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Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has said the country’s foreign policy must directly serve its economic ambitions by unlocking trade corridors, attracting investment, and forging partnerships that strengthen the domestic economy.

Speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #31) in Abuja, Ambassador Tuggar said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now fully oriented toward economic diplomacy, guided by Nigeria’s ‘4D Foreign Policy Doctrine’ – Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora.

‘Under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigeria’s foreign policy is defined by strategic autonomy,’ he said. ‘We pursue partnerships of purpose, not alliances of obligation. Nigeria must reject binary ideological alignments and instead embrace issue-based relationships that advance national interest. We are too significant a nation to engage in bandwagon diplomacy.’

Tuggar said Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts are being shaped to advance trade, regional development, and industrial competitiveness.

He pointed to the recently launched West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) as a major platform for advancing cross-border industrialization, trade, and infrastructure integration within the subregion.

‘Nigeria’s prosperity is tied to West Africa’s progress,’ he stated. ‘The more we invest in regional value chains and policy harmonization, the more resilient and competitive we become as a bloc.’

The minister noted that Nigeria’s development strategy must align with successful global models, drawing lessons from emerging middle-power economies such as MIKTA – Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkiye, and Australia – as well as the East Asian ‘Flying Geese Paradigm,’ where nations industrialized through coordinated progression.

‘With our demographic weight, market size, and strategic geography, Nigeria has the scale and capacity to lead Africa’s own ‘flying geese’ formation,’ Tuggar said. ‘But leadership must be earned – through sound policies, productive investment, regional coordination, and institutional credibility.’

He also called for deeper collaboration between Nigeria’s policy and research institutions to ensure that the country’s domestic reforms and international engagements are guided by evidence-based strategies.

‘We must invest in policy intelligence,’ he said. ‘That means building a pipeline of ideas, innovation, and informed foresight through collaboration between government, academia, civil society, and research institutions. Geopolitics today is the realm of weaponized interdependence – we must be smarter, faster, and more strategic.’

Tuggar commended the work of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and other think tanks, noting their vital role in shaping research-driven policy that strengthens Nigeria’s global standing.

He said the Foreign Ministry remains committed to a results-driven approach, ensuring that Nigeria’s diplomacy delivers tangible benefits to its citizens.

‘Whether through advancing trade under AfCFTA, facilitating investment flows, supporting climate finance, or championing Africa’s voice in global fora, our diplomacy must deliver concrete benefits to Nigerians,’ he said.

Ambassador Tuggar expressed confidence that the deliberations at the summit would translate into actionable outcomes and renewed commitment among stakeholders to drive national progress.

‘Our challenge is to turn dialogue into delivery,’ he said. ‘If we align our ambition with implementation, Nigeria will not only reform but lead – regionally, globally, and in the hearts of our people.’

Actress Adunni Ade has claimed victory in a lawsuit against a blogger who published an alleged false story about her.

The blogger published she’s one of the popular actresses dating Senator Dino Melaye.

Adunni filed a lawsuit against the blog, arguing that the report placed her ‘in a misleading and offensive light’, violating her constitutional right to privacy under Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Nigeria Delta Protection Act, 2023.

The court, according to her, awarded a N20 million in damages.

Adunni emphasised that the judgment upholds the importance of privacy and integrity.

She thanked her lawyer for their hard work and noted that this was her second win, with a few more cases pending.

She wrote on Instagram: ‘I won my case – Adunni Ade vs. Polace Media Limited. A false story was published about me, but truth stood tall. This judgment reaffirms that privacy matters – and so does integrity.

‘Justice delayed isn’t justice denied. Many thanks to my Lawyer! You worked tirelessly on this case(s), Olumide Babalola LP 2 cases won, a few more to go. You who is running up and down avoiding court papers, please stand still so you can be served’.

Adunni also addressed a fellow actress, seemingly referencing a past conflict and accusing them of envy and deceit.

‘And to you, my fellow actress, who told a false story to the cutie Jules, don’t worry, very soon the world will know the kind of snake you are. Envy and bitterness live and breathe within you. You are deadly! You must have forgotten what you showed me in my room? Anyways, thank you to the Nigerian court of law,’ she added.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday dismissed claims portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as religious persecution or state-sponsored attacks on faith groups, reaffirming the nation’s constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion and belief.

Adopting a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, the House condemned all forms of violence and persecution based on religion or belief and expressed sympathy with all victims, regardless of faith.

The House directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, Interior, Information, National Orientation and Values, Police Affairs, Civil Society, and Human Rights to, within 21 days, coordinate with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., to lodge a formal diplomatic demarche with the sponsors of the U.S. bill and relevant congressional committees.

The committees are also mandated to engage the U.S. Mission in Nigeria and interested American lawmakers to propose a Nigeria-U.S. Joint Fact-Finding and Dialogue Mechanism on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), involving faith leaders and independent experts. Additionally, they are to invite the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to a House hearing to review the sources, methodology, and implications of its reports on Nigeria.

The House further ordered that the resolution be transmitted to the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, security agencies, the leadership of the U.S. Congress (Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees), the U.S. Department of State, USCIRF, the African Union, and ECOWAS Commissions.

While presenting the motion, Kalu recalled that on September 9, 2025, a bill titled *’The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (S.2747)’* was introduced in the U.S. Senate, seeking to designate Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ and to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky Act) and related authorities.

‘Further notes that the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has in recent annual reports, recommended Nigeria for CPC designation, citing persistent violations and state failures to protect against non-state actor abuses.

‘The Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and bars the adoption of a State religion, and successive administrations, security agencies, faith leaders, and civil society continue to undertake measures to protect all worshippers and prosecute offenders, as reflected in the U.S. Department of State’s 2023 country chapter and prior reports.

He argued that the insecurity in Nigeria is complex and multi-causal – driven by insurgency, criminal banditry, farmer-herder conflict, separatist violence, and communal disputes – affecting citizens of all faiths; international reporting attributes a significant share of fatalities to terrorist groups and criminal gangs rather than State policy or a single religious dynamic.

He expressed concern that external legislative actions based on incomplete or decontextualised assessments risk undermining Nigeria’s sovereignty, misrepresenting facts, straining strategic relations, and unintentionally emboldening violent actors.

He stressed the need to be mindful of Nigeria’s longstanding partnership with the United States on counter-terrorism, human rights, democratic governance, and inter-faith dialogue, and the African Union’s emphasis on tolerance and inclusive societies.

In his contribution to the debate, Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo) said the absence of ambassadors in the various countries, particularly the United States of America, makes diplomatic initiatives to address the issue difficult.

He said Nigeria cannot afford to avoid the fact that what is going on is global politics, adding that it is not just enough to say that Nigeria was being targeted for blackmail.

He said the country must put a mechanism in place to fight what is going on presently, while lamenting the absence of Ambassadors who will be equipped to handle the diplomatic angle to the issues, stressing that unless the right channels are followed, every effort being put in place right now may be in vain.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Oluwole Oke, said the US Senate has since conducted a public hearing on the bill, adding that his committee has held engagements with the US Embassy in Nigeria to let them know that the data being put out in the US was not correct.

He said he drew their attention to several. Instances to convince them that there was a religious or state-sponsored massacre in the country.

House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said the county was being deliberately targeted through deliberate mischief both by Nigerians and people from other countries, adding that the nation must use all necessary channels to engage the US parliament on the matter.

He stressed that deliberate efforts were being made to undermine and rubbish all the gains made so far by the Nigerian government.

Blessing Makanjuola, a mental health practitioner, advocate, and feminist, didn’t choose this path; pain chose it for her. Her voice, now calm yet commanding, carries the weight of a story that turned personal suffering into public purpose.

‘I was conscious while they cut me open,’ she recalls softly, her eyes distant as though replaying the scene in her mind. ‘The spinal injection didn’t work, but the doctor began the surgery anyway. By the fourth cut, I held his hand and screamed.’

That moment, she says, changed her forever. It wasn’t just the physical pain, but the awakening that came with it.

‘It made me realise how women’s voices are often ignored in spaces that concern their own bodies,’ Blessing says. ‘I stopped being silent that day. Pain made me speak.’

Her story began like many others, a woman preparing for childbirth and trusting the system to care for her. But it took a frightening turn in the operating theatre when her anaesthetic failed. ‘I could hear everything, feel everything,’ she says. ‘And when the nurse finally shouted that the spinal didn’t work, they had to give me general anaesthesia.’

The experience left her traumatised, but it also gave her a deeper understanding of the silent suffering many women endure in hospitals. ‘We are often told to be strong, to endure, to keep quiet,’ she says. ‘But I’ve learned that strength also means speaking up.’

Her second pregnancy would later teach her even more about autonomy, fear, and faith. She recalls a nurse who questioned her choice to have a C-section, asking why her mother-in-law hadn’t approved.

‘That moment shook me,’ Blessing says. ‘It made me realise that too many women’s bodies are treated like community property. My body is mine. I get to decide what happens to it.’

Blessing’s journey through trauma, depression, and recovery has now evolved into advocacy. She has become a mental health practitioner, using her story to encourage open conversations around maternal health and emotional healing.

‘Many women go through pain in silence,’ she reflects. ‘They smile through it because they think nobody will understand. But if my voice can help even one woman seek help, then that pain wasn’t wasted.’

Today, she speaks in calm assurance, not as a victim but as a woman who turned agony into activism. Her message is simple yet powerful: listen to women, believe their stories, and give them the space to heal.

‘I’ve learned that healing doesn’t mean forgetting,’ she says with a faint smile. ‘It means owning your scars and helping others find the strength to face theirs.’

Big Brother Naija Season 10 winner, Imisi, has revealed her admiration for Nollywood star Funke Akindele, describing the filmmaker as her ‘number one mentor.’

Speaking to journalists during her prize presentation in Lagos, the reality star expressed her desire to work with Akindele in the near future.

‘Yes, Funke Akindele is my number one mentor. I hope to work with her someday,’ Imisi said.

The reality TV winner, who recently clinched the N150 million grand prize, noted that Akindele’s creativity, resilience, and consistent success in the Nigerian movie industry have been a source of inspiration to her.

The medical panel set up by the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to assess the health status of the detained leader of the proscribed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu is yet to conclude its assignment.

Justice James Omotosho had, in a ruling on September 26, ordered the NMA President to among others, empanel a team of medical experts to examine Kanu and ascertain whether or not he is still fit to undergo his ongoing terrorism trial.

At the mention of the case on Wednesday, the lawyer for the prosecution, Suraj Sa’ada (SAN), told the court that he was informed that the medical panel was yet to conclude its assignment.

Sa’ada said the panel plans to do a thorough job and should be given adequate time.

He suggested that the panel be given another one week to enable it conclude its task.

Defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) did not object to the one week adjournment sought by the lawyer to the prosecution, following which Justice Omotosho adjourned till October 16.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticized what it described as the anti-masses stance of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and denounced the alleged forced unionization of workers at the Dangote Refinery.

The student body also declared its unwavering support for the Dangote Refinery, warning against actions capable of sabotaging Nigeria’s economic growth and discouraging indigenous investment in the oil and gas sector.

During a peaceful protest at Oworo Berger, Lagos, students and youths carried placards bearing messages such as ‘Dangote Refinery-Pride of Africa,’ ‘Stop the Sabotage,’ and ‘Support Indigenous Industries, Not Monopoly.’ The demonstration, held under the supervision of officers of the Nigerian Police, called on stakeholders to protect local enterprises driving national development.

NANS President, Comrade Olusola Oladoja-represented by the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Adeyemi Ajasa-said the demonstration served as a national warning to both the government and industry stakeholders that Nigerian students and youths would not tolerate economic sabotage.

Oladoja cautioned international saboteurs and their local collaborators against frustrating operations at Dangote Refinery and other emerging private refineries, drawing parallels with the collapse of Nigeria’s once-thriving textile industry due to policy neglect and unfair competition.

He alleged that importers of petroleum products, international oil companies (IOCs), and certain trade unions were conspiring to undermine private refineries through undue pressure and regulatory manipulation.

Reacting to reports of PENGASSAN’s attempts to compel Dangote Refinery workers to join its union, Oladoja described the move as unconstitutional and a violation of Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.

‘Private refinery workers have every right to decide whether or not to join any union,’ he said. ‘Just as lecturers in private universities are not forced to join ASUU, and teachers in private schools are not under COEASU, refinery workers must not be coerced into union membership.’

Oladoja outlined four key demands from the federal government: ‘Prioritize crude oil supply to all Nigerian refineries, including private ones; end crude under-valuation and the practice of selling cheaper crude to foreign refineries; incentivize local refineries to strengthen domestic production and reduce dependence on petroleum importation in favor of supporting indigenous refining capacity.’

He reaffirmed that Nigerian students stand firmly for industrial growth, job creation, and economic independence, declaring that NANS would resist any attempt to sabotage private investments in the oil and gas sector.

Nigeria’s 2025 wet season farming was marred by a combination of pest infestations, erratic rainfall, and surging input costs that dampened production gains despite farmers’ resilience, according to the 2025 Agricultural Performance Survey (APS) released on Tuesday in Abuja.

The report, jointly conducted by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), offers an in-depth evaluation of the country’s agricultural performance, highlighting both achievements and persistent challenges.

Presenting the findings, the Executive Director of NAERLS, Prof. Yusuf Sani Ahmad, revealed that over 19,358 hectares of farmland were affected by pests and diseases during the season, resulting in an estimated 22.5 percent yield loss in the impacted regions.

He listed fall armyworm, rice blast, bacterial blight, streak virus, cassava mosaic, yam nematodes, cocoa black pod, and cotton smut as the most prevalent threats, adding that nearly all agro-ecological zones in the country were affected.

‘Maize, rice, millet, cowpea, cassava, and tree crops were the most affected,’ Prof. Ahmad said, warning that the widespread nature of the infestations underscores the urgent need for stronger pest surveillance and early response systems.

The APS also highlighted the burden of rising production costs on farmers.

Despite improved fertiliser availability through government efforts, input prices surged. NPK fertilizer rose by 19.5 percent, from ?43,500 to ?52,000 per 50kg bag, while urea increased by 10.1 percent to ?43,500.

‘These increases, mostly recorded in the North-West, North-Central, and North-East, have placed smallholder farmers under severe cost pressure. Affordability, not availability, has become the core problem,’ he added.

Fuel prices, transportation costs, and general inflation compounded the challenge, pushing maize and soybean production costs up by 29.2 percent and 36.8 percent, respectively.

The report also revealed disparities in farm mechanization across the country.

While the North-West and North-Central zones recorded the highest number of functional tractors 808 and 793 units respectively several machines in the South-West and South-South were non-functional, limiting efficiency and widening regional gaps.

‘Mechanisation access remains uneven and heavily skewed toward certain regions,’ Prof. Ahmad noted, warning that postharvest losses, especially in the South-West and North-Central, continue to erode farmers’ incomes despite gains in crop output.

In addition, irregular rainfall, localised flooding, and climate shocks further disrupted farming activities. The APS reported a 35 percent decline in cultured fish production in the North-Central and North-East, where insecurity and environmental degradation also took a toll.

The South-South maintained relative stability due to its strong fisheries base, while the South-West recorded inconsistencies linked to volatile aquaculture conditions and weak data systems.

Reacting to the findings, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said the report presents both positive outcomes and warning signs for the sector.

‘The 2025 APS findings show encouraging growth in major staples and a welcome decline in food prices, but the persistent challenges from high input costs to pest outbreaks and postharvest losses demand renewed action,’ Kyari said.

He added that the government plans to institutionalize a Dry Season Agricultural Performance Survey to complement the wet season report, ensuring that agricultural planning becomes a year-round, data-driven process.

Kyari also outlined plans to boost local fertilizer production, promote climate-smart agriculture, modernize mechanization services, and recruit more extension agents to support farmers.

‘We are determined to ensure that Nigerian agriculture becomes more productive, inclusive, and resilient,’ the Minister stated.

Although rice and maize production recorded modest increases of 2.66 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively.

The APS further stated that Nigeria’s agriculture remains highly exposed to climate stress, price volatility, and infrastructure gaps yet capable of adapting through consistent data, coordinated policies, and sustained investment.

BBNaija Season 10 first runner-up Dede has cleared the air on her stance in the house, saying her refusal to hug was a matter of personal preference and not hostility.

The reality star, in a post show interview with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu explained how her decision defined many of her relationships in the house, especially with the male housemates.

Bright Morgan had earlier described it as ‘weird,’ but Dede disagreed.

‘I think what was actually weird was how they took it. I found it really weird. I’m like, okay, so what if I don’t want to hug, what if I don’t like hugs or what if I have to build a particular thing with you for me to want to hug you? That is really weird. The world will keep spinning even if I’m here or not so how is it a big deal? Even till today I still don’t get why I don’t like hugs,’ she said.

On the claim by Mide that she ‘asked for the friendship,’ Dede disagreed, saying she never demanded it.

‘First thing first, we really do appreciate the fact that we had something in the house. It made my life easier for the most part of it but we never had that conversation. I never said ‘we have to be friends,” she clarified.

She recalled only joking early in the show that their closeness might eventually lead to fights, but stressed it was not a demand.

What truly hurt, she added, was that Mide failed to show up when she was expected to.

‘At that particular time I just needed her to really show up like she said she would. So when she didn’t, I was like, you know what, I’ll just let it go,’ Dede said.

The World Bank Group has said that Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms have led to a significant rise in government revenues at all tiers, resulting in increased spending by both the federal and subnational governments.

This is contained in the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) titled ‘From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home,’ released in Abuja on Wednesday by the World Bank.

World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Mathew Verghis, said the reforms are beginning to deliver measurable fiscal outcomes, including improved revenue generation, higher public investment, and signs of macroeconomic stability.

The report stated that subnational governments, in particular, have witnessed an increase in capital expenditure, which now accounts for nearly 60 to 65 percent of their total spending. According to the report, capital spending by state governments rose from about one percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022 to a projected 2.7 percent of GDP by 2025.

Mathew Verghis, however, noted that at the federal level, recurrent expenditure still dominates, with wages and salaries consuming about 70 percent of total spending – leaving limited room for capital investment.

‘Reforms by the federal government have yielded more revenues for all levels of government, leading to higher spending. Subnational governments, in particular, are directing more of their resources toward capital projects, which is a positive development,’ Verghis said.

He explained that Nigeria’s economy has started showing encouraging signs of stabilization, noting that revenue collection is on the rise, debt indicators are improving, the foreign exchange market is stabilizing, reserves are increasing, and inflation is beginning to ease.

‘So these results are exactly what you need to see in a stabilization. These are big achievements,’ he said. ‘However, despite these stabilization gains, many Nigerians are still struggling. Most households are dealing with eroded purchasing power.’

According to the World Bank chief, poverty levels remain deeply concerning, with an estimated 139 million Nigerians projected to live in poverty by 2025.

‘In 2025, we estimate that 139 million Nigerians will live in poverty. So the challenge is clear – how to translate the gains from the stabilization reforms into better living standards for all,’ Verghis stated.

He said the government must take decisive steps to reduce inflation, particularly food inflation, ensure efficient use of public funds, and expand social safety nets to protect the poorest and most vulnerable citizens.

‘Food inflation affects everybody, but particularly the poor and has the potential to undermine political support for the reforms,’ he said. ‘Public resources must be used more effectively, ensuring that spending drives real development results that benefit people. Expanding the safety net is also critical so that the poorest and vulnerable get the support they need.’

Presenting an overview of the report, the World Bank Lead Economist for Nigeria, Mr. Samer Matta, said gross revenues shared as federation allocations have increased significantly over the past eight months of 2025.

However, he expressed concern over the high deductions by revenue-collecting agencies, noting that such payments do not contribute to the country’s development. ‘A large portion of what is collected goes to deductions that don’t impact real development outcomes,’ Matta observed.

He described Nigeria’s economic outlook as ‘cautiously optimistic,’ supported by steady growth, easing inflation, fiscal stability, and a strong external position, though risks remain from oil price volatility, reform fatigue, electoral cycles, and climate shocks.

According to the Nigeria Development Update, GDP growth is projected to rise modestly to 4.4 percent by 2027, driven by stronger performance in the services sector, a rebound in agriculture, and improved industrial activity under a more stable macroeconomic environment.

The report also forecasts that inflation will ease to 15.8 percent by 2027, supported by tight monetary policy and reduced supply pressures. Fiscal deficit is expected to average 2.7 percent of GDP between 2026 and 2027, helped by rising tax revenues and lower interest payments.

The Bank projected that Nigeria’s debt would remain stable, averaging in the low 40 percent of GDP range.

‘The outlook is subject to several risks,’ the report cautioned, ‘as growth and disinflation remain vulnerable to oil price shocks, reform fatigue, election uncertainties, and climate shocks.’

Overall, the World Bank’s latest assessment suggests that while Nigeria’s reforms are yielding fiscal and macroeconomic gains, the pressing challenge ahead lies in ensuring that these gains translate into tangible improvements in living standards and poverty reduction across the country.