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IMF Upgrades Nigeria’s 2026 Growth Outlook To 4.4%

The International Monetary Fund has raised Nigeria’s 2026 economic growth projection to 4.4 percent, attributing the upgrade to stronger macroeconomic conditions and continued reform efforts.

The revised projection was contained in the IMF’s January 2026 World Economic Outlook Update, titled “Global Economy: Steady amid Divergent Forces.”

The Fund expects Nigeria’s economy to follow a steady expansion path, growing from 4.1 per cent in 2024 to 4.2 per cent in 2025, before accelerating to 4.4 per cent in 2026. The new figure represents a 0.2 percentage point upward revision from the IMF’s October 2025 forecast.

According to the Fund, Nigeria’s stronger outlook aligns with broader growth trends across sub-Saharan Africa, where economic expansion is projected to reach 4.6 per cent in both 2026 and 2027. The IMF attributed the regional improvement to ongoing macroeconomic stabilisation and reform efforts across key economies.

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At the global level, the IMF projected economic growth of 3.3 per cent in 2026, noting that the world economy remains resilient despite persistent uncertainties. The Fund said the outlook reflects a balance of opposing forces, with the impact of changing trade policies being offset by increased investment in technology and artificial intelligence.

For Nigeria, the IMF identified energy prices as a key factor influencing the 2026 outlook. It projected that energy commodity prices could decline by about seven per cent in 2026, largely due to weak global demand. However, the report noted that oil prices continue to find support from coordinated production management by OPEC+ and crude stockpiling by China, helping to limit downside pressures.

Despite the improved forecast, the IMF warned that risks to the outlook remain tilted to the downside. These include escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine with possible spillovers to global supply chains, renewed trade tensions and protectionist policies that could heighten uncertainty, and high public debt levels and fiscal deficits that may push long-term interest rates higher.

To sustain growth, the IMF urged Nigerian authorities to rebuild fiscal buffers and press ahead with structural reforms. It stressed the importance of central bank independence for maintaining macroeconomic stability, particularly in a volatile global environment. The Fund also cautioned that any discretionary fiscal support should be carefully targeted and time-bound to ensure it remains temporary.

The IMF concluded that Nigeria’s ability to achieve its 2026 growth target will depend on the consistent implementation of reforms and the country’s capacity to withstand domestic and external shocks as the global economy continues to adjust.

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Why I Will Never Stop Having Children – Ex-President Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Nigerian President, has stated that he will “never stop having children.”

Obasanjo explained that although he no longer gives birth and his children are now adults, the circle of life continues through his grandchildren and subsequent generations.

He made the remarks while hosting the leadership of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), led by its President, Dr. Ekanem Ekure, at his residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday.

According to him, the continuity of generations makes the protection and wellbeing of children a collective and lifelong responsibility.

“I am no longer giving birth to children, and my children are now adults. But my children are still having children, and my grandchildren are having children, so I will never stop having children.

“Because when I stop, my children will not stop, and when my children stop, my grandchildren will not stop, and the cycle continues,” Obasanjo said.

He emphasised that the future of nations depends on how well children are protected now, describing them as the foundation of every civilisation, and called for improved care, survival, and development.

Obasanjo applauded pediatricians for their vital role in saving children’s lives, describing pediatrics as a distinct and challenging medical speciality.

The former president pledged his support for programs meant to enhance the lives of children in Nigeria and around the world, and accepted PAN’s request to act as an advocate for child health and wellness.

“The problem of dealing with children is that they are not like adults, so you must be able to feel for them. If it were myself coming to you as an adult, you would ask me where I am having the pain, is it the right or the left, how do I feel at night, but children won’t be able to say all that.

“So your area of specialisation is therefore very unique. The task you have given me as an advocate for children is a task that I will easily accept.”

Earlier, Ekure praised Obasanjo as a global statesman whose voice is heard both domestically and internationally, maintaining that PAN specifically sought his assistance due to the escalating child health challenges.

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FG Opens Applications For 2026 Overseas Scholarships

The Federal Government has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme, offering Nigerian postgraduate students the opportunity to study in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.

This was confirmed in a post shared via X( Formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, on Monday.

“FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” the post said.

According to the statement on scholarship board website, the scheme targets MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas sector, offering benefits such as tuition, return flight tickets, accommodation and living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.

The PTDF statement said, “The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships provide access to world-class training, research facilities, and global expertise, while developing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”

For PhD applicants in the United Kingdom, scholarships will follow a split-site arrangement, allowing research to be conducted between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected UK partner universities including Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde, and University of Portsmouth.

The agency emphasised that the scholarships are highly competitive.

“Only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit and suitability will be considered,” the statement said, adding that applicants will be evaluated based on academic credentials, research proposals, membership in professional bodies, and the relevance of their studies to the oil and gas industry.

Requirements for MSc applicants include a minimum of Second Class Lower (2.2) in a first degree (or 2.1), completion of the NYSC programme, computer literacy, and five O’Level credits including English Language and Mathematics. PhD applicants must also submit a research proposal of up to five pages outlining objectives, methodology, and data collection approaches.

“All applicants must ensure their National Identity Number (NIN) is verified prior to application, and multiple applications or submission of falsified documents will result in automatic disqualification,” the PTDF statement added.

Interested candidates are advised to apply online at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for approved programmes at PTDF partner institutions. The closing date for applications is 27th February

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Wanted Drug Kingpin ‘Kanmo-Kanmo’ Arrested 12 Years After Murder Of 3 NDLEA Officers

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the arrest of long-wanted drug kingpin Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-Kanmo,” bringing an end to a 12-year manhunt linked to the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers.

NDLEA announced that Kanmo-Kanmo, notorious for drug trafficking, evading arrest and mobilizing armed thugs against security agents, was arrested on Friday after he was tracked to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State, by tactical teams of the agency.

This was made known in a statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.

Babafemi disclosed that during the operation, the suspect was found in possession of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

He stated that the arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the agency’s commitment to ensuring that no fugitive, regardless of how long they evade justice, remains beyond the reach of the law.

Lekan Jimoh’s criminal history is marked by extreme violence and lawlessness. On 15th June 2014, he orchestrated a barbaric mob action against a team of NDLEA officers who had attempted to arrest him at his enclave.

The attack resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others, who were killed by armed thugs mobilized by Jimoh.

While the suspect managed to escape the scene that day, the agency remained resolute in its pursuit of justice for the fallen heroes.

In another encounter with Jimoh on 12th August 2023, when NDLEA operatives stormed his residence in Ado-Odo town, Ogun State, he managed to escape while operatives succeeded in recovering 139 sacks of skunk with a total weight of 1,922 kilograms.

Following assets forfeiture proceedings instituted in court by the agency, the house in Ado-Odo, which served as a warehouse for his illicit drug trade, has since been finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Edo State on Tuesday raided the Arokpa forest, Uzebba town, Owan West LGA, leading to the arrest of another drug lord, Isihor Edika, 53, and seizure of 320kg skunk and seeds.

Similarly, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, operatives on Friday  tracked and arrested a 44-year-old lady Yinka Agboola following intelligence on her online sale of illicit substances.

At the time of her arrest, 2.2kg skunk and litres of cannabis oil which she produces in her kitchen and sells through online advertisement were recovered from her home at the Kaura district, Abuja.

Another suspect, Tordue Pius Richard, 30, was on Tuesday 13th January arrested with 148.3 grams of cocaine and skunk at his 12 Biskira street, Abacha Estate, Abuja home.

While 118.1kg skunk was seized from the duo of Dauda Kareem and Saheed Obisesan at Fadeyi area of Mushin Lagos on Friday 16th January, not less than 116kg of same substance was recovered from a warehouse at new market area of Enugu, Enugu State, same day.

Two suspects, Zaharadeen Yahaya, 25, and Sanusi Maman, 23, were on Thursday 15th January arrested by NDLEA operatives along Onitsha-Asaba expressway, Delta State, while conveying 410,800 pills of tramadol; 84.2 litres of codeine syrup; 82,250 tablets of diazepam; 900 tabs of swinol and 65 pills of molly.

In Oyo State, Adetunji Ahmed Abayomi, 33, was nabbed on Thursday 15th January at Moniya, Ibadan, with 321 litres of skuchies, and 2.5kg colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, while Rasheed Ajao, 28, was caught same day at Odo-Ona, Ibadan, in possession of 5.4kg Scottish loud; 1.696kg skunk and 2.5kg colorado, bringing the total weight to 9.696 kilograms.

In another raid at Agbeni area of the state capital, on Saturday 17th January, 52,430 pills of tramadol and bromazepam were recovered from the store of one Orji Edwin, currently at large.

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 13th January raided a residential building at Gamo area of Ilorin where they seized 42 bags of skunk that weighed 387.40kg, while a total of 157,519 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered in a container at the Apapa Port in Lagos during a joint examination of the shipment by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies on Friday.

An ex-convict, Gaddafi Ammani, 26, was arrested with various quantities of skunk and exol-5 pills along his accomplice ⁠Ahmed Sani, 32, at Nassarawa GRA, Ringim LGA Jigawa State, on Saturday.

Before Gaddafi’s arrest, he attempted to escape by climbing the roofs of many houses. He was armed with a machete which he used to threaten NDLEA operatives and even inflicted injury on one of the officers.

While commending the officers and men of the Ogun, Lagos, Apapa, Edo, Delta, Oyo, FCT, Enugu, and Kwara Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, rtd, acknowledged their commitment and enjoined them as well as their colleagues nationwide to maintain the current tempo of their balanced approach to the agency’s drug control efforts.

He described the arrest of Kanmo-kanmo as a triumph of justice and a testament to the agency’s long memory, adding that the arrest sends a clear and unambiguous message to all drug barons and fugitives.

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How DSS Operatives Rescued Two Kidnapped Kaduna Pastors, Nabbed Three Suspects

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Niger State have successfully rescued two ECWA pastors and a church member who were abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna State.

The victims, Rev. Idi Buhari, Rev. Emmanuel Jacob, and Suleiman Adamu, were kidnapped on January 9, 2026, at the Gwagwada area of Chikun Local Government Area while travelling through Kugosi to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State to officiate a wedding ceremony.

Receiving the rescued pastors, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, said the victims were safely rescued from the bush by DSS operatives during ongoing security operations in Niger State.

Hayab commended the DSS for what he described as courageous, timely, and selfless service to the nation, noting that the successful rescue brought immense relief to the church and families of the victims.

He said the safe return of the abducted pastors had renewed hope that criminal elements could be defeated through sustained and coordinated security efforts.

The CAN chairman noted that insecurity could only be effectively tackled through cooperation among security agencies, faith leaders, and the general public, warning that criminals thrive when communities are divided.

Meanwhile, DSS operatives of the Niger and Kaduna State Command, in a joint operation, also arrested three suspects linked to the incident.

The suspects are also involved in arms and ammunition courier, and they operate along the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna axis.

According to one of the suspects, Kwalo, they transport the ammunition through motor parks and rural routes to evade security checkpoints.

He said they received a consignment from a courier at Tegina Motor Park in Niger State and handed it over to Kawu, who subsequently passed it to Iro Malam Iro for onward delivery.

Iro was said to have conveyed the ammunition from Tegina to Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, where it was allegedly delivered to an unidentified recipient after he was directed to use specific routes to avoid detection.

Kwalo received N50,000 for collecting the consignment, Kawu earned N5,000 as a middleman, while Iro was paid N20,000 as a courier.

During interrogation, Kwalo claimed he was deceived into handling the consignment, alleging that the sender told him it contained tantalite, a precious stone, concealed in sacks of millet to prevent theft.

Reacting to the arrests and rescue of the abducted pastors, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), said the operation reflected the commitment of the DSS and other security agencies to protecting lives and property.

Shuaibu commended the DSS leadership for its sustained efforts, assuring residents that the Kaduna State Government, under Governor Uba Sani, remains committed not only to maintaining peace but to sustaining it.

He urged citizens to support security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities, stressing that security is a shared responsibility and that continued collaboration is critical to curbing criminality across the state.

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Alleged $4.5bn Fraud: EFCC Pressured My Client To Implicate Emefiele – Lawyer Alleges

Mr. Nnamdi Offial, counsel to the second defendant, Henry Omoile, in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele, on Thursday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of pressuring his client to implicate the former apex bank chief.

Offial made the claim while testifying in a trial-within-trial, which Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court ordered to determine whether Omoile’s statement to the EFCC was made voluntarily.

He alleged that EFCC investigators offered multiple promises to Omoile, including bail and the possibility of avoiding charges, if he cooperated by providing incriminating information against Emefiele.

Emefiele and Omoile are facing charges of accepting gratification, receiving gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent receipt of property.

The EFCC also accused them of conferring corrupt advantage on associates, contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act, 2000. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.

 

At the resumed hearing, Offial told the court that Omoile informed him that the head of the EFCC interrogation team assured him of leniency if he implicated the first defendant.

 

He added that the interrogation was conducted in a question-and-answer format, where his client had to respond “satisfactorily” before being allowed to write down his answers.

“On several occasions, questions were put to the second defendant and he answered, but he was not allowed to write them down because the answers did not conform to what the interrogators wanted him to say. I objected to this many times,” Offial said.

He further recounted that the session on February 26, 2024, ended with investigators informing him that Omoile would be detained because they were not finished with him.

Offial also described an incident on February 27, 2024, when he questioned why his client was being interrogated in his absence.

This, he claimed, led to a confrontation with one of the officers, identified as Davide, who allegedly ordered him out of the premises.

“I reported the incident to the head of the team, who advised me not to worry and to sit in the waiting area. I was not allowed to render services to my client until about 8pm, when he was taken back to the detention centre,” he said.

He later learned that Omoile was being detained for refusing to cooperate, which prompted him to apply for bail from the EFCC zonal head.

Offial said his client spent 21 days in detention before filing a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, where Justice Muslim Hassan granted bail but ordered that Omoile be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until bail conditions were perfected.

Under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Offial admitted that Omoile had been cautioned in his presence and that he signed the caution.

He also acknowledged that he participated in the statement-taking process and was aware that whatever his client wrote could be used against him in court.

The defence witness further admitted that he did not file any petition against the EFCC over the investigators’ alleged conduct, and that the Federal High Court did not find the commission guilty of any misconduct in the fundamental rights suit.

He also conceded that his client was not harassed in his presence during interrogation.

Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to January 16 for the continuation of the trial-within-trial.

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Biafra Group Removes Simon Ekpa As Leader

Simon Ekpa has been removed as leader of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile amid his detention in Finland.

In a statement on Thursday, Ogechukwu Nkere was announced to have emerged as the replacement of Ekpa as the Prime Minister of BRGIE.

According to the statement, Nkere was elected unanimously by the cabinet of BRGIE on January 14, 2026.

“Ogechukwu Nkere elected Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE).

“On January 14, 2026, the Honorable Ogechukwu Nkere was unanimously elected by the cabinet of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) to serve as Prime Minister, succeeding Simon Ekpa Njoku, who was relieved of his position by the cabinet,” the statement reads.

Prior to his current position, Nkere had previously served as Acting Prime Minister of BRGIE since December 2024, following the detention of Ekpa in Finland.

He also served as BRGIE finance minister and was the organization’s longtime representative in Washington, DC, where he worked closely with the United States government alongside BRGIE’s lobbyists.

While in the United States, Nkere met with officials in the U.S. government, from Senator Ted Cruz to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, the second-highest official in the U.S. government in the presidential line of succession,” the statement noted.

Recall that Ekpa, a Biafran separatist, was sentenced in Finland on September 1, 2025.

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Dele Momodu Officially Joins ADC

Former presidential candidate Dele Momodu officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Thursday.

Momodu made the declaration in Benin City, the Edo State Capital, while addressing his followers.

He noted that he was promoting the interest of the people and not running for any office in the state.

Momodu said, “And I came home for the first time and I coordinated everything, then it took me over 50 years, you won’t believe it, of excruciating hard work and meticulous planning to plant a home from my modest income in Iwe.

“So today, nobody can say Dele has no roots in Iwe. today, I am standing before you, my friends, as I humbly reintegrate myself into the political process of my state.

“People have asked me, what do you want? Do you want to be a governor, a senator? No. I just want to promote the best interests of our people.”

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2027: Nobody Is Coming To Save You – Aisha Yesufu Tells Nigerians

Popular activist Aisha Yesufu has described the 2027 general elections as an opportunity for Nigerians to fight for their lives.

Yesufu warned Nigerians that nobody is coming to save them in 2027, hence they should forget about any form of miracles.

Posting on X, she charged Nigerians to abandon any expectation of external intervention in fixing the country’s challenges, stressing that the responsibility lies squarely with citizens.

According to her, what many perceive as a “miracle” is simply God granting citizens the opportunity to remain alive and to actively participate in choosing those who will lead the nation.

She emphasized that Nigerians must rise to the task of making informed political decisions rather than shifting responsibility to divine intervention while failing to act.

Yesufu further warned that the battle for Nigeria’s future is already underway, describing the 2027 general elections as a critical moment that will determine the survival and direction of the country.

She wrote: “In case you missed my New Year message, no one is coming to save us.

“It is we, Nigerians that will save ourselves.

“The miracle we pray for, is God keeping us alive to be part of the decision makers on who the people are that will govern Nigeria.

“The time for decision making is now. We should not abdicate our responsibility to God and refuse to do the needful.

“2027 election is Nigerians fighting for their lives and it has already started.”

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Thank You For Everything My Bros – Anthony Joshua Pays Tribute To His Friends Who Di£d In Accident

World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua has paid tribute to his friends who passed away while traveling with him in Nigeria.

The boxing star took to his Isntagram Stories to tag his late friends Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele’s Instagram accounts as he made a short post directed them.

Joshua wrote: “@HEALTHY_MINDSET X @SINA_EVOLVE

“THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING MY BROS

“BOTH OF YOU REALLY HELPED ME.

“I DON’T USE SOCIALS TO VOICE MY FEELINGS BUT I WANT TO SAU I AM THANKFUL FOR THE TIME THE BROS SPENT MITH ME.” 

He added: “I just felt like saying it. If you don’t like it, try and do something about it.” 

Sina Ghami was Anthony Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach while Latif “Latz” Ayodele was his personal trainer and a trusted part of his inner circle.

They both di£d on January 29 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria while travelling with the professional boxer.

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