General News
Presidency Sets November Deadline for New National Carrier
The Federal Government has given a nod to the Nigerian Maritime Admimistration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to float a new national shipping line.
Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said this on Monday durimg a national workshop on public-private-partnership (PPP) strategy for infrastructural development and modernization in the Nigerian maritime industry.
According to him, the new national carrier, which already has the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan, will be afloat within the next six months.
Akpobolokemi, said that the new carrier will be floated on a PPP basis and that the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) went under because it was purely a government business which was poorly managed.
He said that the new national carrier will ensure that the nation’s crude oil and other vital cargoes are lifted by Nigerians.
“In the next few months, we will work with the private sector to get our national shipping line back because it is important for our development. The government will have minimal participation.
“It is a huge economic waste that most of our hydro carbon is being transported by people other than Nigerians and I don’t think the agency can have the patience or keep waiting, drastic measure must be taken,” he said.
Akpobolokemi also assured cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron that his agency will provide sea-time training for them.
He said, “The agency is spending massively in training of seafarers to get sea-time abroad but should the national carrier be on, the government won’t be spending much on the training.
“If a shipping line is floated, we won’t spend a third of what we are spending to train our cadets abroad today.
“The president is pushing us to work on the national carrier issue and the way to go is to bring private people not the government. The government will only provide an enabling environment with minimal participation. The private sector will manage it.”
Also speaking Chief Isaac Jolapamo, chairman of the Nigeria Indigenous Shipsowners’ Association (NISA), said his association was ready to partner with the federal government to ensure the successful floating of the new national carrier.
He said his association has a pending proposal before NIMASA on using a PPP to refloat the national shipping line.
“The government may have a different approach on how PPP will be achieved. They may say one group should merge with the other but let us see what they will come out with,” he stated.
He said NISA will not mind joining forces with other groups to make the national shipping carrier a reality.
“I don’t know the format the government wants to use to achieve this; whether it is two, three or four groups coming together but the bottom line is that it would be a good thing if the government can get it done in the next six months,” Jolapamo said.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a forward-looking strategy that places satellite-enabled mobile connectivity at the heart of the country’s drive to bridge its long-standing coverage gaps.
The draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector for 2025 to 2030 lays out how satellite technologies could help deliver reliable voice and data services to millions of Nigerians who live beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.
The direction is outlined in the Commission’s draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector covering the period.
The proposed approach highlights non-terrestrial networks as a complement to existing mobile infrastructure, especially in areas where terrain, insecurity, or high costs limit the deployment of base stations.
The NCC said D2D satellite technology, which allows standard mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, is gaining traction globally as a means of delivering voice and data services without reliance on ground towers.
According to the regulator, the technology could help close persistent coverage gaps in rural, riverine, and border communities that remain outside the reach of conventional networks.
It also noted that satellite-backed connectivity could improve network reliability by providing alternative links during fibre cuts, power failures, or other disruptions affecting terrestrial systems.
The Commission added that wider adoption of D2D services could support emergency communications, public safety operations, Internet of Things applications, and services such as smart agriculture in underserved regions.
It also pointed to potential investment opportunities through partnerships between mobile network operators and satellite companies, including more efficient use of shared spectrum resources.
Beyond D2D services, the roadmap places emphasis on Low-Earth Orbit satellites to expand broadband access to remote parts of the country.
It also proposes better utilisation of Geostationary Orbit satellites and the exploration of high-altitude platforms, such as stratospheric balloons, to support mobile backhaul and rural connectivity.
The policy signals come shortly after Airtel Africa announced an agreement with SpaceX to introduce Starlink-powered direct-to-cell services in Nigeria.
The NCC’s roadmap is expected to shape future spectrum allocation, licensing decisions, and technology adoption across the telecommunications sector.
General News
House of Reps Releases Certified Copies of Tax Reform Acts amid Gazette Discrepancy Claims
House of Representatives has released certified true copies of the four tax reform Acts signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, addressing public concerns over alleged discrepancies between legislative versions and circulated gazetted documents.
Tax Reform Acts
House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, disclosed this in a statement, noting that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the immediate publication of the Acts—including endorsement and presidential assent pages—for public verification, in collaboration with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The move followed allegations raised by Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki on the House floor, highlighting inconsistencies between Bills passed by the National Assembly and executive gazetted versions, which he warned could erode legislative integrity and public trust.
Abbas constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee chaired by Rep. Aliyu Betara, with members including Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi and Babajimi Benson, to investigate the alleged alterations, unauthorised circulation and preventive measures.
The committee’s mandate includes probing circumstances around the discrepancies, while Abbas ordered internal verification and public release of certified copies to dispel doubts and safeguard legislative records. Legal experts, tax professionals and civil society had demanded clarification and implementation suspension amid heated debates triggered by Dasuki’s intervention.
The released laws comprise the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service Establishment Act, 2025; and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act, 2025, described as foundational to modernising Nigeria’s tax system.
These reforms aim to enhance compliance, curb inefficiencies, eliminate overlaps and bolster fiscal coordination across federal, state and local tiers, following extensive stakeholder consultations, committee reviews and plenary debates under Abbas’s leadership.
Rotimi reassured Nigerians: “The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory. Every Bill, every amendment, and every Act follows a traceable constitutional and parliamentary pathway.”
He emphasised that only National Assembly-certified versions hold authority, urging the public, institutions and stakeholders to disregard all other circulating documents as unofficial.
MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, has retained the distribution rights to 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels following the signing of a new multi-year, multi-territory agreement between CANAL+ Group and Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a significant expansion of their long-standing partnership.
MultiChoice
The new deal, which spans several regions across Africa and Europe, covers the distribution of HBO Max as well as the renewal of selected Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels. It represents a major milestone in the companies’ international collaboration and strengthens content offerings across MultiChoice Group territories.
MultiChoice disclosed that this agreement builds on earlier partnerships concluded in Europe. “It builds on the landmark agreements concluded in France in 2024,including the renewal of the exclusive pay-TV window for Warner Bros. Pictures films just six months after their theatrical release in France and the integration of HBO Max within select CANAL+ group offers – as well as in Poland in 2025, with the renewal of the distribution agreement for 22 thematic channels (including TVN 24 and Eurosport) and 4 free-to-air channels (including TVN).”
Under the renewed arrangement, MultiChoice Group will continue to distribute 12 Warner Bros. Discovery thematic channels across its territories, with some channels offered on an exclusive basis. CNN International and Cartoon Network will remain exclusive to South Africa while being distributed non-exclusively in other markets. Cartoon Network Porto will be exclusive in Angola and Mozambique and non-exclusive elsewhere. Other channels such as Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV, Food Network, TNT Africa, Travel, ID and Cartoonito will be offered on a non-exclusive basis.
According to the partners, the deal reinforces CANAL+ Group’s channel portfolio on the continent. “This agreement enables CANAL+ Group to strengthen its entertainment, kids, news, and documentary channel offerings in African markets.”
The agreement is also expected to improve access for CANAL+ Group subscribers to Warner Bros. Discovery’s premium content through HBO Max and selected channels, including globally recognised series and films, further extending the studio’s international reach while consolidating MultiChoice’s content offering in key markets.
Samsung Plans to Double AI Mobile Devices to 800 million Units this Year
Zacch Adedeji says Rebranded NRS will Overhaul Revenue Administration
2026: SEC to Review Rules to Incentivise SME Listings
Nigeria Targets Satellite-to-Mobile Services in Draft Spectrum Roadmap
Remita Powers over ₦100 Trillion in Payments as Nigeria’s Digital Economy Expands
Banks quietly move to enforce new ₦50 transfer levy from Jan. 1
FIRS says NIN, CAC Numbers to Serve as Tax IDs from 2026
Financial Sector Faced AI, Blockchain and Organised Crime Threats in 2025 – Report
PalmPay Launches N400 Million World Travel Carnival, Rewarding Users with Free Global Trips
Minister Claims Bandits Exploit Poor Network, Bounce Calls Off Multiple Towers
News2 days ago974 Nigerians Face Imminent Deportation from Canada Amid Enforcement Surge
News23 hours agoCourt Sends Faleti, Ex-Lagos Director to Jail for Stealing ₦48.9m from Access Bank
General News2 days agoHouse of Reps Releases Certified Copies of Tax Reform Acts amid Gazette Discrepancy Claims
E-Financial23 hours agoRemita Powers over ₦100 Trillion in Payments as Nigeria’s Digital Economy Expands
E-Financial23 hours agoWhy 2026 Must Be the Year Nigeria’s Economy Works for All
E-Financial23 hours agoFlutterwave Acquires Nigeria’s Mono in $25m-$40m All-Stock Deal
General News23 hours agoNigeria Targets Satellite-to-Mobile Services in Draft Spectrum Roadmap
E-Financial23 hours ago2026: SEC to Review Rules to Incentivise SME Listings