A LAGOS-based father, identified as Promise Samuel on TikTok, has demanded justice after the deaths of his nine-month-old identical twin sons, Timothy and Testimony, whom he said passed away roughly 24 hours after receiving routine immunisation at the Ajangbadi Primary Health Centre in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The case first gained widespread attention on Wednesday, January 15, after Alozie shared a series of videos on TikTok account ‘promise.samuel099’, explaining how his twins died.
According to Alozie, the twins were taken to the health facility in the morning of December 24, 2025, for what he described as a routine immunisation appointment. He said their condition deteriorated almost immediately after the injections were administered.
He explained that the children became unusually weak, stopped eating, and were unable to play. Despite following the nurse’s advice to administer paracetamol to reduce their body temperature, both children reportedly died in the early hours of Christmas Day, December 25.
“It happened that the immunisation was conducted on the 24th of December, in the morning. And in the morning of 25th December, they died. On that 24th, after the injection, they were very weak, and I gave them paracetamol because the nurse said that if the temperature continued, I should give them paracetamol.
“My wife and I, after we left the health centre, went home and gave the two of them paracetamol, which didn’t solve anything. We even bathed them. My wife bathed them in cold water. They died on the 25th. The two of them died at the same time. And the worst part of it is that the drug weakened two of them to the extent they couldn’t talk, they couldn’t eat, they couldn’t play as usual, like they couldn’t disturb as they used to do,” he said.
Alozie accused staff of the primary healthcare centre of administering either expired vaccines, fake drugs, or an excessive dosage, alleging negligence and wrongdoing.
He insisted that the twins had been healthy since birth and had never suffered from any serious illness, adding that he only given them paracetamol.
“I’m just confused. How can I lose two children, identical twins that I have suffered so much for? Just nine months, they were not sick. Just because I decided to fulfil the righteousness of taking them for immunisation. So, it will not be that, ah, your children, you didn’t immunise them? You didn’t give them proper health.
“On my own, I decided that I would take them to that place, not because they were sick. From the first day I gave birth to them, I’ve been taking them for immunisation.”
Alozie also alleged irregularities in the administration of the vaccines, noting that the nurse who handled the final immunisation was different from the one who had previously attended to his children.
He further claimed that the infants were given deworming medication without his knowledge or consent.
“You gave them two worm medicines, and you didn’t ask me, and you didn’t even tell me that you were giving them worm medicine to deworm them. Did I tell you that my children are having a worm problem? Or did I tell you that I wanted you to give them worm medicine? No. Then you explained to the government that you wanted to give them because you are helping me. Helping me to give my two nine-month-old children worm medicine?,” he added.
The bereaved father dismissed explanations reportedly offered by the health facility, which attributed the deaths to food contamination.
“The nurse is talking about bacteria, food bacteria. She said that it is food bacteria that killed my children. How can food bacteria kill a child? Food that I’ve been giving them from one month to nine months, the food didn’t kill them. How is it possible?”
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Lagos State Ministry of Health nor the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board has released an official statement on the incident.
The bereaved father further called on lawyers and human rights advocates to assist him, saying he lacked the financial resources to pursue justice alone.
The incident adds to a growing list of allegations of medical negligence in Nigerian health facilities, which have in recent weeks triggered public outrage and official probes in several states.
On January 13, 2026, the Kano State Hospitals Management Board ordered a full investigation into the death of Aishatu Umar, a housewife and mother of five who reportedly died following complications from a surgical procedure at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre in Kano.
The board said the probe would be transparent and professional, assuring the public that appropriate action would be taken if negligence was established.
A family member, Abubakar Muhammed, had alleged in a Facebook post that a pair of scissors was left inside Umar’s body during surgery carried out in September, causing her severe abdominal pain for months. According to him, repeated hospital visits yielded only pain relief medication until scans conducted days before her death revealed the foreign object. She reportedly died while preparations were underway for corrective surgery.
The ICIR reports that the Kano case came days after award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie publicly accused Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Lagos State of medical negligence in the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi Adichie-Esege.
Adichie alleged that her son was administered an overdose of propofol during a medical procedure, leading to seizures and cardiac arrest. The hospital denied the allegations, while Adichie issued a formal legal notice accusing the facility and its staff of professional misconduct.
DAYS after publicly calling for an amicable resolution to the political crisis in Rivers state, the four members of the State House of Assembly who distanced themselves from the impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara have made a U-turn, declaring renewed support for the process.
The lawmakers, including the Minority Leader, Sylvanus Nwankwo; Peter Abbey, representing Degema Constituency; Barile Nwakoh of Khana Constituency I; and Emilia Amadi of Obio/Akpor Constituency II, announced their decision on Friday, January 16, during a live broadcast from the frontage of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
“You will recall that on the 12th day of January 2026, myself and my colleague, Honourable Peter Abbey, addressed the press, wherein we made a plea to our colleagues to seek a political solution to this impasse that is going on between the Assembly and the Governor of Rivers State.
“During the pendency of this appeal, we found out that the governor and the deputy governor have all employed their media boys and aides to continuously attack the Rivers State House of Assembly instead of seeking the political solution which we offer. It is on this basis that I, Honourable Sylvanus Nwankwo, and my fellow colleague here, Honorable Peter Abbey, say that the impeachment proceedings should continue,” Nwankwo said.
Nwakoh and Amadi also added that they decided to back the impeachment after concluding that the governor and his deputy had shown no willingness to resolve the crisis through dialogue.
The ICIR reported that Nwankwo, and Abbey on January 12, cited interventions by leaders, residents, and constituents, and appealed that the impeachment process be stalled.
Earlier, a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State, led by Emeka Beke, rejected the impeachment proceedings, warning that the move could further harm the state’s fragile political environment.
The development followed the Assembly’s failure to reconvene for plenary on Thursday, one week after adjourning its last sitting, amid speculation of internal disagreements among lawmakers.
The lawmakers’ latest position comes amid growing tensions within the Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, who had last week commenced impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over alleged gross misconduct.
The allegations include the demolition of the Assembly complex and the alleged spending of public funds without legislative approval.
The Majority Leader, Major Jack, presented a notice signed by 26 lawmakers, outlining multiple allegations of gross misconduct against the governor.
The allegations include extra-budgetary spending of over N800 billion without legislative approval, withholding funds allocated to the Assembly Service Commission, demolition of the Assembly complex, and defiance of Supreme Court rulings on legislative autonomy.
A separate notice was also read against the deputy governor for allegedly conniving in unconstitutional expenditures.
Amaewhule announced that the notices would be served on the governor and his deputy within seven days, in line with the Constitution. Last Thursday, Fubara and Odu were said to have been served the impeachment notice over alleged gross misconduct.
However, Fubara said he had yet to receive the notice from the lawmakers.
The development marks a renewed escalation of the protracted political crisis in the state, stemming from the fallout between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Previous impeachment attempts in 2025 was halted by presidential interventions, before a state of emergency was declared by President Bola Tinubu.
The ICIR reports that following the decision of the lawmakers who have now backed the governor’s impeachment, the Assembly has reportedly written the state Chief Judge to constitute a panel to probe the alleged offences against the governor and his deputy.
THE bustling Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, spanning 300 hectares along the Lagos-Badagry expressway and home to numerous traders, remains a wrecked site after a demolition by the Lagos State Government in September 2025. The sections of the market, including the New Mandela and ASPAMDA, are left with ruinous foundations, beams, walls, and roofs. A visit by The ICIR reveals that amid significant financial losses, traders are still living in fear, and uncertainty.
“It was a surprise visit to our compound,” Sunday Ipadeola, an over 70-year-old man, recalled. He watched as five blocks of buildings owned by Magnum Group were sternly torn down.
The demolition began on Thursday, September 25, and was carried out without prior warning to the property owners, according to traders. At the New Mandela Plaza, not less than 19 buildings’ foundations, beams, walls and roofs were severely damaged. Three buildings were completely pulled down, leaving behind debris. Traders say they are still dumbfounded over the incident.
At the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) section of the market, about 18 plazas under construction had their foundations, beams, walls and roofs damaged and dangling in the air.
Aerial view of the section of the New Mandela where 19 buildings were affected
A leading trade and industry hub
The International Trade Fair Complex is situated along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in the Ijo LGA of the State. Covering over 300 hectares, the complex attracts about two million visitors daily and hosts more than 30,000 businesses, according to official records, making it a vibrant centre of economic activity.
It has consistently contributed to Nigeria’s economic development by enabling business interactions, drawing investments, and providing opportunities for both local and international companies. Its extensive infrastructure and prime location make it the top choice for businesses wanting a strong presence in the West African region.
As a leading trade and industry hub, it continues to play a crucial role in shaping Nigeria’s commercial landscape. Historically, the first Lagos International Trade Fair took place from Sunday, November 27 to Sunday, December 11, 1977, under the then Head of State and former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Some blocks of plazas demolished at the ASPAMDA section
Demolition leaves traders devastated and fearful
“As early as 8:00 am, on that fateful day, officials from Lagos State entered our compound after removing the perimeter fence with their caterpillar, and started breaking the building’s walls,” Ipadeola says, explaining how he hurriedly informed his boss.
His complexion still wears a shocking look as he expresses how he felt that day. “I felt bad, even from my tone, on that day, it was not easy for me to take it.”
The demolition has left me devastated, says Magnus Ike, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Magnum Group.“When something happens to you, you get flabbergasted, you lose it,” he utters indistinctly.
“It is devastating,” Ike puts it succinctly, adding that there is no way he can fully explain how he has been coping with the damage done to his buildings.
“That day, I was with three of my foreign partners. We were discussing business when the demolition started,” he recollects, wondering whether the partners would ever come back, having witnessed the manner in which his buildings were destroyed.
“The man you met downstairs is over 70 years old; he witnessed the incident. In fact, I had to send a team to carry him out of the place that day, hence he would have lost his life,” he recalled.
Site where 3 buildings were completely pulled down at the New Mandela section
Millions of naira drenched
For Ike, the worth of the damage to his buildings is massive. He explains, “As you can see, it’s a very big complex; inside and outside were knocked down. The glasses we used here are 15 millimetres, and each one is about N85,000.”
He stated that the compound floor marbles were destroyed, the perimeter fence was pulled down, the imported security doors were damaged, and all the industrial lights were destroyed.
The Magnum Group boss, whose company deals in anything battery-generated and clean energy, including solar, lithium, and EV motorcycles, also disclosed the cost of industrial lighting unit at N1.3 million.
Benjamin Michael, who deals in kitchen equipment, witnessed how three of the plazas beside the building housing his shop were completely pulled down, describing it as a great loss.
“Not less than three plazas were flattened beside my shop,” he said, adding: “Many other structures were badly damaged, including our building, as you can see.”
When the caterpillar was punching the buildings, goods were falling off, adding that the goods destroyed ran into millions of naira.
“Many of the products were lubricants. The destruction was massive,” he said, adding that the three plazas that were levelled to the ground were warehouses with goods inside them.
Recalling a similar incident in September 2023, Michael said: “They (Lagos state government) came, broke some walls, cut off some protectors, but the demolition wasn’t as bad and inhuman as this one .”
Magnus Ike, CEO of Magnum Group
Trade Fair Board comes under fire
Traders who spoke with The ICIR believe that the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board (LITFCMB) share in the blame for the demolition.
After the incident, Ike says, he went to the Lagos authorities to enquire why his properties built about five years ago, and having all the necessary building approvals granted by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Trade and Industry Ministry, were bulldozed.
According to him, all he got was “we’re sorry,” as the state authorities claimed they issued notice to the Trade Fair management.
“Having demolished my buildings, now they are asking me to come for approval, Ike says, lamenting, “That’s what I got out of it. I came back and started borrowing money again to rebuild”.
“We have actually rebuilt to like 90 per cent. What is left now are those areas that need to wait for about 28 days before we can continue reconstruction,” said Ike.
He presumes that even if one wants to press charges, the person will further be frustrated, decrying that Nigeria’s judicial system has failed the masses.
“All we’re focused on now is putting our buildings back in order, even though there is annoyance when we look at the destruction,” Ike added.
Where 3 buildings were demolition to the ground at the New Mandela section
LITFCMB fails to respond to inquiries
On December 10, the reporter sent an enquiry via email to the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board (LITFCMB) but received no acknowledgement. Several calls on the phone numbers provided on its official website were not connecting to networks.
On December 12, the reporter visited the office of the trade fair management board and met with the general secretary, Ayinde, who acknowledged receipt of his enquiry addressed to the LITFCMB Executive Director/CEO, Vera Safiya Ndanusa.
In a follow-up with her on Tuesday, December 16, Ayinde replied, “Once your feedback is ready, we will get back to your organisation.”
A subsequent follow-up with her on Thursday, December 18, was not responded to, and the trade fair management has yet to reach out as of the time of filing the report.
Plazas demolished at the ASPAMDA section
ASPAMDA executives declined to comment
Frantic efforts were also made to have the ASPAMDA executives comment on the issue, but to no avail.
On December 2, the reporter visited its secretariat and met with its public relations officer, Emeka Anoruka, who promised to inform his president and respond accordingly.
Three days later, the reporter shared his enquiry via a WhatsApp message to confirm the number of plazas and shops that were affected, and other related enquiries, including what the association was doing to resolve the issue at hand.
“My brother, please wait till next week. The president is very busy now; his first son is getting married tomorrow, so everything will be after that,” he responds.
On December 9, when a follow-up was made to him; he retorted: “Oga, we don’t have time for all these things now, the president is too busy. He can’t find time for that. You people came late.
“We are rounding off for the year. We’re compiling yearly expenditure for general meetings. We’re rounding many things now.”
When the reporter persisted, Anoruka unwittingly confirmed the association had started repairs of the plazas affected by the demolition and said nothing further.
Where 3 buildings were demolition to the ground at the New Mandela section
Losses go beyond money as traders recount emotional damage
Besides the financial losses, traders say they have been left with emotional damage. Michael, the kitchen equipment seller, shared his worries. “Since this period, I have been apprehensive. The day of the demolition, my BP (blood pressure) shut up because I was terrified when I saw the damage they did to the one nearby.
“Weeks have passed, but things have not been normal again because every day I keep entertaining that fear – what could be, when next.”
To him, the emotional torture is not something that can be easily forgotten. His fear has been heightened by the threat that the Lagos State government is not backing down on its enforcement of physical planning regulations at the Trade Fair.
Patched walls at the Magnum Group compound
Calls for state powers to be clearly defined
Following the September 2025 incident, traders now want the powers of the state government to be clearly spelt out.
Michael recalls his line of business officially moved into the trade fair in 2000, and that the spare parts traders moved in since 1995, approximately.
“If the Trade Fair Management are conceding that it’s now within the powers of the Lagos state government to regularise the construction of buildings here, then let then inform the stakeholders that henceforth it’s the Lagos state government that is in charge of regularising the structures so that after having done with what you need to do with the management board, you now go to the government to finalise whatever that is therein for them to approve,” he urged.
Plazas demolished at the ASPAMDA section of the market
Uncertainty still grips traders three months after
Uncertainties now pervade the minds of the traders as they say the shocking demolition has struck a blow on them and left them to trade daily in fear.
“It’s uncertain as we’re still confused to this moment. We don’t know where we are,” Paschal Okechukwu Udeh, the chief executive officer of Trade Fair City Parks Nigeria Limited, expressed concern, saying: “We’re just looking at the President to come to our aid to help us.”
He recalls that on the day of the incident, one of his staff members alarmed him about the state government being at the complex with their caterpillars and bulldozers, smashing the buildings.
“I hurriedly came out of my home, and saw them,” he said, stressing that he’s still in shock, like other traders, over the incident. “No one has been able to define it up to the moment.”
His understanding is that since the complex is under the Federal Ministry of Trade and Commerce, traders have nothing to do with the Lagos state or its agencies.
“It’s the federal government that gave us this place,” he notes, wondering why the state physical planning agency woke up that morning to demolish buildings without prior notice whatsoever.
“But I don’t think that is the argument. This is a kind of intimidation,” Udeh thinks otherwise. His reason is that the Lagos state officials have the Trade Fair management to whom they’re supposed to communicate, or the Federal Ministry of Trade and Commerce.
“They’re supposed to parley with them so that they can discuss and find out a way forward because we pay ground rent here every year to the federal government,” he said.
His viewpoint is also anchored on the fact that since the traders pay enormous ground rent to the federal government, any demand by the state is tantamount to a double taxation on the traders.
The reporter observed that traders have started to repair broken walls and refix the dangling pillars, besides other reconstruction works. He further gathered that what was being done was for the traders to find a place to secure their goods, not necessarily because a concrete understanding had been reached with the state government over the matter.
Udeh explained that the traders were agitated and afraid, and had to approach the Lagos physical planning authority to ask questions because most of the buildings were warehouses with goods inside.
“When they came wrecking the buildings, we spoke with them, and they said they were actually sorry that we should go and safeguard our goods.
“So, safeguarding them doesn’t mean that we have to leave them outside for rain or sun to beat, he said, adding; “ We’re still patching those places they broke to amend them so that we can contain our goods till they come out with the whitepaper that will serve everybody. We’re still waiting!”
According to Udeh, the complex has not less than 15 workers in a warehouse and over 30,000 employees, and up to 500,000 workers serve in the about 50,000 to 150,000 plazas and shops at the trade fair, which the reporter couldn’t confirm.
“So, if these people move out on the streets because there is no place for them to trade, there will be another catastrophe in Nigeria,” he worried.
He urged the federal government to look into the matter critically, as the traders are helping the nation in promoting business activities.
Dangling pillars after the demolition at the ASPAMDA section of the market
Lagos government vows to enforce compliance
In an 8-point resolution sent to the reporter by Mukaila Sanusi, director of public affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the state government vowed zero tolerance for illegal and unapproved developments within the Trade Fair Complex.
It states that, although the complex is on federal land, it doesn’t exempt developers from obtaining necessary planning permits in line with the state’s physical planning laws.
According to the state authorities, the Supreme Court Judgment of 2003 (Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation), and the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019, as amended, empowers Lagos State to regulate and enforce physical planning laws.
It maintains that these legal instruments empower the state to regulate physical development within its territories, including federal lands, except for areas under exclusive federal use, such as military formations.
The commissioner for physical planning, Oluyinka Olumide, reiterates that the enforcement focuses solely on the approval status of physical developments.
‘It is not negotiable for all structures within the confines of Lagos State as stipulated by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019 as amended,” Olumide insists.
Reconstruction works began at the ASPAMDA section of the market
‘Law vesting trade fair in the federal government remains in force’
Martin Okpaleke, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, conversant with the origin and development of the complex, explained that the law vesting the Trade Fair Complex in the federal government is still in force.
He specifically noted that the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Act vested the complex in the LITFCMB, recognising it as a body corporate. He submits, “So, the land remains under the federal government.”
According to him, the fact that the land is still vested under the federal government doesn’t mean that the Lagos state government can’t enforce physical planning compliance.”There’s a distinction between the vesting of title in the federal government in the complex through acquisition and the exercise of planning powers,” he clarified.
“Urban planning authority is vested in a state. That is the essence of the Supreme Court judgment of 2003,” Okpaleke clarified, meaning that technically, the state government can exercise planning powers.
He believes the proper approach should have been intergovernmental which both powers need to strengthen for all necessary approvals and for the betterment of the nation.
Apart from the vesting of title, Okpaleke notes that the Trade Fair is also an enterprise under the Public Property Privatisation and Commercialisation Act.
“It’s an enterprise, a business, being run by the federal government,” he emphasises. “So, it doesn’t make sense for Lagos state to jump up unilaterally.
The barrister noted that while similar laws exist in other jurisdictions, one hardly hears of demolitions because they tend to be very proactive in handling issues that arise.
“Have you noticed that you really hear reports of demolitions in those jurisdictions. They tend to be proactive. Then, there are opportunities for correction, but if the developers want to have their way, there are penalties.
“Only in Nigeria that the government will wait for people to exhaust their resources, put up something, and the next thing is to go on a demolition spree,” Okpaleke said.
NIGERIA’s year-on-year inflation rate stood at 15.15 per cent in December, relative to the November 2025 headline inflation rate of 17.33 per cent, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report has shown.
The report, released by the statistics office on Thursday, January 15, showed that the December headline inflation rate was 19.65 per cent lower year on year than the rate recorded in December 2024 (34.80 per cent).
The Statistician-General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, said that following the completion of the recent rebasing exercise, the CPI report was centred on a new CPI base year of 2024 and a weight reference period of 2023.
It further revealed that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) decreased in December 2025 compared to the same month in the preceding year.
On a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in December 2025 was 0.54 per cent, which is 0.69 per cent less than the rate recorded in November 2025 (1.22 per cent).
Accordingly, this means that in December 2025, the rate of increase in the average price level was lower than in November 2025.
“At the divisional level, the three major contributors to the headline inflation were food and non-alcoholic beverages: 6.06 per cent, restaurants & accommodation services: 1.96 per cent, and transport: 1.62 per cent; while the least contributors were recreation, sport, and culture: 0.05 per cent, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics: 0.05 per cent, and insurance and financial services: 0.07,” the statistics office said.
The report also showed that the food inflation rate in December 2025 was 10.84 per cent on a year-on-year basis, while on a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate in December 2025 was -0.36 per cent, down by 1.49 per cent compared to November 2025 (1.13 per cent).
The decrease, the statistics office said, could be attributed to the rate of decrease in the average prices of tomatoes, garri, eggs, potatoes, carrots, millet, vegetables, plantain, beans, wheat grain, grounded pepper, onions, among others.
Additionally, core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce and energy, stood at 18.63 per cent in December 2025 on a year-on-year basis. On a month-on-month basis, the core inflation rate was 0.58 per cent in December 2025.
The inflation rate of the sub-indices for December 2025 shows that only energy increased significantly (2.74 per cent), while other indices decreased, for example, farm produce (-0.41 per cent), services (0.15 per cent) and goods (0.64 per cent).
Adeniran also explained that the December 2025 year-on-year headline inflation rate, including all other sub-indexes were obtained through the maximisation of the index reference period, that is, using a 12-month index reference period where the average CPI for the 12 months of 2024 is equated to 100.
” This is not the same as the single-month index reference period, in which December 2024 was set to 100,” he said.
NIGERIA’S Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday, paid glowing tributes to the nation’s armed forces for their sacrifices and commitment to guaranteeing security across the country.
Shettima gave the commendations while leading other government functionaries at the wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Abuja.
He represented President Bola Tinubu who is reportedly in the United Arab Emirates, participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW)
The wreath-laying ceremony involves the placing of flowers at memorial tombs of fallen soldiers, where prayers are observed and guns are fired.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Benjamin Kalu, Minister of Defence Christopher Musa, and other dignitaries attended the event.
Similarly, former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians and leaders at all levels to recommit themselves to building a nation worthy of the sacrifices of fallen members of the Armed Forces.
Obi made the appeal in a post on his verified X account on Thursday in honour of military personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.
The former Anambra State governor said the day stands as a solemn reminder of the courage and selflessness of soldiers who stood on the frontlines to defend the nation, often at the cost of their own lives.
On this solemn day of Armed Forces Remembrance, we honour those who have laid down their lives in service to our nation. This special annual event serves as a reminder for us to recommit ourselves to being a nation worthy of their sacrifice,he said.
He explained that the true legacy of fallen soldiers lives on in the hearts of the people they protected, describing them as heroes who endured harsh conditions to safeguard the peace and security of the nation.
We are told that a soldiers true grave is not in the earth, but in the hearts and minds of those they protected—those who slept peacefully while their heroes stood guard. In the heat of the sun and the chill of the night, they stood at the frontlines for us.
Perhaps the most fitting honour we can bestow upon these heroes is to live lives that promote peace and progress. We must provide leadership that gives hope to the hopeless. For the families of these fallen heroes, today is not just a date on the calendar; it is a reminder of an empty chair and a voice that is no longer heard. While we cannot fill that void, we want to assure you that their immense sacrifice was never in vain. God bless our fallen heroes, and may their souls continue to rest in eternal honour,he added.
The ICIR reports that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Parade is an annual event organised by the Ministry of Defence to honour Nigerian military personnel who paid the supreme price in service to the nation.
It recognises soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, various peacekeeping missions, and internal security operations, including the ongoing fight against terrorism that threatens Nigerias unity.
Beyond rememberingthe fallen, the parade also celebrates living veterans and serves as a platform to mobilise moral and financial support for their welfare and for the families of deceased service members.
Although Remembrance Day is observed globally, Nigerias commemoration reflects its unique historical experience.
As a Commonwealth nation, Nigeria originally marked Remembrance Day on November 11, in line with other member countries, to honour the end of the First World War in 1918 — at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
However, the country later adopted January 15 to commemorate the end of the Nigerian Civil War, making the observance more reflective of Nigerias own national history.
THE Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has estimated economic growth of 5.5 per cent for the 2026 fiscal year, while emphasising that a productive economy would guarantee the realisation of the projected figure.
The economic advisory group also warned the Federal Government against reversing its core policies of fuel subsidy removal and floating the exchange rate.
This was disclosed during the launch of the 2026 Macroeconomic Outlook, titled ‘Consolidating Economic Stabilisation Gains: Pathway to Sustainable Growth in Nigeria’, of the group on Thursday, January 15.
In addition to the projected figures, the NESG projected a surge in foreign reserves to $52 billion, while warning that the next 18 months represented a critical window to prevent a policy reversal.
In his opening remarks, the NESG Chairman, Niyi Yusuf, pointed out that while recent structural reforms had been necessarily painful, they were merely the beginning of a longer journey.
“Nigeria has just emerged from one of the most disruptive adjustment periods in its recent economic history,” Yusuf stated.
Yusuf clarified that economic stabilisation did not equate to prosperity, stressing that “Growth remains modest and uneven, driven by a narrow set of sectors with weak transmission to employment and household incomes.”
He also warned that the nation must now focus on the “hard work” of the next phase, which focuses on consolidating the gains of the reforms for sustainable and inclusive growth.
“Skipping steps in reforms may come at a cost, and confusing one phase for another may lead to policy inconsistency and reform fatigue,” he cautioned.
In providing the technical roadmap for the year ahead, NESG Chief Economist, Olusegun Omisakin, presented a framework designed to move the ‘patient’ from stabilisation to acceleration.
“The challenge now is that we are no longer in a state of crisis, as referenced by the chairman. The present situation allows us to look critically at how we optimise the gains we’ve seen so far,” Omisakin said.
While setting clear benchmarks for 2026, he announced: “This year, we are projecting 5.5 per cent [GDP growth], inflation around 16 per cent for the whole year, and our reserves to jump to 52 billion US dollars.” He added that for long-term stability, “Our inflation targeting should be looking at single digits by 2029.”
Omisakin noted that the current reliance on the services sector, which accounts for 60 per cent of GDP, is insufficient.
He stressed the need to focus more on strengthening structural transformation by identifying the role of agriculture and manufacturing in the economy.
“If we manage the consolidation process very well, evidence suggests that we can grow the manufacturing sector by six per cent to eight per cent, especially if it is well linked with agriculture,” he said.
Despite optimism by the NESG on 5.5 per cent projected economic figures, economic watchers say Nigeria’s inability to fund its budget optimally would create problems and could hinder the achievement of the estimated figure.
Nigeria has carried over 70 per cent of its 2025 budget into 2026, raising unanswered questions about the government’s inability to meet its projected revenue of N40 trillion, of which it could realise only at N10 trillion. A large portion of this amount would still go into debt servicing.
“The budget implementation is still a big problem, and the budget office needs to do better. We also have to focus on an export-led growth strategy which has the power to pull people away from poverty through targeted exports as we are now consolidating on the gains of the reforms,” a development economist, Ken Ife, a professor, told The ICIR.
He cautioned that the services sector, driving the growth at 60 per cent, was not enough unless the manufacturing sector, through value-addition, offered more opportunities for wealth creation.
ON January 2, 2026, a letter from the Katsina State Ministry of Justice indicated that the state government had approved the release of 70 suspected bandits who were in custody and standing trial for banditry-related offences.
The letter, classified as secret and addressed to the state’s Chief Judge, Musa Abubakar, requested the intervention of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) to facilitate the release of the suspects.
It stated that the move was a condition for the continuation of an existing peace accord between affected communities in many local government areas of the state and armed groups operating in those areas.
The letter drew public attention and backlash, with concerns raised over the implications of releasing suspects facing criminal trials.
Despite public ire that trailed the decision, the government defended the decision. On January 12, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Danmusa, said the planned release was aimed at consolidating peace and securing the freedom of abducted persons.
According to him, the peace pact had already led to the release of more than 1,000 people previously held captive by armed groups across the state.
The government argued that similar peace deal had been adopted in conflict situations globally, adding that the process fell within the statutory powers of the ACJMC under Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021.
Over 1,500 civilians killed by bandits in five years in Katsina
However, data shows that deadly attacks on civilians have continued in Katsina despite years of negotiations and peace arrangements.
Number of civillians killed by bandits in Katsina State between 2021 and 2025
Data obtained from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) indicated that at least 1,591 civilians were killed in the state between 2021 and 2025, with fatalities rising sharply in the last two years.
According to the data, 246 civilians were killed in 2021, followed by 179 deaths in 2022 and 138 in 2023.
The figures rose sharply thereafter, with 495 civilian deaths recorded in 2024 and 533 in 2025, the highest annual toll within the five-year period.
The rise in fatalities occurred despite ongoing negotiations and peace deals between state authorities and armed groups operating in Katsina and the wider North-West region.
Past negotiations with bandits
Negotiations and amnesty-style agreements with armed groups in Katsina and across Nigeria’s North-West have a long record, but multiple investigations suggest they have failed to deliver sustained security.
A June 2025 investigation by The ICIR found that hundreds of ‘repentant’ Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters who surrendered under government amnesty programmes in the North-East later returned to active combat. In exclusive interviews with ex-commanders, The ICIR reported that many surrendered fighters rejoined insurgent groups after government authorities failed to fulfil promises, including housing and livelihood support.
According to the investigation, some surrendered fighters received only a one-off payment of ₦100,000 before being left without sustainable means of survival, prompting many to return to the forests where armed groups retained access to resources, protection and income. Former commanders told The ICIR that the lack of “structured reintegration”, monitoring and accountability enabled insurgents to regroup, rearm and resume coordinated attacks on communities and military formations.
The report documented a resurgence of attacks across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in early 2025, including assaults on military bases and civilian communities, despite years of disarmament, reintegration programmes and dialogue-based counterinsurgency approaches.
In a September 2025 analysis, The New Humanitarian reported that peace talks and amnesty deals in states including Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi was always a leverage for armed groups rather than pathways to disarmament. According to the report, bandit leaders frequently use negotiations to secure safe passage, regain freedom of detained members, collect taxes from communities, or create space to rearm, while retaining their weapons and operational capacity.
The outlet documented repeated cases where armed group leaders publicly declared repentance, released captives during staged ceremonies and surrendered a small number of weapons, only for attacks to resume within months. In Katsina, it recalled that a 2019 amnesty arrangement saw armed groups turn in just two rifles during a public ceremony, after which residents later reported renewed attacks.
NIHERIA’s hope of lifting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been truncated following a penalty shootout defeat after a goalless semi-final encounter with Morocco.
The highly anticipated clash ended 0–0 after regulation time and extra times Nigeria maintained defensive solidity throughout the 120 minutes as Morocco failed to convert their chances in attack, forcing the match into penalties.
In the shootout, Nigeria’s Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi missed their penalties, bringing an end to their AFCON campaign and dashing hopes of reaching the final.
The defeat marked a disappointing end to what had been an impressive tournament run for the Super Eagles. Nigeria had entered the semi-final full of confidence after defeating Algeria 2–0 in the quarterfinals at the Marrakesh Stadium on January 10.
Against Algeria, Victor Osimhen opened the scoring early in the second half with a powerful aerial header from a precise cross by Bruno.
Akor Adams doubled Nigeria’s lead ten minutes later after being set up by Osimhen, with Alex Iwobi playing a key role in the build-up.
The quarterfinal victory followed a dominant 4–0 win over Mozambique in the round of 16 at the Stade de Fès, where Nigeria displayed attacking fluidity and tactical cohesion.
Osimhen and Adams both found the net in that encounter, with Iwobi and Ademola Lookman providing crucial assists.
Nigeria face Egypt on Saturday for a third place in the campaign, while Morocco meet Senegal in the final on Sunday.
THE United States Embassy in Abuja has reopened its newly redesigned American Center.
The embassy, in a statement issued on Tuesday, January 13, described the facility as a platform to showcase American excellence while deepening US–Nigeria relations.
The statement said the upgraded American Center, located within the Embassy Chancery, featured modernised spaces and enhanced technology aimed at expanding educational, cultural, and professional opportunities for Nigerians of all ages.
It noted that the Center would support English language learning, educational counselling for studies in the United States, American cultural programmes, professional skills development, and networking with US exchange programme alumni.
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills Jr., said in the statement that American Spaces had become trusted venues for young people seeking opportunities to learn about the United States, improve their English, and build professional skills.
He added that the Centers played a key role in equipping Nigerians with tools needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving global economy.
The embassy noted that the redesigned Center also featured murals celebrating American history, culture, and shared values such as freedom, innovation, and community.
Mills was quoted as saying that the values represented in the artwork reflected qualities commonly seen among Nigerian youth, including hard work, determination, and perseverance.
“Through educational advising, entrepreneurship training, and digital literacy programmes, American Spaces equip Nigerians with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy,” he said.
“The individuals depicted on this mural embody the values of hard work, determination, and perseverance. These are hallmarks of American achievement, but they are also qualities we see every day in Nigerian youth,” he added.
Country Public Diplomacy Counselor, Lee McManis, said the American Center in Abuja joined 29 other American Spaces across Nigeria, which he described as hubs for cultural exchange, learning, and collaboration.
“These Spaces offer a welcoming environment where people can access reliable information, develop new skills, and engage in open dialogue. By fostering connections and supporting lifelong learning, American Spaces empower individuals and strengthen the bonds between our nations,” McManis said.
The reopening comes against the backdrop of a recent US announcement imposing a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerians. The policy, introduced under a presidential proclamation on border and national security, affects several visa categories, including visitor, student, and exchange visas, with limited exemptions.
The visa restrictions, which commenced on January 1, 2026, have sparked concern among Nigerians planning to travel, study, or migrate to the US, following a series of tightened immigration measures in recent months.
According to a report, the restrictions have forced many prospective students to suspend admissions, defer programmes, or abandon plans entirely. The report noted that several American universities had been reaching out to Nigerian applicants, advising them to pause their enrolment due to visa uncertainties.
THE Federal Government has signed and unveiled a fresh agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), formally replacing the long-disputed 2009 pact that fuelled years of industrial action in Nigeria’s public universities.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, January 14, at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Conference Hall in Maitama, Abuja, with top government officials and ASUU leaders in attendance.
Present at the event were the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa; the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad; the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi; and the leadership of ASUU, led by its president, Chris Piwuna.
Speaking at the unveiling, Piwuna said the union was cautiously optimistic that the Federal Government would faithfully implement the terms of the agreement without pushing ASUU to threaten industrial action.
“We are optimistic that the government will implement this agreement in totality, but pessimism still exists because of our history,” he said.
“It is our belief that Dr. Tunji Alausa will be different, and that our union will not need to issue a strike threat before any part of this agreement is implemented. As you always say, you are open and accessible; ASUU is also open and accessible,” he added.
Describing the agreement as a major shift, Alausa said it marked a turning point for Nigeria’s tertiary education system and signalled an end to frequent strikes in public universities.
“History will remember today not merely as an unveiling ceremony, but as the day Nigeria chose dialogue, transparency, fiscal realism, and strong presidential commitment as the pathway to resolving long-standing governance challenges weand achieving sustained progress,” the minister stated.
Alausa explained that the agreement restored predictability to academic calendars, boosts staff morale, and offers renewed hope to students and parents across the country.
He added that “This administration did not shy away from complexity; we confronted it squarely. Through sustained engagement, fiscal realism, and mutual respect, we have laid a durable foundation for industrial harmony in our federal tertiary educational institutions,” he said.
On implementation, the Minister of Labour and Employment urged both parties to act in good faith, stressing that “agreements only gain value when their provisions are sincerely executed.”
“Faithful and timely execution will not only build trust between the government and university staff but will also foster lasting industrial peace and restore confidence among students, parents, and the wider Nigerian public.
“Agreements gain true meaning not at the point of signing but through consistent and honest implementation,” Dingyadi said.
Key components of the agreement
According to the Education minister, key provisions of the new agreement include a 40 per cent upward review of the emoluments of university academic staff, which he said was aimed at improving welfare, enhancing service delivery, and addressing brain drain.
Under the new structure, academics will be paid through a combination of existing salary frameworks and a consolidated academic tools allowance, which accounts for the 40 per cent review.
He explained that academic staff would be remunerated under two components: the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary (CONUASS) and the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA).
According to him, the CATA is meant to cover essential academic needs such as journal publications, conference attendance, internet access, membership of professional bodies, and book allowances.
The minister added that the agreement also introduced, for the first time, a “professorial cadre allowance” for full-time professors and senior academic leaders.
Under the newly introduced professorial cadre allowance, full professors will earn N1.7 million per year, while academics at the rank of Reader will receive N840,000 annually.
Alausa stressed that the allowance recognised the heavy administrative, scholarly, and research responsibilities borne by academics at that level and did not apply to part-time staff.
“For the first time, the FG has approved a new professorial cadre allowance that apply to senior academics at the level of full time professors and leaders in our tertiary institutions
“Let me emphasise clearly that these allowances apply strictly to full time and not part time professors and leaders.
“This approval recognises the significant workload, administrative, scholarly and research responsibilities borne by academics at this level by the virtue of their profession and positions as professors or leaders in our universities,” he said.
