Television Nigerian

The Presidency has detailed what it claims are notable economic advancements in Nigeria as a result of reforms implemented under President Bola Tinubu.

Sunday Dare, the President’s Special Advisor on Media and Public Communication, wrote on his official X handle on Thursday that the nation’s economy, which was at a “breaking point” prior to Tinubu taking office, is now making quantifiable progress.

According to him, the changes have had an impact on important areas such as commerce, foreign reserves, taxes, debt service, the elimination of fuel subsidies, the budget deficit, and public financial management.

Nigeria had a negative balance of payments that was draining the country’s economy prior to May 2023, he said, and it was regularly running a trade deficit, importing considerably more than it exported. Nigeria now records a trade surplus, which relieves pressure on external accounts. In the past, Nigeria ran numerous exchange rate windows, which led to distortions and a large disparity between official and unofficial markets. However, the tide has now turned. Reforms have harmonized the exchange rate, minimizing uncertainty and closing the gap.

Additionally, the presidential adviser cited “improvements” in the country’s foreign reserves, government revenue, and debt service.

By early 2023, Nigeria was in a precarious position due to unmet foreign exchange demand of $7 billion and net reserves that had dropped below $4 billion. Since then, reforms have cleared foreign exchange forwards, increased reserves to nearly $23 billion, and boosted confidence by permitting foreign exchange access, even on naira cards.

“Nigeria was on the verge of bankruptcy, with its tax-to-GDP ratio stuck below 10% and 97% of government revenue going toward debt payments. Today, debt service has dropped below 50% of revenue, while reforms have raised the tax-to-GDP ratio above 15%.

The elimination of fuel subsidies, he added, was a watershed moment, stating that “fuel subsidies were not only wasteful but unsustainable, draining resources while still leaving Nigerians with fuel scarcity and negative FAAC inflows.” After changes, the subsidy was removed, freeing up money for important expenditures. Additionally, states now get positive FAAC allocations and the fuel supply is guaranteed.
Dare made the following observation regarding the budget: “High deficits and low capital expenditures used to dominate Nigeria’s budget.” This tendency has been reversible because to reforms; infrastructure investment is currently rising while the deficit is falling.

Additionally, he emphasized better budgetary restraint: “By May 2023, Ways and Means’ borrowing from the Central Bank had surpassed ₦30 trillion, compromising fiscal stability and stability.” Due to stricter fiscal restraint and a steady draw-down, the reform process has reduced this practice.

Regarding the oil and gas industry, Dare said, “Theft, sabotage, and poor management were the main causes of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry’s steady decline in output. Production has now increased due to reforms and improved security, reestablishing Nigeria’s most significant source of income.

Speaking about the investment climate, he stated, “Investors were put off by the inconsistent, opaque, and unfavorable to markets pre-reform policy environment. Since then, changes have made the environment more predictable, which has attracted capital and even resulted in increases to sovereign ratings.

The presidential assistant clarified that prior to changes, inflation was rapidly increasing, and as a result, loan rates were rising, which choked enterprises. Interest rates are stabilizing and inflation has begun to decline, despite the fact that it is still high today.

“Nigeria’s reality before reforms was defined by rising poverty and shrinking job opportunities,” he added in reference to poverty and job creation. Although poverty rates are still high today, changes are consciously reversing this trend through policies that provide access to decent work and infrastructural improvements.

Before Tinubu took office, Dare claimed that Nigeria’s budgetary administration was ineffective, disorganized, and rife with inefficiencies.

He said that the “economic reforms have made public financial management more disciplined, enhanced transparency, and strengthened coordination.”

Nigeria would have had to deal with growing deficits, depleting reserves, hyperinflation, soaring debt, and potential economic collapse in the absence of the changes, according to Dare.

In a petition to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, Khadija Abdulsalam, a resident of Kaduna, has accused a market woman named Hajiya Basira and her daughter, a police officer named DSP Madina Mustapha, of engaging in criminal intimidation, assault, and abuse of authority.

Khadija Abdulsalam and her mother own stores in Kaduna Central Market, and in the appeal dated September 30, 2025, Khadija claimed that Hajiya Basira, whose store is close to theirs, has been harassing and insulting them constantly.

The altercation apparently turned violent on September 6, 2025, when Basira allegedly attacked her verbally and physically without cause, according to her.

A neighbor informed the market police station officers, and one officer, Bashir, stepped in and requested that both parties come the next day to sign a peace undertaking, according to Abdulsalam.

Abdulsalam, however, claimed that on September 7, DSP Madina Mustapha—who is reportedly Basira’s daughter and a serving officer—intervened and used her power to move the case from the market police post to the Magajin Gari Police Division.

Abdulsalam added in the appeal, “I was compelled to kneel and plead with the same individual who attacked me after I wrote my statement at the division.”

She further claimed that she was unjustly and illegally jailed.

Requesting an impartial probe into the event and warning DSP Mustapha against meddling in police procedures, the petitioner made an appeal to the DIG.

Abdulsalam claims that the incident was seen by multiple witnesses, including one Abba, and it has raised questions regarding police impartiality and power abuse in legal disputes.

As of the time of writing, DSP Mustapha and Hajiya Basira had not officially addressed the accusations.

Officially, the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) reopened on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, after weeks of rigorous safety checks, inspections, and employee training conducted by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

After leaving Idu Station in Abuja and making a stop at Kubwa to collect passengers, the first train made it to Rigasa Station in Kaduna. On the same day, a return trip was planned, signifying that passenger train operations on the line had fully resumed.

The NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, issued a statement on behalf of the management confirming this.

NRC’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, accompanied workers and passengers on the first journey.

His purpose in being there was to observe the resume ride firsthand and contribute to the restoration of public trust in the service.

When Dr. Opeifa spoke to reporters after arriving in Rigasa, he was pleased and praised God Almighty for His favor during the company’s recuperation.

He emphasized the vital role that a contemporary railway network plays in promoting national growth and unity, pointing out that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has made significant investments in rail infrastructure throughout the nation.

The NRC chief reaffirmed his resolve to turn the Corporation around by giving priority to finishing up ongoing projects, optimizing the nation’s rail assets, restoring all serviceable rolling stock, growing services, enhancing customer satisfaction, and modernizing operations and efficiency, especially along the AKTS corridor.

He revealed that a specialized Customer Service Department has been set up to enhance service delivery and quickly handle passenger problems.

Regarding safety, Dr. Opeifa gave passengers and employees the company’s steadfast dedication to safety and well-being.

To protect all parties involved, he said, covert but efficient security measures have been implemented in addition to the obvious presence of police and military personnel in stations and along the route.

Dr. Opeifa made it clear that he is committed to making the NRC a premier, passenger-friendly service provider that can propel socioeconomic development by establishing safe, effective, and modern rail transportation networks across the country.

The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has brought President Bola Tinubu before it in relation to the contentious August 30, 2025, local government elections in Rivers State.

Attorney Clifford Nnanta Chuku is requesting that the court, in an action filed on September 11, 2025 (No. FHC/PH/CS/173/2025), declare the Emergency Powers Regulation, which Tinubu enacted to govern the elections, unconstitutional and annul the votes.

Chuku claimed that the rule compromised democracy and violated the constitution by suspending portions of the Rivers State electoral legislation and the Electoral Act 2022.

Chuku claimed the President had overreached himself by suspending certain provisions of the statute in preparation for the Rivers elections, which was illegal.

Tinubu is named as a defendant in the lawsuit together with the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

The court is primarily concerned with whether the regulation unlawfully curtailed the Rivers people’s democratic rights and if RSIEC’s election notice complied with the necessary legal deadlines.

Chuku wants the rule to be overturned, the August 30 elections nullified, and RSIEC forced to hold new elections in complete accordance with the Electoral Act.

The hearing has been scheduled for October 21, 2025 by the Federal High Court.

Legal experts think the case may influence the president’s future authority in election-related affairs.

Following President Bola Tinubu’s independence day remarks that compared the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to Boko Haram, three human rights and self-determination advocacy groups located in the United States have harshly denounced Tinubu.

On behalf of Rising Sun, Advocates for Victims of Injustice and Discrimination (AVID) President Dr. Sylvester Onye and Ambassadors for Self-Determination jointly released a statement on Thursday, calling the President’s remarks “reckless, prejudicial, and sub judice.”

Tinubu’s comparison of IPOB to Boko Haram, the groups said, was inappropriate, particularly as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the group’s leader, is still on trial at the Federal High Court and IPOB’s legal appeal is still pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“It is extremely regrettable that a sitting president would make such a divisive and untrue statement while legal proceedings are still in progress,” the organizations stated.

“This statement not only violates the law, but it also clearly aims to taint the fairness of the proceedings and sway the verdict.”

According to the organizations, the president ought to concentrate on tackling Nigeria’s broader security issues instead.

President Tinubu should focus his attention on deadly armed organizations that continue to uproot communities and claim lives throughout Nigeria, the statement said, rather than obsessing about IPOB, a nonviolent self-determination movement.

Furthermore, they insisted that Nnamdi Kanu’s continuing arrest would not lessen his clout with his followers.

“We urge President Tinubu to remember that intimidation would not silence Mazi Nnamdi Kanu or make him less popular. “On the contrary, each day he is held only serves to increase his prominence,” the organizations said.

In order to make sure that democratic values are maintained, the advocacy organizations encouraged the US Congress and the US Department of State to carefully examine Nigeria’s government.

Additionally, they urged the world community to denounce President Tinubu’s “reckless and prejudicial utterances” against IPOB.

Citing earlier court decisions in support of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the organization called for his unconditional release and the accountability of Nigerian leaders for what they claim is “ethnic persecution under the guise of national security.”

According to the statement, the government’s present position might backfire.

“All that President Tinubu has managed to demonstrate is that the more he cracks down on IPOB and imprisons Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the more powerful and well-liked both parties grow.

According to the groups, “the light of truth cannot be extinguished by prison walls, courtroom manipulations, or propaganda.”

Following a series of synchronized offensives across many theaters of action, Nigerian Army troops have killed numerous terrorists, captured 25 suspects, and rescued 16 hostages.

NAN was informed by a reliable source at Army Headquarters that the operations also resulted in the recovery of motorbikes, various illegal narcotics, explosives, ammunition, guns, and petroleum products.

He claimed the military in the northeast delivered severe blows to ISWAP/JAS members in the Madagali LGA of Adamawa and the Kolori and Karumi towns in the Konduga Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno.

The source claims that a major logistics provider was stopped in Mafa LGA with 23 gasoline cans hidden in a bag.

While a suspected terrorist in Garkida admitted to his role in earlier attacks in Damboa, soldiers in Mubi North stopped the smuggling of fertilizer and gasoline.

He stated that 150 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, four magazines, and one M70AB2 rifle were among the recovered materials.

According to the military source in the North West, the soldiers of 1 Brigade stopped many terrorist attacks in the Zamfara LGAs of Maradun, Tsafe, and Anka.

“Several motorcycles were seized and six kidnapped victims were rescued,” he added.

He claims that after careful intelligence, a well-known kidnap kingpin was apprehended in Mayir Village in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.

A violent extremist was neutralized by Operation Whirl Stroke troops in Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue in the North Central, according to the source, while ten passengers who had been kidnapped were rescued along the Kyado–Wukari route.

Soldiers in Kwara rescued three kidnapped people in Eruku town and retrieved a motorcycle, he added.

He said that two suspects, including the consignee, were taken into custody by the troops when they stopped a car carrying drugs in Nasarawa State.

He stated that in the South East, the troops apprehended two cultists at Mgbidi in Imo and found a motorcycle, phones, and a weapon.

In Orumba North LGA of Anambra, he said, soldiers stopped IPOB/ESN activities. After setting off three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the criminals fled.

According to the source, security officers in the South South seized 27 cartridges and two locally manufactured double-barrelled guns.

Troops detained 19 drug dealers in Delta and Bayelsa states in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, or NDLEA. They also seized cannabis, tramadol, pentazocine, diazepam, and Canadian loud.

Over 1,200 liters of crude oil and illegally processed Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were also recovered by military in Rivers and Bayelsa, and four suspected kidnappers were taken into custody in Oshimili North LGA of Delta.

Troops found one M70AB2 rifle, four magazines, 150 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, two double-barrelled weapons, 27 cartridges, one pistol, multiple motorcycles, sizable loads of fertilizer and gasoline, IEDs, cell phones, and other illegal substances during the operations, he claimed.

The Nigerian Army’s determination to maintain pressure on terrorists, kidnappers, and criminal organizations across the country was reaffirmed by the source.