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The Dauda Lawal of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 can be viewed as someone who sees society from a micro perspective, who sees how people create reality, because of his previous role as a banker who reached the zenith of his profession
The post Gov Dauda Lawal@ 61: A functionalist in power, By Sulaiman Bala Idris appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Mr Shettima thanks his friends, supporters and well-wishers for the affection, loyalty and prayers they had shown him over the years.
The post What I want from my friends and supporters at 60 — VP Shettima appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
With the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Miva Open University, the OPay N1.2bn 10-year scholarship programme now has 25 partner tertiary institutions
The post 10 Years, ₦1.2bn, 40+ Tertiary Institutions by 2026: OPay is here to stay appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
On Tuesday, the Akwa Ibom State Government’s Facebook page described Senate President Godswill Akpabio as “Acting President of Nigeria”. The post was later edited to remove the controversial description.
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He stated that Russia targeted the key airport with a drone laden with explosives, following a known pattern of “Russian hybrid operations.”
The post Germany accuses Russia of drone attack on Leipzig airport appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
By Uche Usim and Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N1.38 trillion in revenue in July and August 2026, as improved use of technology, better trade processes and stronger anti-smuggling operations boosted its collections.
The NCS National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this on Tuesday at the joint security agencies’ spokespersons’ press briefing in Abuja.
Maiwada said the Service collected N784.66 billion in July and another N595.58 billion in August, bringing the total for the two months to N1.38 trillion.
He said the performance reflected efforts by Customs to make its operations more efficient while reducing revenue leakages.
“Revenue performance remained significant, with the Service generating N784,656,042,005.97 in July, and N595,581,420,186.23 in August, representing a combined revenue collection of N1.38 trillion over the period,” Maiwada said.
The Apapa Area Command was one of the major contributors to the improved performance.
According to Maiwada, the command generated a record N323 billion in July, its highest monthly collection since its establishment.
The command also broke its previous single-day revenue record on August 18, when it collected N28.1 billion in one day.
The new record surpassed the previous N20.1 billion daily collection achieved in September 2025.
The figures underline the importance of Nigeria’s major ports to government revenue, as Customs collects duties and other charges on goods brought into the country.
Beyond revenue collection, Maiwada said Customs processed 90,985 Single Goods Declarations in the two months.
Of the total, 55,731 were processed in July while 35,254 were handled in August.
The Service also processed 8,873 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports during the period.
These processes are designed to help Customs assess goods before they are cleared, making it easier to identify irregularities and speed up legitimate trade.
The Customs spokesperson said the country’s export activities also recorded improvement.
He said the Lilypond Export Command recorded export goods worth $792.57 million in the second quarter of 2026, representing a 24.35 per cent increase from the $599.60 million recorded in the same period of the previous year.
Export container traffic also increased by 32.27 per cent to 5,510 containers.
Agricultural exports were valued at $422.09 million, while manufactured goods rose to $350.67 million, nearly three times the previous figure.
Collections under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme also increased by 9.52 per cent to N5.38 billion.
Maiwada added that between July and August, Customs processed 9,322 export containers carrying agricultural products, manufactured goods, solid minerals and other items.
The Service also reported major successes in its fight against smuggling and other forms of illegal trade.
Maiwada said Customs Area Commands and Federal Operations Units seized smuggled and prohibited goods with a combined Duty Paid Value of more than N61.3 billion during the period.
Among the seizures were 25,295 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, cannabis and heavy machinery intercepted by the Adamawa/Taraba Command.
The goods, valued at N362.2 million, were allegedly being moved illegally towards Chad.
The Federal Operations Unit Zone A also broke up a smuggling operation valued at N3.24 billion and recovered N728.98 million in lost revenue. The unit additionally seized 1,439.9kg of synthetic cannabis, controlled tablets and 22 elephant tusks.
The Ogun I Command intercepted goods worth N3.57 billion, including rice, sugar and cannabis, while the Seme Command seized expired noodles, rice, cannabis and 310,000 sticks of cigarettes valued at N365.2 million.
Maiwada attributed the improved performance to stronger cooperation among security agencies and increased use of technology in Customs operations.
He said technology-driven enforcement was helping the Service detect illegal activities more quickly while making legitimate trade easier.
The latest revenue performance comes as the Federal Government continues to look to agencies such as Customs to increase internally generated revenue and reduce dependence on borrowing.
For businesses, however, the challenge remains finding the right balance between collecting more revenue and ensuring that importers and exporters can move their goods through Nigerian ports without unnecessary delays and additional costs.
Customs said its focus would remain on improving efficiency, blocking leakages, facilitating legitimate trade and strengthening border security.
Meanwhile, the NCS has scheduled physical screening and documentation for successful candidates in its ongoing recruitment exercise, with the exercise to hold at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The Service, in a statement issued Tuesday by its National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, directed all shortlisted candidates to appear on the dates assigned to their respective states and cadres.
It warned that candidates must report on their scheduled dates, as failure to attend could lead to disqualification from the recruitment process.
The NCS said candidates are required to bring both original copies and photocopies of their documents for verification.
The required documents include the National Identification Number (NIN), birth certificate or declaration of age, educational certificates from O’Level to degree level, where applicable, Certificate of State of Origin, two recent passport photographs, a completed Guarantor’s Form and NYSC Certificate, where applicable.
Candidates have also been instructed to appear in a white T-shirt, shorts and canvas shoes for the screening.
The Service said those who successfully complete the screening and documentation would receive information on the subsequent stages of the recruitment process.
Maiwada, speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to a transparent, fair and merit-based recruitment process.
He urged candidates to obtain recruitment information only through official NCS channels and warned against relying on unofficial sources for updates.
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By Chinenye Anuforo
chinenyeanuforo@gmail.com
Nigerians’ appetite for digital connectivity grew in June, as active telecommunications subscriptions climbed to 192.23 million, just as more data was consumed during the month.
Latest industry statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that active telecom subscriptions increased by 2.56 million from 189.68 million recorded in May.
The development pushed the country’s teledensity to 88.67 per cent, from the previous month’s figure, underscoring the growing dependence of Nigerians on mobile telecommunications for communication, business, banking, financial technology, education, entertainment and other digital services.
More significantly, data consumption accelerated during the period, with internet usage rising from 1,504,067.36 terabytes in May to 1,532,172.67TB in June.
The 28,105.31TB increase came despite a marginal decline in the number of internet subscriptions, which fell from 157.41 million in May to 156.86 million in June.
The figures suggest that while the number of internet users dipped slightly, existing users were consuming substantially more data, reflecting the increasing intensity of Nigerians’ online activities.
Broadband penetration also recorded growth, rising from 56.11 per cent in May to 56.79 per cent in June, as broadband subscriptions increased from 121.64 million to 123.11 million.
The steady rise in broadband access points to an expanding demand for faster and more reliable internet services, particularly as more economic and social activities migrate online.
On the mobile market, MTN Nigeria maintained its dominant position with 98.64 million active subscribers, representing 51.38 per cent of the market.
Airtel followed with 66.12 million subscribers and a 34.44 per cent market share, while Globacom recorded 23.68 million subscribers, accounting for 12.34 per cent.
T2 had 3.54 million subscribers, representing 1.84 per cent of the market.
The NCC data further showed that 4G remained the most widely used mobile technology, accounting for 54.31 per cent of total connections.
2G followed with 36.22 per cent, while 3G accounted for 4.86 per cent and 5G for 4.61 per cent.
The rising volume of data traffic is expected to further pressure telecommunications operators to expand network capacity and accelerate investments in infrastructure, including fibre, spectrum and newer mobile technologies.
The development is already being reflected in operators’ investment plans.
Speaking recently on the growing demand for connectivity and data services across Africa, Airtel Africa Group Chief Executive Officer, Sunil Taldar, said the company was increasing investment in network expansion and capacity to keep pace with data growth.
“Our data growth, volume growth is upwards of 50 per cent. To support this, one is coverage expansion,” Taldar said.
He added that Africa still had significant room for growth, noting that telecommunications and smartphone penetration remained relatively low across the continent.
The latest figures also highlighted the increasing economic importance of the telecommunications sector to Nigeria.
The sector contributed 9.19 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2026, reinforcing its role as a major enabler of economic activity.
Beyond providing voice and internet services, telecommunications infrastructure now supports critical segments of the economy, including banking, fintech, e-commerce, transportation, education, entertainment and other digital services.
Industry stakeholders have therefore continued to push for greater investment in broadband infrastructure, improved network quality and stronger protection of critical telecommunications infrastructure as Nigeria seeks to deepen digital connectivity and expand its digital economy.
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The federal government says it is stepping up efforts to translate the growing adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) into cheaper transportation for Nigerians, as more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to the alternative fuel under the Presidential CNG Initiative (Pi-CNG).
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the government’s focus is shifting beyond expanding CNG infrastructure to ensuring that the savings from cheaper fuel are reflected in transport fares and lower logistics costs across the economy.
The renewed push comes against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the rollout of an additional 500 CNG refuelling stations nationwide, bringing the government’s planned network to 1,000 stations.
Tinubu, after a meeting with state governors last week, said the Federal Government and the states had agreed to take immediate measures to reduce transport fares, with particular emphasis on CNG and electric vehicles.
He also set October 1 as a target for Nigerians to begin benefiting from the savings through lower transport fares.
According to the President, vehicles powered by CNG spend between 60 and 80 per cent less on fuel than their petrol-powered counterparts, underscoring the potential of the fuel to reduce operating costs for commercial transport operators and, ultimately, commuters.
Ekpo said the Federal Government was determined to deepen the use of CNG as a cheaper, cleaner and more sustainable transportation fuel, noting that the initiative had moved beyond the pilot stage and was increasingly becoming part of Nigeria’s transport energy mix.
Since the launch of the Pi-CNG in 2023, the Ministry, working with relevant stakeholders, has catalysed more than $2 billion in investment across the CNG value chain, supporting the expansion of refuelling infrastructure, vehicle conversion centres, technical capacity and other components required for mass adoption.
More than 120,000 vehicles have so far been converted to CNG through a network of over 400 certified conversion centres, while more than 90 refuelling stations have been established nationwide.
The programme has also trained over 7,700 automotive technicians, generated more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and facilitated the deployment of 655 CNG buses and 5,123 CNG tricycles.
The Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles currently puts the number of converted vehicles at over 120,000 and certified conversion centres at more than 400, highlighting the rapid expansion of the ecosystem.
Ekpo said the figures demonstrated that CNG was no longer merely a future alternative fuel but an increasingly viable option already being deployed by commercial transport operators, private motorists and fleet owners across the country.
He said the ultimate objective of the government was not simply to increase the number of CNG-powered vehicles and refuelling stations, but to ensure that lower fuel costs translate into reduced transportation and logistics expenses.
According to him, cheaper transportation would have a wider impact on the economy by reducing the cost burden on commuters, farmers, traders, businesses and other productive sectors that depend heavily on road transportation.
“The objective is not simply to increase the number of CNG vehicles and refuelling stations, but to translate fuel savings into lower transportation and logistics costs, ease the cost of living and improve economic productivity,” the Minister said.
He added that commercial transport operators, private vehicle owners and fleet managers were already reporting fuel-cost savings and improved operating margins, while commuters using CNG-powered buses were beginning to benefit from lower fares.
To sustain the momentum, Ekpo said the Ministry was collaborating with the Pi-CNG, the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), state governments, transport unions, operators, investors and other stakeholders to expand conversion and refuelling infrastructure.
He said efforts were also underway to develop dedicated CNG corridors and extend access to underserved communities, particularly as the Federal Government seeks to make the fuel more accessible outside major urban centres.
The Minister commended Tinubu for approving the additional 500 CNG stations, describing the move as a major boost to the government’s drive to expand access to cheaper transport energy.
The new stations, when added to the 500 previously ordered under the MDGIF, will take the planned national network to 1,000 stations. The Federal Government is also financing more than 100 gas projects, including CNG mother and daughter stations, as part of the broader infrastructure expansion.
Ekpo also commended state governors that had embraced the CNG programme through investments and partnerships, urging those yet to key into the initiative to do so in the interest of commuters and the wider economy.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would continue to work with investors and industry stakeholders to accelerate CNG infrastructure deployment, deepen domestic gas utilisation and ensure that the benefits of cheaper transport fuel ultimately reach Nigerians at the grassroots.
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