The United States would drastically reduce its diplomatic footprint in Africa and also scrap State Department offices dealing with climate change, democracy and human rights, according to a White House order under consideration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said The New York Times, which first reported the existence of the draft order, had fallen “victim to another hoax. ”
“This is fake news,” Rubio posted Sunday on X.
However, a copy of the draft executive order viewed by AFP calls for “full structural reorganization” of the State Department by October 1 of this year.
The aim, the draft order says, is “to streamline mission delivery, project American strength abroad, cut waste, fraud, abuse, and align the Department with an America First Strategic Doctrine. ”
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The biggest change would be organizing US diplomatic efforts into four regions: Eurasia, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
The current Africa Bureau would be eliminated. In its place would be a “Special Envoy Office for African Affairs” who reports to the White House’s internal National Security Council, rather than the State Department.
“All non-essential embassies and consulates in Sub-Saharan Africa shall be closed,” the draft order says, with all remaining missions consolidated under a special envoy “using targeted, mission-driven deployments. ”
The draft executive order obtained by AFP has not been discussed publicly by officials. However, it comes amid a flurry of moves by President Donald Trump to cut decades-old US soft power initiatives and to question long-held alliances, including with NATO.
The latest proposal under discussion follows the leaking to US media of another proposed plan under which the State Department would see its entire budget slashed by half.
In the latest draft plan, current offices dealing with climate change and human rights would be “eliminated. ”
The US footprint in Canada, a key ally of Washington that Trump has repeatedly suggested should be annexed and made a 51st state, would see a “significantly reduced team. ” The embassy in Ottawa would “significantly downscale. ”
Seventeen-year-old minor, Alabi Quadri, who went viral before the 2023 general elections for standing in front of the convoy of a former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has regained freedom after months in prison.
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Magistrate Adetola Olorunfemi freed him on Thursday following the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins.
The Federal Government has inaugurated an Interministerial Committee on Research and Innovation to ensure food security in Nigeria, energy security, and curtail the nation’s dependence on import.
Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the committee at the State House Abuja with a charge to them to work towards cutting down Nigeria’s import bills by 50 percent.
He said the committee is part of ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to pool intellectual and financial capital to “create the cockpit from which Nigeria’s innovation economy will be piloted.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the committee
According to him, the mission is to build Nigeria into a trillion-dollar economy within 10 years.
READ ALSO: 150 Million Nigerians Now Have Access To Adequate Electricity – Adelabu
“We are here to breathe life not into this Committee, but into a bold mission: to build Nigeria into an innovation-driven, trillion-dollar economy within a decade. The future we desire is not something we inherit. It is something we build,” he declared.
On the committee’s terms of reference, VP Shettima said the committee is to coordinate action in five strategic sectors with the power to transform society.
He listed the committee to include “Agriculture and Climate Resilience, where research innovation must feed our people and protect our planet; Manufacturing Excellence, where we break our dependency on imports and build proudly Nigerian supply chains; Healthcare Innovation, where we shift from importing medicines to exporting medical breakthroughs; Natural Resource Optimisation, where we stop selling raw materials and start exporting ingenuity; and Energy Security, where we power our economy and secure our future.”
Some members of the committee
The Vice President explained that a major target for setting up the committee is to reduce Nigeria’s food import bill by 50 per cent, maintaining that “in each of these areas, we will pursue missions, not just metrics.
“We will not be content with data for dashboards—we want deliverables that change lives. What will it take to reduce our food import bill by 50%? How do we triple local pharmaceutical production? Let us align policy, research, and investment to answer these questions and achieve measurable, meaningful outcomes,” he added.
Senator Shettima disclosed that the committee is a prelude to a Presidential Plenary on Innovation approved by President Tinubu, saying the high-level plenary, which will be held annually, will be presided over by the President himself.
“This Committee is only the beginning. His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved a Presidential Plenary on Innovation—an annual high-level forum that will bring together academia, research institutes, industry, civil society, and the Nigerian people to align our national innovation priorities.
“This Plenary will be addressed by Mr President himself, because innovation is a presidential area of priority. It is central to his vision for a new Nigeria,” the VP explained.
Earlier, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, who commended the leadership provided by the Vice President and the commitment of the relevant ministries, departments and agencies, noted that collaboration was critical in the renewed vigour to prioritise research and innovation.
The minister said the inter-ministerial committee would help the country save scarce resources and move faster in the right direction, by harmonising efforts, human and material resources for the purpose of enhancing research and innovation across critical sectors of the economy.
“The keyword here is collaboration. We have been spending a lot of money on our various ministries, duplicating our functions. I believe that with this collaboration and this committee here, we will save a lot of money for the government and reduce duplication,” the Minister said.
Chidinma Ojukwu, a university undergraduate and the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO Michael Usifo Ataga, testified on Thursday before a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, recounting how she discovered his lifeless body in a short-let apartment in Lekki on 15 June 2021.
The former 300-level Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos, who opened her defence before trial judge Justice Yetunde Adesanya, stated that she had returned from buying food and drinks, knocked on the door but received no response. She then pushed it open, only to find blood on the floor and Ataga lying in a pool of blood.
“I dropped everything and rushed to him”, she said, adding that his eyes were half-shut and he had no pulse.
Led in evidence by her lawyer, Mr Onwuka Egwu, Chidinma detailed her relationship with Ataga, which began in November 2020.
She explained that they met through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James. She described Ataga as kind and supportive, claiming he had paid her school fees and helped fund her cosmetics business.
According to Chidinma, Ataga told her he was from Edo State, lived in Victoria Garden City, worked in the media industry, and had three children with his estranged wife, who resided in Abuja.
She testified that on 13 June 2021, Ataga called her, mentioning that his birthday was that week and inviting her to spend time with him before heading to Abuja for a family celebration. Due to renovations at his VGC home, he suggested booking a hotel or apartment in Lekki, where he usually held meetings.
She said she eventually found a short-let apartment at 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki, which Ataga approved. They met there that evening, went out to eat at Angle Villa restaurant, picked up some wine, and returned to the apartment to drink, eat, and smoke.
The following day, 14 June, they woke up late, and Ataga asked her to contact her supplier for loud (cannabis) and rohypnol. She said he sent her ₦15, 000 for that and later ₦25, 000 for food. She was out for about two hours buying meals due to COVID-related delays.
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On 15 June 2021, she said Ataga again requested more loud but asked her to pay since he was unable to transfer funds. He also gave her money to buy food and juice. After trying unsuccessfully to reach him for clarification regarding the okra soup she was to buy, she returned to the apartment and found him dead.
“I saw blood stains, pushed the door open, and saw Michael on the floor, covered in blood. There was no pulse when I looked for it.
She claimed in a fit of panic that she had wiped the blood off herself, changed clothes, and packed her belongings, including a brown envelope with Ataga’s bank statements, ID cards, and documents from one Mary Johnson. She also cab-driven his apartment and took some of his jewelry.
A coalition of 35 civil society organizations in Rivers State has jointly petitioned the House of Representatives, decrying what they termed “severe and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity” being perpetrated by the state’s administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.).
In a strongly worded letter titled “Severe and Brazen Acts of Lawlessness and Impunity Being Carried Out by the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, and the Need to Nip Them in the Bud in the Interest of Mutual Peace and Constitutionalism,” the groups urged the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight to take immediate action to halt what they describe as a “drift towards authoritarianism.”
It accused Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who is referred to in the letter as the “Administrator of Rivers State,” of undermining constitutional governance. It alleges that he has been using federal power and security operatives to intimidate public officers, suppress democratic institutions, and interfere with the proper functioning of government in the state.
“The conduct of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas is not only reckless and unconstitutional but also a slap in the face of democratic values. His actions have continued to aggravate political instability and institutional breakdown in Rivers State,” the coalition said in the letter.
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The groups demanded that the National Assembly immediately: • Call Vice Admiral Ibas to order and investigate the legality of his actions; • Ensure that democratic institutions in Rivers State, particularly the legislature, are allowed to function; • Direct security agencies to cease illegal occupation of the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.
They warned that if left unchecked, the continued disruption of civil authority could incite public unrest and erode trust in Nigeria’s democratic framework.
Those who signed are key Civil society leaders including: • Comrade Enefaa Georgewill – Rivers State Civil Society Organizations (RIVCSO) • Amb. Marvin Yobana – Citizens’ Quest for Truth Initiative • Comrade Loveday Enyinda – MOSOP, Rivers State Chapter • Pastor Mike Daka – Foundation for Leadership and Youth Initiative • Comrade Nwilene John – Niger Delta Youth for Peace and Development • And representatives of 30 other organizations.
They emphasized that Rivers State is not a military cantonment and that “no one man, however connected, should be allowed to operate outside the constitution.”
“This is a democracy. Rivers people deserve peace, order, and functional institutions — not autocracy dressed in federal camouflage,” the letter stated.
The Minister of Power, Adedayo Adelabu, has disclosed that approximately 150 million Nigerians now have access to adequate electricity, while 80 million still lack reliable power.
He made this known on Thursday during the 2025 Ministerial Sectoral Update Conference held in Abuja, where he spoke alongside the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Malagi, and other key stakeholders.
Adelabu stated that the progress stems from Nigeria’s participation in the “Mission 300” initiative—an ambitious joint effort by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) aimed at providing electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030.
“The compact sets ambitious goals to enhance electricity access, increase renewable energy adoption, and improve clean cooking solutions for millions of Nigerians — that is Mission 300, and we are making good progress on this,” he said.
He continued, “I’m happy to tell you that out of the 300 million Africans that the World Bank and AfDB aim to reach, Nigeria is on course to account for no less than 25 per cent, which translates to about 75 million Nigerians. When we presented our compact, they agreed with us.”
According to Adelabu, Nigeria, with a population of over 240 million, currently provides adequate electricity access to 150 million people. However, he emphasised that the issue is not merely access but the ‘reliability’ of that access.
“As it is today, Nigeria—a country with about 240 million people—has access for 150 million people already, while about 80 million lack access to adequate electricity in Nigeria.
“The real challenge lies in the stability and affordability of electricity. That’s how we measure reliability. We must ensure that those who have access enjoy consistent and affordable power,” he said.
The minister urged global financiers to prioritise strengthening Nigeria’s power grid alongside off-grid solutions, warning that over-reliance on renewables risks leaving urban areas and industries behind.
“When you’re extending access to the 300 million people under this initiative, let’s not concentrate solely on renewable energy—which is more appropriate for rural communities.
“Strengthening grid infrastructure is equally crucial so that those connected to the grid can enjoy reliable power. Otherwise, how do we explain the growing number of Nigerian companies opting out of the national grid to generate captive power?”
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Ambitious Generation Targets
The minister also highlighted recent improvements in Nigeria’s power generation capacity.
“We have increased our generation to 6,003 megawatts, up by 1,700 megawatts in one and a half years since President Tinubu assumed office. It took Nigeria over 40 years to achieve an incremental 2,000 megawatts of average energy; we achieved this in less than two years. Past administrations have their positives, but if they had been adding at least 1,000 megawatts of power since 1999, we would be talking about 26,000 megawatts and more in Nigeria.
“Now that we (the current administration) have created the trajectory, if we can sustain it, I can assure you that before the end of this administration’s first term in 2027, we should be able to generate and distribute nothing less than 8,000 megawatts of power.” Adelabu declared.
He also announced that the Kaduna Power Plant would become operational before the end of 2025.
On metering challenges, Adelabu assured Nigerians that “the metering gap will soon be a thing of history.”
Tariff Reforms, Financial Strain
Addressing the sector’s financial framework, Adelabu noted that electricity tariff reforms implemented had yielded an increase of ₦700 billion in revenue.
In April 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) approved a tariff increase for Band A customers—those receiving a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily—from ₦68 to ₦225 per kilowatt-hour. This 230% hike affected roughly 1.9 million consumers.
The government had previously explained that the hike was necessary due to the unsustainability of energy subsidies, which were projected to cost ₦2.9 trillion in 2024. Even with the increase, ₦2.8 trillion was still budgeted for electricity subsidies that year. NERC estimated that the tariff adjustment would reduce subsidy obligations by ₦1.14 trillion.
However, the move has drawn criticism. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) called it “an additional burden on already struggling citizens.” The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry similarly expressed concerns about the impact on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), citing increased operating costs.
READ ALSO: Power Generation Hits New Peak Of 5,713MW, Says TCN
Grid Collapse, Alternative Solutions
A file photo of electricity installations.
Despite improvements in generation, Nigeria’s grid continues to underperform. In 2024 alone, the national grid suffered no fewer than 12 collapses, plunging major cities such as Abuja, Lagos, and Kano into repeated blackouts.
Minister Adelabu, speaking at the ministerial conference, advocated for the grid to be regionalised to avoid total national blackouts.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed these failures to ageing infrastructure, vandalism, and an inconsistent gas supply to thermal power plants.
The minister also lamented the country’s overreliance on imported power equipment, which he said continues to strain foreign exchange reserves.
The unreliability of the national grid has led many Nigerian companies and households to turn to off-grid power solutions. Collectively, petrol and diesel generators now produce around 40,000 megawatts—eight times what the national grid transmits. Some states are actively exploring independent power markets and mini-grids to reduce dependence on central infrastructure.
