Babatunde Junaid

EU Commits €372m to Nigeria’s Digital and Farm Drive

EU Commits €372m to Nigeria’s Digital and Farm Drive

The European Union has unveiled a €372 million financial package to bolster Nigeria’s agriculture and digital infrastructure. Announced at the 8th Nigeria–EU Ministerial Dialogue in Abuja, the deal marks a significant expansion of the EU’s “Global Gateway” initiative. The funding combines €66 million in direct grants with €221 million in concessional loans and a targeted…

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US Court Jails Nigerian Cyber-fraudster for 90 Months

US Court Jails Nigerian Cyber-fraudster for 90 Months

A United States court has sentenced James Junior Aliyu, a 30-year-old Nigerian national, to seven-and-a-half years in federal prison for orchestrating a massive business email compromise scheme. Aliyu, who was extradited from South Africa, led a syndicate that intercepted corporate communications to divert millions of dollars. Beyond the 90-month sentence, the court slapped him with…

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Trump Issues New 48-Hour Ultimatum to Iran 

Trump Threatens Destruction of Iran’s South Pars Gas Field

President Donald Trump has threatened to “massively blow up” the South Pars gas field, the world’s largest natural gas reservoir, unless Tehran ceases its strikes on Qatari energy infrastructure. The ultimatum follows extensive damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility on Thursday, which sent global crude oil prices surging by 5%. While Mr Trump claimed…

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Nigerian Rice Industry Crumbles as Imports Hit N51bn

Nigerian Rice Industry Crumbles as Imports Hit N51bn

Nigeria spent N51 billion ($34.4 million) on foreign rice in 2024, signaling a sharp reversal of the self-sufficiency gains claimed by the previous administration. Data from UN Comtrade confirms that local rice has become uncompetitive against cheaper imports. High production costs and expensive energy are pricing Nigerian farmers out of their own market. President Bola…

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Middle East: Flight Fares Soar as War Traps Thousands

Middle East: Flight Fares Soar as War Traps Thousands

A desperate exodus is underway across the Middle East as the United States-Israeli conflict with Iran grounded commercial aviation. Tens of thousands of travellers are stranded following the cancellation of over 23,000 flights since Saturday. Airspace closures have funneled the remaining traffic through a few strained hubs in Dubai, Riyadh, and Muscat. Panic is rising…

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