The meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) was postponed until Thursday, June 19, 2025.
The Constitutional Commission, which is led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has the authority to consult the President on matters relating to the Federation’s economic affairs, and particularly on how to coordinate the efforts or programs of the Federation’s various governments.
The 36 State Governors, the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, and other co-opted government officials make up its membership.
The National Economic Council’s 149th meeting in April approved the creation of a Cotton, Textile, and Garment Development Board along with new approaches to expanding agribusiness and changing the livestock industry—projects that are expected to have an economic impact of up to $90 billion by 2035.
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Additionally, it approved the establishment of a national office for the Green Imperative Project (GIP) in Abuja, as well as considering ways to address the country’s current system of animal husbandry, with regional offices spread throughout the six geopolitical zones.
The Vice President had also led the group of attendees to observe a minute of silence in honor of the victims of the Benue and Plateau States killings during the previous meeting. However, it put off discussion of the creation of a state police.
Natasha Akpoti-Udughan, a Kogi central senator, has arrived at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court’s premises to be detained for arraignment over alleged defamation.
On three counts that allegedly involve defamation against former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello and former senator Godswill Akpabio, the Federal Government is arraigning her.
Olorundare Jimoh, the commissioner of police in Lagos State, claims that his men can stop robbers and other criminals in five minutes.
“We don’t respond to crimes for longer than ten minutes. We’ve even cut it to five more minutes. On Thursday, the police boss said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program that once you call, we are there in less than five minutes.
Jimoh assured Lagosis that the state was safe and secure. He claims that the police intervene before causing harm to state residents.
He claimed that his men are constantly preventing the majority of Lagos’ violent crimes.
There is prompt detection to deter crimes that couldn’t be committed in order to deter other crimes.
The police commissioner said that for any would-be suspects who want to commit crimes, they should know that once they do the crime they will be apprehended. However, the majority of violent crimes in the state are stopped, according to the police commissioner.
Some police officers are pictured in a training file.
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State Police: Not a Solution
According to Jimoh, adequate funding for the Nigeria Police Force is not the answer to Nigeria’s security problems.
State police, which the Federal Government has taken on itself, are undoubtedly not the solution to our problem, according to the statement “there is no doubt that.”
He said that “a lot of people who support state police don’t consider how unitary policing is effective.”
The police commissioner added that the behavior of his men has evolved over time, and that traffic robbery has been successfully stopped in Lagos.
According to Jimoh, the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission would set the state’s electoral commission’s (LSI) level of movement restrictions for the state’s July 12, 2025, local government elections.
General Christopher Musa, the head of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, reiterated the military’s commitment to protecting the country’s territorial integrity and combating insecurity.
General Musa assured Nigerians that the military will continue to work with other security organizations to restore order and stability during an expanded press conference held in Abuja to commemorate his two-year tenure as a service chief.
He cited the multifaceted approach taken by the Armed Forces to addressing security threats, noting that both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies are being used to combat insurgency and related challenges.
Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara, has stated that his administration has not borrowed anything to support the state’s ongoing transformation efforts.
The governor made the revelation at a media event held on Wednesday in Gusau, the state capital, where he gave an in-depth analysis of the accomplishments of his administration since taking office nearly two years ago.
Governor Lawal cited significant accomplishments in key areas, including economic empowerment, infrastructure, healthcare, and security.
He emphasized that careful planning, effective leadership, and prudent resource management contributed to the success so far.
In contrast to what he inherited in 2023, the governor noted a significant improvement in the state’s security situation.
According to him, Zamfara’s increased cooperation with security forces has had a significant impact on reducing the frequency of banditry and other criminal activity.
Governor Lawal cited the “Urban Renewal Project,” which includes the rehabilitation of roads, schools, and healthcare facilities across all fourteen local government areas.
Governor Lawal also praised the state’s willingness to grow its mining sector, citing it as a significant source of potential growth now that the state’s security situation has stabilized.
Governor Lawal reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to people-centered governance, accountability, and transparency, and emphasized that no one had to borrow a penny to accomplish any of the accomplishments recorded so far.
He assured Zamfara’s residents that more developmental projects are in the works because his administration continues to promote sustainable development and raise the state’s standard of living.
Beyond Atiku, PDP Crisis
Governor Lawal also believes that the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) is largely attributable to ego conflicts among its members and extends beyond Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign’s 2020 campaign.
Everyone has their own problem, he said, adding that Atiku Abubakar is beyond him.
“The PDP has an internal issue, and we are making a conscious effort. Everyone has egos, in my opinion, and that’s true.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the US Embassy Abuja and its implementing partner, the National Centre for State Courts (NCSC), aimed at enhancing the capacity of relevant justice sector stakeholders to resolve cases involving terrorism financing, among others.
The “U.S. FUNDED PROGRAM TO STRENGTHEN NIGERIA’S CAPACITY TO INVESTIGATE, PROSECUTE, DEFEND, AND ADJUDICATE TERRORISM AND ATROCITY CASES” is officially launched in Nigeria with the signing of the MOU at the FHC headquarters.
According to NCSC Nigeria, the program aims to “strengthen the capacity of Nigeria’s judicial sector to investigate, prosecute, defend, and adjudicate terrorism, terrorism financing, atrocity crimes, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,” as well as ensure compliance with the rule of law and international best practices.
The program’s goal is to provide Nigerian justice institutions with the tools and expertise needed to handle and resolve complex terrorism and atrocity cases effectively and ethically through targeted training, stakeholder engagements, and technical assistance.
Enhancing case management and courtroom procedures in Nigeria are key priorities.
Financing of Terrorism
The project will provide participants with “the necessary tools to handle the complexities of terrorism, terrorist financing, and atrocity crimes,” according to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat M. Kereke-Ekun, in her remarks at the event.
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The CJN, who was represented by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba of the Supreme Court, made it clear that the program will also improve inter-agency coordination and case management procedures, making sure that Nigeria’s justice delivery systems are both effective and credible.
On April 3, 2025, a worker at a money exchange store poses for a photo while holding US dollar bills. Arun SANKAR/AFP photo
The NCSC has been a reliable and reliable partner in the reform of the Nigerian judiciary for more than 20 years. It has significantly assisted in the creation of a custom case management system that is based on our local procedures and works closely with the National Judicial Council.
It has also advocated for court automation, supported digital tools, provided crucial training, and promoted institutional transparency through court monitoring initiatives, “Garba said, adding that this project has renewed energy and put a sharpened focus on one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Justice Tsoho, on his part, expressed deep gratitude to the court’s international partners, who have shown unwavering support for Nigeria’s justice system.
He continued, noting that the current training program has been implemented because of their unmatched financial and technical support.
This collaboration underscores the widespread scope of the fight against terrorism and atrocity crimes, and underscores the idea that no one country can solve these problems alone, he added.
INL Director Candace Spradley, the representative of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, stated that the project represents an act of justice and accountability.
Spradley assured that interested parties could help make the United States, Nigeria, and other countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous by facilitating prosecutions of terrorism and atrocities.
What Information You Need to Know
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added South Africa and Nigeria to its grey list on February 24, 2024, with this development coming just months later. According to the task force, nations on the grey list need to intensify their efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
According to the FATF, being listed on the grey list indicates that the country has a commitment to address identified strategic gaps within agreed time limits.
The FATF concentrates on preventing money laundering and terrorism financing as an intergovernmental policy-making body.
