Conoil Plc is spreading joy this Valentine season as the first group of winners in its Valentine Bonanza promotion have been announced and rewarded. Launched on February 14, the campaign continues to delight customers at participating retail outlets.

The initial raffle draw, conducted on February 21, saw fortunate customers receive ₦10,000 worth of free petrol each. The draw was carried out publicly, with media representatives present to ensure full transparency. With the promotion still ongoing, more customers have the opportunity to join in and potentially be among the next winners.

A Conoil Management spokesperson explained that the initiative is a way to show appreciation to loyal customers for their ongoing support. “Our customers have responded impressively to the bonanza, with strong participation recorded across our stations,” the spokesperson said.

The second and final phase of the promotion is now in motion. Customers who purchase at least 10 litres of petrol at any participating Conoil station remain eligible to win in the grand finale raffle.

The grand finale is set for February 28 at 12 noon. Motorists in Lagos and Ogun states are encouraged to visit Conoil outlets to collect their tickets and take part in the exciting conclusion of this Valentine celebration.

PalmPay users took to the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign to show how experiences are powered through seamless banking.

It’s the month of love and social media has been filled with couples showing affection with gifts. As digital payments become embedded in everyday life, the way relationships are planned, funded, and experienced is evolving.

Recent insights from SBM Intelligence 2025 ‘Love in the Air’ report show that despite economic pressures, most Nigerians still set aside dedicated budgets for Valentine’s Day, with the largest percentage planning to spend between N51,000 and N100,000, while less than 5% are willing to spend above N500,000.

This growing intentionality highlights the need for platforms that help people manage their money more effectively, offering features like free transfers and tools that make it easier to send, track, and preserve funds while still showing up for meaningful moments.

Through the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign, PalmPay set out to show how the platform is enabling users to plan, pay, and celebrate meaningful moments with greater ease.

During the Valentine’s season, PalmPay invited couples across Nigeria to share their stories through the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign, celebrating how digital banking supports their individual expressions of love.

The campaign saw strong participation, with many PalmPay couples submitting entries that showcased how they use the app to plan surprises, pay for outings, and stay connected through everyday transactions.

From these entries, four couples were selected, each showcasing how PalmPay has enabled fast and reliable transactions in key moments.

One video from @simply.omotoshan, one of the selected couples, captures the role of seamless payments in making their spontaneous moments possible.

She said in her entry video: “Our cutest money moment with PalmPay was when we planned our Valentine’s picnic and realized we had forgotten half of the things we needed; literally, half of everything. We rushed to the mall to get cakes, food, decorations, and all the essentials. When it was time to pay, we used PalmPay.

“The transaction was smooth, fast, and stress-free.  In no time, we were done setting up our Valentine-themed picnic with everything perfectly ready. Honestly, all our experiences with PalmPay have been easy and satisfying, but this one is definitely our cutest money moment. Thank you, PalmPay.”

A testimonial from the fourth selected couple, Mohammed and his wife, reflects his excitement: “Hello PalmPay, thank you so much for selecting us as one of the winners of the #LoveWithPalmPay campaign. We truly appreciate this. My wife and I are very grateful. Thank you, PalmPay, for the love and support. We’re so happy and thankful for the N100,000 reward. We love you, PalmPay, and long live PalmPay. Thank you so much.”

Beyond the feel-good stories, the campaign reflects a broader shift: fintech is no longer just about transactions, it’s about enabling experiences. Reliable payments, fast transactions, and accessible financial tools reduce the friction that can disrupt important moments, allowing users to focus on connection rather than logistics.

From paying for dinner to managing other expenses, PalmPay continues to demonstrate how digital financial services support modern relationships, proving that in today’s economy, love is not only felt, it’s funded digitally.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has cautioned that existing interception and surveillance regulations in the country could be deployed against civilians and critics of the government if not properly subjected to legislative scrutiny.

SERAP called on President Bola Tinubu to direct Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,  to immediately withdraw the Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations, 2019.

In a statement earlier in the week, SERAP, described the rules as unconstitutional and inconsistent with Nigeria’s international obligations.

Also Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director of SERAP, during an interview on Arise Television, called for greater transparency and public participation in shaping such regulations.

In its statement, the organization, said that the regulations establish a sweeping mass surveillance regime that violates Nigerians’ constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights, including to privacy and freedom of expression.

• “The Regulations grant overly broad and vague powers to intercept communications on grounds such as ‘national security,’ ‘economic wellbeing,’ and ‘public emergency,’ without adequate judicial safeguards, independent oversight, transparency, or effective remedies. 
• “Serious interferences with fundamental rights cannot be authorised through subsidiary regulations or exercised in secrecy without strict safeguards. 
• “Surveillance measures that lack strict necessity, proportionality and independent judicial oversight can easily be weaponised against political opponents, journalists, civil society actors and election observers,” the organization stated.

And during an interview on Arise Television, Oluwadare, insisted that regulations with such far-reaching implications must undergo a thorough legislative process, including public hearings.

Oluwadare’s comments followed allegations by Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor, who had claimed that he and another individual intercepted a phone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser.

The former Governor’s claims have since sparked renewed debate over the scope and oversight of surveillance powers granted to security agencies.

With the kind of weight and power this kind of regulation has, it should go through the legislative process and public hearing. These regulations will take away major rights Nigerians have,” Oluwadare said.

He argued that the current framework governing interception may not be necessary in its present form, noting that concerns remain over vague wording, insufficient safeguards for civil liberties, and the potential for abuse.

The SERAP deputy director expressed apprehension over how security agencies exercise interception powers.

“It is unclear how agencies like the DSS or the Office of the National Security Adviser utilise these powers, raising concerns that they might be used against civilians or government critics,” he stated.

According to him, regulations of such magnitude, especially those capable of impacting fundamental human rights, must be subjected to robust legislative scrutiny to ensure they strike a balance between national security and civil liberties.

Oluwadare clarified that his position does not amount to opposing an interception framework entirely, but rather advocating for one that aligns with international best practices.

“This stance does not advocate against an interception framework altogether, but rather suggests it should align with models found in other jurisdictions, incorporating robust safeguards as envisioned in existing legal frameworks,” he explained.

Oluwadare added that public participation would not only strengthen accountability but also enhance the effectiveness of such laws in addressing insecurity without undermining democratic freedoms.