Nigeria’s government is working to calm fears that the country’s current security challenges are religiously motivated. This follows the abduction of 163 Christians during coordinated attacks on two churches in the northwest earlier this month. The assaults drew global attention and reignited concerns about the safety of religious groups across the country.
Friday, January 30, 2026
Nigerian government acts to dispel religious targeting concerns
Nigeria’s government is working to calm fears that the country’s current security challenges are religiously motivated. This follows the abduction of 163 Christians during coordinated attacks on two churches in the northwest earlier this month. The assaults drew global attention and reignited concerns about the safety of religious groups across the country.
Music legend Fela Kuti becomes first African to get Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award
The Nigerian star will posthumously receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys - almost three decades after his death at the age of 58.
"Fela has been in the hearts of the people for such a long time. Now the Grammys have acknowledged it, and it's a double victory," his musician son Seun Kuti tells the BBC.
"It's bringing balance to a Fela story," he adds.
Rikki Stein, a long-time friend and manager of the late musician, says the recognition by the Grammys is "better late than never".
"Africa hasn't in the past rated very highly in their interests. I think that's changing quite a bit of late," Stein tells the BBC.
Following the global success of Afrobeats, a genre inspired by Fela's sound, the Grammys introduced the category of Best African Performance in 2024.
This year, Nigerian superstar Burna Boy also has a nomination in the Best Global Music Album category.
But Fela Kuti will be the first African to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, albeit posthumously. The award was first presented in 1963 to American singer and actor Bing Crosby.
Other musicians who will receive the award this year include Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, the American singer known as the Queen of Funk, and Paul Simon.
Fela Kuti's family, as well friends and colleagues, will be attending the Grammys to receive his award.
"The global human tapestry needs this, not just because it's my father," Seun Kuti tells the BBC.
"So it would be impossible to ignore that aspect of Fela's legacy," he tells the BBC.
For Fela Anikulapo Kuti was not simply a musician, but also a cultural theorist, political agitator and the undisputed architect of Afrobeat - which is distinct from, but ultimately led to, the modern sound of Afrobeats.
He pioneered the Afrobeat genre alongside drummer Tony Allen, blending West African rhythms, jazz, funk, highlife, extended improvisation, call-and-response vocals and politically charged lyricism.
Across a career spanning roughly three decades until his death in 1997, Fela Kuti released more than 50 albums and built a body of work that fused music with ideology, rhythm with resistance, and performance with protest.
His music incurred the wrath of Nigeria's then-military regimes.
In 1977, after the release of the album Zombie, which satirised government soldiers as obedient, brainless enforcers, his compound in the main city, Lagos, was raided.
Rather than retreat, Fela Kuti responded through music and defiance. He took his mother's coffin to government offices and released the song Coffin for Head of State, turning grief into protest.
The musician's ideology was a blend of pan-Africanism, anti-imperialism, and African-rooted socialism.
Fela Kuti's mother was hugely influential in his life, helping shape his political consciousness, while the US-born singer and activist Sandra Izsadore helped sharpen his revolutionary outlook
He was born Olufela Olusegun Oludoton Ransome-Kuti, but dropped Ransome because of its Western roots.
In 1978, he married 27 women in a highly publicised ceremony, bringing together partners, performers, organisers and co-architects of the cultural and communal vision of Kalakuta Republic.
Fela Kuti endured repeated arrests, beatings, censorship and surveillance by the security forces. Yet repression only amplified his influence.
"He wasn't doing what he was doing to win awards. He was interested in liberation. Freeing the mind," Stein tells the BBC.
"He was fearless. He was determined."
Its melodic guitar lines, horn sections, dance rhythms, and cosmopolitan identity deeply influenced Fela Kuti's early musical direction.
He spent time in Ghana absorbing highlife's structure, horn phrasing, and dance-oriented arrangements before fusing it with jazz, funk, the rhythms of his own Yoruba people, and political storytelling.
The DNA of highlife can be heard in Afrobeat's melodic sensibility and its balance between groove and sophistication.
In this sense, Afrobeat is not only Nigerian. It is West African, pan-African, and diasporic in origin, carrying Ghana's musical imprint at its foundation.
On stage, Fela Kuti cut an unmistakable figure. Often bare-chested or draped in the wax-printed fabric popular across West Africa, hair shaped into a crisp Afro, saxophone in hand, eyes alert with intensity, he commanded a large band of more than 20 musicians.
His performances at the Afrika Shrine in Lagos were legendary, part concert, part political rally, part spiritual ceremony.
Stein recalls that performances at the Shrine were immersive rather than conventional.
"When Fela played, nobody applauded," he tells the BBC. "The audience wasn't separate. They were part of it."
Music was not spectacle. It was communion.
"Fela has been an ancestor for 28 years. His legacy is growing by the day. This is immortality," Ghariokwu tells the BBC, welcoming the posthumous award.
Today, Fela Kuti's music is still popular with millions around the world, and his influence is audible in modern artists such as Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar and Sir Idris Elba.
Elba is a huge fan - the award-winning actor and DJ has curated an official vinyl box set, Fela Kuti Box Set 6, and has publicly compared him to icons such as Sade and Frank Sinatra to illustrate the point that Fela Kuti has his own unique sound.
Fela Kuti performed at major international festivals in Europe and North America, introducing global audiences to a bold and politically charged version of modern Africa.
"Fela never made me feel like I was a child," he recalls. "He didn't hide anything from me. He talked about everything openly."
There was no myth-building.
"I didn't even realise my dad was famous," he says. "That's credit to him. He kept me grounded."
What stayed with him most was not spectacle, but discipline, clarity and humanity.
"The human part of him, leadership, musicianship, fatherhood, that was the epitome of who he was."
One of Seun Kuti's most revealing reflections speaks to independence and identity.
"Fela was our dad, but you didn't own him. Fela belonged to himself. But we all belonged to him."
Fela Kuti insisted on being addressed by name, not by title, even by his children. Seun recalls having his pocket money docked after calling him "Pops", a moment that carried a lesson in respect.
"He always reminded us that he was in service to others more than himself."
That ethic shaped Seun's evolution from youthful ambition toward cultural responsibility.
"I used to make music to make money. But as I've grown, I lean more toward working for my people as well as my art."
Fela Kuti led multiple ensembles, most famously Africa 70 and later Egypt 80, the latter now carried forward by his son.
These were not conventional backing bands. They were musical militias, trained in discipline, endurance, and ideological purpose.
Stein recalls Fela Kuti's obsessive attention to detail.
"He tuned every instrument personally. Music wasn't entertainment to him. It was his mission."
Emotional Anthony Joshua speaks for the first time since Nigeria crash
British heavyweight and two-time champion of the world Anthony Joshua speaks for the first time since the car crash that killed two of his close friends in Nigeria.
Related story: Police arrest Joshua’s driver after boxer discharged
Deadly jihadist attack kills dozens in northeast Nigeria, including soldiers
A jihadist attack blamed on Islamic State-aligned militants killed dozens of people in northeast Nigeria on Thursday, including soldiers, local sources told AFP, in the latest violence in the region.
The attack happened overnight in Sabon Gari in remote Borno state, which has been the epicentre of an Islamist insurgency by Boko Haram and its Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) offshoot rival since 2009.
More than 40,000 people have been killed and nearly two million others forced to flee their homes.
"The death toll runs into dozens," said Ibrahim Liman, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force militia that helps the Nigerian military against the militants.
"More bodies are still at the base while many soldiers are missing," he added.
Liman said 20 bodies, including those of five soldiers and 15 construction workers, and local hunters were taken to the general hospital in the nearby town of Biu.
Bukar Yamta Ali, secretary of a local hunters' group in Yamarkumi, near Biu, and two nurses at Biu hospital confirmed they had recovered bodies and wounded from Sabon Gari.
The victims were working on a road bridge that was destroyed last year in another jihadist attack, and were returning to their base when they were attacked.
Military and militia sources said on Tuesday that at least nine Nigerian soldiers were killed in an ISWAP ambush near Damasak near the border with Niger last week.
ISWAP emerged from a split with Boko Haram in 2016 and primarily targets Nigerian security forces, although civilians in the region have been caught up in the violence.
The attack happened overnight in Sabon Gari in remote Borno state, which has been the epicentre of an Islamist insurgency by Boko Haram and its Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) offshoot rival since 2009.
More than 40,000 people have been killed and nearly two million others forced to flee their homes.
"The death toll runs into dozens," said Ibrahim Liman, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force militia that helps the Nigerian military against the militants.
"More bodies are still at the base while many soldiers are missing," he added.
Liman said 20 bodies, including those of five soldiers and 15 construction workers, and local hunters were taken to the general hospital in the nearby town of Biu.
Bukar Yamta Ali, secretary of a local hunters' group in Yamarkumi, near Biu, and two nurses at Biu hospital confirmed they had recovered bodies and wounded from Sabon Gari.
The victims were working on a road bridge that was destroyed last year in another jihadist attack, and were returning to their base when they were attacked.
Military and militia sources said on Tuesday that at least nine Nigerian soldiers were killed in an ISWAP ambush near Damasak near the border with Niger last week.
ISWAP emerged from a split with Boko Haram in 2016 and primarily targets Nigerian security forces, although civilians in the region have been caught up in the violence.
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Makoko demolitions leave thousands displaced as Lagos clears floating settlement
Makoko, one of Africa's largest floating settlements on the lagoons of Lagos, has been demolished, leaving thousands of residents without homes or livelihoods. Families say they received no warning before authorities razed the community, citing environmental and public health concerns and the need for development. Many residents, who depended on fishing, sawmilling and informal trades, now sleep in the open with their children, unable to salvage belongings. Schools have been destroyed, disrupting education, whilst no formal resettlement plan has been announced, echoing past forced evictions criticised by human rights groups.
Related story: The Nigerian Government Destroys Orphanage in Makoko
Nigeria implements measures to reduce maternal deaths
The government says it has recruited about 2,500 community health workers to promote basic prenatal and antenatal care. According to the UN, one in every 100 pregnant women in Nigeria dies during labour or shortly thereafter.
Ex-Nigeria oil minister in bribery trial spent £2m at Harrods, court hears
Diezani Alison-Madueke, 65, is alleged to have been provided with "a life of luxury in the United Kingdom", including the use of multimillion-pound properties, a chauffeur driven car, travel by private jet, and £100,000 in cash.
Other benefits she allegedly received included £4.6m spent on refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire, the trial at Southwark Crown Court was told.
She denies five counts of accepting bribes and a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery.
Alison-Madueke was minister of petroleum resources between 2010 and 2015 under then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Jurors were told that over £2m was spent on behalf of Alison-Madueke at Harrods using the payment cards of Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko and the debit card of his company Tenka Limited.
The defendant had her own personal shopper at the store, only available to Harrods Rewards Black Tier members who must spend over £10,000 a year, the court heard.
Jurors were also told she lived some of the time in the UK where she was provided with a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner.
The salaries and other running costs were paid for by the owners of energy companies who had lucrative contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the court was told.
"This case is about bribery in relation to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria during the period 2011 to 2015," said Alexandra Healy KC, prosecuting.
"During that time those who were interested in the award and retention of lucrative oil and gas contracts with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or its subsidiaries the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company and the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, provided significant financial or other advantages to Alison-Madueke."
Healy added: "It might seem strange to be dealing here in the UK with a case that concerns bribery in relation to the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
"We live in a global society. Bribery and corruption undermine the proper functioning of the global market.
"There is an important public interest in ensuring that conduct in our country does not further corruption in another country."
Jurors were also shown photographs inside a property called The Falls in Gerrard's Cross, Buckinghamshire, which was bought in 2010 by Nigerian businessman Olajide Omokore, owner of a company called Atlantic Energy.
From late 2011 Alison-Madueke allegedly had exclusive use of the house which has a cinema room. The court heard she stayed there three or four times over two years, and spent six weeks at the property writing a book about the president of Nigeria.
She was assisted by a chef and the driver of car whose role included dropping off shopping for Alison-Madueke, whom he knew as "HM" - short for honourable minister.
It was said that this, along with £300,000 worth of refurbishment, was paid for by Tenka Limited. The court was told Aluko also had contracts with state-owned entities that were in the process of securing new oil contracts.
The court heard that between May 2011 and January 2014, £500,000 was also paid in rent for two flats in a block in central London where Alison-Madueke and her mother lived.
Records seized at the Tenka offices in Nigeria show the company settled the bill, it was claimed.
Alison-Madueke sat in the dock besides oil industry executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who is charged with one count of bribery relating to Alison-Madueke and a separate count of bribery of a foreign public official.
Alison-Madueke's brother, former archbishop Doye Agama, 69, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and joined the trial by video link for medical reasons.
Ayinde and Agama also deny the charges against them.
The trial – expected to last about 12 weeks - continues.
Oil plays a significant role in Nigeria's economy, but the population at large has not seen the benefits.
It is one of the 13 members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), set up to deal with the worldwide supply of oil and its price.
By Steve Swann, BBC
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Nigeria’s oil demand-supply imbalance raises questions about energy transition
Despite being one of Africa’s top oil producers, Nigeria remains heavily reliant on imported petrol. Even with increased domestic refining capacity driven by the Dangote Refinery, over half of the country’s fuel consumption is still sourced from abroad. This mismatch is raising renewed concerns about supply chains, pricing pressures, and the pace of Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy.
Nigeria's non-oil exports surge to record high of $6.1 billion in 2025
Efforts by the Nigerian government to boost non-oil exports appear to be paying off as new data from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council shows non-oil exports climbed to a record $6.1 billion in 2025. Authorities say the figure marks an 11.5 percent increase from the $5.4 billion recorded in 2024.
Nigerian Army rescues 11 kidnapped persons after 92 days in captivity, foils terrorist escape
The Nigerian Army yesterday said it rescued 11 kidnapped persons during a late-night operation along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway after foiling an attempt by terrorists to move their captives through a bush route.
The army said the operation, carried out on January 26, 2026, was executed by troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Doka, following intelligence obtained through surveillance.
In a statement, the army said its troops detected armed terrorists attempting to transport their captives through the Gidan Duna–Amale bush track under the cover of darkness.
It added that soldiers launched a swift pursuit using tactical vehicles and motorcycles, forcing the terrorists to abandon the victims and flee into nearby scrubland.
Five adult males, three adult females and three children were rescued during the operation. The army said the victims had been in captivity for 92 days, having been abducted from Gada Mallam Maman Community on October 26, 2025.
“The operation resulted in the successful rescue of five adult males, three adult females, and three children, who had been held in captivity since their abduction from Gada Mallam Maman Community on 26 October 2025,” the statement added.
The army described the operation as a demonstration of its effective use of modern surveillance technology combined with agile ground operations, stressing its commitment to denying criminal elements freedom of movement.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, yesterday announced a renewed alliance between the Nigerian Army and the Taraba State Government in an all-out push against terrorism and other forms of insecurity.
He spoke while receiving the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, alongside federal lawmakers and members of the Executive Council of the International Institute for African Defence, Security and Governance during a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Lieutenant General Shaibu said the army remained resolute in its constitutional mandate to support civil authorities in maintaining peace and security, noting that Taraba State occupies a strategic position within Nigeria’s security architecture because of its terrain and security dynamics.
He commended Governor Kefas for what he described as decisive leadership and effective coordination with security agencies, adding that the state government’s support — including the donation of land and provision of operational equipment — had served as critical force multipliers, significantly enhancing the tempo, reach and effectiveness of military operations in the region.
By Victor Gbonegun, The Guardian
The army said the operation, carried out on January 26, 2026, was executed by troops of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Doka, following intelligence obtained through surveillance.
In a statement, the army said its troops detected armed terrorists attempting to transport their captives through the Gidan Duna–Amale bush track under the cover of darkness.
It added that soldiers launched a swift pursuit using tactical vehicles and motorcycles, forcing the terrorists to abandon the victims and flee into nearby scrubland.
Five adult males, three adult females and three children were rescued during the operation. The army said the victims had been in captivity for 92 days, having been abducted from Gada Mallam Maman Community on October 26, 2025.
“The operation resulted in the successful rescue of five adult males, three adult females, and three children, who had been held in captivity since their abduction from Gada Mallam Maman Community on 26 October 2025,” the statement added.
The army described the operation as a demonstration of its effective use of modern surveillance technology combined with agile ground operations, stressing its commitment to denying criminal elements freedom of movement.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, yesterday announced a renewed alliance between the Nigerian Army and the Taraba State Government in an all-out push against terrorism and other forms of insecurity.
He spoke while receiving the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, alongside federal lawmakers and members of the Executive Council of the International Institute for African Defence, Security and Governance during a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Lieutenant General Shaibu said the army remained resolute in its constitutional mandate to support civil authorities in maintaining peace and security, noting that Taraba State occupies a strategic position within Nigeria’s security architecture because of its terrain and security dynamics.
He commended Governor Kefas for what he described as decisive leadership and effective coordination with security agencies, adding that the state government’s support — including the donation of land and provision of operational equipment — had served as critical force multipliers, significantly enhancing the tempo, reach and effectiveness of military operations in the region.
By Victor Gbonegun, The Guardian
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Nigeria urges value-driven growth as Davos Forum concludes
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar outlined the country’s foreign policy priorities and efforts to deepen regional and global engagement.
PayPal Goes Live In Nigeria Through Paga, Enabling Global Payments And Local Withdrawals
Paga, Nigeria’s pioneering fintech company, and PayPal, the global payments and commerce platform, today announced the availability of live account linking for customers in Nigeria. The integration enables users to access PayPal-supported cross-border payments directly through Paga’s digital wallet, allowing them to receive international payments and withdraw funds locally in Naira.
With this integration, users in Nigeria can link their PayPal accounts directly to their Paga wallets to receive cross-border payments from PayPal supported markets, shop with global PayPal merchants, and access their funds locally. The service also enables Nigerian merchants and entrepreneurs to reach PayPal’s global network of over 400 million users worldwide, and grow their businesses internationally.
Through Paga, users can easily access their PayPal balances and withdraw funds across everyday financial needs, including spending via card, transferring to local bank accounts, or paying bills and merchants within the Paga ecosystem, providing a seamless bridge between global earnings and local use. The collaboration strengthens Nigeria’s financial services ecosystem by promoting cross-border commerce, empowering merchants and small business growth, and supporting the country’s digital economic infrastructure.
“We are proud to make this integration live and available to users across Nigeria,” said Tayo Oviosu, Founder and Group CEO of Paga. “Whether you’re a freelancer receiving international payments, a business selling online, or a consumer shopping globally, this collaboration makes it easier to access and use global funds locally, in a way that’s simple, secure, and built for our markets.”
“We’ve been intentional about partnering with local innovators like Paga and developing solutions that help Nigerians earn, spend, and grow,” said Otto Williams, Senior Vice President, Regional Head and General Manager of PayPal Middle East and Africa. “This collaboration helps strengthen the broader payments ecosystem by supporting local innovation, expanding financial inclusion, and enabling more consumers and businesses to participate confidently in the digital economy.”
Nigeria’s digital payments market continues to expand rapidly, with transaction values reaching ₦657.8 trillion in 2023 and more than 30 million active mobile wallet users (Novatia Consulting, 2024). With over 21 million users and a fast-growing API infrastructure, Paga is uniquely positioned to scale PayPal’s services to both consumers and businesses across the country, leveraging its local settlement network, digital wallet, and Visa card integrations positioning it as a secure and trusted local partner for cross-border digital payments.
To access PayPal services through Paga, users can log in to the Paga app or www.paga.com, link their PayPal account, and start receiving international payments into their Paga wallet and use those funds to pay bills, transfer to bank accounts, or shop online.
With this integration, users in Nigeria can link their PayPal accounts directly to their Paga wallets to receive cross-border payments from PayPal supported markets, shop with global PayPal merchants, and access their funds locally. The service also enables Nigerian merchants and entrepreneurs to reach PayPal’s global network of over 400 million users worldwide, and grow their businesses internationally.
Through Paga, users can easily access their PayPal balances and withdraw funds across everyday financial needs, including spending via card, transferring to local bank accounts, or paying bills and merchants within the Paga ecosystem, providing a seamless bridge between global earnings and local use. The collaboration strengthens Nigeria’s financial services ecosystem by promoting cross-border commerce, empowering merchants and small business growth, and supporting the country’s digital economic infrastructure.
“We are proud to make this integration live and available to users across Nigeria,” said Tayo Oviosu, Founder and Group CEO of Paga. “Whether you’re a freelancer receiving international payments, a business selling online, or a consumer shopping globally, this collaboration makes it easier to access and use global funds locally, in a way that’s simple, secure, and built for our markets.”
“We’ve been intentional about partnering with local innovators like Paga and developing solutions that help Nigerians earn, spend, and grow,” said Otto Williams, Senior Vice President, Regional Head and General Manager of PayPal Middle East and Africa. “This collaboration helps strengthen the broader payments ecosystem by supporting local innovation, expanding financial inclusion, and enabling more consumers and businesses to participate confidently in the digital economy.”
Nigeria’s digital payments market continues to expand rapidly, with transaction values reaching ₦657.8 trillion in 2023 and more than 30 million active mobile wallet users (Novatia Consulting, 2024). With over 21 million users and a fast-growing API infrastructure, Paga is uniquely positioned to scale PayPal’s services to both consumers and businesses across the country, leveraging its local settlement network, digital wallet, and Visa card integrations positioning it as a secure and trusted local partner for cross-border digital payments.
To access PayPal services through Paga, users can log in to the Paga app or www.paga.com, link their PayPal account, and start receiving international payments into their Paga wallet and use those funds to pay bills, transfer to bank accounts, or shop online.
By Grace Ashiru, Tech In Africa
Nigerian military officers to face trial over alleged coup plot
A group of Nigerian military officers are set to face trial for allegedly plotting to overthrow the West African nation’s government.
The Nigeria Defence Headquarters confirmed the news on Monday, citing an investigative panel’s findings.
At least 16 officers were initially arrested in October over what military authorities termed “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations”.
The arrests, alongside local media reports of a failed coup, had already fuelled regional tensions amid a spate of military takeovers across West Africa.
The investigation into the officers' conduct has now concluded, revealing a coup plot against President Bola Tinubu's administration, Nigerian military spokesman Samaila Uba said on Monday.
“The findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” Mr Uba said.
The officers found culpable will be arraigned before a military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with military procedures, he added.
It was not clear how many of the 16 officers who were arrested will face trial and authorities did not provide their names.
Further measures were also being taken to preserve order, discipline and the effectiveness of the military, Mr Uba said.
The coup plot comes on the heels of a surge in coups and attempted coups in West and Central Africa.
The latest took place in Benin and Guinea-Bissau late in 2025.
The military takeovers follow a pattern of disputed elections, constitutional upheaval, security crises and youth discontent, experts said.
Nigeria became independent from the United Kingdom in 1960 and was ruled by a military government from 1966, following which five military coups took place.
The most recent coup occurred in 1993 and multi-party democracy was restored in 1999.
Concerns have grown recently over worsening hardship, due in part to the government's austerity measures.
By Dyepkazah Shibayan, Independent
The Nigeria Defence Headquarters confirmed the news on Monday, citing an investigative panel’s findings.
At least 16 officers were initially arrested in October over what military authorities termed “acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations”.
The arrests, alongside local media reports of a failed coup, had already fuelled regional tensions amid a spate of military takeovers across West Africa.
The investigation into the officers' conduct has now concluded, revealing a coup plot against President Bola Tinubu's administration, Nigerian military spokesman Samaila Uba said on Monday.
“The findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” Mr Uba said.
The officers found culpable will be arraigned before a military judicial panel to face trial in accordance with military procedures, he added.
It was not clear how many of the 16 officers who were arrested will face trial and authorities did not provide their names.
Further measures were also being taken to preserve order, discipline and the effectiveness of the military, Mr Uba said.
The coup plot comes on the heels of a surge in coups and attempted coups in West and Central Africa.
The latest took place in Benin and Guinea-Bissau late in 2025.
The military takeovers follow a pattern of disputed elections, constitutional upheaval, security crises and youth discontent, experts said.
Nigeria became independent from the United Kingdom in 1960 and was ruled by a military government from 1966, following which five military coups took place.
The most recent coup occurred in 1993 and multi-party democracy was restored in 1999.
Concerns have grown recently over worsening hardship, due in part to the government's austerity measures.
Monday, January 26, 2026
Nigeria moves to address income tax imbalance
Nigeria is implementing significant personal income tax reforms aimed at correcting a system that has long placed a heavier burden on low-income earners. The new rules are designed to broaden the tax base, shift more responsibility to wealthier individuals, and create a fairer taxation system.
US to step up coordination with Nigeria to pursue Islamic State group militants
The US military is increasing materiel deliveries and intelligence sharing with Nigeria, Africom's deputy commander said, as part of a broader American push to work with African militaries to go after Islamic State group-linked militants.
The Pentagon has also kept open lines of communication with militaries in the junta-led Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, Lieutenant General John Brennan said.
The increased cooperation with Abuja follows Washington's diplomatic pressure on Nigeria over jihadist violence in the country, but also as the US military is becoming "more aggressive" in pursuing IS group-linked targets on the continent.
Under the Trump administration, "we've gotten a lot more aggressive and (are) working with partners to target, kinetically, the threats, mainly ISIS," Brennan said in an interview on the sidelines of a US-Nigeria security meeting in the Nigerian capital last week.
"From Somalia to Nigeria, the problem set is connected. So we're trying to take it apart and then provide partners with the information they need," he added.
"It's been about more enabling partners and then providing them equipment and capabilities with less restrictions so that they can be more successful."
Last week's inaugural US-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting came roughly a month after the US announced surprise Christmas Day strikes on IS group-linked targets in northwest Nigeria.
The Pentagon has also kept open lines of communication with militaries in the junta-led Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, Lieutenant General John Brennan said.
The increased cooperation with Abuja follows Washington's diplomatic pressure on Nigeria over jihadist violence in the country, but also as the US military is becoming "more aggressive" in pursuing IS group-linked targets on the continent.
Under the Trump administration, "we've gotten a lot more aggressive and (are) working with partners to target, kinetically, the threats, mainly ISIS," Brennan said in an interview on the sidelines of a US-Nigeria security meeting in the Nigerian capital last week.
"From Somalia to Nigeria, the problem set is connected. So we're trying to take it apart and then provide partners with the information they need," he added.
"It's been about more enabling partners and then providing them equipment and capabilities with less restrictions so that they can be more successful."
Last week's inaugural US-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting came roughly a month after the US announced surprise Christmas Day strikes on IS group-linked targets in northwest Nigeria.
Diplomatic clash
Though both militaries seem keen on increased cooperation after the joint strikes, hanging over it all is diplomatic pressure by Washington over what Trump claims is the mass killing of Christians in Nigeria.
Abuja and independent analysts reject that framing of Nigeria's myriad, overlapping conflicts, which has long been used by the US religious right.
Charged politics were on display at the Joint Working Group meeting in Abuja, where Allison Hooker, the number three at the State Department, pushed the Nigerian government "to protect Christians" in a speech that did not mention Muslim victims of armed groups.
Africa's most populous country is roughly evenly split between a mostly Muslim north and mostly Christian south. Though millions live peacefully side by side, religious and ethnic identity remains a sensitive topic in a country that has seen sectarian violence throughout its history.
Brennan said that US intelligence would not be limited to protecting Christians.
He also said that following the US strikes in northwestern Sokoto state, American support going forward would focus on intelligence sharing to aid Nigerian air strikes there, as well as the northeast, where a jihadist insurgency by Boko Haram and rival breakaway ISWAP has raged since 2009.
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is "our most concerning group", he said.
Analysts have been tracking US intelligence flights over the country in recent months, though some have questioned whether air support alone can push back armed groups that thrive amid widespread poverty and state collapse in rural areas.
Though both militaries seem keen on increased cooperation after the joint strikes, hanging over it all is diplomatic pressure by Washington over what Trump claims is the mass killing of Christians in Nigeria.
Abuja and independent analysts reject that framing of Nigeria's myriad, overlapping conflicts, which has long been used by the US religious right.
Charged politics were on display at the Joint Working Group meeting in Abuja, where Allison Hooker, the number three at the State Department, pushed the Nigerian government "to protect Christians" in a speech that did not mention Muslim victims of armed groups.
Africa's most populous country is roughly evenly split between a mostly Muslim north and mostly Christian south. Though millions live peacefully side by side, religious and ethnic identity remains a sensitive topic in a country that has seen sectarian violence throughout its history.
Brennan said that US intelligence would not be limited to protecting Christians.
He also said that following the US strikes in northwestern Sokoto state, American support going forward would focus on intelligence sharing to aid Nigerian air strikes there, as well as the northeast, where a jihadist insurgency by Boko Haram and rival breakaway ISWAP has raged since 2009.
Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is "our most concerning group", he said.
Analysts have been tracking US intelligence flights over the country in recent months, though some have questioned whether air support alone can push back armed groups that thrive amid widespread poverty and state collapse in rural areas.
'Still collaborate' with AES militaries
US-Nigerian cooperation going forward will involve "the whole gamut of intel sharing, sharing... tactics, techniques, and procedures, as well as enabling them to procure more equipment," Brennan said.
The initial strikes targeted militants linked to the Islamic State Sahel Province group, typically active in neighbouring Niger, Brennan said.
Analysts have voiced concerns about ISSP's spread from the Sahel into coastal west African countries like Nigeria.
The impact of those strikes so far has been unclear, however, with local and international journalists unable to confirm militant casualties.
Asked about their effectiveness, Nigerian information minister Mohammed Idris said last week it was "still a work in progress".
In the Sahel more widely, Brennan said "we still collaborate" with the junta-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which have broken away from their west African neighbours and largely shunned the West.
Security cooperation has been curtailed since coups toppled civilian governments across the three countries from 2020 to 2023.
"We have actually shared information with some of them to attack key terrorist targets," he said. "We still talk to our military partners across the Sahelian states, even though it's not official."
Brennan also said the US is not seeking to replace its bases in Niger after its troops were pushed out by the ruling junta.
"We're not in the market to create a drone base anywhere," he said, referencing the shuttered US drone operations in Agadez.
"We are much more focused on getting capability to the right place at the right time and then leaving. We don't seek long-term basing in any of the western African countries."
US-Nigerian cooperation going forward will involve "the whole gamut of intel sharing, sharing... tactics, techniques, and procedures, as well as enabling them to procure more equipment," Brennan said.
The initial strikes targeted militants linked to the Islamic State Sahel Province group, typically active in neighbouring Niger, Brennan said.
Analysts have voiced concerns about ISSP's spread from the Sahel into coastal west African countries like Nigeria.
The impact of those strikes so far has been unclear, however, with local and international journalists unable to confirm militant casualties.
Asked about their effectiveness, Nigerian information minister Mohammed Idris said last week it was "still a work in progress".
In the Sahel more widely, Brennan said "we still collaborate" with the junta-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which have broken away from their west African neighbours and largely shunned the West.
Security cooperation has been curtailed since coups toppled civilian governments across the three countries from 2020 to 2023.
"We have actually shared information with some of them to attack key terrorist targets," he said. "We still talk to our military partners across the Sahelian states, even though it's not official."
Brennan also said the US is not seeking to replace its bases in Niger after its troops were pushed out by the ruling junta.
"We're not in the market to create a drone base anywhere," he said, referencing the shuttered US drone operations in Agadez.
"We are much more focused on getting capability to the right place at the right time and then leaving. We don't seek long-term basing in any of the western African countries."
Friday, January 23, 2026
The Nigerian Government Destroys Orphanage in Makoko
This is an emergency situation, please consider donating here:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helpsavemakoko
This video is about the horrific actions taken by the Nigerian government. Without warning, they moved into Nigeria’s largest slum and began indiscriminately destroying homes, schools, churches, a hospital and even an orphanage that we previously fundraised for on this channel and built.
Right now, children are sleeping rough. Families have nowhere safe to stay but with your help today, we can start rebuilding Makoko in a new, safer location.
The people of Makoko truly need your support.
If you’re able to donate, it would mean the world and make a real, immediate difference. If you’re not in a position to give, I completely understand. even sharing this campaign can go a long way.
All donations are given freely and will be passed directly to support rebuilding efforts in Nigeria. I do not personally profit from this fundraiser.
Thank you for being here, and thank you for caring.
This is an emergency situation, please consider donating: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helpsavemakoko
Related story: 200 homeless after demolition of Makoko slum in Lagos
US visa bond scuttles travel plans for Nigerians
Travelers from over 20 African countries must now pay refundable bonds of up to $15,000 for US business and tourist visas, a policy aimed at reducing overstays. Uche Ohiri, a Nigerian visa applicant, says she has delayed her US plans and is now uncertain about reapplying due to the new financial requirement. Travel consultant Precious Okafor says that the policy is deterring hardworking Nigerians from pursuing short vacations, with many now looking to countries like Canada or the UK instead.
'Blood was all over' - victim of Nigeria church abduction describes escape
There was a huge plaster on Sarah Peter's head to staunch the bleeding caused by the blow of a gunman's weapon.
Sarah, not her real name, was in church in a village in northern Nigeria on Sunday morning when attackers raided the compound to abduct the worshippers and take them away on foot.
The 60-year-old was whacked on the skull with a rifle to encourage her to move.
"Blood was all over," she said, her fingers brushing the area where the wound was.
"I suffered," she added, clearly still traumatised by what happened three days earlier.
"They kept dragging me even when I told them I couldn't walk. Then I hid somewhere until I couldn't see them any more. I was so weak I had to crawl back to the village."
Dozens of others were taken away from her branch of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church and two other churches in Kurmin Wali, a village 135km (84 miles) north of the capital, Abuja.
Although 11 people managed to escape, including Sarah, more than 160 people are still unaccounted for, according to the local branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
The remaining villagers have been left devastated and fear more attacks.
Authorities have not released any figures for those missing.
Kurmin Wali is near Kaduna state's Rijana forest, a hideout for armed gangs, known here as "bandits", who have been carrying out raids and abductions in the region.
No group has said it was behind Sunday's raid, but the attack is part of a wider security crisis in Nigeria, with kidnapping for ransom becoming more common.
Paying kidnappers is illegal in Nigeria but it is often suspected that money has been handed over to free those who have been abducted. In this case, no ransom demand has been reported.
There has been an increasing international focus on the issue after US President Donald Trump alleged last year that Christians were being targeted and killed in record numbers. Last month, the US military carried out air strikes on camps of suspected Islamist militants in Nigeria's north-west.
Nigerian officials have denied that Christians were being singled out because of their faith, and have said Muslims, Christians and those with no religion have all been affected by the insecurity.
There is an air of tension and anger in Kurmin Wali.
The village head said people had been living in fear for a while. Local residents have been urging authorities to improve security and have accused them of trying to suppress information in the wake of Sunday's raid.
Forty-eight hours of confusion followed the attack as officials initially denied anything had happened, despite eyewitness reports, only to finally confirm events on Tuesday evening.
"They told us not to give out any information, they want to intimidate us but we must tell our story. They have also been stopping some journalists from coming to the town," said a young man in his 20s, who wished to remain anonymous.
It is not clear why the authorities may have been reluctant for news to get out, but Kaduna state governor Uba Sani told the BBC that officials wanted to confirm details first before making any statements.
However, that does not explain why the local police chief and a state official initially denied there had been any attack, describing the reports as a "mere falsehood which is being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who want to cause chaos".
The BBC also faced difficulties reaching Kurmin Wali, after a politician and security personnel attempted to block access to the village.
But we managed to get through and once inside, we found a scene of chaos in the building of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church. Colourful plastic chairs were on their sides, prayer books scattered on the floor and musical instruments broken, as if the moment after the attack had been frozen in time.
Nearby, Christopher Yohanna was looking forlornly at his two-year-old daughter. He said he managed to escape from the attackers with his child.
"We were in the church when we heard shouting. When we came out and tried to run, we saw that gunmen had already surrounded the village."
He was lucky not to be caught, but he is devastated because his two wives and other children were not so lucky.
"If my family is not with me then my life is worthless and free of any joy," he said.
Governor Sani was in Kurmin Wali three days after the attack, pledging to establish a military base, a hospital and a road in the area. He also announced relief measures for affected residents, including medical support.
"We cannot relocate them because they have to farm… but to ensure that we protect them going forward, we need to have a military base around that area between that village and Rijana forest," he told the BBC.
He also said efforts were under way to work with security agencies to rescue those still in captivity.
"When we met [the villagers] I affirmed that we are with them and… we will not let any of them down."
As the residents of Kurmin Wali wait anxiously for the return of their family members, they are hoping the governor keeps to his word.
By Madina Maishanu, BBC
Sarah, not her real name, was in church in a village in northern Nigeria on Sunday morning when attackers raided the compound to abduct the worshippers and take them away on foot.
The 60-year-old was whacked on the skull with a rifle to encourage her to move.
"Blood was all over," she said, her fingers brushing the area where the wound was.
"I suffered," she added, clearly still traumatised by what happened three days earlier.
"They kept dragging me even when I told them I couldn't walk. Then I hid somewhere until I couldn't see them any more. I was so weak I had to crawl back to the village."
Dozens of others were taken away from her branch of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church and two other churches in Kurmin Wali, a village 135km (84 miles) north of the capital, Abuja.
Although 11 people managed to escape, including Sarah, more than 160 people are still unaccounted for, according to the local branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
The remaining villagers have been left devastated and fear more attacks.
Authorities have not released any figures for those missing.
Kurmin Wali is near Kaduna state's Rijana forest, a hideout for armed gangs, known here as "bandits", who have been carrying out raids and abductions in the region.
No group has said it was behind Sunday's raid, but the attack is part of a wider security crisis in Nigeria, with kidnapping for ransom becoming more common.
Paying kidnappers is illegal in Nigeria but it is often suspected that money has been handed over to free those who have been abducted. In this case, no ransom demand has been reported.
There has been an increasing international focus on the issue after US President Donald Trump alleged last year that Christians were being targeted and killed in record numbers. Last month, the US military carried out air strikes on camps of suspected Islamist militants in Nigeria's north-west.
Nigerian officials have denied that Christians were being singled out because of their faith, and have said Muslims, Christians and those with no religion have all been affected by the insecurity.
There is an air of tension and anger in Kurmin Wali.
The village head said people had been living in fear for a while. Local residents have been urging authorities to improve security and have accused them of trying to suppress information in the wake of Sunday's raid.
Forty-eight hours of confusion followed the attack as officials initially denied anything had happened, despite eyewitness reports, only to finally confirm events on Tuesday evening.
"They told us not to give out any information, they want to intimidate us but we must tell our story. They have also been stopping some journalists from coming to the town," said a young man in his 20s, who wished to remain anonymous.
It is not clear why the authorities may have been reluctant for news to get out, but Kaduna state governor Uba Sani told the BBC that officials wanted to confirm details first before making any statements.
However, that does not explain why the local police chief and a state official initially denied there had been any attack, describing the reports as a "mere falsehood which is being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who want to cause chaos".
The BBC also faced difficulties reaching Kurmin Wali, after a politician and security personnel attempted to block access to the village.
But we managed to get through and once inside, we found a scene of chaos in the building of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church. Colourful plastic chairs were on their sides, prayer books scattered on the floor and musical instruments broken, as if the moment after the attack had been frozen in time.
Nearby, Christopher Yohanna was looking forlornly at his two-year-old daughter. He said he managed to escape from the attackers with his child.
"We were in the church when we heard shouting. When we came out and tried to run, we saw that gunmen had already surrounded the village."
He was lucky not to be caught, but he is devastated because his two wives and other children were not so lucky.
"If my family is not with me then my life is worthless and free of any joy," he said.
Governor Sani was in Kurmin Wali three days after the attack, pledging to establish a military base, a hospital and a road in the area. He also announced relief measures for affected residents, including medical support.
"We cannot relocate them because they have to farm… but to ensure that we protect them going forward, we need to have a military base around that area between that village and Rijana forest," he told the BBC.
He also said efforts were under way to work with security agencies to rescue those still in captivity.
"When we met [the villagers] I affirmed that we are with them and… we will not let any of them down."
As the residents of Kurmin Wali wait anxiously for the return of their family members, they are hoping the governor keeps to his word.
Related story: Nigeria kidnapping: Residents fear for their safety
Shell Signals $20 Billion Bet on Nigeria’s Deepwater Revival
Shell plans to invest $20 billion in the Bonga South West deepwater project offshore Nigeria, the special adviser to Nigeria’s president said after the government approved investment-linked incentives for the project.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the adoption of targeted, investment-linked incentives to support the proposed Bonga South West deepwater offshore oil project by Shell and its partners, the office of the president said after Tinubu met with the supermajor’s chief executive, Wael Sawan.
Shell has doubled down on the Bonga oilfield after announcing at the end of 2024 the final investment decision for the development of the Bonga North deep-water project—a subsea tie-back to the Shell-operated Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility. Bonga North currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent and will reach a peak production of 110,000 bpd, with first oil anticipated by the end of the decade.
However, the Bonga South West project has been stalled, which Nigeria now aims to kickstart with incentives and energy sector reforms to make investments more attractive for foreign firms.
The incentives for Bonga South West “are ring-fenced and investment-linked, focused on new capital and incremental production, strong local content delivery, and in-country value addition,” Tinubu said.
“My expectation is clear: Bonga South West must reach a Final Investment Decision within the first term of this administration.”
Since the current administration took office in 2023, Shell has invested $7 billion in Nigeria, particularly in the Bonga North and HI projects, Olu Arowolo Verheijen, the president’s special energy adviser, said.
Last year, Shell and its partner Sunlink Energies and Resources Limited took a final investment decision on the HI gas project offshore Nigeria, which will supply additional gas volumes to Nigeria LNG.
“During the Meeting Shell informed Mr President of plans to invest an additional $20 billion on the upcoming Bonga South West project,” Verheijen said on X.
Shell has not confirmed the investment amounts.
By Tsvetana Paraskova, Oilprice.com
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the adoption of targeted, investment-linked incentives to support the proposed Bonga South West deepwater offshore oil project by Shell and its partners, the office of the president said after Tinubu met with the supermajor’s chief executive, Wael Sawan.
Shell has doubled down on the Bonga oilfield after announcing at the end of 2024 the final investment decision for the development of the Bonga North deep-water project—a subsea tie-back to the Shell-operated Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility. Bonga North currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent and will reach a peak production of 110,000 bpd, with first oil anticipated by the end of the decade.
However, the Bonga South West project has been stalled, which Nigeria now aims to kickstart with incentives and energy sector reforms to make investments more attractive for foreign firms.
The incentives for Bonga South West “are ring-fenced and investment-linked, focused on new capital and incremental production, strong local content delivery, and in-country value addition,” Tinubu said.
“My expectation is clear: Bonga South West must reach a Final Investment Decision within the first term of this administration.”
Since the current administration took office in 2023, Shell has invested $7 billion in Nigeria, particularly in the Bonga North and HI projects, Olu Arowolo Verheijen, the president’s special energy adviser, said.
Last year, Shell and its partner Sunlink Energies and Resources Limited took a final investment decision on the HI gas project offshore Nigeria, which will supply additional gas volumes to Nigeria LNG.
“During the Meeting Shell informed Mr President of plans to invest an additional $20 billion on the upcoming Bonga South West project,” Verheijen said on X.
Shell has not confirmed the investment amounts.
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Nigeria kidnapping: Residents fear for their safety
Members of a community in northwestern Nigeria say they fear for their safety, days after their village was attacked. Gunmen abducted more than 170 people while they were attending church on Sunday. Officials say they are working to rescue those held captive. Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris reports from Kurmin Wali in Kaduna state.
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