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A 15 per cent tariff has been slammed on imported petrol and diesel.

This follows the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of a proposal from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The president’s approval was contained in a letter addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, FIRS and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The letter was signed by President’s Private Secretary, Damilotun Aderemi.

The proposal from the FIRS was made by his Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Mr. Zacch Adedeji.

It was learnt the tariff was imposed to protect local refineries with the intention to stabilize the downstream market.

The FIRS stated that the implementation would commence after a 30-day transition window, allowing importers to adjust cargoes already in transit and ensuring a smooth rollout without market disruption.

According to the plan, the application of a 15 per cent duty on the cost, insurance and freight value of imported petrol and diesel is designed to aligning import costs with domestic market realities.

Adedeji had in his memo to the President, outlined the need to support ongoing reforms by boosting local refining, ensure price stability, and strengthen the naira-based oil economy in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda for energy security and fiscal sustainability.

He said: ‘The core objective of this initiative is to operationalise crude transactions in local currency, strengthen local refining capacity, and ensure a stable, affordable supply of petroleum products across Nigeria’.

According to him, while domestic refining of petrol has begun to increase and diesel sufficiency has been achieved, price instability persists, partly due to the misalignment between local refiners and marketers.

He noted that import parity pricing- the benchmark for determining pump prices, often falls below cost recovery levels for local producers, particularly during foreign exchange and freight fluctuations, putting pressure on emerging domestic refineries.

He pointed out that the government’s responsibility was now ‘twofold, to protect consumers and domestic producers from unfair pricing practices and collusion, while ensuring a level playing field for refiners to recover costs and attract investments.’

He argued that the new tariff framework would discourage duty-free fuel imports from undercutting domestic producers and foster a fair and competitive downstream environment.

However, based on the projections contained in the letter, the 15 per cent import duty could increase the landing cost of petrol by an estimated N99.72 per litre.

He said: ‘At current CIF levels, this represents an increment of approximately 99.72 per litre, which nudges imported landed costs toward local cost-recovery without choking supply or inflating consumer prices beyond sustainable thresholds. Even with this adjustment, estimated Lagos pump prices would remain in the range of N964.72 per litre ($0.62), still significantly below regional averages such as Senegal ($1.76 per litre), Cote d’Ivoire ($1.52 per litre), and Ghana ($1.37 per litre)’.

Adedeji explained that the tariff was not revenue-driven but corrective, aimed at aligning import costs with domestic realities while preserving affordability.

He stated that the implementation would commence after a 30-day transition window, allowing importers to adjust cargoes already in transit and ensuring a smooth rollout without market disruption.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked Rep Abubakar Gummi, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

Gummi, represents Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara in the House of Representatives,

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a judgment, restrained the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from further recognising Gummi as member representing Gummi/ Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.

Justice Egwuatu also made an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission. (iNEC) to conduct fresh election to fill the vacancy fot the constituency within 30 days from the day of the judgment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though the judgement was delivered on Thursday, the certified true copy was sighted on Friday.

The suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its state’s Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, as 1st and 2nd plaintiffs.

The duo, in the originating summons dated Nov. 28 but filed Nov. 29, 2024, by Ibrahim Bawa, SAN, had sued Hon Abubakar Suleiman Gummi; Speaker of the House of Representatives and INEC as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

The plaintiffs had set out four questions for determination and sought nine reliefs for determination.

They asked whether having regard to the provision of Section 68 (1) (9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), it was not unconstitutional for Gummies to retain his seat as member in the house.

They said he defected from PDP which sponsored him for the election to Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency to APC, when there was no division in the party, among other questions.

One of the reliefs sought was a declaration that it was unconstitutional for the speaker to refuse/fail to declare Gummi’s seat vacant.

Gummi, in his response through his lawyer, filed a notice of preliminary objection and a counter affidavit.

The lawmaker, in his argument, argued that his decampment was due to the crisis within the PD..

He said contrary to the deposition of the plaintiffs, the lingering unresolved internal and external crisis both at the national level and in his constituency is the reason for his defection from the party to APC.

Gummi said the crisis resulted into a state where he could no longer represent his constituents properly and ensure that they all benefit from shared distribution of the dividends of democracy within the bounds of law, and without undue interference from anyone or anything.

Delivering the judgment , Justice Egwuatu granted all the plaintiffs’ reliefs.

The judge condemned the attitude of some politicians who see defection as a normal culture.

‘Before I take my fingers off the key board, let me just add, that politicians should respect the wishes of the electorates that elected them into office.

‘A situation where the electorates have made their choices between different political parties and their candidates based on the manifestos and marketability of such a political party, it is legally and morally wrong for such a politician to abandon the party under which platform he or she was elected into office and move to a rival party without relinquishing the mandate of his or her former party.

‘If a person must decamp, don’t decamp with the mandate of the electorates.

‘Don’t transfer the votes garnered on the platform of one party to another party.

‘A politician has no such rights to transfer votes of a political party to another political party.

‘The law must punish such moves by taking away the benefits bestowed upon the decampee politician by the electorates.

‘And that is what Section 68 (1) (g) of the Constitution has done.

‘Political prostitution must not be rewarded.

‘In total, I resolve all the issues in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants,’ Justice Egwuatu said.

The judge, therefore, ordered that Gummi , having defected from PDP to APC ‘before the expiration of the period the house was elected, automatically loses his seat as member of the House of Representatives.

He made an order restraining Gummi from further receiving monies as salaries, allowances or howsoever called in his capacity as member representing the constituency.

He also made an order directing the lawmaker to refund to the Federal Government all monies collected as salaries, allowances or howsoever called as member representing the constituency from Oct. 30, 2024 to the date of judgment.

‘An order is made directing that the evidence of the refund of all monies collected as salaries, allowances or howsoever called be filed in the registry of this court within 30 days of the judgment of this court,’ he said.

Justice Egwuatu consequently awarded a fine of N500, 000 in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants.

We have seen a lack of restraint in the media, both online and mainstream, in commentaries through some of their columnists over an alleged coup plot to overthrow this democracy and install a military autocracy.

The report about a possible overthrow of the present order of civilian governance and replace it with army diktat has filled the media space and even private conversations, speculations and gossips. After the first wave of news reports by some online publications, the military issued a statement denying that there was such a thing, although it provided a caveat and segway for further facts.

The military confirmed the arrests of about 16 top military officers, including a brigadier-general and lieutenant-colonels. The high command did not disclose their names. The purpose of the arrests, according to their statement, was due to disenchantment about career stagnation. It indicated that investigations were still ongoing.

That caveat encouraged speculations and reports, both in online and mainstream media, on who may be and may not be involved in the alleged conspiracy for subversion.

Reports have said that the alleged conspirators wanted to unleash a bloody coup that would have entailed the killings of top elected officers in the land, including the president, vice president and senate president.

These are all juicy details in the eye of reporters and editors. Yet, no confirmation of these facts has come from the government or the military.

It is the right of the newspapers and other publications to pursue the facts wherever they may lead. It is in the exercise of press freedom, a hard-worn democratic right, so long as they are powered by facts, not fantasy.

What is wrong is for editors and publishers to turn their publications to avenues to condemn democracy and imply that any coup at this time or anytime is justified. Some publications of the mainstream variety have done that already.

It is against the very spirit of liberty under which newspapers blossom in this era. Newspapers should not give their nods to opinions that support military autocracy. It is democratic suicide. It is an act of intellectual subversion of the act of free people. It is also an act of incitement. It is irresponsible.

Such articles have given the impression that democracy is not good for us and we must not exercise patience with it. Those articles betray a loss of memory and lack of historical sense. This democracy came as a consequence of blood, tears, sweat and toil, apologies to Winston Churchill.

Newspapers and magazines were shut down. Journalists were killed; they worked on the sly and underground, and were locked up. Civil rights activists as well as human rights veterans died and even suffered terminal physical abuses. Politicians were killed, some of them also ran underground and fled the country to mobilise.

It was not so far away or long ago, and hence it is baffling that editors and publishers can allow unhinged pens to write off democracy.

In the west from where we borrowed the tradition of liberal journalism, no opinion section undermines democracy, not even in the virulent rightwing media of the United States and Europe. Europe had military hegemony, and they have forsworn them.

Even while some Americans and Europeans are not happy with the bullying of some of their elected leaders, no one has called for another form of government. That explains why no one is elected forever. It is never perfect. Hence there is periodic reevaluation in the form of elections. Autocracy, especially of the army, provides no such outlet.

Journalism should never be cited as an excuse for democracy to fall. At times like this, restraint should overtake exuberance.

Born Saidat Ashabi Balogun but popularly known by her alias ‘Omoge Saidat,’ a moniker bestowed upon her by the legendary Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, she is a 55-year-old jeweler based in the United Kingdom.

Until recently, Omoge Saidat had maintained a low profile, blending seamlessly into the backdrop of high-society events and glamorous parties. However, her life took a dramatic turn when she found herself at the center of a scandal that shook her world.

Last week, during the extravagant celebration of Gaming Mogul Sir Adebukunola Adebutu’s 90th birthday at the prestigious Eko Convention Centre, her private videos were leaked online, thrusting her into the spotlight. Initially, the situation felt surreal to Saidat as she watched her private moments being circulated and discussed across various social media platforms.

The videos quickly gained traction, captivating those unaware of her previous existence and prompting many to delve into her personal life and background.

The impact of the leaked nude video was devastating.

Overcome with emotion, Saidat wept bitterly, grappling with the sense of betrayal and violation she felt. Friends and acquaintances soon began speculating about who might have orchestrated the leak, igniting a flurry of accusations and rumors. While some condemned the person responsible for sharing such intimate content, others questioned Saidat’s decision to record and share the video with her partner two years prior.

As discussions continued to swirl, whispers began circulating that the Adebutu family may have had some involvement in the video’s release, prompting Saidat to seek clarity on the matter. In an effort to address the storm surrounding her and restore her reputation, she was invited to a private meeting with the Adebutu family at their opulent Ikoyi mansion on October 28 at 10 AM. Present were Baba Adebutu, his wife Kofoworola, Hon Ladi Adebutu, Abibat Adebutu Kasunmu and several other family members, all determined to confront the unfolding drama.

Former Chairperson of Lagos State Handball Association and sponsor of ‘Opeifa Cup 2025’ Mrs. Adeola Opeifa, has disclosed that talents discovered from the Lagos State Secondary Schools Handball Competition will be good enough for different national youth teams.

Speaking at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, where 82 secondary schools are participating in the championship established seven years ago, Mrs. Opeifa highlighted that the vision was to promote handball and mentor the young talented players into wholesome ambassadors of the community.

She said: ‘This particular programme has been able to discover those who have represented Nigeria at the junior and senior levels. We have also been able to change people’s life because some of them were picked from the streets and brought back to schools, and today they are great guys.’

She added that this year’s event was planned to discover those that will represent the state in the next National Youth Games as they intend to inject new blood into the team, noting that training continues and those pencilled down will be subjected to further training in preparations for the subsequent championships.

‘We expected 20 teams from each of the six educational districts. We have 82 schools (both junior and senior) currently participating in this year’s competition,’ she said.

In a related development, Coach Daniel Yohanna has described the performance of each team as impressive as they possessed the skills of the game, adding that the programme is a good avenue to encourage young players who are interested in the game of handball to showcase their skills.

Some of the schools present were: Whitesand, Herbert Macaulay, Ijaye, Igbobi, Ransome Kuti, Gaskiya, Aje, Ikeja, Okesuna, Vetland, Eletu among others.

The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Samuel Olumode Adeyemi has declared that effective fire services across Nigeria depends largely on available technology innovations and infrastructures.

He said the Federal Fire Service would prioritise the strengthening of its digital infrastructures and ensure the training of its personnel to achieve maximum results in fire fighting and rescue operations.

Adeyemi said the FFS would commit its resources to deployments of digital assets that can stand the test of time in fire fighting in line with global best practices and standards.

He added that attention would focus on infrastructures that would prevent data loss and cause security breaches, noting that compromised data could hamper efficient fire service delivery in Nigeria.

The Fire Service boss spoke during the 2025 Cyber Security Awareness Day organised by the Information and communication Technology (ICT), Unit of the Federal Fire Service, (FFS).

The programme had the theme: ‘Advancing the Cause of Cyber Security in the Operations of Federal Fire Service and Sustainable Practice Among Personnel.’

He said there is a critical connection between cyber security and effective fire service delivery, pointing out that it is an integral component of fire service delivery.

The Fire Service boss said the significance of cyber security in today’s technologically advancing world, stating that ‘this core mission is now inextricably linked to the security of our digital infrastructure.

Adeyemi, who was represented by the Deputy Controller General in Charge of Policy , Planning, Research and Statistics, (PPRS), Ijeoma Okidi, said that the Federal Fire Service’s digital transformation aligns with the Ministry of Interior’s e-reform mandate and enhances operational efficiency.

He however warned of the new responsibilities that come with the reforms saying, ‘I urge every officer to take personal ownership of digital security.’

While commending the ICT Unit and the planning committee for championing the digital revolution in line with the recent charge of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo during the launch of the INTERAS, (Interior Electronic Records and Archiving System), platform, Adeyemi encouraged personnel to integrate knowledge from the program into their daily activities.

The Controller General stressed that cyber security is a shared responsibility within the service, saying that the management of the FFS is fully committed to improving digital defenses,.

The Head of the ICT Unit, Chief Superintendent of Fire, (CSF) Sarah Hassan said the commitment of stakeholders remain paramount to the success of the organisation, stressing that such commitment is needed to drive a safer and more resilient environment.

‘Cybersecurity is not just a technical issue but a shared responsibility that underpins the effectiveness of our Service.

‘Every officer from command to field must remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the systems and information that supports our operations,’ She stated.

Participants at the event were drawn from the Nigerian Army, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS), amongst others institutions.

A new report by the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) has revealed that none of the five leading contenders in the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, has presented a costed or comprehensive manifesto detailing how they intend to implement their campaign promises if elected.

The report, titled ADEHUN – Pre-Election Accountability Report, was unveiled in Abuja under the Electoral Accountability Tool (EAT) of the Policy Accountability Lab (PAL).

Executive Director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, who presented the findings, said the manifestos released so far by the five major political parties-the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and African Democratic Congress (ADC)-were ‘largely rhetorical and devoid of implementation frameworks.’

Elemo noted that some candidates in the race had not published manifestos at all, while others merely made broad promises without clear strategies or financial projections for achieving them.

‘This pre-election accountability report, produced under the ADEHUN Electoral Accountability Tool (EAT), presents an evidence-based analysis of campaign commitments made by candidates contesting the 2025 Anambra State governorship election,’ Elemo explained.

‘For this election, none of the five major contenders published a costed or comprehensive manifesto. Consequently, the ADEHUN scorecard relied on verified campaign statements, public interviews, and party policy materials.’

According to him, the absence of detailed, costed manifestos highlights a recurring problem in Nigeria’s political space-what he described as the country’s ‘promise-policy gap.’

‘We have a situation where candidates are just making promises, but the implementation details-the how-are missing,’ he said. ‘Costing helps determine how much money is needed to implement specific projects within the first year in office. Those details are not available in any of the manifestos we assessed.’

The PLSI Executive Director said the report aims to promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process by encouraging political candidates to clearly outline, cost, and publish their governance plans.

‘This report is expected to put candidates in future elections on their toes-to be more transparent, provide accessible information, and give voters the resources to make informed decisions and hold elected officials accountable post-election,’ he added.

The PLSI report also noted that the incumbent governor and APGA candidate, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, led other contenders in the clarity of his policy communication and emphasis on participatory and inclusive governance.

However, it emphasised that even Soludo’s manifesto, while more detailed than others, lacked adequate costing and measurable performance indicators.

‘This analysis underscores the urgent need to institutionalise manifesto publication and pre-election accountability across Nigeria’s political system,’ the report concluded.

The Federal Government has intensified its drive to implement a National Single Window system at Nigeria’s ports by 2026, in a move expected to drastically cut cargo clearance time and enhance transparency in maritime trade processes.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking yesterday at the second meeting of the Ports and Customs Efficiency Committee at the State House, Abuja, said the digital platform-set for rollout in the first quarter of 2026-will harmonise documentation, reduce human contact, and improve efficiency across the ports ecosystem.

‘Our goal is to reduce the average cargo clearance time in Nigeria to under seven days by the end of 2026 and to position our ports among the top three most efficient trade gateways on the continent. The National Single Window will be a game changer’, Shettima said.

He expressed concern over the current clearance delays, noting that cargo dwell time in Nigeria averages 18 to 21 days, compared to five to seven days in Ghana and as little as four days in Cotonou, Benin Republic. According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima added that clearance costs in Nigeria are estimated to be 30 per cent higher than in peer economies.

‘These inefficiencies are not just statistics; they are symptoms of an economic ailment that costs us investments, drives up consumer prices, and weakens our export competitiveness.

We simply cannot afford to continue down this path’, he said.

The Vice President also announced that a draft Executive Order mandating joint physical inspections of cargoes-aimed at eliminating multiple examinations and bureaucratic overlap-is with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and will soon be approved.

Shettima directed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Immigration Service, NAFDAC and other key agencies to produce a roadmap for strengthening the national weights and measures system to ensure consumer protection and fair trade practices.

‘The era of siloed operations must end. Inter-agency rivalry must give way to inter-agency synergy. We are only as efficient as our collaboration allows’, he warned.

Senior officials at the meeting underscored the urgency of reforms. Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Audu, lamented the cost of delays to the economy and stressed the need for unified action to improve the business climate.

NPA Managing Director, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, highlighted ongoing efforts including joint inspections and infrastructure upgrades, but said deeper collaboration, technology adoption, equipment improvement, and capacity building remain critical.

‘Until there is partnership, you cannot achieve efficiency at the ports,’ he said.

Director General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, has reaffirmed the association’s commitment to partnering with the federal government and stakeholders in implementing migration reforms that will engender dignity and economic growth.

Oyerinde stated this during the Stakeholders’ Sensitization Workshop on Expatriate Quota Reform, New Visa Regime and Post-Amnesty Programme in Kano.

According to him, the association remains committed to fostering an economy where law, enterprise, and opportunity coexist.

He noted that the association is open to collaborating with stakeholders to transform the post-amnesty process into a model of structured inclusion, turning compliance into confidence and sustainable development for Nigeria and the wider African continent.

He disclosed further that the post-amnesty programme intersects meaningfully with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by allowing for more unrestricted movement of goods, services, and persons across Africa.

He said: ‘Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, must lead by example, demonstrating that lawful mobility and economic opportunity can coexist within a secure and predictable policy environment.

For the private sector, the post-amnesty programme is both timely and necessary. It ensures employers operate within clear legal parameters, protects enterprises from liability, and enhances workforce integrity. It also contributes to enterprise sustainability by aligning workforce planning with national immigration frameworks. NECA stands ready to collaborate with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in providing continuous engagement, capacity-building, and advocacy to ensure that this policy achieves its intended goals’.

Applauding the foresight of the Honourable Minister of Interior and the diligence of the NIS Comptroller-General in driving the reform agenda with balance and purpose, he stated that the post-amnesty programme convened by the Ministry demonstrates that migration can be managed in a way that protects national interest, promotes human dignity, and strengthens economic growth.

He said: ‘I must commend the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose visionary leadership continues to redefine the administration of internal security and migration in Nigeria. His results-driven approach has positioned the ministry as a model of reform and accountability. I also want to acknowledge the steady and pragmatic leadership of the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nanna Nandap, mmis, fsm, whose commitment to operational excellence and humane enforcement is giving new credibility to the Nigeria Immigration Service,’ he said.

He described the ministry’s ambitious reforms, including the post-amnesty enforcement sensitisation, as a reflection of the federal government’s determination to move towards global realities and practices with fairness, clarity, and firmness.

‘We align with the ministry’s and NIS’s various initiatives because we are convinced that they are not punitive but restorative. It offers foreign nationals who may have fallen out of compliance with immigration regulations a lawful path to regularisation, reinforcing Nigeria’s sovereignty and adherence to the rule of law. This is what effective migration governance looks like, firm on standards yet humane in execution,’ he said.

He stressed that when governed by clear rules and strong institutions, migration remains a source of national strength. He also emphasised the need for regularisation of the process to help create visibility within the system, enabling the government to plan better, employers to comply confidently, and migrants to contribute productively.

Advancing the economic benefits of migration, he noted that properly documented people are more likely to work lawfully, pay taxes, and participate in the formal economy, thus enhancing social cohesion and reducing vulnerabilities linked to irregular status.

He explained that some of the bold steps taken by the Ministry on migration align totally with international labour and migration standards and conventions of. By anchoring the sensitisation process on such principles, the NIS is positioning Nigeria as a regional example of humane and structured migration management.

‘Globally, countries that have implemented similar regularisation exercises, such as Spain, Portugal, and Argentina, have recorded tangible socio-economic benefits, from improved labour compliance to expanded tax bases and better national security outcomes. Nigeria’s post-amnesty programme has that same potential. He said that effective implementation can strengthen border management, support legitimate business operations, and enhance the country’s reputation as a rule-governed destination for investment and skilled migration,’ he said.

No fewer than 34.7 million Nigerians across 27 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) may face severe food and nutrition insecurity between June and August 2026, according to the latest Cadre Harmonisé (CH) food insecurity report released on Friday in Abuja.

The report, unveiled during the Results Presentation Workshop on the October 2025 Cadre Harmonisé Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis, also revealed that about 27.2 million people, including over 485,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), are currently experiencing crisis or worse phases of food insecurity from October to December 2025.

The Cadre Harmonisé analysis is produced by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and other development partners.

Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, described the findings as a ‘wake-up call’ that demands urgent and coordinated action to avert a worsening crisis next year.

‘The results we are examining today go beyond data; they speak to the realities of millions of Nigerian households, especially those in vulnerable and crisis-affected areas. We must treat these findings as a call to sustained and coordinated action,’ Ogunbiyi said.

While the report noted a slight easing in inflation and consumer price index (CPI) rates, it observed that food insecurity remains widespread across the country. Over 55 percent of households maintaining acceptable food consumption levels reportedly relied on coping mechanisms such as eating fewer-quality meals, reducing portion sizes, or borrowing money to purchase food.

The CH analysis attributed persistently high food prices, particularly for vegetable oil, dairy products, meat, and condiments to the volatile naira-dollar exchange rate and high transport costs. Prices of these essential items reportedly rose by more than 35 percent in the review period.

‘Even though staple food prices have stabilized somewhat, the cost of complementary food items and services such as food haulage remains high. This has increased household food expenditure and eroded purchasing power,’ the report stated.

The findings also showed that insecurity, high input costs, and weak rural economies continue to undermine agricultural livelihoods, particularly in the North-East, North-West, and parts of the North-Central regions. Farmers in these areas face restricted access to farmlands due to insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping.

The rising cost of fertilisers and agrochemicals up by about 56 percent has discouraged many farmers from participating in the forthcoming 2025/2026 dry-season farming. Additionally, while food import programs have helped ease consumer prices, they have also hurt local producers, leading to losses during the 2025 cropping season.

The nutrition situation in several northern states remains critical, with Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Katsina, and Jigawa classified between ‘Serious’ (Phase 3) and ‘Critical’ (Phase 4) levels of malnutrition. Areas such as Maiduguri, Jere, and Mobbar in Borno, as well as Jibia and Mashi in Katsina, have crossed into emergency phases of acute malnutrition.

However, the situation in Benue State showed some improvement, as IDP camps in Makurdi and Guma recorded ‘Acceptable’ to ‘Alert’ nutrition levels, attributed to ongoing targeted interventions.

The CH report also highlighted areas experiencing crisis-level mortality (Phase 3), including parts of Central and Northern Borno, Southern Adamawa, and Eastern Sokoto, while emergency-level mortality (Phase 4) was reported in Eastern Borno and Northern Adamawa.

According to the report, four key factors are driving the worsening food and nutrition crisis: insecurity (including insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry), climate shocks such as floods and prolonged dry spells, displacement from conflict and disasters, and the adverse effects of government food imports on local production.

The FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Hussein Gadain, commended Nigeria for sustaining its commitment to the Cadre Harmonisé process over the past decade but urged immediate, multi-sectoral action in response to the alarming findings.

‘Conflict, climate extremes, and economic pressures are undermining livelihoods and food systems across the country. The Cadre Harmonisé remains our most relevant early warning tool for guiding humanitarian and development responses,’ Gadain said.

He called on states yet to participate in the CH process to do so before the March 2026 cycle to ensure comprehensive national coverage and stronger data reliability.

Both officials affirmed that the CH findings will guide the implementation of government interventions, including the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) and the National Food Security and Nutrition Emergency Plan.