Business

U.S Gifts Nigeria $2 Million Broadband Study Grant

During the Technology Dialogue, the U.S. Department of State hosted a senior delegation from the Nigerian government led by the Honorable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani.

Published

1 year ago

January 14, 2025

OCHEFA

671 Views

The United States and Nigeria have signed a new $2,095,000 grant to assess the viability of the deployment of at least 90,000 km of new fiber optic backbone infrastructure across Nigeria.

The grant was signed during the U.S- Nigeria Technology Dialogue hosted by the Department of State in Washington, D.C.on January 10.

In a statement, the Office of the Spokesperson said that the project, funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, supports Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 to increase the country’s broadband penetration rate from 42.27 percent to 70 percent and ensure that at least 90 percent of Nigeria’s population has access to affordable and reliable broadband coverage.

The parties discussed enhancing the resilience and security of essential services and facilities; promoting digital trade, e-commerce, and innovation-driven economic growth; developing a skilled workforce to meet the demands of the digital age; expanding our artificial intelligence partnership related to capacity building, infrastructure, and rights-respecting approaches to governance; and promoting information integrity.

Following the formal Technology Dialogue, the delegations joined a roundtable discussion with industry representatives hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Industry participants included representatives from over 25 U.S. and Nigerian companies active in technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, telecommunications, digital infrastructure, satellites, aerospace, fintech, and cybersecurity.

The program featured a panel discussion on Advancing Public-Private Sector Investment in Innovation and Digital Talent Development.

This panel highlighted opportunities for public-private partnership and investment solutions to spur innovation and promote digital talent development through the U.S.-Nigeria commercial partnership.

A second panel discussion on the role of critical infrastructure in advancing the use of AI examined the interplay between the infrastructure that is essential to the development of AI and the governance frameworks that can help spur deployment of emerging technologies to support inclusive growth.

In line with the Technology Dialogue, the United States and Nigeria agreed to hold a virtual expert exchange on AI-enabled biotechnology.

This discussion will explore how the convergence of AI and biotechnology can spur progress in addressing global health, food security, and science – with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

Related Topics:Bosun Tijani Broadband penetration Featured

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Naira Exchange Rates To Foreign currencies Friday, June 19

Today, the Naira is exchanging at the official market at US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,363. 30 , while the Black Market rate goes for ₦1, 400

Published

1 hour ago

June 19, 2026

OCHEFA

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Official CBN Exchange Rates

US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,363. 30

GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,805. 70

EURO (EUR) ₦1,563. 07

SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1, 697. 97

JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.47

CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦201. 22

WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2.40

WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,858.07

SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦363.22

SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦83.08

BLACK MARKET RATES

US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1, 400 Sell ₦1,407

GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,870 Sell: ₦1,890

EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1, 590 Sell ₦1, 610

CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,030 Sell ₦1,100

SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90

UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370

CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200

GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110

WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 380 Sell ₦2, 460

CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 220 Sell 2,300

AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900

Business

FG Releases Tax Act 2025 Transition Guidelines

The Guidelines are intended to promote uniform implementation and support effective administration across the Nigeria Revenue Service, State Internal Revenue Services, the FCT Internal Revenue Service, Local Government Revenue Committees, tax practitioners and taxpayers nationwide.

Published

20 hours ago

June 18, 2026

OCHEFA

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• Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele.

The Federal Government has issued the General Guidelines for the implementation of the Tax Acts 2025, setting out the process for transition from the repealed tax laws to the new tax framework effective from January 1, 2026.

Issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Guidelines provide direction to taxpayers, tax practitioners, revenue authorities and other stakeholders on how to address various issues arising from the old regime to the new framework.

Under the Guidelines, the Tax Acts 2025 comprising the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act apply from the respective commencement dates as enacted in each law. In particular, January 1, 2026 for the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025.

Tax liabilities, assessments, audits, investigations, disputes and enforcement actions relating to periods before that date will be treated under the repealed tax laws.

Tax returns relating to accounting periods ending before January 1, 2026, will be filed under the previous tax laws, while returns falling due from January 1, 2026, onward will be administered under the new tax framework.

The document also covers the treatment of income taxes, transaction taxes, development levies, tax incentives, exemptions, record-keeping obligations and transactions that span both the old and new tax regimes.

Existing tax incentives and exemptions granted under the repealed laws will remain in place until their expiration dates. New applications and pending requests, however, will be considered under the provisions of the Tax Acts 2025.

Speaking on the release of the Guidelines, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, said that the document provides a framework for managing transitional issues while ensuring that the new laws are not applied retrospectively.

He described the Tax Acts 2025 as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s tax reform programme, noting that the Guidelines set out how existing obligations, ongoing matters and future transactions will be treated under the new regime.

According to the Minister, the Guidelines are anchored on three key principles – clarity, fairness and administrative certainty.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to building a transparent, efficient and modern tax system that supports economic growth, strengthens revenue administration, encourages voluntary compliance and improves Nigeria’s investment climate.