Author: damazah@gmail.com

The era of naira-priced petrol may be ending, as the federal government’s policy on naira for crude oil flops. What follows could reshape inflation, transport costs and the value of the naira, writes Festus Akanbi The decision by Dangote Petroleum Refinery to abandon naira-denominated sales of petroleum products is arguably the biggest policy setback for Nigeria’s downstream oil sector since the removal of fuel subsidy. It is not merely a commercial decision by a private refinery; it is a vote of no confidence in the federal government’s ability to sustain the much-publicised naira-for-crude initiative.  More importantly, it underscores a painful reality:…

Astronomers have confirmed for the first time the existence of a rocky planet with an atmosphere that also happens to be in what’s known as the habitable zone.Located 48 light-years away, the exoplanet—that is, a planet outside our solar system—may be the most similar thing to Earth that researchers have come across. If not a twin then certainly a family member.Researchers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics were able to detect signatures of helium around LHS 1140 b, an exoplanet circling a cool red dwarf. The previously identified body has a rocky composition and is far enough from its host…

If anyone had told the former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, that he would pay for his sins a few years after removing the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, he would not have believed it. Penultimate week, Justice Peter Kekemeke of an Abuja High Court sitting in Maitama, ordered his remand in Kuje Correctional Centre after the federal government formally docked him over allegations that he abused his office by receiving illicit payments from contractors while serving as head of the tribunal. According to the prosecution, investigations revealed that Umar used…

Britain could be on the brink of a “bumper summer of butterflies”, an expert has said.Prof Richard Fox, head of science at the UK charity Butterfly Conversation, in Newton Abbot, Devon, said: “We’ve had this incredibly warm, dry spring and this ongoing hot weather so that really puts them in a good place to put on a fantastic, colourful show in our gardens and countryside this summer.”Fox said he hoped thousands of people would get involved in the Big Butterfly Count, external to record the number of butterflies seen in 15 minutes. “You might just see a handful of butterflies…

When asked if Spain would win the World Cup, Lamine Yamal simply smiled and said “yes”.His words to American broadcaster CBS in the build-up would have come as a surprise to no-one who has seen the confident teenager become one of the best players on the planet.For many though, for his prediction to come true, Lamine Yamal was going to have to set the tournament alight in his first ever World Cup. So far, that has just not happened.The 19-year-old has scored one goal and has not made an assist, but his country have cruised into the final anyway and…

Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan, were arrested on Saturday in Miami, with the Associated Press reporting that British authorities sought their extradition on rape and sex trafficking charges. Charges were not detailed, however U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson Brady McCarron told AP the Tate brothers were taken into custody on a sealed warrant. The Crown Prosecution Service shared a statement on Saturday, which said prosecutors decided to bring further charges against the Tates “in relation to four additional victims.” “Following their arrest in the U.S., the CPS will be seeking their extradition in relation to the original 21 charges they face,…

Yinka Olatunbosun  A decade after captivating the global art world with his mesmerising hyperrealist portraits of Nigerian youth glistening under cascading water, Olumide Oresegun is returning to the Lagos exhibition circuit with his fourth solo exhibition. Threads of Heritage – Cultural Weaving opens at Mydrim Gallery, Ikoyi, on July 18 and runs until August 8, marking a significant new chapter for an artist whose practice has evolved beyond the celebrated water series that first brought him international acclaim. A graduate of Yaba College of Technology, Oresegun shot to global prominence in 2016 when his oil paintings of children playing in…

Key eventsBahrain’s defence force has condemned Iran’s “repeated attacks targeting (its) civilians”, as it confirmed the country’s air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian missile and drone attacks launched this morning.“With unwavering resolve and high combat readiness, the Bahrain defence force’s air defence systems intercepted and destroyed several treacherous Iranian aerial attacks today,” it said in a statement.“The General Command also urges everyone to exercise caution, avoid approaching any strange or suspicious objects resulting from the remnants of the brutal Iranian aggression, and report them immediately.”“The General Command emphasizes that the deliberate use of missiles and drones…

The US launched another round of air strikes against Iran on Saturday night, targeting its coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, US military officials said.Iranian state media said Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had been struck. Centcom said it also targeted Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) responsible for the attack that killed two US troops in Jordan on Friday, where another service member remains missing. In response to the latest strikes, Iran’s army said it carried out drone attacks on two US bases in Kuwait, according to state media. Bahrain has said it intercepted aerial attacks.The US and Iran…

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 27: Jahmyr Gibbs #26 of the Detroit Lions celebrates while scoring a rushing touchdown in the first quarter of a game against the Tennessee Titans at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAfter going over just two teams with a bye in week five, there’s a lot more as we look ahead to week six. That number doubles with four teams having a bye in week six this year.Those teams are the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins.Now that we’ve gone over the teams, here…