My Glo line of over 16 years didn't show Network for over a month. I did a welcome back, it worked for about 2 days but I couldn't browse and now back to no network again. I give up.
Nigerian Idol Season 10 Nigerian Idol returns for Season 10 to unearth some of the country's best musical talents. The Idol franchise has over the years produced some of the biggest Nigerian singers such as Timi Dakolo, Mercy Chinwo, and Omawumi who have gone ahead to make a name for themselves in the global music scene.
FEDERAL AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF NIGERIA PRESS RELEASE
18th April, 2025
AKANU IBIAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ENUGU. TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR EMERGENCY RUNWAY REHABILITATION
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the temporary closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Enugu State, for emergency runway repairs.
There is a sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway. Hence, emergency repairs will be conducted on that portion of the runway from April 22nd to May 6th, 2025.
In compliance with Nigerian civil aviation regulations, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has, therefore, closed the runway during this period.
As part of FAAN's commitment to passenger safety and the modernisation of airport facilities, the runway will not be open for landings or takeoffs during the rehabilitation period.
FAAN appeals to all airport users and stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation during this time. All flights to this airport will be diverted to nearby airports. We sincerely apologise for the late and unexpected notice regarding this closure.
Aloma Isaac Junior aka Zicsaloma has called out Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for ‘neglecting’ his cancer-stricken mum.
Please someone should help me before they Allow my mum to be Unalived in Luth hospital in Lagos. The medical team we just experienced have not empathy
Our medical team, the doctors of Nigeria, are terrible. You can not believe that my mum, who was diagnosed with cancer, who is undergoing chemotherapy and reacting to it, is at the point of death,” he said.
“We stay on the Island. We rushed her to a hospital in Orchid Road, they now said, no, we have to take her back to LUTH, where she took her first chemotherapy shot. Now, we have to take her there. If not, she might not make it.
“If you see my mum, she is a skeleton of herself. She might not make it. They gave us a note.
“Do you know when we took my mum to LUTH the hospital refused to let her in? They now pointed us to a test centre beside LUTH, where we should go and do it. We now took the result back to the hospital. They refused to let my mum in.
They locked us outside the gate. They locked my mum and my younger sister, and somebody else I sent to escort them.
“She cannot even stand. I literally backed my mum. I was the one who took her to the Orchid Road hospital. She’s almost lifeless. But these guys are so unsympathetic.
“They say it’s only a doctor that can permit them to open the gate. Imagine leaving a critical patient outside the hospital.
“After the result came out after three hours the doctor said, ‘no, she has to stay outside’. I said, okay, can you go and see my mum to know, so that you will see, maybe you will have pity. This guy literally walked out.”
“And sometimes, when we make content about how nonchalant doctors are, how unsympathetic some doctors, you guys will think we are lying,” he added.
“If somebody is ill in this country, the person can just die. You are seeing a lifeless woman. That cannot stand.
An accident involving a container-laden truck on the Kara Bridge axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway severely disrupted vehicular movement on Friday morning, causing a long traffic jam.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the crash, which occurred around 7:40 a.m., led to multiple collisions involving several vehicles, causing a traffic jam stretching as far as the Otedola Bridge area.
In a statement issued shortly after the incident, LASTMA confirmed that recovery operations had commenced, and two lanes had been reopened to ease the congestion.
“Some of the vehicles affected have been successfully recovered from the road. Two lanes are now opened for vehicular movement inward OPIC,” the agency said.
Efforts to evacuate the container truck from the expressway were still ongoing as of the time of reporting.
“LASTMA personnel and other emergency responders have swung into action to rescue victims and clear the affected vehicles,” the statement added.
The traffic authority appealed to road users for patience and cooperation as operatives worked to fully restore normal flow along the busy corridor.
“The incident has dragged traffic backwards to Otedola Bridge. Patience is required from road users,” LASTMA said.
Photos released by the agency showed long queues of vehicles in gridlock, as emergency operations continued at the scene.
There was a time when the voice behind a football match was almost always male. Deep, booming, and unchallenged. The excitement, the drama, the controversies, everything filtered through a masculine lens. But those days are fading fast. In stadiums and studios across the world, women are not just joining the conversation, they’re changing it.
This didn’t happen overnight. For years, women in football media were mostly assigned to the sidelines—conducting post-match interviews, doing pre-game features, or hosting from the studio. While those roles were important, the actual match commentary—the heartbeat of every broadcast—remained largely untouched territory. That began to shift in the 2010s as the global audience for women’s football exploded. With tournaments like the FIFA Women’s World Cup gaining massive followings, broadcasters began to see the need for authentic voices, especially from those who’d played the game at the highest level. Women who once dominated the pitch were now picking up the microphone to offer their insights.
From there, the commentary box started to evolve. Today, women are leading live match commentary, offering expert analysis, managing studio discussions, and even calling play-by-play action for top-level men’s games. The growth is staggering, and thrilling to watch.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this shift is how women have diversified their roles. Some are lead commentators, guiding listeners through every kick and pass with precision and passion. Others serve as co-commentators or analysts, breaking down tactics, player psychology, and managerial decisions in real time.
Former stars like Alex Scott, Karen Carney, and Nigeria’s own Mercy Akide-Udohare now respected voices in the booth, translating their playing experience into top-tier commentary. Studio analysts like Kate Abdo and Mimi Fawaz blend charisma with deep knowledge, creating broadcasts that are equal parts entertaining and enlightening. Meanwhile, touchline reporters continue to capture the pulse of the game right from the turf, connecting fans to players and moments that often go unseen.
So, what’s fueling this boom? First, there’s representation. As more girls and women follow football, hearing female voices in the commentary box reinforces that this sport belongs to everyone. When a young fan hears a woman expertly break down a goal or critique a defensive error, it plants the idea that football knowledge isn’t exclusive, it’s shared. It’s also about credibility. Many of these women have played at elite levels, and their insights are backed by real experience. Their words aren’t guesswork, they’re gospel.
Another major factor is the sheer popularity of women’s football. Record-breaking crowds, TV viewership in the millions, and social media buzz have forced broadcasters to invest in quality coverage. That means hiring commentators who know the women’s game inside and out—and often, that means hiring women. But this trend isn’t confined to covering women’s matches anymore. Female commentators are now narrating men’s international fixtures, Champions League nights, and World Cup showdowns. The audience is evolving, and so is the soundtrack.
Social media has also played a key role. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) have allowed women commentators to build their brands, push back against criticism, and find communities that support them. A great clip or a fiery hot take can go viral within minutes, transforming a local voice into a global star.
Perhaps the most encouraging part of this story is that broadcasters are now making long-term commitments to female voices. It’s not just about hiring one woman to sit among five men. We’re seeing all-female commentary teams, diverse panels, and fresh perspectives that add real value to the viewer experience.
Names like Vicki Sparks, who made history as the first woman to commentate live on a men’s World Cup match for UK television, or Jessica Creighton, known for her intelligent, data-driven insights, are no longer exceptions. They are leaders in a movement that continues to gain momentum. Rising Nigerian voices like Kemi Fajodutimi are proving that Africa, too, is nurturing talented women who can own the commentary box.
The future is sounding different, and it’s sounding better. Football is a universal language, and it deserves a diversity of voices to tell its stories. Women aren’t just adding color to the broadcast, they’re redefining the entire playbook.
Nigerian Lady who put her entire Life Savings inside CBEX Ponzi Platform with hopes that she will Quit her work soon and open her Dream Business after CBEX Makes her a Multi Billionaire overnight, breaks down crying after hearing that CBEX has crashed.
Just in: Nigerian Lady who put her entire Life Savings inside CBEX Ponzi Platform with hopes that she will Quit her work soon and open her Dream Business after CBEX Makes her a Multi Billionaire overnight, breaks down crying after hearing that CBEX has crashed pic.twitter.com/MYgy7rqHHN
A crowd of aggrieved Nigerian youths has ransacked the office of CBEX, a digital asset trading platform, located in the Oke Ado area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
In several videos making the rounds on social media, the visibly enraged individuals can be seen looting the premises, reportedly in protest over the loss of their investments.
The incident follows the abrupt shutdown of CBEX, which had recently come under fire for preventing users from withdrawing their funds—resulting in significant financial losses for many.
Ponzi schemes, fraudulent investment scams promising high returns with little risk, have plagued Nigeria for decades, exploiting economic vulnerabilities and the allure of quick wealth. From the infamous Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox (MMM) in the mid-2010s to the recent CBEX controversy, these schemes have left a trail of financial ruin, eroded trust, and exposed regulatory gaps. This piece traces their history, examines their mechanics, and assesses their profound impact on Nigerians.
The Roots of Ponzi Schemes in Nigeria
Ponzi schemes in Nigeria predate the digital era, with early examples like the Umana-Umana platform in Port Harcourt and Calabar, Planwell in Edo, and Nospecto in Lagos during the 1980s and 1990s. These “wonder banks” lured investors with promises of exponential returns, only to collapse when new investments dried up. The lack of robust financial regulation and widespread poverty created fertile ground for such scams.
The MMM Phenomenon (2015–2017)
The modern era of Ponzi schemes in Nigeria was defined by the arrival of MMM in November 2015. Founded by Russian conman Sergei Mavrodi, MMM presented itself as a “social financial network” where members “provided help” to one another, promising 30% monthly returns. Launched during Nigeria’s worst recession in decades, with inflation soaring and banks tightening credit, MMM’s timing was impeccable. It attracted over three million Nigerians, from farmers to professionals, desperate for financial relief.
MMM’s aggressive marketing, leveraging community forums, churches, and social media, fueled its rapid spread. Participants saw initial payouts as a lifeline—paying rent or school fees—blinding them to the risks. Despite warnings from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other regulators, millions still ignored the red flags.
In December 2016, MMM froze all accounts, citing “system overload” to “prevent problems during the Yuletide.” The collapse was catastrophic. Estimates vary, but the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) reported losses of N18 billion, while the CBN pegged it at N12 billion. The fallout was tragic: suicides, broken families, and shattered livelihoods. A man reportedly took his life after losing everything, highlighting the human toll. Yet, the lesson was fleeting, as new schemes quickly emerged.
Post-MMM Surge: A Cycle of Scams
The MMM crash did little to deter Nigerians, as economic hardship and financial illiteracy fueled a wave of copycat schemes. Between 2016 and 2021, platforms like Twinkas, Ultimate Cycler, Get Help Worldwide, Loom, Racksterli, and MBA Forex swindled billions. Twinkas promised to double investments in days, while MBA Forex, operating from 2018 to 2021, defrauded investors of N213 billion by posing as a forex trading platform. Agricultural crowdfunding scams, offering 15–50% returns in months, also proliferated, masking their Ponzi nature with tangible investment narratives.
By 2022, the NDIC estimated that Nigerians had lost N911.45 billion to Ponzi schemes and related frauds over 23 years, with N300 billion lost in the five years post-MMM. Schemes like Nospecto (N106 billion), Galaxy Transport (N7 billion), and Chinmark Group further eroded savings. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made arrests, such as Emmanuel and Victoria Jaiyeoba, who defrauded investors of N935 million, but convictions were rare, and funds were seldom recovered.
CBEX (2025)
Fast-forward to April 2025, and the current CBEX saga has reignited public outrage after it has been confirmed that the platform, promising high returns through vague investment models, has also folded. In truth, CBEX exhibited classic Ponzi hallmarks: unrealistic profits, reliance on new investors, and aggressive recruitment. Videos circulating online showed distraught investors at CBEX’s Lagos office demanding answers, and in another one in Ibadan on Monday, they had their office ransacked.
It has recently been labelled as a questionable investment platform, attracting skepticism on X after multiple investors took to the social media site to express their dissatisfaction following the suspension of the withdrawal feature on April 10.
Its operations commenced in Nigeria in 2024, despite claims of existence since 2017, a timeline that contradicts its domain registration and distinguishes it from the legitimate China Beijing Equity Exchange.
The platform was marketed as an investment vehicle employing artificial intelligence (AI) to trade on behalf of its users, promising a 100% return on investment within just 30 days. The fact that investments are accepted solely in USD, without publicly disclosed minimum or maximum limits, makes it appealing to a broad audience.
The platform’s website was crafted to mimic well-known exchanges like ByBit, creating a facade of trustworthiness, although it has no ties to recognised financial institutions.
A piercing hallmark of CBEX is its referral-driven incentive scheme. Participants earn bonuses for bringing in new users, with rewards escalating based on the size of their “upline,” a network of referrals. This multi-level marketing (MLM) model promotes vigorous recruitment, pledging more significant returns for more extensive networks.
Nonetheless, the platform enforces strict conditions on withdrawals. New users encounter a 40-45-day lock-in period before they can access their funds, and withdrawing early comes with a 20% penalty. Some users have reported an extra, undisclosed requirement demanding they recruit at least 12 referrals before being allowed to withdraw their profits, redirecting the focus from investing to recruitment.
Last Thursday, users indicated that withdrawals had been suspended, with the platform citing “system upgrades” and assuring access by April 15. These delays and reports of aggressive customer support urging additional deposits have intensified potential fraud concerns.
While specific losses from CBEX remain unclear, social media sentiment compares it to MMM and Racksterli, suggesting significant financial damage. The scheme’s potential collapse has sparked debates about greed versus desperation, with some users expressing “zero remorse” for victims, arguing that warnings were ignored.
Why Ponzi Schemes Thrive in Nigeria
With high unemployment and inflation, Nigerians seek quick financial alternatives. Ponzi schemes exploit this desperation, offering hope where Banks, with high interest rates, fail to deliver. These are coupled with the prevalent issue of financial illiteracy, as many Nigerians appear to lack the knowledge to distinguish legitimate investments from scams.
Also, until this year, when President Bola Tinubu signed the Investments and Securities Act 2025 into law, the previous regulations did not explicitly ban Ponzi schemes, only requiring registration with the SEC. Banks have also been implicated in laundering scheme funds yet face little accountability, and the quest for “easy money” despite regulatory warnings is often dismissed due to low trust and a legacy of corruption and inefficiency. MMM’s popularity soared despite CBN and SEC alerts.
Additionally, celebrity or influencer endorsements often amplify these schemes’ appeal. MMM’s use of “guiders” and CBEX’s social media hype followed this playbook.
Regulatory Efforts and Going Forward
The SEC, CBN, and EFCC have issued warnings and shut down schemes, but enforcement lags. In 2019, the SEC blocked N1.12 billion in Ponzi-related bank accounts, yet banks face no penalties for complicity. Some experts have advocated for early intervention, urging collaboration with fintech and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to monitor suspicious transactions.
However, with the new ISA Act 2025, the SEC has gained increased authority to access essential information from even telecommunications and internet service providers to identify illegal activities such as insider trading, market manipulation, and fraudulent investment practices. This enhanced regulatory power aims to improve investor protection and maintain fairness in the capital market.
The new legislation also addresses the widespread use of Ponzi schemes in the Nigerian Capital Market, enabling the SEC to take decisive action and impose severe consequences on scheme promoters, including a minimum fine of N20 million, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.
Moreover, ISA 2025 requires the implementation of Legal Entity Identifiers (LEIs) for transactions within the capital market, which will facilitate better monitoring of financial activities and minimise the risk of fraud.
From MMM’s spectacular collapse to CBEX’s ongoing fallout, Ponzi schemes have exploited Nigeria’s economic woes, financial illiteracy, and regulatory gaps for decades. They promise liberation but deliver devastation, costing billions and shattering lives.
While some blame victims’ greed, the root lies in systemic issues—poverty, inaccessible credit, and weak oversight—that make scams seductive. Breaking the cycle requires stronger laws, financial education, and inclusive banking. Until then, as many warn, Nigeria risks reliving this painful history with every new scheme.
Celebrities › Stella Damasus Celebrates Her 47th Birthday Today (photos) by nlfpmod(mod): 9:09am On Apr 24, 2025
