Skyray News

19/04/2026

The Nigerian stock market is currently charging toward a historic N140 trillion valuation, catalysed by a massive buy signal from the international investment community. This bullish momentum follows the pivotal April 7 announcement...

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18/04/2026

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that it is actively monitoring Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election and will deploy observation teams across the country ahead of the polls.

Chris Elmore, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), disclosed this in a written response to a parliamentary question on what support the UK was providing to independent election monitoring ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

Full details below.

18/04/2026

Aliko Dangote, renowned African industrialist and philanthropist, has been named among TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2026, reaffirming his standing as one of the most successful and iconic business leaders of his generation.

Dangote joins global influential figures from multiple sectors, including political leaders such as Donald Trump, U.S. President; Xi Jinping, Chinese President; Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister; Mark Carney, Canadian Prime Minister; revered Pope Leo XIV, current head of Catholic Church as well as business and technology leaders, including Sundar Pichai, Google CEO and Neal Mohan, YouTube CEO.

The annual TIME100 list, published on April 15, 2026, recognises global figures whose leadership, ideas, and actions are shaping the future across business, politics, culture, and society. Dangote’s inclusion places him alongside prominent international figures drawn from diverse spheres of global influence.

This marks Dangote’s second appearance on the prestigious TIME100 list, following his first recognition in 2014, when he was honoured for his exceptional impact on business and philanthropy. His return to the list more than a decade later underscores the consistency and scale of his influence on the global stage.

18/04/2026

Photos: Nigeria’s renewable energy sector is growing—but not without challenges.

At a recent stakeholders’ training by Nexgen Energy, industry players raised concerns about: ⚡ Skill gaps among installers
⚡ High cost of solar adoption
⚡ Weak regulation and quality control

Experts say while solar equipment is increasingly available, lack of technical know-how and the rise of unqualified installers are affecting consumer confidence.

They also stressed the need for: ✅ Better training and capacity building
✅ Affordable financing options for users
✅ Stronger government policies and regulation

The consensus? Renewable energy is the future—but collaboration, awareness, and the right policies are key to making it accessible for more Nigerians.

14/04/2026

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has criticized the government of his birth country, claiming that Starlink is being denied an operating license because he's not Black. Companies operating in South Africa must include Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partners. The government insists the rules that are aimed at correcting historical inequalities apply equally to all firms. Musk argues that the BEE legislation harms connectivity and innovation. He also alleges that Starlink had been offered opportunities to bypass BEE requirements by misrepresenting its ownership structure. South African officials, however, maintain that transformation laws are non‑negotiable. Musk left South Africa as a teenager in 1989, several years before the fall of white minority rule.

11/04/2026

Artemis astronauts return, splash down into Pacific Ocean

The NASA spacecraft that carried four astronauts around the Moon splashed down as planned Friday into the Pacific Ocean.
The crew members – Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Reid Wiseman – are to be met by recovery teams and flown to a US military ship for medical evaluations.

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09/04/2026

Here’s a simplified bullet-point breakdown of the new CBN BVN rules effective May 1, 2026:

🔑 Key Changes

One Device Per Banking App

You can only use your banking app on one device at a time

Logging in on a new device will log you out of the old one

Extra verification will be required

24-Hour Fraud Watchlist

BVNs flagged for suspicious activity will be placed on a 24-hour watchlist

Accounts may be restricted or frozen during this period

Bank will contact you for verification

Phone Number Change Limit

You can change your BVN-linked phone number only once in your lifetime

Aim: reduce SIM-swap fraud

Use a secure, long-term number (preferably linked to your NIN)

Minimum Age for BVN

Only individuals 18 years and above can register for BVN

Minors must use parent/guardian-linked accounts

Transaction Limit on New Devices

When you log in on a new device:

Transactions are capped at ₦20,000 for the first 24 hours

⚠️ What You Should Do Before May 1

✅ Confirm your BVN phone number is active and secure

✅ Update your number now (if needed) before the one-time limit kicks in

✅ Prepare for stricter login/security checks when changing devices

✅ Be aware that banks will monitor and flag suspicious transactions

🎯 Purpose of the New Rules

Reduce fraud

Protect customer identity

Strengthen Nigeria’s financial system

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

TCN announces power outage in some parts of Oyo

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has announced a planned one-day power outage affecting parts of Oyo State.

In a statement issued on Thursday, TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah said the outage is scheduled for April 9, 2026, to allow for maintenance on the company’s 40MVA power transformer in Jericho, Oyo State.

According to her, the maintenance work will temporarily prevent the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) from supplying electricity to several areas.

Affected locations include UCH, Yemetu, Oremeji, Railway Quarters, Mokola, Roundabout, Bashorun, Cocoa House, Secretariat, Onireke, Fan Milk, and Bank Road.

Mbah explained that the exercise is part of routine checks aimed at ensuring optimal performance of the transformer.

She added that TCN regrets any inconvenience the outage may cause to electricity consumers in the affected areas.

“The maintenance exercise is to enable TCN crew to undertake routine checks on the transformer to ensure optimal performance.

“TCN apologizes for any inconvenience this will cause to electricity customers in the affected areas,” the statement reads.

08/04/2026

Thousands of passengers were stranded across parts of Asia on Tuesday following widespread flight disruptions affecting major airports in Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China and Indonesia.

According to reports, about 2,880 flights were delayed while 139 others were cancelled, disrupting operations of airlines including AirAsia, Batik Air, ANA, Japan Airlines and China Eastern.

Travellers have been advised to monitor airline updates and confirm flight schedules before departure.

15/03/2026

Senegal is auditing and renegotiating resource contracts to protect national interests, reduce industrial and household gas costs.

Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko initiated major reforms in the resource sector, declaring the BP-run gas project contract unfair and revoking 71 mining licences.

The government also froze accounts of a key Indorama subsidiary until a €380 million debt is paid.

These moves are part of a broader trend of resource nationalism across Africa.

07/03/2026

Tax Reform: Experts seek greater public awareness, harmonised tax system at state level

Tax experts have called for increased public awareness and improved tax administration as Nigeria implement the new tax reforms aimed at simplifying the nation’s tax system.

The call was made at a panel seminar on tax reforms organised by the Initiative for Information, Arts and Culture Development (IACD) in Ibadan on Thursday.

President of IACD, Dr Kolade Mosuro, said the organisation convened the seminar to enlighten Nigerians on government policies and issues of public concern, particularly the ongoing tax reforms.

Mosuro said the organisation had, for over three decades, provided a platform for intellectual engagement and public education across diverse fields.

“Our vision is to create an enlightened Nigerian populace that is adequately exposed to diverse ideas and national policy issues through information and dialogue,” he said.

He said the seminar was organised to help the public understand the implications of the tax reform and provide a platform for experts to explain its provisions.

Chairman of the event, Mr Soji Arimoro, Managing Partner of ARI Protax Services, stressed the need for state governments to adopt the model harmonised taxes and levies law to streamline tax administration.

Arimoro also urged greater public sensitisation on tax obligations, particularly the March 31 deadline for individuals to file their annual tax returns.

In his keynote address, Mr Olusegun Adesokan, the Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), Abuja, said the proposed reforms were designed to modernise and harmonise Nigeria’s tax framework.

According to him, the reforms consolidate multiple tax laws into a more coherent structure to promote clarity, efficiency and fairness in the tax system.

He said “the reform focuses on taxing profits and prosperity rather than placing burdens on low-income earners."