Finance - Lekki Parrot

India Turns to Algeria for LPG as It Diversifies Beyond the Middle East

India is looking beyond the Middle East for cooking fuel—and Algeria is emerging as a key new supplier. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country’s largest… Read Article →

US-Backed Study Moves Mozambique’s Monte Muambe Rare Earth Project Forward

Mozambique’s Monte Muambe rare earth project has cleared another development hurdle, with a U.S. company selected to lead a $1.875 million pre-feasibility study backed by… Read Article →

Namibia Terminates $2.4 Million AI Agriculture Contract

Namibia has cancelled a $2.4 million agricultural technology contract with U.S. company 6th Grain Corporation after a government review found that the agreement failed to… Read Article →

The New Race Beneath the Ocean

The next critical-minerals race may not happen on land. It may happen thousands of metres below the waves. The United States and China are accelerating… Read Article →

FG Unveils Four-Point Strategy to Boost Women’s Economic Participation

Nigeria cannot build a $1 trillion economy while leaving millions of women on the economic sidelines. That was the message from Vice President Kashim Shettima… Read Article →

FCTA, Dispatch Riders Unite to Crack Down on Unregistered Operators in Abuja

Abuja is moving to put a name and number to every legitimate dispatch rider. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has partnered with the National… Read Article →

A suspected bank robbery was stopped before it happened—or was there ever a bank attack at all? That question is at the centre of a developing security story in Accra after Ghanaian police said they disrupted an alleged robbery plot, arrested a Nigerian suspect and killed two other suspected gang members in a gunfight. But there is a major twist. GCB Bank says its Labone branch was never robbed and no attempted robbery took place there. Nigerian suspect arrested The Ghana Police Service identified the arrested suspect as Augustine Okechuku Maazi, a Nigerian national. Police said the operation followed intelligence received on Thursday about an alleged armed robbery syndicate preparing to target branches of GCB Bank, Ecobank and Zenith Bank around Labone, Accra. According to the police account, officers received the information at about 10:45 a.m. and moved into the area before any reported attack could take place. Investigators allegedly found several suspects inside vehicles parked near the banks. When police approached, one vehicle reportedly accelerated away. Officers pursued it and arrested Maazi, while another occupant escaped. Gunfight leaves two suspects dead Police said occupants of a second vehicle also attempted to flee. This time, officers allege that the suspects opened fire. A gun battle followed, leaving two suspected gang members dead, according to the police. Another suspect reportedly escaped and remains wanted. Police later recovered two vehicles allegedly linked to the group: Toyota Highlander — GS-1434-18 Hyundai Tucson — GS 7915-17 A blow pistol Maazi remains in custody and is assisting investigators, police said. The bodies of the two deceased suspects were taken to a morgue pending identification and autopsy. Then GCB Bank disputed the robbery story This is where the case becomes more complicated. Following the police announcement, GCB Bank said its Labone branch had not been attacked. The bank stated that there was neither a robbery nor an attempted robbery at its premises. According to GCB, its operations continued normally. No customers or employees were affected, and no bank funds or property were lost or damaged. That creates a crucial distinction. The police say they disrupted what they describe as an alleged planned robbery operation. GCB says no robbery or attempted attack occurred at its branch. Both statements can technically be true if investigators intercepted suspects before they reached the bank. But the police have not publicly established exactly how far the alleged plot had progressed or whether the suspects intended to enter any of the targeted banks. What investigators still need to establish Several questions remain unanswered. Were the suspects preparing to attack the banks, or were they planning another type of crime in the area? Police have not publicly clarified whether the alleged gang had entered a final stage of preparation, identified specific targets inside the banks, or intended to target customers and other people nearby. The circumstances surrounding the recovered vehicles and weapon are also part of the continuing investigation. For now, authorities are searching for the remaining suspect while Maazi remains in custody. The Ghana Police Service has urged members of the public to provide credible information that could help investigators prevent further criminal activity. The most striking part of the case may ultimately be the contradiction at its centre: police say they stopped an alleged bank robbery plot, while the bank involved says no robbery—or attempted robbery—ever happened.

Two Suspected R0bbers K!lled in Accra Operation as GCB Bank Denies Any Attack

A suspected bank robbery was stopped before it happened—or was there ever a bank attack at all? That question is at the centre of a… Read Article →

CBN Reveals How Nigeria’s Banking Reforms Are Reshaping the Economy as Banks Raise ₦4.65 Trillion

Naira Gains as External Reserves Hit $52.25 Billion

Nigeria’s external reserves have climbed to $52.25 billion, while the naira strengthened against the US dollar at the official foreign exchange market. The reserve figure… Read Article →

World Bank Raises Concern as Nigeria’s States Boost Revenue by 93% but Cut Education’s Spending Share

AI and Digital Infrastructure Take Centre Stage as Africa Maps Its Next Growth Phase

Africa’s next economic leap may be built on code, connectivity and digital infrastructure. That was the message emerging from the opening of the 7th Africa… Read Article →

NDPC Opens Forensic Probe Into UNILAG, Lotus Bank and Hackerbella Over Student Data

Nigeria’s data-protection regulator is investigating how students’ personal information may have been used to open bank accounts without an adequate legal basis. The Nigeria Data… Read Article →