Global energy giant TotalEnergies has exercised a contract extension option with Northern Ocean, extending the deployment of the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig in West Africa for up to three months.Upstream reports that the extension adds 65 to 93 days to the firm term of the contract, translating to an additional revenue backlog of approximately $27 million to $38 million.This increase raises Northern Ocean’s firm backlog to an impressive $515 million to $545 million.The Deepsea Mira, built-in 2018 by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries, is a semi-submersible rig designed to operate in water depths of up to 10,000 feet. It is…
Author: Oladi Samuel
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Canada’s immigration backlog has long been a concern, but recent updates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicate some progress in addressing the large volume of pending applications.As of November 30th, 2024, the total number of applications under processing stands at 2,267,700, with 1,006,500 of those in backlog, exceeding IRCC’s usual processing times.According to Immigration News Canada (INC), the latest data reveals that while the backlog has seen a slight decrease from previous months, challenges remain in balancing high demand with processing capacity.The overall backlog as of November has decreased by 4.7% compared to October 2024, yet specific categories…
Donald Trump’s net worth soared by $3.7 billion in 2024, a year marked by his political comeback as President-elect and a meteoric rise in the valuation of Truth Social’s parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG).At the start of the year, Trump’s net worth stood at $2.5 billion, down from previous highs during his first presidency.By December, his fortune had climbed to $6.2 billion, driven largely by his 60% stake in TMTG, which went public in March through a reverse merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp.The move sent TMTG’s stock soaring, briefly pushing Trump’s wealth to $7 billion within…
Online skills training platform, Coursera, has unveiled the top 10 tech skills that will be in high demand in 2025.The company in its Job Skills of 2025 report said it drew insights from over five million enterprise learners and 7,000+ institutional customers to arrive at the list which gave a direction to what skills organisations are looking for.According to the report, cybersecurity and risk management skills are the fastest-growing in tech for 2025, reflecting employers’ pressing need to fill relevant roles.“Six of the top 10 skills—including incident management & response, threat management and modeling, and SIEM—are direct pathways to meet…
Dubai offers the Gaming Visa, a 10-year residency permit designed for professionals in the gaming industry, including developers, esports athletes, and content creators.The visa provides access to opportunities in Dubai’s growing gaming sector, allowing holders to work in gaming studios, host events, and collaborate with global brands.This visa is part of Dubai’s broader efforts to attract skilled talent from around the world and support its gaming industry, which continues to expand as the city builds a stronger digital economy.Purpose of the Dubai gaming visa The main goals of the visa, according to DAAD Scholarship, include;Attracting top talent,Boosting the local digital economy,…
MTN Nigeria Communications PLC (MTN Nigeria) has announced the renewal of its spectrum lease agreement with Natcom Development and Investment Limited (NTEL), following approval from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).This renewal extends a partnership that began in 2023 when MTN Nigeria first announced that the NCC had approved a spectrum lease agreement with NTEL.The original agreement allowed MTN Nigeria to lease two essential spectrums: a 5 MHz Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and a 10 MHz FDD, improving connectivity in 19 states across Nigeria.By leveraging these spectrums, MTN Nigeria aims to greatly enhance the user experience for both 3G and 4G…
The Enugu State Government has earmarked N837.9 billion, representing 86% of its N971 billion 2025 budget, for capital expenditure.Meanwhile, recurrent expenditure is set at N133.1 billion, accounting for 14% of the total budget.Governor Peter Mbah disclosed this on his official X page on Tuesday, following the signing of the “Budget of Exponential Growth and Inclusive Prosperity” into law.He described the budget as a cornerstone of his administration’s drive to transform Enugu into a hub of opportunities, ensuring inclusive development for all residents.“Today, I signed into law the N971 billion Enugu State 2025 Appropriation Bill aptly christened the “Budget of Exponential…
As Nigerians celebrate the festive season, surging inflation rates have significantly impacted household expenses, with food and non-alcoholic beverages experiencing a near 40% increase in 2024.This is according to an analysis of data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report highlights steep price hikes across key categories, highlighting the financial strain faced by many citizens.The CPI data reveals that inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages has consistently climbed throughout the year, culminating at 39.87% in November 2024, compared to 32.63% in November 2023. This represents a sharp year-on-year increase of 7.24 percentage points. The trend…
Nollywood’s box office queen, Funke Akindele, has once again proven her star power with her latest blockbuster, Everybody Loves Jenifa.The film achieved an impressive $100,000 in its opening weekend across nine international territories: Germany, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, Australia, and USA.This historic milestone marks the first time a Nollywood film has reached such earnings across these regions, setting a new benchmark for the industry.Akindele, who also produced the film, celebrated the achievement with an emotional social media post:“We did it, guys. $100,000 in diaspora sales and counting— the first Nollywood film to hit this milestone. I’m…
The Kogi State House of Assembly has passed the N582,404,119,489 budget proposal for 2025 as presented by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.The approval was concluded on Tuesday after deliberations.The lawmakers passed the bill in Lokoja following a presentation by the House Standing Committee on Appropriation, Budget Monitoring, and Economic Planning.Governor Ododo had, on December 3, presented the N582,404,119,489 proposal to the state assembly, seeking speedy approval from the lawmakers.Need to Discharge Responsibilities During the clause-by-clause consideration by the Sub-Committee of Supply, the Speaker, Mr. Aliyu Yusuf, revealed that the proposal included an authorised recurrent expenditure of over N281,153,215,687.He further noted that the…