Lagos, Jan. 5, 2026 – In the spirit of the festive season, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive community support through a charitable outreach to Oluyole Cheshire Home, Ibadan. The visit, carried out through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), provided food items and essential supplies to children living with disabilities at the home. Speaking at the outreach, Meksley Nwagboh, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, emphasized that the exercise was not just an act of …
Cuba says 32 cuban officers were killed in U.S. operation in Venezuela
Havana, Jan. 5, 2026 – An American military operation in Venezuela killed 32 Cuban officers over the weekend, the Cuban government said Sunday in the first official death count provided of the American strikes in the South American nation. The Cuban military and police officers were on a mission the Caribbean country’s military was carrying out at the request of Venezuela’s government, according to a statement read on Cuban state TV on Sunday night. What the Cubans were working on in the South American nation was unclear, but Cuba …
Trump’s Venezuela gambit tests investor appetite for geopolitical risk
By Ankur Banerjee and Rae Wee Singapore, Jan. 5, 2025 – Markets may have shrugged off the audacious U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but some investors warn that geopolitical risks are perhaps being underestimated after Donald Trump threatened further action in the Americas. Investors held their nerve on Monday, with stocks in Asia surging and oil prices down modestly although safe-haven flows lifted gold prices, after President Trump said the U.S. would take control of the oil-producing nation. While Washington has not made such a direct intervention …
Trump’s plan to seize revitalize Venezuela’s oil industry faces major hurdles
Washington, Jan 5, 2026 – President Donald Trump’s plan to take control of Venezuela’s oil industry and ask American companies to revitalize it after capturing President Nicolas Maduro in a raid isn’t likely to have a significant immediate impact on oil prices. Venezuela’s oil industry is in disrepair after years of neglect and international sanctions, so it could take years and major investments before production can increase dramatically. But some analysts are optimistic that Venezuela could double or triple its current output of about 1.1 million barrels of oil …
Kamala Harris blasts Trump’s capture of Venezuela’s Maduro as ‘unlawful and unwise’
Washington, Jan. 4, 2026 – Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday evening condemned the Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, calling the operation both “unlawful” and “unwise.” In a lengthy post on X, Harris acknowledged that Maduro is a “brutal” and “illegitimate” dictator but said that President Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela “do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable.” “Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela do not make America safer, stronger, or more affordable,” Harris wrote. “That Maduro is a brutal, illegitimate dictator does …
Abuja court orders remand of Malami in Kuje Correctional Centre
Abuja, Dec. 30, 2025 – Abubakar Malami, a Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, is to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre until the determination of his bail application. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja gave the order on Tuesday after hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution teams. The court ordered that Malami be remanded along with his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives. They are all facing a 16-count bordering on money laundering preferred against them …
Trump says he still might fire Powell as Fed Chair pick looms
Florida, Dec. 30, 2025 – President Donald Trump teased that he has a preferred candidate to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve, but is in no hurry to make an announcement — while also musing that he might fire the central bank’s current leader, Jerome Powell. “I do, still do — hasn’t changed,” Trump said at a press conference Monday, when asked if he has a favorite candidate. “I’ll announce him at the right time. There’s plenty of time.” Trump added that Powell “should resign” and that …
SERAP sues 36 governors, Wike over alleged missing N14trn subsidy savings
Abuja, Dec. 28, 2025 – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the 36 state governors and Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, for their failure to account for N14 trillion fuel subsidy savings The organization disclosed this on Sunday in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. It said the suit, FHC/L/MSC/1424/2025, was filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos last Friday SERAP alleged that the governors and the FCT minister collected the funds as proceeds from the increased allocations …
Review of Nigerian Economy in 2025 and outlook for 2026
By Muda Yusuf 2025: A Year of Macroeconomic Stabilisation The year 2025 marked a significant turning point in Nigeria’s macroeconomic trajectory following the turbulence associated with the early phase of reforms. Exchange-rate stability emerged as the most visible achievement, with the naira largely trading within the ₦1,440–₦1,500/US$ band. Periodic marginal appreciation strengthened business confidence, eased imported inflation and restored predictability to pricing, contracting and investment planning. Inflation decelerated sharply from 24.48 percent in January to about 14.45 percent by November 2025. The slowdown was supported by currency stability, …
TDF welcomes joint US/Nigeria operations against terrorists in Sokoto
Abuja, Dec. 28, 2025 – The Democratic Front (TDF) has welcomed the military collaboration between the US and Nigerian authorities that led to air strikes against terrorists in Sokoto state. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, TDF noted that President Bola Tinubu gave his go-ahead before the coordinated American precision strikes were carried out. It said: “We see the airstrikes as a commendable outcome of the ongoing Nigeria/United States collaboration on security and intelligence sharing in the country. ”It …