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- The number of new Vision Pro apps have declined in every month since the device went on sale, according to consultancy AppFigures.
- Many of the new apps and ideas for the Vision Pro are coming from independent developers, hacking on the weekends while holding down day jobs.
- Apple in August said the Vision Pro had 2,500 apps. By AppFigures’ count, fewer than 1,900 remain active.
When Apple revealed the Vision Pro in 2023, it called the $3,500 headset its next “major platform.” Two years later, and a year after going on sale, the device is thin on apps.
Apple doesn’t regularly release stats on the number of Vision Pro apps that are available, and it’s hard to tell how many new apps come out in any given month. According to consultancy AppFigures, which tracks Apple’s platforms, the number of new Vision Pro apps has declined every month since the device hit the market in February 2024.
When Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, executives said that developers would be able to create new experiences that weren’t possible with traditional computers. But so far, top developers remain mostly focused elsewhere, and major tech companies like Google, Meta and Netflix have yet to release their most important apps for the headset.
Many of the new apps and ideas for the Vision Pro are coming from independent developers, hacking on the weekends while holding down day jobs.
One person in the indie camp is Adam Roszyk, a programmer in Poland who has created 17 Vision Pro apps since the headset was first released.
For $4, Roszyk’s Night Vision app lets a Vision Pro user tap the depth-sensing cameras of the device to see objects in the dark. If you spend $5, you can perform a chore in a Luigi’s Mansion-like video game using the app Vacuume, which overlays virtual coins on your floor that you can vacuum up, along with any real dirt or dust. And for $6, Roszyk’s app Scan Export lets users create a 3D digital scan of an entire building just by walking around, a useful tool for those in construction or real estate.
“We are still early, and we don’t really know how it can be really useful in your life,” Roszyk said. “There’s so many different ideas that just come to your mind.”
Roszyk continues to work on Vision Pro apps because he said he believes “spatial computing” — Apple’s preferred terminology for headset and glasses technology that can integrate 3D objects with the world around them — will be the next big platform. Roszyk is betting that developing apps now can put him in prime position when more people are walking around with a Vision Pro or, perhaps some day, lightweight glasses.
“This type of computing is the future,” Roszyk said. “I would definitely compare it to the first iPhones.”
Roszyk’s efforts have made him money, but not enough for Vision Pro development to become his full-time job. His 17 apps have cleared about $4,000 on the App Store in the last three months. That number is growing as he releases more apps and more people find out about them, Roszyk said.
Apple updated its most recent Vision Pro app count in August, with CEO Tim Cook telling investors on an earnings call that the platform had 2,500 apps. That number covers fully immersive apps that overlay virtual objects over the real world as well as 2D apps with some spatial components.
By AppFigures’ count, less than 1,900 of these apps remained active at the end of January.
Apple declined to comment.
Rival Meta in 2023 said that it had 500 apps in its Quest store, and the company last year said that number had multiplied by 10.
The Quest 3S, which has many of the same features as the Vision Pro, starts at $300. Meta also sold millions of its predecessors in recent years. While Meta hasn’t revealed how many users it has, its Meta Quest app was downloaded about 6 million times in 2024, according to AppFigures data, a useful proxy because users need to download the app in order to set up the headset.
There are also about 1.5 million Vision Pro apps that are ported versions of iPhone and iPad apps. Apple automatically ports iPhone and iPad apps to the Vision Pro when they’re uploaded, but companies can decline. Those apps can be used inside the headset but appear as 2D flat screens. Meta started to emulate that strategy last year with 2D Android apps for Quest, but the company doesn’t have the same library of millions of existing mobile apps.
Apple doesn’t publish Vision Pro sales, but one estimate from IDC suggests fewer than 1 million devices have been sold.
Some services like Netflix and YouTube, and game streaming services like Nvidia GeForce Now can be accessed through the Apple Vision Pro’s browser. And existing apps often receive updates that introduce a spatial mode, such as the NBA scores app, which recently got an experimental feature that allows users to watch a live basketball game as if the players were miniature figurines on a table.
Apple Arcade, a monthly game subscription from Apple, does require that its titles support the Vision Pro in addition to iPhones and iPads. Apple Arcade developers are paid by Apple and their apps are free to subscribers.
Although many of those games are 2D, some are exclusive to the Vision Pro. In January, Apple released Gears & Goo, a Vision Pro app that enables the player to control an army of goofy frog-like characters on a table in the real world.
Meanwhile, Meta is actively courting VR developers with a promise that they can make money. Meta in January said that its payment volume for Quest headsets rose by 12% last year, although it didn’t cite a total number. Meta has also said it has 200 apps that have made more than $1 million through software sales.
No iPhone-like app gold rush
The Apple Vision Pro headset is displayed at the Fifth Avenue Apple store on Feb. 2, 2024 in New York City.
Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images
The Vision Pro app gold rush has seen slower uptake than the iPhone’s app boom.
A year after the iPhone App Store was launched in 2008, Apple was crowing about the platform having 50 million customers, 2 billion downloads and 85,000 apps. Apple regularly told investors and developers how much money it had paid from App Store sales — it hasn’t released any similar stat for the Vision Pro.
Many in the VR industry hoped Apple’s entry would kick off a boom like the iPhone did for mobile apps, creating fortunes as millions of users sought to fill their new devices with fresh software.
“My assumption back then was whatever Apple releases might be in that final form, so it’s a good idea to be ready as early as possible,” said Nikhil Jacob, who runs Vision Uni, which publishes content about developing apps for the Vision Pro. “But my assumption there ended up being wrong.”
Jacob said he believes that an app developer ecosystem for the Vision Pro will take a lot longer to build out than it did for the iPhone because key pieces are missing. Jacob hopes Apple improves the Vision Pro app store to help users find new apps.
The slow uptake, due largely to the high price tag, has led some to worry that VR and its related technologies are once again entering a lull.
“Winter has come,” said Jarrett Webb, who develops headset apps for Argo Design, a software consultancy. “Even Apple couldn’t produce a winner.”
Still, some optimism remains among Vision Pro developers.
They say that Apple’s hardware is solid, the company’s developer tools are improving, and that the Vision Pro lays the groundwork for future software and hardware updates. It also helps that Vision Pro owners still seem to be excited to try out new apps.
Apple’s entry into the headset market, combined with Google’s recent announcement of its own Android XR platform, as well as Meta’s billions of dollars of investment signals that there will be a market for VR content, said John Gearty, who worked on the Vision Pro at Apple and is the founder of PulseJet Studios, a VR production house focusing on music. Gearty is hoping for steady growth from the market, but he has tempered his expectations.
“I don’t think it’s ever going to be hockey stick growth,” he said.
Apple has not said if it will update the Vision Pro. According to analysts, the company is working on a successor. Developers want it to be lighter and less expensive. They welcome any improvements that would get it on more faces.
“Over time, everything gets better, and it too will have its course of getting better and better,” Cook told The Wall Street Journal in October. “I think it’s just arguably a success today from an ecosystem-being-built-out point of view.”
[CNBC]
Treehouse CEO Brandon Goh recently discussed the potential of fixed income in decentralized finance (DeFi), calling it a key factor for the sector's institutional adoption. In an interview on the podcast Hashing It Out, Goh explained that although DeFi has seen growth with products like decentralized exchanges and lending platforms, it lacks the core component of traditional finance: fixed income. Goh emphasized that fixed income, which includes assets like bonds and savings accounts, forms the backbone of traditional finance, but its absence in the DeFi ecosystem presents a barrier to wider institutional involvement.
One of the main challenges with introducing fixed income to DeFi is the lack of standardized benchmark rates, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is commonly used in traditional finance. Goh pointed out that without these foundational benchmark rates, scaling fixed-income products in a decentralized environment becomes difficult. He believes this gap is one reason fixed income is nearly non-existent in the current DeFi landscape.
Treehouse, the platform Goh co-founded, aims to address this issue by combining traditional fixed-income products with the flexibility of DeFi. Through its platform, Treehouse offers a way for users to earn predictable returns, making it easier for investors to manage risks in yield-generating products. This approach is designed to provide both stability and transparency, key factors that could attract institutional investors to the DeFi space.
Additionally, Goh stressed the importance of creating an on-chain benchmark, such as a decentralized offered rate (DOR), to improve market efficiency and transparency. He explained that Treehouse’s model uses these tools to provide a secure and reliable investment environment, helping bridge the gap between traditional finance and the emerging DeFi market.
The conversation also turned to how large financial institutions might engage with DeFi in the future. Goh suggested that while these institutions may be cautious about participating in high-risk DeFi products, they may be more likely to adopt stable and transparent options like staking. He predicts that as regulatory clarity improves and the infrastructure around DeFi becomes more robust, fixed income could play a significant role in the next phase of DeFi’s growth.
Treehouse’s work in introducing fixed income to DeFi represents a crucial step in the sector’s maturation. With its combination of traditional financial models and decentralized technology, Treehouse could provide the stability needed to attract institutional players. As DeFi continues to evolve, Goh’s vision for fixed-income products may help create the foundation for a more stable and widely accepted decentralized financial ecosystem.
[Yahoo.com]
The cryptocurrency market is lacking positive catalysts in the near term, Wall Street bank JPMorgan (JPM) said in a report Wednesday.
The correction in crypto markets in recent months has seen both bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) futures near backwardation, which is a sign of lower demand, the report said. Backwardation occurs when the spot price of an asset is higher than the price trading in the futures market.
"This is a negative development and indicative of demand weakness by those institutional investors that use regulated CME futures contracts to gain exposure into these two cryptocurrencies," analysts led Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote.
If demand for bitcoin and ether futures is healthy, the futures cost more than the spot price, and the curve is said to be in contango, the bank noted.
When demand slows and price expectations soften, the futures curve moves towards backwardation, the bank added.
This weakness in demand could be due to a number of reasons.
Positive crypto initiatives by Trump's new administration are more likely to kick in during the second half of the year, the bank said, and this means institutional investors are likely taking profits due to a lack of short-term catalysts.
Lower demand from systematic and momentum-driven funds, such as CTAs, has also affected bitcoin and ether futures, JPMorgan added.
[markets businessinsider]
The President of ECK Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Dr. Emeka Kalu, has stated that former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has the capacity to rescue Nigeria from its current economic crisis if elected president in 2027.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Kalu lamented the country’s deteriorating economy, describing Atiku as a “rational game-changer” with an impressive track record in leadership. He asserted that Atiku possesses the vision and experience to prevent the nation’s economy from collapsing entirely.
Kalu criticized the mismanagement of Nigeria’s natural resources, emphasizing the need to explore and maximize them for economic growth. He urged both voters and political leaders to rally behind Atiku to bring about the necessary reforms.
He also called on Nigerians to stop supporting corrupt politicians for personal gain, advocating instead for “selfless, capable, trusted, and competent hands” like Atiku to restore the country to its former economic strength.
“The sorry state of our economy should remind all Nigerians that we are under a failed leadership. The rising hunger, high cost of living, naira depreciation, insecurity, nepotism, treasury looting, tariff hikes, and unemployment have set us back significantly. The only hope for recovery lies in supporting competent political leadership in 2027,” Kalu said.
According to him, governing a nation of over 200 million people requires intelligence, character, sound education, and a detribalized mindset. He maintained that Atiku possesses these qualities and is best suited to revive Nigeria’s economy.
Kalu expressed regret that electoral malpractices had repeatedly denied Atiku the opportunity to lead the country. He recalled Atiku’s tenure as Vice President, highlighting his contributions to economic liberalization, trade investments, job creation, and other significant reforms.
Furthermore, he criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for its lack of transparency in handling the fuel subsidy regime, noting that this was one of many economic challenges the country faces.
“With Atiku Abubakar in charge, Nigeria will experience rapid economic progress,” Kalu asserted. “This is not a campaign or political propaganda, but a statement of facts whose impact cannot be erased.”
[Opinion Nigeria]
Naija News reports that Obi said Nigeria’s economy is struggling. He stated this following his observation of Wednesday’s Kaduna International Trade Fair.
In a statement, on his ? handle on Friday, the former Governor of Anambra State stated that the last Kaduna International Trade Fair was a shadow of what it used to be.
“From my interactions, I observed an economy in decline. The trade fair itself was a shadow of its former self once vibrant, now nearly deserted, with multinational companies conspicuously absent.
“As a trader and a keen observer of economic activities, I can confidently say that our economy is struggling. Having attended the trade fair several times over two decades ago, I noticed the glaring absence of major corporations that once actively participated.
“The Kaduna Trade Fair was once a thriving hub of commerce, attracting businesses, investors, and innovators from across the nation. In its prime, securing a booth or booking a hotel during the fair required weeks, sometimes months, of advance planning. I recall having my own space at the fair, witnessing firsthand the energy, opportunities, and partnerships it fostered. It was a significant contributor to our national economy, drawing global participation and expanding trade beyond our borders,” he narrated.
The Labour Party chieftain called on the government to prioritize policies that would encourage a productive economy and create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
He emphasized the need for the country to imitate other nations that have policies that encourage the growth of local businesses.
“As a country, we must return to policies that prioritize production over consumption, strengthening the backbone of our economy—our small businesses, industries, and entrepreneurs.
“We must learn from nations like Indonesia, Bangladesh, and India, which have successfully implemented economic models that empower local businesses, enhance manufacturing, and create sustainable jobs.
“Nigeria has the potential to reclaim its status as a major commercial hub in Africa, but this requires prudent leadership, strategic economic planning, and the political will to support business-friendly policies,” he stated.
[NaijaNews]
The chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu, has stated that Nigeria needed increased oil production to fund the country’s economic diversification and development.
Elumelu stated this on Thursday at the Nigeria Petroleum Industry Leadership Discourse in Abuja, highlighting the crucial role of oil revenues in driving industrialisation, energy security, and infrastructural growth.
The discourse, themed “Nigeria’s Oil Production Growth Roadmap: Acceleration Imperatives”, was convened under the umbrella of Heirs Energies, a subsidiary of Heirs Holdings, to bring together industry stakeholders and policymakers to strategise on expanding oil production.
Elumelu, who also serves as the chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Transcorp Group, emphasised that while there is a global dialogue about energy transition, Africa’s foremost concern should be energy security.
He highlighted the necessity for substantial investment in oil and gas to fuel industries, support businesses, and guarantee electricity access for both homes and enterprises.
While acknowledging the growth in oil production under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, he noted that Nigeria was still underperforming compared to its OPEC quota.
“You know, under Buhari’s administration, we dropped less than 1 million barrels. We are happy that under the current administration, in general, we produce 1.8 million barrels of oil a day. But we are not satisfied with that figure.
“We want to take it to over 2 million. Because we know that we need oil money to diversify Nigeria away from oil. And we need to have the money to help develop our country,” he said.
Elumelu also emphasised the significance of boosting oil production to generate foreign exchange, stabilize the naira, and enhance national security.
He noted that boosting crude oil output would provide the financial resources required for industrialisation and infrastructure development, particularly in sectors such as power generation and manufacturing.
As vhairman of Transcorp Group, Elumelu revealed that Transcorp Power, Nigeria’s leading power generation company, currently has a capacity of 2,000 megawatts but is unable to operate at full capacity due to gas supply constraints.
Elumelu also called for stronger collaboration between government, industry players, and investors to achieve the target of increasing oil production to 2.5–2.7 million barrels per day.
He noted that the policy reforms and executive orders signed by President Tinubu in the past 12 months have improved investor confidence, security, and the overall business climate in the oil sector.
Elumelu disclosed that when Heirs Energies acquired OML 17 from Shell, production was 21,000 barrels per day. It has since risen to 53,000 barrels per day, and the company aims for 100,000 barrels per day.
Elumelu expressed his belief that Nigeria could exceed 2 million barrels per day if all stakeholders work together on production expansion, infrastructure improvement, and security of oil facilities.
While Heirs Energies plans to integrate downstream operations in the future, its primary focus remains on increasing crude oil production. Access to this raw material facilitates the transition to refining, fertilizers, and petrochemicals.
[Leadership]
The reigning African Footballer of the Year and Atalanta FC of Italy forward, Ademola Lookman, will now look to dethrone the incumbent holder, Victor Osimhen, for the highest honour of Nigeria Pitch Awards.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisers of the Nigeria Pitch Awards on Thursday at the Bon Hotels, Sobo Arobiodu, Ikeja, unveiled the nominees for the 2025 edition of the awards which has 18 categories.
In the highest category of the Pitch Awards, which is “The King of the Pitch”, Super Eagles striker, Osimhen, will face a stiff competition from his compatriot, Lookman, who was recently crowned as the “African Footballer of the Year”.
Osimhen, the Galatasaray FC of Turkey hitman, is the current holder of the “King of the Pitch” award.
The Super Eagles forward, Osimhen, had made history at the 10th anniversary in 2024 by winning both the “Striker of the Year” and “King of the Pitch” awards for the third consecutive year at the 2024 edition.
Osimhen’s achievement at the 10th anniversary of the Nigeria Pitch Awards made him the first player in the history of the awards to secure a three times King of the Pitch in a row.
For the 2025 edition, Osimhen is expected to face a strong opposition from the the stand-in captain of the Super Eagles, Williams Troost Ekong.
Shina Phillips, the organiser of the awards, said on Thursday that the awards would not let down its guard in protecting the integrity and transparency of the award.
In the ceremony, the Director of Communication, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ademola Olajide reeled out the list of the nominees had been picked in all 18 award categories.
The award categories include Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Striker of the Year, Queen of the Pitch, King of the Pitch, Sam Okwaraji Award, Football Pitch, Football-Friendly Governor, Corporate Sponsor, alongside several honours for media representatives.
For the Goalkeeper of the Year: Maduka Okoye (Undize Italy); Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa) and Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars, Nigeria) got the nominations
Defender of the Year: Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest England) and Williams Troost Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia)
Midfielder of the Year: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England) and Frank Onyeka (FC Augsburg Germany)
Striker of the Year: Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) and Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy).
Team of the Year: Rangers International FC; Edo Queens FC and Remo Stars.
Coach of the Year: Daniel Ogunmodede (Remo Stars); Moses Adukwu (Edo Queens FC); Fidelis Ilechukwu (Rangers International FC).
Sam Okwaraji Award: Segun Odegbami former Green Eagles captain; Ahmed Musa; Kunle Soname (Proprietor, Remo Stars).
State With The Best Grassroots Football Development Programme: Edo State; Delta State; Lagos State
Football Pitch of the Year: Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos; Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne; Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo
Football-Friendly Governor of the Year: His Excellency Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State); His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos State); His Excellency Godwin Obaseki (former Governor of Edo State)
Corporate Sponsor of Football: Bet9ja (Sport Betting); GTI (Financial Services); MTN (Telecom)
Sportsmanship Award: Hon. Kunle Soname (Proprietor, Remo Stars); George Aluo (Chairman, Nigeria National League (NNL)); Ahmed Musa (Super Eagles captain).
Football Journalist of the Year (Print): Charles Diya (New Telegraph); Johnny Edward (The Nation Newspapers); Abiodun Adewale (Punch).
Football Journalist of the Year (TV): Mozez Praiz (SuperSport); Cecilia Omorogbe (Channels TV); Blessing Nwosu (Silverbird TV).
Football Journalist of the Year (Radio): Olawale Adigun (Mainland FM); Micheal Obasi (Bond FM); Chima Nnoli (Nija Info FM)
Football Journalist of the Year (Online): Niyi Busari (BSN Sports); Samuel Ahmadu; Kunle Solaja (Sportsville).
Queen of the Pitch: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico de Madrid Femenino Spain); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC U.S)
King of the Pitch: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray SC, Turkey); Wlliams Troost Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia).
(NAN)
![UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw confirmed [Full fixtures]](/media/k2/items/cache/1193e3204a5c999bf5fc9d50f6e0323a_S.jpg)
The draw for this season’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 has been conducted on Friday.
Current holders Real Madrid will take on rivals Atletico Madrid in the pick of the bunch.
There will also be an all-Bundesliga clash between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal have been paired against PSV, while Liverpool take on Paris Saint-Germain.
The ties for the round of 16 will be played on during the weeks of March 4 and March 5.
The return legs are scheduled for March 11 and March 12.
FULL FIXTURES:
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
Borussia Dortmund vs Lille
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen
PSV vs Arsenal
Feyenoord vs Inter Milan
PSG vs Liverpool
Benfica vs Barcelona
[DailyPost]
The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, has criticised Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over a dispute concerning her seating arrangement in the chamber.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party, had on Thursday refused to use the seat assigned to her, citing Order 10 of the Senate Standing Rules, which protects members’ privileges.
The dispute arose after Akpoti-Uduaghan’s seat was reassigned due to a reshuffle triggered by opposition members switching to the majority wing.
However, she resisted the relocation.
In defiance, the Kogi senator spoke out loudly, accusing the leadership of attempting to silence her.
“I don’t care if I am silenced. I am not afraid of you. You have denied me my privilege,” she declared.
During the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on security to remove her from the chamber, but intervention from fellow lawmakers prevented further escalation.
Reacting to the incident in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Adaramodu said the Senate was not a platform for entertainment.
“What we are saying is that the National Assembly is not for content creation in entertainment. National Assembly is for serious business,” he said.
Addressing Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claim of being sidelined, Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South, said she had already been appointed chairperson of three committees, including Foreign Affairs and NGOs.
“If she is talking like that being bullied or sidelined, as a first-timer, she even had three committees that she was appointed as chairman.
“You are entitled to only committee to be the chairman and she is in charge of Foreign Affairs, NGOs now,” the Senate spokesman said.
When asked about possible disciplinary action, he noted that her Kogi colleague, Senator Isah Jubril, had apologised on her behalf.
“The Senate as a whole has already accepted that tendered apology, so we are not going to revisit that,” Adaramodu stated.
[Punch]
Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun has said that the local government election slated for Saturday would hold.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, on Thursday advised Adeleke not to proceed with the election.
Fagbemi urged Adeleke to respect the Court of Appeal, Akure, judgement which restored the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen and councillors sacked in 2022 by the Federal High Court, Osogbo.
Adeleke, in a statement on Friday in Osogbo made available to newsmen by Malam Olawale Rasheed, the spokesperson to the governor, said this while playing host to a delegation of the Civil Society Coalition.
According to the governor, democracy is governed by the rule of law and nobody can assume the authority of the court.
He advised all parties, including local and national stakeholders, to abide by democratic norms.
“As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not illegal self-help.
“The election is going to hold and the outcome will fast-track development at the local level.
“I urge our people to remain peaceful. Osun is truly a peaceful state,” he said.
The governor, who said the delegates were in the state to monitor the local government poll, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation by the state electoral body.
According to him, the electorate are prepared to exercise their voting rights on Saturday.
“I welcome you all to Osun State. Our people are prepared to choose their chairmen and councillors tomorrow.
“The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has also done a marvellous preparatory job, according to reports at my disposal.
“Other political parties will participate in the election, and I believe there will be a level playing ground for all to test their popularity at the poll,” he said.
(NAN)
More...
Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says the apex bank aims to cut inflation figures to a single digit in the medium to long term.
Cardoso spoke on Thursday at a news conference held in Abuja after the 299th monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting.
The governor’s statement follows the rebasing of the consumer price index (CPI) which brought down Nigeria’s inflation rate from 34.8 percent to 24.8 percent.
Cardoso said the rebased inflation rate reflects the true position of the nation’s inflationary position and is in line with international best standards.
“Despite the positive shift in inflation figures, the MPC opted to maintain the current MPR to ensure sustained economic stability,” he said.
“As always, we are data-driven. What we have is a CPI which is more reflective of the consumption pattern. To that extent, one commends the NBS for bringing this to reality.”
Cardoso said the CBN will continue to monitor both domestic and global risks to the Nigerian economy with a focus on mitigating them.
“We will certainly stay that course. We will be vigilant. We will not take anything for granted,” he said.
“We believe that inflation has been too high for too long.
“Our objective, in the medium to long term, is to ensure that we are able to bring this down from the double digits to the single digit.
“As we continue with the policies that we have embarked upon, we believe that the road of travel will be in that direction.”
Cardoso said achieving the single-digit inflation target would require stronger coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities, especially as improvements in various markets continue to progress.
“I will be deceiving you to say the fiscal will do it on its own, the monetary will do it on its own. It won’t be,” the economist said.
“Coordination has always been important. But at no time can it be as important, in my view, as the situation we have now, because we can see change in a positive direction, and we need to not only maintain and hold but also improve it.”
He also said the recent monetary policy forum, which successfully brought together fiscal and monetary authorities, marked the beginning of such coordination, highlighting the potential benefits of collaborative efforts.
FX RESERVES NOW $39BILLION
Cardoso also said Nigeria’s external reserves stood at $39.4 billion on February 14.
However, data from the apex bank’s website show that foreign reserves dropped from $39 billion recorded on February 14 to $38.7 billion on February 19 — down by $261.5 million.
“The external reserves remained robust at $39.4 billion as of 14 February 2025, translating to an import cover of 9.6 months for goods and services,” Cardoso said.
He noted that the CBN’s reforms such as the electronic foreign exchange matching system (EFEMS) and the new foreign exchange (FX) code have boosted investor confidence, stabilised the naira, and “increased reserves”.
[TheCable]
The power drunk leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly has been reported to have suspended the 13 members of the House who opposed the illegal resolution directing Governor Hyacinth Alia to remove the Chief Judge of Benue StatebJustice Maurice Ikpambese from office.
The purported suspension of the 13 legislators is a reckless breach of the Constitution. In the cases of Hon Dino Melaye & Ors v House of Representatives, Senator Ovie Omo Agege v The Senate and Senator Ali Nduma v The Senate, the Federal High Court nullified the illegal suspension of the Plaintiffs on the ground that the Defendants acted ultra vires.
In the case of the Speaker of the Bauchi House of Assembly vs Honourable Rifkatu Danna (2017) 49 WRN 82, the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment of the Bauchi State High Court which had earlier set aside the indefinite suspension of Rifkatu Danna as member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly. The Court held that the suspension of an elected legislator is illegal and unconstitutional as it constitutes a denial of representation by his or her constituency.
Since the suspension of the legislators cannot be justified under the Constitution, the leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly should recall them without any delay.
Femi Falana SAN
After Paying N5m For Appearance, Nedu Manipulated Me To Say ‘Things’ On His Podcast — Nwokolo
AFOLABI
Nigerian model and Mr Nigeria 2024, Ugo Nwokolo, has revealed that he paid N5 million to appear on ‘The Honest Bunch’ podcast, hosted by On Air Personality (OAP) Nedu Wazobia, only to be manipulated into making controversial statements to drive traffic for show online.
Recall that Nwokolo had in January faced a backlash over his controversial statement on The Honest Bunch that he was attracted to poor girls.
But, speaking in an interview on Lucky Udu’s podcast, Nwokolo revealed that he initially sought the podcast as a platform to discuss ‘eradicating classism and fostering an egalitarian society’ ahead of representing Nigeria in an international pageant in Poland. However, he alleged that Nedu dictated the narrative for virality, pressuring him to adopt a more sensational approach.
He also said that Nedu made a reference to a social media personality Saidaboj, whom he claimed he popularised through the show, adding that he was also asked to mention the name of a social media critic, VeryDarkMan, in the course of the show.
“Nedu told me, ‘This thing wey you dey talk na big grammar. Nigerians are dumb, they don’t like people that sound intelligent. You are not Peter Obi. For your message to fly, you have to sound dumb,’” Nwokolo said, adding that he reluctantly agreed due to his inexperience in media.
Days before the recording of the show, he alleged that Nedu introduced a ‘last-minute co-guest’ despite their agreement for a solo appearance. After some negotiations, he was promised a N2 million refund, which, he claimed, never materialised.
On the day of the podcast, Nwokolo said he asked to review the discussion flow but was instead pressured to make a sensational statement. “Nedu insisted, saying, ‘This is my program, and I call the shots.’ He even told me I had to mention VeryDarkMan to make the show trend,” he said.
According to Nwokolo, Nedu specifically instructed him to say, “Poor girls turn me on. The poorer the girl, the more attracted I am to her.” Nwokolo said he initially resisted but eventually agreed due to financial constraints, having spent money travelling from Abuja to Lagos for the show.
Following the interview, Nwokolo said he faced severe public backlash, with some branding him manipulative, controlling, and even a ritualist. “I take full responsibility for my actions, but I was forced and manipulated into making that statement,” he admitted.
He described Nedu as a new discovery of manipulation saying, “In my lifetime, I’ve met Manipulators, Narcissists, Gaslighters and I’ve met scammers, but Nedu is a discovery.”
Describing the experience as a hard lesson, Nwokolo expressed regret over trusting Nedu’s advice, stating, “Before we started, he told me, ‘Even Saidaboj, I told her what to say, and now she’s popular.’ I believed him, and that’s how I found myself in this mess.”
Thirty-two years after the famous annulment of the June 12 presidential election in Nigeria, former military president Ibrahim Babangida has disclosed that the annulment of the election was done for “national interest.”
Naija News reports IBB made the disclosure on Thursday, 20th February, 2025 in Abuja, during the launch of his autobiography, titled “A Journey in Service.”
According to him, the decision to annul the election, which was widely believed to have been won by businessman, Chief Moshood Abiola, as a candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was taken in national interest and survival of the country.
“As the leader of the military administration, I accept full responsibility for all decisions taken by me. And June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, oversights, and missteps happen in quick succession but I say in my book, in all matters, we acted in extreme national interest so that Nigeria could survive,” the former military president said at the event.
I Regret The Interruption Of Democracy
Babangida disclosed that he regrets that Nigeria couldn’t return to democracy under his watch, but added that what has been achieved thereafter is a testament to the resilience of the country and its citizens.
“Our nation’s march to democracy was interrupted, a fact that I deeply regret. But Nigeria survived and democracy is still alive, a testament to our resilience and commitment to progress. This book is part of my personal story with national history,” Babangida added.