Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress staged walkouts in major cities to draw attention to the challenges facing workers, particularly rising insecurity and financial issues.
Friday, December 19, 2025
Video - Nigeria labour union protests over worsening insecurity
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress staged walkouts in major cities to draw attention to the challenges facing workers, particularly rising insecurity and financial issues.
Insecurity forces Christians to abandon Christmas travel, worship in Northern Nigeria
Insecurity across northern Nigeria is forcing many Christians to avoid public worship and cancel Christmas travel plans, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the region has said.
The warning comes against a backdrop of escalating violence in December 2025, which has seen religious centres and residents specifically targeted by criminal groups.
The attacks are perpetrated by various armed groups and has led to the death and kidnap of thousands of people in recent years.
By Ogalah Dunamis, Premium Times
The warning comes against a backdrop of escalating violence in December 2025, which has seen religious centres and residents specifically targeted by criminal groups.
The attacks are perpetrated by various armed groups and has led to the death and kidnap of thousands of people in recent years.
The Context: A Bloody December
CAN’s statement is a direct response to a series of harrowing incidents that have rocked the region in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
A few days ago, on 14 December, gunmen attacked the First ECWA Evangelical Church Winning All in Kogi State during a Sunday service. The assailants killed one worshipper and abducted approximately 30 others, turning a sanctuary into a crime scene.
This followed a massive security breach in Niger State in late November, where over 300 students and staff were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School. While some have been released, the sheer scale of the attack has left a lingering trauma across the North-central region. Over 100 students and staff are still with the kidnappers.
Similarly, in Plateau State, fresh attacks near Jos have claimed the lives of miners and villagers, with reports indicating that security agencies failed to act on advance warnings of the impending assaults.
The attacks have continued despite the efforts of security agencies. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Office of the National Security Adviser recently stated that it is arming trained hunters and vigilantes in northern Nigeria to work with conventional security agencies to tackle insecurity in the region.
CAN’s statement is a direct response to a series of harrowing incidents that have rocked the region in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
A few days ago, on 14 December, gunmen attacked the First ECWA Evangelical Church Winning All in Kogi State during a Sunday service. The assailants killed one worshipper and abducted approximately 30 others, turning a sanctuary into a crime scene.
This followed a massive security breach in Niger State in late November, where over 300 students and staff were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School. While some have been released, the sheer scale of the attack has left a lingering trauma across the North-central region. Over 100 students and staff are still with the kidnappers.
Similarly, in Plateau State, fresh attacks near Jos have claimed the lives of miners and villagers, with reports indicating that security agencies failed to act on advance warnings of the impending assaults.
The attacks have continued despite the efforts of security agencies. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Office of the National Security Adviser recently stated that it is arming trained hunters and vigilantes in northern Nigeria to work with conventional security agencies to tackle insecurity in the region.
CAN’s Position
In a Yuletide statement issued on Thursday, CAN stated that these persistent attacks by bandits, terrorists, and other criminal groups have created widespread fear, making highways, rural communities, and even places of worship unsafe during the festive period.
The Chairman of Northern CAN, Yakubu Pam, said information available to the association indicates that a significant number of Christians now prefer to remain in their places of residence rather than travel to hometowns or attend church services—a development he described as deeply troubling.
“Christmas marks the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, and is traditionally a season of family reunions and communal worship,” Mr Pam said. “Sadly, many Christians are reconsidering these traditions out of fear for their safety.”
He noted that the situation represents a serious erosion of basic freedoms in a democratic society, with the rights to movement, worship, and peaceful assembly increasingly constrained by insecurity.
In a Yuletide statement issued on Thursday, CAN stated that these persistent attacks by bandits, terrorists, and other criminal groups have created widespread fear, making highways, rural communities, and even places of worship unsafe during the festive period.
The Chairman of Northern CAN, Yakubu Pam, said information available to the association indicates that a significant number of Christians now prefer to remain in their places of residence rather than travel to hometowns or attend church services—a development he described as deeply troubling.
“Christmas marks the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, and is traditionally a season of family reunions and communal worship,” Mr Pam said. “Sadly, many Christians are reconsidering these traditions out of fear for their safety.”
He noted that the situation represents a serious erosion of basic freedoms in a democratic society, with the rights to movement, worship, and peaceful assembly increasingly constrained by insecurity.
Government Called to Action
According to the association, violent attacks and criminal activities across several northern states have undermined public confidence in the safety of major highways and worship centers.
CAN called on President Bola Tinubu, governors of the 19 northern states, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to take urgent and visible steps to secure lives and property throughout the Yuletide.
The group urged authorities to strengthen intelligence-driven security operations to prevent attacks before they occur, and deploy adequate personnel to vulnerable communities, major highways, churches, and other public gathering points.
“The assurance of safety for all citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity, is fundamental to national unity and social stability,” the association said.
While calling on the government to act decisively, CAN also appealed to Christians to exercise vigilance and wisdom, while remaining steadfast in faith and prayer.
“Even in moments of great trial, we must continue to embody the message of peace, hope, and resilience which this season signifies,” Mr Pam said, expressing optimism that Nigeria would overcome its security challenges through purposeful leadership and collective responsibility.
The association concluded by insisting that the “darkness of insecurity will not prevail.”
According to the association, violent attacks and criminal activities across several northern states have undermined public confidence in the safety of major highways and worship centers.
CAN called on President Bola Tinubu, governors of the 19 northern states, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to take urgent and visible steps to secure lives and property throughout the Yuletide.
The group urged authorities to strengthen intelligence-driven security operations to prevent attacks before they occur, and deploy adequate personnel to vulnerable communities, major highways, churches, and other public gathering points.
“The assurance of safety for all citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity, is fundamental to national unity and social stability,” the association said.
While calling on the government to act decisively, CAN also appealed to Christians to exercise vigilance and wisdom, while remaining steadfast in faith and prayer.
“Even in moments of great trial, we must continue to embody the message of peace, hope, and resilience which this season signifies,” Mr Pam said, expressing optimism that Nigeria would overcome its security challenges through purposeful leadership and collective responsibility.
The association concluded by insisting that the “darkness of insecurity will not prevail.”
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Video - Gold and lithium illegal mining fuels Nigeria’s bandit crisis
Illegal mining is obstructing Nigeria’s efforts to drive out armed fighters, known locally as bandits. They've seized areas in the north and central regions believed to be rich in gold, lithium and other rare earth minerals. The profits have become vital to financing the bandits' operations.
Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa retires, ending 15-year international career
The former Leicester City forward made the announcement on his social media.
"After a lot of thought, I have decided to retire from international football, bringing to an end almost 15 years with the Super Eagles." Musa wrote.
Musa, 33, was first called up for Nigeria in April 2010 by Lars Lagerback ahead of Nigeria's FIFA World Cup preparations and made his debut five months later in September at the age of 17 years old.
"I remember being invited at the same time to the U-20, U-23 and the Super Eagles. I was young, still learning and always travelling, but I never complained. Whenever Nigeria called, I showed up. It was never something I had to think twice about," Musa said.
Musa accumulated 111 international appearances, making him only the third Nigerian player -- along with Joseph Yobo (100) and Vincent Enyeama (101) -- to cross the 100-cap threshold.
"Playing 111 matches for my country is something I hold with deep respect," he said.
"To become the most capped played in the history of Nigerian football is a great honour. Every time I wore the jersey, I understood the responsibility that came with it. I did my best to give everything I had, whether things were going well or not, because playing for Nigeria was always bigger than me."
Musa helped Nigeria win the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2013. He also appeared at two FIFA World Cups, in 2014 and 2018, scoring four goals to become Nigeria's highest ever World Cup goalscorer, and the first to score multiple goals at one tournament.
"Winning the 2013 AFCON will always stand out. That team showed what it meant to play for Nigeria," he said.
"Scoring at the World Cup, against Argentina and Iceland, are memories I will always carry with me. To score four goals at the World Cup and be Nigeria's highest goalscorer at that stage is something I am truly grateful for."
Musa's last appearance for Nigeria was at Unity Cup in London earlier this year, when the Super Eagles beat West African rivals Ghana in the semifinals.
"As I step away from international football, I do so with peace and gratitude," Musa said.
"I know I gave my best. I know the Super Eagles will continue to move forward. And I know that this bond will never be broken."
Musa is now expected to focus on his role as general manager of Kano Pillars, one of the clubs where he began his career, and where he returned to play after his European adventure in a unique combination of player and administrator. He was appointed to the position in July 2025.
His official retirement announcement comes less than two weeks after his deputy, William Troost-Ekong, announced his own retirement, and provides clarity to what was a knotty leadership situation in the team.
Initially named captain by Sunday Oliseh after the departure of Vincent Enyeama in 2015, Musa surrendered the position to John Mikel Obi, assuming the position of deputy until the midfielder himself retired in 2019, with Troost-Ekong being his deputy.
Although he took leadership responsibility for the team in Musa's extended absence, including leading the Super Eagles in every game of the 2023 AFON as Musa remained an unused substitute, Troost-Ekong was never formally named captain.
Troost-Ekong's retirement in early December left the team in limbo. Midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, as deputy captain and one of the more senior members of the team, has taken over the role. He has not been officially named captain either.
Without Musa's retirement, the team was unable to appoint an official captain. This announcement now clears the path for a new captain to be named for the Super Eagles heading into the AFCON.
Nigeria bans mineral processing plants in residential areas, mandates plastic producers to clean up
Nigeria has ordered mineral processing companies to cease operations within residential and restricted areas. The government also mandated plastic manufacturers and bottling companies to take responsibility for the plastic waste generated from their products nationwide.
The directives form part of resolutions adopted at the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment (NCE), Nigeria’s highest advisory body on environmental matters, which was held in Katsina State from 15 to 17 December.
The council, chaired by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, approved the measures after reviewing environmental risks associated with mining activities, plastic pollution and public health hazards across the country.
By Ogalah Dunamis, Premium Times
The directives form part of resolutions adopted at the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment (NCE), Nigeria’s highest advisory body on environmental matters, which was held in Katsina State from 15 to 17 December.
The council, chaired by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, approved the measures after reviewing environmental risks associated with mining activities, plastic pollution and public health hazards across the country.
Mining, pollution and public safety
According to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the council approved that legal and regulatory bodies should restrict the establishment of mineral processing companies within residential and restricted areas in all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The council also mandated that plastic manufacturers and plastic bottling companies adopt the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, requiring them to take responsibility for the collection and management of plastic waste arising from their products.
Environmental experts at the meeting warned that unregulated mineral processing and plastic waste pollution continue to pose serious threats to human health, ecosystems and urban safety, particularly in densely populated communities.
According to the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the council approved that legal and regulatory bodies should restrict the establishment of mineral processing companies within residential and restricted areas in all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The council also mandated that plastic manufacturers and plastic bottling companies adopt the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, requiring them to take responsibility for the collection and management of plastic waste arising from their products.
Environmental experts at the meeting warned that unregulated mineral processing and plastic waste pollution continue to pose serious threats to human health, ecosystems and urban safety, particularly in densely populated communities.
Strengthening environmental regulation
The council further ordered that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) structures be established in all state ministries of environment. It, however, stated that the federal government would retain the authority to issue EIA certificates.
States were directed to nominate EIA focal officers and formally communicate their nominations to the Federal Ministry of Environment to strengthen coordination and compliance.
In response to environmental and health concerns in extractive communities, the council noted the need to introduce public health screening protocols in mining communities and to require livelihood restoration plans as part of mine closure processes.
The council further ordered that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) structures be established in all state ministries of environment. It, however, stated that the federal government would retain the authority to issue EIA certificates.
States were directed to nominate EIA focal officers and formally communicate their nominations to the Federal Ministry of Environment to strengthen coordination and compliance.
In response to environmental and health concerns in extractive communities, the council noted the need to introduce public health screening protocols in mining communities and to require livelihood restoration plans as part of mine closure processes.
Sanitation, air quality and toxic substances
As part of efforts to improve sanitation and environmental health, the council approved that all state governments establish faecal sludge management plants, aimed at accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.
It also approved increased collaboration between state governments and the Federal Ministry of Environment on the National Clean Air Programme. It endorsed the deployment of robust air and water quality monitoring systems in industrial zones.
As part of broader efforts to curb toxic pollution, the council also approved the substitution of mercury, cyanide and other poisonous chemicals used in gold extraction, citing their harmful effects on humans, animals and the natural environment.
As part of efforts to improve sanitation and environmental health, the council approved that all state governments establish faecal sludge management plants, aimed at accelerating progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.
It also approved increased collaboration between state governments and the Federal Ministry of Environment on the National Clean Air Programme. It endorsed the deployment of robust air and water quality monitoring systems in industrial zones.
As part of broader efforts to curb toxic pollution, the council also approved the substitution of mercury, cyanide and other poisonous chemicals used in gold extraction, citing their harmful effects on humans, animals and the natural environment.
Climate action and waste management
The council ordered the integration of climate change assessments into the Environmental Impact Assessment process, with particular emphasis on the Niger Delta region.
It also approved the development of a National Framework for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Tyres in Nigeria, alongside the establishment of a certification scheme for refrigeration and air-conditioning practitioners.
To support Nigeria’s climate commitments, the council approved measures to provide technical and regulatory support to states to maximise economic benefits from carbon credit opportunities.
The council ordered the integration of climate change assessments into the Environmental Impact Assessment process, with particular emphasis on the Niger Delta region.
It also approved the development of a National Framework for the Environmentally Sound Management of Used Tyres in Nigeria, alongside the establishment of a certification scheme for refrigeration and air-conditioning practitioners.
To support Nigeria’s climate commitments, the council approved measures to provide technical and regulatory support to states to maximise economic benefits from carbon credit opportunities.
Katsina meeting
The 18th NCE meeting, themed “Tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis of Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Pollution for Sustainable Development in Nigeria,” attracted 312 participants, including commissioners responsible for the environment from the 36 states, permanent secretaries, heads of environment-related agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, academics and journalists.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda was represented by the Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal, who served as the chief host of the meeting.
The communiqué was unanimously adopted at the close of proceedings on Wednesday.
The 18th NCE meeting, themed “Tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis of Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Pollution for Sustainable Development in Nigeria,” attracted 312 participants, including commissioners responsible for the environment from the 36 states, permanent secretaries, heads of environment-related agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, academics and journalists.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda was represented by the Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal, who served as the chief host of the meeting.
The communiqué was unanimously adopted at the close of proceedings on Wednesday.
Burkina Faso releases 11 Air Force personnel after high-level Nigerian delegation visit
The release came shortly after a Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, concluded engagements in Ouagadougou, including talks with Burkina Faso’s military leader, President Ibrahim Traoré.
The delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and NAF Headquarters, and was mandated to pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who cited a senior official familiar with the mission, the talks focused on de-escalation, confidence-building and securing the release of the detained personnel, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to international aviation rules, military protocols and regional cooperation.
The official said the visit showed Nigeria’s preference for diplomacy and neighbourly engagement, describing it as a deliberate effort to strengthen trust and reaffirm shared responsibilities in addressing the Sahel’s complex security challenges.
Sahel insecurity raises diplomatic stakes
The incident unfolded against a fragile regional backdrop marked by rising insecurity and political instability across the Sahel.
Military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have withdrawn from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), straining relations with countries like Nigeria that remain committed to the regional bloc.
Burkina Faso initially detained eleven military personnel who were all aboard the Nigerian Air Force C‑130 aircraft after it made an emergency landing in Bobo‑Dioulasso without prior airspace clearance, a move that Burkinabè authorities described as a violation of sovereignty.
The Nigerian Air Force said the landing was a precautionary emergency stop due to a technical issue and was conducted in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
Tensions have been compounded by recent security scares, including a reported botched coup attempt in Benin, reflecting the volatiliy of the region.
Against this backdrop, the detention of Nigerian military personnel risked escalating into a diplomatic standoff, particularly given lingering frictions following the AES states’ exit from ECOWAS.
Speaking after the meeting, Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said Nigeria and Burkina Faso shared longstanding ties and common security concerns, noting that the engagement was aimed at reinforcing mutual understanding and neighbourly relations.
“We exchanged views on cooperation in several sectors. We also discussed the Nigerian aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso,” Tuggar said.
He acknowledged procedural irregularities in the authorisation process for the aircraft’s entry into Burkinabè airspace, expressing Nigeria’s regret over the incident while emphasising Abuja’s respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and international aviation protocols.
The minister also distanced the Federal Government from remarks by a Nigerian political party official alleging maltreatment of Nigerian military personnel in Burkina Faso.
“We clearly dissociate ourselves from those comments and express our sincere regrets to the government of Burkina Faso,” Tuggar said.
Analysts say the swift diplomatic engagement helped defuse tensions and prevented the episode from becoming a flashpoint in Nigeria–Burkina Faso relations, noting the two countries’ history of cooperation on security and counterterrorism.
The incident unfolded against a fragile regional backdrop marked by rising insecurity and political instability across the Sahel.
Military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have withdrawn from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), straining relations with countries like Nigeria that remain committed to the regional bloc.
Burkina Faso initially detained eleven military personnel who were all aboard the Nigerian Air Force C‑130 aircraft after it made an emergency landing in Bobo‑Dioulasso without prior airspace clearance, a move that Burkinabè authorities described as a violation of sovereignty.
The Nigerian Air Force said the landing was a precautionary emergency stop due to a technical issue and was conducted in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
Tensions have been compounded by recent security scares, including a reported botched coup attempt in Benin, reflecting the volatiliy of the region.
Against this backdrop, the detention of Nigerian military personnel risked escalating into a diplomatic standoff, particularly given lingering frictions following the AES states’ exit from ECOWAS.
Speaking after the meeting, Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said Nigeria and Burkina Faso shared longstanding ties and common security concerns, noting that the engagement was aimed at reinforcing mutual understanding and neighbourly relations.
“We exchanged views on cooperation in several sectors. We also discussed the Nigerian aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso,” Tuggar said.
He acknowledged procedural irregularities in the authorisation process for the aircraft’s entry into Burkinabè airspace, expressing Nigeria’s regret over the incident while emphasising Abuja’s respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and international aviation protocols.
The minister also distanced the Federal Government from remarks by a Nigerian political party official alleging maltreatment of Nigerian military personnel in Burkina Faso.
“We clearly dissociate ourselves from those comments and express our sincere regrets to the government of Burkina Faso,” Tuggar said.
Analysts say the swift diplomatic engagement helped defuse tensions and prevented the episode from becoming a flashpoint in Nigeria–Burkina Faso relations, noting the two countries’ history of cooperation on security and counterterrorism.
By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa
President Tinubu nominates new oil regulators after chiefs resign amid Dangote dispute
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm two new heads for Nigeria's oil and gas regulators after their predecessors abruptly quit, amid a high stakes clash between one agency and Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote.
Tinubu's nominations follow the exit of Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and Farouk Ahmed, head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Dangote has accused Ahmed of allowing the entry of cut-price fuel imports that threaten local refineries, including his 650,000-barrel-per-day Lagos plant, Africa's largest.
Dangote on Wednesday submitted a petition against Ahmed with one of Nigeria's antigraft agencies - the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Komolafe, who recently launched an oil block auction, has clashed with Dangote over failure to enforce a law requiring producers to prioritize local refineries.
The shake-up comes at a critical moment for Africa's top oil producer, where regulatory uncertainty and supply fears have dominated headlines since Dangote lodged a formal petition against Ahmed, citing governance concerns and claims of personal spending beyond declared income.
Analysts say the resignations are unlikely to have a major impact on the sector. Komolafe’s proposed successor, Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, a former NNPC executive, spent more than three decades at the state oil company, including heading one of its subsidiaries.
Farouk’s replacement, Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, was named today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy. With over 37 years of experience, he previously led an NNPC division and helped draft Nigeria’s Gas Master Plan.
"I don't think in either case, these resignations would adversely affect investor confidence," said Ayodele Oni, an energy lawyer and partner at Lagos-based Bloomfield law firm.
By Camillus Eboh, Tife Owolabi and Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters
Tinubu's nominations follow the exit of Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and Farouk Ahmed, head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Dangote has accused Ahmed of allowing the entry of cut-price fuel imports that threaten local refineries, including his 650,000-barrel-per-day Lagos plant, Africa's largest.
Dangote on Wednesday submitted a petition against Ahmed with one of Nigeria's antigraft agencies - the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Komolafe, who recently launched an oil block auction, has clashed with Dangote over failure to enforce a law requiring producers to prioritize local refineries.
The shake-up comes at a critical moment for Africa's top oil producer, where regulatory uncertainty and supply fears have dominated headlines since Dangote lodged a formal petition against Ahmed, citing governance concerns and claims of personal spending beyond declared income.
Analysts say the resignations are unlikely to have a major impact on the sector. Komolafe’s proposed successor, Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, a former NNPC executive, spent more than three decades at the state oil company, including heading one of its subsidiaries.
Farouk’s replacement, Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, was named today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy. With over 37 years of experience, he previously led an NNPC division and helped draft Nigeria’s Gas Master Plan.
"I don't think in either case, these resignations would adversely affect investor confidence," said Ayodele Oni, an energy lawyer and partner at Lagos-based Bloomfield law firm.
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Video - Nigeria’s Afro Hair Festival celebrates culture and creativity
The Afro Hair Festival in Abuja showcased the beauty and cultural significance of Afro-textured hair, highlighted by an elaborate styling competition. Organizers say the event aims to promote healthy hair practices and encourage pride in natural African hair.
Nigeria files World Cup complaint to FIFA over Congo DR
Nigeria are hoping to revive their hopes of appearing at the 2026 World Cup with complaint to FIFA over the use of up to nine ineligible players by Congo DR in their qualifying playoff last month.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) join Cameroon, who had initially filed a similar complaint to FIFA about the eligibility of some of the players who were born in Europe but switched nationalities to represent Congo internationally.
- Nigeria's 'voodoo' accusations were 'nonsense' - Ex-DRC coach
- What's next for the DRC's Leopards after bewitching their way past Nigeria?
The Super Eagles lost 4-3 on penalties to Congo DR in the final of the CAF Playoffs on Nov. 16, which meant the Congolese advanced to the FIFA intercontinental playoffs.
Congo DR have been drawn to play the winners of the semifinal between New Caledonia and Jamaica, with the victors in the final earning one of the final spots at next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
But the NFF are now challenging DRC's use of several dual nationality players during the World Cup qualifying series, claiming they were ineligible on the basis of not being properly cleared to switch nationalities.
Reports have claimed that between six to nine players used by Congo DR during the qualifiers may have switched international allegiances, but may not have gone through the process of giving up their European passports in line with Congolese law before representing the country.
"The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality," NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi told reporters on Tuesday. "There are so many of them that have European passports, some of them French passports, some of them Dutch passports. The rules are very clear. We cannot say anything now but we have submitted our protest to FIFA.
"There are players that got theirs in just three months. So there is to us, what is considered as a breach of the regulation. That is why took that decision."
While the Congolese Constitution does not recognize dual citizenship, FIFA's own regulations only require players to hold the passports of the representative country in order to be cleared to play for that country and it was on the basis of holding valid Congolese passports that FIFA cleared the players to play.
All the players involved hold Congolese passports, but Sanusi claims that FIFA were deceived into issuing those clearances
"The FIFA rules are different from DR Congo rules, that is why FIFA cleared them," he said. "FIFA Regulations say once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. As far as we are concerned, they are eligible that is why they are cleared by FIFA.
"But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them because it is not the responsibility of FIFA to make sure that the regulations of Congo are abided by. FIFA goes by its own regulations, and it was on the basis of what was presented to FIFA that they cleared them. But we are saying that it was fraudulent."
FIFA has yet to respond to the complaint, but NFF officials told ESPN that the issue is being investigated by world football's governing body and a decision is expected before the intercontinental playoffs in March.
It is unclear if this appeal will be successful, but if it is, it would provide the Super Eagles a pathway back into World Cup qualifying, their second in the same series.
During the previous round, South Africa were sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player and docked three points, but Nigeria failed to take advantage and ultimately finished second in the group behind Bafana Bafana.
By Colin Udoh, ESPN
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) join Cameroon, who had initially filed a similar complaint to FIFA about the eligibility of some of the players who were born in Europe but switched nationalities to represent Congo internationally.
- Nigeria's 'voodoo' accusations were 'nonsense' - Ex-DRC coach
- What's next for the DRC's Leopards after bewitching their way past Nigeria?
The Super Eagles lost 4-3 on penalties to Congo DR in the final of the CAF Playoffs on Nov. 16, which meant the Congolese advanced to the FIFA intercontinental playoffs.
Congo DR have been drawn to play the winners of the semifinal between New Caledonia and Jamaica, with the victors in the final earning one of the final spots at next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
But the NFF are now challenging DRC's use of several dual nationality players during the World Cup qualifying series, claiming they were ineligible on the basis of not being properly cleared to switch nationalities.
Reports have claimed that between six to nine players used by Congo DR during the qualifiers may have switched international allegiances, but may not have gone through the process of giving up their European passports in line with Congolese law before representing the country.
"The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality," NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi told reporters on Tuesday. "There are so many of them that have European passports, some of them French passports, some of them Dutch passports. The rules are very clear. We cannot say anything now but we have submitted our protest to FIFA.
"There are players that got theirs in just three months. So there is to us, what is considered as a breach of the regulation. That is why took that decision."
While the Congolese Constitution does not recognize dual citizenship, FIFA's own regulations only require players to hold the passports of the representative country in order to be cleared to play for that country and it was on the basis of holding valid Congolese passports that FIFA cleared the players to play.
All the players involved hold Congolese passports, but Sanusi claims that FIFA were deceived into issuing those clearances
"The FIFA rules are different from DR Congo rules, that is why FIFA cleared them," he said. "FIFA Regulations say once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. As far as we are concerned, they are eligible that is why they are cleared by FIFA.
"But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them because it is not the responsibility of FIFA to make sure that the regulations of Congo are abided by. FIFA goes by its own regulations, and it was on the basis of what was presented to FIFA that they cleared them. But we are saying that it was fraudulent."
FIFA has yet to respond to the complaint, but NFF officials told ESPN that the issue is being investigated by world football's governing body and a decision is expected before the intercontinental playoffs in March.
It is unclear if this appeal will be successful, but if it is, it would provide the Super Eagles a pathway back into World Cup qualifying, their second in the same series.
During the previous round, South Africa were sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player and docked three points, but Nigeria failed to take advantage and ultimately finished second in the group behind Bafana Bafana.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Dangote says that he wants every Nigerian to make money off him
He noted that he intends to make every Nigerian a direct owner of the multi-billion-dollar facility.
According to Dangote, the listing is less about control and more about legacy, ensuring that ordinary Nigerians benefit from the refinery’s long-term success.
What Dangote said
“At the moment, our main interest is to list on the exchange, so that every living Nigerian can own part of the refinery,” he stated.
“Somebody asked me a question, is it 5 or 10 percent you want to sell, and I said that when we are going to sell the shares, we will not put a cap, if they happen to buy 55% and I own 45%, so be it,” he added.
When asked explicitly if the offer extended beyond Nigerians living in the country, Dangote simply said, "Yes."
Dangote described the refinery as a legacy project, emphasizing that widespread ownership will give Nigerians a direct stake in its success.
“The thing is about legacy, I want Nigerians to own this, and I want every single Nigerian, when the refinery does well, for them to always be able to rely on the profit of that refinery,” he said.
“The main point is for us to sell to every living Nigerian who has something, even if it's ten shares you buy or 20,” he continued.
Dangote provided another crucial assurance to potential investors by revealing that dividends will be paid in US dollars.
To him, this ensures that Nigerians in the diaspora also get a piece of the pie.
“We are going to make sure that we pay the dividend in dollars, because a major chunk of ourselves is in dollars.”
“At the moment, our main interest is to list on the exchange, so that every living Nigerian can own part of the refinery,” he stated.
“Somebody asked me a question, is it 5 or 10 percent you want to sell, and I said that when we are going to sell the shares, we will not put a cap, if they happen to buy 55% and I own 45%, so be it,” he added.
When asked explicitly if the offer extended beyond Nigerians living in the country, Dangote simply said, "Yes."
Dangote described the refinery as a legacy project, emphasizing that widespread ownership will give Nigerians a direct stake in its success.
“The thing is about legacy, I want Nigerians to own this, and I want every single Nigerian, when the refinery does well, for them to always be able to rely on the profit of that refinery,” he said.
“The main point is for us to sell to every living Nigerian who has something, even if it's ten shares you buy or 20,” he continued.
Dangote provided another crucial assurance to potential investors by revealing that dividends will be paid in US dollars.
To him, this ensures that Nigerians in the diaspora also get a piece of the pie.
“We are going to make sure that we pay the dividend in dollars, because a major chunk of ourselves is in dollars.”
Dangote’s original plan to list the refinery
In July, Nigeria’s top billionaire announced during the Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Markets in Abuja, which was co-hosted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and S&P Global Insights, that he intends to sell shares of his 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
According to the billionaire businessman, plans are already underway to list the refinery on the stock exchange, allowing Nigerians, both people and institutions, to participate in and profit from the facility's potential long-term growth.
“Very soon, the refinery will be listed to give all Nigerians the opportunity to become shareholders. We are open to partnerships with African governments, private investors, and regional institutions. Our vision is simple but ambitious,” Dangote said at the time.
“Africa should refine all the petroleum products it consumes right here on the soil of Africa.”
In July, Nigeria’s top billionaire announced during the Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Markets in Abuja, which was co-hosted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and S&P Global Insights, that he intends to sell shares of his 650,000 barrels per day refinery.
According to the billionaire businessman, plans are already underway to list the refinery on the stock exchange, allowing Nigerians, both people and institutions, to participate in and profit from the facility's potential long-term growth.
“Very soon, the refinery will be listed to give all Nigerians the opportunity to become shareholders. We are open to partnerships with African governments, private investors, and regional institutions. Our vision is simple but ambitious,” Dangote said at the time.
“Africa should refine all the petroleum products it consumes right here on the soil of Africa.”
By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa
Nigeria secures largest-ever military aircraft acquisition in West Africa with 24 M-346FA jets
Nigeria is advancing a major military modernisation initiative with a landmark procurement of 24 Italian-built M‑346FA fighter jets from Italian aerospace and defence firm Leonardo S.p.A., marking the largest single military aircraft acquisition in West African history.
The deal, valued at approximately €1.2 billion, includes long-term maintenance and support provisions through Leonardo and represents a strategic deepening of defence ties between Nigeria and the Italian manufacturer.
Business Inside Africa in an earlier publication, reported that Nigeria's cabinet approved a borrowing plan of $618 million from a consortium of financiers to purchase six Italian-made M-346 attack jets along with ammunition for the country's air force.
The first six jets are currently under production in Italy, with three expected to be delivered by early 2025 and full deliveries continuing through mid-2026.
This acquisition, alongside additional purchases of helicopters and support systems, is central to Nigeria’s effort to modernise and expand the Nigerian Air Force’s operational reach.
The timing of the procurement coincides with Nigeria’s persistent internal security crises. The country continues to grapple with a decade-long jihadist insurgency in the Northeast, widespread banditry in the Northwest, and complex communal violence across the Middle Belt.
These overlapping threats have strained governmental resources, displaced communities, and eroded investor confidence across West Africa.
The enhanced air combat, surveillance, and precision-strike capability offered by the M‑346FA fleet is designed to strengthen Abuja’s response to these entrenched security challenges.
The deal, valued at approximately €1.2 billion, includes long-term maintenance and support provisions through Leonardo and represents a strategic deepening of defence ties between Nigeria and the Italian manufacturer.
Business Inside Africa in an earlier publication, reported that Nigeria's cabinet approved a borrowing plan of $618 million from a consortium of financiers to purchase six Italian-made M-346 attack jets along with ammunition for the country's air force.
The first six jets are currently under production in Italy, with three expected to be delivered by early 2025 and full deliveries continuing through mid-2026.
This acquisition, alongside additional purchases of helicopters and support systems, is central to Nigeria’s effort to modernise and expand the Nigerian Air Force’s operational reach.
The timing of the procurement coincides with Nigeria’s persistent internal security crises. The country continues to grapple with a decade-long jihadist insurgency in the Northeast, widespread banditry in the Northwest, and complex communal violence across the Middle Belt.
These overlapping threats have strained governmental resources, displaced communities, and eroded investor confidence across West Africa.
The enhanced air combat, surveillance, and precision-strike capability offered by the M‑346FA fleet is designed to strengthen Abuja’s response to these entrenched security challenges.
Regional dynamics and Benin incursion
This military build-up is unfolding against a backdrop of increasingly volatile regional politics. Nigerian forces recently intervened in a coup attempt in neighbouring Benin, where mutinying soldiers briefly seized key installations in Cotonou.
Deployed at the request of Benin’s government, Nigerian air and ground units helped neutralise the threat and restore constitutional order, reinforcing the nation’s role as a security guarantor in West Africa.
The intervention, authorised by Nigeria’s Senate, highlights the country’s willingness to project force beyond its borders as coups and democratic backsliding spread across the Sahel and coastal West Africa.
Within this context, Nigeria’s shift towards sourcing military hardware from Italy reflects a broader recalibration of its defence procurement strategy.
Italian defence firms offer modern and reliable aircraft, armoured vehicles, and naval systems that are often more cost-effective than those of traditional suppliers.
The move also signals an effort to diversify away from heavy reliance on U.S., Russian, or Chinese equipment, reduce procurement delays, and deepen ties with European partners that provide technology transfer and long-term maintenance support.
As Nigeria inducts its new air combat platforms, the coming year is likely to be decisive for both its internal security posture and its standing as a leading regional security power.
This military build-up is unfolding against a backdrop of increasingly volatile regional politics. Nigerian forces recently intervened in a coup attempt in neighbouring Benin, where mutinying soldiers briefly seized key installations in Cotonou.
Deployed at the request of Benin’s government, Nigerian air and ground units helped neutralise the threat and restore constitutional order, reinforcing the nation’s role as a security guarantor in West Africa.
The intervention, authorised by Nigeria’s Senate, highlights the country’s willingness to project force beyond its borders as coups and democratic backsliding spread across the Sahel and coastal West Africa.
Within this context, Nigeria’s shift towards sourcing military hardware from Italy reflects a broader recalibration of its defence procurement strategy.
Italian defence firms offer modern and reliable aircraft, armoured vehicles, and naval systems that are often more cost-effective than those of traditional suppliers.
The move also signals an effort to diversify away from heavy reliance on U.S., Russian, or Chinese equipment, reduce procurement delays, and deepen ties with European partners that provide technology transfer and long-term maintenance support.
As Nigeria inducts its new air combat platforms, the coming year is likely to be decisive for both its internal security posture and its standing as a leading regional security power.
By Soloman Ekanem, Business Insider Africa
Suicide bomber kills five soldiers in northeast Nigeria
A suicide bomber struck a military position in northeastern Nigeria near the border with Cameroon, killing at least five soldiers, security and local defence sources said.
The attacker targeted a military position in Firgi near Pulka, a remote town in Borno state, on Sunday, sources told AFP on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
“I counted five bodies lying in blood at the back of my house,” said Umar Sa’idu, a member of a community government-sponsored militia group, who helped transport the victims to hospital.
“After some hours, medical personnel at UMTH (University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital) confirmed that all five victims we gave escort to had died,” he told AFP by phone.
Suicide bombings, once one of the defining tactics of Boko Haram during the height of the insurgency more than a decade ago, have become less frequent in recent years as the military has made inroads against the group.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the military’s spokesman in the northeast, confirmed the attack but not the deaths.
“Our gallant soldiers shot the attacker when he attempted to carry out the bombing in their own position,” Uba told AFP.
“Unfortunately, our gallant soldiers sustained varying degrees of injury and are currently receiving medical care.”
Sa’idu said the bomber was a suspected Boko Haram member thought to have come from nearby Mandara Mountains.
According to Bukar Aji, a local hunter, the assailant approached the soldiers and detonated an explosive device strapped to his body.
Pulka lies close to the Mandara Mountains, a rugged and sparsely governed border region that stretches between Nigeria and Cameroon and has long served as a refuge for jihadist militants linked to Boko Haram and its splinter factions.
The attacker targeted a military position in Firgi near Pulka, a remote town in Borno state, on Sunday, sources told AFP on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
“I counted five bodies lying in blood at the back of my house,” said Umar Sa’idu, a member of a community government-sponsored militia group, who helped transport the victims to hospital.
“After some hours, medical personnel at UMTH (University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital) confirmed that all five victims we gave escort to had died,” he told AFP by phone.
Suicide bombings, once one of the defining tactics of Boko Haram during the height of the insurgency more than a decade ago, have become less frequent in recent years as the military has made inroads against the group.
Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the military’s spokesman in the northeast, confirmed the attack but not the deaths.
“Our gallant soldiers shot the attacker when he attempted to carry out the bombing in their own position,” Uba told AFP.
“Unfortunately, our gallant soldiers sustained varying degrees of injury and are currently receiving medical care.”
Sa’idu said the bomber was a suspected Boko Haram member thought to have come from nearby Mandara Mountains.
According to Bukar Aji, a local hunter, the assailant approached the soldiers and detonated an explosive device strapped to his body.
Pulka lies close to the Mandara Mountains, a rugged and sparsely governed border region that stretches between Nigeria and Cameroon and has long served as a refuge for jihadist militants linked to Boko Haram and its splinter factions.
Monday, December 15, 2025
Video - Nigeria, Benin vow to protect democracy after thwarting coup attempt
Nigeria and Benin have jointly pledged to counter any threats to democracy in West Africa after a weekend coup attempt in Benin was foiled. Nigeria sent hundreds of troops to assist, while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also deployed forces, with the swift response reflecting lessons from past delayed interventions.
Nigeria grows strawberries, but poor infrastructure keeps them from markets
As early as 5am, farmers in rural Vom in Jos Plateau state set out to their strawberry farms. With torchlights strapped to their foreheads, they pick the delicate berries while the air is still cool. The earlier they are done picking, the earlier the trucks can move. Strawberries are at their best when cold, and any delay risks bruising or rot.
But once the berries leave the farm, the real problem begins.
After a careful harvest, the journey out of the farm to the big city buyers is precarious. With no direct flights, farmers rely entirely on road transport to reach markets. What leaves the farm vibrant and firm often arrives softened, leaking, or outright unsellable.
Nigeria’s strawberry production is relatively infantile. Official production figures are unavailable publicly but market report from intelligence company, Essfeed shows that Nigeria produces around 3,000 tons of strawberries annually. The industry is valued at approximately $2 million, with local markets being the primary focus.
Tridge, a market intelligence company reports that strawberry harvest season in Nigeria begins to peak in December with over 70 percent of total production coming from Chaha district in Vom, Jos South Local Government of Plateau State.
The berry’s derivative is used in jams, smoothies, parfaits and fruit juices, and is also consumed directly.
Yet those in the business are meeting the season with more worry than excitement.
Bwai Grace, a local produce procurer in Jos, told BusinessDay that gaps in logistics and other infrastructure have “seriously” weakened demand. She now struggles to meet orders from Maiduguri, Katsina and even parts of Port Harcourt reachable only by rough roads.
With no cargo flights, farmers typically loaded their strawberries onto passenger planes, hoping the boxes are kept near the air conditioner. But when airlines such as Arik and Max Air halted flights to Plateau State, the chain collapsed, leaving them stranded and scrambling for improvised road transport.
“For years, Arik was the only lifeline. We paid more per kg in air cargo than we paid farmers per kg of produce. Logistics cost more than the fruit, and we still paid for it, because at least the berries arrived fresh and wholesome across the country,” said Deola Balogun, chief operating officer at Limlim Foods Production Ltd in a LinkedIn post.
“But overnight, it collapsed, Arik stopped flying into Jos in October. ValueJet is now the only carrier flying out from Jos, and they refused to carry strawberries,” Balogun added.
Grace explained the alternative. “I have someone with a deep freezer that uses an inverter. I wash the strawberry very well with water level at 11.5 pH to preserve the taste, then freeze them in kilos and cover with styrofoam so it doesn’t drip,” she said.
Her efforts could only do so much. Long hours on hot, uneven roads stress the fruit and a breakdown or checkpoint delay thins the line between a marketable carton and a total loss. “The weather outside Jos is really hot. And once you start changing the environment, the food will start becoming stressed and struggle to breathe,” she said.
Many of the cartons of strawberries eventually arrive “not looking like food” and clients demand refunds.
“At some point last year, in February, I had to even close business for a very long time. I just told them, let me just travel and clear my head,” she said.
Balogun also recounted losing 20 to 30 percent of her produce due to checkpoint delays and rough roads that broke the boxes.
“Road is not a solution today. It’s a controlled disaster. We’re not losing strawberries because farmers don’t know how to grow them, we’re losing them because a berry’s entire value chain depended on a plane we didn’t control,” she said.
Hopi Afrique, a Nigerian farm produce business based in Jos, does not hide the vulnerability. Under its listing on Flutterwave, it wrote boldly, “Some of your strawberries will bruise or melt in transit.”
According to Tridge, Nigerian strawberries are currently sold at $3.64 per kg in wholesale markets. Grace said she sells her strawberries sell for N18,000 per 5kg.
Hopi Afrique estimates a carton at roughly 5.5kg, which means losing even ten boxes wipes out close to N200,000 in addition to transportation costs.
Plugging the gap
The gap in prices ultimately tilts the market towards imports, keeping Nigeria on a costly cycle of bringing in the very strawberries it already grows.
In 2023, the country spent up N600million to import fresh strawberries, 80 percent of which came from Niger, according to data from The World Bank and the United Nations. South Africa, Belgium, Denmark were other major sources.
“If Plateau produces approximately 700 tons this season and we lose 50 percent due to lack of movement, 350 tons will rot in 120 days. By April, Lagos will import strawberries, puree and concentrate while fresh berries rot in Jos,” Balogun said.
The real fix, according to Grace, is reliable, temperature-controlled vans and cargo planes that are “very fast” to preserve strawberries during transit out of Jos.
However, the issue must first be resolved on the farm, she said.
Recently, security worries have altered the harvest routine. Instead of picking at dawn, which is the ideal time to retain firmness, farmers now wait until it’s safer to move around. That later start means the fruit hits the sun earlier, warming up long before it reaches any buyer.
The farms also require consistent water supply through boreholes and overhead tanks to replace the more tedious process of sourcing water from distant streams with pipes.
At the top of the priority for farmers is also access to affordable, high-quality fertilisers. Grace said that getting organic fertilisers is not cheap and farmers have to liaise with “someone abroad” to get the best and use them on their farms.
Balogun says without these measures, “[Nigeria] will keep planting pride and harvesting loss.”
The gap in prices ultimately tilts the market towards imports, keeping Nigeria on a costly cycle of bringing in the very strawberries it already grows.
In 2023, the country spent up N600million to import fresh strawberries, 80 percent of which came from Niger, according to data from The World Bank and the United Nations. South Africa, Belgium, Denmark were other major sources.
“If Plateau produces approximately 700 tons this season and we lose 50 percent due to lack of movement, 350 tons will rot in 120 days. By April, Lagos will import strawberries, puree and concentrate while fresh berries rot in Jos,” Balogun said.
The real fix, according to Grace, is reliable, temperature-controlled vans and cargo planes that are “very fast” to preserve strawberries during transit out of Jos.
However, the issue must first be resolved on the farm, she said.
Recently, security worries have altered the harvest routine. Instead of picking at dawn, which is the ideal time to retain firmness, farmers now wait until it’s safer to move around. That later start means the fruit hits the sun earlier, warming up long before it reaches any buyer.
The farms also require consistent water supply through boreholes and overhead tanks to replace the more tedious process of sourcing water from distant streams with pipes.
At the top of the priority for farmers is also access to affordable, high-quality fertilisers. Grace said that getting organic fertilisers is not cheap and farmers have to liaise with “someone abroad” to get the best and use them on their farms.
Balogun says without these measures, “[Nigeria] will keep planting pride and harvesting loss.”
Nigeria’s richest man Dangote escalates oil fight with regulator, seeks corruption probe
Nigeria’s richest man Aliko Dangote escalated his fight with regulators on Sunday, accusing them of enabling cheap fuel imports that threaten local refineries.
Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil producer but relies heavily on imports and Dangote’s refinery was meant to change that.
Dangote said if imports continue unchecked, they will threaten jobs, investment and energy security.
Speaking at his 650,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery in Lagos, Dangote said imports were being used “to checkmate domestic potential”, creating jobs abroad while Nigeria struggles to industrialise.
“You don’t use imports to checkmate domestic potential,” he told reporters.
Dangote called for an official inquiry into Farouk Ahmed, head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, citing concerns over his management of the sector and allegations of private expenditures exceeding legitimate earnings.
Ahmed did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but he has previously said Dangote refinery wants a monopoly on petroleum products sales, but the refinery's output can not meet local demand.
Last month, the regulator urged the president to drop plans to ban imports of refined petroleum products because local output cannot meet the national demand of 55 million litres daily.
Dangote disputes this, saying the regulator was distorting the refinery's actual capacity by reporting offtake statistics instead of the true production data.
The refinery, designed to end Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel and save billions in foreign exchange, says it has been unable to secure all the required crude it needs because the regulator has failed to implement a rule that guarantees crude supply to local refiners before exports.
Dangote said the refinery imports 100 million barrels of crude oil annually — a figure expected to double after expansion of the refinery and limited domestic supply.
Despite these hurdles, Dangote vowed to continue with expansion plans for the facility and safeguard his investment, which he said is "too big to fail".
He also reiterated plans to list the company on the local stock market and pay dividends in U.S. dollars so “every Nigerian can own a piece of the economy.”
Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, has long depended on imports due to mothballed state refineries.
Nigeria is Africa’s biggest oil producer but relies heavily on imports and Dangote’s refinery was meant to change that.
Dangote said if imports continue unchecked, they will threaten jobs, investment and energy security.
Speaking at his 650,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery in Lagos, Dangote said imports were being used “to checkmate domestic potential”, creating jobs abroad while Nigeria struggles to industrialise.
“You don’t use imports to checkmate domestic potential,” he told reporters.
Dangote called for an official inquiry into Farouk Ahmed, head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, citing concerns over his management of the sector and allegations of private expenditures exceeding legitimate earnings.
Ahmed did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but he has previously said Dangote refinery wants a monopoly on petroleum products sales, but the refinery's output can not meet local demand.
Last month, the regulator urged the president to drop plans to ban imports of refined petroleum products because local output cannot meet the national demand of 55 million litres daily.
Dangote disputes this, saying the regulator was distorting the refinery's actual capacity by reporting offtake statistics instead of the true production data.
The refinery, designed to end Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel and save billions in foreign exchange, says it has been unable to secure all the required crude it needs because the regulator has failed to implement a rule that guarantees crude supply to local refiners before exports.
Dangote said the refinery imports 100 million barrels of crude oil annually — a figure expected to double after expansion of the refinery and limited domestic supply.
Despite these hurdles, Dangote vowed to continue with expansion plans for the facility and safeguard his investment, which he said is "too big to fail".
He also reiterated plans to list the company on the local stock market and pay dividends in U.S. dollars so “every Nigerian can own a piece of the economy.”
Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, has long depended on imports due to mothballed state refineries.
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Video - Lagos Street art festival transforms city into open-air gallery
Participating artists want to pass the message that art ought to be accessible to everyone, not confined to indoor gallery spaces.
U.S. revokes 85,000 visas held by Nigerians and other foreign nationals
The U.S. State Department has revoked a record 85,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals, including some Nigerians, as the Trump administration intensifies scrutiny of visitors entering the United States.
According to officials, more than 8,000 of the revoked visas were student visas, a figure that is more than double the number recorded in 2024.
Officials say the visa revocations were driven by a range of security and criminal concerns, including DUIs, assault and theft, offences that together accounted for nearly half of all cancellations over the past year.
“These are people who pose a direct threat to our communities’ safety, and we do not want to have them in our country,” a U.S. official said.
The update comes as Trump, upon assuming office, vowed to lead the largest deportation drive and crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States.
According to officials, more than 8,000 of the revoked visas were student visas, a figure that is more than double the number recorded in 2024.
Officials say the visa revocations were driven by a range of security and criminal concerns, including DUIs, assault and theft, offences that together accounted for nearly half of all cancellations over the past year.
“These are people who pose a direct threat to our communities’ safety, and we do not want to have them in our country,” a U.S. official said.
The update comes as Trump, upon assuming office, vowed to lead the largest deportation drive and crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States.
Criminal and security concerns
U.S. consular officers have been instructed to take a tougher approach to H-1B applications and deny visas to anyone found to have engaged in “censorship or attempted censorship” of protected speech in the United States.
In November, the Department of State cited assault, theft, and driving under the influence among the major reasons for the visa revocations.
Other reasons include terrorism, supporting terrorism, public safety threats, and overstaying visas.
The administration also moved to pause immigration from 19 countries already subject to partial or full travel restrictions.
Last week, the State Department announced a new visa-restriction policy targeting individuals accused of orchestrating anti-Christian violence in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The measure follows a series of deadly attacks in the West African nation.
U.S. consular officers have been instructed to take a tougher approach to H-1B applications and deny visas to anyone found to have engaged in “censorship or attempted censorship” of protected speech in the United States.
In November, the Department of State cited assault, theft, and driving under the influence among the major reasons for the visa revocations.
Other reasons include terrorism, supporting terrorism, public safety threats, and overstaying visas.
The administration also moved to pause immigration from 19 countries already subject to partial or full travel restrictions.
Last week, the State Department announced a new visa-restriction policy targeting individuals accused of orchestrating anti-Christian violence in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The measure follows a series of deadly attacks in the West African nation.
By Adekunle Agbetiloye, Business Insider Africa
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Dangote announces $700m education fund for Nigerians
Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group, says his foundation will invest $700 million in the education of Nigerians over the next ten years.
Speaking on Sunday at the 2025 Doha Forum in Doha, Qatar, the business magnate committed to supporting over 155,000 Nigerians who will be drawn across secondary schools and universities in the country.
Dangote, during a panel session that featured Bill Dates and Sheikha Al Mayassa, discussed how innovation, philanthropy, and cultural investment are reshaping opportunity across Africa and beyond.
He said the investment is poised to reduce the number of children who are out of school in Nigeria and provide more man-power with the technical capacity to advance the economy of Nigeria.
“In Africa, we have a population of about 1.4 billion people, so partnership is important,” he said.
“Partnership also matters, that is why we partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio in Nigeria.
“We have a lot of children that are out of school so what we are going to launch next week is a $700 million fund to fund education.
“We will run it for ten years then we review.
“We are doing that because we have a lot of challenges in Africa, one of which is training.”
Dangote noted that the Dangote Petrochemical has trained more than 50,000 Nigerians to ensure the smooth operation of the 160,000-barrel-per-day refinery.
He said the skilled workforce will be redeployed as part of the refinery’s ongoing expansion, while his investment in education will increase talents for industries in Nigeria.
By Daniel Nnamani, The Cable
Speaking on Sunday at the 2025 Doha Forum in Doha, Qatar, the business magnate committed to supporting over 155,000 Nigerians who will be drawn across secondary schools and universities in the country.
Dangote, during a panel session that featured Bill Dates and Sheikha Al Mayassa, discussed how innovation, philanthropy, and cultural investment are reshaping opportunity across Africa and beyond.
He said the investment is poised to reduce the number of children who are out of school in Nigeria and provide more man-power with the technical capacity to advance the economy of Nigeria.
“In Africa, we have a population of about 1.4 billion people, so partnership is important,” he said.
“Partnership also matters, that is why we partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio in Nigeria.
“We have a lot of children that are out of school so what we are going to launch next week is a $700 million fund to fund education.
“We will run it for ten years then we review.
“We are doing that because we have a lot of challenges in Africa, one of which is training.”
Dangote noted that the Dangote Petrochemical has trained more than 50,000 Nigerians to ensure the smooth operation of the 160,000-barrel-per-day refinery.
He said the skilled workforce will be redeployed as part of the refinery’s ongoing expansion, while his investment in education will increase talents for industries in Nigeria.
Nine women shot dead during protest in Nigeria
Nigerian Army soldiers opened fire and killed nine women protesting the army's handling of communal clashes in the northeastern Adamawa state, witnesses and Amnesty International told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The women were protesting on Monday along a major road in Adamawa's local government, Lamurde, when the soldiers shot at them after being blocked from passing, witnesses and victims' relatives told the AP in detail, first reported on Tuesday. Ten others were injured in the shooting, witnesses said.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement, denied killing anyone and blamed the deaths on a local militia it said opened fire in the area.
Amnesty International's Nigeria office said the agency confirmed soldiers killed the nine protesters, citing accounts from witnesses and families of victims.
“It shows that the Nigerian military has not changed much because of its past record of human rights violations and disregard for the rule of law,” according to Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International in Nigeria.
The Associated Press could not independently verify what happened.
Such killings are common across Nigeria, where soldiers often deployed in response to protests and clashes are usually accused of excessive use of force. Protests against police brutality in Nigeria’s economic hub of Lagos in 2020 ended up in what a government-commissioned inquiry described as a massacre after soldiers opened fire at the protest venue.
The latest incident happened amid a curfew that authorities imposed in Lamurde following frequent clashes between Adamawa's Bachama and Chobo ethnic groups over a prolonged land dispute.
The protesters were aggrieved that security forces, including the soldiers, were not enforcing the curfew in affected areas, thereby allowing the clashes to continue, according to Lawson Ignatius, the councillor representing Lamurde in the local government parliament.
Gyele Kennedy, who said his daughter was among the protesters shot dead, lamented in anguish that “we don’t know what came over them.”
“These soldiers were leaving where the conflict happened, and they came to pass through this place. They came and met the women protesting when one of the soldiers shot his gun in the air. After that, they opened fire on the women,” said Kennedy.
The Nigerian Army, however, denied the claims, saying its soldiers only engaged a local militia in a different part of the town.
“Without equivocation, the casualties were caused by the unprofessional handling of automatic weapons by the local militias who are not proficiently trained to handle such automatic weapons,” an army spokesman said.
The reported killings come as the Nigerian military is under scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has alleged that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria's security crises and that the security forces are not doing enough to prevent the killings. Residents have told the AP that both Christians and Muslims are affected in the widespread violence plaguing Nigerian villages.
Amnesty International's Nigeria office called for the reported killings to be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable.
The women were protesting on Monday along a major road in Adamawa's local government, Lamurde, when the soldiers shot at them after being blocked from passing, witnesses and victims' relatives told the AP in detail, first reported on Tuesday. Ten others were injured in the shooting, witnesses said.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement, denied killing anyone and blamed the deaths on a local militia it said opened fire in the area.
Amnesty International's Nigeria office said the agency confirmed soldiers killed the nine protesters, citing accounts from witnesses and families of victims.
“It shows that the Nigerian military has not changed much because of its past record of human rights violations and disregard for the rule of law,” according to Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International in Nigeria.
The Associated Press could not independently verify what happened.
Such killings are common across Nigeria, where soldiers often deployed in response to protests and clashes are usually accused of excessive use of force. Protests against police brutality in Nigeria’s economic hub of Lagos in 2020 ended up in what a government-commissioned inquiry described as a massacre after soldiers opened fire at the protest venue.
The latest incident happened amid a curfew that authorities imposed in Lamurde following frequent clashes between Adamawa's Bachama and Chobo ethnic groups over a prolonged land dispute.
The protesters were aggrieved that security forces, including the soldiers, were not enforcing the curfew in affected areas, thereby allowing the clashes to continue, according to Lawson Ignatius, the councillor representing Lamurde in the local government parliament.
Gyele Kennedy, who said his daughter was among the protesters shot dead, lamented in anguish that “we don’t know what came over them.”
“These soldiers were leaving where the conflict happened, and they came to pass through this place. They came and met the women protesting when one of the soldiers shot his gun in the air. After that, they opened fire on the women,” said Kennedy.
The Nigerian Army, however, denied the claims, saying its soldiers only engaged a local militia in a different part of the town.
“Without equivocation, the casualties were caused by the unprofessional handling of automatic weapons by the local militias who are not proficiently trained to handle such automatic weapons,” an army spokesman said.
The reported killings come as the Nigerian military is under scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has alleged that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria's security crises and that the security forces are not doing enough to prevent the killings. Residents have told the AP that both Christians and Muslims are affected in the widespread violence plaguing Nigerian villages.
Amnesty International's Nigeria office called for the reported killings to be investigated and the perpetrators held accountable.
Armed kidnappings are keeping thousands of Nigerian children out of school
Sending children to school has become too dangerous for many families in Nigeria.
Over the last decade, it has become almost routine for Nigerian schoolchildren to be abducted en masse from their classrooms and held hostage by armed gunmen.
The government has repeatedly vowed to improve security at schools to prevent these kidnappings. But after more than 300 children were taken from a Catholic school in Niger state last month, Amnesty International says parents have lost all faith that things will get better.
"They are telling us that they are scared, they are afraid, and they are not comfortable with having their children at schools," Isa Sanusi, the human rights group’s Nigeria director, told As It Happens host Nil Köksal.
"Many parents would rather keep their children at home, keep them away from school because they believe that will keep them safer and away from the cold hands of kidnappers."
Since last month’s kidnapping, Amnesty says 20,468 schools across seven states in Nigeria have closed their doors indefinitely.
The organization doesn’t have a tally of how many children have been pulled out of school this past month. But given that some rural schools pack as many as 100 students into a single classroom, Sanusi says the number is likely "staggering."
Even before this latest attack, the United Nations estimated Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of unschooled children in the world at 20 million, partly because parents fear kidnappings.
Over the last decade, it has become almost routine for Nigerian schoolchildren to be abducted en masse from their classrooms and held hostage by armed gunmen.
The government has repeatedly vowed to improve security at schools to prevent these kidnappings. But after more than 300 children were taken from a Catholic school in Niger state last month, Amnesty International says parents have lost all faith that things will get better.
"They are telling us that they are scared, they are afraid, and they are not comfortable with having their children at schools," Isa Sanusi, the human rights group’s Nigeria director, told As It Happens host Nil Köksal.
"Many parents would rather keep their children at home, keep them away from school because they believe that will keep them safer and away from the cold hands of kidnappers."
Since last month’s kidnapping, Amnesty says 20,468 schools across seven states in Nigeria have closed their doors indefinitely.
The organization doesn’t have a tally of how many children have been pulled out of school this past month. But given that some rural schools pack as many as 100 students into a single classroom, Sanusi says the number is likely "staggering."
Even before this latest attack, the United Nations estimated Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of unschooled children in the world at 20 million, partly because parents fear kidnappings.
100 kids reunited with their families this week
On Monday, the government of Nigeria secured the release of 100 students who were abducted from St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri village on Nov. 21.
The kids arrived in armored trucks at the government house in Niger state's capital Minna before being reunited with their families.
The Christian Association of Nigeria says more than 300 students and 12 staff members were taken from St. Mary’s, and 50 managed to escape their captors.
More than 100 victims are unaccounted for, although the exact number remains unclear.
"My directive to our security forces remains that all the students and other abducted Nigerians across the country must be rescued and brought back home safely," President Bola Tinubu said. "We must account for all the victims."
The St. Mary’s attack was far from an isolated incident. School kidnappings surged over the last decade since Boko Haram militants abducted 276 girls from the eastern town Chibok in 2014.
Earlier in November, gunmen attacked a government-run girls' boarding school in Kebbi state, killing the vice-principal and taking 25 students. All but one of the girls are still missing.
Activists from the Bring Back Our Girls movement, which emerged after the Chibok kidnappings, estimate that 1,800 Nigerian children have been abducted in the intervening years.
The movement's co-founder, Bukky Shonibare, says these kidnappings are part of a systemic failure spanning more than 11 years.
"Abduction of schoolchildren is not yet a national priority in Nigeria," Shonibare told As It Happens last month. "Until it is a national priority, it will not be backed by real investments, real actions, you know, and real accountability."
Nigeria’s government has not disclosed how it got the 100 St. Mary’s children back, but over the years, it has repeatedly denied paying ransom to criminal groups.
Sanusi, however, says Nigerians don’t believe it. He says gangs and militant groups target schools because it’s a profitable venture.
"They will not stop, because they are getting what they want," he said.
On Monday, the government of Nigeria secured the release of 100 students who were abducted from St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri village on Nov. 21.
The kids arrived in armored trucks at the government house in Niger state's capital Minna before being reunited with their families.
The Christian Association of Nigeria says more than 300 students and 12 staff members were taken from St. Mary’s, and 50 managed to escape their captors.
More than 100 victims are unaccounted for, although the exact number remains unclear.
"My directive to our security forces remains that all the students and other abducted Nigerians across the country must be rescued and brought back home safely," President Bola Tinubu said. "We must account for all the victims."
The St. Mary’s attack was far from an isolated incident. School kidnappings surged over the last decade since Boko Haram militants abducted 276 girls from the eastern town Chibok in 2014.
Earlier in November, gunmen attacked a government-run girls' boarding school in Kebbi state, killing the vice-principal and taking 25 students. All but one of the girls are still missing.
Activists from the Bring Back Our Girls movement, which emerged after the Chibok kidnappings, estimate that 1,800 Nigerian children have been abducted in the intervening years.
The movement's co-founder, Bukky Shonibare, says these kidnappings are part of a systemic failure spanning more than 11 years.
"Abduction of schoolchildren is not yet a national priority in Nigeria," Shonibare told As It Happens last month. "Until it is a national priority, it will not be backed by real investments, real actions, you know, and real accountability."
Nigeria’s government has not disclosed how it got the 100 St. Mary’s children back, but over the years, it has repeatedly denied paying ransom to criminal groups.
Sanusi, however, says Nigerians don’t believe it. He says gangs and militant groups target schools because it’s a profitable venture.
"They will not stop, because they are getting what they want," he said.
Boys go to work, girls get married
Sanusi says Amnesty has interviewed children who survived these abductions. They live in fear, he says, and show no interest in continuing their studies.
"It makes them feel that there is danger associated with seeking education, there is danger associated with going to school," he said.
Thirteen-year-old Stephen Samuel, one of the St. Mary’s children who escaped, told Reuters that even if all the hostages were released, he was not sure life could ever go back to normal.
"Will we be able to go to school again? Which school will we go to?" he asked. "I am thinking maybe school has ended."
Instead, Sanusi says kids are forced to take on adult roles.
"For boys, they are mostly sent to go and do hard labour to support the family," he said. "For the girls, they are mostly married underage and sent to live with their new husbands in urban areas and cities where it is safer and away from the hands of kidnappers."
The attacks, he says, have largely targeted Nigeria’s rural areas, where people are already struggling to make ends meet.
The United Nations World Food Programme estimates that 35 million people could go hungry in Nigeria in 2026, with rural farming communities facing the brunt of the economic crisis.
"So for some parents who are struggling to survive, [pulling their kids from school] comes as a relief for them economically," Sanusi said.
But he says it’s a nasty cycle that perpetuates poverty.
"A whole generation of children may end up missing out entirely on education," he said. "That this is a very serious matter for the future of the children, and the country itself."
Sanusi says Amnesty has interviewed children who survived these abductions. They live in fear, he says, and show no interest in continuing their studies.
"It makes them feel that there is danger associated with seeking education, there is danger associated with going to school," he said.
Thirteen-year-old Stephen Samuel, one of the St. Mary’s children who escaped, told Reuters that even if all the hostages were released, he was not sure life could ever go back to normal.
"Will we be able to go to school again? Which school will we go to?" he asked. "I am thinking maybe school has ended."
Instead, Sanusi says kids are forced to take on adult roles.
"For boys, they are mostly sent to go and do hard labour to support the family," he said. "For the girls, they are mostly married underage and sent to live with their new husbands in urban areas and cities where it is safer and away from the hands of kidnappers."
The attacks, he says, have largely targeted Nigeria’s rural areas, where people are already struggling to make ends meet.
The United Nations World Food Programme estimates that 35 million people could go hungry in Nigeria in 2026, with rural farming communities facing the brunt of the economic crisis.
"So for some parents who are struggling to survive, [pulling their kids from school] comes as a relief for them economically," Sanusi said.
But he says it’s a nasty cycle that perpetuates poverty.
"A whole generation of children may end up missing out entirely on education," he said. "That this is a very serious matter for the future of the children, and the country itself."
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Video - Nigeria tightens cash withdrawal limits
Nigeria's central bank capped weekly access for individuals at $345 and $3,450 for businesses. The move is designed to combat money laundering, boost financial security, and support the shift to a cashless economy.
Hundreds of mutilated bodies found in suspected Nigerian organ-harvesting ring
An extensive organ-harvesting ring has been uncovered in Nigeria after weeks of covert surveillance, local officials have said.
In a statement shared on X, the Imo State Police Command said their investigation was launched after reports of a worrying spate of kidnappings near a hotel and mortuary in Ngor Okpala.
According to police, intelligence-led investigations went on to identify a man called High Chief Stanley Oparaugo, also known as "Morocco," as the suspected leader of the criminal network and who is now on the run and wanted, per reports.
Oparaugo is alleged to own Jessy Best Hotel in Ihitte Okwe and the nearby mortuary known as Ugwudi.
Police said victims were said to have been lured into the hotel before being robbed and abducted, with families also forced to pay ransom.
Authorities said some people who paid never saw their loved ones again.
The Command said abducted victims were then taken from the hotel to the mortuary, where they were allegedly killed and their organs harvested for sale.
When officers raided the Jessy Best Hotel, it was abandoned, but at the mortuary they found decomposed and mutilated corpses.
Police spokesperson Henry Okoye said more than 100 bodies had been found.
"A hotel and a private mortuary owned by the suspect, allegedly used by kidnappers and violent criminals, were inspected," he said in a statement.
"At the mortuary, decomposed and mutilated corpses were discovered in unhygienic conditions, raising suspicions of illegal organ-harvesting activities."
He added that the suspect’s residence was also searched and "crucial exhibits" were recovered, with forensic teams documenting evidence for the ongoing investigation.
"Maximum security has been deployed along the Owerri–Aba Expressway. The Command assures travelers during the holidays of its commitment to their safety," he added.
Nigeria has seen a rising amount of crime with kidnappings and abductions.
By Emma Bussey, Fox News
In a statement shared on X, the Imo State Police Command said their investigation was launched after reports of a worrying spate of kidnappings near a hotel and mortuary in Ngor Okpala.
According to police, intelligence-led investigations went on to identify a man called High Chief Stanley Oparaugo, also known as "Morocco," as the suspected leader of the criminal network and who is now on the run and wanted, per reports.
Oparaugo is alleged to own Jessy Best Hotel in Ihitte Okwe and the nearby mortuary known as Ugwudi.
Police said victims were said to have been lured into the hotel before being robbed and abducted, with families also forced to pay ransom.
Authorities said some people who paid never saw their loved ones again.
The Command said abducted victims were then taken from the hotel to the mortuary, where they were allegedly killed and their organs harvested for sale.
When officers raided the Jessy Best Hotel, it was abandoned, but at the mortuary they found decomposed and mutilated corpses.
Police spokesperson Henry Okoye said more than 100 bodies had been found.
"A hotel and a private mortuary owned by the suspect, allegedly used by kidnappers and violent criminals, were inspected," he said in a statement.
"At the mortuary, decomposed and mutilated corpses were discovered in unhygienic conditions, raising suspicions of illegal organ-harvesting activities."
He added that the suspect’s residence was also searched and "crucial exhibits" were recovered, with forensic teams documenting evidence for the ongoing investigation.
"Maximum security has been deployed along the Owerri–Aba Expressway. The Command assures travelers during the holidays of its commitment to their safety," he added.
Nigeria has seen a rising amount of crime with kidnappings and abductions.
Nigerian troops held in Burkina Faso after ‘unfriendly’ emergency landing
Eleven Nigerian military personnel are being held in Burkina Faso after a Nigerian plane reportedly entered Burkinabé airspace without authorisation on Monday, the latest twist in a region enmeshed in multiple political and security crises.
In a statement on Monday evening, the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States (AES), of which Burkina Faso is a member alongside Mali and Niger, said the C-130 transport aircraft had made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso.
In the statement, Assimi Goita, the Malian junta president and leader of the AES, called the landing an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law”. He directed the authorities in the member countries to act “to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the confederal space” in future.
On Monday, Nigerian authorities said the aircraft had been en route to Portugal for a ferry mission before “a technical concern which necessitated a precautionary landing”.
“[The] crew is safe and have received cordial treatment from the host authorities,” said Ehimen Ejodame, the Nigerian air force spokesperson who signed the statement. “Plans are ongoing to resume the mission as scheduled.”
The incident unfolded less than 24 hours after Nigeria took part in an intervention in Benin, Burkina Faso’s south-eastern neighbour, after a group of soldiers seized control of the national television station in Cotonou and announced the ousting of the president, Patrice Talon.
Authorities in Benin later said they had foiled the coup attempt and restored order, preventing what would have been the eighth successful coup in west Africa in five years.
A statement from the Nigerian government said its airstrikes –targeting a military base in Cotonou where some of the coup planners were reportedly holed up – happened at the behest of Talon and were in compliance with the protocols of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). Ivorian aircraft were also seen hovering over Beninese airspace during the crisis, pointing to a coordinated response by countries aligned with the regional bloc.
The states that make up the AES broke away from Ecowas, headquartered in Nigeria, after Ecowas threatened military intervention in Niger in 2023 to reinstate the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, after he was ousted in a coup. The AES states accuse Ecowas of breaching territorial integrity and being a puppet of the west and have also drawn closer to Russia.
By Eromo Egbejule, The Guardian
In a statement on Monday evening, the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States (AES), of which Burkina Faso is a member alongside Mali and Niger, said the C-130 transport aircraft had made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso.
In the statement, Assimi Goita, the Malian junta president and leader of the AES, called the landing an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law”. He directed the authorities in the member countries to act “to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the confederal space” in future.
On Monday, Nigerian authorities said the aircraft had been en route to Portugal for a ferry mission before “a technical concern which necessitated a precautionary landing”.
“[The] crew is safe and have received cordial treatment from the host authorities,” said Ehimen Ejodame, the Nigerian air force spokesperson who signed the statement. “Plans are ongoing to resume the mission as scheduled.”
The incident unfolded less than 24 hours after Nigeria took part in an intervention in Benin, Burkina Faso’s south-eastern neighbour, after a group of soldiers seized control of the national television station in Cotonou and announced the ousting of the president, Patrice Talon.
Authorities in Benin later said they had foiled the coup attempt and restored order, preventing what would have been the eighth successful coup in west Africa in five years.
A statement from the Nigerian government said its airstrikes –targeting a military base in Cotonou where some of the coup planners were reportedly holed up – happened at the behest of Talon and were in compliance with the protocols of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). Ivorian aircraft were also seen hovering over Beninese airspace during the crisis, pointing to a coordinated response by countries aligned with the regional bloc.
The states that make up the AES broke away from Ecowas, headquartered in Nigeria, after Ecowas threatened military intervention in Niger in 2023 to reinstate the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, after he was ousted in a coup. The AES states accuse Ecowas of breaching territorial integrity and being a puppet of the west and have also drawn closer to Russia.
Monday, December 8, 2025
Video - Nigeria's first airshow aims for regional aviation leadership
Nigeria’s inaugural international airshow showcased the country’s ambitions to lead in regional aviation. Organizers aim to establish Lagos and Abuja as major aviation hubs for West and Central Africa.
Video - Nigeria rescues 100 abducted schoolchildren in Niger state
Nigerian authorities freed 100 schoolchildren kidnapped last month in Niger state. The release was confirmed by the Christian Association of Nigeria.
Nigeria says it deployed jets, troops to Benin to ‘dislodge coup plotters’
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has confirmed deploying fighter jets and ground troops to neighbouring Benin to help foil a coup attempt by a group of Beninese soldiers.
In a statement on Sunday, Tinubu’s office said Nigeria’s military intervened in Benin after President Patrice Talon’s government issued two requests for help, including for “immediate Nigerian air support”.
Tinubu first ordered Nigerian fighter jets to enter Benin and “take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped”, the statement said.
Nigeria’s military sent in ground troops later, after Benin’s government asked for their support in “the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups”, it said.
Tinubu praised his troops and said they had helped “stabilise a neighbouring country”.
The Nigerian statement came shortly after Talon, the president of Benin, appeared on national television and said his security forces had successfully blocked the attempt to overthrow his government.
By David D. Lee, Al Jazeera
In a statement on Sunday, Tinubu’s office said Nigeria’s military intervened in Benin after President Patrice Talon’s government issued two requests for help, including for “immediate Nigerian air support”.
Tinubu first ordered Nigerian fighter jets to enter Benin and “take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped”, the statement said.
Nigeria’s military sent in ground troops later, after Benin’s government asked for their support in “the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups”, it said.
Tinubu praised his troops and said they had helped “stabilise a neighbouring country”.
The Nigerian statement came shortly after Talon, the president of Benin, appeared on national television and said his security forces had successfully blocked the attempt to overthrow his government.
Talon promises punishment
Talon said forces loyal to him “stood firm, recaptured our positions, and cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers”.
“This commitment and mobilisation enabled us to defeat these adventurers and to prevent the worst for our country,” he said. “This treachery will not go unpunished.”
The Benin president added that his thoughts were with the victims of the coup attempt as well as with a number of people who have been held by the fleeing mutineers.
He did not give details.
The unrest was the latest threat to democratic governance in the region, where militaries have in recent years seized power in Benin’s neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as in Mali, Guinea and, only last month, Guinea-Bissau. But it was an unexpected development in Benin, where the last successful coup took place in 1972.
A government spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, said that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt as of Sunday afternoon, without providing details.
One security source told the AFP news agency that all the detainees were soldiers in active service, except one who was ex-military. It was not clear if Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, the coup leader, had been apprehended.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Olushegun Adjadi Bakari told the Reuters news agency that the soldiers had only managed to briefly take control of the state TV network.
While gunfire had been heard in some locations of the country’s commercial hub, Cotonou, during the coup attempt, the city has been relatively calm since early afternoon, according to residents.
Talon said forces loyal to him “stood firm, recaptured our positions, and cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers”.
“This commitment and mobilisation enabled us to defeat these adventurers and to prevent the worst for our country,” he said. “This treachery will not go unpunished.”
The Benin president added that his thoughts were with the victims of the coup attempt as well as with a number of people who have been held by the fleeing mutineers.
He did not give details.
The unrest was the latest threat to democratic governance in the region, where militaries have in recent years seized power in Benin’s neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as in Mali, Guinea and, only last month, Guinea-Bissau. But it was an unexpected development in Benin, where the last successful coup took place in 1972.
A government spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, said that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt as of Sunday afternoon, without providing details.
One security source told the AFP news agency that all the detainees were soldiers in active service, except one who was ex-military. It was not clear if Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, the coup leader, had been apprehended.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Olushegun Adjadi Bakari told the Reuters news agency that the soldiers had only managed to briefly take control of the state TV network.
While gunfire had been heard in some locations of the country’s commercial hub, Cotonou, during the coup attempt, the city has been relatively calm since early afternoon, according to residents.
ECOWAS to send troops
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc and the African Union also condemned the coup attempt.
In a statement later on Sunday, ECOWAS said it had ordered the immediate deployment of elements of its standby force to Benin, including troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast and Ghana.
It said the troops would help the Beninese government and army “preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin”.
The coup attempt came as Benin prepares for a presidential election in April, which is expected to mark the end of Talon’s tenure.
Last month, Benin adopted a new constitution, creating a Senate and extending the presidential mandate from five to seven years. Critics have described the reforms as a power grab by the governing coalition, which has chosen Minister of Economy and Finance Romuald Wadagni as its candidate.
The opposition Democrats party, founded by Talon’s predecessor, Thomas Boni Yayi, has meanwhile seen its proposed candidate rejected because of what a court ruled was insufficient backing from lawmakers.
Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim, deputy director of the Sahel Project at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that the coup bids in Benin and other African countries have been partly driven by governments rejecting their democratic responsibilities.
“In recent days and recent months, we have all been holding our breath about what could happen in many countries that are either facing security situations that are bad, or are coming to an election, where there is no clarity on whether the rulers will be respecting the rules of the democratic game,” Yahaya said.
“That is a good part of the story [in Benin]. President Talon has accepted to step down in a context where many other leaders are trying to add new terms. We saw it in Cote d’Ivoire, we saw it in Cameroon recently, and many other cases. But the less positive part of the story is that the leader of the opposition’s candidacy has been invalidated in Benin,” he added.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc and the African Union also condemned the coup attempt.
In a statement later on Sunday, ECOWAS said it had ordered the immediate deployment of elements of its standby force to Benin, including troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast and Ghana.
It said the troops would help the Beninese government and army “preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin”.
The coup attempt came as Benin prepares for a presidential election in April, which is expected to mark the end of Talon’s tenure.
Last month, Benin adopted a new constitution, creating a Senate and extending the presidential mandate from five to seven years. Critics have described the reforms as a power grab by the governing coalition, which has chosen Minister of Economy and Finance Romuald Wadagni as its candidate.
The opposition Democrats party, founded by Talon’s predecessor, Thomas Boni Yayi, has meanwhile seen its proposed candidate rejected because of what a court ruled was insufficient backing from lawmakers.
Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim, deputy director of the Sahel Project at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that the coup bids in Benin and other African countries have been partly driven by governments rejecting their democratic responsibilities.
“In recent days and recent months, we have all been holding our breath about what could happen in many countries that are either facing security situations that are bad, or are coming to an election, where there is no clarity on whether the rulers will be respecting the rules of the democratic game,” Yahaya said.
“That is a good part of the story [in Benin]. President Talon has accepted to step down in a context where many other leaders are trying to add new terms. We saw it in Cote d’Ivoire, we saw it in Cameroon recently, and many other cases. But the less positive part of the story is that the leader of the opposition’s candidacy has been invalidated in Benin,” he added.
One hundred abducted schoolchildren released in Nigeria
About 100 children who were abducted from a Catholic school in central Nigeria last month have been freed, authorities say.
Niger state's police chief, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, and Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is in charge of the school as the local leader of the Catholic community, both told the BBC that they had received confirmation of the students' release.
They said the news had been confirmed by the president's national security advisor, but Bishop Yohanna said it was not clear when the children would be reunited with their parents.
More than 250 students and 12 staff were kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic school in Papiri, the latest in a wave of mass abductions.
Bishop Yohanna said he presumed the authorities may need time to process the pupils and provide necessary support before announcing a formal handover. He added that he did not know the students' current whereabouts.
Details about their release remain unclear, including whether it was secured through negotiation or by force, and whether any ransoms were paid.
The governor of neighbouring Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule, told local media that the federal government had played a key role in securing their release, adding that the behind-the-scenes efforts could not be disclosed for security reasons.
Last week, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited Papiri and met a delegation led by Bishop Yohanna, assuring them the children would soon be rescued and reunited with their families.
Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in the latest wave of attacks in north and central Nigeria.
The attack on St Mary's, on 21 November, was preceded by mass kidnappings just days earlier: on 18 November, two people were killed and 38 abducted in an attack on the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara state, and a day before that, two were killed and 25 Muslim students abducted from Government Girls' Secondary School in Kebbi state.
All those taken in the Kwara and Kebbi attacks have since been freed.
Last week gunmen abducted at least 20 people in two separate attacks - at a newly established church in central Kogi state, where a pastor, his wife and some worshipers were taken, and in the mostly Muslim northern Sokoto state, where a bride and her bridesmaids were among those kidnapped.
It is not clear who is behind these kidnappings - most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments. However, a presidential spokesman earlier told the BBC that the government believes they are the work of jihadist groups.
The paying of ransoms has been made illegal in Nigeria in an attempt to cut the supply of funds to the kidnap gangs but it is widely believed that in many cases money is still handed over.
Nigeria's security crisis attracted the international spotlight last month after US President Donald Trump threatened to send over troops if the government "continues to allow the killing of Christians".
Nigerian officials and analysts say that members of all faiths are victims of the violence and kidnappings and say it is not true that Christians are being targeted.
By Madina Maishanu and Basillioh Rukanga, BBC
Niger state's police chief, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, and Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is in charge of the school as the local leader of the Catholic community, both told the BBC that they had received confirmation of the students' release.
They said the news had been confirmed by the president's national security advisor, but Bishop Yohanna said it was not clear when the children would be reunited with their parents.
More than 250 students and 12 staff were kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic school in Papiri, the latest in a wave of mass abductions.
Bishop Yohanna said he presumed the authorities may need time to process the pupils and provide necessary support before announcing a formal handover. He added that he did not know the students' current whereabouts.
Details about their release remain unclear, including whether it was secured through negotiation or by force, and whether any ransoms were paid.
The governor of neighbouring Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule, told local media that the federal government had played a key role in securing their release, adding that the behind-the-scenes efforts could not be disclosed for security reasons.
Last week, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited Papiri and met a delegation led by Bishop Yohanna, assuring them the children would soon be rescued and reunited with their families.
Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in the latest wave of attacks in north and central Nigeria.
The attack on St Mary's, on 21 November, was preceded by mass kidnappings just days earlier: on 18 November, two people were killed and 38 abducted in an attack on the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara state, and a day before that, two were killed and 25 Muslim students abducted from Government Girls' Secondary School in Kebbi state.
All those taken in the Kwara and Kebbi attacks have since been freed.
Last week gunmen abducted at least 20 people in two separate attacks - at a newly established church in central Kogi state, where a pastor, his wife and some worshipers were taken, and in the mostly Muslim northern Sokoto state, where a bride and her bridesmaids were among those kidnapped.
It is not clear who is behind these kidnappings - most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments. However, a presidential spokesman earlier told the BBC that the government believes they are the work of jihadist groups.
The paying of ransoms has been made illegal in Nigeria in an attempt to cut the supply of funds to the kidnap gangs but it is widely believed that in many cases money is still handed over.
Nigeria's security crisis attracted the international spotlight last month after US President Donald Trump threatened to send over troops if the government "continues to allow the killing of Christians".
Nigerian officials and analysts say that members of all faiths are victims of the violence and kidnappings and say it is not true that Christians are being targeted.
Friday, December 5, 2025
Video - Nigeria school closures leave families in uncertainty
Following the mass abduction at St Mary’s school in Niger State, thousands of schools across northern Nigeria remain shut. Parents fear for their children’s safety and academic future as closures persist and concerns grow about students being drawn into online crime. With no clear reopening date, families are struggling to keep learning on track at home.
Video - President Tinubu approves delegation for US security talks
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu approved a delegation in late November to meet with the United States on security cooperation and intelligence sharing. The talks follow US criticisms over alleged attacks on Christians in Nigeria, which the government has denied.
William Troost-Ekong: Nigeria captain explains international retirement ahead of AFCON
The weight of expectation and subsequent pressure to deliver is one that's now synonymous with international football.
Fans of all countries rest their dreams on a team of 11, a squad of 23 in total, and a manager tying it all together to achieve national pride.
When that doesn't happen, chaos ensues. Superstars who were once national heroes for their successes across the globe are quickly labelled villains and become the focal point of what can be an inescapable abuse.
Sometimes, the scriptwriters leave the fate of a nation to the finest of margins. A penalty shoot-out, a late goal, a refereeing decision. Or sometimes the issues tell a tale of wider infrastructural oversights.
For William Troost-Ekong, the now former captain of Nigeria after he decided to call time on a decade-long career as a Super Eagle, that "pressure was a privilege."
The centre-back will not be at the Africa Cup of Nations. His international retirement will come as a shock to many Nigerians.
Most, who looked forward to righting the wrongs of the 2023 final defeat against Ivory Coast and their most recent failure to reach the World Cup for the second consecutive time, have been left bewildered by the timing. However, it's a decision that Troost-Ekong has battled with for some time.
"I just felt like the right time for me," Troost-Ekong told Sky Sports.
"It feels like a chapter is closing. But I also feel happy, I feel proud. I've had such a great run with the Super Eagles to be part of the team for over 10 years.
"It's been such a big part of my identity, something I've been so proud of. Just to be part of the team is one of the biggest honours that I've had in my life so far.
"For me to grow into becoming a captain of the team is something that I couldn't have even imagined at the start of it.
"It's bittersweet, but it just felt like the right time for me."
Troost-Ekong retires as Nigeria's ninth-most capped player, with 83 appearances to his name.
His time with the national team was a rollercoaster. There were highs interlinked with the lows, along with doubts and disagreements. Troost-Ekong was part of a Nigeria team that earned a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics before achieving third place at the 2021 AFCON.
In 2023, he led Nigeria to the AFCON final as captain, becoming the competition's highest-scoring defender ever while also being named Player of the Tournament. A career highlight, scoring in the final to open the scoring, became a low, shipping two goals to hosts Ivory Coast, and losing as favourites for the competition.
"It feels surreal," Troost-Ekong says as he describes the feeling of dragging his nation to an AFCON final.
"I think maybe because I already had the first thoughts about stopping at that time. I was probably more emotional.
"I wasn't in the best relationship with the coach that we had at the time, even though we made up afterwards and I went to the tournament.
"So to be there, I was just trying to enjoy it as much as I could because I kind of said to myself, 'this would be my last tournament'.
"It wasn't until we finished the tournament, and I thought, wow, that was something really special to be a part of. And I think I managed to show my best version and lead the team as well as I could."
Troost-Ekong was in tears after the final whistle blew in Abidjan. But as his sorrow turned to pride, anger from fans who felt their team should have won turned to abuse, platformed by a harsh Nigerian media.
Fulham duo Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi felt the full brunt of the abuse as their Premier League status came with expectation that they failed to deliver upon.
An unforgiving media alongside a passionate fanbase is a recipe for disaster when things don't go your way.
"Was the media scrutiny too much? Maybe at times. When I got older, I kind of had to learn how to deal with that.
"And I think the best way is through experiencing it. I think you have to share that. I don't think you've got to take that upon yourself because it's not just me playing in the team.
"But as a team, my role was definitely growing in that and change because you have to try and absorb that and try to keep everyone level-headed.
"It's difficult to do because there are so many moving parts, whether it's the manager, whether it's within the federation, or of course, the fans who want the best for the team and are so passionate, which is also the beauty of Nigerian football.
"It can be a lot sometimes. So, I think you just try to create a circle around the team and you treat that as a family."
Troost-Ekong has stepped away from the "family" in a playing capacity but believes the foundations have been laid to achieve success. However, Nigeria haven't won the tournament since 2013. Every year spent without the trophy since has spelt failure for a nation consistently among the favourites and among the competition's most valuable squads.
Having said that, players such as Iwobi and Bassey have grown more mature.
Victor Osimhen's performances at the height of the European game have sustained, while the likes of Ademola Lookman and Wilfried Ndidi will hope to play a key role this AFCON.
"I feel like there's been a gradual passing of the baton from where I am as one of the leaders and captain of the team," Troost-Ekong said.
"It's time to step away and let the next generation and the boys I've been playing with for the last years give them a chance to write their own story.
"The team are very well placed to achieve something at this AFCON.
"The last AFCON taught us so much. Of course, losing that, you learn a lot. You understand how to play that occasion better when it comes.
"I think the team will be unfazed now until that moment and they'll definitely want to put those wrongs right.
"I'll be there to support them as much as I can because I think if we have a chance to win the AFCON now in Morocco, I would still feel like I've been a part of that generation, the set of players, even though I wouldn't be there at that moment.
"It would be a beautiful way to kind of crown the generation of players that we've had now and also give them the respect that they, over the years, probably deserved. But you need to earn it. There's been a golden set before 2013 that won it."
Morocco awaits Nigeria. But within all that, the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of Nigerian giants. Their problem? Whether the steps needed to climb the distance are achievable amid the dense pressure.
Fans of all countries rest their dreams on a team of 11, a squad of 23 in total, and a manager tying it all together to achieve national pride.
When that doesn't happen, chaos ensues. Superstars who were once national heroes for their successes across the globe are quickly labelled villains and become the focal point of what can be an inescapable abuse.
Sometimes, the scriptwriters leave the fate of a nation to the finest of margins. A penalty shoot-out, a late goal, a refereeing decision. Or sometimes the issues tell a tale of wider infrastructural oversights.
For William Troost-Ekong, the now former captain of Nigeria after he decided to call time on a decade-long career as a Super Eagle, that "pressure was a privilege."
The centre-back will not be at the Africa Cup of Nations. His international retirement will come as a shock to many Nigerians.
Most, who looked forward to righting the wrongs of the 2023 final defeat against Ivory Coast and their most recent failure to reach the World Cup for the second consecutive time, have been left bewildered by the timing. However, it's a decision that Troost-Ekong has battled with for some time.
"I just felt like the right time for me," Troost-Ekong told Sky Sports.
"It feels like a chapter is closing. But I also feel happy, I feel proud. I've had such a great run with the Super Eagles to be part of the team for over 10 years.
"It's been such a big part of my identity, something I've been so proud of. Just to be part of the team is one of the biggest honours that I've had in my life so far.
"For me to grow into becoming a captain of the team is something that I couldn't have even imagined at the start of it.
"It's bittersweet, but it just felt like the right time for me."
Troost-Ekong retires as Nigeria's ninth-most capped player, with 83 appearances to his name.
His time with the national team was a rollercoaster. There were highs interlinked with the lows, along with doubts and disagreements. Troost-Ekong was part of a Nigeria team that earned a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics before achieving third place at the 2021 AFCON.
In 2023, he led Nigeria to the AFCON final as captain, becoming the competition's highest-scoring defender ever while also being named Player of the Tournament. A career highlight, scoring in the final to open the scoring, became a low, shipping two goals to hosts Ivory Coast, and losing as favourites for the competition.
"It feels surreal," Troost-Ekong says as he describes the feeling of dragging his nation to an AFCON final.
"I think maybe because I already had the first thoughts about stopping at that time. I was probably more emotional.
"I wasn't in the best relationship with the coach that we had at the time, even though we made up afterwards and I went to the tournament.
"So to be there, I was just trying to enjoy it as much as I could because I kind of said to myself, 'this would be my last tournament'.
"It wasn't until we finished the tournament, and I thought, wow, that was something really special to be a part of. And I think I managed to show my best version and lead the team as well as I could."
Troost-Ekong was in tears after the final whistle blew in Abidjan. But as his sorrow turned to pride, anger from fans who felt their team should have won turned to abuse, platformed by a harsh Nigerian media.
Fulham duo Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi felt the full brunt of the abuse as their Premier League status came with expectation that they failed to deliver upon.
An unforgiving media alongside a passionate fanbase is a recipe for disaster when things don't go your way.
"Was the media scrutiny too much? Maybe at times. When I got older, I kind of had to learn how to deal with that.
"And I think the best way is through experiencing it. I think you have to share that. I don't think you've got to take that upon yourself because it's not just me playing in the team.
"But as a team, my role was definitely growing in that and change because you have to try and absorb that and try to keep everyone level-headed.
"It's difficult to do because there are so many moving parts, whether it's the manager, whether it's within the federation, or of course, the fans who want the best for the team and are so passionate, which is also the beauty of Nigerian football.
"It can be a lot sometimes. So, I think you just try to create a circle around the team and you treat that as a family."
Troost-Ekong has stepped away from the "family" in a playing capacity but believes the foundations have been laid to achieve success. However, Nigeria haven't won the tournament since 2013. Every year spent without the trophy since has spelt failure for a nation consistently among the favourites and among the competition's most valuable squads.
Having said that, players such as Iwobi and Bassey have grown more mature.
Victor Osimhen's performances at the height of the European game have sustained, while the likes of Ademola Lookman and Wilfried Ndidi will hope to play a key role this AFCON.
"I feel like there's been a gradual passing of the baton from where I am as one of the leaders and captain of the team," Troost-Ekong said.
"It's time to step away and let the next generation and the boys I've been playing with for the last years give them a chance to write their own story.
"The team are very well placed to achieve something at this AFCON.
"The last AFCON taught us so much. Of course, losing that, you learn a lot. You understand how to play that occasion better when it comes.
"I think the team will be unfazed now until that moment and they'll definitely want to put those wrongs right.
"I'll be there to support them as much as I can because I think if we have a chance to win the AFCON now in Morocco, I would still feel like I've been a part of that generation, the set of players, even though I wouldn't be there at that moment.
"It would be a beautiful way to kind of crown the generation of players that we've had now and also give them the respect that they, over the years, probably deserved. But you need to earn it. There's been a golden set before 2013 that won it."
Morocco awaits Nigeria. But within all that, the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of Nigerian giants. Their problem? Whether the steps needed to climb the distance are achievable amid the dense pressure.
By William Bitibiri, Sky Sports
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Video - Nigeria’s northern governors and leaders discuss worsening insecurity
US to restrict visas of Nigerians responsible for violence against Christians
The United States will restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members responsible for mass killings and violence against Christians, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday.
“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement posted on social platform X.
The secretary added that the policy would apply to other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom.
The restrictions are in line with a new policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, he said.
Attacks in Nigeria have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups, and ethnic clashes.
Nigeria’s population of about 220 million people is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims.
The West African country has long faced insecurity from various fronts including the Boko Haram extremist group, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough.
Also, there has been an uptick in the activities of armed gangs in the central part of the country who kidnap locals for ransom.
Last month, President Donald Trump said he has ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement posted on social platform X.
The secretary added that the policy would apply to other governments or individuals engaged in violations of religious freedom.
The restrictions are in line with a new policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, he said.
Attacks in Nigeria have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims, clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources, communal rivalries, secessionist groups, and ethnic clashes.
Nigeria’s population of about 220 million people is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims.
The West African country has long faced insecurity from various fronts including the Boko Haram extremist group, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough.
Also, there has been an uptick in the activities of armed gangs in the central part of the country who kidnap locals for ransom.
Last month, President Donald Trump said he has ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP
Nigeria to expand digital reach with 4,000 telecom towers
The Nigerian government has approved the construction of around 4,000 telecom towers nationwide to improve digital access in underserved communities across Africa's most populous country, News.Az reports, citing Xinhua.
The Federal Executive Council, led by President Bola Tinubu, gave the green light as part of efforts to enhance basic digital connectivity and promote economic inclusion, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said on Wednesday.
“About 23 million Nigerians are currently underserved,” Idris noted, referencing a presentation by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy during the cabinet meeting.
Limited digital access has hindered economic participation and basic communication in remote areas, Idris added.
The new initiative is also expected to boost national security and stimulate commercial activity in rural communities.
The Federal Executive Council, led by President Bola Tinubu, gave the green light as part of efforts to enhance basic digital connectivity and promote economic inclusion, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris said on Wednesday.
“About 23 million Nigerians are currently underserved,” Idris noted, referencing a presentation by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy during the cabinet meeting.
Limited digital access has hindered economic participation and basic communication in remote areas, Idris added.
The new initiative is also expected to boost national security and stimulate commercial activity in rural communities.
Monday, December 1, 2025
Video - Nigerian parents register missing children after mass school abduction
Following the mass abduction of students in Nigeria’s Niger State, parents have gathered to register their missing children with local authorities. The attack, which occurred a week ago, is part of a broader surge in abductions by armed groups, prompting widespread school closures across northern Nigeria.
Video - Nigeria ramps up security recruitment as attacks surge
President Bola Tinubu ordered major recruitment across the military, police and intelligence services, including 20,000 new police officers. The move comes as Nigeria faces a spike in deadly attacks in the north. Some residents welcome the boost to security and jobs, while others fear outdated equipment and possible infiltration by armed groups.
Pastor and new bride abducted in latest Nigeria attacks
Gunmen have abducted at least 20 people, including a pastor and a new bride, in two separate attacks in the latest Nigerian kidnappings.
Attackers stormed the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church on Sunday in the central Kogi state, firing shots and forcing congregants to flee in panic. They seized the pastor, his wife and several worshippers.
In another raid the night before in the northern Sokoto state, a bride and her bridesmaids were among those kidnapped. A baby, the baby's mother and another woman were also taken, the AFP news agency reports.
Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in the latest wave of attacks in north and central Nigeria.
It is not clear who is behind the kidnappings - most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments, however a presidential spokesman has told the BBC they believe they are the work of jihadist groups.
Kogi state government spokesman Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the attack in Ejiba to the BBC but was unable to confirm the numbers.
He said authorities were working to track down the attackers.
"The security network, comprising the conventional security agencies and the local security architecture are currently doing what they should do," he told the BBC.
In the attack in the mostly Muslim Sokoto state, local media reported that the bride had been preparing for a wedding ceremony the following morning and she was seized alongside her friends and other guests who had gone to support her.
Some 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still believed to be missing following the biggest such attack in recent weeks, while those seized in other raids have reportedly been released.
The spate of abductions has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of rural communities. It adds to pressure on the authorities to bolster protection for those at risk - schools, churches and isolated communities.
Paying ransoms has been outlawed in a bid to stop the lucrative kidnapping industry, however it is widely believed that such payments are still being made.
Nigeria's security crisis attracted the international spotlight last month after US President Donald Trump threatened to send over troops if the government "continues to allow the killing of Christians".
Nigerian officials and analysts say that members of all faiths are victims of the violence and kidnappings and say it is not true that Christians are being targeted.
By Chris Ewokor and Basillioh Rukanga, BBC
Attackers stormed the newly established Cherubim and Seraphim Church on Sunday in the central Kogi state, firing shots and forcing congregants to flee in panic. They seized the pastor, his wife and several worshippers.
In another raid the night before in the northern Sokoto state, a bride and her bridesmaids were among those kidnapped. A baby, the baby's mother and another woman were also taken, the AFP news agency reports.
Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in the latest wave of attacks in north and central Nigeria.
It is not clear who is behind the kidnappings - most analysts believe they are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments, however a presidential spokesman has told the BBC they believe they are the work of jihadist groups.
Kogi state government spokesman Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the attack in Ejiba to the BBC but was unable to confirm the numbers.
He said authorities were working to track down the attackers.
"The security network, comprising the conventional security agencies and the local security architecture are currently doing what they should do," he told the BBC.
In the attack in the mostly Muslim Sokoto state, local media reported that the bride had been preparing for a wedding ceremony the following morning and she was seized alongside her friends and other guests who had gone to support her.
Some 250 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still believed to be missing following the biggest such attack in recent weeks, while those seized in other raids have reportedly been released.
The spate of abductions has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of rural communities. It adds to pressure on the authorities to bolster protection for those at risk - schools, churches and isolated communities.
Paying ransoms has been outlawed in a bid to stop the lucrative kidnapping industry, however it is widely believed that such payments are still being made.
Nigeria's security crisis attracted the international spotlight last month after US President Donald Trump threatened to send over troops if the government "continues to allow the killing of Christians".
Nigerian officials and analysts say that members of all faiths are victims of the violence and kidnappings and say it is not true that Christians are being targeted.
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