News
Jonathan’s CNN Interview Arranged for $40,000

Fleishman-Hillard Inc, United States-based communication firm said that it arranged a Cable News Network (CNN) interview for President Goodluck Jonathan for a fee of $60,000 but was paid $40,000.
Fleishman-Hillard Inc told the Premium Times that parts of planned “communication services”, including media interviews for the president in 2010, were later suspended, with equivalent $20,000(N3.2 million) reduction in its fees.
According to the Premium Times, the development implies that for arranging one interview, the firm was paid $40,000.
The online medium also claimed that the US firm did not state which media interview went through, but said the service was in support of Jonathan ’s trip to New York for the 2010 United Nations General Assembly.
“Due to urgent ad-hoc meetings held for the African nations at the 2010 UN General Assembly, the original services proposed were not able to be fully executed,” a Nigerian firm, Quadrant Company, representing Fleishman-Hillard, said in an e-mailed response to Premium Times.
The company said “planned media interviews and other services” for the president were cancelled with only one appointment rescheduled for a later date. As a result, Fleishman-Hillard fees were more than $20,000 less than those originally proposed,” the statement added.
But Premium Times reports that the US firm’s claim is inaccurate on the grounds of the documents in its possession. In one of the documents, Fleishman-Hillard informed its contact in the Nigerian presidency that although it was unable to get an interview for Jonathan in the United States, it succeeded in getting the CNN to interview the president in Nigeria.
The reaction followed an earlier report by the online medium on how the president paid thousands of dollars to agents for arranging interviews with foreign media outlet, a choice seen as wasteful and unnecessary.
Documents available to online outfit indicate that Fleishman-Hillard Inc anchored the deal with the Nigerian presidency through Enyi Odigbo, chairman of Lagos-based advertising and public relations company, Caesar’s Group.
In the bill, seen by Premium Times, the company requested $59, 200 from the Nigerian government for arranging an interview for President Jonathan with the CNN Nigerian affiliate in late 2010.
The interview, anchored by Isha Sesay, held in Aso Rock in Abuja on September 30, 2010, in preparation for the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Nigeria’s Independence.
Fleishman-Hillard was also to contact other foreign media outlets such as Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Reuters, as Mr. Jonathan planned at the time to announce his intention to run for president in 2011. The firm only delivered on the CNN interview.
A response, signed by Bolaji Okusaga, the managing director of Lagos-based The Quadrant Company, who is representing Fleishman-Hillard in Nigeria, said a part the contract awarded to the company was suspended “at the last minute” due to the exigency of time.
The company denied carrying out lobbying activities for the presidency, and said what it offered to the presidency was a “one-time assignment”.
“Fleishman-Hillard has not provided any service to the Office of the President since that time,” the firm said.
Since taking office early 2010, some of the president’s key decisions have been made public on foreign outlets, mainly the CNN.
Jonathan had delivered his first public comments on late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s health in an interview with CNN’s Christiana Amanpour in 2010, where he spoke of how the ailing president’s family blocked him from seeing him.
News
CAC Announces Upward Review of Service Fees

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced an upward review of its service fees, which will take effect from August 1, 2025.
The announcement was made through the commission’s official social media page on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
According to the CAC, the fee adjustment was necessary due to the current economic conditions, rising operational costs, and input from key stakeholders.
The statement read, “The Commission wishes to inform the General Public, Esteemed Customers, and all Stakeholders that in the continued efforts to improve its service quality and delivery, it has become necessary to review certain service fees effective the 1st day of August 2025.”
The commission explained that the fee changes are part of efforts to deliver better and more digitalised services while maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s corporate registry.
The revised fee structure will affect services related to companies, business names, limited partnerships, and incorporated trustees.
Key fee changes announced by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) include adjustments across various service categories.
For voluntary striking-off, the fee is now ₦50,000 for small companies and ₦100,000 for public companies, up from the previous ₦25,000.
Relisting a company will cost ₦50,000 for LTD/GTE and ₦100,000 for public companies.
Due diligence through self-service is set at ₦50,000. Requests for extension of time to hold an annual general meeting will now cost ₦100,000 for public companies and ₦50,000 for others.
Historical search reports will range from ₦20,000 to ₦30,000 per request. A restriction of a director’s residential address now attracts a ₦25,000 fee, while obtaining a certified true copy of documents or extracts will cost ₦5,000 per copy.
For limited partnerships, both voluntary striking-off and relisting will cost ₦25,000. A letter of good standing will be ₦10,000, registration and certified copies of documents will be ₦30,000, and a change of name will attract a ₦10,000 fee.
Regarding business names, voluntary striking-off is now ₦10,000, relisting ₦25,000, and an application for cessation ₦10,000. The certified true copy of documents will cost ₦5,000 each, and restriction of a proprietor’s address will also be ₦25,000.
Name reservations remain at ₦1,000, while reserved names with restricted words still cost ₦5,000.
The new fee structure is expected to impact business owners, lawyers, compliance officers, and others who interact with the corporate registry.
News
Global Travel Made Simple with Kaspersky eSIM Store

Kaspersky eSIM Store is a new connectivity solution for international travel. Designed to make it easier for leisure and business travellers to stay online globally, it empowers users with easy Internet access across 150+ countries and regions, with a choice of over 2,000 affordable data plans.
The production of eSIM-compatible devices has increased tenfold in the last five years according to the GSMA. By 2028, it is expected that half of all mobile connections worldwide will use eSIM technology.
This rise in popularity is driven by eSIM’s convenience and ease of use – eliminating the need for physical SIM cards and enabling a hassle-free experience wherever you go.
To meet this growing trend, Kaspersky eSIM Store provides access to eSIM plans from local telecom operators all over the world – with an easy interface and simple management.
A new way to always stay connected
Kaspersky eSIM Store lets users to enjoy affordable and easily accessible Internet connections around the globe without the hassle of physical SIM cards. Users can seamlessly access eSIM plans from local telecom providers in 150+ countries and regions worldwide, providing favourable rates and transparent conditions without any roaming fees.
While travelling, an eSIM can help users avoid high roaming costs on a primary SIM, remove the need to search for a local SIM kiosk and share personal data with them, as well as avoiding the use of unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
Instead, eSIM ensures that leisure travellers can focus on the joyful moments of their trip and instantly share them with friends and relatives, while business travellers have continuous access to important messages, working documents and video calls.
Seamless connection in a few taps
Kaspersky eSIM Store features a user-friendly interface for plan selection, purchase, top-ups, and data usage management. Travellers can choose their preferred activation date, allowing them to set up their eSIM in advance and be connected the moment their trip begins — all in just a few taps.
To match the needs of any traveller, there are many flexible ways to choose and manage data plans.
Options are available based on destination, including plans for specific countries, global plan 122 destinations, or mini-global plans tailored to specific regions.
For trip duration, travellers can select between expiring plans valid for a fixed period or non-expiring plans that remain active until the data is fully used. This ensures convenience whether the trip is short or long.
Additionally, users have control over when their plan starts. They can either schedule activation for a specific date or begin using the data immediately, providing flexibility to align with their travel schedule.
To ensure users never run out of GB unexpectedly, Kaspersky eSIM Store provides real-time data usage monitoring and alerts when a balance is near zero. The user profile (on the webpage or in the app) allows quick top-ups and supports multiple countries on a single eSIM – install once and use for a lifetime.
Kaspersky eSIM Store is launched in partnership with award-winning provider BNESIM Limited, which has been delivering global eSIM services since 2017.
“At Kaspersky we are constantly keeping up with latest trends shaping our digital habits, and eSIM is definitely one of them. eSIM technology greatly simplifies travelling abroad, allowing people to stay connected and not worry about issues like roaming charges.
“We know from our own experience how important it is to stay in touch with your family or colleagues when you are on a trip, so we designed Kaspersky eSIM Store for all types of travellers to ensure instant access to eSIM data plans wherever they go, as well as to provide a safe and positive digital experience,” – Mikhail Gerber, Executive Vice President, Consumer Business, Kaspersky.
Kaspersky eSIM Store complements Kaspersky’s wide range of industry-recognised solutions, such as Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection and Kaspersky Premium. Together they cover all modern connectivity needs and enhance digital freedom – ensuring safe, worry-free connectivity across the world.
News
Rising Oil Prices: PENGASSAN Calls Out Marketers Over Fuel Hike

President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, has criticised oil marketers for exploiting Nigerians through inflated fuel prices, insisting that petrol should sell between ₦700 and ₦750 per litre.
This comes after depots across Nigeria have increased the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) following a surge in global crude oil prices triggered by rising tensions in the Middle East. A parallel strike by tanker drivers along Lagos’ Lekki-Epe corridor has further compounded the situation.
Data from Petroleumprice.ng revealed that Dangote Petroleum Refinery raised its petrol price from ₦825 to ₦840 on Monday, while Rainoil increased its price from ₦850 to ₦900. Fynefield and Mainland adjusted their ex-depot prices to ₦930 and ₦920, respectively, marking increases of ₦51 and ₦63. Other reported prices included Sigmund at ₦920, Matrix Warri at ₦910, NIPCO at ₦895 (up from ₦827), and Aiteo at ₦840.
The rise in ex-depot prices suggests that petrol could approach ₦1,000 per litre in the coming days.
Clement Isong, Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN), attributed the spike to rising crude prices. However, a depot operator who spoke anonymously said Monday’s halt in petrol loading—caused by tanker drivers’ protest over a ₦12,500 E-Call-Up fee—was a more immediate concern.
“If unresolved, this E-Call-Up issue could plunge the country into another fuel scarcity,” the operator warned.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s crude grades—Bonny Light, Brass River, and Qua Iboe—climbed to $77 per barrel on Friday, continuing the upward trend into Monday due to Israel’s military actions against Iran. As of Monday, Bonny Light stood at $78.62 per barrel, according to Oilprice.com. These prices now exceed the Federal Government’s 2025 budget benchmark of $75, offering temporary fiscal relief but threatening domestic fuel stability.Music concert tickets
Energy experts caution that higher crude prices will raise the cost of refined products like petrol and diesel, due to the rising cost of feedstock.
On the E-Call-Up crisis, MEMAN’s Isong urged the Lagos State Government to engage stakeholders and resolve the issue quickly to prevent further disruptions. He echoed tanker drivers’ concerns that the ₦12,500 levy could spark additional fuel price hikes, noting that Nigerians are already under financial pressure.
At a press conference in Abuja, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo claimed that the persistent shutdowns of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries are politically motivated rather than due to technical faults.
Despite over $2.5 billion invested in refinery rehabilitation, he lamented that facilities like the Port Harcourt Refinery remain largely unproductive. The facility is currently undergoing a 30-day maintenance shutdown and is expected back online next week.
“We are aware the Port Harcourt Refinery was recently shut for maintenance, but the deeper issue is that these refineries operate far below efficiency. Political interference, not just technical issues, has stalled their performance,” Osifo said.
He urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to revisit its refinery operations model and adopt long-standing recommendations from PENGASSAN, which has been advocating reforms for over 15 years.
On the disparity in fuel pricing, Osifo criticised the continued high cost of PMS despite falling global crude oil prices. “Crude has dropped from about $80 to between $62 and $65 per barrel, yet petrol still sells at ₦875 to ₦905 per litre nationwide,” he said.
He blamed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for failing to enforce fair pricing under the deregulated market system.
“NMDPRA must not allow marketers to exploit Nigerians under the guise of deregulation,” Osifo stated. “Crude price and exchange rate account for nearly 80% of the final retail price. With current international benchmarks, petrol should retail between ₦700 and ₦750 per litre.”
He urged the agency to start publishing transparent pricing templates to prevent arbitrary pricing practices.
Osifo also expressed concern over worsening insecurity in Nigeria’s oil-producing regions, particularly along the waterways. He warned that this is prompting multinational oil companies to divest, despite cost-saving incentives recently introduced by the Federal Government.
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