Author: Nationalmonitor

Dangote Cement Plc has announced a 50 per cent increase in dividend payout to shareholders, raising the dividend from N30 per share to N45 per share, which translates to a total payout of approximately N753.8 billion, reaffirming the company’s position as one of the most rewarding investments on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX). The increase follows the company’s outstanding 2025 financial performance and underscores its unwavering commitment to shareholder value creation. The dividend payout, which was approved by the shareholders at the Company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), represents the highest dividend payout in the history of Dangote Cement and reflects the…

Zamfara State Government under the leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal has earmarked N7.2 billion for development projects across 375 communities in the state, under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), a World Bank-funded initiative. Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni disclosed this in Gusau on Tuesday while flagging off a free project implementation training programme for participants drawn from 158 communities across the state. He explained that Governor Dauda Lawal had approved the N7.2 billion for various community development projects through the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), adding that the funds would finance projects spanning health,…

The Victor & Lois Abraham Foundation has launched a renewed campaign against substance abuse with the theme, “Don’t Be Influenced, Stay Out of the Radar; Learn How to Say No to Drugs and Live a Drug-Free Life.” The event, which has been designated as the foundation’s International Day Against Drug Abuse programme, is scheduled to take place on July 4 at the Foursquare Gospel Church, Egbe District, H/Quarters, in the Ikotun area of Lagos State. It is expected to attract teenagers, young adults and parents from diverse communities. The initiative is aimed at reducing drug abuse through education, awareness seminars…

In a strategic cabinet reshuffle, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has redeployed the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hon. Abdulmalik Gajam, to head the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. Stepping into Gajam’s former role is Professor Yahaya Zakari, who was officially sworn in as a member of the State Executive Council on Monday, June 29. The announcement was made by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, who confirmed that the changes take immediate effect. Governor Lawal urged both appointees to approach their new assignments with renewed vigor, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to advancing the…

Hon. Zansi Lara Samuel has extended her heartfelt condolences to prominent APC leader and Christian cleric, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, widely known as “Baba Eto,” following the passing of his wife, Mother Celestial Olasinmi Akindele Odunmbaku. The news of her demise has triggered a wave of mourning across political and religious circles in the region. ​The deceased, who was a revered public servant and a dedicated community leader, passed away on Thursday. Prior to her death, Mother Celestial Odunmbaku left a lasting legacy in governance, having notably served as the former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in Ondo State,…

By Dr. Aisha Tosan Agberebi, COO, Crime Fighters-The Police & You Should the federal government allow states to police themselves?It is one of the oldest arguments in Nigeria’s constitutional history and one of the most urgent.At its simplest, state policing is territorial policing: a model common in federal systems, in which state governments raise, fund, and direct their own officers, separate from a federal force. Governors, security experts, and ordinary citizens have made this case for decadeswhile watching kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents operate with impunity. Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation lends real weight to the argument.The scale of insecurity makes a…

The United Kingdom chapter of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally endorsed the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, ahead of the forthcoming Lagos State governorship election. The endorsement was announced during the chapter’s monthly general meeting held on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Grand Empire Lounge, Catford, under the leadership of the chapter chairman, Hon. Tayo Shodeinde. According to the chapter, the endorsement was conveyed through the Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, reaffirming the diaspora chapter’s commitment to the…

Keystone Bank Limited has intensified its support for Nigeria’s emerging circular economy with its EcoCycle Account, a specialised financial solution designed to empower businesses operating in the green sector. In a statement on Friday, the lender said Nigeria’s circular economy is gaining traction, with entrepreneurs increasingly turning waste into wealth, converting plastics into furniture, repurposing scrap, and building sustainable supply chains. “However, access to tailored financial services has remained a major challenge for many of these businesses. “Addressing this gap, Keystone Bank launched the EcoCycle Account, a current account built for enterprises in the circular economy. Beyond basic banking services,…

L-R: Director, Communication, Policy and Advocacy, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Mr. Kunle Olawoyin; Conservation Educator, National Park Service, Mrs. Ilesanmi Zuliat Hussain; Director, Business Development and Partnership, NCF, Mr. Uchenna Achunine; Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Olufunmilola Aluko; Divisional Head, Corporate Affairs, FCMB, Mr. Diran Olojo; Director, Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Olabimpe Adenaike; and Partner, KENNA Legal Practitioners, Mr. Daze Nga at the Nigerian Conservation Foundation Symposium held on June 19, 2026 at the Lekki Conservation Centre, Lekki, Lagos for the commemoration of World Environment Day. Union…

L-R: The Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Rojas-Arbulú; Chair of the Board, Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, Paula Caldwell St-Onge; Executive Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunranti; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mr. Babatunde Onigbanjo; the Asalu-Elemo of Ilemo Land, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas, Ph.D; DG/CEO Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chinyere Almona; and President, Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, Garreth Bloor; at the 6th Canada-Africa Business Conference held at the Grand Ball Room, Eko Hotel & Suites, VI, Lagos. Zenith Bank Plc reaffirmed its commitment to advancing trade, investment and economic cooperation between…