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Armed bandits in the early hours of Tuesday invaded the Nasara Nursing and Maternity Home in Kujama, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting a medical doctor, five patients, and a security guard.

BusinessDay gathered that the assailants, who arrived in large numbers, stormed the private medical facility before extending their attack to nearby residences.

A security guard who attempted to resist the assault was shot multiple times and later taken to another hospital for treatment.

The latest incident adds to the rising wave of insecurity in Kaduna State.

Just last Friday, two police officers were killed when bandits attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in Zonkwa, headquarters of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area.

Nigerian artist Davido earned $1.61 million in ticket sales from the first three dates of his ‘5ive Alive’ North America tour, according to reports shared by Touring Data on X.

The shows, held in October 2025, sold 25,600 tickets at an average price of $63.The tour opened at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, on October 18, drawing 11,024 attendees-73 percent of the venue’s capacity-for $695,845 in revenue. The New York stop at Barclays Center on October 20 sold out its configured 8,863 seats, generating $552,822. The Boston concert at Agganis Arena on October 21 attracted 5,713 fans, or 95 percent capacity, for $364,495.

These figures reflect partial arena setups, with Barclays’ full capacity at 19,000.The tour marks Davido’s third major North American run in recent years, following the 2023 Timeless Tour and an earlier outing. It underscores Afrobeats’ continued growth in the U.S. market, where streaming and live events have boosted Nigerian artists’ visibility.

On X, reactions split along fan lines, with supporters debating the numbers against peers Wizkid and Burna Boy. Wizkid fans, often called FC, highlighted perceived low attendance, noting the Barclays setup sold just 8,863 tickets despite the arena’s larger potential.

One post mocked, ‘8k for 19k capacity,’ while another claimed, ‘Add everything together, e no reach this one,’ implying Davido underperformed. These jabs reference Wizkid’s 2022 Made in Lagos tour, his last major U.S. run four years ago, which grossed over $10 million across 20 dates but ended in 2021.

Davido backers countered with tour frequency and single-show peaks. They pointed to his $1.2 million high from a prior concert, topping Wizkid’s $1 million mark. At Madison Square Garden, Davido’s 2023 Timeless show grossed $809,689 from 10,185 tickets (93 percent capacity), trailing Burna Boy’s 2022 record of $1.57 million from a full 13,586 sellout but ahead of Wizkid’s 2022 $1 million from 12,901 tickets.

Burna Boy entered the fray indirectly, with fans citing his arena averages near $1 million per show versus Davido’s $500,000 and Wizkid’s lower recent figures.

Spotify data fueled broader arguments: Burna Boy leads with 22.1 million monthly listeners and 13.86 million followers, followed by Wizkid (12.9 million listeners, 9.23 million followers) and Davido (8.61 million listeners, 8.82 million followers).

One post tallied Burna Boy’s solo streams at 26.7 million, exceeding Davido and Wizkid’s combined 25.9 million. Billboard Artist 100 rankings added fuel, with Wizkid peaking at No. 58 for 18 weeks, Burna Boy at No. 69 for one week, and Davido absent.

Despite the rivalry, the exchange highlights Afrobeats’ competitive U.S. foothold, where all three have sold out major venues. Davido’s tour continues with dates in Toronto and Los Angeles, testing sustained demand.

The House of Representatives has advanced a constitutional amendment bill seeking to clarify taxation powers among the federal, state and local governments, including a proposal to place Value Added Tax (VAT) under the Exclusive legislative List.

The bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Altered), to Clarify the Taxation Powers of the Federal, State, and Local Governments; to Define the Scope of Taxes and Levies Collectible by Each Tier of Government; to Prevent Multiple Taxation and Unlawful Outsourcing of Revenue Collection; and for Related Matters (HB.2545), was sponsored by Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Deputy Speaker, and six other lawmakers. It scaled second reading during plenary on Wednesday.

Among its key provisions, the bill proposes the inclusion of VAT or Consumption Tax as a new item on the Exclusive Legislative List, thereby granting the federal government clear constitutional authority to administer VAT nationwide.

According to a draft legislation of the Bill, this ensures national uniformity, predictability, and a clear constitutional basis for VAT administration by the Federation.

The Bill which comprises four clauses also seeks to provide for the clarification that Stamp Duties collected by the federal government apply only to documents or transactions involving a corporate body, while Stamp Duties arising from transactions by individuals fall within the jurisdiction of States. The propsoed law also prohibits the outsourcing of tax collection to private entities; e introduce a ceiling to the maximum number (of nine) of taxies, levies or charges that may be imposed on income, consumption or property of a person in a year; and streamline taxation by Local Government Councils and to strike out redundant or overlapping taxing powers so as to prevent harassment of traders, artisans, and small businesses at the local level.

Leading the debate, Kalu described the bill as a necessary step to bring ‘order where confusion reigns’ and to ‘create clarity where overlaps have persisted.’ He said the proposed amendment seeks to ensure that every naira raised, shared or spent by government is ‘traceable, lawful, and transparent.’ ‘The fiscal architecture of our federation has, over time, become congested and conflicting. Multiple taxes and levies are imposed at different tiers of government, often on the same taxpayer. Revenue agencies overlap, creating inefficiencies and litigations over collection rights, as seen in the disputes over Value Added Tax, Stamp Duties, and Personal Income Tax’, Kalu said.

He added that the bill aims to restore fiscal discipline, reduce duplication, and promote efficiency across government levels by addressing persistent disputes between federal and state authorities on revenue collection, particularly around VAT.

As Nigeria’s banking sector undergoes recapitalisation exercises, industry observers are closely watching how this move will reshape liquidity, foreign exchange access, and cross-border payment efficiency. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive, aimed at strengthening the capital base of commercial banks, could transform how funds move across borders and how businesses, large and small, access FX in the years ahead.

In this exclusive interview with BusinessDay’s Chinwe Michael, Austin Okpagu, Nigeria Country Director at Verto, a global B2B cross-border payments platform facilitating over $25 billion in annual transactions, shares deep insights into how the recapitalisation drive could recalibrate the FX ecosystem, enhance settlement efficiency, and redefine the collaboration between banks and fintechs in Africa’s evolving financial landscape.

The CBN’s recapitalisation directive aims to strengthen Nigeria’s banking sector. From your perspective, how will a stronger banking system influence FX liquidity and cross-border payment stability in the medium term?

The CBN’s recapitalisation drive is an essential and pragmatic measure aimed at creating fewer but larger and more financially resilient banks in Nigeria capable of competing with global peers. In the medium term, this strengthening should positively impact FX liquidity and cross-border stability in a couple of key ways, from enhanced risk-bearing capacity and improved liquidity to greater efficiency and expansion in cross-border payment services.

For businesses transacting across borders, what immediate or long-term effects do you foresee from this recapitalisation drive, especially regarding access to foreign exchange and settlement efficiency?

For businesses engaged in cross-border trade, the effects will be transformative, though not immediate. Initially, we may see short-term operational inefficiencies as banks focus their resources on meeting the recapitalisation deadline. This could temporarily slow service delivery.

Mergers and acquisitions will likely increase, creating short-term integration challenges for transaction platforms. However, in the long term, greater access to the FX market will emerge, reducing rationing and enabling smaller businesses to obtain FX more easily. Settlement efficiency will also improve as well-capitalised banks can invest in resilient infrastructure and advanced payment rails.

One of the goals of initiatives like PAPSS is to reduce Africa’s reliance on the U.S. dollar. How realistic is this goal in the short to medium term, and what role can fintechs like Verto play in accelerating that transition?

The goal of reducing dollar reliance is strategically sound and essential for financial sovereignty, but achieving it in the short to medium term will be challenging, though achievable for intra-African trade.

The key obstacle is the deep-seated preference for hard currencies due to the volatility and inflation risks of many African currencies. Without effective currency-hedging mechanisms, businesses will continue to hesitate to trade in local currencies.

Fintechs like Verto can accelerate this transition by building robust liquidity for local currency pairs similar to PAPSS’s African Currency Marketplace (PACM). By operating across multiple emerging and developed markets, fintechs can bypass hard-currency intermediaries, enabling cheaper, faster local currency trading through real-time conversion and settlement.

Nigeria’s liquidity challenges have often slowed trade settlements. In what ways could better-capitalised banks improve liquidity conditions for importers, exporters, and fintechs in the B2B payments space?

Better-capitalised banks are crucial to solving systemic liquidity constraints, especially in the FX market. We expect banks with stronger capital buffers to have higher FX risk appetite and the ability to hold more foreign currency reserves.

This aligns with the CBN’s recent efforts to fulfill legitimate trade demands more consistently. The overall impact will be improved predictability of trade settlements, greater transparency, and market stability-conditions that directly benefit high-volume B2B transactions across Africa.

With Verto facilitating over $25 billion in cross-border payments annually, how do you see your operations evolving in Nigeria’s changing banking and regulatory environment?

Our strategy is to treat the recapitalisation and evolving regulatory landscape as opportunities for deeper partnerships. Verto is prioritising best-in-class compliance and cybersecurity to align with the CBN’s vision for a more resilient financial system.

We aim to become not just a service provider but an infrastructure enabler of trust. Our enterprise-grade infrastructure will help consolidated banks manage increased transaction volumes and cross-border complexities more efficiently. As banks recapitalise and expand their digital and cross-border services, do you see fintechs competing with or collaborating more closely with traditional financial institutions?

The future will favour co-opetition, collaboration within competition.

While banks may strengthen their digital offerings post-recapitalisation, fintechs will maintain their edge in speed, innovation, and user experience. Banks bring regulatory coverage and legacy trust; fintechs bring agility, proprietary technology, and seamless integration.

We envision an embedded finance environment where stable banks provide the regulatory rails, and fintechs embed FX engines, payment aggregation, and global payout systems within those offerings, creating a resilient, customer-first ecosystem.

PAPSS is known as a game-changer for intra-African trade. From your experience, what are the key bottlenecks slowing its adoption, and how can Nigeria’s banking recapitalisation accelerate its implementation?

PAPSS has immense potential, but adoption is slowed by several realities, including volatile local currencies, a lack of robust hedging mechanisms, and fragmented financial regulations across the continent. Many central banks still fear losing monetary policy control.

However, Nigeria’s recapitalisation drive can accelerate PAPSS adoption by positioning stronger banks as anchor institutions. With larger capital bases, banks can invest more in the infrastructure, technology, and integrations necessary to bring PAPSS to scale.

The government’s FX reforms aim to unify exchange rates and improve transparency, but volatility persists. How can fintech-led innovations contribute to restoring market confidence and stabilising rates?

Fintech innovations are instrumental in restoring market confidence. By leveraging data analytics and real-time market transparency, fintechs remove information asymmetries that often fuel speculation and volatility.

At Verto, we democratise access to foreign exchange by offering multiple liquidity channels that directly connect global capital to Nigerian businesses. This reduces reliance on legacy bank channels and central bank interventions. Additionally, digital audit trails enhance traceability, strengthening confidence in transactions and rates.

As the CBN tightens regulatory oversight through recapitalisation, how can regulators balance stability with the innovation required in fintech and payments?

It’s a delicate balance, but recapitalisation provides an opportunity to evolve regulation. The CBN must move from being just a gatekeeper to an enabler of innovation.

This means updating old guidelines, consolidating fragmented regulatory frameworks, and introducing effective sandboxes for emerging tech solutions. Capacity building among regulators is also essential through mentorships and exchange programs with innovation-friendly markets like the U.S. and China to help them better supervise deep-tech innovations.

Looking ahead, what trends do you see shaping the future of cross-border payments and FX management in Africa, and how is Verto positioning itself to lead that transformation?

The future of cross-border payments is real-time, platform-driven, and API-powered. Settlements will increasingly happen within minutes, not days. The early signs of stablecoin adoption point to faster, cheaper, and more secure transactions by removing traditional intermediaries.

Technology itself is becoming the payment rail. Through embedded APIs, institutions can integrate FX and multi-currency accounts directly into their systems, automate settlements, and enable programmable payments.

At Verto, we’re leading this transformation through our Atlas Suite, which allows partners to hold and disburse funds in over 40 currencies through domestic rails. We’re also leveraging AI and rich data for enhanced compliance, onboarding, and risk management, all geared toward a seamless, secure cross-border experience.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of the tenure of AbuduGaniyu Adebomehin, the Surveyor-General of the Federation, by two years.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the extension, which takes effect from January 5, 2026, was necessitated by the recent transfer of the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF) to the Presidency.

The Surveyor-General has already initiated reforms across critical sectors of geospatial data systems, which the President is keen to see completed.

The statement said President Tinubu expects that Adebomehin consolidate the reforms within the next two years, focusing on national land management and administration. He is also expected to consolidate the reform on highways and abutting land infrastructure coordination, reclamation and erosion control programmes, and other related matters of strategic national importance.

Recall that Adebomehin was appointed the Surveyor-General of the Federation (SGoF) by the late President Muhammadu Buhari, effective January 5, 2022.

The Rivers State House of Assembly, which was at the center of the crisis that eventually led to the declaration of a State of Emergency on the state by President Bola Tinubu, has been described as independent and conscious of its constitutional role as one of the three arms of government.

Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, made this known on Tuesday October 21, 2025, while speaking at the maiden public engagement programme, with the theme ‘Advancing Politics and Legislature,’ organised by the Centre for Politics, University of Port Harcourt.

Martins Wachukwu, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, in a release, said in a lecture on the role of the legislature in a democratic system, Amaewhule described the legislature as the symbol and heartbeat of democracy. He said, ‘The legislature is the symbol of democracy. It will go down in history that during the political crisis in Rivers State, the House of Assembly under my leadership upheld the sanctity of democracy and defended the rule of law.’

The Speaker, with reference to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), explained the constitutional provisions regarding elections and continuity in governance during extraordinary situations.

He noted that the Constitution empowers those in authority – including the President and members of the National Assembly – to remain in office where elections cannot be conducted due to instability or national emergencies, until such elections are held.

‘Go to the 1999 Constitution as amended; it is clear that if, for any reason, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cannot conduct elections due to instability or impossibility, those in authority shall continue until elections are conducted. That is the position of the law,’ the Speaker said. Drawing from judicial precedent, Amaewhule cited the recent Supreme Court judgment, which affirmed that in the absence of elections, duly elected officials at the local government level could continue in office until new elections are conducted – a position consistent with the constitutional principle of governance continuity.

‘The Supreme Court has settled this matter. There is now a judicial precedent confirming that, in the absence of elections, those duly elected can continue in office until new elections are held. This reinforces the stability and continuity of governance,’ he said.

The Speaker explained the three cardinal functions of the legislature – lawmaking, oversight, and representation; noting that these pillars are the foundation on which every democratic society stands.

Amaewhule described lawmaking as the foremost duty of the legislature, which provides the legal framework for governance and ensures the peace, order, and good governance of the state.

He stressed the importance of the Assembly’s oversight function, which he said is the mechanism through which the legislature holds the executive accountable, ensuring transparency, fiscal discipline, and efficiency in public administration. ‘Representation,’ Amaewhule said, connects the people to government, ensuring that their voices, needs, and aspirations are reflected in policies and laws.

The Speaker commended the Centre for Politics, University of Port Harcourt, for initiating the public engagement series, describing it as a bridge between academic research and real-world governance. He encouraged students to actively participate in political discourse and legislative studies to deepen democratic understanding in Nigeria.

In attendance at the event were Georgewill Owunari, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, prominent politician, Tonye Princewill, senior academics, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and representatives of civil society organisations.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, on Wednesday commenced a two-day media training on ethical journalism and child rights reporting for journalists drawn from the South-East, South-South, and North-Central regions of Nigeria.

The training, funded by UNICEF, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of media practitioners to report children’s issues with sensitivity, fairness, and respect for human dignity. It also seeks to promote responsible storytelling that safeguards the identities and rights of children. Falayi Temitoye, Assistant Director and Head of the Child Rights Information Bureau, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Chinasa Ogbodo, stressed the importance of ethical journalism in shaping public attitudes toward children.

‘It is a real pleasure to welcome you all to this important training on ethical and child rights reporting,’ Temitoye said. ‘The media holds immense power the power to inform, inspire, and hold institutions accountable. But with that power comes the responsibility to report with integrity, sensitivity, and respect for human dignity.’

She urged journalists to exercise caution when reporting on children, noting that ‘every image, every word, and every frame we publish can have lasting consequences on a child’s life, safety, and future.’ Temitoye commended UNICEF for its continued partnership with the ministry and encouraged participants to make the most of the training sessions.

Anselm Audu, UNICEF’s Chief Field Officer in Port Harcourt, in his keynote address, highlighted the crucial role of ethical journalism in protecting vulnerable groups, particularly women and children. ‘The media has the power to amplify the voices of children and draw attention to the issues affecting their well-being,’ Audu said. ‘But that same power must be used responsibly.’

He added that ethical journalism fosters trust, prevents harm, and promotes peace. ‘Ethical reporting is the antidote to misinformation and hate speech,’ he noted. ‘It helps to calm tempers, promote dialogue, and build peace, especially during times of social tension.’

Susan Akila, UNICEF Nigeria’s Communications Specialist and Acting Chief of Communication, Advocacy, and Partnership, reaffirmed the agency’s strong collaboration with the media. ‘We do not take our media partners for granted because you are the foot soldiers,’ she said. ‘Children do not have a voice, and journalists are in the best position to speak for them responsibly.’

The two-day workshop features interactive discussions, case studies, and practical sessions designed to deepen journalists’ understanding of ethical standards in reporting on children and to strengthen their commitment to child-sensitive journalism across media platforms.

With N1.017 trillion in assets, TAJBank Limited has emerged as Nigeria’s largest non-interest bank, solidifying its leadership in the growing non-interest banking (NIB) sector, following five years of operations characterised by rapid expansion and performance milestones.

The development was disclosed during a seminar organised by Leaders Corporate Services in Abuja, themed ‘Roles of Non-Interest Banks in SMEs’ Financing.’

Speaking at the event, Olabode Akeredolu-Ale, an investment analyst and chartered stockbroker revealed that based on the latest half-year 2025 financial statements approved by regulators, TAJBank currently tops the NIB subsector in terms of total assets, gross earnings, and earnings per share. According to Akeredolu-Ale, TAJBank’s total assets rose to N1.017 trillion as at June 2025, up from N953.098 billion recorded in December 2024-an increase of over N64 billion. This figure places the bank ahead of its peers, with the next competitor trailing by approximately N53 billion in total assets.

Similarly, TAJBank’s gross earnings surged significantly in the first half of 2025, climbing to N53.752 billion from N32.86 billion at the end of 2024, representing a 64 percent growth. ‘This places the bank clearly above other non-interest banks in terms of income performance,’ Akeredolu-Ale noted.

He also pointed out that the bank recorded earnings per share (EPS) of 61.36 kobo for the same period-about 92 percent higher than the EPS of the nearest competitor in the NIB space. ‘The figures I am reeling out here on the NIBs are sourced from the banking and capital market regulatory institutions’ platforms, which anyone can access to verify,’ he stated. ‘I am part of this event because of my research interest in non-interest banking and how the players in the subsector in Nigeria can help to leverage their competencies in innovation and ethical banking to support our MSMEs.’

Highlighting the economic relevance of NIBs amid Nigeria’s tight credit conditions and rising interest rates, Akeredolu-Ale stressed that NIBs have become indispensable in providing affordable funding options for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which often struggle to secure financing from traditional deposit money banks (DMBs).

‘Today, the MSMEs cannot access DMBs’ loans due to high lending rates and other inclement macroeconomic factors. This is where I think the NIBs have become very crucial to Nigeria’s economic growth,’ he said.

He further urged SME operators at the seminar to consider switching to non-interest banking options in order to access ‘cost-friendly financing’ and benefit from the ethical and inclusive financial model offered by institutions like TAJBank.

Echoing similar sentiments, Benjamin Chukwudi, another financial analysts who spoke at the seminar, praised NIBs for their growing influence in supporting the SME ecosystem. He said the institutions have been ‘catalytic’ in providing access to interest-free loans and advisory services that are helping SMEs stay afloat despite the high cost of doing business in the country.

According to Chukwudi, ‘The non-interest banks are not only offering loans without interest, but they are also equipping entrepreneurs with critical financial management support, which is key in this challenging business environment.’

The crypto market is witnessing renewed enthusiasm across key altcoins. Cardano (ADA) has rebounded sharply, approaching $0.52 as its network upgrades boost on-chain activity. Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) is holding strong above $3 000 with layer-2 networks driving massive DeFi expansion and institutional participation. Both assets are reasserting their roles as market leaders in 2025’s emerging bull trend.

At the same time, BlockDAG has emerged as the project to watch. Priced at $0.0015 in Batch 31, it has raised $430 million and sold 27 billion coins to over 312,000 holders. Its Genesis Day, and Keynote 4 on November 26 will mark another major milestone for the network. Backed by audits from CertiK and Halborn and a listing target of $0.05, BlockDAG is positioned as the best crypto to invest in now for investors seeking clarity and verified delivery.

Cardano (ADA) Future Trend Remains Technically Strong

Cardano continues to attract long-term attention through its scientific approach to development and on-chain innovation. Trading near $0.52, ADA has risen roughly 20 percent this month as the Hydra upgrade enhances transaction capacity and reduces fees. Its ecosystem expansion in DeFi and governance applications is boosting user engagement and liquidity.

Analysts highlight strong support at $0.48 and a potential breakout toward $0.60 if buying volume persists. Cardano’s commitment to peer-reviewed research and regulated adoption continues to appeal to institutional partners.

As the Cardano future trend gains momentum, the network’s foundation of security and governance makes ADA a top contender for investors looking for the best crypto to invest in now.

Ethereum’s (ETH) Bullish Pattern Signals Sustained Growth

Ethereum has maintained its dominant position in DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise applications. Currently trading around $3 050, ETH is up more than 10 percent this week as layer-2 solutions such as Arbitrum and Base reduce network congestion and fees. Institutional flows through ETH ETFs and staking products have further strengthened its macro outlook.

Technical charts show consistent support near $2 950 and targets approaching $3 300 if momentum holds. Analysts expect the upcoming upgrade to optimize transaction finality and expand rollup compatibility. Ethereum’s ecosystem size, developer community, and liquidity depth make it a core asset in any portfolio focused on the best crypto to invest in now.

BlockDAG’s Verified Roadmap Defines Its Layer-1 Edge!

BlockDAG is entering its most defining phase. The Genesis Day and Keynote 4 event on November 26 will unveil the network’s mainnet activation, exchange listings, and ecosystem expansion. It marks the culmination of a $430 million presale that has drawn global attention for its transparency and execution.

Priced at $0.0015 in Batch 31, BlockDAG has sold 27 billion coins to 312,000 holders. Its hybrid architecture, combining Proof-of-Work and DAG technology, delivers up to 15,000 transactions per second without sacrificing security. Independent audits from CertiK and Halborn confirm the network’s resilience and technical integrity.

The network is also set to go live on Binance for an exclusive AMA this Friday, October 24, at 3 PM UTC, marking one of its biggest global appearances yet. The session will feature insider updates, new roadmap reveals, and major insights ahead of Keynote 4: The Launch Note and Genesis Day.

The Genesis Day event will feature Keynote 4 presentations, demonstrations of Dashboard V4 analytics, and announcements of exchange partners. BlockDAG is set to bridge its presale success with full network utility, establishing a real-world foundation for its ecosystem.

With a listing target of $0.05 and verified infrastructure, BlockDAG has become the benchmark for presale credibility. Its focus on measurable delivery rather than hype cements its status as the best crypto to invest in now, ahead of 2025.

Final Thoughts

Cardano (ADA) and Ethereum (ETH) are showing steady technical and on-chain strength, each positioned for further growth in the coming months. ADA’s scalability and ETH’s liquidity lead the market in long-term utility and network development.

Yet BlockDAG’s upcoming Genesis Day and Keynote 4, paired with its $0.0015 TGE offer and $430 million raised, set it apart as a project built on execution and trust. With 27 billion coins sold and 312,000 holders ahead of its November 26 launch, BlockDAG represents the next generation of verified Layer-1 innovation, and the best crypto to invest in now.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has called on investors to leverage the numerous opportunities in the FCT to drive sustainable growth and development.

Wike made the call Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Abuja Business and Investment Summit, held at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The minister, who was represented by Mariya Mahmoud, the FCT minister of State, assured participants that the current leadership of the FCT Administration remains resolute in ensuring that Abuja is not just the capital of Nigeria, but a beacon of sustainable development for the continent.

He highlighted the critical moment Nigeria faces as it advances under the Renewed Hope Agenda championed by President Bola Tinubu, focusing on inclusive growth, infrastructure revitalisation, and job creation.

‘The summit’s theme, ‘Empowering Sustainable Growth: Unlocking Potentials in Emerging Markets,’ aligns with the FCT Administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for business and investment,’ he said.

The minister emphasised the importance of infrastructure as a foundation for industrialisation and economic development, detailing ongoing efforts to enhance road networks that connect satellite towns, area councils, and rural communities to the city center.

‘As Abuja symbolises Nigeria’s aspirations, our mission, supported by Mr. President, is to make it a safe, investment-friendly city that empowers all citizens,’ he added.

Wike, therefore, commended the Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) for organising a pivotal event aimed at fostering strategic partnerships for the economic growth of the FCT.

He also stressed the FCT Administration’s openness to new ideas and solutions, welcoming forums like this summit to showcase investment opportunities and engage emerging markets. According to the minister, ‘The FCT Administration remains steadfast in building a sustainable, flourishing capital city and enhancing Nigeria’s position on the continental and global stage.’ Earlier, Maureen Tanuno, the group managing director/CEO of Abuja Investments Company Limited said the Expo aligned perfectly with the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tanuno noted that the vision has continued to strengthen investors’ confidence, stabilize the micro-economy, and stimulate sustainable growth.

She revealed that this year’s Expo convened investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and development partners from Nigeria and around the world, including delegates from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Botswana.

Tanuno further explained that AICL, as the investment arm of the FCT Administration, has, through its subsidiaries and strategic projects, remained committed to being a catalyst for sustainable growth and economic transformation.

She added that this year’s programme featured dedicated Youth Day and Women’s Day events to promote inclusion, connect innovators with investors, and ensure that no one is left behind.