Headlines

The United States will close its Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos on Monday, February 17, 2025, to mark Presidents’ Day.

The diplomatic mission announced that normal operations will resume on Tuesday, February 18.

A statement posted on X on Sunday by the diplomatic mission confirmed the closure and assured the public that normal operations would resume the following day.

Presidents’ Day is observed every third Monday of February in the U.S. to honour past and present leaders.

The Israeli government has pledged to deepen its collaboration with Nigeria in advancing healthcare services, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Michael Freeman, made this known in Abuja on Friday during the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Symposium. The event, themed “Bridging the Gap in Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery in Nigeria: Challenges and Strategies,” was organized by the Israeli Embassy in partnership with the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Health and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).

Freeman said the initiative aims to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare sector, particularly in pancreatic disease treatment.

“When President Tinubu declared the Renewed Hope Agenda with health as a critical focus, we engaged Dr. Salma Anas, Special Adviser to the President on Health, to explore how Israel could contribute,” he said.

He noted that Israel deployed two leading surgeons to Nigeria, who performed four complex pancreas and liver surgeries during their visit.

Beyond pancreatic health, Freeman expressed optimism that the partnership would expand to include malaria treatment, eye care, and capacity building in the healthcare sector.

Dr. Anas described the collaboration as a crucial step in addressing liver and pancreatic diseases in Nigeria, stressing the importance of early detection to prevent complications such as cancer.

Medical Director of FMC, Prof. Saad Ahmed, commended the Israeli Embassy and Dr. Anas for selecting the centre as a hub for advancing healthcare services in Nigeria.

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government.

The President landed on Thursday night and was received at the airport by Ethiopian Deputy Chief of Protocol, Eshetu Legesse, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu.

Following his arrival, Ambassador Tuggar briefed President Tinubu on the summit agenda and Nigeria’s recent diplomatic achievements in the AU, in a session that lasted until 2 a.m. on Friday.

Among the key diplomatic wins was the re-election of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye as the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security. Additionally, Nigeria retained its seat on the AU Peace and Security Council, reinforcing what Ambassador Tuggar described as “Nigeria’s leadership and commitment to peace and security on the continent.”

Several members of Tinubu’s delegation attended the briefing, including Minister of Finance Wale Edun, Minister of Defence Abubakar Badaru, Minister of Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, Minister of Information and National Orientation Muhammed Idris, Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal, and Minister of State for Finance Doris Uzoka-Anite.

The theme of this year’s AU Summit is “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”, with discussions centered on reparatory justice and racial healing.

President Tinubu is expected to deliver a speech at the summit-level meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council, where deliberations will focus on pressing security challenges in Africa, including the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The President is scheduled to return to Abuja on Monday, February 17.

A United States congressman, Scott Perry, has accused the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of financing terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State (ISIS), al-Qaeda, and their local affiliates such as Boko Haram.

Perry made the claims on Thursday during the inaugural session of the Congress’ Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory body created by former US President Donald Trump. The subcommittee, chaired by billionaire Elon Musk, is tasked with reducing government spending but has been criticized for allegedly obstructing the operations of multiple agencies, including USAID.

While Trump has frequently accused USAID of corruption, Musk has described the agency as a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and claimed it engages in “rogue CIA work” and funds bioweapons research, including COVID-19.

Most of these allegations remain unproven, with critics, including many Democrats, accusing Trump and Musk of misrepresenting the agency’s work to justify its shutdown.

Perry alleged that USAID’s annual budget of $697 million, which includes cash shipments to Islamic schools (madrasas), has inadvertently funded terrorist training camps and extremist groups.

“Your money, $697 million annually, plus shipments of cash, funds ISIS, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, and terrorist training camps,” he stated in a video circulating on social media.

However, he did not provide evidence to support his claim, and Democrats argue that Republicans are unfairly demonizing USAID in an effort to dismantle it.

Perry also questioned USAID’s spending in Pakistan, claiming that $136 million allocated for the construction of 120 schools had not resulted in any actual buildings. He further criticized the agency’s $840 million education-related programs in Pakistan over the past two decades, along with an additional $20 million spent on educational television for children in remote areas.

In Afghanistan, Perry pointed to USAID’s $60 million Women’s Scholarship Endowment and the $5 million Young Women Lead programs, questioning their impact in a country where the Taliban restricts women’s public engagement.

“You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Nigeria continues to battle terrorism, with the military engaged in prolonged conflict against Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Both groups have received external funding, particularly ISWAP, which maintains financial ties with ISIS. Boko Haram, following a split in 2016, has largely relied on taxation and violent raids for revenue.

In 2020, a court in the United Arab Emirates convicted six Nigerians for financing Boko Haram, leading the Nigerian government to track other individuals and businesses linked to terrorist funding.

The Federal Government has announced plans to create a special security unit, dubbed the ‘Power Rangers,’ to safeguard the nation’s power installations and infrastructure from vandalism.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Friday during an interview on Sunrise Daily, stating that the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Minister of Power.

The unit, comprising officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), will be tasked with preventing the vandalism of power infrastructure, which has contributed to recurring blackouts across the country.

Citing the increasing incidents of attacks on power installations, the minister emphasized the need for a sector-specific security approach. He noted that the initiative was inspired by the success of the Mines Marshals, a special security outfit established in March 2024 to address security issues in the mining sector.

“What we had before this administration was a generalised approach to protecting national assets. But we realised that a one-size-fits-all solution is ineffective,” Tunji-Ojo said.

He explained that a tailored security strategy was necessary for different sectors, including power, water, education, and health.

While the timeline for the launch of the ‘Power Rangers’ unit was not disclosed, the minister confirmed that preparations were already underway.

“We’ve agreed on the modus operandi, and screening of officers is ongoing,” he said.

According to him, officers will be deployed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, ensuring comprehensive coverage of power infrastructure nationwide.

“We are in the process of onboarding officers, evaluating their capacity, competence, areas of specialization, and even physical strength,” he added.

The initiative aims to enhance the protection of electricity assets and reduce disruptions caused by vandalism.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kano Sector Command has confirmed the death of 16 persons in a road accident at the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover, Hotoro area of Kano, on Friday.

In a statement, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Labaran, said the accident involved a DAF trailer carrying goods and 71 passengers. He attributed the crash to dangerous driving and overspeeding, which led to a loss of control.

“The total number of people involved was 71, with 52 injured and 16 fatalities,” he stated.

Labaran said the FRSC rescue team, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, responded swiftly to the incident, evacuating the injured victims to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, for urgent medical attention.

He added that the FRSC Sector Commander, CC UM Matazu, has dispatched an investigation team to conduct a detailed inquiry into the crash.

Matazu extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a swift recovery. He also urged motorists to comply with traffic regulations and warned against overloading trailers with goods, animals, and passengers, emphasizing that such practices increase the risk of fatal accidents.

Tigran Gambaryan, the head of financial crime at Binance, has accused three Nigerian lawmakers of demanding a $150 million bribe to prevent his arrest and prosecution.

Mr. Gambaryan, who was detained in Nigeria for several months alongside another Binance official, made the allegations in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. He identified the lawmakers as Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe.

Mr. Onwusibe is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, while Mr. Agbese serves as the deputy spokesperson of the House.

The Binance executive claimed that during his detention, the lawmakers staged a meeting with fake cameras and media to make it appear official. He alleged that they ultimately requested the bribe in cryptocurrency, to be deposited into their personal wallets.

“The DSS was involved in the House of Representatives matter. We met with them at their office on Friday, January 5, 2024, as a prerequisite to our meeting with the House of Representatives,” Mr. Gambaryan stated. “They alluded to the fact that we had to comply with whatever the House members instructed us to do.”

“At the House meeting, there were three members present. Two of them were Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, both working under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. There was a third House member, but I don’t recall his name,” he added.

Efforts to obtain reactions from the lawmakers are ongoing. However, the House of Representatives has previously denied allegations of bribery involving Binance officials.

Mr. Gambaryan was released after the Nigerian government dropped charges against him, following intervention by the U.S. government.