US announces military team sent to Nigeria after recent attacks

The U.S. has dispatched a small team of military officers to Nigeria, the general in charge of U.S. Africa Command told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday.

General Dagvin R.M. Anderson said the move followed his meeting with Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, in Rome late last year.

“That has led to increased collaboration between our nations, to include a small U.S. team that brings some unique capabilities from the United States in order to augment what Nigeria has been doing for several years,” Anderson said.

It is unclear when the team arrived in Nigeria.

The military officers are the latest step since the U.S launched airstrikes against a group affiliated with the Islamic State last year on Dec. 25.

Nigeria has been in the diplomatic crosshairs of the U.S. following threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to attack the country, alleging the West African nation is not doing enough to protect its Christian citizens. Following the allegations, the West African country was designated as a Country of Particular Concern, a congressional designation in the U.S. for countries responsible for religious oppression.

The Nigerian government firmly rejected the claim of Christian genocide, saying the armed groups target people regardless of their faith.

The diplomatic dispute has led to increased military cooperation between the two countries. The terms of the cooperation have been unclear. The U.S has supplied Nigeria with military equipment and carried out reconnaissance missions across Nigeria.

Nigeria has been battling several armed groups across the country. The groups include Islamist sects like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.

Last month, an armed group launched simultaneous attacks on three churches in northwestern Kaduna state abducting 168 people.

AP

Related story: US to step up coordination with Nigeria to pursue Islamic State group militants

Nigeria signs deal with South Korea to launch Africa’s first electric vehicle factory

Nigeria has taken a major step toward establishing a domestic electric vehicle (EV) industry after signing an agreement with South Korea’s Asia Economic Development Committee (AEDC) to establish what officials are calling Africa’s first EV manufacturing plant.

The agreement, signed on January 30, 2025, by Minister of State for Industry Senator John Enoh for Nigeria and AEDC Chairman Yoon Suk-hun for South Korea, marks a major step in the country’s push to localize vehicle production and green technology adoption.

According to a statement posted on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC),

“On January 30, 2026, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through Senator John Enoh, Hon. Minister of State for Industry at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Asia Economic Development Committee (AEDC) to establish an Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant and develop critical charging infrastructure nationwide. This landmark collaboration aligns strongly with Nigeria’s National Energy Transition Plan (ETP) and National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).”

Phased Approach and Production Targets

The project will be implemented in phases, beginning with EV assembly and later expanding into full in-house production.

Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles annually and create approximately 10,000 jobs, according to the NADDC.

Government Initiatives to Support EV Adoption

Nigeria’s automotive sector faces structural challenges, including limited local component production, high assembly costs, and heavy reliance on imports.

The country imports between 400,000 and 720,000 vehicles annually, with 74–90% being used cars.

In 2023, imports reached 700,000 units, with passenger cars valued at $1.05 billion in 2024, making Nigeria one of the world’s largest markets for pre-owned vehicles.

To promote electric mobility, the federal government launched a 20 billion naira ($12 million) consumer credit program in December 2024.

The scheme supports the purchase of locally assembled electric vehicles, motorcycles, and tricycles, partnering with domestic manufacturers including Innoson, Nord, CIG (GAC), PAN, Mikano, Jets, NEV (Electric), and DAG to expand access and foster the growth of a homegrown EV industry.

Previous EV Efforts

Earlier EV initiatives in Nigeria, like the NASENI–Israeli/Japanese collaboration in 2022 or the December 2025 partnership with the Chinese firm, were pilot projects or partial assembly efforts and did not reach full-scale production.

The new AEDC-backed plant is explicitly designed to be the continent’s first large-scale EV production facility, including assembly, manufacturing, and supporting infrastructure such as nationwide charging networks.

Regional Context and Opportunities

Across Africa, electric vehicle adoption is growing but remains limited. According to EV24, the continent had over 30,000 EVs in use by mid‑2025, accounting for less than 1 percent of total vehicle sales.

Ethiopia leads with about 100,000 EVs, followed by Ghana with 17,000, Morocco with 10,000, South Africa with 6,000, Egypt with 3,500–4,000, and Kenya with nearly 3,800.

Most EVs are motorcycles or commercial vehicles, and adoption is constrained by high costs and limited charging infrastructure.

Nigeria’s agreement with South Korea’s Asia Economic Development Committee to build Africa’s first full-scale EV plant highlights its ambition to move beyond assembly toward a sustainable domestic EV industry.

By Olamilekan Okebiorun, Business Insider Africa

Nigeria technology summit showcases tech-driven innovations for real-world challenges

At Tech Revolution Africa in Lagos, founders and companies showcased solutions already tackling real problems, shifting the continent’s tech conversation from ambition to execution.

CGTN Africa

Climate change, competition drive deadly land clashes in Nigeria

Farmers and herders in central Nigeria fight over shrinking land and resources, leaving thousands of people dead over two decades. Government efforts struggle as mistrust and deep-rooted tensions persist.

CGTN Africa

Related story: Video - Nigeria adopts new strategy to address inter-communal tensions

Civilians are stepping in to keep the peace in the deadly feud between herders and farmers

Eighty kidnapped Nigerians return home after escape

Dozens of worshippers kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria's northern Kaduna state have returned home weeks after their abduction, police have confirmed.

They were among 177 people seized last month from three churches in the remote village of Kurmin Wali.

The 80 people escaped on the day they were taken but hid in neighbouring villages for a fortnight "due to fear of being captured again", state police spokesman Mansur Hassan told the BBC.

The authorities say efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining 86 people still being held. The attack was part of a wave of kidnappings for ransom affecting many parts of Nigeria, but no group has said it was behind the abductions.

The raid was initially denied by police, who only confirmed the kidnappings on 21 January after local residents had reported to the BBC that 177 worshippers were abducted, with 11 escaping shortly afterwards.

The official response drew criticism from Amnesty International, which accused Nigerian authorities of "desperate denial".

The rights group urged officials to "take immediate and concrete measures to prevent rampant abductions that are gradually becoming the norm in Nigeria."

In November, more than 300 students and teachers were taken from a Catholic school in Niger state, which neighbours Kaduna, before being released in two groups.

Nigeria faces multiple, overlapping security challenges beyond kidnappings, including an Islamist insurgency in the north-east, separatist violence in the south-east, and frequent clashes between herders and farmers in central regions over land and water.

Security experts say efforts to tackle these crises are hampered by corruption, poor intelligence sharing, and underfunded local police forces.

The security situation has drawn international attention. In December, the US conducted airstrikes in north-western Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting two camps run by an Islamist militant group.

Following the action, President Donald Trump warned of further strikes if attacks on Christians in the West African nation continued.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is home to more than 250 ethnic groups and is roughly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south, with significant mixing in central regions.

The government maintains that people of all faiths have been victims of the widespread violence.

By Madina Maishanu, BBC

Related story: 'Blood was all over' - victim of Nigeria church abduction describes escape