General
BREAKING: Police Raid Badoo Cult Group Hideouts, Arrest over 100

By Dipo Olowookere
Information reaching our news desk reveals that not less than 100 suspected members of the notorious Badoo cult group in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State have been apprehended.
The suspected hoodlums were arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command in conjunction with the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).
Business Post gathered that the security operatives and the local vigilante group raided the hideouts of the notorious cult group.
Our source in the police revealed the arrest was connected to the recent closed-door meeting held between top police authorities in Lagos, the OPC leader, Mr Gani Adams, and other local vigilante groups last week.
In recent times, the cult group has carried out several horrific attacks in Ikorodu, sparking outrage from members of the public as well as traditionalists in Ikorodu.
Members of the group are known to gruesomely murder their victims using grinding stone and pestle. They mostly attack their victims in the dead of the night without stealing any of their properties.
More details later…
General
Verto Launches $15,000 Global Award Prize for Businesses

By Adedapo Adesanya
Verto, the global fintech powering enterprise-grade cross-border payments, FX, and banking solutions across emerging markets, has launched the Verto Global Business Award—a transformative initiative to recognize and accelerate the growth of early-stage startups.
The prize comes with a pool of up to $15,000 and will spotlight the most promising sector-agnostic startups with global potential, equipping them with the resources needed to scale, and expand into new markets, while building international supplier connections.
According to a statement shared with Business Post, “This initiative underscores Verto’s ongoing commitment to breaking down payment barriers and enabling seamless global trade.”
Starting on Thursday, February 6 2025, applications will open to early-stage startups, that have been operating for a maximum of two years in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Winners will be selected based on their market impact, innovation, and business growth potential.
Eligible startups must demonstrate multiple market operations and connections with international suppliers, the organisers noted.
The winner, runner-up and second runner-up will be announced on 10th October 2025 and awarded $10,000, $3,000, and $2,000 respectively to accelerate their global expansion and streamline their cross-border operations.
Speaking on the launch of the Verto Global Business Award, Mr Ola Oyetayo, CEO and Co-Founder of Verto said, “The world today is more connected than ever, and for startups, access to global markets isn’t just an advantage – it’s a game changer. Payments are at the heart of this, and, at Verto, we’ve spent years breaking down financial barriers, enabling businesses to send and receive money effortlessly while connecting Africa and other emerging markets to the world.
“The Verto Global Business Award takes this a step further, equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs with the resources and global recognition they need to scale and compete on a global stage.”
The Verto Global Business Award is designed to help startups tap into this growth, fostering innovation and supporting businesses in Africa’s economic transformation.
Since its launch in 2017, Verto has remained at the forefront of facilitating cross-border transactions. With its cutting-edge technology, the company enables businesses of all sizes to make secure and seamless cross-border payments, convert between 50 currencies at competitive exchange rates, and instantly send and receive money in over 200 countries.
General
Nigeria to Roll Out Contactless Passport Application in UK, Europe Friday

By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria will roll out a contactless passport application system in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland on Friday, February 7, as part of making the process more transparent and faster.
According to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) via its spokesperson, Mr AS Akinlabi, the initiative will allow Nigerians in the Diaspora to apply for and renew their passports online from the comfort of their homes.
“This initiative set for launch on February 7, 2025, will enable Nigerians in the Diaspora to apply for and renew their passports online from the comfort of their homes,” the NIS Comptroller General, Ms Kemi Nanna Nandap, was quoted to have said in the statement.
This was disclosed when she paid a courtesy call to the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja.
The NIS said the move followed “the roll-out of the contactless passport application system in Canada on 5th November 2024.”
“For emphasis, the Contactless Passport Application which is currently available on Google Play Store (NIS mobile), is designed to allow Nigerians to renew their passports without visiting any Passport Centre for biometric enrollment,” the NIS said.
“The Service reiterates its commitment to innovative and efficient service delivery to Nigerians anywhere in the world.”
“The launch of the contactless passport application solution in Europe is a significant step towards efficient, secure, and convenient travel document management for Nigerians in the diaspora,” Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said.
“NiDCOM will continue to support, monitor, and collaborate with the NIS to ensure the success of this initiative,” she added.
General
Google Maps Clocks 20, Reveals Most Reviewed Locations in Nigeria

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Google is celebrating the 20 years of the existence of one of its flagship applications, Google Maps, in February 2025.
Since its inception, Google Maps has been an essential tool for more than 2 billion monthly users, providing both comprehensive information and a vibrant community for sharing knowledge.
The application has fundamentally changed how we explore and navigate the world, shaping users’ understanding of the globe. Its rich and up-to-date information empowers users to confidently navigate, wherever their journey takes them.
“Google Maps has evolved from a basic mapping tool to a dynamic platform that helps people explore, navigate, and discover new experiences,” the Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Google West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, said.
The evolution of the tool has brought a wealth of features to enhance every journey. Need a little inspiration? Ask Maps, powered by Gemini, for curated ideas on where to go. Travelling? The “Directory” tab helps you explore what’s available in airports. Want to get your bearings quickly? Augmented reality allows you to understand an area at a glance. Even everyday tasks, like finding the cheapest petrol station nearby, are made easier with Google Maps.
In Nigeria, Google Maps has been instrumental in helping people discover new places and navigate with confidence.
To mark this 20th anniversary, Google is unveiling the top reviewed places in Nigeria, showcasing the locations that have captured the hearts of Nigerian users.
These lists offer fascinating insights into popular choices for restaurants, cafes, visitor attractions, parks, and museums across the country.
“The top reviewed locations in Nigeria highlight the places that have captured the interest and attention of our users,” Kola-Ogunlade added.
See below the top ten list of most searched places in Nigeria:
Most Reviewed Restaurants Domino’s Pizza, Wuse Domino’s Pizza, Yaba |
Most Reviewed Cafe |
Most Reviewed Visitor Attractions New Berger Roundabout Ojodu Ikeja Railway Compound Ebute Meta Lagos |
Most Reviewed Park |
Most Reviewed Museum Open Heavens International Centre |
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