Business/Finance
Nobel Prize Money Rises to $1.27m for 2026 Laureates
The Nobel Foundation has increased the prize money for the 2026 Nobel Prize laureates to 12 million Swedish kronor, equivalent to about $1.27 million, for each prize category.
The foundation announced the increase on Friday, raising the award from the 11 million kronor paid to laureates in 2025.
The latest increase represents an additional one million kronor, or approximately $106,000, for each prize category.
However, where a prize is awarded to more than one laureate, the 12 million-kroner prize sum will be shared among the recipients.
The Nobel Foundation Director, Hanna Stjarne, said the increase was particularly significant as the Nobel Prize celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.
“This year, we are celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Nobel Prize, and in connection with this, we are pleased to be able to increase the prize amount by one million (kroner),” Stjarne said in a statement.
She explained that the adjustment was intended to preserve the long-term value and significance of the prestigious awards.
“By increasing the prize amount, we uphold the long-term significance of the Nobel Prize and ensure that the financial part of the prize retains its value over time,” she added.
The Nobel Prizes were first awarded in 1901, with the original prize amount standing at 150,782 kronor per discipline.
Over the decades, the monetary value attached to the awards has changed in response to economic conditions and decisions by the Nobel Foundation.
The 2026 Nobel Prize announcements will take place between October 5 and October 12, with six prize categories scheduled for recognition.
The Nobel week will begin on October 5 with the announcement of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
The Physics Prize will follow on October 6, while the Chemistry Prize will be announced on October 7.
The Nobel Prize in Literature is scheduled for October 8, followed by the Nobel Peace Prize on October 9.
The economics prize, officially known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, will bring the 2026 announcements to a close on October 12.
The Nobel Prizes recognise individuals and organisations whose work is judged to have conferred the greatest benefit to humanity in fields established in accordance with Alfred Nobel’s will.
The awards have become among the world’s most prestigious honours, attracting global attention each year across science, literature, peace and economics.
Business/Finance
Apapa Customs Generates N302bn Revenue in October, Records 7.13% Growth
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has generated N302bn in revenue in October 2026, representing an increase of N20bn compared with the N282bn collected in September.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that the October collection represented a month-on-month growth of approximately 7.13 per cent.
“The Apapa Area Command generated N302bn in October 2026, representing an increase of N20bn over the N282bn recorded in September 2026. This represents a month-on-month growth of approximately 7.13 per cent,” Sulaiman said.
He described the performance as another significant revenue achievement, noting that the command had surpassed the N300bn threshold following its record-breaking collection of over N323bn in July 2026.
He said the consignments were jointly examined with relevant sister agencies, demonstrating the command’s commitment to preventing the use of Nigeria’s maritime gateway for illicit trade and safeguarding public health and national security.
The Customs Area Controller reiterated that the command would continue to strengthen revenue generation, intensify enforcement operations and build stronger partnerships with stakeholders to improve port efficiency.
He maintained that the command would sustain a balanced approach that protects government revenue and national security while creating an enabling environment for legitimate trade and economic growth.
Business/Finance
Reps Invite CBN Governor Cardoso Over Unpaid Pension Arrears
The House of Representatives has resolved to invite the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, to explain alleged breaches of pension agreements and the non-payment of outstanding benefits to retired employees of the apex bank.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on Tuesday titled, “Need to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria for alleged breach of approved pension agreements, non-implementation of harmonisation policy and exclusion of pensioners from general pension increases.”
The motion was moved by the member representing Igabi Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hussaini Jallo, who raised concerns over the alleged failure of the CBN to honour agreements governing the pension entitlements and welfare of its retired employees.
Presenting the motion, Jallo said the alleged non-implementation and faulty execution of the pension harmonisation policy might have created disparities in pension payments and led to the accumulation of unpaid arrears, leaving affected retirees in financial hardship.
He expressed concern that pensioners who depend on their retirement benefits for their livelihood were being denied entitlements allegedly due to them.
“The House is concerned that the alleged non-implementation and faulty execution of the harmonisation policy may have led to disparities in pension benefits and the accumulation of unpaid arrears, ultimately denying rightful entitlements and imposing severe financial hardship on affected pensioners who depend on these funds for their livelihood,” he said.
The lawmaker also questioned allegations that some retired CBN employees had been excluded from general pension increases because of additional or extra-statutory demands that might not align with existing laws, binding agreements or approved pension policies.
Jallo further disclosed that the number of CBN pensioners had dropped from 5,104 in 2011 to approximately 3,000, representing a decline of more than 2,100 retirees.
He said the figures indicated an average reduction of about 140 pensioners annually, warning that the mortality rate could increase as the surviving retirees continued to advance in age.
According to him, prolonged delays in the payment of pension benefits could expose elderly and vulnerable pensioners to poverty, ill health and avoidable loss of life.
He maintained that Nigerians who had served the country deserved fairness, transparency and the prompt payment of all benefits lawfully due to them.
“The House acknowledges the need for legislative oversight to establish the facts, determine the extent of any breaches or administrative failures, and ensure that all eligible pensioners receive their lawful entitlements,” Jallo said.
The motion received overwhelming support from lawmakers during a voice vote conducted at plenary presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.
Following its adoption, the House urged the CBN and other relevant authorities to verify and pay all outstanding pension arrears lawfully due to affected retirees within a reasonable and clearly defined period.
It also called for the extension of applicable general pension increases to eligible pensioners in accordance with relevant laws.
The lawmakers subsequently invited Cardoso and other relevant officials, alongside pension administrators, regulators and representatives of the affected pensioners, to appear before the House and provide explanations.
They are also expected to submit relevant documents to assist the investigation.
The House mandated its Committee on Pension to investigate allegations of non-compliance by the CBN with contractual agreements governing the administration and payment of retirement benefits to its former employees.
The committee is expected to examine the terms and obligations contained in the agreements, particularly the circumstances surrounding the non-implementation of the harmonisation policy, the reasons for the delay and the total amount of outstanding arrears.
It will also investigate the alleged exclusion of eligible pensioners from general pension increases on the basis of extra-statutory demands and determine whether such actions comply with applicable laws, contractual obligations and approved pension policies.
As part of its assignment, the committee will review relevant documents, including contractual agreements, policy circulars, payment records and actuarial reports, to establish responsibility for any administrative failures or breaches.
It is also expected to recommend appropriate corrective measures, including the non-discriminatory extension of applicable general pension increases to all eligible retirees in line with relevant laws and approved policies.
Business/Finance
EFCC Recovers N114m From Cyber Fraud Suspect, Returns Money to Microfinance Bank
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered and returned N114 million stolen from a microfinance bank through a cyber fraud scheme.
The commission disclosed this in a post on its official X handle on Friday, stating that the recovered funds were handed over to the financial institution on Thursday.
According to the EFCC, the Acting Zonal Director of its Benin Zonal Directorate, Deputy Commander Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, presented a bank draft worth N114 million to a senior official of the bank, Samuel Ikechukwu.
The recovery followed a petition filed by Ikechukwu in August 2024, after the financial institution discovered that one of its customers’ accounts had been fraudulently hacked and funds withdrawn without authorisation.
The recovery followed a petition filed by Ikechukwu in August 2024, after the financial institution discovered that one of its customers’ accounts had been fraudulently hacked and funds withdrawn without authorisation.
The commission said its investigators traced the stolen money to several suspects, leading to the arrest of one of them, identified as Obumneme Bright.
It added that N114 million was recovered from Bright following his arrest and subsequently returned to the affected financial institution.
The EFCC, however, disclosed that efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend other suspects allegedly connected to the cyber fraud.
The recovery highlights the commission’s ongoing efforts to investigate financial crimes, recover illicit funds and return stolen assets to their rightful owners.
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