Torchlight News

 Torchlight news. Nigeria’s ICT Sector Grows by 31.63% in Q1 2025 The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Nigeria posted a notable 31.63% year-on-year growth in nominal terms for the first quarter of 2025, according to the latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This marks a sharp increase of 28.23 percentage points compared to the 3.40% recorded in Q1 2024, and a 13.67-point rise from Q4 2024, highlighting the sector’s growing economic significance. In real terms, the ICT sector expanded by 7.40% in Q1 2025, up by 3.36 percentage points from the 4.04% growth seen during the same period last year. However, compared to the previous quarter, the sector shrank by -8.86% in real terms, a decline attributed to seasonal patterns and temporary economic headwinds. Despite the quarterly dip, the ICT sector’s contribution to real GDP climbed to 10.59% in Q1 2025, up from 10.17% in Q1 2024 and 9.32% in Q4 2024. In nominal GDP terms, it accounted fo...

 Torchlight news. Dangote Exports 1.3 Billion Litres of Petrol While Nigeria Continues to Import Fuel The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced large-scale exports of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), shipping out roughly 1.35 billion litres to international markets in just 50 days. This was revealed by the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, at the Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Markets, jointly organized by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and S&P Global Insights. Dangote noted that between June and July 2025, the refinery exported around one million tonnes of PMS, equivalent to 1.35 billion litres. “Nigeria has now become a net exporter of refined petroleum products. I confirmed before coming on stage that we've exported about one million tonnes of PMS since early June—within just 50 days,” he stated. Despite these exports, Nigeria still largely depends on imported fuel. Acco...

Torchlight news. Okoye Suspended for Two Months Over Betting Incident Nigerian and Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, has received a two-month suspension from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) following a betting scandal connected to a match against Lazio in the 2023/2024 season. The 24-year-old was found guilty of sporting misconduct after investigations suggested he intentionally got booked during the match to manipulate betting outcomes. The suspicious nature of the yellow card prompted a probe into irregular betting activity tied to that moment. The FIGC stated that Okoye’s deliberate act to earn a caution was aimed at affecting the outcome of certain bets. This case has reignited concerns over the integrity of professional footballers and the growing impact of illegal betting rings on the sport. After a comprehensive disciplinary process, the FIGC’s National Federal Tribunal confirmed on Tuesday that Okoye would serve a two-month suspension from all official matches, effe...

 Torchlight news. DSS, Army Rescue US-Based Cleric Abducted by Boko Haram The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, John Bakeni, has praised the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army for the successful rescue of Reverend Father Alphonsus Afina, who was abducted by Boko Haram terrorists on June 1, 2025. Father Afina, who served as a priest in Alaska, USA, from 2017 to 2024, was kidnapped in Gwoza, Borno State, along with several other travelers on the Liman Kara–Gwoza road. On Monday, DSS operatives, backed by Nigerian Army troops, rescued Father Afina along with 10 women. Bishop Bakeni, who also chairs the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, expressed gratitude to the security forces for rescuing the victims without harm. The Bishop noted that the global Catholic community was relieved and overjoyed at the news of Father Afina’s release after nearly two months in captivity. He explained that the cleric was en route from Mubi in Adamawa Stat...

Torchlight news. Nigerian Citizenship: FG Counters Kemi Badenoch’s Claim The Federal Government has dismissed as false a statement made by British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, that Nigerian law prevents women from transferring citizenship to their children. Badenoch, during an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, said she could not pass her Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman. She argued that while it is relatively easy for Nigerians to obtain UK citizenship, acquiring Nigerian citizenship remains “virtually impossible,” citing her inability to pass on hers despite acquiring it through her parents. Reacting, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, told The Nation that Badenoch’s assertion is not only inaccurate but troubling. He clarified that Section 25 of Nigeria’s Constitution permits children born abroad to inherit citizenship from either parent, without gender bias. Presidential aide ...

 Torchlight news. Ortom: I Never Hated Buhari or the Fulani Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has refuted claims that he bore any hatred toward late President Muhammadu Buhari or the Fulani ethnic group, stressing that his criticisms were strictly about the federal government's handling of insecurity in Benue State. Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Ortom stated that his actions were driven by his duty to protect the lives and welfare of his people. "I never hated Buhari, his administration, or any Fulani individual. I was simply fulfilling my responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of my constituents," he said. Ortom emphasized that his public outcry stemmed from frustration over the federal government’s inaction while violent attacks continued in Benue. "I couldn’t stand by and keep burying my people. I spoke up, and beyond that, my government proposed solutions we believed could address the problem." He lamented that...

 Torchlight news. NNPC Reports N905bn Profit in June, Remits N6.96tn in Five Months The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N905 billion for June 2025, a decline from the N1.054 trillion recorded in May. Despite the dip, the company said it remitted a total of N6.961 trillion to the Federation Account between January and May 2025, an increase from N5.583 trillion remitted as of April. According to its June Monthly Report Summary, released on Monday, NNPC's revenue for the month stood at N4.571 trillion, down from N6.008 trillion in May. The drop reflects volatility in the global oil market. Crude oil and condensate production saw a modest increase, rising from 1.629 million barrels per day (bpd) in May to 1.68 million bpd in June—marking the highest daily output since January. Natural gas production also grew to 7.581 billion standard cubic feet per day (scf/d) in June, compared to 7.352 billion scf/d the previous mon...