Regional News
The governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, has banned the sale of alcoholic beverages while accusing military and other security personnel of promoting criminality and antisocial vices in Maiduguri and its environs.
About 10 Niger soldiers killed in attack in the south, authorities say | Reuters
NIAMEY, May 7 (Reuters) – About 10 soldiers were killed and seven injured in an attack in Niger’s Dosso region this week, authorities said in a statement broadcast on state radio, while a security source told Reuters the death toll could be higher. The statement attributed Monday’s ambush in southern Niger to “terrorists” and said several of the assailants had been killed and others arrested.
CSOs demand probe into Giwa barracks explosions in Maiduguri – Daily Post Nigeria
A coalition of civil society organisations under the aegis of the Network of Civil Society Organisations, Borno State, has called for a thorough and independent investigation into the recent ammunition explosions at Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Banditry: Fear of bandit reprisals forces Sokoto residents to flee communities – Daily Trust
Fear of reprisal attacks by bandits has forced residents of several communities in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State to flee their homes, turning them into refugees in neighbouring towns. Daily Trust gathered that at least nine communities-including Dankura, Dantasakko, Dankaka, Satiru, and Gangara-have been largely deserted following military operations in the area.
Army neutralizes bandit in Taraba, recovers weapons, foils planned attack
Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralized a suspected bandit and recovered arms and stolen property during a military operation in Ussa Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State. The operation, carried out by soldiers of the 6 Brigade, Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), is part of ongoing efforts to rid Taraba of criminal elements under the operational code name Operation Lafiyan Jamaa.
FG Deploys School Protection Squad to Tackle Insecurity in Gombe – PRNigeria News
FG Deploys School Protection Squad to Tackle Insecurity in Gombe The Federal Government on Monday announced the identification of schools across the country that are vulnerable to security threats, revealing plans to bolster their safety and protection. Speaking during a one-day stakeholders’ meeting themed “Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education”, the National Coordinator on Financing Safe Schools,
THE governors of the North-East region, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states, have agreed to collaborate with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) by providing office space in each state. This is the outcome of the communique read by the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, at the end of the North-East Governors’ Forum meeting held in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital on Thursday, where the forum also pledged to support the enrolment of Almajiri and Out-of-children into formal school.
Poverty rising in rural Nigeria –World Bank – Daily Trust
The World Bank has raised a fresh concern over the rising poverty in Nigeria, saying that a staggering 75.5 per cent of rural dwellers live below the poverty line. The World Bank stated this in its latest April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief for Nigeria which was obtained yesterday. It had, earlier last month in its Africa’s Pulse report, during the recently concluded Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington DC, declared that more.
We’ll Deploy Tech, Reclaim Ungoverned Spaces from Bandits – Tinubu Assures – PRNigeria News
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has restated his administration’s unwavering commitment to reclaiming ungoverned forest areas from bandits and terrorists, particularly in the North-West region, through the deployment of advanced surveillance technology and collaborative security strategies. Speaking at a state dinner hosted by Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda on Friday night, Tinubu responded to concerns raised by former Governor Aminu Bello Masari on the persistent security threats in the region.
Nigerian govt discontinues foreign scholarship scheme, to prioritise local institutions
The Nigerian government has officially discontinued the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) Scholarship Programme, which for years funded Nigerian students to study in foreign countries. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folashade Boriowo, on Wednesday. Mr Alausa explained that the decision followed a thorough policy review aimed at consolidating national investment in domestic tertiary institutions. “Every course Nigerians travel abroad to study through the BEA is now available and often of higher quality within our own universities and polytechnics,” he said.
Soldiers, insurgents die in battle over Borno community – Daily Trust
A captain of the Nigerian Army and a private soldier lost their lives during a renewed night raid by Boko Haram terrorists on Izge community in the outskirt of Gwoza, Borno State, Daily Trust reports. Community leaders and locals said the terrorists also suffered collateral damage during the Wednesday’s onslaught, which is the latest in a series of attacks on Gwoza and adjoining communities.
Electricity crisis: How poor power supply is affecting healthcare – Daily Trust
Poor power supply to health facilities across the country is subjecting patients and their families to untold hardship, worsening health conditions, and resulting in loss of lives, Daily Trust investigations have shown. The power crisis is halting healthcare deliveries, especially surgeries and antenatal services.
Insecurity: Security experts tackle military on ‘foreign attackers’ comments – Daily Trust
Security experts have tackled the military over the claim that foreign elements are behind attacks on Nigerian communities. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Thursday said violence attacks on local communities and killings of farmers in Plateau, Benue and other parts of the country are mostly perpetrated by foreign herders.
Yobe govt reintroduces agric exhibition – Yerwa Express News
The Yobe Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has reintroduced agriculture exhibition as part of efforts toward promoting agribusiness in the state. Its Commissioner, l Ali Goniri, made this known at the exhibition, organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Agro Climatic Resilience and Semi-Arid Land Scape (Acresal) in Damaturu on Monday.
Woman accused of killing husband 9 days after wedding – Daily Trust
Farawa community in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State was thrown into confusion following the traffic death of a youngman, Salisu Idris Ibrahim, who was allegedly killed by his wife, Saudat Jibrin Adam, nine days after their wedding. The incident, which occurred late Monday night, has sent shockwaves through out the community, located on the outskirts of Kano.
LCRI releases new wheat, millet, barley varieties – Daily Trust
The Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) has released new varieties of wheat, millet and barley for Nigerian farmers. The high-yielding new varieties include three bread wheat varieties, three barley and four fortified hybrid millet varieties. The institute during a pre-release seminar held in Maiduguri recently unveiled new improved varieties of wheat, millet and barley that will add to the country’s stock of seeds in those crops.
Terrorists’ Collaborator Nabbed as Insurgents Family Members Surrender to Nigerian Troops in Borno In a continued show of progress in the counter-insurgency campaign across Borno State, troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator in Kukawa Local Government Area and received the surrender of 10 family members of insurgents in Damboa, PRNigeria learnt.
Nigeria: Visually impaired children learn to swim in push for inclusion | Africanews
Despite Nigeria’s extensive waterways and long coastline, swimming remains a rare skill – especially among children. Yet here in Lagos, efforts are underway to change that. A group of visually impaired children are being taught to swim, and in doing so, they’re breaking barriers far beyond the pool. Each splash is a defiance of the odds in a country where swimming is not part of the school curriculum and access to public pools is scarce. In rural and underserved urban
Troops Uncover Terrorists’ Fueling Station, Eliminate 7 ISWAP Fighters, Destroy Camps in Borno. Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have intensified their onslaught against terrorist elements in Borno State, neutralising seven ISWAP fighters, dismantling multiple insurgent camps in Konduga, and uncovering a fuel smuggling syndicate supplying Boko Haram terrorists in Maiduguri, PRNigeria reports.
Borno to prosecute residents for open defecation, illegal refuse
The Borno State Government will prosecute residents for open defecation and the illegal dumping of refuse in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere local council area. The four offending communities include Zajjeri, Bolori Ward II, Baga Fish Market, and Old Maiduguri, located north of the metropolis.
In a move aimed at reinforcing joint efforts in Nigeria’s ongoing counter-insurgency operations, the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command, Makurdi, Air Vice Marshal Patrick Obeya, on Saturday, 3rd May 2025, paid a familiarisation visit to the Theatre Commander of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri.
Less than 48 hours after the North-East governors held its 11th forum meeting In Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, suspected Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly attacked the 27 Task Force Brigade, Bunigari in Gujba Local Government Area of the state.
Ekiti targets 200,000 farmers for commercial livestock, 1.5m jobs | Premium Times Nigeria The Ekiti State Government on Tuesday said it is targeting 200,000 farmers for commercial livestock and is aiming to create 1.5 million jobs through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Enhancement Project (L-PRES). It also said it would boost livestock productivity, improve resilience, and commercialise selected value chain initiatives, including cluster formation across the state. The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, said this at the five-day Training Workshop on Productivity and Technology Adoption Survey in Ado Ekiti.
Two Farmers Killed in Benue as Military Deploys Troops to Avert Reprisal Attacks – PRNigeria News
Two farmers were gruesomely killed by suspected armed herders in Omebe village near the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, sparking fears of reprisal violence in Benue State’s volatile Agatu axis, PRNigeria learnt. The victims, identified as Tony Adejo and Jeremiah Danjuma—both from Odugbeho Ward in Agatu Local Government Area—were reportedly attacked while working on their farms. The incident occurred in the early hours of the day, throwing the local community into mourning and heightened tension.
Soldiers, insurgents die in battle over Borno community – Daily Trust
A captain of the Nigerian Army and a private soldier lost their lives during a renewed night raid by Boko Haram terrorists on Izge community in the outskirt of Gwoza, Borno State, Daily Trust reports. Community leaders and locals said the terrorists also suffered collateral damage during the Wednesday’s onslaught, which is the latest in a series of attacks on Gwoza and adjoining communities.
Mining convoy attacked in Mali on road to Allied Gold’s Sadiola mine, sources say | Reuters
May 7 (Reuters) – A convoy transporting heavy mining equipment from the Malian capital Bamako to Allied Gold’s (AAUC.TO), opens new tab Sadiola mine came under attack in the Kayes region over the weekend, two people familiar with the incident told Reuters late on Tuesday. The attack points to expanding security risks – and related additional costs – facing mining companies operating in military-led Sahel states that are struggling to contain Islamist militant groups.
Seven Catholic reverend brothers killed in fatal road crash – Official | Premium Times Nigeria
Tragedy struck on Saturday when seven Catholic reverend brothers were killed in a fatal road accident in Cross River State, Nigeria’s South-South. The accident occurred at Ikwette Community at Obudu Ranch Resort Bottom Hill while the victims were returning from the resort. The victims were members of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, a religious order of Franciscan friars within the Catholic Church, often referred to as reverend brothers. They belonged to the Enugu Branch of the order and had travelled from the South-eastern state to Obudu, Cross Rivers State, Nigeria’s South-south.
Air transport fare within West Africa highest globally – ECOWAS – Daily Trust
Mr Sédiko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, has said that air transport fares within the West African subregion remain the highest in the world. Douka also revealed that recent studies conducted by renowned organisations showed that air transportation within West Africa is still less than 10%, which represents the lowest.
Niger security forces search Orano offices and seize phones, sources say | Reuters
Security forces in Niger have searched the offices of uranium miner Orano’s local subsidiaries, seizing phones and equipment, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday, months after the French company said authorities had seized control of its Somair mine. One of the sources, who is close to Orano, also said local director Ibrahim Courmo had been arrested.
Army Eliminates Bandit, Recovers Arms in Taraba – PRNigeria News
Army Eliminates Bandit, Recovers Arms in Taraba Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have intensified their crackdown on criminal elements in Taraba State, neutralizing a suspected bandit and recovering arms during two coordinated operations under the codename Operation Lafiyan Jamaa. According to a press statement issued on Sunday by Captain Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 6 Brigade, the operations targeted banditry hotspots in Ussa and Bali Local Government Areas.
7 killed in fresh Benue attacks – Daily Trust
At least seven people, including a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have been killed in separate attacks by armed invaders in two Local Government Areas of Benue State. Our correspondent reports that the incidents occurred on Tuesday in Mbatsada communities of Mbalom and Mbasombo council wards in Gwer East LGA, and Tse Gever Nasemya community of Makurdi LGA.
FG hands over N5.7bn water plant to Yobe – Daily Trust
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has handed over the Gashua Regional Water Supply Project to the Yobe State Government. It is designed to deliver 3,200 million litres of potable water per day (MLD). Facilitated by a former Senate president, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, the N5.7 billion project is expected to serve residents of Gashua town in Bade LGA and surrounding communities.
Peace and Security
Global uncertainty calls for an overhaul of AU peace support operations | ISS Africa
US and likely European funding cuts call for peacekeeping that is focused, fast and modest in its ambition. The United States (US) intends to significantly reduce its contributions to the United Nations (UN), including a complete withdrawal of funding for peacekeeping operations, according to a recent Washington Post report.
FG to resuscitate grazing reserves, dams to address rangeland, pastoralist livelihood – Daily Trust The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalizing grazing reserves and restoring water infrastructure in an effort to address challenges facing rangeland and pastoralist livelihood across Nigeria. This was disclosed by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Eustace Iyayi, at the 5th International Conference on Drylands organized by the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), Bayero University, Kano.
Nigeria, Tunisia to hold joint commission in September – Daily Trust
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its resolve to build robust partnerships with the Republic of Tunisia in energy, technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, education, and the creative sectors. It stated its commitment to actualising the Nigeria-Tunisia Joint Commission between September/October this year.
Mali suspends political activities ahead of planned protest | Reuters
Mali has suspended political activities across the country ahead of a planned protest against the military junta that has ruled since coups in 2020 and 2021, authorities said on Wednesday. The West African country’s political parties are demanding a return to constitutional order and a presidential election, and they were expected to gather for a demonstration on Friday.
N’East govs meet in Yobe to address insecurity, poverty, others
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has led a delegation of colleagues to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, for the 11th North East Governors’ Forum (NEGF) meeting focusing on regional security, boosting agricultural development, and addressing other emerging challenges. The high-level meeting brings together governors from the six Northeastern states, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe, to discuss collaborative strategies for tackling the resurgence of Boko Haram hostilities and revitalising agricultural activities amid other ongoing challenges.
Nigeria, China Seal Landmark Defence Pact to Boost Local Arms Production – PRNigeria News
Nigeria, China Seal Landmark Defence Pact to Boost Local Arms Production The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has secured a strategic partnership with a leading Chinese defence manufacturer during a high-level meeting in China. The meeting culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chinese firm and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), setting the stage for a comprehensive military-industrial collaboration aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s security architecture.
Kano govt bans live political programmes, issues interview guidelines to journalists
The Kano State Government has banned live broadcasts of political programmes across media outlets in the state. It also banned journalists from asking ‘provocative questions’ during interviews. The government announced the decision after a meeting with ‘media executives,’ chaired by the state governor’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Waiya. The announcement was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by Sani Yola, the Director, Special Duties, Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs.
ECOWAS free movement: Tinubu orders dismantling of checkpoints – Daily Trust
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the setting up of a Presidential Task Force to dismantle multiple checkpoints that are hindering free movement. Ambassador Musa Nuhu, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to ECOWAS, disclosed this during a visit to the Nigeria/Benin Republic border in Seme on Wednesday.
Insecurity: Minister, National Assembly differ – Daily Trust
The Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru said yesterday that a security strategy will serve the country more than the proposed summit by the Senate. He also differed with the House of Representatives on their claim that the insurgents had more sophisticated weapons than the military. The Senate had, at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, proposed a two-day national security summit to address the situation.
As Nigeria continues to battle worsening security challenges—ranging from banditry and kidnapping to terrorism, insurgency, and communal violence—citizens across the country are increasingly embracing grassroots security measures and calls for self-defence. These challenges are not confined to the North. In the South, militancy, piracy, secessionist agitations, cultism, and cybercrimes further complicate the nation’s fragile security landscape.
Sultan backs €60m EU projects in North-West – Daily Trust
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has pledged the support of traditional rulers for the implementation of 60 million euro transformative projects inaugurated for Nigeria’s north-western states. The three initiatives, supported by the European Union (EU) in partnership with the United Nations, aim to strengthen health services, social protection systems, and community resilience across the region.
‘No light, no water, scanners not working’, Touray decries situation at Nigeria-Bénin border
ECOWAS President Omar Touray has decried the deplorable state of infrastructure at the Nigeria-Bénin Republic Seme border, in spite of the huge investment in it by ECOWAS. The Benin president stated this during an official on-the-spot assessment visit to the Nigeria–Lagos Seme Border, which is one of West Africa’s busiest and most strategic corridors. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit was aimed at assessing how the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Goods and Services was being implemented and to identify obstacles.
Protests grow in Mali as opposition leader faces trial over junta criticism
A prominent opposition leader in Mali will stand trial next month for criticising the country’s military rulers, as tensions escalate over a plan to dissolve political parties and delay a return to civilian rule. The arrest of Mamadou Traoré, a vocal critic of the junta, comes amid protests in Bamako and growing calls for democratic elections.
What We Must Learn from the Buni Gari Terrorist Attack by Yunusa Bunu Zanna – PRNigeria News
The recent attack on the Nigerian Army formation in Buni Gari, Yobe State, which resulted in the destruction of a military armory, is yet another grim reminder of the growing threat posed by terrorist groups in the North East. The incident—reportedly orchestrated by fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP)—has left residents reeling with fear and uncertainty over the region’s security future.
FG Downplays Terror Drone Threat, Says Terrorists Using Civilian Tech for Attacks – PRNigeria News
FG Downplays Terror Drone Threat, Says Terrorists Using Civilian Tech for Attacks Amid growing concerns over the increasing use of aerial weapons by non-state actors, the Federal Government has dismissed speculations that terrorist groups operating in Nigeria have acquired advanced drone warfare capabilities. Speaking during the seventh edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series at the National Press Centre in Abuja, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, said.
Claim: A viral video circulating online claims that Boko Haram insurgents are mobilizing and regrouping in North-Eastern Nigeria.
The video is accompanied by a caption stating, “This is what Zulum was talking about. The mobilization and regrouping by Boko Haram in the Northeast.” The claim further suggests that the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has warned about this resurgence.
Rescuing northern Nigeria from terrorism
THE spike in terrorism in the North, especially in the North-East and North-Central, is alarming. Boko Haram and ISWAP have become deadlier. They now use drones and improvised explosive devices in their attacks. In all this, there appears to be no immediate solution in sight. Nigeria has been under siege from Boko Haram forces since 2009; Fulani herdsmen’s rapine and banditry aggravate the situation.
Seven Miners Lose Lives as Tree Falls Amid Storm in Cross River – Abc News Nigeria
A devastating storm at the Agoi Ibami mining site in Nko, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State claimed the lives of seven miners on May 3. The tragic event unfolded around 6:40 p.m. during a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds, which caused a massive tree to topple onto the miners working at the site. Those who lost their lives have been identified as Vone Ali Usman and Adamu Ciroma from the Republic of Chad, along with five
Strangled in Silence: The Unseen Forces Stifling Nigeria’s Press Freedom – HumAngle
Drawing from her experience as a survivor of sexual abuse in the university, Yemisi Adeoye*, found her voice in telling powerful stories about gender and resilience as a young and ambitious journalist with an online media outlet in the Lekki area of Lagos, South West Nigeria. However, her promising career took a hit when her publisher refused to publish a report exposing a local chief accused of raping an underage girl in Ibeju-Lekki.
Nigeria announces new policy to prioritise local manufacturing | Premium Times Nigeria
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a “Nigeria First Policy” aimed at prioritising the use of locally made goods and services in all government procurements. The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, made the announcement on Monday, saying the policy seeks to domesticate all government processes. The Nigerian government expects that with the new policy, local manufacturers will get priority in the provision of goods and services.
25 killed as bandits, vigilantes clash in Bauchi – Daily Trust
At least 25 people have been reported killed in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State following a clash between suspected bandits and members of a vigilante group. Daily Trust gathered that the casualties included nine vigilante members, five bandits, and 11 residents who were among those abducted.
Summit: Will 10th Senate proposed security summit change narrative? – Daily Trust
The 10th Senate has resolved to hold a two-day National Security Summit to address the country’s rising insecurity. The resolution was reached at a resumed plenary on Tuesday sequel to the motion sponsored by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South), and co-sponsored by Senators Titus Zam (APC, Benue North West), Nwebonyi Onyeka Peter (Ebonyi North) and Osita Ngwu (Enugu West).
Badaru: Terrorists don’t have better weapons than military – Daily Trust
Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has dismissed insinuations that terrorist groups wield superior firepower over the country’s armed forces. Badaru during a ministerial briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, said the Nigerian military possesses far superior weapons and technology than any terrorist group.
Power Play or Partnership? America’s Strategy in Africa [Business Africa] | Africanews
This Week: U.S. Influence in Africa, EU-Zimbabwe Trade, and Uganda’s Tea Crisis This week, our guest, historian Amzat Boukari-Yabara, revisits the intensifying American influence in Africa, spanning energy and mining projects. Meanwhile, the European Union seeks to strengthen its trade ties with Zimbabwe, and in Uganda, the tea industry is reeling from a pricing crisis.
Foreign Herders Behind Renewed Attacks in Benue, Plateau — Military – PRNigeria News
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has attributed the ongoing attacks on farming communities in Plateau, Benue, and other parts of the country to foreign herders who infiltrate Nigeria through its porous borders. Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, said that investigations and arrests of armed herders have revealed that many of the attackers are not Nigerians.
Humanitarian
New wave of Sudanese refugees flee into neighbouring Chad | Africanews
Large numbers of Sudanese refugees are pouring into eastern Chad with more than 18,500 people arriving in the past two weeks alone, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said. After the bombing of the Zamzam camp for internally displaced people in Darfur and the city of al-Fasher, it says hundreds of thousands of people are on the move. Many of them, including children, elderly people, and pregnant women, are severely malnourished. “We didn’t expect this big influx of people,” says Jean-Paul Habamungu, head of the UNHCR sub-office in Chad.
Zulum resettles 6,000 IDP families displaced from Dikwa, Mafa, to close Muna camp
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno says he has resettled 6,000 families displaced by insurgency in Dikwa and Mafa Local Government Areas. Mr Zulum disclosed this on Monday during a visit to the Muna Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Maiduguri, one of the largest in the state, with over 11,000 families, which he announced plans to close down within the next few weeks. The governor said the resettlement exercise was due to increased illicit activities within the camp. Mr Zulum cited increasing incidents of prostitution, gangsterism, child abuse and other crimes within the camp, saying such conditions undermined efforts at restoring normalcy.
The United Nations Children’s Fund has said Nigeria now stands as the country with the highest burden of malnourished children in Africa. The international agency disclosed this on its website on Tuesday, adding that only two out of every 10 children affected currently have access to treatment. It said with an estimated two million children in Nigeria suffering from severe acute malnutrition, the world’s most populous black nation has the second-highest number of
Borno’s Resettled Families Are Quietly Fleeing Again – HumAngle
After over a decade of displacement, 63-year-old Fanne Goni believed life was finally returning to normalcy for her, her husband, and their seven children. It was 2019, and the Borno State government had announced the resettlement of displaced families to Kawuri, their hometown in northeastern Nigeria.
Beyond the Masks: The Mental Health Struggles of Nigerian Women (I) – HumAngle
Growing up between Ogun State and Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria, Suhayla Yusuf* still remembers the exact moment her Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms started. It was in her first year at the University in 2013- she had just performed the Muslim pre-prayer ablution and was heading to the mosque when a blasphemous thought came to her head.
Food crisis: UN seeks $160m for North-East Nigeria – Daily Trust
The UN requires roughly $160 million to avert a food crisis in conflict-battered north-east Nigeria. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the body’s humanitarian arm said the situation is at its worst in five years. The region has been plagued by a 15-year jihadist insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over two million.
FCT Sexual Assault Centre receives 345 SGBV cases in four years
The Awyetu Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), located at Bwari General Hospital, Abuja has received a total of 345 Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases from 2020 to 2024. The Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, when Najat M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children, visited the centre.
When Azeezat Babatunde gave birth to her daughter, the baby was visibly underweight and lethargic. She was born prematurely. The 20-year-old single mother who lives in Alagbado, a densely populated area of Lagos, South West Nigeria, watched as her daughter was rushed to an incubator at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Now three years old, the child’s earliest battles with malnutrition still echo through her mother’s memory.
In Adamawa, Peacebuilding Begins on the Football Pitch, in Classrooms, and at Townhalls – HumAngle
When Boko Haram attacked a religious gathering in Nassarawo, Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, northeastern Nigeria, and killed 12 persons in January 2012, it ignited deep-seated anger, fear, and suspicion. The incident led to a series of reprisal attacks within Nassarawo, a community where Muslims and Christians once co-existed peacefully, and other parts of the state. Schools closed, businesses shuttered, and families fled, some never returning.
‘1m children at risk of malnutrition in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe’ – Daily Trust
At least one million children in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states are at risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in 2025, double the number in 2024. Of these children, over 600,000 are at risk of SAM over the next six months. Without access to lifesaving nutrition services, they may die.
Borno Announces Plan to Shut Down Another IDP Camp, Gives Reason – PRNigeria News
Borno Announces Plan to Shut Down Another IDP Camp, Gives Reason Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has announced the imminent closure of the Muna Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Maiduguri, as part of ongoing efforts to phase out all formal IDP camps within the state capital. The governor disclosed this during an early morning visit to the camp on Monday, stating that the closure would take place in the coming weeks.
FCT sexual assault centre receives 345 SGBV cases in 4 years – Daily Trust
The Awyetu Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), located at the Bwari General Hospital, Abuja, has received a total of 345 Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases from 2020 to 2024. Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, when Dr Najat M’jid, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children, visited the centre.
Mobilization and economic development
IMF Removes Nigeria From List Of Indebted Countries – Arise News
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has removed Nigeria from its list of debtor-countries. In a report, titled, “Total IMF Credit Outstanding – Movement from May 01, 2025 to May 06, 2025,” obtained on the multilateral institution’s website on Wednesday, Nigeria was not listed among the debtors, which had 91 developing and least developed countries owing the fund a total of $117,797,656,224 as at May 6, 2025.
Naira weakens to N1608/$ – Daily Trust
The depreciation of the naira continued yesterday as the local currency weakened to close at N1608 to one dollar. On Tuesday, the currency lost N1 to close at N1606.64 to a dollar at the Nigerian foreign exchange market (NFEM). According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), naira lost about N3 per US dollar on Monday to close at N1605.62 from N1602.18 on Friday.
With Akinwunmi Adesina’s 10-year tenure as President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) coming to an end, a new president will be elected on 29 May during the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Bank, which will be held between 26 and 30 May in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Five candidates are running for the top job. They are Sidi Tah of Mauritania, Abbas Tolli of Chad, Amadou Hott of Senegal, Samuel Maimbo of Zambia and Bajabuille Tshabalala of South Africa.
UPDATED: IMF speaks on Nigeria’s COVID loan repayment, outstanding charges
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Thursday disclosed that Nigeria has fully repaid its financial support of US$3.4 billion it requested and received in April 2020. The fund was disbursed under the Rapid Financing Instrument, designed to help alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp fall in oil prices. An IMF spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES Thursday afternoon that the nation is however expected to honor additional payments in the form of Special Drawing Rights charges of about US$30 million annually.
Airtel Africa overturns annual loss to post $328 million profit as Naira devaluation pressure eases
Airtel Africa plotted its way back to profitability as it turned $328 million in net profit for the last financial year, not so much by expanding revenue as by cutting down the weighty fx losses that dogged performance in the preceding year. Its unaudited earnings report out on Thursday revealed turnover retreated by 0.5 per cent to $4.96 billion after income from both voice and data services dropped. That factor, alongside an increase in operational expenditure, led to an 11.1 per cent slide in operating profit to $1.5 billion.
