Day: August 3, 2026

Navy, Customs Intercept 518 Bags of Suspected Smuggled Rice on Badagry Waterways

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy has recorded another breakthrough in the fight against smuggling as the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, in a joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), intercepted four boats conveying 518 bags of suspected smuggled parboiled rice along the Badagry waterways. The Commander of NNS BEECROFT, Commodore A. Adams-Aliu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying the operation was carried out on July 31, 2026, by the ship’s patrol team, acting on intelligence from the Headquarters Western Naval Command. The operation involved personnel of the…

NRS Rolls Out New Tax Guidelines for Crypto, Other Virtual Assets

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has rolled out new Guidelines on the Taxation of Virtual Assets, introducing a comprehensive administrative framework for taxing cryptocurrency and other digital asset transactions in the country. The public notice, signed by the Management of the Nigeria Revenue Service and the Joint Revenue Board, announced that the guidelines are targeted at taxpayers, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), Peer-to-Peer (P2P) marketplace operators, tax practitioners, and all individuals and organisations engaged in virtual asset activities. According to the NRS, the framework outlines key tax obligations, including registration,…

NiDCOM Celebrates Nigerian Engineer Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi’s Historic Robotics PhD Achievement

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has celebrated Nigerian-born engineer, Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi, on becoming the first Black woman to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Robotics from the University of Michigan. In a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the achievement as a historic milestone and commended Dosunmu-Ogunbi for her brilliance, resilience and commitment to excellence. Dabiri-Erewa said the feat is another testament to the outstanding contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora across diverse fields,…

NICOWA Schools Celebrate Academic Excellence at 14th Graduation Ceremony

Lukman Laleye Babalola

NICOWA Schools, Abuja, has reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence and character development with the successful hosting of its 14th Speech, Prize Giving and Graduation Ceremony. The colourful event brought together parents, educators, stakeholders and distinguished guests to celebrate outstanding academic achievements and the graduation of another set of pupils prepared for higher academic pursuits. The Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, attended as special guest and presented awards to graduating students as well as exceptional pupils in the Nursery and Primary sections who distinguished themselves academically. Representing the National…

NiDCOM Confirms Release of Nigerian Girls Detained in Mauritius

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed the release of Nigerian girls who were detained in Mauritius, assuring that they are safe and on their way back to Nigeria. The Commission’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has remained in close contact with the relevant Nigerian Embassy over the matter. According to the statement, the Nigerian Embassy formally engaged the Mauritian authorities to secure the girls’ release, ensure accountability and prevent a recurrence…

Nigeria, Israel Renew Commitment to Boost Security, Trade, Technology Cooperation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria and Israel have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in security, defence, agriculture, technology, healthcare and trade as both countries seek to deepen their longstanding relationship. The renewed commitment was made during the valedictory visit of the outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in Abuja. Speaking during the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended Ambassador Freeman for his role in advancing Nigeria-Israel relations during his diplomatic posting. She reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to broaden collaboration with Israel in critical areas, including counter-terrorism,…

Nigeria’s New Ambassador to Israel Presents Credentials, Pledges Stronger Bilateral Ties

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Israel, Ambassador Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu, has officially assumed her diplomatic duties after presenting her Letters of Credence to Isaac Herzog at an official ceremony in Jerusalem on Monday. The development was announced in a statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, who said the presentation of the Letters of Credence formally marks the commencement of Ambassador Ufochukwu’s diplomatic assignment in Israel and reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding cordial relations between…

Court Orders HYPADEC to Pay Rafi Community N2.076bn Compensation, Resettle Flood Victims

Lukman Laleye Babalola

By Uthman Baba-Naseer,Minna.       A High Court sitting in Minna has ordered the Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC) to pay N2.076 billion in compensation to the Danu Jumu Community in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State over losses allegedly caused by flooding from the release of water from a dam. Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed, who delivered the judgment in Suit No. NSHC/MN/77/2023, also directed HYPADEC and other defendants to resettle the affected community to a safer location away from the dam. The suit was…

Niger Police Secure Conviction Over Stolen Motorcycle, Arrest Self-Kidnap, Gun, Drug Suspects

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Niger State Police Command has secured the conviction of a 22-year-old motorcycle theft suspect while recording a series of breakthroughs, including the arrest of suspects linked to an alleged self-kidnap plot, illegal possession of firearms, thuggery and drug-related offences across the state. The Command disclosed this in a release issued on Monday by its Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun. According to the statement, Abubakar Danladi, 22, of New Market, Minna, was sentenced to two years imprisonment without an option of fine after being found guilty of stealing a…

NNPC Takes Centre Stage as Top Executives, Experts Lead Key Sessions at NAICE 2026

Lukman Laleye Babalola

NNPC Limited is set to play a prominent role at the opening day of the 2026 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE 2026), with its top executives and technical experts leading major addresses, panel discussions and workshops at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The conference, Africa’s largest upstream oil and gas gathering, is themed “Thriving in the Evolving Global Energy Landscape: Collaborative Growth and Resilience” and brought together industry leaders, policymakers, investors and energy professionals to discuss the future of Nigeria’s…