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Folarin Kehinde

Business

Breaking: MTN Nigeria makes u-turn, reverses 200% data bundle tariff hike

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Nigeria’s telecommunications giant, MTN, has reversed its 15G data plan 200 percent tariff hike.

The company disclosed this in a statement through its official X account on Thursday.

Recall that on Tuesday, MTN commenced implementation of a 200 percent tariff hike for the 15G data bundle alongside other data plans.

Meanwhile, the telecommunication company has apologised to Nigerians for the 15G data tariff hike.

“To our 15G digital bundle lovers, you dey vex. We know.

“We know how upsetting it must have been to suddenly wake up to a 200 percent increase on your favourite digital bundle.

“We could share several reasons and provide explanations, but omo, all that one na story. We don cast.

“We get it and admit it. Let’s just say na mistake.

“In this love season, don’t stay angry with us. Please forgive and forget. You matter die and we will never stop showing you how much,” the statement reads.

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Headlines

Abuja, others to enjoy uninterrupted power for 11 days – AEDC

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company has said that electricity consumers in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring franchise areas will begin to enjoy full power supply in the next 11 days.

It said the ongoing restoration efforts by Transmission Company of Nigeria on the underground transmission line that was damaged by vandals near Millennium Park in Abuja will be completed by February 23.

The firm, in a power supply update posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, said it received this assurance from the transmission company and sought understanding from affected residents.

The post read, “Dear valued customers. We regret the continued power supply disruption affecting Wuye, Utako, Jabi, Mabushi, Katampe Districts, Life Camp, Wuse Zones 1-7, Wuse 2, Maitama, parts of the Central Business District and surrounding areas.

“This is due to the vandalisation of the 132kV Katampe – Central Area underground transmission cable.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria has assured us that restoration efforts are actively ongoing, with its engineers working day and night to replace and reconnect the damaged cable.

“TCN has committed to complete the work and restore normal power supply to Central Area Transmission Substation (AT5) on February 23, 2025.

“We understand the inconvenience this may cause you and sincerely appreciate your patience.

“While repair work continues, load management will be implemented to optimise available supply. We remain in close collaboration with TCN to ensure a swift resolution and the full restoration of power to the affected areas.”

Meanwhile, no fewer than 188 locations franchised within the FCT, operating under the AEDC, endured widespread power outages and blackouts caused by various technical faults to its feeders in two months.

These disruptions significantly impacted the power supply to numerous areas and businesses occurred between January 1 and February 11, 2025.

This was disclosed in 26 public notices posted on the AEDC official X handle to inform its customers about power outages and disruptions analysed by our correspondent on Wednesday.

The company attributed these power cuts to various technical faults on the feeder serving these areas despite collecting revenue worth N229.39bn within the first 11 months of 2024 for electricity usage.

This figure is separate from other disruptions that occurred due to the maintenance of the stations owned by the TCN and the relocation of the 33KV DC Airport Feeder and 132KV Kukwaba-Apo Transmission Line Towers.

A breakdown showed that on January 4, 2025, the disco announced the first power outage for the year, affecting customers at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and its environs.

On January 5, customers in Agwan Koro, Madalla, Police Estate, Efab Estate Dakwa, FHA Zuba, Dakwa, Anagada Tungamaje Part of DeiDei, Jiwa and its environs suffered a power outage due to a technical fault on the feeder serving these areas.

Similarly, customers in Garki Area 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and part of Durumi Area 1, Diplomatic Drive, National Hospital, The Dome, Russian Embassy, Equatorial Guinea Embassy, UN, World Trade Center, ICPC, Church Gate and its environs suffered a prolonged power outage on January 6, due to a technical fault on the feeder serving the areas.

Furthermore, customers in Bolingo Hotel, Cool FM, Entire Kubwa, FCDA, Kubwa Extension Ill Army Scheme, Kubwa village, Papal Ground, part of Karasana, Berger camp, Gado Nasko Road and its environs suffered a power outage on January 18, affecting businesses and residents.

On January 30, 2025, the power supply was disrupted in Banex Plaza and surrounding areas.

The latest incident occurred on February 11, 2025, affecting consumers living at Army Barracks, Water Works, Masuga Kontagora and surrounding areas.

The AEDC further noted, “Our dedicated technical team is working tirelessly to restore power as quickly as possible.

“We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appeal for your patience.”

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Entertainment

2face proposes to Edo Lawmaker Natasha amid divorce drama with Annie

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Legendary Nigerian musician, 2face Idibia has proposed to his new lover, Natasha Osawaru.

The singer engaged the Edo State lawmaker days after announcing his divorce from Annie Macaulay, his wife.

In a trending video, the singer presented an engagement ring to his lover amid cheers from onlookers.

Speculation about their relationship had been growing after 2Baba was seen at the Edo State Assembly and a video surfaced showing the two together at a Lagos club.

Addressing the rumours, 2Baba took to Instagram on Tuesday to set the record straight.

In the video, he said in part, “Allegedly, I have been seeing so many things, so many people coming up with their own false narratives and malicious nonsense after I posted that stuff that I posted. Yes, I posted what I posted.

“Hon. Natasha has been dragged, she has been called all sorts of names, she has been labelled as a home breaker.

“She is a young brilliant amazing woman and she had nothing to do with what is happening between me and Annie in our marriage.

“Yes I love her, she is amazing, she is cool, I want to marry her.”

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Headlines

2027: Group begins campaign for Ambode

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The South-West Renaissance Movement (SWRN) has officially kicked off its campaign to bring former Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode, back into office, citing “unfinished business” and popular demand for his return.

The group, at a South-West political summit held in Lagos, also endorsed Gboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and former Governor of Osun State, for re-election.

National Director General of SWRN, Olabode Adeleke, stated that both Ambode and Oyetola are leaders who left behind significant legacy projects during their time in office and remain highly regarded by the people of the South-West.

Focusing on Ambode, Adeleke emphasized what he described as the unfair treatment the former governor received when seeking the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination for a second term.

“These two fine gentlemen may not have been treated right, especially in Lagos where Ambode was not given fair treatment in his quest to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the primaries to run for a second term,” Adeleke said.

The group argued that Ambode’s contributions to improving lives in Lagos across various sectors are still deeply appreciated, and his “beautiful signature” is evident in numerous legacy projects throughout the state.

The SWRN insisted that Ambode deserves the opportunity to complete the work he started.

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Headlines

BREAKING: House of Reps Pass Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills For Second Reading

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The House of Representatives has passed the four tax reform bills presented before it by President Bola Tinubu for second reading.

The bills, which include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, the Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, were transmitted to the National Assembly in 2024.

Prior to the passage, the bills faced opposition from various quarters, particularly from northern governors and opposition politicians.

During Wednesday’s plenary session, lawmakers expressed their support for the bills, but some raised concerns about potential contradictions with the 1999 constitution.

Sada Soli, a lawmaker, emphasized the need for clear definitions on the issue of derivation to avoid ambiguity.

Other lawmakers drew attention to the 40 acts that the bill seeks to amend and requested that they be laid before Parliament. They also expressed concerns about multiple taxation involving property purchases, which the bill proposes should be paid by both the buyer and seller.

It should be noted that the bills got the backing of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum early in the year following opposition to it late last year.

The bills modified by the governors propose allocating 30% of Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue based on derivation instead of the initially proposed 60%. The governors also suggested a revised sharing formula, with 50% of VAT revenue shared equally among states and the remaining 20% based on population.

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Headlines

BREAKING: National grid collapses

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The nation’s electricity grid collapsed moments before noon on Wednesday, according to the X handle created for reports on the grid @NationalGridNg.

“There was a ‘GRID DISTURBANCE’ before noon today. Parts of the country experienced outage. Further information shortly,” the post read.

Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company reported on X that the system outage happened at 11:34 am.

“Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today 12th February, 2025 at 11:34hrs affecting all our feeders.

“Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders,” the company wrote.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company also confirmed the development on X.

“Dear Valued Customer, we regret to inform you that a system disturbance occurred on the national grid at 11:34 am today causing a power outage across our franchise areas.

“While gradual restoration of power supply has commenced, please be assured that we are working closely with relevant stakeholders to fully restore electricity as soon as the grid is stabilised. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to serve you better,” the post reads.

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Headlines

JUST IN: NEMA Receives 148 deported Nigerians

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Some Nigerians including women and children stranded have been repatriated with support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Libyan Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) and the Nigerian consulate.

It was gathered that the migrants were flown into Lagos from Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli on Wednesday, through the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) flight.

The migrants, a combination of 13 men, 124 women, and 8 children, were brought back to Lagos following an assisted effort to help migrants who are stranded in Libya and facing difficult situations, especially as Libya stands as a transit route to many European countries.

In a statement issued on X, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it received the migrants who arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Cargo at exactly 17.35hours.

The agency said the migrants arrived on Tuesday aboard a Boeing chartered flight with registration no. 5A-BAA.

It added, “After the mandatory profiling and biometric exercise, the Returnees were moved to for further reintegration programmes spearheaded by IOM.”

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Africa & World

92-year-old Cameroon’s Biya seek re-election after 40 years as President

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Cameroon President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state, turns 92 years old on Thursday after more than four decades in power but remains tight-lipped on whether he will run for another term in elections this year.

Many people including the deeply divided opposition are in little doubt that the leader, who first won election in 1982, will stand for an eighth term in the October vote.

After highly contested elections in 2018, Biya further toughened his autocratic grip on power, with dissenting opinions firmly met with repression, arrests and prison terms, human rights activists say.

“The president has already said that he will make known whether or not he is a candidate in this election at the appropriate time,” government spokesman and Communication Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi said last month.

Biya has refrained from picking a successor and the subject of who would replace him remains taboo.

“In the current context, even if he were lying on a stretcher, candidate Biya will be re-elected,” said former minister Garga Haman Adji in an interview with the daily Mutations in July.

Concerns about Biya’s health grew last year when he disappeared from public view for several weeks.

Persistent rumours prompted authorities to release a statement saying Biya was in Switzerland, where the leader has regularly spent long periods staying at luxury holiday resorts.

The government then formally banned local media from discussing the state of his health.

Since his return to the country on October 21, Biya’s public appearances have been limited — a few official photos at the presidential palace, a regional summit in the capital Yaounde and a handful of speeches broadcast on television.

As in previous election years, voices from across society are calling on him to again stand for office.

“My determination to serve you remains intact and is strengthened on a daily basis, given the scale of the challenges we face,” Biya said in his end-of-year address, welcoming a “massive support”.

In January, traditional leaders expressed their “total and unwavering” support. On Facebook, some supporters said Biya was “still strong” and can withstand two more terms.

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Entertainment

Asake Dumps Olamide’s YBNL, Floats Own Label

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, has officially parted ways with YBNL Nation owned by popular rapper Olamide Gbenga Adedeji.

Asake made the announcement with the release of his latest single, “Why Love”, under his own label, Giran Republic.

This move confirms that the talented singer has joined the growing list of artists who have parted ways with their labels to pursue solo endeavours.

Asake’s departure from YBNL Nation comes as no surprise, given the rumours of a rift between him and Olamide that had been circulating in the music industry. However, Asake had seemingly put the rumours to rest with his previous single, “Military”, which paid homage to Olamide.

Asake signed with YBNL Nation in February 2022. He is currently signed under a distribution deal with Empire which took effect from July 2022.

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Business

FG Takes Full Ownership Of Keystone Bank

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Federal Government has taken full ownership of Keystone Bank.

This is according to a statement by the bank posted on its X handle on Tuesday evening.

It read, “Keystone Bank Limited wishes to clarify media report of a judgement by the Lagos State Special Offences Court, sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, regarding the status of the former shareholders of the bank: Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited and Alhaji Umaru H. Modibbo.

“Recall that on January 10, 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced the dissolution of the previous Board and Management of the Bank for corporate governance breaches. The CBN followed this action with the appointment of a new Board and Management for the Bank.

“Subsequently the Federal Government through the EFCC filed a court action at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, against the former owners challenging the acquisition of the bank. At the sitting of the court today, February 11, 2025, the court ordered the forfeiture of the shares of the Bank previously held by the shareholders in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The implication of this judgment is that Keystone Bank Limited is now fully owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

Keystone Bank. Stronger Than Ever.

Keystone Bank is entering a new era of stability and growth. Our foundation is solid, our future is bright, and our commitment to you remains stronger than ever. We move forward—together. #KeystoneBank #WeGrowTogether pic.twitter.com/aHV9XVd4T6

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