Category Nigeria News

Babajide Ogunsanwo, the founder and chief data analyst for CNNN and the founder of Leadership by Data, has provided insight into the growing diplomatic rift between Nigeria and the United States in response to President Donald Trump’s threats to use force against Christians who claim to have committed genocide.

Ogunsanwo noted that the US position is based on “evidence” that the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, which has been monitoring Nigeria for a long time, reportedly collected.

He explained that Nigeria’s inclusion on the US list of “countries of particular concern” is consistent with what happened in 2020 under Trump and was later overturned by President Joe Biden.

Read more about how ground operations and air strikes could be US targets in Nigeria.

Ogunsanwo claims that Nigeria’s lessening of Washington’s “perception of value” has also loosened its influence in diplomatic negotiations.

The data analyst added that declining American investments between 2020 and 2024 suggest a cooling trend, revealing Washington’s “less interested” attitude.

Ogunsanwo believes a military operation is still unavoidable, noting that while Trump’s statement received more than 10 million views, US government officials have not yet confirmed any imminent action.

He advised the Nigerian government to provide verifiable information on terrorism and religious freedom in response to the US’s claims.

Trump threatened military action against Nigeria over the weekend for the killings of Christians. He previously directed the Pentagon to create a possible attack plan when he spoke on Sunday while speaking on Air Force One and said he was considering “a lot of things.”

Trump had earlier stated that if the violence continued, there would be “an existential threat” to Christianity in Nigeria and that U.S. action would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”

Presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala, who reacted, said Nigeria still supports the United States in the fight against terrorism worldwide but that any support must respect its sovereignty.

Supo Ayokunle, the former head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged President Bola Tinubu to contact US President Donald Trump about the killings of Christians in Nigeria.

This is a “sad development,” according to Ayokunle, who spoke in an interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources program.

He lamented that the situation had persisted for more than 15 years and warned that if not resolved quickly the situation might get worse.

He advised the US government to negotiate diplomatically to prevent tensions from rising.

He argues that Nigeria should contact Washington directly if it needs assistance rather than wait for outside assistance.

Donald Trump ought to speak with President Tinubu. We should make a request for assistance if it is necessary.

We must not wait until the US arrives with its troops. It will be challenging to return them once they arrive. We do not want another type of imperialism, Ayokunle asserted.

His remarks come in response to Trump’s recent threats to Nigerian military action over reported attacks on Christians.

If Nigeria didn’t stop the killings, the US president claimed he had asked the Pentagon to create a plan of action.

Kayode Opeifa, the managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), attributed the derailment of the Warri–Itakpe train to vandalism along the rail tracks.

Opeifa stated in a statement on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s The Morning Brief that the collision occurred despite recent maintenance and security measures along the corridor.

READ MORE: The NRC Suspends Services Four Days After Resumption of Warri-Itakpe Train After It Derails

He disclosed that extensive repairs had been carried out during the course of the line’s closure two months prior to safety and security concerns.

The line was put on hold two months ago because safety and security were in order. We reopened almost every kilometer of the track, replacing clips, landrolls, and bolts in several places, according to Opeifa. We also learned that there are frequent vandals on this side and many other sides in the bushes, and our job is to secure them.

Four days after the announcement of the resumed use of train service, his comments came after the Warri-Itakpe train slammed into the Agbor region of Delta State.

He claimed that the rail tracks’ four fish plates and flat iron pieces had been severn from the derailment. He claimed that we found four fish plates at the location that night, which may have been the cause of the incident.

He claimed that the train had safely traveled the same route earlier that day between Onyewu and Agbor, which suggested that the items that had been removed were likely to have been altered after that transition. A guard train watches over what is happening behind every train in this neighborhood. He continued, “We still have men working on these tracks every day.”

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At the time of the derailment, 446 passengers were traveling from Agbor station to Abraka, where the incident took place, according to an official confirmation from Opeifa.

“We made sure all 446 passengers arrived at Agbor safely and quickly. Under security watch, he said, some who opted to stay back received water, drinks, and light refreshments.

Gunmen abducted a consultant neurosurgeon, Dr. Tochukwu Mbanugo, who works at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State.

The incident was confirmed and condemned by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, who described it as deeply troubling and unacceptable.

The government expressed deep concern about the incident in a statement signed by Dr. Iziaq Salako, the minister of state for health and social welfare.

After undergoing a number of complex neurosurgical procedures, NAUTH reports that the doctor had been attacked in Omatha Junction, Uruagu, Nnewi.

READ ALSO: FG Announces Health Worker Recruitment With $11.9 billion for Doctors’ Welfare.

Before the kidnapping, the ministry revealed that he had performed numerous crucial tasks, including removing a challenging brain tumor, which had saved numerous lives.

The abduction of Dr. Tochukwu Mbanugo has caused the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to be deeply concerned.

His abduction occurred when he should have been at his safest, the statement read, “Returning home from serving humanity,” the statement read.

The abductors later contacted some of Dr. Mbanugo’s colleagues via his phone, according to the Ministry.

The State Vigilante Group, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, the Department of State Services, and the Anambra State Police Command have all received information about the incident.

According to the ministry, NAUTH management is working with security forces, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and other interested parties to ensure his safe return.

Dr. Salako referred to the incident as a significant threat to Nigeria’s already constrained health system.

With a population of over 220 million, Nigeria has fewer than 150 neurosurgeons practicing there.

He claimed that Nigeria has about one neurosurgeon for every 1.9 million citizens, compared to the WHO’s recommendation of one per 100,000 people.

He argued that an attack on a medical professional “a direct assault on the nation’s health security and collective wellbeing.”

The Ministry criticized healthcare workers as “national assets working under enormous pressure to save lives,” and referred to them as “national assets working under immense pressure to save lives.”

They must be respected and protected, Salako remarked. They shouldn’t be attacked or hunted.

He demanded that Dr. Mbanugo’s search for him and all security personnel increase and secure his immediate, unconditional release.

A two-day bilateral working trip between the Netherlands and the United States, led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, aims to improve cooperation on trade facilitation, port efficiency, and border management.

A number of high-level technical meetings, institutional briefings, and strategic meetings with Dutch authorities and Customs experts were part of the visit, which took place between October 29 and October 2025.

The Nigerian delegation was met by senior Dutch Customs Administration officials at Laan op Zuid, Dutch Customs Headquarters in Rotterdam, where the mission started.

The delegation also got a presentation from Ed Tulp’s National Tariff Classification Team (TLT), which dealt with tariff and origin rules in the Dutch system.

A detailed discussion on risk management, moderated by Dennis van der Wolk of the Customs National Tactical Centre (DLTC), which highlighted the Netherlands’ model for risk profiling, cargo monitoring, and tactical decision-making in customs operations.

After that, the NCS team met with the Netherlands Customs’ Head of International Affairs, where discussions focused on strengthening inter-agency coordination, capacity-building exchange programs, and digital trade processes.

READ MORE: TotalEnergies hosts a HSE Forum for 62 Contractors.

CGC Adeniyi praised the Dutch Customs’ structured approach to classification and risk management during the sessions, noting that “the presentations have been particularly insightful in showing how systematic collaboration and data-driven analysis can improve compliance and trade facilitation across borders.”

He added that the Nigeria Customs Service “mains committed to adopting international best practices that strike a balance between facilitation and enforcement, ensuring that legitimate trade flourishes while protecting revenue and security interests.”

After leaving Schiphol Airport, the delegation moved on to Schiphol Cargo, where Schiphol Cargo’s detailed presentation on cargo classification and clearance procedures at one of Europe’s busiest air cargo centers. In handling large-volume air cargo, the session gave attendees a firsthand understanding of how the Netherlands uses automated processing, pre-arrival processing, and coordinated border control.

As Customs and the Netherlands Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation for Trade Facilitation and Compliance Management, Diplomacy Prevails.

A delegation from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, has traveled to the Netherlands for a two-day bilateral… twitter.com/QKDHhZGV1z

The state’s FIFA mini-stadium project was allegedly mishandled and poorly executed, according to the Kebbi Football Association.

INCLUDE   Shehu Dikko, the director of the Kebbi Mini-Stadium Project, claims that no FIFA funds were misused.

Contrary to what some people had been saying on social media, the project was fully completed over two years ago and had since been put to use, according to Alhaji Abubakar Chika-Ladan, the chairman of the Kebbi Football Association.

There have been numerous allegations that the National Football Federation (NFF) misappropriated funds or that the project was not carried out properly.

He said, “We are here to let everyone know that the mini-stadium has been operational since then.”

The facility, according to Chika-Ladan, has hosted a number of local and national football competitions, including Kebbi United Football Club’s home ground, which it also hosted last year.

In addition, Kamfara United has moved to Kebbi to use the facility.

What people claim is just a figment of their imagination is what they say.

He claimed that those who spread such rumors are hostile toward Nigerian progress and progress.

FIFA Handled the Project.

The FIFA appointed both the contractor and the consultant through an international competitive bidding process won by Nigerian firms, according to the FA chairman.

The project was valued at $1. The cost of construction, which included the playing field, a 250-seat pavilion, a medical facility, dressing rooms for teams A and B, officials, perimeter fencing, landscaping, and maintenance equipment was $8 million US (about 400 million at the time).

Mr. the National Sports Commission’s Chairman, He continued, “Shehu Dikko has already provided clarification on how the project was implemented.

In the same vein, Mr. Mansur Senchi, the president of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), warned those who were spreading false information about the project.

It is unacceptable for someone to write phony, unfounded stories in another region of the country. According to Senchi, “we will no longer tolerate it.”

Controversy

Following widespread criticism of its appearance and value, the Birnin Kebbi mini-stadium project, which was funded through FIFA’s Forward Programme, came under intense scrutiny.

FIFA’s use of the stadium’s image on its social media banner, which sparked outcry and inquiries into an investigation, led to the ensuing controversy.

However, Shehu Dikko, the NSC’s chairman, refuted claims that the $1 was allegedly squandered. $2 million is allocated to the state’s mini-stadium construction.

who appeared in an interview on Channels Television’s; Last Friday, Politics Today stated, “That is where people are getting it wrong. No one came in and collected the money. I’m not here to support the NFF; They are free to defend themselves.