The New Diplomat https://newdiplomatng.com/ Nigeria's global voice Wed, 08 Oct 2025 18:29:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://i0.wp.com/newdiplomatng.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-newdip-1.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 The New Diplomat https://newdiplomatng.com/ 32 32 127640339 Central Banks Now Hold More Gold Than U.S. Treasuries https://newdiplomatng.com/central-banks-now-hold-more/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 18:29:01 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285258 Key Takeaways For the first time since 1996, foreign central banks’ gold reserves have overtaken their U.S. Treasury holdings. Persistent gold buying and rising U.S. debt risks are reshaping reserve composition toward hard assets. Central banks have crossed a symbolic line: their combined gold reserves now exceed their U.S. Treasury holdings for the first time […]

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]]> 285258 Alleged Christian Genocide: Nigerian Lawmakers Slam US Bill, Call It A “Malicious lie” https://newdiplomatng.com/alleged-christian-genocide/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:24:20 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285251 By Abiola Olawale The House of Representatives on Wednesday condemned a United States congressional bill accusing Nigerian officials of allegedly enabling “systematic” religious killings, particularly against Christians. Lawmakers branded the legislation a “gross misrepresentation” of the country’s security woes, insisting that violence stems from terrorism and banditry, not state-sponsored persecution. This position comes in response […]

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]]> 285251 Alleged ₦4bn Fraud: Drama as Kano Anti-Graft Agency Moves to Probe Ganduje’s Govt https://newdiplomatng.com/alleged-fraud-drama-kano/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:19:04 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285249 By Abiola Olawale The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has launched an investigation into an alleged diversion of over ₦4 billion in public funds during the tenure of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. The New Diplomat reports that the probe is said to be centered on the Dala Inland Dry Port project. […]

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]]> 285249 APC secures two-thirds senate majority as Enugu Labour Party senator defects https://newdiplomatng.com/apc-secures-thirds-senate/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 16:03:38 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285247 By Obinna Uballa The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has tightened its grip on the Senate after Senator Kelvin Chukwu, representing Enugu East, defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the APC. Senate President Godswill Akpabio formally announced Chukwu’s defection during Wednesday’s plenary, raising the APC’s strength in the upper chamber to 73 seats, a […]

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]]> 285247 Crude Oil Futures Rise on Supply Data and OPEC+ Outlook https://newdiplomatng.com/crude-oil-futures-rise-supply/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:29:55 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285245 Oil prices rose early on Wednesday after an industry report showed on Tuesday that the crude stocks at the key Cushing hub fell further and OPEC+ somewhat eased fears of an imminent glut with a planned modest increase in output. As of 8:05 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, WTI Crude prices were up by 1.44% at $62.62, while […]

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]]> 285245 Africa’s $100bn trade finance gap in focus as Afreximbank hosts 25th Trade Finance Seminar Nov 4 https://newdiplomatng.com/africa-trade-finance-gap/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:14:32 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285243 By Obinna Uballa The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will hold the 25th edition of its flagship Trade Finance Seminar (ATFS2025) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from November 4 to 6, as the continent grapples with an annual trade finance gap of up to $100 billion. A one-day Factoring Workshop will follow on November 7, a statement […]

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]]> 285243 World Bank: Nigeria’s single-digit inflation goal unrealistic, price pressures remain https://newdiplomatng.com/world-bank-nigeria-single/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:39:22 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285241 By Obinna Uballa The World Bank has cast doubt on Nigeria’s ambition to bring inflation down to single digits in the near term, warning that the country remains trapped in double-digit inflation while most of Sub-Saharan Africa is moving toward price stability. In its latest Africa’s Pulse report released on Tuesday, the Bank projected that […]

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]]> 285241 Senate Swears In Two New Senators; Joe Ikpea, Nwachukwu https://newdiplomatng.com/senate-swears-two-new-senators/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:34:05 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285235 By Abiola Olawale The Nigerian Senate has officially sworn in two newly elected senators, Dr. Joseph Ikpea (APC, Edo Central) and Chief Emmanuel Nwachukwu (APGA, Anambra South), marking a fresh chapter in representation for their respective districts. The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. The swearing-in took […]

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]]> 285235 Cristiano Ronaldo enters billionaire ranks, valued at $1.4bn – Bloomberg https://newdiplomatng.com/cristiano-ronaldo-enters/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 14:20:54 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285222 By Obinna Uballa Portuguese star and Al Nassr forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, has become the first footballer to be officially recognised as a billionaire, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index. The index, which tracks the world’s wealthiest individuals, places the 40-year-old’s net worth at $1.4 billion (£1.04bn), making him the richest footballer in history. Bloomberg’s valuation takes […]

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]]> 285222 INEC Chairmanship: Amupitan in pole position as Tinubu set to name Yakubu’s successor https://newdiplomatng.com/inec-chairmanship-amupitan/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:19:15 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285220 By Obinna Uballa Nigeria’s electoral body is on the cusp of new leadership following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu after a 10-year tenure as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday. Multiple presidency and commission sources indicate that the frontrunner to succeed him is Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), Deputy Vice-Chancellor […]

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]]> 285220 Peter Obi Condemns “Derogatory” Labels, Says His Supporters Are Not Street Urchins https://newdiplomatng.com/peter-obi-condemns-derogatory/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:14:34 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285216 By Abiola Olawale Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, has condemned the use of derogatory labels against his supporters, stressing that no Nigerian should ever be described as a “street urchin.” In a statement posted on his official X handle, the former Anambra State governor decried what he called […]

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]]> 285216 Atiku blasts Tinubu govt over Nnaji scandal, says resignation ‘whitewash of forgery’ https://newdiplomatng.com/atiku-blasts-tinubu-govt-nnaji/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:01:48 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285213 By Obinna Uballa Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the resignation of Uche Nnaji, erstwhile Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, describing it as “an attempt to whitewash yet another scandal” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Nnaji resigned on Tuesday after an investigation by Premium Times alleged that he submitted forged academic and NYSC […]

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]]> 285213 “My Resignation Not An Admission of Guilt,” Nnaji Declares https://newdiplomatng.com/resignation-not-admission/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:58:45 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285211 By Abiola Olawale Uche Nnaji, Nigeria’s erstwhile Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, insisting his recent resignation from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet was a “principled decision” rather than a concession to guilt. The controversy, which has dominated headlines for over a week, centered on claims that Nnaji allegedly submitted falsified […]

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]]> 285211 Enugu Gov, Peter Mbah Set to Join APC as Nnaji’s Resignation Clears Path https://newdiplomatng.com/enugu-gov-peter-mbah-set-join/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:16:07 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285207 By Obinna Uballa Barring any last-minute change, Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, is set to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following the sudden resignation of Uche Nnaji, the embattled Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, the New Diplomat has gathered. Sources close to the governor confided […]

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]]> 285207 How Old Are U.S. Democratic Senators in 2025? https://newdiplomatng.com/how-old-are-democratic/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:58:50 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285187 Key Takeaways Two-thirds of U.S. Senators are over the age of 60, with Democrats averaging 63.7 years old. Senator Jon Ossoff (38) is the youngest Democrat, while Richard Durbin (80) is the oldest. The U.S. Senate is one of the oldest legislative bodies in the world, with a majority of lawmakers well into their 60s […]

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]]> 285187 OPEC+ Nears Its Limit, Leaving Prices One Crisis Away from a Spike https://newdiplomatng.com/opec-nears-its-limit-leaving/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:52:34 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285185 OPEC+ spare capacity is shrinking fast, with only Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iraq holding meaningful extra production capability. Analysts warn that actual spare capacity may be overstated. As OPEC+ unwinds its remaining cuts and producers hit physical limits, the world’s oil buffer is thinning. The OPEC+ group continues to return modest volumes of supply […]

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]]> 285185 Ranked: The Top 50 Countries by Central Bank Reserves https://newdiplomatng.com/ranked-the-top-countries/ Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:40:43 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285182 Key Takeaways Central bank reserves are considered critical for global economic stability, helping countries meet balance of payments obligations and buffer against economic or geopolitical shocks The top 10 countries collectively hold $9.4 trillion in currency and gold reserves, accounting for over 60% of the global total Central bank reserves can be considered as a […]

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]]> 285182 Just In! Uche Nnaji Resigns as Minister https://newdiplomatng.com/just-uche-nnaji-resigns/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:29:08 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285176 Uche Nnaji has tendered his resignation as the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology. His resignation was confirmed in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to Onanuga, Nnaji resigned on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. The statement reads in part: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu […]

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]]> 285176 From hero to traitor: NUPENG tears into Oshiomhole’s legacy over refinery strike comments https://newdiplomatng.com/from-hero-traitor-nupeng-tears/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 18:44:51 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285173 By Obinna Uballa The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has launched a blistering attack on Senator Adams Oshiomhole, branding the former labour leader a traitor for his comments against a recent strike in the oil and gas sector. In a statement signed by its president, Williams Akporeha, and general secretary, Afolabi […]

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]]> 285173 Nigerian Senate resumes with Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s dramatic return, Palestine solidarity display https://newdiplomatng.com/nigerian-senate-resumes/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:26:52 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285166 By Obinna Uballa The Nigerian Senate reconvened on Tuesday after a 10-week recess, marking the return of embattled Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who stepped back into the red chamber following a six-month suspension. Her presence was one of the major highlights of the plenary session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, as […]

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]]> 285166 Supreme Court reserves judgment in Osun LG funds dispute with AGF https://newdiplomatng.com/supreme-court-reserves/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:23:05 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285164 By Obinna Uballa The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment in a case brought by the Osun State Government against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) over the release of local government funds to council chairmen whose election had been nullified by the courts. A seven-man panel of the apex court led by Justice […]

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]]> 285164 Ex-PM Philippe turns on Macron, demands his resignation amid France’s worst crisis in years https://newdiplomatng.com/philippe-turns-macron-demands/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:19:51 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285160 By Obinna Uballa France’s deepening political crisis took a dramatic twist on Tuesday as former prime minister Edouard Philippe called on President Emmanuel Macron to resign, accusing him of dragging the country into paralysis. Philippe, who governed as Macron’s longest-serving premier between 2017 and 2020, said the president should leave “in an orderly and dignified […]

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]]> 285160 [PHOTOS] Alleged Christian genocide: US Lawmaker Demands Blacklisting of Nigeria https://newdiplomatng.com/photos-alleged-christian/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:11:56 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285152 By Abiola Olawale A prominent United States (US) Congressman Riley Moore, has demanded that Nigeria be blacklisted as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for what he described as a relentless “genocide” against Christians. In a letter addressed to the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Moore argued that the designation of Nigeria as a […]

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]]> 285152 CAN rejects ‘Christian genocide’ narrative, urges united fight against terrorism https://newdiplomatng.com/can-rejects-christian/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:07:11 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285149 By Obinna Uballa The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed claims of a Christian genocide in the country, insisting that the wave of killings linked to insurgency and banditry affects both Christians and Muslims. The controversy was sparked by United States comedian Bill Maher, who alleged that Christians were being systematically exterminated in Nigeria, […]

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]]> 285149 Tinubu seeks $2.35bn external borrowing, $500m Sukuk to fund 2025 budget, refinance Eurobond https://newdiplomatng.com/tinubu-seeks-external/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:02:52 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285147 By Obinna Uballa President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to approve fresh external borrowing of $2.347 billion and the issuance of a $500 million debut sovereign Sukuk in the international capital market. The request, read on the floor of the House on Tuesday by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, is aimed at funding […]

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]]> 285147 [VIDEO] Yakubu Bows Out, Hands Over to May Agbamuche as Acting Chairman https://newdiplomatng.com/video-yakubu-bows-out-hands/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 16:28:26 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285140 By Abiola Olawale Professor Mahmood Yakubu has bowed out as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Yakubu has also officially handed over leadership to National Commissioner May Agbamuche as Acting Chairman on Tuesday. The changeover, announced during an ongoing meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja, marks the […]

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]]> 285140 The Universities Producing the Most Billionaires https://newdiplomatng.com/the-universities-producing/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:15:34 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285131 American universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Penn lead in producing billionaire alumn. Most wealth comes from technology startups and entrepreneurial ventures (e.g., Microsoft, Google, DoorDash, Baidu). This visualization ranks institutions by billionaire alumni, highlighting U.S. dominance and the growing role of Asian universities. The data comes from Salas Díaz & Young (2024). The study was published in September […]

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]]> 285131 The Dangote Refinery Strike Cost Nigeria 600,000 Barrels of Oil Output https://newdiplomatng.com/the-dangote-refinery-strike/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:09:21 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285129 A three-day national strike prompted by layoffs at the Dangote refinery has led to production losses of 600,000 barrels, the chief executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company has said. “I think it was unfortunate that the Dangote and PENGASSAN issue led to strike and whenever there is strike and critical staff manning critical facilities […]

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]]> 285129 [FULL LIST] How Lagos Shattered Records with N1.26trn IGR in 2024, Rivers Hits N317bn https://newdiplomatng.com/full-list-how-lagos-shattered/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:10:03 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285126 • Total Revenue by Nigerian States Surged by 49% By Abiola Olawale Lagos State has once again clinched the top spot in internally generated revenue (IGR) for 2024, raking in a total of N1.26 trillion, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported. The agency revealed that Lagos State’s IGR accounts for over one-third of […]

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]]> 285126 FG Inaugurates Expanded Negotiation Committee as ASUU’s Strike Looms https://newdiplomatng.com/inaugurates-expanded/ Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:06:22 +0000 https://newdiplomatng.com/?p=285123 By Abiola Olawale The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the inauguration of an expanded negotiation committee codenamed the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee. The development comes amid escalating tensions with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), whose two-week ultimatum to the government expires on Tuesday. The inauguration was […]

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