Though it looks harmless, political cartooning can be nerve-racking, provoking the bile of political office holders and triggering a huge political umbrage in the process. In February, 2021, an award-winning political cartoonist with the Daily Trust newspaper, Bulama Mustapha, sketched a cartoon flake of a framed photograph sitting majestically on Nigeria’s Aso Rock presidential seat. It looked like an effigy filling space. It was the photograph of President Muhammadu Buhari with a mirthless and expressionless face. Cosseted on both sides by all the paraphernalia of office, to wit, Nigerian flags and coat of arms, Buhari himself was nowhere to be…

His banking colleagues regard Jim Ovia as one of the founders of Africa's modern banking system. In his book "Africa Rise and Shine", Jim Ovia tells his story of moving from a humble background to starting Zenith Bank with $4 million in shareholders funds' and growing the business to more than $16 billion in assets. His business principles can be applied globally, as demonstrated by Zenith Bank's London Stock Exchange listing and presence in many countries worldwide. Zenith Bank is Nigeria's most profitable bank and the largest listed financial services group on the Nigerian Exchange. In its 2021 full-year audited…

Oil prices extended their rally on Thursday, with Brent rising above $119 a barrel, as trade disruption and shipping issues from Russian sanctions over the Ukraine crisis sparked supply worries while U.S. crude stocks fell to multi-year lows. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies including Russia have decided to maintain an increase in output by 400,000 barrels per day in March despite the price surge, ignoring the Ukraine crisis during their talks and snubbing calls from consumers for more crude. Brent crude futures rallied to $116.83 a barrel, the highest since August 2013. The contract was…

Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Association, Southeast Lagos and Shippers Association of Lagos have said that over 12,000 imported vehicles are currently trapped at the ports as a result of the ongoing strike action embarked upon by clearing agents over the e-valuation policy introduced recently by Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Customs Service. Last week, freight forwarders operating at both the Tin-Can Island as well as the Ports and Terminal Multipurpose Limited commands of the Customs began an indefinite strike following the expiration of a 72-hour ultimatum given to the Federal Government to review its electronic valuation system for imported vehicles…