Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Category: Nigeria

  • Davido shares ‘Mama Chi’ early birthday surprise on Caribbean vacation

    Davido shares ‘Mama Chi’ early birthday surprise on Caribbean vacation

    In a post-driven report by TheCable Lifestyle, Davido shared a family moment as he organised a surprise cake for Chioma’s mum during a vacation on Canouan Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

    The post caption described it as an “early birthday surprise for Mama Chi,” triggering fan reactions and renewed attention to the family’s public-facing narrative.

    Independent checks:

    • Punch Newspapers: “Davido celebrates Chioma’s mum…” — https://punchng.com/
    • Davido (Instagram): “Early birthday surprise for Mama Chi” — https://www.instagram.com/davido/

    Soft family content has become a major signal in celebrity branding—especially for stars rebuilding public trust. Watch for more vacation posts and whether brands lean in with partnership content around this family-friendly narrative.

    Source: TheCable Lifestyle — 2026-01-06 — https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/davido-surprises-chiomas-mum-birthday-cake-family-vacation/

    Source:TheCable Lifestyle 2026-01-06 Photo Credit: TheCable Lifestyle

  • Eucharia Anunobi speaks out after leaked-audio talk links her name to controversy

    Eucharia Anunobi speaks out after leaked-audio talk links her name to controversy

    According to QED.ng, actress and evangelist Eucharia Anunobi pushed back against allegations linked to a leaked audio that mentioned her, calling it an attempt to damage her reputation.

    She said she addressed the issue during a live broadcast and framed it as a targeted attack that “failed.”

    Independent checks:

    • Daily Post Nigeria: “Eucharia Anunobi reacts…” — https://dailypost.ng/
    • Legit.ng: “They tried to tarnish my name…” — https://www.legit.ng/

    When religious circles and celebrity names mix, misinformation spreads fast and is hard to contain. Watch for follow-up statements from people tied to the audio, and whether her camp issues legal notices to blogs amplifying unverified claims.

    Source: PmNews — 2026-01-07 — https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2026/01/07/eucharia-anunobi-finally-speaks-on-shocking-leaked-audio/

    Source: PmNews 2026-01-07

    Photo Credit: PmNews

  • Fela Kuti earns Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement recognition ahead of Grammy Week

    Fela Kuti earns Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement recognition ahead of Grammy Week

    According to The Guardian Nigeria, Fela Kuti’s legacy is back in focus as he is listed among honorees for the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award tied to Grammy Week activities.

    The recognition further spotlights Afrobeat’s global influence and the enduring impact of Fela’s artistry and activism.

    Independent checks:

    • Recording Academy (Press/Announcement): “Lifetime Achievement Award honorees” — https://www.grammy.com/
    • Pitchfork: “Lifetime Achievement” honorees list coverage — https://pitchfork.com/

    Lifetime Achievement honors don’t just celebrate history—they trigger discovery. Expect renewed streaming attention, playlist placement, and fresh debates about Afrobeat’s roots and how modern Afrobeats relates to the genre’s origin story.

    Source: The Punch — 2026-01-07 — https://punchng.com/netizens-hail-fela-kutis-grammy-lifetime-achievement-award-as-well%E2%80%91deserved/

    Source: The Punch 2026-01-07

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Megan Thee Stallion teams up with Dunkin as ‘Protein Milk’ meets pop culture marketing

    Megan Thee Stallion teams up with Dunkin as ‘Protein Milk’ meets pop culture marketing

    According to Billboard, Megan Thee Stallion is fronting a Dunkin campaign tied to the brand’s Protein Milk and a new “Dunk N’ Pump” drink push.

    The move extends the trend of celebrity-powered menu marketing designed for social sharing and short-form video culture.

    Independent checks:

    • Dunkin (Press/Brand announcement): “teams up with Megan Thee Stallion” — https://news.dunkindonuts.com/
    • People: “partnering with Dunkin…” — https://people.com/

    This is branding built for 2026: fitness-coded language, meme-ready naming, and a star who thrives on catchphrases. Watch for TikTok challenge waves and competitor chains launching copycat ‘protein’ drinks to steal attention.

    Source: Billboard — 2026-01-07 — https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/megan-thee-stallion-jane-fonda-era-dunkin-ad-1236150283/

    Source: Billboard 2026-01-07

    Photo Credit: Billboard

  • Ice Spice and NBA’s Michael Porter Jr spark dating talk after NYC sighting

    Ice Spice and NBA’s Michael Porter Jr spark dating talk after NYC sighting

    According to Page Six, Ice Spice and Brooklyn Nets player Michael Porter Jr were spotted together in NYC, fueling fresh dating rumors.

    Neither party has confirmed anything publicly, so the story remains in rumor territory for now.

    Independent checks:

    • Yahoo Entertainment: “fuel dating rumors…” — https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/
    • New York Post Entertainment: “obviously together” — https://nypost.com/entertainment/

    Sports-celebrity crossovers move fast from “night out” to “official couple” narratives. Until either camp confirms, treat this as gossip—and watch for repeat sightings, courtside appearances, or lyric references that turn rumor into pattern.

    Source: Page Six — 2026-01-06 — https://pagesix.com/2026/01/06/celebrity-news/ice-spice-and-brooklyn-nets-star-michael-porter-jr-fuel-dating-rumors-with-nyc-night-out/

    Source: Page Six 2026-01-06

    Photo Credit: Page Six

  • Lagos Police Officers Refund ₦2.2m After Alleged $2,000 USDT Extortion, Say Balance Was ‘Shared’

    Lagos Police Officers Refund ₦2.2m After Alleged $2,000 USDT Extortion, Say Balance Was ‘Shared’

    FIJ reports that officers attached to the Area H Police Command in Ogudu, Lagos State, allegedly stopped a couple travelling out of Lagos before 6am on December 18, 2025, seized the man’s phones, and took both husband and wife to the Ogudu Police Station.

    The report says the woman was made to sit outside while the man was taken in to write a statement without his lawyer present. FIJ further states the officers initially demanded $5,000 in USDT, but the couple—under duress—eventually paid $2,000 (about ₦3.33m) to a wallet address provided by the policemen, after which traces of the transfer were allegedly deleted.

    According to FIJ, a complaint was escalated to the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU), leading the victims and a friend to return to the station on December 23 to identify the officers involved. FIJ says the officers later began refunding the money in parts after the case gained traction online, returning ₦2m first, then an additional ₦200,000—while reportedly asking to keep about ₦1m and return only ₦100,000 more because the funds had been shared among multiple officers.

    FIJ added that the officer contacted for comment, Olumide Jegede, said he could not speak on the matter at press time and asked the reporter to visit his office on Monday for follow-up.

    FIJ Photo Credit:
  • CBN warns bank recapitalisation could crowd out other capital-market fundraising

    CBN warns bank recapitalisation could crowd out other capital-market fundraising

    Reporting by Punch indicates the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is warning that the ongoing bank recapitalisation drive could tilt capital-market funding even more heavily toward banks, leaving other issuers struggling to attract investor attention.

    The concern is not that recapitalisation is unnecessary, but that liquidity could become concentrated in bank equity and related offers if multiple large fundraises hit the market around the same time.

    CBN’s outlook describes a generally bullish capital-market tone, but stresses that momentum can become fragile when one sector dominates deal flow, raising concentration risk.

    For corporates outside banking, the implication is tougher pricing and slower book-building if banks keep taking the front seat through 2026.

    Elsewhere, ThisDay quoted the apex bank warning the market could face “higher concentration risk” and that recapitalisation may “crowd-out other issuers.” Premium Times also noted the central bank’s caution that rising non-performing loans and concentration risks could weigh on growth outcomes.

    Echotitbits take: The sequencing of bank offers will matter. If multiple tier-1s fundraise in the same quarter, expect wider discounts and weaker demand for non-bank IPOs and bonds. Timing discipline and a deeper investor base are the pressure valves.

    Source: BusinessDay – https://businessday.ng/companies/article/cbn-sees-capital-market-extending-bullish-streak-on-bank-recapitalisation/ January 7, 2026
    BusinessDay  January 7, 2026

    Photo Credit: BusinessDay

  • CBN projects faster growth and stronger reserves in 2026 as inflation eases

    CBN projects faster growth and stronger reserves in 2026 as inflation eases

    According to Premium Times, the CBN’s 2026 macro outlook projects faster economic expansion alongside further inflation moderation and stronger external buffers.

    The baseline assumes reform momentum continues—supporting business confidence, improving FX market credibility, and lifting investment planning if volatility stays contained.

    On prices, the outlook points to headline inflation easing further in 2026 as food and energy pressures cool and supply conditions improve, though risks remain from oil-output shocks and fiscal slippages.

    CBN also sketches a fiscal picture that still requires revenue reforms and expenditure discipline to avoid renewed macro stress.

    Vanguard reported the central bank forecast includes “a 4.49 per cent growth in GDP” and external reserves rising to “$51.04 billion.” Leadership similarly highlighted that CBN “forecasts $51bn external reserves in 2026.”

    Echotitbits take: This is cautious optimism, not a victory lap. Watch oil output, FX liquidity, and whether fiscal discipline holds—those will decide if the forecast becomes reality.

    Source: Premium Times – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/846528-nigerian-economy-expected-to-grow-4-49-in-2026-inflation-to-ease-cbn.html December 30, 2025
    Premium Times December 30, 2025

    Photo Credit: Premium Times

  • Army chief vows to contain terrorism as calls grow for state policing and forest guards

    Army chief vows to contain terrorism as calls grow for state policing and forest guards

    In an update published by The Guardian Nigeria, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, says the Army is committed to containing the terror threat while reviewing doctrine and training for 2026 operations.

    The remarks were delivered around the Army’s doctrine and training conference, framed as an annual reset to adapt to a more complex security environment.

    Alongside the military messaging, a public-policy think tank urged deeper reforms, arguing lasting results require reclaiming ungoverned spaces through state policing and institutional forest guards.

    The broader signal is that Abuja’s security conversation is moving beyond deployments to governance design—who polices what, how forests are secured, and how accountability is shared.

    Vanguard separately reported the COAS “promises enhanced security” during engagements in Niger State. ThisDay also carried the operational push, reporting the Army would “deploy more troops… to crush terrorist attacks.”

    Echotitbits take: The test is coordination—intelligence fusion, forest control, and prosecution pipelines. Watch whether state-level security structures gain clear legal backing or remain ad-hoc.

    Source: Punch – https://punchng.com/army-will-curb-terrorists-attacks-in-niger-nationwide-coas/ January 7, 2026
    Punch Nigeria January 7, 2026

    Photo Credit: Punch

  • Sokoto begins strict enforcement of monthly tax filing with penalties for defaulters

    Sokoto begins strict enforcement of monthly tax filing with penalties for defaulters

    Figures cited by Punch show Sokoto State’s revenue service is pushing full compliance on monthly tax filings for taxable persons starting January 2026, warning that penalties will apply for non-compliance.

    The policy is positioned as a compliance reset—bringing more individuals and businesses into regular filing, tightening documentation, and strengthening the state’s ability to plan and enforce revenue rules.

    The enforcement angle extends to public contracting, where tax registration is expected to become a more visible compliance gate for suppliers.

    For SMEs and informal operators, the practical issue is capacity: monthly filing needs simple processes and predictable treatment to avoid turning compliance into harassment.

    Punch also highlighted an enforcement detail that statutory bodies or companies awarding contracts to unregistered persons risk a “₦5 million” penalty. Another Punch recap echoed the state IRS announced “full enforcement of compulsory monthly tax filings.”

    Echotitbits take: This succeeds only if enforcement is paired with ease—online filing, helpdesks, clear templates, and dispute resolution. Watch whether the net broadens or the pressure just shifts to already-compliant taxpayers.

    Source: Punch – https://punchng.com/sokoto-irs-begins-enforcement-of-compulsory-monthly-tax-filings/  January 7, 2026
    Punch January 7, 2026

    Photo Credit: Punch Newspapers