Headlines

The United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa has approved a move allowing President Donald Trump to impose strict sanctions on Nigeria in response to the widespread killing of Christians in the country.

The decision followed a congressional hearing on Wednesday, during which lawmakers condemned the Nigerian government for failing to protect Christian communities from escalating violence.

The subcommittee referenced a 2024 report by the Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa, which stated that Nigerians account for 90 percent of all Christians killed worldwide each year. According to the report, between October 2019 and September 2023, 55,910 people were killed, while 21,000 others were abducted by terrorist groups in the region.

During the hearing, Committee Chairman Chris Smith highlighted the severity of the crisis, citing testimony from Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria. Smith described the attacks by militant Fulani herdsmen as acts of terrorism and accused Nigerian authorities of granting them impunity.

“Militant Fulani herdsmen are terrorists. They steal and vandalize, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from elected officials. None of them have been arrested or brought to justice,” Smith said.

The subcommittee’s report labeled the violence as “religious cleansing” and called for accountability. Lawmakers also criticized the Nigerian government for failing to uphold constitutional protections for religious freedom and accused it of using blasphemy laws to target Christian minorities.

“The Nigerian government has made little progress in addressing the persecution of Christians, even though religious freedom is enshrined as a fundamental human right in its Constitution,” the report stated.

Smith also blamed the administration of former President Joe Biden for removing Nigeria from the U.S. Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, a designation originally placed during Trump’s first term. He noted that despite four consecutive years of recommendations from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (2021-2024), the Biden administration did not reinstate Nigeria’s CPC status.

“Under President Biden, Nigeria was removed from the CPC list, despite overwhelming evidence that religious persecution had worsened,” Smith said.

He urged President Trump to take immediate action, including reinstating Nigeria’s CPC status and engaging directly with President Bola Tinubu to ensure better protection for Christian communities.

“I fully expect President Trump to redesignate Nigeria as a CPC and take additional steps to support the persecuted church,” he added.

Smith also called on the Trump administration and the U.S. Senate to be prepared to impose sanctions on Nigeria if the violence persists.

“This hearing should serve as a catalyst for action—not just within Congress but also within the Executive Branch,” he said.

“The new president has a responsibility to act, and I believe he will. If necessary, sanctions must be imposed. When they have been used in the past, they have brought change. Where there are no consequences, the killing fields remain.”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has issued a ruling halting the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.

A three-member panel, led by Justice Okon Abang, on Friday, suspended the enforcement of the January 10 judgment that had vacated the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment. The lower court had previously ruled that the Kano State High Court acted without jurisdiction in nullifying Sanusi’s appointment.

The appellate court, in its ruling on fresh applications CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, agreed that suspending the enforcement of the judgment pending an appeal at the Supreme Court was legally sound. Justice Abang emphasized the need to preserve the subject matter, noting that Sanusi had served as emir for five years before his removal and was entitled to protection.

On January 10, Justice Gabriel Kolawole had set aside the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment, ruling that the case, being a chieftaincy dispute, fell under the jurisdiction of the Kano State High Court rather than the Federal High Court. Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano had previously nullified the Kano State Government’s Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which reinstated Sanusi II as the 16th Emir.

The appellate court held that the matter was a chieftaincy and state legislative dispute, not a fundamental rights issue. It cited Section 251 of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, affirming that the case should have been heard by the Kano State High Court or the FCT High Court.

The court ordered the transfer of the suit to the Kano State High Court for reassignment to a judge who had not previously handled the matter. It also awarded a cost of N500,000 against the applicant, Aminu Baba-Dan’Agundi, in favor of the Kano State House of Assembly.

However, following the opinions of Justices Mohammed Mustapha and Abdul Dogo that the suit should be struck out rather than transferred, the case was ultimately dismissed.

More than 500 shops and stalls were destroyed in a fire that engulfed the popular Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed on Thursday.

The fire, which broke out around 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday in the Ibadan South West Local Government Area, caused extensive damage, with goods worth hundreds of millions of naira lost.

The South-West Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Kadiri Olanrewaju, revealed in an assessment report that many traders had recently restocked their goods, worsening their financial losses.

“No fatalities were recorded, but several individuals sustained minor injuries from smoke inhalation and shock while attempting to salvage their goods,” Olanrewaju stated.

Eyewitnesses reported that the fire started in the Plastic Merchants section of the market before spreading rapidly due to the flammable nature of the stored materials.

Emergency response teams, including the Oyo State Fire Service, private fire units from SWEETCO and SUMAL, market security personnel, and local volunteers, battled to contain the blaze.

However, firefighting efforts were hindered by the lack of a functional fire truck at the market’s fire station and an inadequate water supply. Despite these challenges, responders managed to prevent the fire from spreading to other sections of the market.

Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, visited the market to assess the damage and assured affected traders of immediate relief support through the State Emergency Management Agency and NEMA.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and are considering measures to prevent future occurrences.

NEMA has recommended several steps, including:

– Strengthening fire safety measures within the market.
– Equipping market fire stations with functional fire trucks and adequate water supply.
– Conducting regular fire drills and safety training for traders.
– Enhancing emergency response infrastructure.
– Establishing a well-equipped emergency response unit within the market.
– Strengthening partnerships between the Federal and State Governments and private organizations to – improve disaster response.
– The state government has pledged to provide emergency relief packages to help affected traders recover from their losses.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a reassessment of the country’s political system, arguing that “Western liberal democracy” is failing Nigeria.

In his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, unveiled during his 88th birthday celebrations last week, Obasanjo criticized past and present leaders, describing many as “ill-prepared, satanic, and self-centered.”

He accused them of using public office for personal enrichment while leaving the country in worse conditions.

“How do you explain the situation of a governor who owed billions before election, yet within two years in office, without running any business, he cleared all his debts?” Obasanjo wrote.

He alleged that state resources were being misappropriated, with a fraction distributed among associates to prevent whistleblowing.

Obasanjo also took aim at the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing its policies as corrupt and wasteful.

He specifically condemned the N15.6 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, calling it an “example of misplaced priorities and corruption.”

“Typical examples of waste and corruption include the murky Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, on which the President has turned deaf ears to protests,” he stated.

He further criticized the construction of a new Vice President’s residence at a reported cost of N21 billion, calling it an unnecessary expenditure in a time of economic hardship.

The former president argued that Nigeria must move away from Western liberal democracy and develop a system better suited to its governance needs.

He proposed an alternative model, which he termed Afrodemocracy, emphasizing that Africa should adopt a political framework that aligns with its history and culture.

“If the West, where liberal democracy originated, complains about its flaws, then we should be wise enough to introspect and develop a system that works for Africa,” Obasanjo wrote.

His remarks have sparked debate over the country’s governance structure, as calls for political and economic reforms continue to grow.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has called on members of the State House of Assembly to prioritize the interests of the people and embrace peace to resolve the ongoing political impasse in the state.

Speaking on Thursday while commissioning projects in Okrika Local Government Area, Fubara emphasized the need for stability to enable effective governance.

“It is important at this stage that we all embrace peace,” he said. “The Supreme Court has made its judgment, and we have no option but to abide by it. By the special grace of God, we have started the process.”

He urged all political actors in the state to put past grievances behind them and focus on implementing the Supreme Court’s February 28, 2025, decisions.

“We are appealing to other parties: consider the interest of Rivers State. The only thing we owe this state is peace and development,” he added. “I am open any day, any time for total peace in our state because if I have to govern well, there is the need for peace.”

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has expressed willingness to collaborate with Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, made the declaration on Thursday during a courtesy visit by Obi to Bauchi.

Although the governor did not explicitly suggest a formal alliance between their parties, their discussions reportedly centered on governance, economic issues, and areas of mutual interest.

Obi arrived at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport in Bauchi at around 10:00 a.m., where he was received by Deputy Governor Mohammed Auwal Jatau. He was accompanied by former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, among others, before proceeding to the Government House for a closed-door meeting with Governor Mohammed.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mohammed described Obi as a “foremost statesman” with deep economic expertise, political vision, and a strong commitment to good governance. He emphasized the need for unity among opposition parties to address Nigeria’s challenges.

“We in the PDP, as the chairman of my colleagues, the governors, have always admired him. We have always shown interest because behind the scenes, I have been meeting him,” Mohammed said.

“This is not the first time. In fact, I was going to meet him in Abuja, but out of his humility, he decided to come here.”

The governor acknowledged Obi’s role as a key figure in Nigeria’s opposition, stating that collaboration could help bridge political divides, strengthen governance, and address poverty and ignorance.

“As for me, I am ready to work with Peter Obi to ensure we close ranks, bring good governance to the country, and give a vibrant opposition with knowledge, vision, and sincerity,” he added.

Obi, in his remarks, described his visit as part of wider consultations aimed at addressing Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges. He stressed the importance of cooperation across party lines to drive national development.

“We must invest in critical areas to pull people out of poverty and reduce criminality. The North is a critical component if we are going to get it right in this country,” Obi stated.

He also criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he described as a focus on trivial issues rather than addressing urgent concerns such as hunger, poverty, education, and healthcare.

“It is time to preoccupy ourselves with discussions that affect the people. That is why I am here,” Obi said.

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, following recent controversies surrounding the Red Chamber.

The motion was moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele under Orders 40 and 51, emphasizing the need for clarity, adherence to legislative rules, and a renewed focus on governance.

The controversy stems from the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, over allegations of gross misconduct and violations of Senate rules. Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has accused Akpabio of sexual harassment, described her suspension as an injustice and reported the matter to the United Nations’ Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Tuesday.

However, the Senate, in a response to the IPU on Wednesday, clarified that her suspension was unrelated to the sexual harassment claims but was based on disciplinary infractions.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Bamidele acknowledged heightened public interest in the case due to the allegations but insisted that the Senate had not, at any point since August 2023, been formally notified of any sexual harassment complaints. He stated that the matter before the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee was strictly about breaches of legislative rules.

“I want to make it clear that the matter referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges had nothing to do with sexual harassment. The Senate President did not preside over any case related to such allegations. What was addressed was a flagrant disregard for Senate rules, and we followed due process as guided by the Constitution,” he said.

Bamidele defended the Senate’s authority to regulate its internal affairs, including disciplinary actions such as suspensions, arguing that such measures were necessary to maintain order and legislative integrity. He dismissed claims that the Senate acted beyond its constitutional rights, stating that suspension remains a critical tool to prevent disorder within the chamber.

Regarding international reactions, Bamidele clarified that the IPU acted within its own rules and that any statements made by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan at the IPU meeting were in a personal capacity, not as an official delegate representing Nigeria.

“We need to move past the events of the last two weeks and focus on our legislative responsibilities, including electoral reforms, economic recovery, and tax reform bills,” he added.

Addressing concerns raised by Civil Society Organizations, Bamidele acknowledged Nigeria’s ongoing challenges while urging the public to be objective in their assessments.

“We have heard you, but we need to concentrate on our work. If we choose to remain silent on this matter going forward, know that it is intentional. Please be objective in your analysis and save energy for genuine cases of sexual harassment,” he stated.

Following deliberations, the Senate passed a vote of confidence in Akpabio’s leadership, commending the handling of the situation.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over Thursday’s plenary session, emphasized the need for lawmakers to focus on their oversight functions, particularly in light of the recently passed budget.

He further noted that the matter is now before the courts, urging the Senate to allow the legal process to take its course.