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The Federal Government says the Presidential Economic Management Team (EMT) is set to take a decisive position on the persistent smuggling of agricultural products into Nigeria, a move expected to stabilise commodity markets and provide greater certainty for investors in the agricultural value chain.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during an investment inspection tour of farms and agribusiness facilities in Kaduna State, held as part of the ongoing National Council on Agriculture and Food Security.

Kyari, who visited Olam’s processing facility, TMDK agro-processing plant, Tomato Jos, and a new quality assurance complex under construction by Afreximbank, said the government is tightening market systems and regulatory infrastructure to ensure that domestic producers remain competitive, particularly in the face of cheap products entering the country illegally.

‘The Economic Management Team that has highlighted very loudly the issue of securing our borders for illegal smuggling, illegal imports of cheap foods, so it’s something that is highlighted to the presidential level’, the Minister said.

A major component of the government’s strategy is the establishment of a national quality assurance facility, supported by Afreximbank, which will certify Nigerian agricultural products for domestic and export markets.

Kyari described the emerging facility as a seal of approval that will enhance product competitiveness globally and help address issues such as export rejection in international markets.

The Minister noted that investor interest in agriculture is rising in response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security and food sovereignty agenda. He highlighted new participation by young entrepreneurs and women-led agribusinesses as a positive indicator of sector vibrancy.

‘We visited a young lady running a processing plant with a women farmer outgrower network. This demonstrates that people are not afraid to invest in agriculture, and confidence is growing,’ Kyari stated.

Kyari also disclosed that the administration is working to reduce the cost of farming inputs, a major pain point for producers, while simultaneously rebuilding Nigeria’s strategic food reserves.

‘We are going to tackle the price of inputs. Replenishing the strategic reserves will inject financial liquidity into the agricultural sector and support farmers to grow crops all year round, particularly during the dry season,’ he said.

Responding to concerns raised by Tomato Jos CEO Mira Mehta on the ban on liquid fertiliser imports, Kyari explained that while the product has agricultural value, it also contains components that can be used in explosives.

‘Liquid fertiliser is also a security issue. However, government is open to developing a policy framework that safeguards national security while ensuring farmers, especially horticultural growers, have the inputs they need’, the Minister said.

With the EMT expected to announce measures to curb smuggling and stabilise markets, analysts say the new policy direction could unlock additional private sector investment inflows and accelerate expansion of Nigeria’s agro-industrial base.

THE Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has urged leaders in the Southwest region to seize the vast opportunities offered by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway by developing coastal tourism and related infrastructure to boost the region’s economy.

Speaking at the Southwest Citizen-Government Engagement Summit held in Akure, Ondo Staterecently, Oyetola described the coastal highway as a transformative project capable of redefining economic and social connectivity across Nigeria’s coastline. He said the initiative, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will open up unprecedented prospects for trade, investment, and tourism. ‘The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is an economic artery that connects opportunity, innovation, and prosperity,’ Oyetola said in his presentation titled ‘The Impact of Marine and Blue Economy on Nigeria’s Development: Focus on the Southwest Region.’ ‘I therefore charge leaders across the Southwest to complement this visionary project by developing tourism infrastructure, coastal resorts, and cultural heritage attractions that will enable our communities to fully harness the economic benefits of this new coastal artery.’

The minister emphasised that the project will serve as a catalyst for coastal tourism, hospitality, and small and medium-scale enterprise development, creating new economic corridors from Lagos through Ogun and Ondo to the eastern seaboard.

According to him, the Southwest stands to gain immensely from the project through job creation, increased investment, and the promotion of the region’s cultural and natural assets.

Oyetola also commended President Tinubu for his ‘visionary leadership’ in expanding Nigeria’s continental shelf by 16,300 square kilometres, extending the country’s maritime territory by approximately 20 nautical miles in some areas.

He noted that this achievement represents a major step in strengthening Nigeria’s sovereign rights over vast new areas of the seabed, unlocking immense economic, scientific, and environmental potential.

He stated that the maritime expansion provides the Southwest with new opportunities for offshore investment, deep-sea exploration, marine research, and renewable ocean energy.

THE Ekiti Council of Elders has announced plans to immortalise the late Chief Joel Babatola, a foremost nationalist and close ally of the first Premier of the Western region of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, through an annual lecture series in his honour.

Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the chairman, Board of Trustees of the Joel Babatola Annual Lectures (JOBAL), Olufemi Adewumi, said the series will commence its maiden edition on November 7, 2025 in Ekiti State.

Adewumi, a retired Head of Service in Ekiti, explained that the initiative was conceived to celebrate the life and legacy of Chief Babatola, who served as a parliamentary secretary to Chief Awolowo during Nigeria’s self-government era in the 1950s, a role comparable to that of a Chief of Staff to a modern-day governor.

He stressed that Babatola, who died at 96, was also the pioneer chairman of the Ekiti Council of Elders, where he contributed immensely to social and political development across the SouthWest.

The objectives of the annual lecture, themed: ‘Governance, structural reforms and economic landscape of Nigeria in the 21st century,’ according to him, are to stimulate intellectual reflections on cultural and political challenges in contemporary society, inspire patriotism among descendants of Yorubaland and honour the contributions of exemplary forebears whose values shaped Yoruba identity and governance.

He added that the maiden edition, will feature former governor of Osun State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, as the guest lecturer and will attract dignitaries from across Yorubaland, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi as the Royal Father of the Day; Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji and the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.

Other expected guests include chairmen of councils of Obas across Ekiti and other Oodua states, the president of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and several distinguished personalities from academia, politics and culture.

Adewumi said, ‘On account of his people-oriented services during his life-time, the lecture series have been instituted by the Ekiti Council of Elders (ECE) to achieve the following significant objectives:

‘To provide and stimulate reflections as well as discussions on the prospects and challenges inherent in an unfolding cultural epoch in which literacy is the key and defining characteristic.

‘To inspire patriotism in us as Oodua descendants, in service to our collective well-being in the light of the preceding objective.’

Babatola was the minister of Home Affairs and Information in the Western Region of Nigeria under Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola during the First Republic in 1960.

He was also a Commissioner where he represented Ekiti Divisions in the Government of Western State of Nigeria in 1971 under Brigadier General Oluwole Rotimi and was the Chairman of Ondo State Housing Corporation and held this position during the second republic of old Ondo State between 1979 and 1983.

He was also a patron of Ekiti Council of Elders and Government Elders Advisory Committee and inaugurated by former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in 2012.

TROOPS of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have rescued a military officer and nine others from kidnappers in Benue State.

This is contained in a statement by Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, acting Media Information Officer, Head Quarters OPWS, in Makurdi on Wednesday.

According to him, on November 3, troops deployed at Kyado, Ukum LG while on patrol along Zaki-Biam-Wukari Road, received an intelligence report about kidnapping activities at a checkpoint.

Zubairu said that the kidnappers disguised themselves in police uniforms to deceive unsuspecting road users.

‘Upon receiving the information, the troops mobilised swiftly to the scene. On sighting the approaching soldiers, the kidnappers fled in disarray into nearby bushes.

‘The troops immediately pursued the fleeing suspects, following their tracks deep into the forest. During the search operations, 10 kidnapped victims were successfully rescued.

‘Among those rescued was Warrant Officer John Richard, personnel of 6 Brigade Band, Jalingo, while two other victims are still unaccounted for as search operations continue,’ he said.

He said rescued individuals were handed over to appropriate authorities for further action.

Zubairu stated that Force Commander, OPWS, Maj.-Gen. Moses Gara, had commended the troops for their gallantry, swift response and commitment to protecting innocent citizens.

‘He particularly lauded the tactical commander for his exemplary leadership and proactive measures in combating criminal activities within the general area,’ he added.

A United States congressman leading a requested probe into alleged attacks on Christians in Nigeria, Rep Riley M. Moore, has pledged to brief President Donald Trump ‘soon,’ as the row between Washington and Abuja widened following Mr Trump’s decision to redesignate Nigeria a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) for religious-freedom violations.

Rep Moore – whom Mr. Trump named as one of the lawmakers to lead oversight into the killings – said he is ‘on it’ and would provide the president with findings in short order, praising the administration’s move to spotlight violence against Christians in Nigeria.

Moore has issued statements applauding the redesignation and said he will lead congressional efforts to investigate the reported slaughter of Christians.

ALSO READ: VIDEO: ‘Something has to be done,’ Trump insists there is ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria

In a series of public posts and remarks, President Trump accused ‘radical Islamists’ of carrying out ‘large-scale killings’ of Christians in Nigeria and said he was labeling the country a CPC under the International Religious Freedom Act – a designation that can lead to targeted penalties, including suspension of some foreign assistance.

He urged swift congressional action and told lawmakers to investigate the scale of the violence; he also suggested the United States could take military action if the killings continue.

The Nigerian government has strongly rejected the president’s characterisation, calling it inaccurate and misleading.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and senior officials, reiterated that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy that protects freedom of religion, and that widespread violence in the country is driven by broader insecurity – including insurgency, banditry and communal conflict – not state-backed persecution of a faith group.

Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar told reporters that state-backed religious persecution is ‘impossible’ under Nigeria’s constitution and law, and Abuja welcomed international assistance to tackle terrorism so long as Nigeria’s sovereignty is respected.

The CPC designation comes from the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act and is intended to highlight governments or entities engaged in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

The label itself does not automatically impose blanket sanctions, but it authorises the US government to consider a range of targeted responses – from visa restrictions to suspension of non-humanitarian aid – and raises diplomatic pressure on the designated state. Critics say the move is largely symbolic unless Washington follows through with concrete measures; supporters argue it focuses attention on victims and can unlock policy responses.

The episode has provoked sharp reactions on both sides of the Atlantic: US lawmakers and activists who have long pressed for tougher action on religious persecution hailed the president’s decision and urged rapid investigations, while Nigerian officials, political parties and civil society groups have pushed back against what they call an exaggerated and politically motivated portrayal of the country.

The first cluster of the Illumination Mentorship Programme, held at St. Joseph Centenary School in Ilorin, has been hailed as a huge success.

The programme, designed to empower secondary school students with essential life skills and knowledge, drew participants from several schools, including St. Anthony Secondary School, C and S Secondary School, St. Barnabas High School, and Anglican Grammar School.

Guests, who attended the event, included Mr Solomon Kolo, Deputy Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and media representatives.

Speaking at the event, the executive director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, and Deputy Director of NOA charged participants to stay focused, have direction, discipline, and character as pivotal elements in shaping their future.

Students were encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop essential strategies and life skills, and to be open to guidance, feedback, and constructive criticism.

The programme aims to provide mentorship, academic support, and life skills development to secondary school students, particularly SS2 pupils, and empower them to succeed academically and become valuable contributors to society.

The success of the first cluster is a testament to the commitment of the Passion for Peace Initiative (PPI) to empowering the next generation of leaders.

The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, has raised concerns about rigid requirements for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, saying the development has created a massive population of ‘out-of-school adolescents,’ which he noted portends grave danger for the nation.

Alausa spoke in Abuja at the official launch of the Federal Government Tertiary Institution Governance and Transparency Platform (FTIGTP), a platform aimed at promoting transparency, good governance, and evidence-based policies and reforms to improve performance-based funding decisions and resource allocation.

He lamented the low carrying capacity of existing tertiary institutions, saying the situation is being exacerbated by rigid admission policies, which make it difficult for many young Nigerians to secure admission into universities and other tertiary institutions of their choice.

He noted that a lot of young Nigerians, frustrated by their inability to gain admission year after year, now roam the streets, a situation he described as dangerous for the country.

According to the Minister, every year, over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), yet only about 700,000 gain admission.

Alausa explained that this development led the Ministry to recently revise the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions to remove unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards.

The new framework applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) across the country. It removes Mathematics as a mandatory requirement for admission into arts-related courses and English as compulsory for admission into science-related courses.

Additionally, the number of credit passes required for admission into colleges of education and polytechnics has been reduced from five to four.

Alausa explained that the reform became necessary after years of restricted access that left many qualified candidates unable to secure admission.

‘The streamlining of O-Level admission guidelines aims to modernize Nigeria’s education system and align it with global best practices. It allows institutions to admit candidates into specific programmes where credit passes in either English or Mathematics may not be compulsory, while still mandating that all students register and sit for both subjects,’ the Minister stated.

He added that the reform supports the Federal Government’s vision of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development, broadening academic pathways and recognising diverse strengths among learners.

‘English and Mathematics remain vital tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning. The adjustment affects only admission criteria, not the requirement to take these subjects,’ the Ministry of Education clarified.

Speaking at the unveiling of the FTIGTP, Dr. Alausa said the platform offers real-time visibility into students’ enrolment and called on all tertiary institutions to cooperate to ensure its success.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Mathematical Society (NMS) has appealed to the Federal Government and relevant tertiary education regulators to reconsider the recent policy removing Mathematics as a compulsory admission requirement for students seeking entry into Nigerian universities and other higher institutions to study courses in the Arts and Humanities.

President of the Society, Professor Godwin Mbah, said the Council and entire membership of the NMS received the development with deep concern, warning that the decision could have serious implications for the nation’s educational standards, cognitive development, and long-term national growth.

Professor Mbah emphasised that Mathematics remains a universal language of reasoning and a foundational tool for intellectual development across all disciplines.

According to him, Mathematics enhances analytical reasoning, precision, critical thinking, creativity, and structured problem-solving skills, all of which are also vital in the Arts and Humanities.

He maintained that subjects such as Economics, Geography, Linguistics, and Philosophy draw heavily on quantitative and logical principles.

Professor Mbah warned that excluding Mathematics from admission requirements could influence negative behavioural patterns among students from junior to senior secondary school.

He listed possible outcomes, including loss of interest in the subject, increased fear and avoidance of numeracy, poor performance in national examinations, disrespect for Mathematics teachers, and early neglect of the subject.

He cautioned that such attitudes could weaken students’ analytical abilities, reduce cognitive development, and distort the purpose of foundational education.

The society also highlighted wider national implications, including reduced employability of graduates in an increasingly technology-driven economy, lowered academic standards in higher institutions, policy inconsistencies in the education sector, and the risk of widening social inequality between quantitatively literate and illiterate citizens.

Professor Mbah described the policy as potentially detrimental to the nation’s aspirations for economic growth, innovation, and data-driven governance, arguing that mathematics literacy is essential for competitiveness in the 21st century.

‘Excluding Mathematics as a compulsory admission requirement may appear student-friendly, but it undermines intellectual and professional competence. Mathematics equips learners with universal skills indispensable in today’s complex world,’ he said.

He urged policymakers to retain Mathematics as a compulsory requirement for all university applicants regardless of discipline, insisting that maintaining such standards is critical to sustaining national development and educational integrity.

A new resolution introduced in the United States Congress has called for sweeping sanctions on individuals and groups accused of perpetrating or supporting severe violations of religious freedom in Nigeria.

The bill, House Resolution 860, commends former President Donald Trump for redesignating Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) under U.S. law, citing systematic and ongoing persecution of religious minorities in Africa’s most populous nation.

Introduced on Tuesday by Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey and co-sponsored by Rep. Bill Huizenga, the resolution recommends visa bans, asset freezes, and other restrictive measures against those implicated in religiously motivated violence.

Specifically, it names the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore as entities responsible for such violations.

The bill also urges that ‘Fulani-Ethnic Militias’ operating in Benue and Plateau States be placed on the Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) list under the International Religious Freedom Act – a category reserved for non-state actors engaged in ‘particularly severe’ religious persecution.

In its extensive preamble, the resolution accuses Islamic terror organisations and ethnic militias of committing atrocities, including mass killings, kidnappings, and the destruction of places of worship, largely targeting Christians and moderate Muslims.

It cites reports from Open Doors and the Vatican, which claim that Nigeria accounted for nearly 89 per cent of Christians martyred globally in 2023 and that over 18,000 churches have been destroyed since 2009.

The bill further laments that despite billions of dollars in U.S. foreign assistance, the Nigerian government has ‘failed to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of religiously motivated violence,’ resulting in what it describes as a ‘culture of impunity.’

It also criticises the implementation of Sharia law in 12 northern states, which it says discriminates against religious minorities and dissenters, and condemns the use of blasphemy laws to silence opposition.

Among its key provisions, the resolution directs the U.S. Departments of State and Treasury to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky framework on individuals and organisations found to be complicit in religious persecution in Nigeria. It further mandates that U.S. humanitarian aid be provided directly to faith-based organisations assisting internally displaced persons, particularly in the Middle Belt region. The bill also calls for conditioning American foreign assistance to Nigeria on the government’s demonstrated commitment to protecting religious freedom, prosecuting offenders, and upholding constitutional rights.

The resolution came on the same day U.S. Senator Ted Cruz announced plans to hold Nigerian officials accountable over alleged persecution of Christians, vowing to ‘be very explicit’ in naming those involved. In October, Cruz had sponsored the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, which proposed sanctions on federal and state officials enforcing Nigeria’s blasphemy laws.

The Nigerian government has consistently rejected such allegations, insisting that religion is not the primary driver of insecurity in the country.

If adopted, House Resolution 860 would mark one of the strongest congressional rebukes of Nigeria’s human rights record in recent years, further intensifying U.S. scrutiny of religious freedom conditions under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Investing in psychology and mental health can turn human capital into ‘mental wealth’, accelerate national growth and reimburse Nigeria for the N1.2 billion in lost potential and revenues each year.

Speaking at the 55th inaugural lecture of Nasarawa State University Keffi, ‘From Mental Health to National Wealth: Psychology as a National Development Imperative,’ Professor Emmaneul Alhassan stated that people’s mental health is closely related to the growth, prosperity, and wealth (or lack thereof) of countries.

Alhassan said beyond the visible indicators like roads, bridges, GDP growth rates, and stock market indices, the often-invisible psychological wellbeing of citizens is at the foundational core of its national development.

The don said Nigeria’s mental health landscape remains overshadowed by a high prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders, low service utilisation, profound stigma, insufficient financing, and a drastic shortage of trained staff.

According to Alhassan, between 20 and 30 per cent of Nigerians are likely to experience a diagnosable mental disorder in their lifetime, but roughly 80 per cent of Nigerians living with a mental health condition do not receive any formal care.

‘Underfunding of the mental health sector exacerbates the situation: only around 3.3-4 per cent of Nigeria’s total health expenditure is allocated to mental health, which is grossly insufficient given the scale of need,’ he added.

Professor Alhassan decried the extremely low psychologist-to-population ratio in Nigeria, put at approximately one psychologist to every 180,000 Nigerians, illustrating the severe shortage in Nigeria’s mental health workforce.

According to him, ‘Urgent policy action is therefore required to expand training programmes, increase recruitment, and institutionalise psychologist positions across federal, state, and local government structures to ensure equitable access to psychological services.

‘Psychology, therefore, must be elevated from a clinical afterthought to a central imperative in our national development agenda. Psychology, the scientific study of mind and behaviour, serves as the bridge, offering tools to cultivate this capital.

‘Planning for national development has historically emphasised physical infrastructure, frequently overlooking the essential psychological and mental health aspects that are fundamental to societal well-being and productivity.

‘Integrating mental health into development planning is no longer optional but an imperative for Nigeria’s aspirations to reach middle-income status and attain the SDGs.

‘Untreated mental disorders could shrink our economy by 3.5-5 per cent annually, mirroring the lockdown projections but amplified by ongoing economic hardships.

‘The evidence is overwhelming: a nation cannot prosper if its people are psychologically impoverished. We understand the cost of inaction – a N1.2 trillion Naira loss annually in lost earnings and potential. We know that neglecting psychological well-being risks entrenching cycles of poverty and social unrest.

‘Roads, bridges, and oil wells may build a nation’s body, but it is the mind that builds its soul and sustains its wealth. The time has come to move from mental health to mental wealth, from neglect to investment, and from silence to action. The concept of ‘mental wealth’ suggests a paradigm shift: psychological well-being is not a cost but an asset, akin to money, which must be spent wisely, invested, and protected.’

Four suspects have been arrested by operatives of the Kwara state Police command for the alleged killing of the Chief Imam of Sokunkpan village, Tsaragi, in the Edu local government area of Kwara state.

The Tribune investigation gathered that angry youths allegedly murdered the religious leader over accusations of wizardry (witchcraft) on Wednesday.

According to sources in the area, the violent incident was triggered by an act of mob justice.

‘The youths stormed the Imam’s compound after a sick child named the Chief Imam as being responsible for his illness, claiming the Imam intended to kill him. This accusation prompted the youths to violently take the law into their own hands’, the source said.

It was also gathered that the corpse of the Chief Imam had been taken to the morgue.

In its reaction, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Toun Ehire-Adeyemi, on Thursday, identified the suspected killers of the deceased as Mohammed Shaba and Mahmud Gana.

ýThe statement reads: ‘The Kwara State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of a tragic incident of culpable homicide that occurred in Tsaragi, Edu LGA of the State.

ý’On November 4, 2025, at about 9:30 p.m., one Ibrahim Gana ‘Male’ aged 25 years, a resident of Sokunkpan Village in Tsaragi, who had been ill and on admission at a hospital, sadly passed away.

‘Following his death, his brothers, Mohammed Shaba and Mahmud Gana, accused the Chief Imam of the village, Alhaji Abdullahi Audu, of being responsible for their brother’s demise.

ýý’In an act of mob violence, Muhammad Shaaba and Mahmud Gana, allegedly, mobilised several other individuals and attacked the Chief Imam with offensive weapons, leading to his death.

ý’Police operatives swiftly commenced an investigation into the incident, and four suspects have been arrested, with efforts ongoing to arrest other individuals connected to the crime.

ý’CP Adekimi Ojo further warned against resorting to jungle justice or taking the law into one’s own hands, emphasising that such actions are criminal and punishable under the law.

‘He urged the public to promptly report any suspicious activity to the nearest Police formation or via the command’s designated channels.

ý’He reassures all residents of his unwavering dedication to maintaining peace, safety, and order across the state. Further updates will be provided as investigations into the case progress.’