Author: Prima News

Nigeria’s current account surplus rose sharply by 255.7 per cent quarter-on-quarter to $4.98bn in the first quarter of 2026, driven by higher crude oil, gas and refined petroleum exports, as well as a steep decline in petroleum product imports, according to the latest Balance of Payments report released by the Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday. The apex bank, in its Q1 2026 Balance of Payments Highlights, stated that “provisional balance of payments statistics for Q1 2026 show a current account surplus of $4.98bn, which was higher than the $1.40bn and $3.41bn recorded in the preceding quarter (Q4 2025) and…

By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA: Former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has arrived in Doha to assume duties as Nigeria’s ambassador to Qatar, stepping from one of the country’s most contentious domestic offices onto one of the world’s most strategically consequential diplomatic stages. Yakubu, who concluded his tenure at the helm of the electoral commission late last year, was among the ambassadorial appointees named by President Bola Tinubu in a wave of diplomatic postings that drew considerable public attention at the time of their announcement. On Wednesday, upon his arrival in the Qatari capital, the…

The Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State branch, has expressed concern over the ongoing three-day warning strike by resident doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. The NMA warned that the industrial action could escalate into a wider healthcare disruption if urgent steps are not taken. The strike, embarked upon by the Association of Resident Doctors, LASUTH, followed what the doctors described as the failure of the Lagos State Government and relevant authorities to address long-standing welfare issues affecting medical personnel in the hospital. In a statement issued by the NMA Lagos Chairman, Dr. Ewonowo Sunday, on Thursday, the association…

South Africa kept their hopes of reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time alive after battling to a 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic in their Group A clash in Atlanta on Thursday. A late penalty from Teboho Mokoena rescued a point for Bafana Bafana after Michal Sadilek had given the Czech Republic an early lead. The result leaves both teams on one point from two matches, with their hopes of progressing to the last 32 still intact. However, both nations will likely need victory in their final group matches to stand a realistic chance of…

Guinness World Records on Thursday named Nigerian chef and restaurateur Hilda Baci a GWR Icon, recognising the multiple record-holder’s impact on global record-breaking culture and her role in inspiring a wave of Guinness World Records attempts in Nigeria. She becomes the first Nigerian to receive the GWR Icon recognition. The GWR Icon title is a distinction used by Guinness World Records to recognise individuals, groups or globally significant figures whose achievements have gone beyond record-setting to leave a lasting international impact. Baci is a multiple Guinness World Records holder whose achievements include setting the record for the longest individual cooking…

The Russian strikes damaged homes, schools and other civilian buildings in Ukraine’s two most populous cities, including the grounds of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a historic monastery that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the country’s most significant religious and cultural landmarks.An art museum in Kharkiv also sustained damage.Night of terrorMatthias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, condemned the large-scale missile and drone attacks, noting that fires broke out in residential buildings and that children were among the overall casualties. “For millions of people across the country, the night was marked by hours of air raid sirens and the…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that candidates can now print their 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination original result slips within two hours of issuance. This was disclosed on Wednesday in a statement issued by JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin. According to the statement, the original result slips contain candidates’ photographs, national ranking, and other security features required for post-UTME screening and admission processes in tertiary institutions. “The 2026 UTME Original Result Slip will be available for printing within the next two hours today, Wednesday, 17th June, 2026,” the statement read. It added, “The Original Result Slip contains the…

The rapid evolution of the global engineering landscape requires continuous education. For one week in April, the IEEE community focuses on its educational frameworks. IEEE Education Week, which just concluded its fifth year, provided a comprehensive overview of the resources available to professionals and students.From 11 to 19 April, the organization supplied a variety of live and virtual events, online resources, and promotions that champion the cycle of lifelong learning.IEEE President Mary Ellen Randall kicked off the week with the keynote: “Inspiring Tomorrow’s Innovators: How IEEE Educational Resources Can Open Pathways Into STEM.” The event served as a central point…

The United States has released the official text of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding reached with Iran, outlining a framework for ending hostilities and paving the way for a broader peace agreement. The document, titled the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” was made public after calls for greater transparency over the terms of the accord, according to CNN on Wednesday. The release followed public criticism over the failure of authorities to make the contents of the agreement available after details of the deal emerged. A senior US administration official…

The Federal Government on Wednesday dismissed reports suggesting it had adopted or was considering the introduction of new taxes on telecommunications services and petroleum products following recommendations contained in the latest IMF Article IV Consultation Report on Nigeria. The government said the reports misrepresented the contents of the IMF report and did not reflect its policy direction, insisting that no new taxes were being planned for either the telecoms or petroleum sectors. In a statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Efe Ovuakporie, the government stressed that recommendations contained in…