The International Monetary Fund’s newest economic outlook has brought some positive news for Nigeria, revising the country’s GDP growth forecast upwards to 3.4 percent for 2025. This reflects a 0.4 percentage point improvement over the forecast published just three months earlier. According to IMF’s World Economic Outlook report released in July 2025, Nigeria’s economy is expected to maintain a growth rate above 3 percent into 2026, with a new estimate of 3.2 percent growth compared to the previous 2.7 percent. Globally, economic recovery also appears to be gaining traction, prompting the IMF to lift the worldwide growth forecast for the…
Author: Podium Reporters
Civil society leaders, politicians, and traditional rulers from Nigeria’s northern states gathered at Kaduna’s Arewa House to critically examine both the Tinubu government’s progress and the perennial question of power rotation in Nigerian politics. The forum, organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, took on the country’s divisive zoning debates, highlighting concerns about the integrity of rotational agreements and rising calls for greater inclusivity. Delivering President Tinubu’s message, SGF George Akume reassured the audience that the government’s agenda is on track to meet its promises. He also offered a pointed reminder that, in line with Nigeria’s informal power rotation…
Vice President Kashim Shettima has disclosed the critical reasons behind the Tinubu administration’s declaration of a national food emergency, citing insecurity, displacement, and the need for sustainable agricultural reform. Speaking at the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Ethiopia, Shettima said, “We met the nation in a very state of affairs,” referencing the administration’s early days. He described the North-East’s challenges, with insurgent activity limiting farming operations and access to food. The government, he noted, launched several initiatives, among them the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Units, which are meant to consolidate and optimize national food programs. Efforts also include enabling…
In the weeks following Nigeria’s Super Falcons clinching the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, President Bola Tinubu’s rewarding of the team with national honours and significant monetary prizes has prompted a divided public opinion. The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained the rationale behind the decision in a public statement. He pointed out that when compared to the ₦150 million grand prize handed over by Multichoice to the Big Brother Naija reality show winner, the monetary rewards to the Super Falcons seemed reasonable. “President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and…
In the early hours of Tuesday, the Nuseirat district at the heart of the Gaza Strip experienced a series of deadly air raids by Israeli forces, claiming the lives of a minimum of 30 Palestinians. Confirmed by the Gaza civil defence, the fatalities included vulnerable women and children who were caught in the destructive bombardment. Mahmud Basal, spokesperson for the civil defence, emphasized the attacks specifically hit residential areas within the Nuseirat refugee camp. “The strikes targeted a number of citizens’ homes,” he confirmed, pointing out the suffering of non-combatants amid the ongoing conflict. The bombing campaign reveals a harsh…
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s opposition have elevated their rhetoric, making it clear that their alliance rises above personal brand politics. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, communicating via Mazi Paul Ibe, positioned the new coalition as a bulwark for democracy, not an avenue for personalities such as Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, or Nasir El-Rufai. In the midst of media chatter over the 2027 presidential race, Atiku illuminated the coalition’s mission—“This is not an anti-Tinubu project; it is a pro-Nigerian movement. Nigerians must be the ultimate beneficiaries.” He warned about APC’s strategic positioning for the next election by appointing a former INEC senior…
The United States mission to Nigeria has publicly clarified it will no longer tolerate the practice of traveling to America solely to give birth for citizenship purposes. Such applicants will face visa refusals, according to a recent communication on social media. The advisory declared that using a U.S. visa with “the primary purpose of giving birth” to secure citizenship for a child is prohibited, informing Nigerian applicants to refrain from such intentions. This new enforcement aligns with a broader U.S. policy perceived as restrictive towards Nigerian immigrants, with seasoned diplomat Ogbole Amedu-Ode framing it as a continuation of the “Trump…
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to impose stringent measures on electricity distribution companies (Discos) through the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which is currently under deliberation in the National Assembly. This legislation introduces a re-privatisation clause that could see the government retake ownership stakes in the 11 Discos if investors fail to inject fresh capital into these companies within one year of the bill’s enactment. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the bill’s sponsor, is advocating for reforms to the 2023 Electricity Act, underscoring the need to close regulatory gaps that have hampered sectoral growth and investment. The current amendment bill…
By Steven Ortese For over a decade before Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia assumed office, Benue State civil servants bore the brunt of a dysfunctional system. They endured late or unpaid salaries, decaying office infrastructure, and a general climate of neglect. Morale was at an all-time low. Civil servants the lifeblood of any government’s implementation machinery were reduced to mere spectators in governance, stripped of the dignity and purpose their roles deserved. The situation worsened with systemic corruption, insecurity, and poor governance. Teachers, health workers, clerical staff, administrators, and technical officers all struggled under a heavy cloud of uncertainty and frustration.…
Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s top industrialist and head of the Dangote Group, has drawn sharp criticism after urging President Bola Tinubu’s administration to block all importation of refined petroleum products in a bid to protect local refining capacity. The call came during the Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Markets, jointly hosted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and S&P Global Insights. Dangote argued that the continued inflow of imported fuel is undermining investments in domestic refining, especially his $20bn refinery complex. “We are now facing increased dumping of cheap, often toxic petroleum products,…