Day: August 13, 2025

‘Northern bloc rises for 2027’ — Ex-SGF, Babachir Lawal 

Aminu Imam
Babachir Lawal on Arewa bloc

…Re-ignites claim that Obi won 2023, not Tinubu Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has launched a blistering attack on President Bola Tinubu while unveiling a new northern political platform to shape the 2027 presidential race. Lawal, speaking in a televised interview on Monday, said prominent northern politicians outside government have formed the Nigerian People’s Consultative Political Forum (North) to end regional disunity and vote as a bloc. He vowed the group would back only a candidate — northern, southern or “even from heaven” —…

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Trump imposes tariffs on Nigeria, 59 others

Aminu Imam
Trump imposes

Sixty countries, including Nigeria, face increased tariffs after United States President Donald Trump launched a reciprocal-tariff programme targeting products and countries with different rates. According to the White House website figures, Nigeria will face a 15% tariff under the programme. It said the plan sets a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the US, with additional duties applying to particular products or countries. China would face a 30 percent tariff, with extra levies on some products, while Brazil is listed at 50 percent, with lower levels for specific sectors,…

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Sokoto: Gunmen kill worshipper, abduct several in mosque attack

Aminu Imam
Sokoto gunmen

Armed men have attacked a mosque in Sokoto State during morning prayers on Sunday, killing one worshipper and abducting several others, local officials and residents said. The assailants, wielding what witnesses described as sophisticated weapons, stormed Marnona village, in Wurno local government area, at dawn, opening fire indiscriminately, and sending worshippers fleeing in panic. “They targeted innocent people in a sacred place — it is barbaric and cowardly”,  according to Isah Achida, the Sokoto State chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC). Achida said the state government was working…

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Petrol: Marketers raise prices amid drop in crude cost

Aminu Imam
Marketers raise prices

Filling stations have raised their pump prices for petrol to ₦900/litre and above despite a decline in the cost of crude oil since Sunday. Some retail outlets owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) raised petrol prices to ₦900 per litre in Lagos and Ogun states, even as crude prices dropped from nearly $69 to $66 per barrel. Dangote refinery partners, including Ardova and Heyden, jerked prices above ₦900 per litre. Our correspondent observed that AP, a partner of the Dangote refinery, sold petrol at the rate of…

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Former Sokoto gov. Tambuwal released after EFCC detention

Aminu Imam
Tambuwal released

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, a day after he was summoned and interrogated at the agency’s Abuja headquarters. Tambuwal, a political associate of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, was taken into custody on Monday following his arrival at the commission’s office around 11:30 a.m. He was grilled over allegations of fraudulent cash withdrawals amounting to ₦189 billion. According to EFCC sources, the investigation is centred on possible breaches of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The transactions under scrutiny…

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World Bank approves $300m to support over 3m IDPs

Aminu Imam
World Bank approves

The World Bank has approved $300 million to support more than 3.5 million internally-displaced persons (IDPs) and their host communities in northern Nigeria. The Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project (SOLID) was approved on August 7. It will focus on climate-resilient infrastructure, livelihoods, and building social cohesion. The aim is to help affected communities move from relying on aid to becoming self-reliant. The project, which will benefit about 7.4 million people, including 1.3 million IDPs, will be implemented in partnership with federal, state, and local governments, as…

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Israel to help Nigeria combat bandits, Boko Haram, ISWAP terrorists 

Aminu Imam
Israel to help Nigeria

Nigeria and Israel have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration in key areas including counter-terrorism, intelligence, information sharing, security financing, and training. This was disclosed in a joint communiqué issued on Monday, signed by Nigeria’s deputy foreign minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her Israeli counterpart, Sharren Haskel-Harpaz, following a high-level political meeting held on Monday. According to the communiqué, the meeting reflected the enduring and strategic partnership between both nations. The discussions focused on critical multilateral issues such as global security, counter-terrorism, and bilateral political and economic cooperation. Both Ministers endorsed…

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Court gives FG fresh deadline on Dasuƙi trial

Aminu Imam
Court on Dasuki trial

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has given the Federal Government fresh dates to conclude its 10-year prosecution of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuƙi (rtd), on charges of unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering. The presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, gave the FG September 24, 25 & 26 as a deadline to wrap up the case with started in 2015 under the Late Muhammadu Buhari administration. The court directed the Government to call any remaining witnesses and tender all outstanding exhibits to substantiate its allegations on an…

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