
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, announced that the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta has seen a significant increase in revenue following its refurbishment. The governor stated that the site, which previously generated approximately N3-4 million annually, now earns about N10 million weekly, totaling N40 million monthly. This improvement comes after the centre was temporarily shut down for renovations to enhance its tourism value and revenue generation. Abiodun highlighted that Olumo Rock has become one of Nigeria's top tourist destinations. The state government had previously reopened the facility with a temporary free-entry policy to encourage visitation and cultural tourism, which led to overcrowding and safety concerns, prompting the end of the free-entry period. The state is now moving to concession the tourist centre to a private operator for improved management and sustained revenue.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe Central Bank of Nigeria CBN has launched the Nigerian Overnight Financing Rate NOFR, a new benchmark for the country's money market. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Financial Markets Dealers Association, aims to improve transparency, strengthen monetary policy transmission, and deepen Nigeria's financial system. The CBN's Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, stated that NOFR aligns Nigeria with global standards for short-term interest rate benchmarks, similar to SOFR in the United States and SONIA in the United Kingdom. The rate is expected to enhance price discovery, promote consistent pricing of money market instruments, and support financial innovation. NOFR is a risk-free benchmark reflecting the cost of overnight secured funding in the interbank market, based on actual transactions. It is not a monetary policy tool but serves as a reference for pricing financial instruments. The benchmark is published daily and its methodology will be reviewed annually by the CBN. While it will play a key role for investors in pricing and risk management of naira-denominated financial instruments, retail customers will not see direct changes to savings or loan rates.
Must ReadThe Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, Federal Capital Territory Command, has rescued a 15-year-old girl from an alleged human trafficking attempt to Libya. The rescue followed a missing person report filed by the victim’s mother. According to NSCDC spokesperson Monica Ojobi, the girl was rescued from a 46-year-old suspect who allegedly detained her for two weeks in Kwali. Preliminary findings suggest the victim was sexually abused while in the suspect’s custody, and further interrogation revealed a plan to traffic the minor to Libya for child labor. The FCT Commandant of the corps, Olusola Odumosu, stated that the suspect and the victim have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP for further investigation. Odumosu emphasized the corps' commitment to protecting vulnerable children and urged public vigilance and cooperation to combat human trafficking.

Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution IPCR, has called for the immediate adoption and implementation of Nigeria's National Peace Policy. Speaking at the Second High-Level Expert Dialogue on the draft policy in Abuja, Dr. Ochogwu emphasized that peace in Nigeria is a "foundational imperative" and that the country's escalating security challenges, including insurgency, farmer-herder clashes, separatist tensions, banditry, and kidnapping, demand a coordinated and institutionalized response. He stated that the proposed policy aims to address gaps in current peacebuilding efforts by providing a unified framework to harmonize interventions from government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners, thereby moving beyond fragmented and ad hoc approaches. Dr. Ochogwu highlighted that the policy would enable evidence-based decision-making, shift the focus from reactive crisis management to preventive and strategic peacebuilding, and ensure peacebuilding is mainstreamed across key sectors like security, justice, education, and economic planning. He also noted that the policy aligns with global and regional peace frameworks from the United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS. The Director-General urged stakeholders to generate the political will and inter-institutional consensus necessary for implementation, warning against bureaucratic delays and institutional rivalry. He added that the administration of President Bo

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, represented by Deputy Comptroller Abubakar Aliyu, has announced a crackdown on smugglers across Nigeria, urging them to find alternative livelihoods. Speaking in Yola, Aliyu highlighted that strategic operations along Nigeria’s borders aim to protect food, energy, and national security, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s mandates. Operation Whirlwind Zone ‘D’ has achieved significant success, recording 47 seizures with a monetary value of ₦93,029,800.00 within six weeks in Adamawa State. These seizures, made across various flashpoints including Mubi-Sahuda axis and Gurin-Fufore axis, include 64,410 liters of Premium Motor Spirit PMS packed in jerry cans and drums, along with two vehicles used for conveyance. The seizures were made in contravention of sections 150, 248, and 250 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. Additionally, a DAF fuel tanker carrying 50,000 liters of PMS was intercepted on April 15, 2026, along the Mubi–Uba road due to product diversion and will be handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority NMDPRA. Aliyu attributed the high rate of smuggling to the significant price difference of PMS between Nigeria and neighboring countries like Cameroon and Benin Republic, where prices are substantially higher despite Nigeria's own price increases.