Elon Musk has officially unveiled Tesla’s highly anticipated self-driving robotaxi, marking a monumental leap forward in the company’s journey toward autonomous vehicle technology. This innovative robotaxi is set to redefine how we think about transportation, offering a vision of a future where cars can operate without any human intervention. The vehicle, powered by Tesla’s advanced Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, is designed to navigate roads, respond to traffic signals, and transport passengers safely, all without the need for a driver. Musk has long teased the concept of a Tesla robotaxi as part of his vision to create a sustainable, autonomous transportation…
Author: Temitope Nlewemchi
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially granted permission for petroleum marketers to lift petrol directly from the Dangote refinery without the need to go through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). This move marks a significant shift in the country’s oil distribution framework and confirms speculations that the NNPC would no longer serve as the sole off-taker of fuel produced at the Dangote refinery, one of the largest in Africa. This development comes as part of broader reforms aimed at deregulating Nigeria’s petroleum sector and encouraging greater market competition. The announcement was made in a statement on Friday…
A new bill proposed in Nigeria will require individuals involved in banking, insurance, stock-broking, or other financial services to provide a Tax Identification Number (TIN) as a prerequisite for opening new accounts or operating existing ones. Titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Assessment, Collection of, and Accounting for Revenue Accruing to the Federation, Federal, States, and Local Governments; Prescribe the Powers and Functions of Tax Authorities, and for Related Matters,” the legislation aims to boost tax compliance and improve revenue collection. The bill also mandates that non-residents supplying taxable goods or services to Nigeria, or earning…
The Hollywood blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine has achieved a major milestone in Nigeria, surpassing the N700 million mark at the box office after spending over two months in cinemas. This accomplishment places it among the top-grossing films in the region. As of its latest report, the film grossed a total of N700,213,987, with over 142,000 admissions, according to Nigerian box office data. Leading the pack is A Tribe Called Judah by Funke Akindele, followed by Wakanda Forever and the original Black Panther. Spider-Man: No Way Home also made the list. Since its premiere on July 26, 2024, Deadpool & Wolverine…
The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has achieved a significant milestone, reporting a revenue collection of N1.61 trillion in the third quarter of 2024. This impressive figure surpasses the total revenue collected in 2023, demonstrating the command’s remarkable performance. Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, attributed this achievement to the diligence and integrity of the command’s personnel. He emphasized the ongoing commitment to working with stakeholders to enhance revenue collection and curb smuggling activities. Olomu highlighted the notable results achieved in July and September, with collections reaching N201.8 billion and N193.9 billion,…
The Hollywood romance film, It Ends With Us, has shattered Nigerian box office records, grossing an impressive N64.6 million. Distributed by FilmOne, the movie continues to captivate audiences, who are encouraged to ‘head to the cinema and fall in love all over again,’ as shared by the company on X (formerly Twitter). Directed by Justin Baldoni and based on Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, It Ends With Us hit theaters on August 9, 2024. The film tells the emotionally charged story of Lily, a young woman seeking to escape a traumatic past as she embarks on a new romance. However, her…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cautioned the National Productivity Centre (NPC) against giving awards to financial crimes suspects. This was disclosed in a statement published on the EFCC website dated September 6, 2024. The caution was issued during a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja by the NPC Director-General, Baffa Babban Dan’agundi. Warning Against Issuing Awards to Crime Suspects The NPC is a federal government parastatal responsible for stimulating and promoting productivity consciousness in all sectors of the Nigerian economy, including spotlighting unique personalities among others. But EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede tasked the NPC to go beyond…
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media & Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has tendered an indefinite leave of absence from national service under the federal government. He disclosed this in a statement on September 7, 2024, linking his decision to family medical concerns. Ajuri who doubles as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, said his choice was based on undisclosed pressing health issues. Committed to National Service Ngelale disclosed his submitted memo of leave of absence to the Chief of Staff to the President on Friday detailing why he is proceeding…
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed over $6.5 million to aid flood-related humanitarian efforts in Nigeria. This is according to a press statement by USAID, which was seen by Nairametrics. According to the statement, this funding, part of USAID’s Fiscal Year 2024 support, will assist local partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in responding to the severe flooding that has impacted various regions across the country. $3 million for critical flood-related needs As part of this initiative, IOM will allocate $3 million to address critical flood-related needs nationwide. According to Nigeria’s…
The Nigerian Presidency confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has received a memo from Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and the Official Spokesperson of the President, detailing his decision to take an indefinite leave of absence due to personal and health reasons. This was disclosed in a statement from the Presidency on September 7, 2024, shared via its WhatsApp platform. According to the statement, the President accepts Ngelale’s reasons for the leave, fully understands them, and sympathizes with the circumstances that have led to his decision. Presidency Wishes Ngelale Well Earlier today, Ngelale disclosed that…
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has formalized an agreement with two Chinese engineering and construction companies to enhance electricity and water supply within the territory. This was revealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the FCT and the companies. According to a statement by Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press in the Office of the Minister, the MoU was finalized on Saturday in Beijing, China. The signing took place between the FCT and two major Chinese firms: China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and China Geo-Engineering Corporation Overseas Construction (CGCOC) Group. The…
New Zealand will increase its international visitor levy from NZ$35 to NZ$100 starting October 1st, 2024. The increase is supposed to fund conservation efforts and support tourism. Though the tourism sector has concerns about its effect on visitor numbers. This decision, as reported by TravelBiz, was announced by the government, informing that the levy will increase from NZ$35 to NZ$100 (about N98,565 based on the current official rate), representing a 185.7% increase in cost for international visitors. This move, according to the government, seeks to have tourists support public services and maintain their experience in New Zealand. But ultimately, this…
Nigeria and China signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The agreements, signed on Tuesday, cover areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, nuclear energy cooperation, human resource development, and media exchange, and were finalized in the presence of both leaders. These MoUs were concluded ahead of President Tinubu’s participation in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, scheduled for September 4-6, 2024. This disclosure was contained in a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson. “During the meeting, both presidents witnessed the signing of…
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has reacted to the increase in petrol prices stating that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises would be particularly hard-hit projecting that SMEs across the country could scale down operations or completely shut down. The Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi Kadir disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) where he said that the hike in PMS will result in high operational costs in terms of transport and logistics and businesses unable to pass the cost to customers might be forced to close shop. According to him, the hike…
Vice President Kashim Shettima has commissioned $115 million worth of operational terminal equipment at the Onne Seaport in Rivers State. The upgrade was spearheaded by the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), a key terminal at the port and a subsidiary of APM Terminals. The inauguration took place on Wednesday at the Onne Port, where the Vice President was represented by his Personal Assistant on Subnational Infrastructure, Mr. Musaddiq Mustapha. Shettima reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to infrastructure development as a driver of economic growth. He highlighted that the new facility, equipped with state-of-the-art terminal machinery, advanced technology, an administrative building,…
The University of Minnesota is offering significant financial support to international students through its prestigious Undergraduate Scholarship, also known as the Global Excellence Scholarship. This initiative, as reported by Scholarship Region, aims to attract top talent from around the world, providing up to $60,000 in funding to help cover educational expenses for deserving students. Details provide that international students who apply before the specified deadline, November 15th 2024, will be automatically considered for the scholarship. According to Scholarships AF, “this scholarship offers substance support to outstanding international first-year students and transfer students. The GES awards are also highly competitive and…
China’s President Xi Jinping has committed $50 billion in financial support and promised increased military cooperation to Africa over the next three years. Speaking at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, Xi outlined his vision for strengthening ties with the continent, which he declared is experiencing its most favorable period in history. In his 10-minute speech, Xi outlined ten key areas for future cooperation, including infrastructure connectivity, trade, security, and green development. The focus on green technology aligns with China’s broader goal to expand its export of green technologies, reflecting its evolving strategic interests. Xi proposed elevating diplomatic relations…
The UK government has announced a temporary halt on its plans to raise the minimum income requirement for family visas by 19.83%. This means that the government has decided to pause or suspend its intended increase in the minimum income level required for individuals to sponsor family members for a family visa. According to TravelBiz, the freeze on the planned increase comes amid ongoing reviews by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which will reassess the financial criteria for family visas. As a result, the current income threshold of £29,000 will remain in place for now, instead of progressing to £34,500,…
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the urgent need to address “historic injustices,” specifically pointing out the lack of a permanent seat for Africa on the UN Security Council. Guterres described this omission as “outrageous” and stressed that the upcoming Summit of the Future at UN Headquarters later this month represents a crucial opportunity for global renewal and reform. In his address on China-Africa Cooperation Summit, where leaders from around 50 African countries are set to gather amid rising geopolitical tensions, raging conflicts and growing poverty and hunger. Guterres pointed out that many African nations are struggling with debt,…
The Federal Government has said potential buyers would have to present their National Identification Number (NIN) as commenced the sale of 30, 000 metric tonnes of milled rice to Nigerians at a subsidised rate of N40,000 per 50 kilograme bag. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, inaugurated the sale of the subsidised milled rice on Thursday in Abuja, noting that the exercise would be carried out across the country. Kyari said the rice intervention was timely due to the times and current challenges in the country. He said…