NGX Fintech Inclusive Growth
Nigerian Exchange Group Chairman Dr Umaru Kwairanga urges regulators, banks, tech firms, and other stakeholders to deepen financial inclusion across Nigeria, including Cross River residents. Speaking in Lagos at the third Business Journal Fintech and Financial Inclusion Roundtable, he called for broader access to digital services, trust, and cybersecurity. The forum, led by Prince Cookey, emphasizes collaboration to extend fintech reach to small businesses, women, and underserved communities, ensuring safe, affordable, and scalable financial solutions for all Nigerians.
Nigeria Pushes Developer Regulation
REDAN President Oba Akintoye Adeoye told a National Housing Data Programme workshop in Abuja that real estate developers operate with little regulation, fueling fraud, multiple land sales, and building collapses nationwide. He urged the Federal Government to create a regulatory framework and a National Developers’ Registry to protect homebuyers and improve housing delivery. Adeoye called for a shared model: government licensing of developers, with REDAN professionalising practice. State governments would handle land and planning, while regulators oversee industry standards.
HMO Seeks Stronger Health Insurance
SUNU Health Nigeria Ltd. Managing Director Dr Moyosore Olomola asks for stronger laws to expand health insurance coverage and accelerate universal health coverage in Nigeria. Speaking with NAN in Abuja on August 2, 2026, he notes that enrolment remains well below targets and urges closer collaboration among NHIA, private HMOs, providers, and lawmakers. He calls for a transparent tariff review, mandatory employer enrolment, and a provider accountability framework to protect insured patients and boost Cross River residents’ access to quality care.
Cross River PPP Projects Approved
The Cross River State Government has approved a ₦670 billion (about US$1.075 billion) Public-Private Partnership pipeline to drive industrialisation across Cross River. The package covers multiple sectors, including manufacturing, infrastructure, and urban development, with projects planned to create jobs and improve services for residents. Authorities say the PPP approach will mobilise private capital and expertise, accelerate factory and business park development in Calabar and nearby areas, and deliver improved power, transport, and logistics over the coming years. Local businesses and workers should prepare for opportunities as procurement and project timelines are published.
PDP Candidate Urged to Back Otu
Former Calabar Municipality mayor Bobby Effiom Ekpenyong has urged Cross River State’s PDP gubernatorial hopeful, Arthur Jarvis, to drop his bid and back the incumbent governor, Bassey Otu, for the state’s progress. Speaking over the weekend, Ekpenyong argued that Otu’s administration has built a track record of governance and urged Jarvis to unite with party leaders for the state’s stability. The call underscores ongoing internal discussions about leadership and development in Calabar and across Cross River.
Duke, Onoh on INEC list
Two Cross River-born candidates, Senator Sandy Onoh and Donald Duke, have made INEC’s 19-man presidential contenders list for 2027. Duke will lead the PRP ticket and Onoh will battle for PDP. The development places Cross River on national political radar as campaigns approach, with residents watching how federal decisions will affect local jobs, security, and development projects. Cross River stakeholders should follow updates as party lines shift ahead of the election.
Cross River First Conversation
The Think Cross River First campaign is gaining traction in Cross River State, inviting residents to celebrate indigenous talent, support local businesses, and drive community development. Cross River communities and non-indigenes alike are urged to consider how inclusion and merit can help the state grow. Stakeholders say the discussion should unite people across backgrounds as Cross River plans to expand education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship. The piece emphasizes that the state’s future depends on participation from all who live, work, and invest here.
FirstBank aids women entrepreneurs
FirstBank of Nigeria has launched the Spark A Gem Challenge to support women-led businesses nationwide, including Cross River residents. The program, part of the Women Preneur Pitch-A-Ton and FirstGem initiatives, awards grants and provides training, mentorship, and networking to female entrepreneurs. The bank announced a total of ₦10 million in grants and highlighted 356 applications from women-owned businesses across sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, and food services. This aligns with Nigeria’s push to boost women in business.
NAICOM confirms NIIRA 2025 compliance
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) confirms that 43 insurance and reinsurance firms have met the NIIRA 2025 capital requirements. The public notice, issued in Lagos on August 3, 2026, shows life, non-life, and composite operators meeting the new thresholds after the July 31 deadline. This recapitalisation strengthens insurers’ ability to underwrite larger risks and support infrastructure projects. Cross River residents can expect improved policyholder protections and greater assurance from capitalised companies operating in Nigeria, with final verifications for eight additional firms completed within the 14-day window.
Preserve Our Native Languages
The piece by Ngang Bassey Ngang, Phd, published in Calitown on August 3, 2026, argues that language is the soul of a people and a key part of Cross River and Nigerian heritage. It urges making native languages compulsory in primary schools and stresses that governments, educators, parents, and communities must document, teach, and promote mother tongues. It calls for using technology—digital archives, dictionaries, and language apps—to preserve culture for future generations and to revive pride in local identity.
Nigeria Introduces Crypto Tax Rules
The Nigeria Revenue Service has unveiled new guidelines for taxing virtual assets, clarifying obligations for individuals, businesses, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), and peer-to-peer platforms. The framework, aligned with the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, aims to improve transparency and compliance across Nigeria’s digital economy. Cross River residents and local firms involved in crypto transactions should review these rules to ensure proper record-keeping and avoid sanctions, as the guidelines outline taxable activities and reporting requirements.
NYSC Clears for Mobilisation
The National Youth Service Corps has announced that all prospective corps members must obtain clearance through the National Electronic Registration Database (NERD) before mobilisation. The directive, disclosed on the NYSC’s official X account ahead of the next mobilisation batch, makes NERD clearance mandatory; graduates who fail to complete it will not be mobilised. Prospective corps members are advised to complete the clearance early to avoid delays, and to follow NYSC guidelines when traveling to orientation camps in Cross River and across Nigeria.
Shocking Nigerian passport renewal costs
A Nigerian based in the United States, Sage Vincent Ike, spends more than ₦1 million renewing his Nigerian passport, despite government efforts to ease processing. He applies in March 2026 as his passport expires in May 2026, travels from North Carolina to the Nigerian consulate for biometric capture, and faces a holiday closure that forces rescheduling. Delays drive up travel costs and non-refundable bookings, prompting calls for improved passport services for Nigerians abroad.
UK opens Chevening applications
Nigerian students, including those from Cross River State, are invited to apply as the UK government opens the Chevening Scholarship applications. This year’s cycle runs from August 5 to October 7, 2025, with fully funded masters study in the United Kingdom. Applicants should prepare ahead, as the process requires online submission of credentials, references, and leadership evidence. Cross River residents aiming for international study are advised to review country-specific eligibility on Chevening’s Nigeria page and begin gathering supporting documents now.
Calabar Landslide Areas Warning
The Cross River State Police Command issues a public safety advisory in Calabar on August 3, 2026, cautioning residents and road users to avoid landslide-affected zones to prevent loss of lives and property. Areas include Anansa Junction Road (between WAPI Junction and the NNS Victory Jetty axis) and Marina Resort behind the Government Presidential Lodge House; CrossRiverWatch notes additional landslide sites. Motorists should seek alternative routes and follow security and emergency guidelines, reporting any danger promptly.Current date, time, and timezone (ISO): 2026-08-08T22:00:27.691+02:00