The Nigerian government has begun the payment of February salaries to federal civil servants. According to Bawa Mokwa, the spokesperson for the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the disbursement process started on Thursday, and civil servants can expect to start receiving their alerts later in the day.

Mokwa confirmed that the February salaries will be paid without any shortfalls, addressing concerns that arose from the January salary payments. He clarified that the so-called “shortfalls” in January were due to the completion of payments for the new minimum wage and other arrears from September 2024. These arrears had inflated the salaries of civil servants, but with those payments now cleared, the salaries have returned to their standard monthly amounts.

The Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) previously explained that the January discrepancies were the result of a system error in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Additionally, it was noted that in July 2024, President Tinubu signed the N70,000 new minimum wage bill into law.

A mysterious illness has claimed the lives of many individuals and left numerous others sick in the northwestern Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson, Tarik Jasarevic, reported on Tuesday during a UN briefing that the situation is rapidly escalating, with cases increasing significantly in just a few days. This has raised serious concerns about public health in the region.

Despite extensive testing, samples from the affected individuals have returned negative for both the Ebola and Marburg viruses, leaving health officials perplexed about the cause of the outbreak. The illness first emerged on January 21 in two remote villages in Equateur province, which are more than 120 miles apart. To date, there have been 419 reported cases, with 53 fatalities.

The connection between the villages has raised suspicions, but the exact mode of transmission remains unclear, especially regarding whether the illness could spread from person to person. The first known victims in one of the villages were children who consumed a bat and fell ill within 48 hours. This has led the WHO’s Africa office to suggest that animal-to-human transmission could be a possible factor in the outbreak.

Jasarevic emphasized the urgent need for assistance for local health authorities who are struggling with the challenges posed by the remote location of the affected villages. These areas have limited laboratory facilities, inadequate surveillance systems, and poor infrastructure, which complicates the effort to contain and understand the outbreak. It is critical to support local officials in transporting samples to the nearest laboratories that are equipped to handle such cases, in order to better identify the illness and take appropriate action.

The situation remains fluid, and health officials are closely monitoring developments while working to implement containment measures in collaboration with local authorities.

The United Nations has expressed grave concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, stating that the already catastrophic situation has deteriorated further since its last Security Council briefing. According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nearly two years of conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have caused immense suffering and transformed parts of the country into a “hellscape.”

OCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy, Edem Wosornu, told the Security Council that over 12 million people have been displaced, including 3.4 million who have fled to neighboring countries. More than half of Sudan’s population, approximately 24.6 million people, is now facing acute hunger. The conflict has also led to a collapse of health services, widespread trauma, and severe disruptions to education, with millions of children cut off from formal schooling. Additionally, the situation has been marked by persistent sexual violence.

In the face of this growing crisis, humanitarian operations in the largest displacement camp, Zamzam, have been suspended due to intense fighting. The camp, which is home to over half a million people, had been relying on aid from organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for health and nutrition services. MSF announced that it was forced to halt its operations due to deteriorating security conditions. The World Food Programme also confirmed that voucher-based food assistance in the camp has been suspended because of the security situation and the destruction of local markets.

Wosornu called on the Security Council to take immediate action to ensure that all parties adhere to international humanitarian law and that civilians, especially those in displacement camps, are protected from further harm. She also highlighted reports from the UN Human Rights Office about summary executions occurring in areas that have changed hands, raising concerns about potential war crimes.

In response, Sudanese Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss reaffirmed the Sudanese government’s commitment to facilitating humanitarian assistance and stated that the government is working on addressing the country’s political future amidst the ongoing conflict.

The Federal Government has announced plans to regularize electricity tariffs in order to address existing disparities in the current billing system and foster investment in the power sector. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed this during the public presentation of the National Integrated Electricity Policy and the Nigeria Integrated Resource Plan in Abuja on Thursday.

Adelabu explained that the government is exploring this option due to the slow pace of migration to Band A customers. He attributed this slow transition to the reluctance of Distribution Companies (DisCos) to make the necessary investments in the power sector.

Under the current tariff structure, customers in Band B, who receive 17 to 18 hours of electricity daily, pay N63 per kilowatt-hour, while those in Band A, who enjoy just two extra hours of supply, are charged N209 per kilowatt-hour. Adelabu called this pricing system “unfair” and emphasized the need to regularize tariffs to create a more equitable pricing structure.

The minister clarified that the government is not planning an immediate tariff hike, but instead intends to review and improve upon the achievements of the previous year. He acknowledged the need for substantial investments to revamp dilapidated infrastructure and speed up the migration of lower-band customers to Band A.

The government is considering restructuring the tariff bands, with a proposal to create a more balanced system encompassing Bands A, B, and C. Adelabu pointed out that the current gap between Band A tariffs and the lower bands (B, C, D, and E) is too wide and unfair. He assured that the government remains committed to reviewing the tariff structure while maintaining a focus on fairness and sustainability in the power sector.

On Thursday, supporters of the ousted Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, gathered at the assembly complex to show their backing. In videos and photos circulating on social media, the supporters were seen holding placards and chanting songs in support of Obasa at the entrance of the complex.

The incident followed reports that Obasa, accompanied by some security officials, had entered the Speaker’s office around noon. This action came after the security aides of the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, were reportedly withdrawn.

The Chief Press Secretary to Meranda, Segun Ajiboye, confirmed the incident, accusing Obasa and his team of allegedly breaking into the Speaker’s office. This development has sparked further tension within the assembly.

Olushola Oladoja has been elected as the new National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). Oladoja, a postgraduate student at the University of Jos, secured 300 votes to defeat his main rivals—Salauhudeen Suleiman from the University of Abuja and Gambo Abubakar from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai.

The election, held on Wednesday at the Old Parade Ground in Abuja, saw the participation of over 358 student leaders, including Presidents of Students’ Union Governments from various tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The election process was supervised by Comrade Suleiman Sariki, who chaired the NANS Convention Committee. Delegates praised the election for being transparent and credible, with many commending the smooth and organized process.

An Israeli security official has confirmed that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has received the remains of four hostages who were killed while in Hamas captivity. The coffins containing the remains are currently being transported to Israeli forces at the Kerem Shalom crossing. Israeli authorities are expected to carry out forensic identification near the border to confirm the identities of the remains.

This process is part of fulfilling the terms of a proposed prisoner exchange, in which Israel would release over 600 Palestinian prisoners if Hamas meets its obligations.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced that his administration has successfully closed down several “Miracle Centres”—places known for facilitating examination malpractices—across the state. He made this statement during the launch of the Abia State educational initiative called AbiaFirst in Umuahia on Wednesday.

Governor Otti highlighted the significant strides his administration has made in addressing the challenges faced by the state’s education sector, which had been severely affected by past mismanagement. He expressed pride in the steps taken over the last twenty months to curb exam malpractices and improve the overall educational environment in Abia.

Key actions include the closure of several malpractice centres, initiatives to improve teacher welfare, the recruitment of 5,000 new teachers, and the rehabilitation of schools. The Governor emphasized that these efforts are aimed at creating a conducive learning environment for Abia’s children and preparing them to become future leaders.

The AbiaFirst initiative, as outlined by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, is designed to revitalize the state’s education system. It focuses on enhancing the quality of teaching, improving basic education, reforming secondary schools, integrating digital learning, and fostering career education and skills development.

Through these initiatives, the Otti administration is working to transform Abia’s education sector and provide students with the tools they need to succeed in the future.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has attributed the theft of approximately $1.5 billion in virtual assets from the cryptocurrency exchange ByBit to North Korea. The FBI released a public service announcement, stating that this cyber activity is part of a North Korean operation known as “TraderTraitor.”

The FBI explained that the “TraderTraitor” actors have moved quickly to convert some of the stolen assets into bitcoin and other virtual currencies, dispersing them across thousands of addresses on multiple blockchains. The agency anticipates that these stolen assets will be further laundered and eventually converted into fiat currency.

ByBit, the affected cryptocurrency exchange, reported that an attacker gained control of an ether wallet and transferred the holdings to an unidentified address. ByBit, which serves over 60 million users worldwide, offers access to various cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether.

This theft marks another example of North Korea’s involvement in cybercrime, particularly targeting the cryptocurrency space for financial gain.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed an appeal filed by the Nigerian Army, which sought to overturn the acquittal of Major Akeem Oseni, who had been convicted of manslaughter in connection with the death of Lance Corporal Benjamin Collins. Oseni was initially sentenced to 10 years in prison by a General Court Martial in 2020 after an incident in 2017, where he and other officers were involved in disciplining Collins, a soldier accused of attempting a jailbreak. While Oseni had stopped the disciplinary session early and sought further action, Collins later died from complications related to leg cuffs.

After his conviction, Oseni appealed the ruling, and the Court of Appeal overturned the judgment, declaring him innocent. However, the Nigerian Army challenged this decision at the Supreme Court, aiming to reinstate his conviction. Unfortunately for the Army, the appeal was dismissed due to procedural issues. Specifically, the Army failed to compile and transmit the necessary records to the court. Justice Uwani Aji, who delivered the lead judgment, confirmed that the appeal was dismissed due to these lapses in procedure. Consequently, Oseni’s acquittal stands, as the Army’s appeal was not properly filed.

Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has highlighted the serious threat that climate change poses to Nigeria’s food systems. Speaking at the Commonwealth roundtable on climate finance and food security in London, he explained that rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns are severely impacting agricultural productivity and food supply chains in the country. He pointed out that desertification is affecting the northern states, with Nigeria losing around 351,000 hectares of land annually. Floods are also devastating farmland, while the country’s inland water bodies are at risk of pollution, threatening fish stocks and the livelihoods of millions of artisanal fishers.

Nnaji also mentioned the alarming shrinkage of Lake Chad by over 90% since the 1960s, which is significantly reducing water availability for irrigation and livestock in Nigeria’s northeast. He also discussed the vulnerability of Nigerian farmers, as 95% rely on unpredictable rainfall, making them highly susceptible to droughts and erratic weather patterns. Despite Nigeria’s potential to be a net exporter of agricultural products, the country spends over $10 billion annually on food imports. Additionally, more than 70% of Nigerians depend on agriculture for their livelihood, yet rural communities face challenges like limited access to electricity and poor post-harvest infrastructure.

To address these challenges, Nnaji emphasized the importance of leveraging science, technology, and innovation to bolster Nigeria’s climate resilience strategy. He noted that the National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (2022) is guiding the country’s efforts to secure food production, energy access, and environmental sustainability. Key initiatives include the promotion of Climate-Smart Agriculture (e.g., drought-resistant Tela Maize and climate-adaptive cotton), digital agriculture, AI-driven precision farming, and clean cooking technologies.

Furthermore, Nnaji stressed the need for sustainable financing mechanisms to scale up these solutions, such as through Green Bonds, Climate Resilience Funds, and Public-Private Partnerships. He also advocated for the creation of a Commonwealth Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture to facilitate knowledge exchange and technology transfer to enhance food security initiatives. Additionally, he called for more accessible climate finance mechanisms to support large-scale adaptation projects in developing nations.

The situation in Kano State, particularly surrounding the residence of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, has sparked significant tension, leading to a heavy deployment of police and security personnel. The police action was prompted by intelligence reports that suggested a planned violent protest, allegedly orchestrated by members of the Kwankwasiyya movement, which is supportive of former Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The protesters reportedly intended to target the Kano Government House and march through the Nasarawa area, which is near the Emir’s residence.

This crisis is rooted in the ongoing political and legal struggles over the leadership of the Kano Emirate. The issue began in 2019 when former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje divided the Kano Emirate into five smaller emirates and dethroned the 14th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II. The decision was highly controversial and led to tensions between different political and traditional factions in the state. When the NNPP, led by Kwankwaso, took power in 2024, they reversed Ganduje’s actions by reinstating Sanusi as the Emir, sparking a legal battle over the rightful Emir of Kano.

Currently, there are two rival Emirs: Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, supported by the Federal Government, and Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, backed by the Kano State Government. This has left Kano with a divided political and traditional leadership, contributing to the ongoing unrest in the state. The deployment of security forces is a direct response to prevent further escalation of the tension and maintain public order.

The Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base (FOB) Escravos successfully deactivated four illegal refining sites at Obodo in Omadinho community, located in the Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Wednesday. This operation, according to Navy Captain Ikenna Okoloagu, was based on credible intelligence.

The illegal sites contained approximately 2,500 liters of stolen crude oil and 2,200 liters of illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO). These were stored in five ovens, 11 dug-out pits, and 25 polythene sacks. Okoloagu warned individuals involved in oil theft and other forms of economic sabotage to cease their illegal activities, emphasizing the Navy’s commitment to ensuring their prosecution and preventing further criminal operations.

This successful operation is part of the ongoing Operation Delta Sanity II, which aims to eliminate illegal activities in Nigeria’s maritime domain. Okoloagu reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s dedication to enforcing the strategic directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, in securing the nation’s maritime resources.

The United States has begun a process to remove transgender troops from the military, according to a memo released by the Pentagon. The policy change comes as part of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January, aiming to restrict transgender individuals from serving in the military unless they meet specific criteria for a waiver.

The Pentagon memo stated that service members with a current diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria would be processed for separation from the military within 30 days. However, those individuals may be eligible for a waiver, which will be granted on a case-by-case basis if they can demonstrate that their continued service supports warfighting capabilities. To be considered for a waiver, service members must show they have never attempted to transition and must also prove 36 consecutive months of stability without clinically significant distress or impairment in any important areas of functioning.

This marks a shift from previous policies that allowed transgender individuals to serve openly in the military under the Obama administration, which lifted the ban in 2016. President Trump sought to reverse these policies, initially through delays and legal battles, with restrictions finally taking effect in April 2019. After Biden took office in 2021, he reversed these restrictions, allowing transgender individuals to serve openly once again. However, Trump’s recent executive order has brought the debate over transgender military service back into the spotlight, continuing the ongoing political discourse surrounding transgender rights in the U.S.