News Rider

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has endorsed the outcomes of the 10th France-Nigeria Business Council Meeting held at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.  This was even as he described the meeting as a clear signal that Nigeria and France are moving from dialogue to delivery. While trade between both countries reached $4.7 billion in 2025, Nigeria remained the top destination for French investment in sub-Saharan Africa. Tinubu said that the relationship carries real economic weight and must be translated into more jobs, industries, infrastructure, and shared prosperity. The meeting, which was also attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and France’s Minister Delegate, Nicolas Forissier, saw leading Nigerian and French businesses provide updates on key projects and commit to further expanding collaboration between both countries. President Tinubu commended the current Chairman of the France-Nigeria B...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Ahead of the 13th edition of the Africa CEO Forum on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. He was received at the Presidential Wing of the Kigali International Airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu and Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda.  Others who welcomed the President included the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed; Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires in Rwanda, Ambassador Ibrahim Zanna and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Chief Sunday Dare.  Founded in 2012 by Jeune Afrique Media and co-hosted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the forum has become the largest annual gathering of African private sector leaders, investors, and policymakers. It focuses on accelerating economic transformation through shar...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja President Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to foremost Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti on attaining 100 years.  In his congratulatory message on Sunday, President Tinubu said that Pa Fasoranti deserved all the encomiums on his special day.  His statement reads: "My joy knows no bounds as we witness Pa Reuben Fasoranti, our father, elder statesman, administrator, pro-democracy activist, prominent politician, and foremost Afenifere leader, attain the milestone age of 100 on May 11.  "Baba Fasoranti deserves all the encomiums that will come his way on this occasion for his uncommon life of service and immense contributions to this country. "Pa Fasoranti has distinguished himself in all respects: in his disciplined, Spartan way of life, his belief in principles, and his commitment to noble causes. His life is a metaphor for integrity, honesty, dedicated service to the nation and true leadership," he added.  Tinubu described Pa Faso...

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has joined forces with the Edo State Internal Revenue Services in combating tax fraud in the state. The agreement was sealed when the Chairman of Edo State Internal Revenue Service, John Odior paid a courtesy visit to the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commiission on Thursday. Odior disclosed that he was at the commission to explore areas of collaboration and deepen the relationship between the two organisations. He noted that collaboration with the EFCC became imperative in order to bring in those who evade taxes, pay little and those who are not captured into the tax net. "When you arrest a suspect, ask for evidence of their tax payment or tax clearance. You can write to us to find out whether the person has been paying tax or not, and we shall provide you with the information," he said.  Odior noted that through such information sharing, more people will be captured into the tax net and improve the revenue drive of the s...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja Nigeria and United States are forging ahead in deepening cooperation on security, counterterrorism, regional stability, and strategic partnership. National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who undertook a three-day working visit to the United States from May 4 to May 6, held a series of high-level engagements with senior officials of the US government.  He conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s strong commitment to Nigeria’s longstanding strategic partnership with the United States. Ribadu met with US Vice President J. D. Vance; Acting National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio; Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker; and Assistant Secretary of War, Daniel Zimmerim. The meetings provided an opportunity for both sides to review the current state of Nigeria–United States relations and to further strengthen ongoing collaboration in counterterrorism, defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, regional security, eco...

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja     Prof Innocent Barikor Determined to close the gap on exclusion, the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has taken firm decision to integrate waste collectors into Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) cooperatives.  The cooperative-led model of EPR  is expected to capture small scale businesses from the informal sector into the programme.  Director General of NESREA, Prof Innocent Barikor stated this during a virtual stakeholder sensitization on the cooperative-led EPR model as a formalisation strategy for the informal sector, organised by NESREA for stakeholders in the EPR programme. He said that the initiative aims to make the EPR ecosystem inclusive by bringing informal waste collectors, sorters, and recyclers into the formal system, giving them access to governance structures, financing, social protection, and environmental compliance support. "The cooperative-led EPR model prese...