Tinubu Lauds Super Eagles, Charges Team To Prepare For 2026 African Nations Cup 

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu on Monday lauded the Super Eagles for putting up their best efforts towards qualifying for the FIFA World Cup, despite their loss in the playoffs on Sunday.

Nigeria’s dream of featuring in the World Cup was dashed as Congo DR eliminated the Super Eagles in a dramatic qualifier play-off on Sunday night in Morocco.

The Eagles lost in a penalty shootout after the game ended 1-1 in extra time. DR Congo triumphed 4-3 on penalties to advance to the Inter-Confederation play-off, keeping their own 2026 World Cup hopes alive.

The president, in a statement issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, charged the Eagles to put behind them the loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo and prepare for the African Cup of Nations, which will be held from January 2026 to February 2026 in Morocco.

Tinubu said although it was painful that the Eagles failed to qualify for the World Cup tournament for the second consecutive time, the team must be commended for striving hard to reach the Mundial, particularly after winning their first playoff match.

According to the president, “Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them.

“We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board.

“Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory.”

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    Mastercard, Zenith Bank Unveil Essential Debit Card, Deepen Financial Inclusion in Nigeria

    In a strategic alliance poised to reshape access to digital finance, Mastercard and Zenith Bank Plc have launched the Essential Debit Card, a purposefully designed instrument to bring secure, affordable payment solutions within reach of millions of underserved Nigerians.

    The new card, which began rolling out across Zenith Bank’s extensive branch network and digital channels in July 2025, targets low-income earners, small-scale entrepreneurs and the vast unbanked and underbanked segments that have long hovered at the margins of formal financial services.

    Available in both physical and virtual formats, it offers simplified onboarding, reduced issuance costs and seamless integration into everyday commerce.

    The launch comes amid Nigeria’s accelerating digital payments revolution. Figures from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) reveal that electronic transactions soared to an astonishing N1.08 quadrillion in 2024, up from N600 trillion in 2023.

    Point-of-Sale (PoS) volumes similarly surged by 81 per cent to N19.4 trillion, underscoring a deepening national confidence in cashless channels and an insistent demand for inclusive financial tools.

    Speaking on the initiative, the Country Manager and Area Business Head, West Africa, Mastercard, Ms. Folasade Femi-Lawal, declared: “Inclusion is the spark of innovation, and true innovation must be inclusive by design. The Essential Debit Card is more than a payment instrument; it is a gateway to economic possibility for millions.

    “Partnering with Zenith Bank allows us to meet people exactly where they are, equipping them to flourish in an increasingly digital world.”

    Echoing this vision, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, noted: “This collaboration is a powerful expression of our resolve to drive financial inclusion at scale. By delivering an affordable, secure and practical digital payment solution, we are empowering more Nigerians to step confidently into the formal economy, fuelling personal advancement and, in turn, national prosperity.

    “Together, we are dismantling barriers to everyday commerce and inching closer to bridging Nigeria’s financial inclusion gap.”

    As one of the foremost tier-one banks to embrace Mastercard’s Essential Debit framework, Zenith Bank is leveraging the partnership to penetrate high-potential yet historically overlooked market segments. The card harnesses Mastercard’s globally trusted technology and an expansive network, fused with Zenith’s formidable domestic footprint, to deliver simplicity, security and affordability in a form that resonates with the rhythms of Nigerian life.

    In an economy where digital transactions are no longer a convenience but a cornerstone of growth, the Essential Debit Card stands as a quiet yet transformative force, a testament to the conviction that genuine progress is measured not merely in trillions transacted but in lives irrevocably empowered.

    ​  

    In a strategic alliance poised to reshape access to digital finance, Mastercard and Zenith Bank Plc have launched the Essential Debit Card, a purposefully designed instrument to bring secure, affordable

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    NBS: Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Eases to 16.05% in October  

    NBS: Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Eases to 16.05% in October  

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)has said Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased further to 16.05 per cent in October.

    The NBS disclosed this in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report for October, which was released in Abuja on Monday.

    According to the report, the headline inflation showed a decrease to 1.96 per cent compared to the 18.02 per cent recorded in September.

    The report said on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 17.82 per cent lower than the rate recorded in October 2024 at 33.88 per cent.

    Furthermore, the report said ‘On a month-on-month’, the headline inflation rate in October was 0.93 per cent, which was 0.21 per cent higher than the rate recorded in September at 0.72 per cent.

    “This means that in October 2025, the rate of increase in the average price level was higher than the rate of increase in the average price level in September 2025,” it said.

    The report said the increase in the headline index for October was attributed to the increase in some items in the basket of goods and services at the divisional level.

    It said the three major contributors to the headline inflation year on year were Food and non-alcoholic Beverages at 6.42 per cent, Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 2.07 per cent, and Transport at 1.71 per cent.

    The report showed the least contributors were Recreation, Sport, and Culture at 0.05 per cent, Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco, and Narcotics at 0.06 per cent, and Insurance and Financial Services at 0.08 per cent.

    The report said the food inflation rate in October was 13.12 per cent on a year-on-year basis, which was 26.04 percentage points lower compared to the rate recorded in October 2024 at 39.16 per cent.

    “The significant decline in the annual food inflation figure is technically due to the change in the base year.”

    It said on a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in October was -0.37 per cent, which increased by 1.27 per cent compared to the 1.57 per cent recorded in September.

    The NBS said the increase in food inflation on a month-on-month basis was attributed to the increase in average prices of items such as Onions (fresh), Fruits (Orange, Pineapple).

    Others are; Shrimp, Groundnut (Unshelled), Vegetable (Ugu, Okazi, leaf,) and Meat (Goatmeat, Cow tail, Liver), among others.

    The report said that “all items less farm produce and energy’’ or core inflation, which excluded the prices of volatile agricultural produce and energy, stood at 18.69 per cent in October 2025, on a year-on-year basis.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the Core Inflation rate was 1.416 per cent in October, which decreased by 0.01 per cent compared to the 1.417 per cent recorded in September 2025.”

    The report said that on a year-on-year basis in October, the urban inflation rate was 15.65 per cent, which was 20.73 per cent points lower than 36.38 per cent in October 2024.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the urban inflation rate was 1.14 per cent, which increased by 0.4 per cent compared to September at 0.7 per cent,” it said.

    The report said that in October the rural inflation rate was 15.86 per cent on a year-on-year basis, which was 15.73 percentage points lower than the 31.59 per cent in October 2024.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the rural inflation rate was 0.45 per cent, which decreased by 0.22 per cent compared to September at 0.67 per cent.”

    On states’ profile analysis, the report showed that in October, the all-items index inflation rate on a year-on-year basis was highest in Ekiti at 20.14 per cent, followed by Nassarawa at 18.97 per cent and Zamfara at 18.81 per cent.

    It said the slowest rise in headline inflation on a year-on-year basis was recorded in Bauchi at 9.99 per cent, followed by Anambra at 11.72 per cent, and Gombe at 11.73 per cent.

    The report, however, said that in October, the inflation rate on a month-on-month basis was highest in Niger at 4.90 per cent, followed by Anambra at 4.90 per cent, and Enugu at 4.75 per cent.

    “Edo at -4.00 per cent, followed by Katsina at -3.26 per cent and Adamawa at -3.10 per cent recorded the slowest rise in month-on-month inflation.”

    The report said on a year-on-year basis, food inflation was highest in Ogun at 20.85 per cent, followed by Nassarawa at 19.96 per cent, and Ekiti at 19.70 per cent.

    “Akwa Ibom at 3.98 per cent, followed by Katsina at 4.15 per cent and Yobe at 4.29 per cent recorded the slowest rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis.’’

    The report, however, said on a month-on-month basis, food inflation was highest in Bauchi at 6.77 per cent, followed by Abuja at 5.11 per cent, and Niger at 4.84 per cent.

    “Katsina at -7.72 per cent, followed by Oyo at -5.89 per cent and Taraba at -4.89 per cent, recorded the slowest rise in inflation on a month-on-month basis.”

    The NBS said that based on the recent rebasing of the CPI, it rose to 128.9 in October, which reflected a 1.2 percentage point increase from the 127.7 recorded in September.

    The NBS recently rebased the CPI, bringing the base year closer to the current period, from 2009 to 2024, with 2023 as the reference period for expenditure weights. (NAN)

    ​  

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)has said Nigeria’s headline inflation rate eased further to 16.05 per cent in October. The NBS disclosed this in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) and

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