₦airaland Forum

Egypt Attracts $46.6bn FDI in 2024 — Nigeria Records $1.08bn, Ranked 19th in Africa

1. Egypt: $46.58bn
2. Ethiopia: $3.98bn
3. Côte d'Ivoire: $3.80bn
4. Mozambique: $3.55bn
5. Uganda: $3.30bn
6. Congo, Democratic Republic of: $3.11bn
7. South Africa: $2.47bn
8. Namibia: $2.06bn
9. Senegal: $2.02bn
10. Guinea: $1.83bn
11. Tanzania: $1.72bn
12. Ghana: $1.67bn
13. Morocco: $1.64bn
14. Mauritania: $1.53bn
15. Kenya: $1.50bn
16. Algeria: $1.44bn
17. Zambia: $1.24bn
18. Gabon: $1.14bn
19. #Nigeria: $1.08bn
20. Chad: $1.02bn
21. Tunisia: $936.5m
22. Cameroon: $925.3m
23. Rwanda: $819.0m
24. Somalia: $765.0m
25. Liberia: $746.8m
26. Mali: $708.6m
27. Mauritius: $681.3m
28. Congo: $603.6m
29. Zimbabwe: $596.7m
30. Benin: $543.0m
31. Niger: $526.5m
32. Botswana: $467.4m
33. Madagascar: $413.3m
34. Seychelles: $298.6m
35. Sierra Leone: $274.0m
36. Gambia: $232.4m
37. Malawi: $220.4m
38. Equatorial Guinea: $188.0m
39. Eswatini: $92.6m
40. Togo: $83.8m
41. South Sudan: $83.4m
42. Burkina Faso: $82.9m
43. Djibouti: $67.8m
44. Cabo Verde: $63.8m
45. Central African Republic: $40.4m
46. Burundi: $31.7m
47. Guinea-Bissau: $26.6m
48. São Tomé and Príncipe: $21.9m
49. Comoros: $7.1m
50. Eritrea: -$27.9m
51. Lesotho: -$42.2m
52. Angola: -$136.4m

Note: Libya, Sudan, Réunion, and Mayotte recorded zero net foreign investment in 2024 — no inflows or outflows were reported.

<UNCTAD>

#TheCableIndex

🇳🇬20 MOST FOLLOWED POLITICIANS ON X — JUNE 2025

1 @Atiku 5.42m
2 @PeterObi 5.38m
3 @Mbuhari 4.54m
4 @ProfOsinbajo 4.18m
5 @_dinomelaye 4.01m
6 @ShehuSani 3.4m
7 @BukolaSaraki 3.14m
8 @officialABAT 2.73m
9 @GEJonathan 2.39m
10 @elrufai 2.28m
11 @jidesanwoolu 2.11m
12 @benmurraybruce 1.92m
13 @GarShehu 1.55m
14 @realFFK 1.36m
15 @fkeyamo 1.3m
16 @femigbaja 1.19m
17 @AkinwunmiAmbode 1.03m
18 @GovAyoFayose 989K
19 @YakubDogara 839K
20 @tundefashola 799K

Putinofrussia:
While you whine and give yourself a chronic emotional pain here,Owolabi Salis has been recorded and recognised as the first West African to go to space.

APCNig:
You need to think more before posting on public forum. To whom brain is given, sense is expected

Sterope:
Attached are Numbers 31 and 1 Samuel 15: 3 as allowed and commanded by your God.

The interesting part there is NO where in the Qur'an that says we should fight others EXCEPT OF course when they fight us, too.

TEARS OF A TYRANT North Korean tyrant Kim Jong-un weeps over coffins of troops he sent to die in Putin’s meatgrinder war in Ukraine

His apparent sorrow has not stopped him drawing up plans to send thousands more North Koreans to their deaths in Russia

KIM Jong-un wept as he watched himself draping flags over the coffins of North Korean troops who he sent to die on Putin's front-line in Ukraine.

Around 12,000 North Koreans were shipped over to fight for Russia - but they were ill-prepared for the battlefield and many were decimated.

Kim hosted a ceremony which remembered the soldiers taken out by Zelensky's brave army - and things got emotional for the tyrant.

Thousands of North Koreans stood to attention in the vast auditorium, with Kim in the front row.

Images of Kim draping the North Korean flag over soldiers' coffins were broadcast on a giant screen at the front while a huge orchestra played emotional music.

Women in long dresses sang passionately and there was even a harp player stationed on the stage.

Kim draped flags over at least six coffins, and could be seen resting his hands on them in reflection.

Watching the scenes back, the dictator's eyes shone with emotion.

Other members of the audience - which reportedly included North Korean and Russian soldiers - were also visibly moved.

The state-run Korea Central News Agency hailed the gala for reaffirming the "ties of friendship and the genuine internationalist obligation between the peoples and armies of the two countries that were forged at the cost of blood".

The event was attended by Russia's culture minster Olga Lyubimov, who was visiting the Hermit Kingdom to mark the first anniversary of the strategic partnership treaty between their countries.

Signed last June by Putin and Kim, the treaty included a mutual defence pact - guaranteeing they will protect one another.

The treaty is believed to have accelerated co-operation between the nations.

Moscow is understood to be providing Pyongyang with vital military technology - including blueprints for missile guidance systems and air defence weapons.

And after months of speculation, the leaders finally admitted that North Korean troops have been fighting for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

Kim's men were first reported to be in Russia back in October, and the following month there was strong evidence of them on the battlefield.

They fought alongside Putin's men mainly in the Kursk region - an area of Russia which Ukraine took in a surprise incursion.

Thousands of the North Koreans died, with analysts suggesting they were not prepared for the modern style of drone warfare.

However, it was admitted that the Korean soldiers were ultimately instrumental in Russia winning back the land in March this year.

As the tyrants' ties strengthen, North Korea is expected to send another 6,000 troops over to Russia later this summer.

The military assistance has been slammed by other nations including South Korea and Japan.

Officials in Seoul have raised concerns that it violates UN sanctions on North Korea.

Despite Applying Online, Corps Member's Passport Slip Ends Up at Akara Stand

On June 21, Oluwadamisi Awe, an Oyo-based corps member, was scrolling through WhatsApp when she received a strange text.

The stranger was someone she had never met, yet he knew her in ways she would never expect.

Awe told FIJ that the stranger had texted her on WhatsApp, showing her how her Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) application slip had been used to sell Akara, a popular Nigerian street snack.

She said that she was surprised at this because she had applied for her passport online without making any contact with an agent. Yet, somehow, her application slip was printed and managed to get into the wrong hands.

“I found out on June 21 after a stranger texted me on WhatsApp detailing how the application slip was used to package a meal he got from a street vendor,” she told FIJ.

“I applied directly through the NIS website and filled out all my information without the help of any agent.

“I got proof of payment from the website and wasn’t in contact with any immigration staff. This made me believe the process was straightforward and secure.”

Awe said the document contained sensitive details, and she had no idea how many people might have it.

“The slip included my name, date of birth, email, National Identification Number (NIN), home address and other next-of-kin contact information. At the moment, I am not sure about it being circulated to other people, except for the actual guy who texted me about the slip being in his possession,” she explained.

In response to the breach, the NIS claimed that it takes data privacy seriously and keeps applicants’ information safe. It said that data leaks often happen when people use agents or cafés to apply for passports.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service holds data privacy and protection in the highest regard. We utilise robust systems and protocols to safeguard and ensure that personal information submitted through official channels remains confidential and secure,” the NIS said in its response.

“However, breaches of this nature are often linked to the involvement of unauthorised third parties such as business cafes or touts during the passport application process. We strongly advise all applicants to apply directly and exclusively via the NIS official portal.”

Hello Oluwadamisi,

The Nigeria Immigration Service holds data privacy and protection in the highest regard. We utilize robust systems and protocols to safeguard and ensure that personal information submitted through official channels remains confidential and secure.

However,…
— Nigeria Immigration Service (@nigimmigration) June 24, 2025

Awe did not apply through any vendor and was also particular about picking up the documents she had printed.

“Like I said, the online application process was seamless and I didn’t expect to have to print out the application slip on getting to the office, I was told to print out the slip with the vendors at the entrance of the office on doing this I was deliberately tidy with picking up all the documents I had printed,” Awe said.

Israel Olatunji Tijani, a data governance expert, told FIJ that leaks like this would continue if the NIS does not automate its passport application.

He said that the service should create a system that eliminates the need for hard copies or have a supervised café managed by the NIS.

The NIS should also caution or regulate the printing vendors that are associated with them and sensitise them on the importance of data safety.

“The NIS should create a system that removes the need for hard copy printouts. Let there be a café managed and supervised by the NIS, and send the external vendors away,” Tijani told FIJ.

“Make the process fully automated, maybe through a barcode or something similar. They always insist on hard copies, and that’s how these leaks happen. Generate a QR code for what you’ve done, take it there, and show it to them. They should limit paperwork because hard copies still leak.”

Desewa08:
This might offend some people but I’ll still say it: iPhones are not for everyone.
‎
‎I’ve used both iPhones and Androids and as much as I respect the clean UI and camera of iPhones not everyone needs a phone that costs as much as rent in Lagos 😭. Some of us just want a phone that:
‎
‎•Won’t die before 3pm
‎
‎•Charges fast
‎
‎•Has decent camera for weekend pictures
‎
‎•Doesn’t freeze mid-Zoom call
‎
‎•Doesn’t make us check our account balance before buying data 😩
‎
‎I used to think I needed an iPhone until I realized I was basically using a ₦900k phone to scroll Twitter, snap food pics and watch Instagram skits that my Android could’ve shown me the same way 😭. I switched to a realme phone a few months ago and I won’t lie, I had my reservations. I mean, the name alone feels like something you'd see on the back of a power bank 😭 but omo… this phone has been doing the most.
‎
‎✅ Battery that actually lasts (I charge once a day now)
‎✅ No unnecessary heat even during long calls
‎✅ Camera quality? Surprisingly solid.
‎✅ Smooth UI... No glitchy wahala or clutter
‎
‎It’s not perfect sha. The name still doesn’t sit well with me and people still look at me somehow when I say it but if we’re talking value for money, I’m not sure anything else comes close right now.
‎
‎So let's argue:
‎-Do you need an iPhone or is it just vibes and pressure?
‎-What brand are you using that actually shocked you (in a good way)?
‎-And why do we look down on phones with “unpopular” names?
‎

Veteran Nollywood actor, Fatai Adekunle Adetayo, popularly known as Lalude, has accused the president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), MC Oluomo, of failing to fulfil financial promises made to celebrities who campaigned for President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the 2023 general elections.

Speaking during a recent episode of the Beyond the Fame podcast, Lalude expressed deep disappointment over what he described as abandonment, revealing that he and other entertainers were promised N1.5 million each by MC Oluomo but never received a dime.

Lalude, known for his iconic ‘babalawo’ roles in Yoruba movies, said he and other actors, including comedian Ganiu ‘Alapini’ Nofiu, were lodged and made to campaign for weeks without proper compensation.

According to him, they initially received N10,000 daily for feeding, but even that was stopped abruptly.

“We were camped for seven weeks. We trekked long distances every day while MC Oluomo followed us in his car. In the end, we were abandoned,” he lamented.

He claimed that both he and Alapini were promised N1.5 million each, a promise that was never fulfilled.

‘We finished the work and no dime was given to us. Is it good? It was MC who called us.

“MC promised me and Alapini. He asked us to demand for whatever we wanted. We did but we got nothing up till date.

“He took us to where we lodged to campaign for the president. He promised to give us N1.5 million each.

“Whoever is behind these misdeeds will not prosper. I know they will still come to us by 2027 and we are waiting for them?” He added bitterly.

This comes just days after veteran Nollywood actor Ganiu Nafiu, popularly known as Alapini, and actress Bukky Adekogbe Raji, also known as Aminatu Papapa, expressed deep regret for supporting President Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaign.

press9jatv:
Frank Edoho should go go for deliverance in deliverance ministry. He's been possessed with demons in his father's house.

SIM Holds 2 NINs After Airtel Moved It From Active Subscriber to New User


Afeez Labode, a London-based businessman has used his Airtel Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) number for 22 years, and despite relocating to the UK years ago, he continues to maintain the ‘0802569****’ number for local transactions, accessing credentials and contacting people whenever he is in Nigeria.

This sequence of 11 numbers, he believed, belonged exclusively to him until he landed in Nigeria on May 21.

When he inserted his SIM card in his phone to call his driver, he realised with shock that he could not reach anyone with it. What he then did was connect to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) WiFi to contact the driver online.

Labode did not go home from the airport, but visited an Airtel outlet in the Gbagada area of Lagos State. There he found out his number was no longer exclusive. Another person owned it.

Who? He wondered.

“We sold it to Kenneth,” they replied.

FIJ has omitted the new user’s first name for privacy reasons. Airtel was able to tell him the name because to purchase a new SIM, one had to submit a valid National Identification Number (NIN) which contained holders’ personal biodata. This new NIN was now linked to Labode’s 22-year-old SIM.

“All my bank transaction notifications go to that number, and it’s the same one I have always had,” Labode told FIJ. “How do my friends and family reach me?”

The businessman said he usually recharged the phone number every two or three months to keep it active, and he uses it whenever he visits Nigeria every three years, but Airtel told him he recharging does not keep the line active. Calls and texts made within a 365-day window do.

Meanwhile, according to the Quality of Service Business Rules issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2024, a phone number may be deactivated only if it has not been used in any revenue-generating event (RGE) within six months.

RGE includes outgoing and incoming voice calls, subscription to any voice plan or any plan that gives voice access to a subscriber for a specific period, outgoing and incoming Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), mobile data usage and USSD transactions, among others.

Labode’s regular subscriptions should have kept his number active.

JOURNEY TO RECOVERY

The businessman left the outlet disappointed and took it upon himself to attempt to recover his number.

The next day, he called Kenneth, the new holder of the SIM, and explained the situation to him. Kenneth, who lives in a state in northern Nigeria, took the call and demanded a N100,000 fee to sell the SIM.

The conversation became a negotiation, and the businessman soon came to an agreement to recover his old number for N50,000. Both men agreed on an exchange model, and they had someone collect the SIM for the money.

Three days later, Labode was at the MMIA to travel to Mecca for Hajj. There, he realised a significant data flaw.

2 NINs, 1 NUMBER

“When I got to the airport, the immigration officers asked for my name, then called out my old phone number and NIN from their database,” Labode told FIJ during a May 25 call after going through checks by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

He said he registered his NIN using that number, and if there were any issues with the use of the number in the NIS’ database, it would have affected him negatively at the airport.

“The same thing happened when I returned to the country. This means my records are still linked,” he added.

Labode also said he renewed his passport in London in 2024, and his NIN and phone number were part of that process.

He faulted the network provider for not giving him any warning before reassigning his number. Labode also expressed worries about the disconnect between the Communications Ministry and the telecommunications sector which leads to issues like the one he had to deal with.

Before recovering the physical SIM, Labode went to court to swear a necessary affidavit to show he no longer had access to the number so he could update his other records.

FIJ has earlier documented the travails of (and financial risks for) subscribers whose numbers were suddenly deactivated after a sustained period of inactivity.

At the time, an NCC staff member explained that the commission was exploring ways to address these concerns by developing a cross-sector platform that would collect and share data on recycled phone numbers. The platform will also identify numbers that have been flagged for fraudulent activities, as reported by other sector regulators.

Insiders said the NCC was working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), security agencies and other critical stakeholders to test a beta solution to the problem.

“The goal is to prevent the misuse of numbers when they change hands. The information on this platform will be made available to relevant stakeholders across various sectors. The NCC will host the platform and establish its regulatory and operational framework,” the NCC insider told FIJ.

Safyqueen:
You are only collaborating what I said to you. You are media-schooled.
The boko Haram is a creation of those western imperialistic and neo-colonialistic countries for illegal exploration and exploitation of your precious mineral resources.

Nobody will change anyone's faith anywhere. As minute as Igbo Muslims, do you think they can be wiped away into extinction just like that?
Real terrorists are few in the world and cut across race, tribe and religion.
The ones you are mentioning are mostly resistance movements e.g Hamas.

In one hour, AI finds viable sperm in man deemed infertile for 18 years

Researchers at Columbia University Fertility Center in the United States have used artificial intelligence (AI) to detect viable sperm in a man previously diagnosed with infertility.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that the man, who was diagnosed with azoospermia, a condition characterised by an extremely low or absent sperm count, and his wife had been trying to conceive for 18 years.

According to TODAY, in March 2025, the woman received the first successful embryo transfer fertilized by cells retrieved with the new artificial intelligence process, and she’s now pregnant.

How the AI sperm detection works

Zev Williams, the lead researcher and director of the university’s fertility programme, said laboratory technicians examined the patient’s semen sample for two days without detecting any sperm. However, after applying an AI-powered system, they were able to identify 44 viable sperm cells in less than an hour.

"Labs searched for two days and found nothing. We ran the same sample and found 44 sperm within an hour,” he said.

“That changes everything for a couple who thought they had no path forward.”

Called Sperm Track and Recovery (STAR), the system combined an AI algorithm for detecting sperm with a fluidic chip that passed the semen sample through a tiny tubule on a plastic chip. As the sample moves, a microscope connected to a high-speed camera captures millions of images in rapid succession.

These images are then scanned in real time by AI software trained to detect viable sperm cells. Once identified, the sperm can be preserved through freezing or used in in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a technique where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg.

Researchers said the method shortens the time spent searching for sperm and helps avoid invasive surgical procedures that are often required to extract sperm directly from the testicles.

Experts weigh in

Robert Brannigan, president-elect of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, described the innovation as “promising”.

“Even the discovery of a single viable sperm can be life-changing,” he said.

On her part, Allison Rodgers, a reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois, said the findings reveal gaps in current fertility methods.

She added that she believes AI will play a key role in the future of IVF.

“It’s amazing and makes me realize that maybe what we thought was advanced still has a long way to go,” she said.

“I think AI is going to absolutely revolutionize IVF.”

However, Gianpiero Palermo, an infertility specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine, called for caution and emphasised the need for further validation of the technology.

“You are attracting patients who have been told they have no sperm and offering what may turn out to be false hope,” Palermo said.

Williams and his team said they are exploring ways to adapt the system for other uses, including identifying healthy sperm, eggs, and embryos.

President Bola Tinubu signed four major tax reform bills into law on Thursday. The bills were introduced in 2024 by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.

The content and implication of these launched months of debate involving governors, lawmakers and policy experts. Key controversies included the sharing formula for Value Added Tax (VAT), company income tax and the taxation of inherited assets.

The result of all the resolutions and compromises is contained in the bill that the President signed on Thursday.

FIJ examined the possible implications of the bill, in its raw form, for Nigerians, subnationals and corporate entities.

But with more certainty on details, here is what the new tax bills will mean for everyday Nigerians.

MORE NIGERIANS WILL PAY LESS TAX

The new laws will lower the tax burden for low-income earners. Under the former tax regime, anyone earning less than N300,000 annually was not taxed.

But once income reached N300,000, a 7% rate kicked in, resulting in a N21,000 tax. Higher income brackets attracted steeper rates, reaching as high as 24% for those who earned above N3.2 million.

Under the new structure, the tax-exempt threshold has been raised to N800,000 per year. Anyone earning that amount and below will pay no income tax.

For those earning between N800,000 and N3 million, the first N800,000 remains tax-free, while the next N2.2 million is taxed at 15%. That amounts to N330,000, at the upper limit.

For incomes between N3 million and N12 million, the first N3 million is taxed at N330,000, and the next N9 million is taxed at 18%. The 18% translates to an additional N1,620,000. By implication, those at the upper limits of that tax bracket will pay N1,950,000 in total.

For those who earn between N12 million and N25 million, the first N12 million is taxed at N1,950,000, and the next N13 million is taxed at 21%. This adds N2,730,000 and brings the total tax to N4,680,000.

For those earning between N25 million and N50 million, the first N25 million is taxed at N4,680,000, and the next N25 million is taxed at 23%. The 23% adds N5,750,000 and brings the total to N10,430,000.

Finally, anyone earning above N50 million pays N10,430,000 on the first N50 million and 25% on anything above that.

In 2023, Intelpoint, a research and analytics company, found that only 10% of Nigerians earned above N100,000 monthly. As a result, more Nigerians would be automatically exempt from paying personal income tax.

Furthermore, the bills proposed that Nigerians pay 0% VAT on essential items such as food, healthcare and education. Public transport, house rent and renewable energy products are also exempted.

These items make up the bulk of spending for most Nigerians and were spared to ease the cost of living. Lawmakers retained this proposition.

EMPLOYEES MUST NOW DECLARE ALL INCOME

Perhaps one of the most far-reaching changes is the new filing requirement for employees. Previously, workers had their taxes deducted under the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system.

The original system only requires employees to declare their employment (salary) income. The new tax laws change that. Every employee, regardless of income type, must now file an annual tax return that covers all earnings, not just their salary.

This means individuals must also declare income from freelance jobs, rental property, side hustles, dividends and any other form of non-employment earnings.

TAX ID IS NOW MANDATORY FOR ALL WHO USE BANKING SERVICES

By interpretation, the tax reform bills mandate all Nigerians to have a tax identification profile. According to the bill, tax identification will be a precondition for many routine transactions.

To open or operate a bank account, sign a contract with a government agency, or access financial services like insurance and stock trading, a tax ID must be provided.

Tax authorities are also empowered to assign tax IDs automatically to eligible individuals who fail to register on their own, effectively ending the possibility of staying off the tax radar.

GOVT CAN NOW MONITOR YOUR MONEY FLOW BETTER

To help track taxable income, financial institutions must now submit quarterly reports to tax authorities. Banks have to report any individual whose total bank transactions reach N50 million or more in a single month. For companies, the reporting threshold is N250 million.

The original bill had proposed a N25 million threshold for individuals and a N250 million threshold for companies. These limits were increased by lawmakers.

Failure to register attracts an administrative penalty of N50,000 in the first month, and N25,000 for each subsequent month of non-compliance. Additionally, any company that awards a contract to an unregistered person will be fined N5 million.


NIGERIANS TO PAY TAXES ON CRYPTO

The new laws bring Nigeria in line with modern financial realities by including digital assets in the tax net. Crypto assets, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other digital representations of value are now classified as taxable property.

This applies to both residents and non-residents who make gains from selling or exchanging digital assets in Nigeria. While the 2023 Finance Act had already recognised digital assets as chargeable, this new law strengthens enforcement and ensures that tax applies to all qualifying digital transactions.


MAJOR ADJUSTMENTS MADE BY LAWMAKERS

While the VAT rate remains at 7.5%, lawmakers significantly changed how the money will be shared.

The Senate proposed giving 10% to the federal government, 55% to states, and 35% to local governments. The House suggested an equal sharing formula — 70% equally among states and local governments, and 30% based on population.

Both chambers agreed to adopt the “place-of-consumption” rule, meaning VAT revenue will go to the location where goods or services are used, rather than where the seller is registered.

Lawmakers retained statutory funding for key agencies such as TETFUND, NASENI and NITDA that the original draft had proscribed. They also expanded the existing 4% national development levy to cover critical sectors like education, security and sports.

More importantly, they placed limits on the president’s power to grant tax waivers, included in the original draft. They also made adjusted the bill to mandate tax authorities to seek court orders before they can seize movable assets from taxpayers.

Finally, lawmakers retained corporate taxes at 30% instead of the gradual reduction proposed in the original draft of the bill. However, the definition of small companies was expanded to cater to annual turnovers of N50 million.

Kobicove:
If my wife posts trash like that she won't even last up to 6pm in my house that day!

These days people just post whatever nonsense they like online just to chase clout