Nigeria

The Sokoto State Government has said rising costs associated with pre-wedding activities have discouraged many young people from getting married, prompting plans to strictly enforce an existing law banning extravagance during wedding preparations. Governor Ahmed Aliyu disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Sokoto, Abubakar Bawa. According to the statement, the governor expressed concern that excessive financial demands placed on intending couples…

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) contained a fire at a warehouse on Coker Market Road, Amuwo-Odofin Industrial Layout, Mile 2, Lagos. The incident was reported at 20:29 hours on Saturday, and firefighting crews arrived at the scene by 20:40 hours, according to Margaret Adeseye, Controller General of LSFRS. Firefighters from Ajegunle, Sari Iganmu, Okota, and Alausa stations were mobilised to combat the fire. The affected warehouse was said to contain explosive materials stored in hundreds of…

Unilever Nigeria Plc recorded a sharp rise in operating costs in 2025, with expenses climbing to N125bn, underscoring the continued pressure of inflation on corporate earnings despite signs of easing price growth. The N125bn cost outlay represents a 32.5 per cent increase from the N94.37bn spent in the corresponding period of 2024. The higher cost base accounted for about 58.24 per cent of the company’s total revenue of N214.68bn recorded during the year under review. The surge in costs came amid persistently…

The Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin, has explained his plan to bring as many greenfield projects as possible on board as part of efforts to increase the country’s local sugar production and move the country closer to self-sufficiency. He said the Council under his watch has intensified efforts to close the country’s domestic sugar production gap, with greenfield sugar projects emerging as a central pillar of this drive. He disclosed this during an interactive…

Business owners have been advised to desist from short-changing the government in the new tax regime of Nigeria or be ready to face the consequences. Mr Emmanuel Nnamani, Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, stated this weekend in a chat with our correspondent in Enugu. Nnamani said such would amount to tax evasion, and the culprits would be fined accordingly. He also advised chartered accountant against misleading their clients to underpay taxes. According to him, “The government monitors…

Small business owners in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say their businesses are folding up due to the epileptic power supply being presently experienced. According to them, in spite of the huge investment by the government and stakeholders, power supply has not improved. The consumers, who spoke in Abuja, said that huge funds had been pumped into the sector with no corresponding results. Mr Emeka Uba, a Welder residing in Lugbe, said that huge funds had gone into the sector to improve…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed concerns over a possible opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general election and declared that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will not be allowed to dominate or manipulate the electoral process in the South-East. Speaking in an exclusive interview with THE WHISTLER, the Lagos State spokesperson of the APC, Seye Oladejo, said the party was not threatened by speculation about a potential Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi ticket under the African…

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reviewing the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) as part of efforts to resolve the ongoing industrial dispute with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU). The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare made this known in a statement issued on Saturday night in Abuja by its Director, Information and Public Relations, Alaba Balogun. The statement was in response to a joint release by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress…

The Lagos State Government has described its recent demolitions exercise in Makoko and other communities as efforts geared towards protecting live and property of the citizens. The government said the intervention was also to ensure environmental safety and sustainable urban development across the state. This is contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, after an engagement designed to foster dialogue between the government and residents on Sunday in Lagos.…

Some traders of bambara nuts are counting their losses in Enugu following the falling prices of the essential commodity. THE WHISTLER investigations show that a 100 kilogramme of the commodity, which the dealers purchased a few weeks ago at N120, 000 per bag for retail, has crashed to N90, 000. According to them, the falling price of the commodity was not foreseen by most buyers. “I bought six bags last month at the cost of N119,000,” says Chibuike Eneh, a trader at New Market, Enugu. “I had expected that after…