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Veteran Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola, has revealed why she is unmarried at 54.
Speaking in a recent interview with her colleague, Emmanuel Ehumadu, the thespian disclosed that she is still single because her soul mate died.
According to her, her deceased lover was the person she could do forever with.
See their conversation below.
Host: “Are you married?”
Akintola: “No.”
Host: “Why?”
Akintola: “He died…The person wey me fit do forever for don die.”
Host: “So, you don’t think you can find another man?”
Akintola: “Do you know how long it took me to find him?”
She said she won’t allow herself to be pressured into getting married just to please people.
The actress, however, clarified that she believes in the concept of marriage but hasn’t found the right man to settle with since losing her soul mate.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has said that the increase in Nigeria’s revenue recorded in the 2024 fiscal year is being strategically allocated to various social intervention programmes aimed at improving the living standards of citizens and addressing pressing societal needs.
The minister said the social investment programme is targeted to impact 60 per cent of the poorest, reaching 20 million persons.
He also revealed a comprehensive proposed agenda for economic reform, which aims to reduce inflation, create jobs, and stimulate growth in key sectors of the economy.
At his October 1, 2024 address, President Bola Tinubu announced that the government’s revenue for the first half of 2024 (January to June) stood at over N9.1tn—more than double the N4.06tn generated in the same period in 2023.
Speaking at a panel session titled ‘Fiscal Reforms for a More Secure Future’ during the 30th Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja on Tuesday, Edun said the increased revenue is primarily being used to finance social programmes aimed at mitigating the impact of essential but challenging reforms that have affected the cost of living.
He said, “In terms of revenue, the number one place to look was inwards, domestic resource mobilisation. That’s where the government started. By the first half of this year, revenue had doubled.
“Aggregate government revenue was more than doubled. And that was achieved by applying technology very robustly.
“We have applied technology in a way that essentially reforms the civil service. Rather than waiting for compliance from government ministries, departments and agencies and government companies, we looked at what the rules and regulations were, how much a company was allowed to spend on its revenue, and then how much of its surplus it had to provide to government.
“The social investment programme is spearheaded by direct transfers to reach 60 per cent poorest in the population. And right now, 20 million households are being supported directly. And it’s going to rise to, well, 20 million people, four million households so far, and it will rise to 15 million households who will be paid directly by the government.
“That is how President Tinubu’s government is spending the money which is being yielded from better oil production.”
Edun also emphasised the government’s focus on agriculture, manufacturing, oil, and housing as vital drivers of Nigeria’s economy.
“We are looking to food production to help bring down inflation,” he explained.
“We aim to make food more available, affordable, and to reduce the cost of living for Nigerians.”
According to him, the interventions through direct cash transfers have reached 4m households already.
In the oil sector, Edun said the minister also discussed the government’s approach to the oil and gas sector, emphasising its critical role in generating foreign exchange.
Edun revealed that recent reforms have attracted significant investments, including an additional $10m from ExxonMobil and other key industry players.
“The oil sector is our first avenue for foreign exchange and global revenue,” he stated, expressing optimism about sustained contributions from local and foreign investors alike.
These measures, according to him, have encouraged Nigerian manufacturers to commit up to $4.2bn in investments, boosting the country’s economic prospects.
The minister also highlighted other initiatives, such as the student loan scheme and consumer credit made available to workers to enable them to purchase household goods or convert their vehicles to cheaper, cleaner Compressed Natural Gas fuel.
In the agricultural sector, the government is providing grants and loans worth up to N75bn to support one million small and micro enterprises.
For larger companies, Edun said an additional N75bn is being disbursed in tranches of N1bn per company at a nine per cent annual interest rate, helping them manage the cost of production and operations, particularly in light of the recent foreign exchange adjustments impacting their profit margins.
“This is how President Tinubu and his government are spending the increased revenue, which has been driven by improved oil production and macroeconomic reforms that are expected to save the country five per cent of GDP,” Edun explained.
“There is a broad array of social investment initiatives where these funds are being directed.”
Also speaking at the summit, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Ndiamé Diop, acknowledged the country’s significant revenue increase, noting that its revenue-to-GDP ratio is expected to improve.
He pointed out that in 2022, Nigeria spent 12.9 per cent of its GDP, but revenue covered only 7.6 per cent, leaving the country with a substantial fiscal deficit funded mainly through debt. “This trajectory could have led to a crisis,” Diop warned.
The ongoing reforms, he suggested, are essential to stabilising Nigeria’s fiscal position and ensuring sustainable economic growth.
Nigerian singer cum politician Olubankole Wellington, better known as Banky W, and his Wife Adesua Etomi-Wellington, are expecting their second child.
Adesua shared the news on her Instagram page on Monday.
The actress also posted photos of her baby bump with the caption, “First, we had each other, then we had your brother, then God sent you and now? NOW, we have everything.”
The couple already have a son, Hazaiah.
Reacting to the post on his wife’s page, Banky W wrote: “May our lives forever be a series of indisputable evidence and unquestionable proof that Jesus is alive, and that He answers prayers. Thank you, God. #SeeWhatTheLordHasDone”
Meanwhile, Banky W recently announced that he and his family have moved to the United States.
Naija News reports that Banky W announced this in a post via his official Instagram page.
Sharing photos via the social media platform, the 43-year-old rapper noted that they departed from Nigeria in pursuit of fulfilling his life’s purpose.
Bank W wrote: “For family. For faith. For finding purpose. For the next year of earning a Masters degree in Policy Management at Georgetown University in Washington DC.
“Wish us well”
Nigeria’s foreign capital inflows from BRICS nations have surged by 189% in the first half of 2024, amid the country’s ongoing efforts to secure a spot within the expanded BRICS coalition.
An analysis of data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that capital importation from BRICS countries rose from $438.72 million in the first six months of 2023 to $1.27 billion in the same period of 2024.
The BRICS group, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded on January 1, 2024, by officially welcoming five new members: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Argentina was also invited but declined membership, making the total membership 10.
While Nigeria was not part of this wave of inclusion, the country remains steadfast in its efforts to join the group within the next two years, recognizing the potential benefits in trade and investment flows that BRICS membership could bring.
What the data says
- The surge in BRICS capital inflows was primarily driven by South Africa and Saudi Arabia, which accounted for the largest increases in H1 2024.
- Inflows from South Africa skyrocketed from $228.09 million in H1 2023 to $838.32 million in H1 2024, marking a significant 267% rise.
- South Africa’s dominant position in capital flows suggests strong bilateral relations, especially in financial services, consumer goods, and telecommunications.
- Saudi Arabia, a newly inducted BRICS member, saw a remarkable jump in capital inflows, rising from a mere $0.03 million to $147.07 million during the same period.
- Similarly, China, a relatively smaller investor in the previous year, saw its capital importation into Nigeria leap from $0.25 million to $35.64 million over the same period.
- China’s growing investments can be attributed to its global Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to enhance infrastructure and trade networks across Africa, with Nigeria being a key partner.
- Among the newly inducted BRICS members, the UAE also contributed to the rise, with inflows growing from $209.41 million in the first half of 2023 to $245.19 million in 2024.
- These inflows reflect the deepening economic ties between Nigeria and the Gulf states, particularly in energy, infrastructure, and trade.
50% of BRICS countries have zero foreign capital in Nigeria
While there was a general increase in investments from BRICS member countries, half of the countries on the BRICS list did not record any foreign capital inflows into Nigeria in both H1 2023 and H1 2024.
These countries include Brazil, Russia, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Despite being members of the BRICS coalition, these nations have not made any capital investments in Nigeria during the period under review.
This lack of inflow could be attributed to a range of factors, including differing economic priorities, regional focus, or geopolitical considerations that may influence their investment strategies.
What you should know
November last year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, was reported to have said that Nigeria plans to become a member of the BRICS economic bloc in the next two years and join the G20 group of nations.
- The Minister said that Nigeria meets the qualification for joining organisations like the BRICS and G20, noting the size of her economy and her population is a suitable criterion.
- Last year, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima attended the BRICS summit in South Africa but didn’t push to become a member when the bloc admitted new members including two from Africa – Ethiopia and Egypt.
- In September this year, Tuggar, the Foreign Affairs Minister, reiterated the country’s interest in joining BRICS, an influential economic bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Tuggar explained that while Nigeria has not yet formally applied to join BRICS, the country would do so “at the right time.”
He noted that joining the bloc is indeed on the radar of the Bola Tinubu administration.
[Nairametrics]
The Federal Government has waded into the ordeal of the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Libya.
Naija News has reported that the Super Eagles flew to Libya on Sunday, October 13, in preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Mediterranean Knights at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15.
After landing at the Al Abraq Airport in Libya, the Super Eagles were left stranded for over 13 hours without any assistance from the host Libyan Football Federation.
The captain of the national team, William Troost-Ekong had also taken to his Instagram story to lament over the ill-treatment and announced that the Super Eagles have resolved not to honour the game.
Also, a statement from the NFF has confirmed that the football body is making arrangements to fly the national team back to Nigeria, which means that there is little or no chance of honoring Tuesday’s fixture.
Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Media and Communications Special Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed that the Minister has been in contact with the Super Eagles.
He disclosed that the Libyan authorities were yet to authorize the Nigerian Mission in Libya to travel to Bayda City where the Super Eagles are located.
Abdulkadir wrote on X: “Update: @YusufTuggar is in touch with the Nigerian Mission in Libya through the CDA Amb Stephen Anthony Awuru who has also been in touch with the NFF and Libyan authorities since last night, but Libyan authorities were yet to authorize them to travel to Bayda City where the airport is located.
“However, the CDA instructed the head of the Nigerian Community in Benghazi Mr Morris Eromosele who arrived there this morning with supplies and internet access.
“The Minister continues to monitor the unfortunate event through the CDA and awaits a report for further action.”
[NaijaNews]
Some members belonging to a faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) have publicly disowned Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the leader of the party, burning the Kwankwasiya group’s iconic red cap.
The factional National Chairman of the party, Dr. Gilbert Agbo, who led the anti-Kwankwasiya campaign at the party’s secretariat in Minna, Niger State, accused the former Kano State governor and his Kwankwasiya group of being threats to the progress and existence of the party.
Speaking at the North-Central Zonal meeting of the faction in Minna, Agbo stated that Kwankwaso’s suspension by the National Working Committee in Lagos automatically terminated his membership and stake in the party.
Agbo who also led the burning of the group’s iconic red caps, maintained that the move signified a clear separation from the Kwankwaso’s leadership.
He added that the Kano State governor, Kabir Yusuf was also expected to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee for allegedly failing to comply with the party’s principles and supremacy.
Reacting to the development, the leader of the Kwankwasiya Movement in Niger State, Mallam Danladi Abdulhamid described Agbo-led national chairmanship of the party as illegal.
Abdulhamid stated that the move by the faction was meant to serve Agbo’s personal interests rather than the interests of the people.
He insisted that Kwankwaso remained the national leader of the party under Dr. Ahmed Ajuji’s leadership as chairman.
[Leadership]
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has said that the removal of the Premium Motor Spirit(Petrol) subsidy by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has brought about price parity.
According to Channel Television, Kyari disclosed this in a recent interview with journalists.
He spoke on the back of the recent hike in fuel by NNPCL retail outlets to N1,030 per liter from N898.
Speaking on the important of fuel subsidy in June last year, Kyari said that it lead to an end to price arbitrage and deincentivized fuel smuggling to neighbouring countries.
“In the last 40 sometime years, PMS has always been subsidized. Fuel Subsidy created arbitrage, that is difference between the price in one location to the other.
“When Mr President announced the removal of fuel subsidy in June what it did was to calibrate price. There is no longer in the value of anyone taking the product to the borders”, he said.
Recall that in June 2024, Tinubu announced fuel subsidy removal which saw the price of fuel increase to above N517 per liter from around N238.
DAILY POST reports that the price hike increased several times in the last months as it stood at N1030 per liter in Abuja.
[DailyPost]
The World Bank says 26 poorest countries worldwide “are deeper in debt than at any other time since 2006,” while being increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and other catastrophes.
In its analysis, the World Bank found that these 26 nations, which have an annual per capita income of less than 1,145 dollars a year, “are poorer today on average than they were on the eve of Covid-19, even though the rest of the world has largely recovered.”
“Yet international aid as a share of their GDP [gross domestic product] has dwindled to a two-decade low, starving many of much-needed affordable financing,” the World Bank said in a press release.
According to the world bank, the 26 nations examined are home to some 40 per cent of the global population most affected by poverty.
It added that 22 of the 26 low-income countries listed are in Africa, plus Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and North Korea.
Government debt is now 72 per cent of economic output on average, the highest level recorded in 18 years.
According to the World Bank, the ability of low-income economies to obtain low-cost financing has largely been exhausted, making the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) “their single-largest source of low-cost financing from abroad.”
The IDA plays a key role in the fight against global poverty. It provides grants and nearly interest-free loans to the most vulnerable economies and is crucial for the 26 poorest of them, according to the World Bank.
The World Bank also noted that low-income economies are much more prone to natural disasters than other developing countries.
According to the report, natural disasters caused annual losses averaging two per cent of economic output between 2011 and 2023, five times higher than the average for low-middle-income countries.
The costs of adapting to climate change are also far higher for low-income economies.
(dpa/NAN)
Nigeria’s oil production, including condensates, declined to 1.544 million barrels per day (bpd) in September 2024, down from 1.570 million bpd in August 2024, reflecting a 1.7 per cent decrease month-on-month.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) revealed this in its October 2024 Crude Oil and Condensate Production report.
Developing story…
[Vanguard]
A two-storey building has collapsed in the Orile-Iganmu area of Surulere, Lagos.
The incident occurred at about 8am on Monday.
Social media footage showed the moment the building caved in as people in the vicinity scampered for safety.
Nosa Okunbor, head of public affairs unit of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said there were no casualties from the incident.
“LASEMA Response Teams in Search & Rescue Operation at a self-collapsed building on Amusu Street, Baale Bus Stop, Orile Iganmu,” he said.
“Incident summary: Transmitted at 08:54am; No Casualties.”
Okunbor said the agency would share more information in the coming hours.
In July, three site workers died when a building collapsed in the Maryland area of Lagos. The incident occurred at No 13, Wilson Mba street, Arowojobe Estate.
Three other site workers were rescued alive and were rushed to hospital.
Building collapses are commonplace in Lagos — Nigeria’s commercial capital and most populous city.
[TheCable]
More...
Falz, the Nigerian singer, has shared his unsuccessful attempts at engaging in threesomes.
A threesome is when three people engage in sexual activities with each other.
Speaking on the Over The Top show, the ‘Ndi Ike’ singer disclosed that he attempted a threesome twice but it did not go well on both occasions.
Falz said he sought professional help to understand why his threesome experiences were unsuccessful. The 33-year-old said he was told the problem was because he was “planning it”.
The rapper said he was also advised to allow the act to happen spontaneously.
“What might be interesting to note is that I have only attempted it twice and on both occasions, they did not really go well. To answer your question, the last time was about two years ago or so,” he said.
“This is because, after that second time, I was like I give up. I also spoke to some professionals and they said to me that the problem is that you are planning it. They said just let it happen.”
Falz, who rose to fame in 2009, is renowned for using his music to address societal issues and bad governance. Some of his popular tracks include ‘Wehdone Sir’, ‘Child of the World’, and ‘Talk’.
His impressive career has earned him multiple awards, including ‘Album of the Year’ at the 2016 City People Entertainment Awards.
Aside from his music career, Falz has also made a mark in Nollywood. He made his movie debut in ‘Couple of Days’ (2016).
Falz was recently involved in controversy when activist VeryDarkMan shared a purported audio conversation wherein Bobrisky, the social media celebrity, claimed he and Femi Falana, his father, helped drop the money laundering charges against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
[TNG]
Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, has said the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi is currently the voice of the opposition and not his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar.
Fayose, who spoke on Sunday during an interview on Channels TV, dismissed chances of his party, the PDP to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 presidential election.
Lamenting the leadership crisis rocking the party, the former governor said PDP members no longer have a party.
”As I always say, we can defeat the APC but when we don’t have a party again, how can we defeat them?” He queried.
Fayose, who also urged Atiku to stop contesting elections in Nigeria, said, “when we complain about the APC and we don’t have a party and you can say you will do this and that, but when Obi is the voice of the opposition now.
“The press will call Obi than call the PDP and when the Publicity Secretary is suspending people and vice-versa, so where is the party?”
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested 26-year-old Nura Mas’ud, a resident of Mu’azu village of Sule Tankarkar LGA, for allegedly setting his 60-year-old grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, ablaze.
PUNCH Metro learnt on Sunday that Mrs Muhammad had repeatedly expressed concern over her grandson’s physical appearance and mental health status, who is said to be mentally unstable.
Mas’ud was said to have been provoked by his grandmother’s frequent inquiries and warned her to stop but she continued.
In a confessional audio clip made available to PUNCH Metro, Mas’ud said he was fed up with his grandmother’s endless inquiries about his health status.
He noted that his decision to set her ablaze using petrol had put to a halt her questioning.
“She frequently asked about my health, and I asked her what was happening to me but she kept mum. That was what informed my decision to pour petrol on her,” Mas’ud stated.
When contacted, the Jigawa State Police Command’s spokesman, Shiisu Lawan Adam, who confirmed the tragic incident to our correspondent, stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, who is suffering from mental derangement, has been receiving treatment at the Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is suffering from mental illness and has been receiving treatment at the Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital”, Lawan emphasised.
“One Nura Mas’ud, ‘m’, age 26 years of Mu’azu village, Sule Tankarkar LGA, went to his family house with a petrol canister and suddenly poured it on his grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, ‘f’, aged 60 years, of the same address, and set her ablaze”, Lawan said.
According to him, the victim died while receiving treatment at a hospital, adding that the suspect had voluntarily confessed to have committed the offence because of the endless enquiries the victim was making about his life on several occasions.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has appointed Professor Toyin Ogundipe as the new Chairman and Pro Chancellor of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
Prof. Ogundipe before his appointment was the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
Professor Ogundipe, DAILY POST gathered, replaces Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Training and Education of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Adetunji Adeleye on Monday in Osogbo.
According to the statement, the other members of the reconstituted Governing Council are: “Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ahmed Parker Yerima, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olalere Gabriel Adeyemi, representing the University Senate, Professor Christian Happi, representing the University Senate, Professor Idowu Odebode, the University Congregation, Professor Emmanuel Ajav, representing the RCCG, Pastor (Mrs.) Tomi Somefun, representing the RCCG, Pastor Sola Olukoya, representing the RCCG, Dr. Olaniyi Salau (Legal Practitioner) representing the RCCG, Mr. Tobi Aniyi, representing the Redeemer’s University Alumni, Mrs. Funmilayo Olusola Kolade, representing the National Universities Commission, and Mrs. Mojisola Oje who is the Registrar and Secretary to the Council.