Business
Bitcoin hits all-time high, surges past $109,000

Bitcoin hits all-time high, surges past $109,000
Bitcoin soared to a record high on Wednesday, surpassing its previous peak from January, as global investor sentiment continues to rebound following last month’s tariff-related market jitters.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency climbed to an intraday high of $109,760.08 and was trading at $108,117 at the time of reporting, marking a 1.1% gain.
Several factors are fueling the latest rally, including easing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, and a recent downgrade of U.S. sovereign debt by Moody’s.
Investors diversifying assets
The downgrade has prompted investors to diversify away from the dollar and explore alternative assets like bitcoin.
“With January’s highs now in the rearview mirror and bitcoin up over 50% from its April lows, the asset has entered ‘blue sky’ territory,” said Antoni Trenchev, co-founder of digital asset platform Nexo.
He cited growing institutional interest and a friendlier U.S. regulatory landscape as key tailwinds.
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Bitcoin’s performance continues to show parallels with tech stocks, benefiting from improving investor confidence.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq index is up 30% since early April, mirroring bitcoin’s bullish trajectory. Meanwhile, continued weakness in the U.S. dollar has further strengthened bitcoin’s position.
Banks warming up to digital assets
Traditional financial institutions are also increasingly warming up to digital assets. This week, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, historically a vocal crypto skeptic, announced the bank would begin offering bitcoin to its clients.
Additionally, crypto exchange Coinbase was recently added to the S&P 500 index, marking a significant milestone for the industry.
- However, Coinbase is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice following a recent data breach, according to a statement issued by the company on Monday.
- Looking ahead, market analysts remain optimistic. Trenchev noted that bitcoin is currently in the fourth year of its typical price cycle, which usually follows a halving event when mining rewards are cut in half and often precedes major bull runs.
- He believes a $150,000 price target in 2025 remains achievable, despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties.
Meanwhile, Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency, did not share in Bitcoin’s upward momentum. It was last down 0.5%, trading at $2,513.
Bitcoin hits all-time high, surges past $109,000
Auto
FRSC, NADDC, NRC, others to discuss sustainable transportation at 11th Nigeria Transport Lecture Thursday

FRSC, NADDC, NRC, others to discuss sustainable transportation at 11th Nigeria Transport Lecture Thursday
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Nigerian Shippers’ Council, among others, are expected to dissect and discuss sustainable transportation in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges, the theme of the 11th Nigeria Transport Lecture (NTL).
The event billed to take place on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, is organized by Transport Day Media (www.transportday.com.ng), a monthly hard copy and daily online publication.
The discourse, which will involve industry players from both the public and private sectors, will x-ray sustainability, cutting across all modes of transportation in Nigeria.
According to the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, the topic is relevant in contemporary times because Nigeria cannot be left behind in the embrace of cleaner and sustainable transportation.
He said, “We cannot run away from the fact that we have to continuously discuss and take action on issues concerning sustainable transportation because it comes with a lot of benefits in terms of cost cutting, life style and general productivity”.
He added that the annual Transport Lecture which had held in Lagos and Abuja in the past, remains a platform for relevant stakeholders in the transport and logistics value chain to discuss and exchange ideas on key contemporary topics as they unfold.
Some lead paper presenters in past editions included MD, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), 1st Edition, 2013; DG, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), 5th Edition, 2018; Former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa, 9th Edition, 2022, and Corps Marshal of the FRSC, 10th edition, 2024.
Insurance
CIIN Insurance Week to focus on securing Nigeria’s future

CIIN Insurance Week to focus on securing Nigeria’s future
The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) is set to hold its 2025 edition of the Insurance Awareness Week with the theme, “Insurance for All: Securing Nigeria’s Future”.
This, it said, aimed at deepening the public understanding of insurance and highlighting its critical role in personal, business and national security.
Running from June 28 to July 4, 2025, this week-long campaign is focused on creating nationwide awareness about the value of insurance, encouraging more Nigerians to embrace insurance coverage as a vital tool for financial protection, business continuity, and economic resilience.
The President, CIIN, Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, said, “The aim of this campaign is to break the myths, bridge the knowledge gap, and help Nigerians understand that insurance is not a luxury— it is a necessity.
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“With the right coverage, individuals, families, and businesses can protect themselves against unforeseen risks, ensuring a more secure and sustainable future.”
Programme highlights for the upcoming events have been listed as the Insurance Awareness Walk, to draw public attention to the importance of insurance in everyday life.
The opening ceremony will feature official launch with key stakeholders and policymakers discussing the role of insurance in national development and economic security.
There will also be awareness for secondary schools and MSMEs, market outreach, insurance hackathon, and a celebration of achievements from the awareness week, with awards, entertainment, and reflections on Nigeria’s journey toward greater insurance inclusion.
The Insurance Awareness Week 2025 reaffirms CIIN’s commitment to building a culture of insurance in Nigeria—one where citizens are empowered with knowledge and the right tools to secure their lives and livelihoods.
“Insurance gives peace of mind, and peace of mind is priceless. We invite every Nigerian to join us in this movement to secure our future—together,” the CIIN president added.
CIIN Insurance Week to focus on securing Nigeria’s future
Auto
NAJA announces date for 2nd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit

NAJA announces date for 2nd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit
…to focus on Nigeria first, local content development
The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has announced that the second edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) will hold on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
This year’s summit, themed “Nigeria First: Local Content as Catalyst for Automotive Economy”, will bring together key stakeholders in government, manufacturing, trade, among others to chart a forward-thinking path for the nation’s automotive industry.
Organised in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Nigeria Association of Automotive Manufacturers (NAMA), and the African Association of Automobile Manufacturers (AAAM), the summit aims to deepen the national conversation around local content integration and the long-term viability of Nigeria’s automotive sector.
It will also dwell on the Federal Government recently launched Nigeria’s First initiative and the buying of the locally assembled automobiles.
The event will be declared open by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, while Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, Director-General of the NADDC, will be the Chief Host.
Commenting on the importance of the summit, Mike Ochonma, Chairman of the NAISU Planning Committee, said: “This year’s summit focuses on how local content can drive sustainable industrialization in Nigeria’s auto sector.
“We are bringing the right voices together—from regulators and customs officials to local manufacturers and traders—so that policies and actions can align.
“Local content is more than policy; it’s the foundation for job creation, skill transfer, and industrial sovereignty. NAISU 2025 will help unify efforts and challenges to go beyond imported solutions.”
Some of those expected to make presentations at the summit are Chief Anselm Ilekuba, Chairman, Association of Local Content Manufacturers (ALCMAN); Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); Hon. Ngozi Emechebe, President, Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA).
Theodore Opara, Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), the umbrella body for journalists covering the automotive sector in Nigeria, said, “As auto journalists, we understand the power of information in shaping national policy. NAISU is our contribution to a better-informed, locally driven auto economy.”
“The future of Nigeria’s auto sector lies in how we leverage our local resources, manpower, and innovation. NAISU offers a platform for strategic collaboration that reflects NAJA’s own mandate to build a resilient automotive ecosystem.”
“Local content is more than policy; it’s the foundation for job creation, skill transfer, and industrial sovereignty. NAISU 2025 will help unify efforts and challenges to go beyond imported solutions.”
The 2025 NAISU will feature keynote addresses, panel sessions, and networking engagements centred on how Nigeria can reduce dependency on imported components and increase domestic production capacity.
Issues slated for discussion include: Custom tariff frameworks and local assembly incentives; Supply chain localization and small-scale manufacturing; Technology transfer and skilled workforce development and Regulatory compliance and standard enforcement.
The Nigeria Auto Industry Summit is fast becoming the premier annual forum for strategic discourse on the automotive future of Africa’s largest economy.
For participation, partnership, or media inquiries, stakeholders are encouraged to contact the NAJA Secretariat or visit the association’s official communication channels.
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