Deputy Comptroller-General Greg Itotoh, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the initiative was part of ongoing efforts to instil a culture of integrity and strengthen internal controls. He assured…

Please Let NAHCON Be By Fatima Sanda Usara

Emporium Reporters

In recent times, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has found itself under an unusual and disproportionate weight of allegations. Petitions after petitions that are compiled to the volume of an encyclopedia lie in our archive. Hardly does an investigation into one of these petitions arise without being sensationalized in the media. It appears as if the media have found NAHCON a perpetual target for criticism. Yet, we must pause and reflect: why is NAHCON subjected to such constant public trial in the court of opinion, when other agencies…

Friday Sermon: The Islamic Stand On Armed Banditry (Hirabah)! By Imam Murtadha Gusau-Okene

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.   All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all creation, may Allah extol the mention of our noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the highest company of Angels, bless him and give him peace and security―and his family, his Companions and all those who follow him correctly until the establishment of the Hour.   Dear brothers and sisters! Know that, the whole issue of Hirabah, which is also known as banditry, can be summed up…

Foreign Affairs Ministry raises alarm over fake accounts impersonating Permanent Secretary

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a public alert over the malicious creation of fake social media accounts impersonating its Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, PhD.   In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Friday, August 22, 2025, the Ministry said the fraudulent accounts, particularly on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, were being used to solicit financial favours, personal gains, and even make false promises of contract awards.   The Ministry stressed that Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed does not own or operate…

Nigeria, Japan forge closer Ties at TICAD 9, Eye strategic partnership

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria and Japan have pledged to deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across key sectors following a high-level meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and his Japanese counterpart on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9).   Ambassador Tuggar commended Japan for its leadership and hospitality in hosting TICAD 9, highlighting the cordial ties between both countries and Japan’s sustained support for Africa’s development through TICAD and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).   The talks focused on boosting…

PCN seals 486 Pharmacies, Patent Stores in Niger state

Emporium Reporters

By Our Reporter The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 486 pharmacy and patent medicine premises in Niger State for failure to comply with regulatory standards. This was announced by Dr. Suleiman S. Ciroma, Head of Enforcement at the PCN headquarters, during a press briefing at the Council’s North Central Zonal office in Minna after a statewide enforcement exercise. Out of 672 premises inspected, comprising 129 pharmacies and 543 patent medicine shops across nine local government areas: Agaie, Bida, Tafa, Chanchaga, Lapai, Paikoro, Bosso, Suleja, and Gurara, a total…

Customs wraps up Reputation campaign, deepens reform agenda nationwide

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully concluded its nationwide Reputation Management Campaign in Zone ‘D’, Bauchi, reaffirmed its commitment to reforms aimed at strengthening integrity, deepening public trust, and improving service delivery.   The closing session, held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Zone ‘D’ Headquarters, brought together officers from various area commands within the zone.   Speaking at the event, the Acting Zonal Coordinator, Comptroller Musa Binga, represented by Comptroller Matawalle Ibrahim of Bauchi/Gombe Command, praised officers for their commitment throughout the exercise and encouraged them to…

Tin Can Island Port hits ₦16.4bn Single-Day Revenue Through Bodogwu Platform

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a landmark revenue collection of ₦16.4 billion in a single day, made possible through the effective deployment of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as Bodogwu.   The Command announced the achievement in a statement released on Thursday in Lagos by its Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs Oscar Ivara. He quoted the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, as describing the development as a clear demonstration of the efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness of…