Echotitbits – Nigeria News

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  • Kaduna Opens 800,000 Bank Accounts as Financial Inclusion Surges

    Kaduna Opens 800,000 Bank Accounts as Financial Inclusion Surges

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    Kaduna State has recorded 800,000 new bank accounts as part of an aggressive financial‑inclusion drive targeting low‑income residents and informal‑sector workers. Authorities attribute the surge to mobile‑banking campaigns, agent networks and partnerships with microfinance institutions and fintechs.

    Officials say greater access to formal financial services is helping citizens save securely, receive government payments and access credit for small businesses. The initiative aligns with national inclusion targets and could serve as a model for other states seeking to bring more people into the formal economy.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • Nigeria’s Oil Output Rises by 35,000 Barrels Per Day in November

    Nigeria’s Oil Output Rises by 35,000 Barrels Per Day in November

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    Nigeria’s crude oil production increased by 35,000 barrels per day in November, according to new data from industry trackers. The rise reflects modest gains from improved security in some fields and ongoing efforts to tackle theft and pipeline vandalism.

    While still below the country’s full capacity and official quota, the uptick offers slight relief for government revenues and foreign‑exchange inflows. Analysts caution, however, that sustained recovery will require deeper reforms, including infrastructure upgrades, better metering and stricter enforcement against illegal bunkering.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • IITA, IFAD and Partners to Train 30,000 Nigerian Agripreneurs

    IITA, IFAD and Partners to Train 30,000 Nigerian Agripreneurs

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and other partners have launched a programme to empower 30,000 Nigerian agripreneurs. The initiative will provide training, mentorship and access to finance for youths involved in crop production, processing and agritech ventures.

    Project coordinators say the goal is to make agriculture more attractive and profitable, reduce rural‑urban migration and support food security. The programme will target value chains with strong market demand, while promoting climate‑smart practices and digital tools for farm management.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • Dangote Refinery IPO to Pay Dollar-Denominated Dividends

    Dangote Refinery IPO to Pay Dollar-Denominated Dividends

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    Aliko Dangote has disclosed that the planned initial public offering of the Dangote Refinery will feature dollar‑denominated dividends to attract global investors. He said the structure is designed to hedge against naira volatility and position the refinery as a world‑class asset in international capital markets.

    The IPO is expected to deepen liquidity on the Nigerian Exchange and provide new investment options for domestic and diaspora investors. Market watchers say the listing could become one of the largest in Africa, offering exposure to downstream petroleum revenues and non‑oil export earnings.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 11 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 11 Dec 2025 2025-12-11

  • Dangote Refinery Receives Second Crude Cargo From Ghana

    Dangote Refinery Receives Second Crude Cargo From Ghana

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    The Dangote Refinery has received its second crude oil shipment from Ghana, signalling deepening regional supply links for the massive Lagos‑based complex. Reports say the cargo is part of a broader supply arrangement that allows the plant to process blends from multiple African producers.

    Energy analysts note that regular deliveries from Ghana and other countries could strengthen West African energy integration, while helping the refinery reach full capacity and stabilise fuel supply in Nigeria. The move also underscores Dangote’s strategy of diversifying feedstock sources beyond domestic crude.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • Niger Delta Group Awards 650 Grants to MSMEs

    Niger Delta Group Awards 650 Grants to MSMEs

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    A Niger Delta‑based development group has disbursed 650 grants to micro, small and medium‑scale enterprises in the region, targeting jobs and income growth in communities affected by oil‑industry disruptions. Beneficiaries include traders, artisans, agribusiness operators and service providers across several states.

    Organisers said the initiative is designed to complement federal and state programmes by providing flexible funding, mentorship and market‑linkage support. They argue that expanding MSMEs is critical to tackling unemployment, reducing youth restiveness and diversifying the region’s economy beyond oil.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • Chaos at Gombe Airport After Rano Air Cancels Flight

    Chaos at Gombe Airport After Rano Air Cancels Flight

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    Passengers at Gombe Airport staged protests after a Rano Air flight was abruptly cancelled, sparking scenes of chaos and heated exchanges with airline staff. Travellers complained of poor communication, lack of compensation and fears of missing critical engagements, including international connections.

    Airport security personnel intervened to restore order as stranded passengers demanded refunds and alternative arrangements. The incident again exposes persistent service‑quality issues in Nigeria’s domestic aviation market and the need for stricter enforcement of passenger‑rights regulations.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • FCCPC Seals Ikeja Electric Office Over 30-Month Blackout

    FCCPC Seals Ikeja Electric Office Over 30-Month Blackout

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has shut the Ikeja Electric business office in Lagos over a reported 30‑month power outage affecting 19 customers who were still being billed. FCCPC officials sealed the premises after investigations suggested prolonged service failure and possible unfair billing practices.

    The commission demanded immediate remediation for affected consumers and warned other distribution companies against similar behaviour. The action highlights growing regulatory pressure on power firms to improve service quality, billing transparency and complaint resolution in a sector that directly affects business competitiveness and household welfare.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12

  • FG Secures Over ₦6bn Private Funding to Scale 3MTT Tech Training

    FG Secures Over ₦6bn Private Funding to Scale 3MTT Tech Training

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    The Federal Government has secured more than ₦6 billion in private‑sector commitments to expand the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme nationwide. Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the new funding will support training centres, learning devices and job‑placement pipelines for young Nigerians entering tech careers.

    Partners include local and international firms seeking to build talent for software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity and other in‑demand skills. The government hopes the initiative will position Nigeria as Africa’s tech‑talent hub, deepen digital inclusion and contribute to non‑oil export earnings.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 11 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 11 Dec 2025 2025-12-11

  • FG Rolls Out 40 Electric Buses in Clean-Energy Push

    FG Rolls Out 40 Electric Buses in Clean-Energy Push

    Photo Credit:Punch Newspapers

    The Federal Government has unveiled 40 electric buses as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions, cut fuel costs and modernise Nigeria’s public transport system. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the buses will operate on pilot routes while a broader ecosystem of charging infrastructure and maintenance support is developed.

    Officials say the initiative underscores Nigeria’s commitment to cleaner mobility and gas‑based power, while also easing transport costs for commuters in the long term. The project is expected to attract private partners and demonstrate the viability of electric vehicles in Nigerian cities.

    Source: Punch Newspapers – 11 Dec 2025

    2025-12-12 10:00:00 Punch Newspapers – 11 Dec 2025 2025-12-11