Princess Mikasa, the oldest member of Japan’s Imperial Family and great aunt to Emperor Naruhito, passed away at the age of 101 on Friday in a Tokyo hospital, the Imperial Household Agency confirmed. The princess had been hospitalized since March after suffering a stroke and pneumonia, and was recuperating in intensive care. Born Yuriko Takagi…
By Ayomide Otitoju United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) announced on Friday the launch of a N239.4 billion rights issue, aiming to issue 6,839,884,274 ordinary shares at N35 per share. This capital raise responds to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) updated minimum capital requirements for Nigerian banks, allowing UBA to further bolster its financial…
By Ayomide Otitoju Access Bank has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Afrasia Bank Limited, the fourth largest bank by total assets in Mauritius, valued at $5.7 billion as of mid-2024. Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of Access Bank, announced the acquisition on Thursday through a corporate filing on the…
By Ayomide Otitoju The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) clarified on Thursday that it has not halted the importation of petroleum products, despite recent remarks that sparked public speculation. NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye stated that while NNPC continues to prioritize local sourcing when economically viable, it retains the option to import fuel when needed….
An Abuja-to-Lagos Air Peace flight was forced to return to the ramp early Thursday following a bird strike shortly before take-off. The incident occurred at 6:30 a.m., prompting immediate safety measures as all passengers safely disembarked from the aircraft. Air Peace’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ejike Ndiulo, confirmed in a statement that a replacement aircraft…
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State presented the 2025 appropriation bill to the State House of Assembly on Wednesday, proposing a budget of ₦678.09 billion with a focus on infrastructure development and education. Addressing lawmakers in Agodi, Ibadan, the governor disclosed that 51% of the budget is allocated for capital expenditure, while 49% will cover…
By Ayomide Otitoju The body of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, arrived in Abuja on Thursday aboard Nigerian Air Force plane NAF 918 for his burial on Friday. The plane, carrying the remains of the COAS, landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s presidential wing at approximately 12:15 p.m., where…
By Ayomide Otitoju FirstBank Nigeria Limited has announced its support for the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF), marking it as the first event of its kind in the state. The bank’s Managing Director, Olusegun Alebiosu, represented by Executive Director of Retail Banking South, Seyi Oyefeso, highlighted that this sponsorship aligns with FirstBank’s First@Arts Initiative. Through…
By Ayomide Otitoju The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, delivered a thought-provoking convocation lecture at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, on November 13, 2024, highlighting the vital role of citizens in driving national development. In his address, the IGP stressed the need for collaboration between security agencies, government, and the public to build…
