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  • Photo credit: JC Communicationz

    We are not sure if this is to be categorised as a high or low-quality problem, but some Nigerians might be in for the mother of all modern inconvenience– a telecommunication shutdown. 

    On December 31, just as Nigerians said goodbye to  2024, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) said that they might suspend their services in some regions of the country if the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) does not okay their demand for a tariff increase.

    In a statement signed by ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo, the association said that Nigeria’s telecom industry is hanging by a thread and would need to increase the current tariff as a matter of survival as they currently suffer high energy costs, rising inflation, high cost of operation, unstable exchange rates, and other issues.

    The ALTON chairman emphasised that telecom operators need to, as a matter of survival, raise the tariff to reflect the unfortunate impact of the Nigerian economy on their businesses but have been able to do so due to the NCC’s refusal and have experienced stagnancy as a result.

    Although they were not specific on time and location, ALTON said it’d be cutting telecommunication services in certain regions of the country and at certain times. In the words of its chairman: “If nothing is done, we might begin to see in the new year grim consequences unfolding, such as Service Shedding; operators may not be able to provide services in some areas and at some times of the day leaving millions disconnected…”

    How will a telecommunications shutdown affect you?

    Actually, the question should be, “How will it not affect you?” because a telecommunications shutdown is on the same level (if not worse) as an electricity blackout. If telcos go ahead with their plan to suspend their services in some regions of the country, this means that people in those regions will literally be catapulted back to the Stone Age, as they will only be able to use their devices at certain times of the day. Imagine using your phone only when the rationing allows you to.

    On a larger scale, a suspension of telecom services would be potentially catastrophic for Nigeria, as essential sectors like healthcare, education, security, and commerce would be mad  stranded without those services.

    What does a tariff increase mean for you?

    Telecom operators have explained how the current tariff weighs heavily on their operations, and Nigerians will definitely be singing the same song if the NCC agrees to a tariff increment.

    Currently, the tariff stands at ₦11.00 per minute for voice calls,  ₦4.00 for Short Message Services (SMS), and  ₦1,000 for one GB data bundle. If the tariff increases, customers will be charged  ₦15.40 per minute for voice calls,  ₦5.60 for SMS, and  ₦1,400 for one GB data bundle.

    So, in addition to paying more for almost everything, Nigerians will have to dig into their pockets for extra cash to afford services as essential as telecom services.

    What is the solution to this problem?

    The obvious solution here might seem to be for telecom operators and the NCC to come to an agreement, but according to all that ALTON has said, the only acceptable agreement in their books is a tariff increase, which unfortunately brings us back to the issue of being forced to pay more.

    The only real solution is the not-so-obvious one—an economic turnaround. Nigeria is currently experiencing what has been termed its worst economic crisis on record, and its impact has been felt on just about everything in the country.

    From an increase in the cost of air and road travel to an increase in food prices and more, people in the country have barely caught a break, and neither has its industries. In 2023, following the impact of fuel subsidy removal and bold monetary policies, several companies like  Bolt Food, Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline (which had operated in the country since 1972), and Jumia Food all left the country for similar reasons. 

    Also, in 2023 alone, about 767 manufacturing companies in Nigeria had to shut down their operations due to the same old culprit– the economic crisis. Now, telecom operators are asking for a tariff review, citing the same issues.

    From all angles, there hardly seems to be a solution or an end in sight to the current telecom threat. As it stands, the NCC might have to finally agree to the tariff hike and Nigerians might have to pay extra for telecom services.

  • Chivita|Hollandia brought the holiday spirit to life this December with its Blue Santa campaign, spreading joy and rewarding loyal customers across Lagos. Led by Hollandia’s Blue Santa and brand ambassador Chigurl, the campaign turned everyday shopping into festive celebrations with exciting prizes for shoppers who purchased their favorite Hollandia products during a 12-day Christmas period.

    The campaign created memorable moments for customers while celebrating the brand’s commitment to enriching lives during the holiday season. Shoppers enjoyed the chance to win branded merchandise and household essentials, making the experience as rewarding as it was joyful.

    Chigurl’s presence as Hollandia’s Blue Santa added even more excitement, delighting fans thrilled to meet the beloved comedian and entertainer. Her vibrant personality amplified the campaign’s festive atmosphere and brought a unique touch to the activations.

    Beyond the festivities, Hollandia continues to champion the importance of dairy power in staying ahead. The brand consistently communicates the benefits of its nutrient-rich products, encouraging consumers to make Hollandia a part of their daily lives for the energy and strength needed to lead and excel in their endeavors.

    By combining entertainment, rewards, and connection, the Blue Santa campaign reinforced Hollandia’s reputation as a customer-focused brand. Its success was reflected in the smiles of shoppers and the buzz it generated online with the hashtag #HollandiaBlueChristmas.

    As the year comes to an end, Hollandia has set a high standard for engagements. The campaign didn’t just deliver dairy goodness; it delivered happiness, reiterating the essential importance of dairy power to staying ahead and enjoying the full goodness of nourishment the brand provides to consumers and Nigerians.

  • 2024 was such an eventful year for Nigerians, and we do not mean this in a positive way; the year stressed Nigerian citizens in many ways. From the constant disgrace of the Naira to the sky-high inflation rates, the unending fuel queues, the painfully high cost of living, and more, Nigerians saw shege that was heavily televised.

    Politicians in the country were no better either; in different ways, they added to the frustrations of Nigerians either by idly watching as citizens suffer due to harmful policies, helping implement those policies themselves, supporting them, or generally incompetent at their jobs. As the year slowly comes to an end, we thought to remind you (and the politicians) of their bad characters within the year by giving them awards that represent all they did in 2024.

    Godswill Akpabio- Best in Agbaya behaviour

    Godswill Akpabio is Nigeria’s Senate President, but this year, he did and said things that were in no way appropriate for the leader of the Nigerian Senate. On July 31, for instance, while Nigerians prepared for the Hunger Protests, Akpabio was in the news for mocking the protest plans of many Nigerians.

    While he attended a Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) event, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbukwu, made a solidarity statement saying the Niger Delta region was in support of the present administration and wasn’t pushing for a regime change to which Apkabio responded. “…You said we are not interested in regime change; let us own this government. Those who want to protest can protest, but let us be here eating.” 

    The Senate President was famous in 2024 for insulting the sensibilities of ordinary Nigerians, and there are other instances of this, but that was not the only thing he was guilty of this year. He also had a thing for showing his loyalty and support to the Tinubu administration to the detriment of the reputation of his office as the leader of the Senate, an arm of government which is supposed to keep the executive in check.

    In May 2024, in the thick of suffering for Nigerians, Apkabio thought Tinubu’s intention to phase out the country’s national anthem for the old anthem, “Nigeria we hail thee”, was a fantastic idea, and he didn’t just show this by skipping an essential step like a public hearing and ensuring that the bill was hastily passed in a matter of days, he also thought it’d be fun to voice his thoughts on the bill even if they didn’t make sense to anyone. 

    On June 18, a few weeks after the bill passed, Akpabio implied that the national anthem change was the best thing since sliced bread because, according to him, insecurity, one of Nigeria’s biggest problems, wouldn’t exist if the anthem hadn’t been removed. In his words: “If we kept the anthem, we probably would not have banditry today in Nigeria because if you took your neighbour as your brother, you would not want to kill your brother…”

    Akpabio probably saw the criticisms that followed this development as haters hating because, in December, he topped off his pro-Tinubu theatrics with an even more distasteful drama. On Wednesday, December 18, when Tinubu walked into the Senate chamber to present the controversial 2025 budget, Akpabio, like a true Agbaya, started singing, “On your mandate, we shall stand!” (and other senators joined in) even before the President had a chance to begin his presentation.

    This behaviour is wrong on all fronts, and Nigerians called him out for it, but the thing with the winner of the Agbaya prize is that he does not seem to care that his behaviour is unbecoming his position. Just like an Agbaya wouldn’t. We couldn’t think of a more fitting winner for this award.

    Remi Tinubu– Best in “Innovative Solutions”

    Like the previous politician, this award-winner was mighty proud of her decisions, but there is something quite unique about her. No, it’s not her position as the wife of Nigeria’s President; her one big thing is that she wasn’t in the news for merely supporting her husband’s ideas and performance (or of others in his government); she backed up her support by coming up with innovations of her own.

    Like most things, food was costly for Nigerians in 2024, but Remi Tinubu did not think this crisis would be solved by finding solutions to insecurity, inflation, climate change, or any other cause of the problem; she felt that food would suddenly become affordable if all Nigerians started cultivating a garden in their backyard, so she came up with the “Every Home a Garden” farming Initiative in July to “boost food production” in the country.

    In September, ahead of the country’s Independence Day, Remi Tinubu came up with yet another brilliant innovation— a unity fabric.

    The Unity Fabric is a special project, which envisions the end to national issues caused by tribal differences through the help of a fabric (Unity Fabric) which would be worn by all.

    Haters will say that these brilliant innovations did not yield any results, but what did they say about haters hating again?

    Abdulmalik Sarkindaji– 1st Runner Up, Innovative Solutions category

    The position of the most innovative Nigerian politician of 2024 was hotly contested, but the speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, held his own and came out second only to Remi Tinubu, all thanks to a bright idea he came up with in the first half of the year.

    On May 10, Sarkindaji announced that he was going to marry off 100 orphan girls who lost their parents due to attacks in the Mariga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State. Sarkindaji probably took a look at obvious solutions like scholarship programs and scoffed because he believed in his genius idea. Even when he came under fire for his plan, he stuck to it and was able to marry all 100 of the girls off in separate ceremonies on Friday, May 24.

    Yahaya Bello– Best in audacity

    This year, Yahaya Bello proved that you can get away with just about anything in Nigeria with the right amount of audacity.

    Bello’s journey to this award first started in April 2024 when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said he used $720,000 of state funds (during his time as governor) to pay the school fees of his children in advance to the American International School in Abuja. The EFCC shortly attempted to arrest Bello on April 17 over corruption charges it brought up against him, but the former governor evaded the arrest and was declared wanted. Bello continued to play in Nigerians’ faces until November when he submitted himself to the EFCC. If another politician won the audacity category, it’d insult what Bello pulled off this year.

    Adebayo Adelabu– Best in incompetence

    This is by far the most hotly contested award category because by default, both President Tinubu and everyone in his administrations were eligible for this award but the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, worked extremely hard to emerge the winner of this category.

    This year under Adelabu, Nigerians, on top of having an epileptic power supply were thrown into complete darkness as a result of the collapse of the national grid.

    In 2024, the national grid fell so much that Nigerians stopped being surprised when it happened. In a particular week in October, for instance, the grid collapsed three times, and by December, it had collapsed 12 times in total.

    The award for this category should naturally go to Tinubu, but that would be stating the obvious, so for this reason, because Adelabu’s failures are the only ones as loud as Tinubu’s, he gets to go home with the award for most incompetent Nigerian politician of the year.

    Tinubu– Grandpatron award

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gets this position not only because he is the leader of all the politicians in the country but simply because there is nobody badder. Tinubu’s doings are so loud that his policies from the previous year are still showing an immeasurable amount of shege to Nigerians.

    While Nigerians battled with the unending consequences of the removal of fuel subsidies, the devaluation of the Naira, and many others, the grand patron taxed them more while continuing to promise things that he never did.

    Under President Tinubu, the exchange rate skyrocketed, several factories closed down, the manufacturing sector went into life support, and Nigerians suffered hunger more than ever. This translated to what has been described over and over by the international media and experts as the worst economic crisis on record witnessed by Nigeria.

    In response to this hardship, Tinubu has been adorned with nicknames like T Pain, so we cannot think of a more deserving winner than him.

    Going into 2025, we hope for better representation and leadership from Nigerian politicians, and we’ll be on the alert to report their bad and hopefully good behaviours to you. 

  • One thing about Nigerians: we will “God abeg” our way out of the craziest situations. But thanks to Nigerian policymakers, even the loudest of God abeg’s proved impotent in 2024. 

    I don’t have plans to trigger any PTSD, but what’s a 2024 recap without a compilation of the worst policies that hit Nigeria within the year? 

    From “God abeg” to “Affliction shall not arise again”, here are 2024’s most interesting policies. 

    New National Anthem Bill

    In May 2024, Nigerian lawmakers signed the National Anthem Bill, pushing for a return to the old anthem ( written by a British man), “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

    Even though we’ve learned to live with it, the decision didn’t sit right with many Nigerians, especially given how quickly it was passed when the country had more pressing issues to address. Despite public criticism, this bill wasn’t withdrawn, and Nigerian lawmakers didn’t act like they gave two shits about public opinion.

    We’ve gone through all five stages of grief as a country. Some of us have arrived at acceptance while others are somehow stuck in the sixth stage of national grief – the no be Tinubu go tell me wetin I go do stage. 

    6-year presidency bill

    In June 2024, a group of 35 lawmakers proposed a bill that would have extended the maximum number of presidential and gubernatorial leadership from four years to six years for a single term. The proposal attempted to amend Sections 7, 135, 137, 180 and 182 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. The lawmakers involved claimed the bill would cut governance costs and lead to a more stable political climate. But Nigerians haven’t had enough luck with good leaders to buy into that dream. 

    The lawmakers behind the bill have lowkey ghosted, and we haven’t heard about it for a while.

    VAPP repeal bill

    In August, the worst fear of many Nigerian women happened. Senator Jibrin Isah, a MAN in governance, started pushing to repeal the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. If this is your first time hearing about this act, the first thing you need to know is that it offers protection against gender-based violence (GBV) for men and women and helps keep all genders safe, empowered, and educated throughout Nigeria. You should also know that Nigeria didn’t have a national law on violence against women before the VAPP Act.

    In 2002, over 55 groups formed the Legislative Advocacy Coalition Against Violence Against Women (LACVAW) to advocate for women’s protection. Their efforts led to the VAPP Act, which was passed and signed into law in 2015. 

    Senator Jibrin’s main argument in calling for the repeal is that the act is not comprehensive and has unclear parts that make it hard to enforce properly. He argues that the law needs to be updated to reflect today’s issues. After being met with criticism from women’s rights groups and Nigerian women, the bill’s future started looking shaky. It’s hard to figure out whether Senator Jibrin is still standing on business, but we won’t be surprised if he pops up again in 2025 with the same energy.

    Road Safety Special Armed Squad Bill

    In October, a bill proposing that Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) officers should be allowed to carry guns to perform their duties passed its second reading, with the majority of the lawmakers in the House of Representatives supporting it.

    Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen, who also inaugurated the constitution review committee, even called it a “straightforward bill” before sending it to the FRSC committee for further review and action. 

    This was a questionable move because some FRSC officers have a history of demanding bribes from drivers and assaulting them when they resist.

    Young Nigerians were at the receiving end of Police brutality under SARS and still suffer Police brutality even after SARS was scrapped;  if patterns are anything to go by, they are at the greatest risk of being profiled and assaulted by power-drunk officers of the FRSC once they get their guns. To make sure this doesn’t happen, tons of them took to social media to speak out against this bill when the news hit the street, arguing that officers of the FRSC don’t need guns to perform their duties. Still, lawmakers have been really quiet about this kickback from young Nigerians, and like many other things in Nigeria, the future of the bill is still uncertain.

    Bill seeking to expand Sharia law

    On October 24, Aliyu Misau, a Nigerian lawmaker, proposed a bill that would have given the Sharia  Law more power in the Nigerian constitution. Many Northern lawmakers were on board with the idea despite the fact that Nigeria is a multi-religious country. After some spirited back-and-forth, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu put the bill to a voice vote, and a majority of lawmakers voted against it. But to some Nigerians, the fact that it was even raised was enough reason to be concerned. 

    VAT increase bill

    October was definitely the month of unpleasant surprises because that was the same month that the National Assembly started considering a bill that would increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) paid by Nigerians from 7.5% to 10%.


    If you think 10% doesn’t sound that bad, you’d hate to know that the 10% increase is the first of three VAT increases these lawmakers are discussing. The bill proposes that the 10% will take effect in 2025, while another  12. 5% increase will take effect in 2026 and last until 2029.  This VAT hike (if it happens) will be charged on every taxable item, so you might have to throw your “I’ll buy it in 2025” plans into the trash now. We can still hope for a Christmas miracle because your favourite lawmakers are putting the bill on pause till 2025 to enjoy their oblee plans.

    Telecom tax bill

    The people around President Tinubu must have forgotten to remind him that he once publicly advocated for poor people’s right to breeffff because we saw the worst of billing in October.

    A bill, which has a weird long name (“A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions, and Instruments, and Related Matters,”), hit the National assembly. The bill proposed a 5% increase in the cost of telecom services that over 215 million Nigerians use every day.

    This bill didn’t just target telecom services; it was also designed to introduce gaming, gambling, lotteries, and betting taxes. It hasn’t been passed yet but don’t be surprised to see it in the news again after Detty December.

    Nigerian lawmakers had us screaming “blood of Jesus” every three market days with these questionable policies. Given that we still don’t know what happened to some of these bills, we’re not sure that the craziness will not extend into 2025.

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  • If 2024 taught us anything, it’s that love is a rollercoaster. While couples seem to have collectively thrived this year, it’s hard to say the same for single people who were looking to change their dating status

    Since first dates are where the magic often happens, we spoke to ten young Nigerians about their most memorable first date moments this year. From awkward silences to over-the-top romantic gestures, here’s a roundup of the good, the bad, and the downright weird.

    “She switched up after I showed up in an Uber”— Chris*, 31

    I met Pinu during a football practice match with some friends and decided to ask her out because I really liked her. I’m well off financially, but I’m not extravagant, so people rarely know how much I make.
    Unfortunately, my car had issues that day, so I took an Uber to the date. When she realized I didn’t come with a car, her attitude changed. She started stonewalling me and making comments like, “I hope we won’t wash plates here when it’s time to pay o”. I brushed it off and tried to steer the conversation. I mentioned we could check out another popular Lagos restaurant next time, but she sneered and said,” Who will pay for that one?” 

    It was just a very weird and uncomfortable experience. I paid for the date and sent her some money for Uber back home. When she saw the credit alert, her mood completely shifted, and it really turned me off. I didn’t message her again after that night.

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    “We got caught up in the rain and stayed under a tree.”—Kemi*, 20

    I’d had a crush on the youth church drummer for a year, so I was over the moon when he asked me out to lunch one Sunday in May.  While it wasn’t anything fancy because we went to Chicken Republic, it was the perfect time to spend together. We couldn’t stop talking the entire time. Later,  we went for a walk, got caught in the rain and had to seek shelter under a tree till it subsided.   We continued talking the entire time, and the entire experience felt so cute and romantic.   It’s the best date I’ve been on this year.

    “We spent 30 minutes watching the stars.”— James*,26

    I met a girl at a house party in France recently. She was the flatmate of the host, and after chatting for a bit, I asked for her number. When she agreed to go on a date,  I asked ChatGPT to search for cool events happening in Paris that weekend. I found out about a star and moon viewing at the planetarium at the City of Science Exposition in Parc de la Villette.

    We spent 30 magical minutes watching the stars  and she then  told me it was the coolest date she’d ever been on and wanted to take me out for drinks after. We went to a museum, had  coffee and spoke the entire time until the sun set..

    “He left me to pick up the bill.”— Toke*,24

    This year has been so weird for dating. I was love-bombed by this guy who kept blowing up my phone, telling me he really liked me and all that. After some months, I agreed to go on a date with him. He chose the venue, and we went out to eat.  The date seemed fine at first, but midway, this dude said he needed to use the bathroom— and never came back.  I had to pay the bill, and thank God for savings because I that could have been embarrassing. . When I got home, I realised he had blocked me and I just cursed him out.  

     “She talked about herself the entire two hours we spent together.”— Chisom*,29

    I’d liked this girl for a few months before I finally asked her out. We met through a mutual friend, and our conversations had always been great. But on the date, it was like I was meeting a different person. We were there for about two hours, and she talked about herself the entire time. I tried to get a word in, but no luck. She wasn’t interested in talking about any other subject, so it just felt like a two-hour lecture about her life. I did not ask her on another date after that.

    “We only had raves and drinking in common.”— Peace*,27

    Two months ago, I met a girl at a rave. She had neon paint on her cheeks, her skin glistened under the flashing lights, and she had this infectious energy about her. We danced, exchanged contact information, and started talking regularly. I took her out to dinner, hoping to get to know her better. However, the more we talked, the more I realised the only things we had in common were raves and drinking. It didn’t bode well for us after that. The date itself wasn’t the issue; I just didn’t think we were compatible.

    “We spent four days together.”— Martha*,25

    At a Friday night club party, I met someone I really clicked with. We danced, talked for hours, and when it was time to leave, she asked to come home with me. It was an uncommon request, but I said yes. 

    However, what should have been a one-night hangout turned into four days of non-stop fun. It felt like a really long date because we just kept going from my place to her plac,e or we’d go out together. We talked, watched movies and cooked together. It was a very lovely experience.

    “She was extremely late to our date.” — Femi*,28

    I asked this girl I really liked on a date, but it ended up being a disaster. . It was dinner at a restaurant.  She arrived  30 minutes late, and instead of apologizing, she said, ”You know Lagos traffic now.”The rest of the date didn’t go well. I  kept trying to carry the conversation, but we weren’t clicking. It felt forced. It was odd because conversations with her were seamless before I asked her out. I felt like I wasted my time.

    “I won our games because he let me win.” — Teri*,23

     I met this guy on X (formerly Twitter) because we bonded over our shared love of anime. After a few months, he visited Lagos from Abuja, and we met in person for the first time. It was one of my favourite dates ever. We grabbed ice cream and talked about anime and our hobbies for hours. We also went to an arcade and played games. He let me win most of them, which was really sweet.  The date was really cute, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

    “I found flowers for her on a Sunday in Ibadan.”— Deji*,26

    I only went on one first date this year, and it was incredible. She was schooling in Ibadan, so I travelled down for the weekend. She had an orchestra show on Saturday, so I arrived early to watch her perform. We met briefly afterwards, but the main plan was for Sunday.

    Initially, I’d wanted to plan an outdoor picnic, but I couldn’t find a functional park, so I switched to a movie and dinner. She’s a huge Dune fan, and since Dune 2 had just dropped, we went to see it. I hadn’t even watched Dune 1 before then, so I binged it the night before to keep up. After the movie, we hit the arcade, and she beat me at most of the games.

    By the time we parted ways to prepare for dinner, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much fun we’d had. I’d considered getting her flowers earlier but felt it was too much for a first date. Now, I regretted not getting them. While updating my friends, one of them encouraged me to still go for it and even offered to cover the cost.

    It was already late, and finding a flower vendor in Ibadan on a Sunday seemed impossible. But I got lucky with one who agreed to open her shop just for me. I rushed to pick them up and made it just in time for dinner.

    The flowers were the perfect touch to an already amazing date. I’m so glad I went the extra mile—it made everything feel even more special.

  • Nigerians are relying on the best crypto apps to make wise investments with their money. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) are leading the digital revolution in Africa by increasing its value to almost $100,000 per token. A number of crypto companies are opening their offices in Nigeria to help people have a smoother experience while buying and selling cryptocurrencies in global financial markets. Young Nigerians are starting to adapt to cryptocurrencies as they plan to grow their wealth.

    Crypto traders can easily monitor decentralized finance (DeFi) market changes that can affect the price of cryptocurrencies. You’ll be able to predict the movements of cryptocurrency pairs and purchase digital tokens online by logging into crypto apps on digital devices like smartphones and iPads. Over the last few years, smartphone users in African countries have increased to more than 170 million, turning crypto apps into useful resources for the development of blockchain technology.  

    What are crypto apps?

    Applications that focus on cryptocurrencies have found a new market to tap into by entering Nigeria. People can download and install crypto apps on their mobile phones, desktops, and laptops, to conveniently buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies.

    Unlike traditional banking, Nigerians don’t need to open a bank account to register with a crypto app. It’ll only take a few minutes to set up your profile on leading crypto apps, providing a vast number of options for you to invest in digital tokens on the crypto platforms. These apps protect your private information and prevent fraudulent behavior online from having a negative impact on your digital experience.

    How is crypto relevant to Nigerians in 2024?

    Nigerians can capitalize on crypto markets in 2024 and beyond to earn money. Bitcoin, Ethereum (ETH), and other cryptocurrencies are considered legal in Nigeria, allowing millions of citizens to trade digital tokens on crypto exchanges. Depositing and withdrawing your funds can take less than a few seconds in advanced crypto apps, attracting young Africans to trade cryptocurrencies on their gadgets to save time.

    A majority of digital wallets offer free accounts to Nigerians. These digital wallets encourage Nigerians to build a diversified portfolio consisting of multiple cryptocurrencies and digital tokens that can be stored in a secure location. Your digital assets can be verified while logging in from new digital devices using two-factor authentication (2FA) as a security measure for data encryption.  

    Most crypto apps charge minimal fees per transaction while buying and selling digital tokens. The intuitive user interface of crypto apps has made it easier for Nigerians to operate on the platform to make profits. These crypto apps provide a ton of insights based on your online activity to improve the results of your crypto trading.

    Take a look at the best crypto apps that are available in Nigeria.

    Bitget

    Bitget is one of the largest crypto trading platforms in the world. It has more than 45 million registered users with an average daily trading volume worth over 10 billion Tether (USDT). Established in 2018, Bitget was founded as a commitment to build a future for DeFi markets. Crypto companies like Bitget have been vital in guarding crypto investors against market crashes and financial downfalls.

    It has a global presence with operation centers in over 60 countries including Nigeria. Features such as, copy trading, enable Nigerians to adapt strategies for trading cryptocurrencies that are implemented by seasoned crypto traders and investors. It has more than 800 digital tokens listed on the crypto exchange. Nigerians can also join Bitget Launchpad to get early access to claim the latest cryptocurrencies that are being released into the market.

    Welcome bonus for signing up with Bitget includes 6200 USDT. Apart from dozens of cryptocurrencies, Bitget also has more than a hundred fiat currencies that are supported on the digital platform. Nigerians can download the Bitget app on their iPhones and Android smartphones to begin trading crypto in their country.        

    Binance

    Binance is a crypto app that has generated more than $12 billion in revenue. After building trading systems for high-frequency traders investing in the stock market, Changpeng Zhao founded Binance in 2017 with his team of blockchain enthusiasts.

    Within a year of its launch, Binance had acquired a market capitalization of $1.3 billion. Binance has taken a special interest in Africa, sponsoring the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021. The crypto company regularly held sessions to educate the African community about crypto trading and its benefits.

    Previously known as the Binance Coin, the crypto exchange launched its own digital token in 2017. It was later renamed to Build’N’Build (BNB) and was used as a payment method for transaction fees on the crypto app. BNB is currently valued at $629 per token and has a supply limit of 200,000,000 BNB in circulation.    

    Quidax

    Quidax became the first crypto exchange to be licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria. Crypto traders can sign up for a Quidax account for the fastest transactions, requiring basic knowledge of crypto apps and cryptocurrencies to buy and sell digital tokens. Quidax Token, Apecoin, and Trump Coin, are among the various cryptocurrencies listed on the crypto exchange.

    Order book and instant swap are a few of the best features of Quidax. You can effortlessly trade tokens after cryptocurrencies reach a certain price point by using the order book in the crypto app. It also has an amazing community of crypto investors who are willing to share their ideas with Nigerians to help them succeed. 

  • The year 2024 was such a wild year, and in many ways, many Nigerians feel like they’re absolutely different people than they were at the start of the year. No, we are not Spotify, but we’ve made you a list of the craziness that shaped your year in case you forgot.

    Band A, Band B, freezer drama

    The thing about this particular event was that it happened so close to April Fool’s Day, it almost seemed like a dumb prank because many Nigerians were on different social media platforms saying “ain’t no way” in different forms immediately after the news dropped.

    On April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced it was going to increase the electricity tariff on Band A feeders by 230.8%. The implication of their announcement was that Band A customers would be billed ₦225 per kilowatt hour (kWh) instead of the ₦68 per kWh they were being charged.

    NERC said they were introducing the increase to reduce the burden of the electricity subsidy the government was paying.  According to them, FG was going to spend an estimated 3.13 trillion on subsidising electricity in 2024, but with the increment of tariff price for Band A customers (who enjoy up to 20 hours of electricity), the government’s payment would be reduced by 63.58%, making the amount they’d pay to be ₦1.14 trillion.

    Nigerians were so livid about this because the economy was already showing everyone pepper due to the removal of fuel subsidies. As if this wasn’t painful enough, less than 24 hours after the announcement, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu told Nigerians to start turning off their freezers once in a while if they want Nigeria’s power issue to get better.

    Fuel scarcity

    Nigeria experienced fuel scarcity at different points of the year, but in April 2024, the fuel queues in different parts of the country became too long. People complained about this on the streets and on social media platforms, but that was all they could do because the NNPCL was busy arguing with the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (PETROAN) over whose fault it was that there was no fuel. The scarcity lasted way into May, but you know what they say about Nigerians and the survival spirit.

    Mass marriage of orphan girls

    Nigerians were still being crushed under the weight of the fuel scarcity when a lawmaker dropped his own shocker. On May 10, Speaker of the Niger State Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, decided that marrying off 100 girls orphaned by banditry attacks in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State was a genius idea that would help alleviate the poverty the girls were suffering.

    Sarkindaji’s Plan was met with criticism from different quarters; one of the most promising pushback was from the former Ministry of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, but Nigerians barely got the opportunity to dance in celebration before she grabbed an invisible mic and yelled sike! In our faces— after some back and forth, Uju backtracked, saying, “I did not intend to stop the marriage but to ensure the girls are of marriageable age and were not being forced into it.” On Friday, May 24, two weeks later, all 100 of the girls were married off in separate ceremonies.

    Minimum wage gbas-gbos

    No thanks to the five-year Minimum Wage Act (of 2019), Nigerian workers were paid ₦30,000 minimum wage, but the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) could hardly do much about it. Following the expiration of the Act in April 2024, the NLC said it was time for a review because the ₦30,000 was barely going anywhere for workers.

    NLC demanded 615,000 from the Federal Government (FG), but FG said they didn’t have it, and both parties entered a boxing match that lasted from April to July when they finally settled on ₦70,000 which has now been passed into law as the country’s official minimum wage.

    National anthem change

    In May, Nigerians realised that surprises might be one of President Tinubu’s love (or torture) languages because his last surprise announcement (fuel subsidy removal) was still showing Nigerians shege but just in time for the commemoration of his one year in office, the President pulled out another shiny surprise from his pocket— a new national anthem.

    The bill legalising the anthem change was an even bigger shocker because it literally came out of nowhere. For context, this bill was passed in one week—the House of Representatives debated it on Thursday, May 23, and passed it on the same day. Then, it was handed over to the Senate, which passed it on Tuesday, May 27, while President Tinubu signed it into law the following day, Wednesday.

    Dangote rants

    Before now, Billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote was on that laidback mysterious aesthetic but after the astronomical levels of shege Nigeria showed him in 2024, he has now left that aesthetic for Beyonce.

    Dangote had plenty of back and forth with oil institutions and officials this year, but it all mostly began with him coming out to raise the alarm about alleged plots to sabotage his new refinery. Dangote said that the  Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) refused to sell him the crude oil needed to start production at his refinery, so he had to go all the way to the United States (US) to buy some. 

    As if that wasn’t enough stress for him, the CEO of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed alleged that Dangote’s oil was substandard and that the imported ones were better than it. Alhaji was stressed but had to pick up a mic to debunk the claim. He also had another spat with the NNPC over the petrol pricing as well as other side frustrations surrounding his refinery. It’s just been a hell of a year for Alhaji, and we all sort of went through it with him.

    National asoebi

    Albert Einstein shakes when Nigeria’s First Lady enters the conversation because only she can rival his genius. This year. Remi Tinubu spiced up our lives with her bright innovations; after starting her own garden and telling Nigerians to do the same (“to boost food production”), she launched an Asoebi for the country.

    The asoebi  (or national unity fabric if you’re fancy) was launched ahead of Nigeria’s independence day in order to help Nigerian citizens “break down tribal barriers to identify as a people of one nation.”

    She didn’t just launch with an empty hand, either. The unity fabric was rolled out with a Fabric Designs Competition with a ₦25m prize money. We stan an innovative queen.

    Hunger protests

    2024 has been an especially hard year for Nigerians. What was even more frustrating was that the government seemed not to be listening. In August, Nigerians trooped out to make their voices heard through the #EndBadGovernance or hunger protests.

    But the 10-day protests, shadowed by subtle threats even before they started, did not end well as protesters were met with brutal force by the Nigerian Police. Later, on November 28, Amnesty International released a report revealing that at least 24 protesters were killed as a result of this force. Amnesty International said that “in all cases, the victims were shot by the police, firing live ammunition at close range often at the head or torso, suggesting that officers were shooting to kill.

    Cabinet reshuffle

    On Wednesday, October 23, President Bola Tinubu shook the internet when he surprised everyone and announced his cabinet reshuffle. The reshuffle involved the sacking of five ministers from his record-high 45-member cabinet, hiring of seven new ministers, and reassignment of ten others to new positions.

    This move got Nigerians talking, with some saying not enough ministers were sacked and others saying the President should have included his own name in the list of sacked people.

    Arrest of minors

    Another thing the government did this year was show Nigerians it wasn’t above manhandling kids as much as it did adults. On Friday, November 1, the Inspector General of Police arraigned about 72 minors at a Federal High Court in Abuja on ten-count charges over their participation in the #EndBadGovernance protests of August. The minors, who had been detained for three months, were accused of treason and trying to destabilise Nigeria, among other things. But after many Nigerians and Civil Rights Organisations (CSOs) condemned the government and pointed out that it was against several laws to detain minors in the way that they did, President Tinubu ordered that they be released, and a committee set up to look into the arrest and detention of the minors.

  • Love stories and books from the north of Nigeria celebrating the culture and capturing the romantic essence of natives are not mainstream on reading shelves. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best love stories and romantic Hausa novels by Hausa writers for you to enjoy. 

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    MATAR GWAMNA by Azizat Hamza

    Matar Gwamna (The Governor’s Wife) is a political romance that follows the story of Governor Saifuddeen Kachallah, the then deputy governor of Congo State (a fictionalised state in Nigeria), who becomes governor after the sudden death of his predecessor. Asiya Shahidah Faruq, a vibrant young journalist, believes Governor Kachallah is corrupt and lacks empathy for the people. But, in an unexpected twist of fate, her life becomes entangled with the governor’s.

    What happens when the governor’s wife digs into Governor Kachallah’s secrets and vows to end his political career? And what happens when revenge collides with love?

    The book is available on Wattpad and ArewaBooks or as free audiobooks here.

    IDAN AN CIZA by Jamila Umar (aka Janafty)

    Idan An Ciza tells the story of two star-crossed characters who grew up in vastly different backgrounds. Fatima Mimi, the daughter of a wealthy army general, falls for  Mansoor Aji,  the son of a maid. Ten years ago, Mimi’s father separated the young lovers and threatened Aji never to contact his daughter again, leaving Mansoor with a grudge that festered for years.

    Now a successful football captain, Mansoor Aji returns to ask for Mimi’s hand in marriage. But is it for love or revenge? Find out when you read Idan An Ciza on Wattpad or ArewaBooks.

    KU DUBE MU by Batul Mamman

    This story revolves around the lives of soldiers’ wives in Nigeria.

    Maryam’s life takes a tragic turn when her husband is presumed dead on a mission in Liberia, leaving her to raise their young children alone. As she grapples with grief, family challenges and the sudden blindness inflicted on her by her stepsister, Maryam’s resilience is put to the test.

    Ku Dube Mu is available on Wattpad.

    MR AND MRS MAIDOKI by Azizat Hamza

    After their 10th-anniversary dinner ends in a public scandal, Bilikis and Adam Maidoki are banished by their affluent family to a remote village for six months. Their marriage counsellor believes this time apart will help them rediscover the spark in their love and save their marriage.

    But can Adam’s betrayal—cheating on Bilikisu with her best friend—be forgiven? Or will they tie up the fraying ends of their 10-year marriage and find happiness again? Find out when you read Mr and Mrs Madoki on Wattpad or ArewaBooks.

    ALSO READ: 200+ Wedding Anniversary Messages That Speak Right from the Heart

  • In November, John Dailey, the mayor of Tallahassee, a town in Florida, United States, honoured the American musician T-Pain, who rose to fame in the late aughts for songs like “Bartender” and “Can’t Believe It,” with a key to the city and a street renamed after him. At the municipal level in the US, this is the highest honour a mayor could bestow on a personality like T-Pain, who had attained success nationally and globally.

    “As a hometown hero, T-Pain has inspired countless fans and artists worldwide, and we’re proud to call him one of our own,” the mayor posted on X. T-Pain posted a video from the event thanking the mayor and the city. There was a small reception after. He gave a speech, and there was applause.

    But in the Nigerian cyberspace, this was further proof that they had successfully revived his career. “When God decide[s] to lift u up, He will make Nigerians remember you.🙌 Nigerians are [the] giant of Africa fr,” a user posted on X.

    As the Nigerian economy continued to nosedive, to critique President Bola Tinubu and his policies that got the country here, young Nigerians gave him the moniker “T-Pain” as a constant reminder of how painful the year had been.

    While Nigerians may not have been the reason T-Pain received the honour in his hometown, the conversation online quickly moved away from him to the dire state of the naira against the dollar.

    American musician T-Pain

    This was only one of many times that Nigerians hijacked an otherwise foreign conversation and became the primary commentators in 2024. In April, after the American investor Paul Graham claimed that the appearance of “delve” in formal written communication was evidence that Chat GPT had been used, he spent days going back and forth with Nigerians who branded him “naive.”

    When the American musician Khalid came out as gay in November, he was responding to a Nigerian who had replied to his post on X, saying, “Wait, hope Mr Khalid isn’t GEHHH?” It was the spelling of “gay”—gehhh—that had become a mainstay in the comment sections and captions of Nigerian gossip blogs that regularly post about men their editors suspect, for whatever reason, were gay.

    Days later, Khalid announced that he was releasing “Make It Up To You,” his song with the musician Ayra Starr. When Oprah Winfrey denied allegations that she was paid to endorse Kamala Harris for president of the US, she was responding to a post made by the Nigerian marketing strategist Idia Ogala.

    How did Nigerians find themselves in the thick of online discourse like this in 2024?

    “What’s made it infinitely easier to be visible on the internet is all the culture we’re exporting through Afrobeats and Nollywood. We have a rich pop culture that serves as a portal connecting us to the rest of the world,” Samson Toromade, who works at Archivi, a startup that archives old Nigerian newspapers said.

    “We’re not just the home of the Nigerian Prince scam emails—which was one of our earliest prominent reputations on the internet—we’re also where all the funny Aki and Pawpaw memes and Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ originated from.”

    Across the internet, famous celebrities or just rising influencers looking for virality have leaned into Nigerian culture to promote everything from a new album to an owanbe-themed pornographic film.

    D James, a UK DJ, toured Nigeria and other parts of Africa this year after he started posting Afrobeats mixes that went viral on WhatsApp. When Nicki Minaj promoted her new album, The Pinkprint (Tenth Anniversary Edition), she made multiple posts on X in Pidgin. She later announced that she had featured Davido on the album. In the song with Davido, “If It’s Okay,” she also featured the French DJ, David Guetta.

    “We’re very dramatic people by nature—it bleeds into everything—and that’s a potent recipe in humour that sticks. You just have to look into our local proverbs for example,” Toromade said. “The Pidgin English and how we deploy that in our humour is also an interesting touchpoint. It sounds exotic in a way that creates a huge draw.”

    Even as the country has continued to rise up every negative World Ranking, from Worst City to Live (#9 for Lagos) to Country with the Least Educated People (#12), on the internet, the influence that Nigerians have built for themselves is undeniable. The “bro to bro” TikToker, Luis Olivas has been posting his content where he offers dating advice to mostly young men for a long time. But after Nigerians stumbled on his account this year, his follower count, which stood at just under 100k, has now reached over a million.

    “The internet is getting smaller,” Toromade said. “Nigerians have hacked virality on these social platforms. There are really influential Nigerian voices on Football Twitter, for example, and it’s shocking to me sometimes.”

    This year, there were debates about “soft power” and how Nigerians can use this influence to challenge old stereotypes about the country as a third-world nation with corrupt leaders and a hotbed for online scammers.

    But it is one thing to attain virality, and it is something else to use that virality to gain positive outcomes and significant social capital on the global stage. If Nigerians are still being treated poorly at many ports of entry in the West and even in other African countries, then what is all this razzmatazz on social media really about?

    The musician Ayra Star and Khalid (Image: Khalid)

    When he thinks about this, Toromade is very optimistic.

    “We’re making inroads in connecting with the global community and actually getting hits. The world is using our memes, attempting to use our special version of English, and seeking collaborations with our creators enough that they’re even coming down here,” he said.

    “I don’t know what it means, but it’s clearly something.”

    ALSO READ: What Happens When the Most Avid Fuji Fans Come Out to Play?

  • We’ve explored what it’s like to date photographers who’ll make you their unpaid muse, food business owners who’ll turn you into their kitchen assistant, and lawyers who argue their way out of everything. Now, it’s time for fashion designers.

    We asked six people to share their experiences dating a Nigerian tailor, and it’s safe to say they’ve seen their fair share of shege.

    Aisha*

    Dating a fashion designer sounds cool, but I’ll tell you now: it wasn’t. My ex was a talented designer. He’d sketch these amazing pieces and bring them to life like magic. Watching him create was inspiring, but the lies? That was a whole different story. At first, I didn’t notice because he was so charming, but eventually, I realised lying was second nature to him. Clients would call to check on their clothes, and he would confidently say, “Ah, it’s almost ready. I’m just waiting for your buttons to arrive,” when he hadn’t even bought the fabric yet. It became a pattern; he’d promise impossible deadlines, knowing he couldn’t meet them. Seeing it happen so often made me start doubting him in our relationship, too.

    If he could lie so effortlessly to clients, what stopped him from lying to me? When he’d say, “I’m working late at the shop,” I’d wonder if that was true or if he was somewhere else. The paranoia became too much. I couldn’t tell if anything he said was real, and eventually, I had to leave. 

    Amaka*

    One of the scariest days of my life happened because of my boyfriend. I was at his shop one afternoon, waiting for him while he went to get food, when an angry customer stormed in with a small group of guys, all shouting. At first, I didn’t even realise what was happening.

    When I stood up to find out, the man screamed, “Where is your boyfriend? Where are my clothes?” Apparently, my boyfriend had promised to deliver his birthday outfit two weeks earlier. The birthday was in four days, and the clothes weren’t ready. Even though I wasn’t involved, the man’s boys grabbed me and two of his workers and started beating us.

    They locked us in the shop for hours. I begged and cried, but they didn’t care. Eventually, my boyfriend showed up with the clothes and the remaining fabric, and they let us go. That incident scarred me. I couldn’t look at him the same way after that, and I broke up a few weeks later. I’ve had stressful relationships, but nothing has come close to that madness.

    Efe*

    Dating a Nigerian tailor has perks I’ll never forget. My wife uses me as her fit model for all her menswear designs, so I always have custom-made outfits, which are always fire. She adjusts the designs based on how they fit me, so by the time she’s done, they are basically made for me.

    Sometimes, being her model is annoying. My wife is a perfectionist, and there are nights I’m exhausted and not in the mood to stand in front of a mirror, but she always finds a way to make me do her bidding. But then again, the compliments I get when I step out in her designs always make it worth it. She’s also the first tailor I know that doesn’t tell lies. I’ve seen how she’s always intentional about keeping customers updated about delivery schedules. I rate it so much.

    Temi*

    I learned so much about fashion from dating my boyfriend. Before we met, I didn’t know the difference between Ankara and batik or what made certain fabrics better. But being with him feels like taking a masterclass in Nigerian fashion.

    He takes me to fabric markets, and I enjoy watching him bargain with traders. He knows the best vendors and can spot high-quality fabric with just a touch. Once, at Balogun Market, he taught me how to tell the difference between original lace and cheap knockoffs. Being part of his creative process is amazing too. I watch him sketch designs and love it when he asks for my opinion on colours or patterns. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve considered pivoting. 

    Of course, it isn’t always rosy. My boyfriend gets so obsessed with work that I sometimes feel neglected. Especially during festive periods, there are nights he’d work until 3 a.m. while I’m all alone at home, and when he returns in the morning, he’s too tired for conversation. But I can’t complain; this is the life he chose. 

    Kola*

    Sometimes, I joke that my wife’s shop is her real home, and I’m the guy she visits occasionally. It sounds funny, but it’s not far from the truth. She eats, sleeps, and practically lives in her shop because she’s always working on one deadline or another.

    There was a time I went two days without seeing her because she had back-to-back orders for a big event. I had to physically show up at her shop just to remind her that she has a husband at home. I found her curled up on a stack of fabrics, taking a nap.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m incredibly proud of her and her passion for her craft. But it gets frustrating when she prioritises her clients over everything else, even her health. Sometimes, I feel like I’m sharing her with her sewing machine, and it’s winning.

    READ THIS TOO: What’s The Wildest Thing You Did For Love in 2024? — Friends Edition