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Nigeria and UAE sign trade agreement to remove tariffs on thousands of goods
Business

Nigeria and UAE sign trade agreement to remove tariffs on thousands of goods

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi that would open duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the Arab country. Nigerian Beauty Tips In a statement shared on his X handle on Tuesday, January 13, President Tinubu disclosed that the agreement was signed while attending Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He stated that asides granting duty-free access for thousands of Nigerian products into the UAE market, the agreement will expand opportunities for exporters, manufacturers, and service providers, and provides clearer investment confidence for UAE investors in Nigeria’s produc...
Customs issues fresh operational guidelines for courier companies
Business

Customs issues fresh operational guidelines for courier companies

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced the implementation of a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for courier companies operating under the Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) Incoterm. According to an official statement, the new framework regulates registration, manifest submission, declaration, valuation, clearance, delivery and compliance monitoring, and is designed to align with international standards. Nigerian Fashion Updates “The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announces the commencement of a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for regulating courier companies operating under the Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) Incoterm. This implementation provides a unified framework for registration, manifest submission, declaration, valuation, clearance, delivery and compliance monitoring,...
Nigerian Stock Market Rises by N745 Billion
Business

Nigerian Stock Market Rises by N745 Billion

The Nigerian stock market began the week on a strong note on Monday, with investors recording a gain of N745 billion as equities extended their bullish momentum. Nigerian Exchange Limited capitalization rose by 0.58 percent to close at N104.52 trillion, up from N103.78 trillion recorded at the previous session, reflecting renewed appetite for equities across key sectors. The rally was driven by sustained demand for stocks, including Etranzact, Red Star Express, McNicholas, RT Briscoe, and Deap Capital Management, alongside 45 other advancing equities. Similarly, the All-Share Index appreciated by 946.61 points, or 0.58 percent, to settle at 163,244.69, compared with 162,298.08 at the close of the previous trading session. Market breadth closed firmly positive, with 50 gainers o...
Libyan phone dealer finally receives nokia phones ordered in 2010 — 16 years later
Business

Libyan phone dealer finally receives nokia phones ordered in 2010 — 16 years later

A Libyan phone dealer has finally received a shipment of Nokia mobile phones he ordered back in 2010 — a full 16 years after placing the order. The phones reportedly got stuck in warehouses after Libya’s civil war broke out in 2011, which crippled logistics, disrupted customs operations, and created long-term security challenges across the country. Due to the prolonged instability, the shipment remained stranded for years as supply chains collapsed and recovery efforts stalled.
Two Years of Refining Gains: Fuel Import Costs Plunge 54% to $6.7bn
Business

Two Years of Refining Gains: Fuel Import Costs Plunge 54% to $6.7bn

Nigeria’s spending on imported refined petroleum products has dropped sharply by 54 per cent over the past two years, declining from $14.58bn in the first nine months of 2023 to $6.71bn in the same period of 2025, according to figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Balance of Payments (BoP) report. Data from the CBN show that fuel import expenditure fell from $14.58bn between January and September 2023 to $11.38bn during the corresponding period in 2024, before plunging further to $6.71bn within the first nine months of 2025. The figures are based on a comparative review of the full-year 2023 and 2024 BoP data, as well as the third-quarter 2025 BoP presentation released by the apex bank and analysed by The PUNCH on Monday. Overall, the data indicate a sustained slowdown in fue...
Tinubu Administration Engages KPMG Over Issues Raised on New Tax Laws
Business, NEWS

Tinubu Administration Engages KPMG Over Issues Raised on New Tax Laws

The Federal Government on Monday held talks with senior officials of global consulting firm KPMG to address concerns and differing views surrounding the implementation of Nigeria’s newly introduced tax laws. The meeting, which took place in Abuja, followed growing debate within business and professional circles about the potential impact of the new tax regime on companies and taxpayers. The engagement was prompted by a report issued by KPMG Nigeria titled “Nigeria’s New Tax Laws: Inherent Errors, Inconsistencies, Gaps and Omissions,” in which the firm highlighted perceived shortcomings in several aspects of the legislation. In the report, KPMG raised concerns over issues such as the taxation of shares, dividend treatment, obligations of non-resident companies, and foreign exchange...
Tax Laws: Nigerians Protest Alleged Double Stamp Duty Charges by Banks
Business

Tax Laws: Nigerians Protest Alleged Double Stamp Duty Charges by Banks

Barely days after the implementation of the new tax laws, Nigerians have raised concerns over what they describe as double stamp duty deductions by banks since January 1, 2026. DAILY POST reports that Nigerian banks began enforcing the ₦50 stamp duty charge on electronic transfers of ₦10,000 and above at the start of the year. Customers across various financial institutions received notifications informing them of the uniform ₦50 deduction in line with the new tax regime. However, less than two weeks into the policy’s rollout, many bank customers allege that their accounts are being excessively debited. Several Nigerians who spoke to DAILY POST anonymously claimed they were charged ₦100 per ₦10,000 transfer, rather than the officially stated ₦50. “It is unfair that instead of ₦50 ...
Funke Akindele Makes History as ‘Behind The Scenes’ Crosses ₦2 Billion at Box Office
Business

Funke Akindele Makes History as ‘Behind The Scenes’ Crosses ₦2 Billion at Box Office

Nollywood filmmaker and actor Funke Akindele has etched her name in African cinema history as her latest film, Behind The Scenes, surpassed the ₦2 billion mark at the box office—the first Nollywood movie to achieve this milestone. Film distributor FilmOne Entertainment confirmed on X that the film has now grossed ₦2,103,039,706 in ticket sales. They hailed the achievement as a record-breaking feat, making Behind The Scenes the highest-grossing Nollywood film in Africa, and the top Nollywood release in the UK and Ireland. The milestone also reinforces Akindele’s status as Africa’s most commercially successful filmmaker. She is now the first filmmaker to top the African box office for three consecutive years, an unprecedented feat in the region. FilmOne credited the film’s success t...
UK regulator launches investigation into X over sexualised AI-generated images
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UK regulator launches investigation into X over sexualised AI-generated images

UK media regulator Ofcom has opened a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s platform X over its AI chatbot Grok, following reports that the tool has been used to generate s3xualised deepfake images, including of m!nors. The regulator described the reports as “deeply concerning”, noting that undressed or manipulated images of adults may constitute intimate image abuse or p0rn0graphy, while s3xualised images of ch!ldren may constitute child s3xual abuse material under UK law. Ofcom said it first contacted X on January 5 demanding information on what measures the platform has introduced to protect UK users. The regulator confirmed that X responded within the required timeframe but did not disclose the contents of the exchange. The investigation will assess whether X has failed to...
Apple Taps Google’s Gemini AI to Power Siri
Business

Apple Taps Google’s Gemini AI to Power Siri

Apple has announced a multi-year partnership with Google that will see its next-generation artificial intelligence features, including the Siri voice assistant, powered by Google’s Gemini AI technology. The collaboration, unveiled on Monday, signals a notable shift for Apple, a company long known for building its core technologies internally. According to a joint statement, Apple chose Google’s AI after a thorough assessment concluded it offered “the most capable foundation” to support the company’s AI ambitions. The agreement represents an uncommon partnership between two longtime rivals whose operating systems—Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android—dominate the global smartphone market. Despite their competition, the companies have maintained a profitable relationship for years, with ...