Author: News Room
The media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, has defended his principal’s decision to change his position on petrol subsidy, saying a leader should be willing to review a policy when its implementation causes hardship to citizens. Mr Ibe made the position known in a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, in response to the presidency’s criticism of Atiku’s recent promise to restore petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027. The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had criticised Atiku’s position as a reversal of the policy stance he…
At least 60 of about 136 listed companies on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) haven’t paid dividends for at least three years in the five years from 2021 to 2025, PREMIUM TIMES has found. That compares with 51 companies in the half-decade period to 2021, when the number of quoted stocks was 156 (including ETFs), as reviewed in a previous PREMIUM TIMES report. A deep dive by PREMIUM TIMES showed that many Nigerian stocks don’t pay dividends for a variety of reasons, including strategic, regulatory, and policy-related factors. Some companies’ choice not to offer dividends to shareholders is not necessarily a drawback, nor is it a regulatory breach that authorities…
No fewer than a hundred star actors on Friday gathered at the BOS Hall (Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu Hall), LTV 8, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, to pray for their ailing colleague, Taiwo “Ogogo” Hassan. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Ogogo was diagnosed with stage-four cancer and was receiving treatment in a hospital. His daughters, Kira and Haleemah, appealed to Nigerians to help explore further medical options, including traditional treatment, following an alleged refusal by the hospital to treat him. The prayer session, which was ongoing as of the time of filing this report, came days after some of Ogogo’s colleagues appealed to…
World number one Jannik Sinner confirmed on Friday he will not compete in the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the season, because of a right knee injury. “Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year,” the Italian said in a statement. “We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my…
Walmart will soon allow you to pay for your items with Google Pay or Apple Pay. In an announcement on Friday, Walmart says it’s going to bring tap-to-pay capabilities to “select” Walmart and Sam’s Club locations starting August 24th, before rolling out support to all US stores by the end of 2026 and gas stations by mid-2027.This launch has been a long time coming, as Walmart was one of the last major retailers not to support Apple Pay or Google Pay. The retail giant even backed the launch of the short-lived CurrentC mobile payment service before rolling out Walmart Pay…
Digital Asset, the creator of the Canton Network, and former US House Speaker Paul Ryan’s American Idea Foundation plan to pilot a blockchain-based system for distributing state-administered benefits across three US states using the Canton Network.The RISE program is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2027 and would combine multiple benefits into monthly or twice-monthly payments, with spending rules applied to categories including food, child care and cash.According to Friday’s announcement, the system would automatically adjust benefit levels as household income changes and allow participating agencies to track payments, balances, spending and compliance data through Canton. Digital Asset…
Outer Banks‘ final season teased the idea of bringing JJ back from the dead — but did Rudy Pankow actually return to the show? During season 5, which premiered on Thursday, August 20, Kiara (Madison Bailey) struggled to cope with JJ’s loss. She immediately jumped at the idea of getting a crown that was rumored to resurrect people — despite the rest of the Pogues questioning the chance JJ would actually return. The series concluded with Kiara having a powerful moment where she reflected on her most meaningful moments with JJ. She took that as a sign from her late…
The factional National Chairman of the Accord Party, Chris Imumolen, has said the leadership crisis rocking the party is a legal matter that predates Governor Ademola Adeleke’s entry into the party and cannot be resolved by the outcome of the Osun State governorship election. Mr Imumolen, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, said the leadership dispute remained before the courts and would continue despite Mr Adeleke’s victory in the 15 August governorship election. He said it was, therefore, misleading to portray the internal crisis in Accord as a dispute created by the Osun election or by…
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has inaugurated sub-committees ahead of the 67th Regular National Council on Health (NCH), urging members to ensure that their recommendations are evidence-based, practical and focused on improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria. The ministry said this on Thursday during the inaugural meeting of the sub-committees in Abuja. The 67th NCH is scheduled to hold from 16 to 20 November in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The council, which will bring together key stakeholders across the federal and state health sectors, will be held under the theme, “From Commitment to Results: Delivering Quality and Equitable Healthcare…
New Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa has declared he is “hungry for more” after joining the Premier League champions from Aston Villa, saying he wants to continue winning trophies at his new club. PUNCH Online reported earlier that Konsa completed a £51m move, signing a four-year contract with the EPL champions, with an option for a further year. Konsa, in an interview on the club website, described his move to Arsenal as a privilege after signing a long-term contract with the club and said he was determined to build on his taste of European success with Aston Villa. “I’m super excited.…
