As Nigeria grapples with a failing public power supply, skyrocketing electricity tariffs, and the looming threat of further tariff hikes, solar energy adoption has surged, driven by the urgent need for reliable and affordable energy solutions. Experts in the renewable energy sector have highlighted a significant increase in solar adoption over the past two years, attributing the trend to the deteriorating state of the national grid, rising fuel costs, and shifting public perception toward sustainable energy.

The recent announcement by Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, regarding plans to increase electricity tariffs for Band B, C, D, and E customers has further intensified the demand for alternative energy sources. This comes on the heels of the massive tariff hike for Band A customers, which saw electricity costs rise to between N220 and N250 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Against this backdrop, solar energy has emerged as a cost-effective and reliable alternative for households and businesses alike.

Felix Adekunjo, Chief Executive Officer of Excellent-Glory Solar System, explained that frequent blackouts and grid failures have made solar energy indispensable for many Nigerians. “The instability of the national grid, coupled with the removal of fuel subsidies and soaring diesel prices, has made generators increasingly expensive to operate. Solar energy, on the other hand, offers a cheaper and more sustainable solution,” he said.

Adekunjo noted that the global decline in the cost of solar panels, batteries, inverters, and other components has made solar systems more accessible to average households and small businesses. “Compared to two years ago, the prices of solar components have dropped significantly due to technological advancements and economies of scale. This, combined with growing institutional support, such as Access Bank’s Switch to Solar project and international partnerships, has encouraged more Nigerians to embrace solar energy,” he added.

Despite these advancements, Adekunjo acknowledged that upfront installation costs remain a barrier for many Nigerians. “While solar energy offers long-term savings, the initial investment can be prohibitive. Additionally, the lack of skilled technicians, poor installations, and inadequate maintenance by untrained personnel continue to hinder widespread adoption,” he said. He also emphasized the need for flexible payment plans to make solar systems more affordable for low-income households.

Adewale Odugbesan, Chief Executive Officer of Royal Power and Energy Limited, echoed these sentiments, noting that solar energy has become increasingly competitive with grid power and diesel generators. “When we started eight years ago, solar energy cost about $3 per kilowatt. Today, it’s down to approximately $0.1 per kilowatt. Compared to the current Band A tariff of N220 to N250/kWh and the cost of diesel generators at N400 to N450/kWh, solar is now the most cost-efficient option for powering businesses,” he said.

Odugbesan also highlighted the role of word-of-mouth referrals in driving solar adoption. “Nigerians who have adopted solar energy in the past two years have become advocates for its reliability, especially during grid failures or fuel scarcity. This has encouraged more individuals and organizations to make the switch,” he explained.

As the Nigerian government continues to grapple with the challenges of the power sector, the surge in solar adoption underscores the growing demand for reliable and sustainable energy solutions. With the threat of further tariff increases looming, solar energy is poised to play an even greater role in Nigeria’s energy future.

“The growth of solar is driven by the rising need for reliable energy, affordability, and a shift in public perception. While challenges persist, the trajectory shows that solar energy is fast becoming the future of energy in Nigeria, with even greater potential for expansion in the coming years,” Adekunjo said.

The ongoing trade war between the United States and China has intensified, with both nations issuing strong warnings and affirming their preparedness for any form of confrontation.

China’s warning came in response to US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose new tariffs on all Chinese imports, doubling some levies from 10% to 20%. Beijing retaliated swiftly, imposing tariffs of 10%-15% on US agricultural products and placing 25 American companies under export and investment restrictions. In a statement echoed by the Chinese embassy in Washington, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian declared, “If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war, or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end.”

The strong rhetoric from Beijing comes as China’s leaders convene for the annual National People’s Congress. Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed China’s economic resilience, announcing a 7.2% increase in defense spending and warning that “changes unseen in a century are unfolding across the world at a faster pace.” While emphasizing China’s intent to remain open to foreign investment, Li’s speech also sought to reassure the domestic audience that the country could weather economic pressures from Washington’s aggressive trade policies.

The US has responded in kind, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth making it clear that Washington is equally prepared for escalation. Speaking on Fox News, Hegseth stated, “We are prepared. Those who long for peace must prepare for war.” He emphasized the importance of military readiness and deterrence, accusing China of attempting to challenge US global dominance. “They’re rapidly increasing their defense spending and modernizing technology—they want to supplant the United States,” he warned.

Despite the growing tensions, Hegseth insisted that President Trump maintains a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and that the US remains open to cooperation where possible. However, Beijing’s latest move to file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against US tariffs signals that diplomatic resolution remains uncertain.

The US-China trade war, which began in 2018 during Trump’s first term, has had widespread economic consequences, disrupting global markets and supply chains. While both sides continue to escalate rhetoric and economic countermeasures, the question remains whether this trade dispute will remain economic or spill over into broader geopolitical conflict.

Trump issues 'last warning' to Hamas terrorists, demands release of hostages: 'HELL TO PAY'

President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Hamas in a Truth Social post Wednesday, calling for the terrorist group to release all hostages immediately.

The post came after Trump met with several former Hamas hostages who traveled to Washington, D.C., this week. The group included Eli Sharabi, Doron Steinbrecher, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Omer Shem Tov, Iair Horn and Noa Argamani, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

"‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose," the president's post began. "Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.

"Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!"

Trump added that he is "sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job," and that "not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.

"I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed," Trump added. "This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance."

"Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!"

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., an unflinching supporter of Israel, offered his approval of Trump's post.

"Free all the hostages or start killing Hamas members again. I fully agree with @POTUS," Fetterman posted on X. 

Trump's post came hours after the White House was challenged by Fox News senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy on its decision to negotiate with the Palestinian terrorist group.

"If the U.S. has a long-standing policy that we do not negotiate with terrorists, then why is the U.S. now negotiating directly and for the first time ever with Hamas?" Doocy asked.

"Well, when it comes to the negotiations that you're referring to, first of all, the special envoy who's engaged in these negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone," White House press secretary Karoline Leavittresponded.

Leavitt added that Israel was "consulted on this matter," and that Trump believes in putting forth "good-faith effort[s] to do what's right for the American people."

"These are ongoing talks and discussions. I'm not going to detail them here," she continued. "There are American lives at stake."

Fox News

On Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio finally defended himself since Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused him of sexual harassment. This is not the first time he has been accused of such, but this instance feels different. He denied the accusation by alluding to his record of awards as a “gender-friendly” governor and pointing out his cherished personal relationships with women that put him beyond such impropriety. Good for him, but there is also enough record of his public conduct to consider a pattern of his behaviour when dealing with women.

For instance, in 2020, when former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission Joy Nunieh accused him of corruption, he went on television to talk about how many times the woman had been married. By pulling out the woman’s personal life, he wanted to set her up for ridicule in our society that associates a woman’s virtues with her marital status. Like every bus conductor who finds himself outwitted by a woman and quickly resorts to calling her “ashewo!” Akpabio, too, deflected the shame emanating from the corruption accusation.

Akpabio might have waited until his accuser submitted an official petition, but he has not been defenseless all this time. His female proxies have been doing so, some of them even stripping themselves of either their dignity or common sense just to defend him. On Saturday, some Akwa Ibom women protested the allegations against Akpabio. Typical Nigerians that they were, they did not say anything about seeking the truth; they just wanted the accusations to go away. What is there to say about those poor old women carrying placards they probably cannot read? Looking at their hungry faces, one shrugs in pity. Our politics is as tacky as other aspects of our Nigerian lives.

If those women can be dismissed as a hired crowd, how about Akpoti-Uduaghan’s female colleague in the Senate, from whom one would expect reasonable intervention? When Ireti Kingibe, one of the three remaining women in the Senate, spoke on the issue, she came across as conservative and more invested in upholding the norms of the institution than considering how it could be oppressive. First, she claimed that they (the other three female senators) have not been sexually harassed, and I wondered why she had to assume a corporate voice. Unless, of course, she is omnipresent, how could she have known that for sure? Is she privy to the battle each woman fought privately to get to the Senate? Why not just speak about your own experience?

In the same interview, Kingibe mentioned that Akpoti-Uduaghan had once told her she was supposed to discuss some official business with Akpabio, “but he said to meet him at a hotel”. So, the woman told you that in a prior conversation, and you could still boldly claim that you were unaware that she was being sexually harassed? So, what else defines sexual harassment in Kingibe’s book? How come she did not correlate Akpoti-Uduaghan’s present predicament with that hotel incident to at least understand her frustration with the Senate rules you are still asking her to obey unquestioningly? I do not blame Akpoti-Uduaghan for snubbing Kingibe afterward. I would do the same.

Then came another woman, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, who, though well-spoken, appeared just as tone-deaf. She thought the issue was Akpabio’s sense of humour, which makes him “vulnerable”. Olujimi is a polished woman who knows what vulnerability means. Her use of the word to describe someone like Akpabio makes me suspicious of her politics. In her interview, she went further to talk about the struggles of men in the Senate and how she has had to support them when they faced challenges from the domestic front. My heart goes out to the men who experience challenges because of their public service, but is the issue at hand about what the menfolk endure? That rhetorical manoeuvre is called whataboutism. For context, please recall that Olujimi was also the one who sponsored the serially rejected bill seeking gender equality. For someone who had such a grand vision while in the Senate, her present politics is rather contradictory.

The worst of all the female politicians wading into the issue is Senator Florence Ita-Giwa. She said that once a woman becomes a senator, she has “passed that stage of your life of being sexually harassed” because you somehow become gender neutral. That is a rather curious point to make. So, do the men and women also share the same restroom since their physical differences get magically erased once they are sworn in as senators? Ita-Giwa not only argued that sexual harassment cannot happen in the Senate but that even talking about it shows weakness on the part of the woman. My impression listening to her is that she has not only spent the bulk of her life bending over backward to take in a lot of ethical compromises, but she justified what she endured as female strength. Watching a younger woman who refuses to lie down and take it comes across to her as a weakness.

Then enters Mrs Akpabio herself. You know, no woman in Nigeria can be counted upon to overreach herself any more than the wife of a powerful man whose husband has been accused of sexual impropriety. You will see the woman take off her clothes in public to defend her husband, not necessarily because she believes in his virtues, but because she cannot stand to see her privileges jeopardised. Mrs Akpabio went to the extent of suing his accuser for defamation. She knows it is not a case she can win, but a typical Naija woman wants to impress her husband. Unfortunately, all she is doing here is making him look emasculated. She even described her husband as “disciplined and respectful”. The same man who made the disparaging “nightclub” comment for which even you had to reportedly urge him to apologise? That should be the very definition of irony. Speaking of “disciplined and respectful”, has Madam seen her husband’s charge sheet with the EFCC?

Akpabio is not the only one who has made disrespectful comments about Akpoti-Uduaghan; even his aide did! The only reason that one could do so publicly and confidently is because of his boss’ loose ethical standards. Akpoti-Uduaghan is human and would naturally feel the snide comments. It should not be too much to expect men in an institution like the Senate to be respectful of their female counterparts and treat them with professional courtesy. This was the same Senate where a former beauty queen appeared for appointment confirmation and some horny old goat openly leered at her. If they can do that during their official business, you want to put it past them that those ones will sexually harass?

If there is a reason Akpoti-Uduaghan’s issues resonate with many women, it is because what we are dealing with is a general problem. The truth is, Nigerian men in professional places have a woman problem. They can be insecure, and the only way they know to manage their inadequacies is by rudely putting down their female counterparts or by putting them in their supposed place. It is a cultural problem, and one must be used to being disrespected not to see it. Some women will confront such denigration by just shutting up and taking it so as not to be taken as weak. Some others will brook no such nonsense. Akpoti-Uduaghan is the latter.

Unless this is duly investigated, we do not factually know whether Akpabio is guilty or not. Still, he needs to check himself and his professional conduct. From how he talks and what the men around him say freely, there is enough to suggest his attitude towards female colleagues is pejorative.

Punch

Ashton Jackson

If Mark Cuban were a kid again, he’d do two simple things to set himself up for success as an adult, he says.

“When I talk to kids today and they ask me what I would do if I were 12 today, my answer is always the same, read books and learn how to use [artificial intelligence] in every way, shape and form you can,” the 66-year-old billionaire entrepreneur wrote on social media platform BlueSky last week. “It is a living library that gives you responses and can help no matter who you are or where you live.”

″[It] just takes a smartphone, curiosity to experiment and a mindset to learn,” Cuban wrote in a follow-up post.

The first part of Cuban’s advice isn’t new: He’s preached the value of voracious reading for years. “I read everything I can. I don’t care what the source is,” he told CNBC Make It in 2018, adding that he dedicates “four to five hours a day” to it. That habit is a commonality among many highly successful entrepreneurs, including fellow billionaires Bill Gates and Richard Branson.

As for the AI element, 70% of the skills used in most jobs could change due to the technology by 2030, according to LinkedIn’s 2025 Work Change report. But few young Americans use AI regularly right now — 11% of Americans ages 14 to 22 say they use generative AI once or twice per week, found a 2024 report from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Common Sense Media and Hopelab.

Cuban has previously likened the technology to the early days of personal computers, particularly for future entrepreneurs. “You don’t necessarily have to be great at AI to start a company, but at some point, you’re going to have to understand it,” he told “The Colin Cowherd Podcast” in 2022. “It’s just like the early days of PCs. You didn’t have to be good at PCs, but it helped. Then networks, then the internet, then mobile.”

Notably, Cuban has a financial interest in popularizing the technology: He’s an investor in multiple AI companies, including search engines DIRT and Samaya AI. But he’s not blind to at least some of its flaws, telling Wired last year that a puppy would be a better problem-solver than current AI systems.

“A dog can sense issues,” said Cuban. “Nothing about a self-driving car understands what’s adversarial or not. If it hasn’t seen it, it has no idea. Whereas a dog is going to understand. I think smart puppies are smarter than AI is today or in the near future.”

Longer term, the future of AI in business is unclear. It could range from the creation of more AI-infused services to a simpler rise in the number of employees who use chatbots to write first drafts of their emails or presentations.

Kids can benefit from getting ahead of those developments, Cuban told CNBC Make It last year. If he were a teenager in need of extra cash, he’d start a side hustle around learning how to write AI prompts, he said.

“Then, I would go to businesses, particularly small- to medium-sized businesses that don’t understand AI yet,” said Cuban. “Doesn’t matter if I’m 16, I’d be teaching them as well.”

CNBC