Author: News Room
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ismail Yusuf, has unveiled a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s Hajj administration through greater accountability, digital innovation and improved services for pilgrims. Speaking on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ summit on the Post-2026 Hajj Review and NAHCON Reform Agenda in Abuja, as monitored by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Yusuf said the event was convened to assess the 2026 Hajj operations critically and lay a solid foundation for preparations for the 1448AH/2027 pilgrimage. He described the summit as a forum for honest reflection rather than celebration, saying…
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased slightly to 15.91 per cent in June, down from 15.93 per cent recorded in May, offering a modest sign of slowing price pressures even as food prices continued to rise. The bureau disclosed this in its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released on Wednesday. According to the report, the headline inflation rate was significantly lower than the 25.29 per cent recorded in June 2025, representing a year-on-year decline. Compared with May, the inflation rate fell by 0.02 percentage points. Similarly, on a month-on-month basis, headline inflation slowed…
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has confirmed eight cases of rabies and two related deaths in the territory. Residents are being urged to vaccinate their dogs and cats and report any animal bites immediately. The Director of Veterinary Services at the FCTA Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Karnak Dandam, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja. Mr Dandam said the two fatalities occurred in Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils after rabid dogs bit the victims. Of the eight confirmed cases, five were recorded in Gwagwalada Area Council and three in…
BUA Foods Plc has unveiled plans to increase local food production and make staple foods more affordable, following shareholders’ approval of a record N504bn dividend at the company’s fifth Annual General Meeting. The company said the next phase of its growth would include expanding its flour milling and pasta production capacities, launching a noodles business, completing its edible oils operations, and rolling out an integrated feed mill, positioning it to become Nigeria’s largest indigenous food manufacturing company next year. Speaking at the AGM in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman of BUA Foods Plc, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said the expansion was driven by the…
Samsung gave a sneak peek of the “brand new shape” for its upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 in a new teaser for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The video includes a few shots of Spidey taking a foldable phone off a 3D printer and opening it book-style, but each shot is heavily obscured by lens flares. This is likely the redesigned Galaxy Z Fold 8, which is rumored to have a wider, passport-like shape.Apple is also rumored to be readying a foldable iPhone with a similar design, which could launch later this year. Samsung’s expected to announce the wider Galaxy Z…
Decentralized lending protocol Aave has launched V4 on Avalanche, marking the first expansion of its latest lending infrastructure beyond Ethereum and setting the stage for future lending markets backed by tokenized real-world assets.The deployment introduces Aave V4’s Hub & Spoke architecture, which allows specialized lending markets to operate with their own collateral requirements and risk parameters while drawing on shared liquidity across the protocol. According to Aave, one of the first planned markets on Avalanche will support borrowing against tokenized assets.The architecture is designed to support a broader range of collateral than previous versions of the protocol, Aave’s statement said.…
Olusegun Osoba, a former Governor of Ogun State and chieftain of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), turns 87 today. The journalist-turned politician is a longtime friend and political ally of President Bola Tinubu. The president has just released the tribute below to celebrate his friendship with Mr Osoba. A BROTHER IN PURPOSE: PRESIDENT TINUBU’S BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE FOR AREMO CHIEF OLUSEGUN OSOBA I have known Aremo Chief Olusegun Osoba for so many years that we could easily write a book about one another. His hearty laughter when sharing a joke, his stern expression when focused, and his depth in moments…
The real conversation is not whether Nigeria should restructure, amend its constitution, create state police, reform taxation, or remove subsidies. The more fundamental question is whether the organisation called Nigeria has achieved an effective balance between authority, incentives, and capability across its constituent parts. The misalignment of these mechanisms gives rise to the symptoms that has taken the centre stage of debate. In 1960, the agglomeration of predominantly three nations was recognised as an independent country. This became known as Nigeria. At the outset, all seemed to be working reasonably well. Power was distributed among its constituent units, and the…
Nigerian rapper Folarin “Falz” Falana has criticised First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s recent appeal urging Afrobeats artistes to establish charitable foundations for the less privileged. The rapper argued that such societal interventions should not be shifted to private individuals, asserting that public service carries inherent responsibilities. PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that Mrs Tinubu, while launching a national community food bank in Lokoja, Kogi State, encouraged singers to prioritise supporting vulnerable citizens over acquiring luxury vehicles. She highlighted the philanthropic efforts of Akon as a benchmark, suggesting that Nigerian singers possess the resources to make a significant impact. During an interview on…
The Allied People’s Movement has defended Oyo State Governor and its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, over his call for an international investigation into the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the state, saying the move would help establish the truth and strengthen efforts to combat terrorism. In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the party said Makinde’s call would deepen Nigeria’s collaboration with international partners in the fight against terrorism rather than undermine the country’s sovereignty. On Monday, while formally taking charge of the welfare, rehabilitation and education of the 45 rescued teachers and…
