World News

Sunbet Sets Sights On Nigerian Gaming Market With Dual Licenses Sunbet, a pioneering gaming company in Sub-Saharan Africa, has announced a major milestone in its expansion plans. The company has successfully acquired licenses to operate in Lagos State and Cross River State, paving the way for a new era in gaming and betting in Nigeria. According to Dr. Dominic Joshua, Managing Director of Sunbet, the acquisition of these licenses marks a significant step forward for the company. "We are thrilled to bring a new dimension of betting to the Nigerian market," Dr. Joshua said. "Our team has worked tirelessly to…

Saudi Arabia Opens Mecca, Medina To Foreign Investors Saudi Arabia on Monday said foreigners are from now on allowed to invest in Saudi-listed companies that own property in Mecca and Medina, Islam’s two holiest cities. The decision “aims to stimulate investment, enhance the attractiveness and efficiency of the capital market, and strengthen its regional and international competitiveness while supporting the local economy,” the kingdom’s Capital Market Authority said in a statement. It said foreign investment “in companies owning real estate within the boundaries of Mecca and Madinah will be limited to shares of these Saudi companies listed on the Saudi…

Nigeria’s oldest aviation company, Aero Contractors, says travellers will pay a minimum of N80,000 for local flights this festive season. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Ado Sanusi, the airline’s managing director, said the ticket price would apply to all Aero’s routes. According to TheCable, Sanusi said through the gesture, billed to end in January next year, the company aims to give back to Nigerians and support them the during the Christmas season. As at 1:40 pm on Tuesday, Aero’s economy ticket to Abuja from Lagos was N99,643, while business class ticket stood at N189, 167. “We have understood the pains…

The Swiss cement and building materials manufacturers, Holcim, has announced its exit from Nigeria citing its strategy to streamline operations and focus on high-growth regions and sustainability. The company plans to sell its 83.8 per cent stake in Lafarge Africa Plc to China’s Huaxin Cement for $1billion. “Holcim has signed an agreement with Huaxin Cement Ltd to sell its entire 83.81 per cent shareholding in Lafarge Africa PLC, at an equity value of $1billion on a 100 per cent basis. "The transaction is expected to close in 2025, subject to customary and regulatory approvals,” Holcim said in a statement. The…

Truth Social, the social media platform owned by President-elect Donald Trump, appears to be exploring a move into the crypto space. Trump Media & Technology Group filed a trademark application earlier this week for TruthFi, which it described as a cryptocurrency payment processing platform. The trademark application includes few specifics but lists numerous potential applications for TruthFi, including card payment processing services, asset management, custody service and trading in digital assets. It’s not clear how far along Trump Media is in evaluating a crypto payment service or whether the Trump-owned public company will ultimately launch such a platform. A move…

Fresh data from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) reveals significant disparities between Value Added Tax (VAT) contributions and allocations across the South-East states of Nigeria in August 2024. Contributions vs Allocations: • Anambra State: Contributed ₦4.28 billion and received ₦6.66 billion. • Ebonyi State: Contributed ₦1.90 billion and was allocated ₦5.20 billion. • Enugu State: Contributed ₦1.08 billion and received ₦5.73 billion. • Abia State: Contributed ₦663.42 million and was allocated ₦5.43 billion. • Imo State: Contributed ₦235.41 million but benefited ₦6.01 billion in allocations. Redistribution Trends The South-East states collectively contributed ₦8.16 billion to the national VAT pool…