Headlines

The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has accepted an invitation from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to visit Nigeria later this year.

The invitation was extended during bilateral talks between the two leaders on Wednesday night, held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025.

This development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

The statement noted that President Tinubu arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday as a guest of the UAE President to participate in the Sustainability Week, a global forum aimed at addressing challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and energy crises.

During the discussions, Sheikh Mohamed expressed his gratitude for President Tinubu’s participation and reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to strengthening economic ties with Nigeria. Both leaders explored opportunities for increased investment in Nigeria, with President Tinubu highlighting his administration’s economic reforms.

According to Tinubu, these reforms have stabilized the Nigerian economy, encouraging foreign investors, including international oil companies, to commit to billion-dollar investments, signaling renewed confidence in the country’s business environment.

President Tinubu also thanked Sheikh Mohamed for the warm reception accorded to him and his delegation during their visit.

A heated exchange broke out at the National Assembly on Thursday during the 2025 budget defence session as the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, presented the Nigeria Police Force’s budget.

The session grew contentious when two lawmakers raised concerns that the IGP’s presentation did not align with the budget documents provided to the committee. Attempts by the committee chairman to allow the IGP to continue while the discrepancies were addressed were met with resistance, resulting in a shouting match. The situation escalated further, prompting a senator to walk out in protest.

Calm was eventually restored, and the IGP resumed his presentation, where he reiterated his call for the removal of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from the restrictive envelope budget system. He argued that the current framework limits the Force’s capacity to adequately address national security challenges.

In response, some lawmakers, including Senator Abdul Ningi, defended the envelope system, stating that it “was never a legal entity, nor was it ratified by the National Assembly, and should therefore remain the norm.”

However, other lawmakers supported the IGP’s appeal, calling for a review of the budgeting process to adopt a more flexible and needs-based funding model for the police.

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has opposed the proposed increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) from 7.5% to 10%, describing the move as untimely.

The decision was reached during a meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, where the governors also expressed support for the ongoing legislative process of the Tax Reform Bills.

The proposal to raise VAT was first announced by Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, who stated that the increase is part of a broader plan to address the country’s revenue challenges.

Speaking last year, Oyedele highlighted the need for urgent reforms in tax and revenue systems, citing a fiscal crisis. “The revenue profile of the country is abysmally low. Even if we dedicate our entire revenue to fixing roads, it will still be insufficient,” he said. He explained that the proposal includes increasing VAT to 10% by 2025, with additional phased increments in subsequent years.

At the recent IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, also affirmed the government’s intention to implement the VAT hike as part of broader economic measures.

Despite these proposals, the governors have urged caution, insisting that the timing is unsuitable given the economic realities faced by Nigerians.

Governor Ademola Adeleke has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government Area and Ifon in Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State, following renewed communal clashes over disputed land.

The dispute, which has led to the deaths of over 40 people and widespread destruction of property in recent years, flared up again on Monday. Security operatives intervened to prevent further escalation.

Announcing the curfew on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, stated that the curfew, effective immediately, will run from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily until further notice.

“Following the outbreak of another communal clash between the people of Ifon and Ilobu, the Osun State Government has imposed a curfew to prevent further anarchy,” Alimi said.

He added that a contingent of security personnel, including the Army, Police, and Civil Defence, has been deployed to the affected areas to restore order.

The government called on stakeholders in both communities to cooperate in resolving the conflict peacefully to ensure lasting peace.

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old man, identified as Success, for allegedly killing his father with a cutlass in Amukpe community, Sapele Local Government Area.

The incident reportedly occurred at the family’s residence following a heated argument over a monetary request. According to witnesses, Success had demanded N5,000 from his father, who refused, leading to a confrontation.

A neighbour, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described Success as a known drug addict with a history of erratic behaviour. “Everyone in this area knows Success as a drug addict who always misbehaves whenever he has taken those drugs,” the neighbour said.

During the altercation, Success allegedly attacked his father with a cutlass, inflicting severe injuries. The victim was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident on Thursday, stating that the suspect is in custody.

The tragic incident has left residents of Amukpe in shock, with many highlighting the dangers of substance abuse and the need for better mental health support in the community.

The Rivers State Government has confirmed five cases of cholera and nine related deaths following an outbreak in Akuku-Toru and Andoni Local Government Areas.

State Commissioner for Health, Adaeze Oreh, disclosed that all confirmed cases were recorded in Akuku-Toru, while fatalities occurred in both affected LGAs.

Oreh revealed that emergency response teams have been deployed to the areas to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. Sensitization campaigns have also been intensified across the state to educate residents on preventive measures.

She emphasized the importance of hygiene and urged residents to report suspected cases promptly. The Commissioner also advised individuals in affected communities to maintain proper sanitation, drink only safe water, and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or dehydration.

Oreh called on parents to cooperate with health officials as efforts to mitigate the outbreak continue. She assured the public of the government’s commitment to safeguarding health and promised regular updates on the situation.

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 34.80% in December 2024, up from 34.60% in November, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on Wednesday.

The marginal 0.20% increase was attributed to heightened demand for goods and services during the festive season, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which tracks changes in the prices of goods and services.

“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 5.87% higher than the rate recorded in December 2023, which stood at 28.92%,” the report stated.

Food inflation for December 2024 stood at 39.84% on a year-on-year basis, up from 33.93% in December 2023. The rise was linked to increased prices of key items, including yam, sweet potatoes, maize, rice, bread, cereals, fish, and beer.

The sharp increase in inflation highlights Nigeria’s worsening cost of living crisis, considered one of the worst in the country’s history since gaining independence.

Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, when inflation was 22.41%, the rate has soared by more than 12 percentage points, reaching 34.80% in December 2024. Economists have attributed the surge to Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex rates.

In presenting a ₦49.7 trillion budget to the National Assembly on December 18, 2024, Tinubu outlined plans to reduce inflation to 15% by 2025. However, experts have described the goal as ambitious, given the prevailing economic challenges.