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Beijing/Perth, April 24, 2026 – Oil prices ​rose on Friday due to fears of a renewed military escalation in the Middle East after Iran released footage of commandos ‌boarding a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz and on reports Tehran’s air defences had engaged “hostile targets.” Brent crude futures rose 99 cents, or 0.94%, to $106.06 a barrel at 0410 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate futures were up 71 cents, or 0.73%, at $96.56. Brent rose 17.13% throughout the course of the ​week while WTI rose 15.13%, the second-largest weekly gain …

Singapore, April 23, 2026 – S&P Global Energy has reduced its global oil ​demand forecast for 2026 by ‌700,000 barrels per day as the U.S.-Iran war disrupts energy supplies from ​the Middle East and ​hits demand in the second quarter, ⁠consultant Ethan Ng said on ​Thursday. Global oil demand growth expected ​to shrink to 400,000 bpd versus pre-war forecast of 1.1 million bpd. Oil demand ​to fall sharply in the ​Middle East and Asia in Q2. About 178 ‌refineries ⁠accounting for around 40% of the world’s refining capacity are affected …

Tokyo, Perth, April 22, 2026 – Oil prices were largely flat on ​Wednesday after rising about $1 at the start of Asian trading, with investors assessing the outlook for ‌U.S.-Iran peace talks following the U.S. extension of a ceasefire. Brent crude futures were up 3 cents, or 0.02%, at $98.51 a barrel at 0438 GMT, after touching $99.38 per barrel earlier in the session. West Texas Intermediate futures were down 13 cents, or 0.14%, to $89.53 after ​climbing as high as $90.71 at the open. Both benchmark contracts rose about …

Abuja, April 20, 2026 – The Federal Government has borrowed N100 billion from unclaimed dividends and dormant bank accounts under the Unclaimed Funds Trust as of December 31, 2025. The Debt Management Office (DMO) disclosed this at the week in its latest statistics on the domestic debt stock. It described the N100 billion borrowed from dormant accounts as just about 0.12 per cent of the Federal Government’s total domestic debt. According to the report, the Federal Government domestic debt now stands at about N80.49 trillion. The bulk of federal government domestic …

Lagos, April 20, 2026 – The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) had advised the federal government to strengthen fiscal protection on investments in domestic petroleum industry. The CPPE gave the advice on Sunday in a policy brief on the recently released 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures and Tariff Amendments. In the policy brief signed by Muda Yusuf, its Director- General, the Centre said there was a compelling need for government to protect investments in the local oil industry. It said that the domestic refineries were currently operating with …

Akure, April 20, 2026 – Yòmí Oyékàn, a media and community development advocate, through his platform, Akure Outsiders, has entered into a strategic partnership with Stanfield Attorneys, led by its Managing Partner, E. D. Elabi, to facilitate the release of 50 inmates from correctional facilities across Ondo State. According to a statement issued by the media office of Akure Outsiders, the initiative, driven by humanitarian and justice-focused objectives, targets inmates eligible for release on grounds of minor offences, prolonged detention without trial, or fulfillment of legal conditions for freedom. In …

Lagos, April 20, 2026 – There is a version of the Nigerian economy that the banking sector has always served well. It is the economy of salaried professionals, corporate treasurers, documented collateral, and monthly pay cycles. It is the economy that fits neatly into conventional credit models, standard account structures, and the risk frameworks that Nigerian banking inherited from its colonial and post-independence institutional architecture. That economy is real, and serving it matters. There is another version. It is the economy of the cooperative chairwoman in Ogun whose members pool …

Mumbai, April 20, 2026 – The Indian rupee and government bonds this week will be comforted by a drop in oil prices even as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a standstill, days before a ceasefire between the United States and ​Iran is set to expire. Brent crude oil prices fell sharply on Friday and could experience fresh volatility this week after ‌U.S. President Donald Trump said his envoys would return to Pakistan for fresh talks with Iran, while threatening attacks on Iran’s bridges and power plants unless it accepts …

By – Ron Bousso London, April 20, 2026- The stop-start shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz which underscores the profound uncertainty hanging over the world’s most critical oil and gas chokepoint. But one thing is already clear: even if the guns fall silent, flows through the narrow waterway will take months – and possibly years – to recover to pre-war levels. Iran ​said on Saturday that it was tightening control over the strait in response to a U.S. blockade on Iranian tankers, firing at several vessels and warning mariners …

By Olufemi Orioye  As the political landscape of Ogun State continues to evolve with an eye on the 2027 general elections, one name that is increasingly being highlighted as a strong contender for the Deputy Governorship seat is Honorable Dapo Okubadejo, the Economic Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun and the state’s Commissioner for Finance. Okubadejo has, over the past few years, proven his exceptional leadership, financial expertise, and unwavering commitment to the development of Ogun State.  His strategic vision and remarkable track record make him not just a key player in …