Author: damazah@gmail.com

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, says Nigeria’s newly unveiled Model Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agreement is designed to end years of uncertainty, lengthy negotiations and inconsistent risk allocation in infrastructure concession deals.Ewalefoh said the new agreement, unveiled in June 2026, would provide government agencies and private investors with a dependable framework for negotiating PPP contracts while strengthening protections for the public interest.According to him, Nigeria’s approach to PPPs for nearly two decades after the enactment of the ICRC Establishment Act in 2005 was largely based on project-by-project and ministry,…

Pivot Integrated Energy Services Limited (Pivot) has concluded its maiden N100 billion series 1 Commercial Paper (CP) issuance under its N300 billion Commercial Paper Programme. The landmark transaction which marks Pivot’s first entry into Nigeria’s debt capital market, was met with strong demand from institutional and sophisticated investors, resulting in the issuance being oversubscribed at N100.08 billion. The outcome represents a significant vote of confidence in Pivot’s business model, management team, growth strategy and credit fundamentals, while underscoring the depth and resilience of Nigeria’s institutional investment market. Pathway Advisors Limited acted as the transaction sponsor, financial adviser, lead issuing house…

Earlier in August, cryptography professor Matthew Green wrote a controversial thread on X and a longer blog post that went viral within the cybersecurity community. Green, who has long been a close observer of the debate around the use of hacking tools by governments to fight crime and the need for strong encryption to protect the privacy of innocent people, posited a provocative thought: What if AI makes bugs so scarce that law enforcement and intelligence agencies are unable to lawfully hack criminals anymore? “I’m concerned that AI is going to make software much too secure,” Green wrote, warning that…

The relationship between Dikko Radda and the Masari political dynasty in Katsina is one of the more instructive political friendships in northern Nigeria. Radda served as Chief of Staff when Aminu Masari was governor after 2015. The Masari camp backed his elevation to head SMEDAN under Buhari in 2016. When Aminu Masari’s two terms ended in 2023, Radda won the governorship in a transition the former governor publicly endorsed. That history now sits against a growing power struggle. The immediate flashpoint involves billboards. Campaign materials bearing the images of President Bola Tinubu and Ibrahim Masari, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Political…

A retired judge of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Ifiok Ukanna, has called on journalists to scrutinise judicial decisions, expose wrongdoing in the justice system and hold the judiciary accountable to the public. He said the media must not be intimidated from performing its watchdog role. Mr Ukanna made the call on Wednesday at a symposium on “Effective Crime and Court Reporting: The Role of the Media in the Administration of Justice,” organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, in collaboration with the state judiciary. The symposium was held at the NUJ Press Centre in…

Lionel Messi said on Monday he is retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July. “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi, 39, wrote on Instagram. “I swear I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before that too, and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt,” he added. Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory by winning the 2022 final against France in a…

Paul Thomas Anderson‘s “Cameron Winter at Carnegie Hall” will have its world premiere at the New York Film Festival. The film will debut on Oct. 1 at Alice Tully Hall on 35mm with Anderson and Winter in attendance. The new concert film captures the Geese frontman’s sold-out solo performance at the iconic New York City venue last year. The movie was directed and shot on 35mm and 16mm film by Anderson, and the music was recorded and produced for the film by music producer Ariel Rechtshaid (Grammy winner for albums with Vampire Weekend and Adele). The film is co-produced by filmmaker and actor Benny…

The Akwa Ibom State-owned airline, Ibom Air, has explained the differences in its ticket prices, saying fares on its Uyo routes are influenced by strong passenger demand and reduced flight capacity. The airline’s explanation followed public complaints about high fares and limited flight options to and from Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo. In a statement posted on Facebook on Monday, Ibom Air said it uses a standard airline pricing system in which tickets are sold in different fare classes, beginning with the lowest available fares. According to the airline, as seats in the lower fare bands are purchased, bookings move into higher fare categories, causing ticket prices…

— Says deferring prosecution safeguards free, fair election By Dayo Johnson Akure The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has hailed the decision of the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, to suspend the prosecution of African Action Congress, AAC, Presidential Candidate, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, until after the presidential election in January 2027. The NANS National President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde, stated this at a press conference in Akure, Ondo State capital. He described the decision as “a commendable demonstration of commitment to democracy, fairness, due process, the rule of law and the integrity of…

Greece signs $3.5bn deal with Israel to acquire its first multi-layered air defence network by 2029.Published On 31 Aug 202631 Aug 2026Greece has signed a $3.5bn defence deal with Israel to provide its first integrated “multi-layered” air defence network.Israel said the agreement, negotiated over three years, is one of the largest in the country’s history..Recommended Stories list of 2 itemsend of listEngineers will set up an aerial defence shield for the Greeks, integrating three Israeli systems, including the SPYDER system, produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the BARAK MX system, made by Israel Aerospace Industries and David’s Sling air defence…