News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Kashifu Inuwa The National Information Technology Development Agency ,NITDA, has informed the Jigawa State Government, and Galaxy Information Technology and Telecommunications ,Galaxy ITT, on the need to adopt strategic approach to digital transformation and economic development. At the Galaxy ITT Repositioning Retreat in Abuja over the weekend, Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa lamented the continued dependence of Jigawa State and other parts of Northern Nigeria on Federal allocations despite the availability of abundant human and natural resources. He hinted that Jigawa must rethink its development strategy by identifying and harnessing its youthful population, land and other resources to build a sustainable economy capable of thriving without excessive dependence on Federal revenue. The NITDA DG identified the lack of clear development plans and excessive focus on politics as some of the major challenges hindering development in Northern Nige...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja As part of efforts to improve efficiency, resilience and long-term value in realty sector, the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria ,REDAN, has called on developers to embrace green innovation.  Green innovation is the use of new products or services that protect the environment and reduce ecological disasters such energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy, sustainable construction materials, water efficiency, waste management and smart technologies.  President of REDAN, Oba Akintoye Adeoye stated this at a conference organised by REDAN and Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria ,MBAN, in partnership with the Nigeria Mega Project Expo 2026 in Abuja, with theme: "ESG as a Competitive Advantage: Blended Finance, Green Innovation, and Governance for Nigeria’s Real Estate Future." Adeoye disclosed that such solutions could reduce operating costs, improve building quality and enhance occupants’ wellbeing. "We must embrace green i...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja L-R: Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, FFS, Olumode Adeyemi and  Comptroller-General of Customs ,CGC, Adewale Adeniyi displaying the Memorandum of Understanding , MoU, signed between the Agencies in Abuja recently.  The Nigeria Customs Service ,NCS, has sealed a deal with the Federal Fire Service ,FFS, and Unilever Nigeria Plc to protect consumers, safeguard lives and support economic growth. Comptroller-General of Customs ,CGC, Adewale Adeniyi said over the weekend in Abuja, that the seperately signed Memoranda of Understanding ,MoUs, will strengthen inter-agency and public-private collaboration, enhance security, protect legitimate trade and safeguard lives.  Adeniyi described the MoU as a bold, deliberate and strategic step towards  supporting the shared mandates of both agencies to protect lives, property and critical national assets. He disclosed that the agreement would enhance fire safety standards across Customs...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele The Ministry of Finance has been tipped off to lead a comprehensive forensic audit of the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, in order to eliminate ghost workers.  This is even as the Ministry is expected to coordinate a review of the Federal Government's accounting systems, including the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System ,IPPIS.   This followed a resolution by the Federal Executive Council , FEC, on August 19, 2026, in response to findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ,ICPC, on fake agencies, ghost workers, and other control failures. President Bola Tinubu had on Friday disclosed that the exercise will establish the nature and extent of weaknesses in the government’s control system, and determine how such weaknesses have been exploited. The first review will focus on a forensic audit of go...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission ,RMAFC, has formed a strategic alliance with the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ,NEITI, to bolster financial flows in extractive sector.    RMAFC Chairman, Dr Mohammed Shehu, who stated this on Friday in Abuja, at a courtsey visit to the Executive Secretary of  NEITI, Mr Musa Adar, disclosed that the partnership would improve revenue monitoring, transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive industries. He praised NEITI for providing credible information on operations and financial flows in the extractive industries, which  strengthened accountability, describing the longstanding partnership between the agencies as strategic and mutually beneficial to both institutions and the country. NEITI’s work had also improved public understanding of Nigeria’s extractive sector and promoted openness in managing the country’s natural resources, just as th...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Taiwo Oyedele The Federal Government has validated Moody"s reversal of Nigeria's sovereign credit outlook from stable to positive, affirming the country's long-term foreign and local currency issuer ratings at B3.  This was even as the Federal Government linked the reversal to the tangible impact of macroeconomic and fiscal reform agenda over the past three years. Moody is a global Rating Agency that provides financial research on bonds issued by commercial and the government entities. The agency had on Friday, attributed the improved outlook to a markedly stronger external position, underpinned by sizeable current account surpluses, rising foreign exchange reserves, improved functioning of the foreign exchange market, and more effective transmission of monetary policy. Also, that Nigeria's current account surplus is projected to widen to about 6.1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product ,GDP, in 2026, while gross external reserves have ris...