Nigeria

The economy shows tentative positive signals with a strengthening Naira and international regulatory relief. The Lagos state government is actively investing in the creative sector and extending tax deadlines, while federal projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway advance with planned tolling. Calls from figures like Okonjo-Iweala for a shift to local manufacturing highlight persistent structural challenges.

• 3US embassy reopens redesigned American Centre in Abuja
• 3Lagos boosted creative economy with N8.4bn – Commissioner
• 2FG welcomes European Commission’s removal of Nigeria from AML/CFT high-risk list
• 2Lagos–Calabar Coastal highway to be tolled after unveiling – Umahi
• 1Lagos extends annual tax returns deadline to Feb 7

Politics is defined by intense subnational conflicts, with the Kano emirship dispute and the Rivers state impeachment move against the governor creating sustained instability. President Tinubu engages in high-level diplomacy and makes ambassadorial postings, while the APC party machinery intervenes in Kano. The corruption trial of Diezani Alison-Madueke in the UK remains a prominent backdrop.

• 5Kano emirship dispute continues as political tensions rise
• 5Rivers lawmakers move to impeach governor despite court order
• 3Alison-Madueke accused of enjoying ‘life of luxury’ from bribes at UK trial
• 3JUST IN: Tinubu posts four ambassador-designates to France, US, UK, Turkey
• 3Police investigate Lagos DPO over alleged power abuse

Security is in a critical phase due to a massive kidnapping crisis, with over 150 worshippers abducted from churches in a single incident. The military is conducting offensive airstrikes and ground operations against militant camps in Borno and the Timbuktu Triangle. US security assistance is arriving, while police forces are deployed to respond to abductions and local violence in Kaduna and Kano.

• 5US sends military supplies to Nigeria to boost security cooperation
• 4Dozens abducted in Nigeria church attacks; church leader says more than 160 seized
• 2Lagos seizes 70 motorcycles on restricted routes
• 2Police confirm Kaduna abduction, deploy tactical units to rescue victims
• 2Troops clear terrorists’ camps in Timbuktu Triangle, thwarts Boko Haram attacks

Society is gripped by acute tension over state-led demolitions and forced evictions, particularly in Lagos, sparking protests and a violent police crackdown. This dispossession crisis, described as sweeping away 'decades of memories', is the dominant social fault line, overshadowing other issues like health campaigns and flooding.

• 2VIDEO: Rain floods Lagos road, causes gridlock
• 2VIDEO: Police tear-gas residents protesting Lagos eviction, demolition
• 2Lagos orders postmortem as twins die after vaccination
• 1Stop condemning Nigeria, Oando CEO tells citizens
• 1Kano unveils awareness campaign, distributes free medication for whooping cough