The Independent National Electoral Commission has expressed willingness to allow eligible Nigerians without Permanent Voter Cards to vote in the 2027 general elections, but insists that such a move must be backed by legislative amendments.
The Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board has commenced the compilation of names of retired civil servants who defaulted on the repayment of housing loans obtained during their time in service.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has downplayed the defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
National Chairman of the ruling Party, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has boasted that more governors will join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
About 15 travellers were on Thursday abducted by gunmen in the Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
It was gathered that the victims were kidnapped along Adoka-Naka Road.
The World Bank has projected that poverty in Nigeria will
increase by 3.6 percentage points over the next five years, rising through
2027.
This is according to the Bank’s Africa’s Pulse report,
released during the ongoing Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, DC.
The report paints a troubling outlook for poverty reduction
in Nigeria, highlighting that despite some recent gains in economic
activity—particularly in the non-oil sector during the last quarter of
2024—structural issues related to resource dependence and national fragility
are likely to hinder progress.
According to the World Bank, Nigeria, alongside other
resource-rich and fragile countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, will experience a
worsening poverty situation—unlike non-resource-rich countries, which are
expected to see faster poverty reduction.
United States President Donald Trump has criticised Vladimir
Putin following Russia’s overnight missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump asked Putin to put
a stop to the attacks, saying thousands of soldiers are dying per week.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV,” Trump
wrote.
“Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5,000
soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), on Thursday, received top political figures from Kano state who
defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Kawu Sumaila, senator representing Kano south, who confirmed
his defection in a Facebook post on Wednesday, led the group.
Ganduje said the APC’s victory in the 2027 general election
is certain.
“I don’t want to reveal our secret, but what I’m telling you
is that APC 2027 is a done deal,” he said.
The national economic council (NEC) on Thursday deferred
discussions on the creation of state police for the third time, citing time
constraints caused by lengthy presentations.
The meeting, held at the State House, Abuja, and chaired by
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, had in attendance state governors, including
Ibok-Ete Ibas, sole administrator of Rivers.
Also present were Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal
capital territory (FCT), and Yemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN).
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa, said state police was on the agenda but could not be discussed due to the council’s tight schedule.
Employees of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) have
called off their strike following the federal government’s intervention.
The workers on Wednesday commenced an indefinite strike over
welfare issues, including “NiMet’s refusal to negotiate or implement agreed
financial allowances and unresolved entitlements”, as well as wage awards,
peculiar allowances, and outstanding payments from the 2019 minimum wage.
They also accused the management of the agency of
withholding important documents, ignoring requests for inclusion of omitted
staff in past payments, and neglecting key training programmes in favour of
executive retreats.
However, on Thursday, the workers called off the strike following a closed-door meeting between Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, and executives of NiMet.
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Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has decried the growing trend of transactional politics in Nigeria, where politicians pay youths to attack reform advocates online.
Speaking at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C Peter Obi emphasized on how some youths receive some amount of money to insult good governance advocates.
Nigerian singer, Daddy Showkey, has expressed strong disapproval of a recent directive issued by the Niger State Governor, which targets individuals with dreadlocks.
In a fiery Instagram post, the singer condemned the move, sharing a photo of his iconic long dreadlocks and cancelling his planned visit to Minna.
Addressing Governor Mohamed Umar Bago, Daddy Showkey wrote, “I dey to come Minna but now you have ask your security agents to cut off dreadlocks so hold your state, but make you cut your Beer Beer,” referring to the governor’s own facial hair.
The post has sparked mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians debating issues of personal freedom, and discrimination.
Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers, on Thursday
failed to appear before the house of representatives ad hoc committee
overseeing the emergency rule in the state.
On April 15, Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house,
inaugurated the 21-member committee to ensure transparent governance and the
rule of law in the south-south state.
A day after the committee was constituted, the lawmakers
invited the Rivers’ sole administrator to appear before them on April 17.
Ibas was to address the lawmakers on governance in the
state. However, he requested a rescheduling, and the meeting was moved to April
24.
Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, says the exit of
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso tested the unity of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS).
The exit of the three Francophone countries from the
regional bloc last year was triggered by what they said were inhumane sanctions
from ECOWAS after a series of coups swept across the Sahelian states.
It was the first time member states had openly expressed a
desire to leave the 50-year-old bloc.
Mediation efforts have yielded little progress.
President Bola Tinubu, who is also the ECOWAS chairman, has
urged the bloc to keep its doors open in hopes of reconciliation.
Wasiu Ayinde, the Fuji singer fondly called Kwam 1, has
revealed that he is a devoted member of the Celestial Church of Christ.
The ‘Ade Ori Okin’ hitmaker opened up about his deep
religious faith during a recent interview on the Agbaletu Radiovision podcast.
Kwam 1 declared himself a “bonafide member” of the
white-garment church and revealed that he had even gone as far as building a
church.
The Fuji star also reflected on his spiritual journey,
adding that during difficult times, he sought divine intervention and explored
various avenues to connect with God.
Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine, says
President Bola Tinubu is using coercive tactics to pressure opposition politicians
into joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on
Wednesday, Momodu said many politicians switching allegiance to the APC are
doing so out of fear, not loyalty or belief in Tinubu’s leadership.
“I’m not surprised about it (Okowa’s defection)—he’s been
under serious harassment in recent times; it’s nothing new,” Momodu said.
“What would surprise me is if President Bola Tinubu truly
believes people are joining the APC because they love him or because he is
doing fantastically well.
Patience Oniha, the director-general of the Debt Management
Office (DMO), says Nigeria is in talks with J.P. Morgan to be admitted back
into its government bond index for emerging markets.
Oniha spoke tersely on Tuesday during the Nigerian Investor
Forum, held on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World
Bank spring meetings in Washington DC, the United States.
“Regarding the JP Morgan Index, investors want us back in,”
the director-general said.
“With the reforms implemented, the foreign exchange market has improved, and we’re eligible again. We’ve resumed active engagement with JP Morgan to re-enter the index.”
Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), has likened the ruling party to Jehovah’s Witnesses — a
Christian group famed for its door-to-door evangelism.
The politician also described the opposition in Nigeria as
unserious and inactive.
Basiru, a former senator who represented Osun central, spoke
on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television, on Wednesday.
He was reacting to claims that the APC and the Bola
Tinubu-led federal government are steering Nigeria towards a one-party state
due to the wave of defections to the ruling party.
Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace
development, is currently in a closed-door meeting with the executives of the
Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMeT).
Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications
to the minister, announced in a post on X on Thursday.
“The Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development,
Festus Keyamo SAN is a close door meeting with the executives of striking NIMET
workers. Details will be released soon,” the post reads.
On Wednesday, employees of NiMet commenced a nationwide
indefinite strike over welfare issues.
Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister
of the economy, says a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Company (NNPC) Limited is afoot.
Edun spoke on Tuesday during the Nigerian Investor Forum,
held on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank
spring meetings in Washington DC, United States.
Addressing a group of investors drawn from renowned global
financial institutions, including J.P. Morgan, the minister outlined critical
reforms the federal government has implemented to reset the economy and restore
confidence.
Edun also highlighted the recent NNPC shake-up as part of
the government’s efforts to reposition the company for optimal performance,
particularly in terms of boosting oil production.
Umar Bago, governor of Niger state, has clarified his
earlier directive to security operatives to arrest individuals with dreadlocks
in Minna, the state capital.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ security meeting held in Minna
on Tuesday, Bago said security operatives should cut the dreadlocks of
residents and impose fines on them.
Bago said his administration has zero tolerance for
“rascality”.
However, following widespread criticism from Nigerians, the
governor reversed his decision on Wednesday.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, gave the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the go-ahead to arrest and
detain six promoters of Crypto Bridge Exchange, CBEX, over alleged investment
fraud to the tune of over one billion dollars.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who gave the order after the EFCC’s
lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, moved an ex-parte motion to the effect, said the
detention would be pending the conclusion of investigation of the alleged
offences and possible prosecution.
“I have listened to the submission of the learner counsel
for the applicant, EFCC. I have also gone through the affidavit evidence with
exhibits thereto along with the written address.
“I am of the view and I hold that the application is
meritorious. Consequently, the application is granted as prayed,” the judge
said.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ayekooto
Akindele, has said no Nigerian governor including Ademola Adeleke of Osun
State, will support former Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate,
Atiku Abubakar, in 2027.
Mocking Atiku, Akindele said Adeleke no longer picks the
former Vice President’s calls at daytime.
Posting on X, the APC chieftain insisted that Atiku and
former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai can’t stop Tinubu’s second term.
He was reacting to reports that PDP governors struck a deal
with Tinubu.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has agreed to begin
deploying its corps members to counselling and rehabilitation centres across
the country.
Olakunle Nafiu, the director-general of the NYSC, was in a
meeting with Buba Marwa, the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA), at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting, NYSC’s spokesperson Caroline Embu said, was to
discuss how corps members with relevant qualifications could be deployed to the
NDLEA’s counselling and rehabilitation.
Marwa revealed that the NDLEA currently operates centres in
30 states, with plans underway to establish seven additional centres.
President Donald Trump of the United States has said that
high tariffs on goods from China will come down substantially.
He said the tariffs would crash but won’t go down to 0%.
The President stated this during a White House news
conference on Tuesday.
Trump stated this in response to earlier comments same day
by treasury secretary, Scott Bessent.