High interest rates, FX shocks, end of COVID forbearance trigger spike in corporate loan failures By Babajide Komolafe, Economy Editor At the backdrop of economic pressures on households and businesses, banks are now struggling with a rising loan defaults by businesses,  leading to a significant increase in bad loans portfolio of banks to N21.2 trillion. Financial Vanguard’s […]

By Peter Egwuatu  The Nigerian stock market, last weekend, closed the first month of the year, 2026, with over N6.7 trillion capital gains, just as oil prices witnessed a surge last week to about  $71.01 per barrel. Analysts noted that the surge in crude price last week, if sustained, would be favourable to Nigeria, adding that […]

Following a recent proposal by the Federal  to expand the exportation of electricity to neighbouring countries, a familiar national debate may be in the offing. Should Nigeria sell power to neighbouring countries when millions of its citizens live in darkness?  While the policy may appear like an economic opportunity and regional leadership benefit, underneath lies […]

By NICK DAZANG Two grim reports, and which should profoundly concern all Nigerians, were issued recently. One, by the United Nations, through its Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, disclosed that not less than 35 million Nigerians would face food insecurity in this year’s lean season, namely, May to October, and that another […]

The simple and straightforward appointment of the Awujale of Ijebu Kingdom, one of the most revered, is stalled like a car with a dead battery. Actions associated with the Benin monarchy, one of the most famous in Africa, is clanging like a faulty engine.   Meanwhile, the new Alaafin of Oyo’s public displays are like a man […]

By ARIZE NWOBU The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is in the forefront of a collaboration with other regulatory institutions to curb bank frauds and the results are manifest. Fraud losses fell to N25.85 billion from N52.26 billion in 2025, representing a 51 percent drop. Also reported cases dropped to 67, 518 from 70, 111, representing a […]

Abdul Leigh Balogun became a judge of the High Court of Lagos State in 1976. In a career as a trial judge spanning 17 years and three different decades, the man better known as A.L.A.L Balogun earned a deserved reputation as one of the most knowledgeable trial judges to adorn the Nigerian judiciary. His reputation for fairness […]

*Seizes drugs, 12,500 pentazocine ampoules in 6 states By Kingsley Omonobi Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested Uche Franklin Onyekwere, a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for concealing cocaine in his private part and the soles of his footwear. Onyekwere, 47, was intercepted on January 29, […]

An Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, has died after suffering a snake bite at her residence on Saturday. According to reports, Nwangene sought urgent medical attention at two different hospitals but was reportedly left untreated due to the unavailability of anti-venom at both facilities. Amemuso Choir, of which Nwangene was a member, […]

Founder and General Overseer of Freedom Apostolic Revival International Ministry (FARIM), Prophet Samuel Adebayo Ojo, popularly called Baba Authority, has said one of his priorities as a Christian leader is economic empowerment through job creation rather than the construction of large church edifices.