RoundReports

Nigeria’s Senate has swiftly approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to secure external loans totalling $6 billion, completing the process barely three and a half hours after the request was formally presented. The approval followed the reading of two separate letters from the president by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.  Lawmakers subsequently considered and adopted the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, chaired by Aliyu Wamakko. In the first request, President Tinubu sought legislative backing to establish a structured total return swap (TRS) external financing programme of up to $5 billion with First Abu Dhabi Bank.  The facility, he explained, would be made available to Nigeria in tranches, in line with provisions of the Debt Management Office Establishment Act. According to the president, proceeds from the facility will be deployed for budget implementation, priority infrastructure development and the refinancing of hi...

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Nigerian Senate to approve external loans totalling $6 billion to support government financing and infrastructure upgrades.   The request, conveyed in two letters read during Tuesday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, includes a $5 billion loan from Abu Dhabi Bank to address Nigeria’s budget deficit and debt obligations.   In a separate proposal, Tinubu sought approval for a $1 billion facility from Citibank in London to rehabilitate the Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port. The government says the project will close infrastructure gaps, improve efficiency, enhance safety and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional trade hub.   Both requests have been referred to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, for legislative review and swift consideration.   More details to come...

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo has addressed the renewed tension between colleagues Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, following a viral moment at the premiere of her latest film, The Return of Arinze.  In a lengthy statement shared on social media, Ojo rejected claims attacking her character and said she would not be drawn further into the dispute.  She confirmed that while she has longstanding friendships with both actresses, there have been past disagreements on all sides, some of which previously spilled into the public domain. Ojo admitted she once publicly criticised Akindele during an earlier disagreement linked to a film project involving Abraham, describing that move as a mistake.  She said the matter was later resolved privately, with both parties agreeing to keep any future issues off social media. According to Ojo, tensions resurfaced in December after Abraham made claims about alleged sabotage affecting her film’s cinema run, leading some fans to ac...

The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, until Wednesday.   RoundReports understands that the adjournment was confirmed by El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Ukpong Abang (SAN), who briefly addressed reporters after Tuesday’s proceedings. “ I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, we are in the middle of work. I have to go and file responses. The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow ,” he said.   El-Rufai was escorted from the court premises by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a white Hilux vehicle.  His appearance came under heavy security, echoing the tight measures seen during his arraignment last week.   The former governor is facing a 10-count charge before Justice Rilwan M Aikawa, including allegations of conversion and possession of public property, alongside money lau...

Ghana have dismissed head coach Otto Addo just 72 days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  RoundReports understands that the Ghana Football Association confirmed the decision on Tuesday, citing poor results in recent friendlies.   The Black Stars fell 2–1 to Germany in Stuttgart, days after suffering a heavy 5–1 defeat against Austria.  Addo, who returned for a second spell in March 2024, also failed to guide Ghana to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations despite a squad featuring Premier League talents Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus.   READ ALSO : Super Eagles edge Iran in Antalya friendly During his latest tenure, the 50-year-old recorded eight wins and nine defeats across 22 matches.  His earlier stint included leading Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, where they beat South Korea but exited at the group stage following losses to Portugal and Uruguay.   Addo, a former Borussia Dortmund midfielder, leaves with Ghana preparing for their fif...

Governor Caleb Mutfwang has pledged that Plateau State will remain resilient and united following the deadly assault in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North. In a sombre broadcast on Tuesday, the governor described the attack as “ senseless ” and assured residents that the state would not be cowed by intimidation.  He confirmed that security agencies had been deployed and a 48-hour curfew imposed to restore calm.   Mutfwang, who visited the scene alongside security chiefs, said the government was committed to justice, revealing that one suspect had already been arrested.  He also visited survivors at Jos University Teaching Hospital, promising that the state would cover all medical costs.   READ ALSO : CAN Condemns Palm Sunday Killings in Plateau as Police Confirm 14 Deaths Families of the deceased will receive government support, including dignified burials and assistance for dependents, the governor stressed. Commending residents for their restraint, the governor urg...

The Peoples Wellbeing Association (PWA) has declared its intention to file a suit at the High Court in Abuja, seeking to block the renewal of Nigeria’s pipeline surveillance contract.   In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Head of PWA’s Legal Unit, Comrade Aliyu Sadiq, said the move was a last resort to safeguard peace and stability in the Niger Delta.  He accused certain individuals of attempting to monopolise the contract, warning that exclusionary practices were fuelling tension in the region.   Sadiq argued that dividing the contract among multiple stakeholders would ensure efficiency, transparency, and inclusiveness.  He stressed that local actors in each state were better positioned to protect petroleum infrastructure within their jurisdictions, thereby strengthening national security.   READ ALSO : Pipeline Security: IYC Urges FG to Back Tantita’s Gains The association plans to seek a court injunction to prevent any renewal until all relev...

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have rescued more than 150 civilians and thwarted a mass abduction attempt by Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents during an operation in Nigeria’s North-East. The military said the incident occurred on 30 March when soldiers deployed at Dutse Kura, under Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force (North East), came under attack while escorting civilians along the Buratai–Kamuya axis. According to the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba, surveillance assets detected insurgents attempting to abduct a large number of civilians, including men, women and children, using about 17 vehicles. A Quick Reaction Force was immediately deployed to reinforce the troops, leading to a coordinated counter-attack that repelled the attackers and forced them to retreat towards the Mangari area. READ ALSO : 'No Leniency Towards Terrorists' – DHQ Sustained pressure from the troops compelled the insurgents to abandon both the captives and their vehicles, effecti...

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has extended the deadline for individual taxpayers in Lagos to file their annual income tax returns, moving the cut-off date to 14 April. RoundReports understands that the agency had earlier fixed 31 March as the deadline for submitting returns for the 2026 year of assessment, in line with statutory requirements. The extension was announced in a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude, and approved by the Executive Chairman of LIRS, Ayodele Subair. According to Subair, the decision was taken to give taxpayers more time to complete their filings accurately and reduce errors.  READ ALSO : Fire Devastates Historic Silk Mill in Staffordshire He further urged residents to regard tax compliance as a routine civic responsibility. The LIRS chairman reiterated that all individual income tax returns must be submitted electronically through the agency’s eTax platform, and that manual filing has been compl...

Nigeria’s Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has set a revenue target of N1.489 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year, banking on an extensive modernisation of its busiest seaports in Lagos to drive growth. RoundReports understands that the projection was presented by the agency’s managing director, Abubakar Dantsoho, during the NPA’s budget defence before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport in Abuja. The proposed figure represents a N21bn increase on the N1.468tn benchmark set for 2025, a target the authority says it surpassed, posting an actual revenue of N1.97tn. Central to the 2026 plan is a comprehensive upgrade of Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port, which together handle a huge share of Nigeria’s maritime trade. Dantsoho told lawmakers that both facilities are operating well beyond their intended lifespans.  Apapa Port, he said, is approaching 100 years in operation, while Tin Can Island Port has been in service for over five decades, with infrastructure no longer suited to mode...