The Debt Management Office (DMO) has announced plans to reopen two federal government bonds worth N300 billion for auction, with subscriptions available at N1,000 per unit.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, the bonds will be auctioned on March 24, with settlement scheduled for March 26. Investors can subscribe at a minimum of N50,001,000, with additional investments in multiples of N1,000.

The bonds offer semi-annual interest payments, and the principal will be repaid in full upon maturity. For reopenings of previously issued bonds, successful bidders will pay a price based on the yield-to-maturity bid that clears the auction volume, plus any accrued interest.

Bond Details and Interest Rates

DMO outlined the details of the two offerings:

• A five-year bond maturing in April 2029, with an interest rate of 19.30% per annum.

• A nine-year bond maturing in May 2033, offering 19.89% per annum.

Like all federal government securities, the bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the Nigerian government and qualify as approved investments under the Trustees Investment Act.

Additionally, they are classified as government securities under the Company Income Tax Act and Personal Income Tax Act, making them eligible for tax exemptions and suitable for pension funds and other institutional investors.

The bonds will also be listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and qualify as liquid assets for banks’ liquidity ratio calculations, the DMO added.

Israel shoots down Houthi ballistic missile after ceasefire collapses

The Israeli military said it intercepted a ballistic missile launched by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Tuesday, the terror group's first attack on the Jewish state following the collapse of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that sirens sounded in southern Israel after a missile launched from Yemen. The Israeli Air Force said it intercepted the missile before it crossed into Israeli territory.

President Donald Trump's ordering of U.S. strikes against the Houthis in Yemen over the weekend is believed to have deterred the terror group from resuming an attack on Israel sooner and with greater volume, IDF sources told the Jerusalem Post. 

Nearly a quarter-million people were sent to bomb shelters across the central and southern desert Negev region as a precaution due to shrapnel from the interception Tuesday, Fox News has learned. 

The Houthi attack came hours after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas crumbled over what U.S. officials said was the terror organization's refusal to release more Israeli hostages.

There are still 59 hostages in Gaza, but Israel believes only 24 of those who remain are alive.

Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, eliminating the head of the Hamas government and other key leaders. 

At least 404 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes so far, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. The death toll has not been independently verified.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with security officials at the Kirya, Israel’s version of the Pentagon, on Tuesday during the airstrikes. 

"Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength," Netanyahu’s office wrote in a series of posts on X as the airstrikes commenced.

Fox News

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Putin-Trump phone call: key takeaways

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a much-anticipated phone call on Tuesday, discussing a potential settlement of the  Ukraine conflict. The conversation lasted for two and a half hours, with both the White House and the Kremlin describing it as positive. Here are the key takeaways from the conversation.

Potential ceasefire

Putin and Trump discussed Trump’s idea of a 30-day ceasefire, with the Russian side outlining multiple issues to be resolved before its implementation, the Kremlin press service said in a statement following the call. Namely, Putin outlined the need to establish a mechanism to properly monitor a potential ceasefire, as well as stop forced mobilization and rearmament in Ukraine.

“Serious risks associated with the Kiev regime’s inability to negotiate, which has repeatedly sabotaged and violated the agreements reached, were also noted,” the Kremlin press service said, adding that Putin also drew Trump’s attention to “the barbaric terrorist crimes committed by Ukrainian militants against the civilian population of Kursk Region.”

Infrastructure strikes pause

Trump proposed that Moscow and Kiev mutually halt strikes on energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days. Putin backed the idea, immediately giving the Russian military the corresponding order.

“The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East,” the White House said in a statement.

Prisoner swap

The Russian president told his American counterpart about an upcoming prisoner swap with Ukraine, scheduled for Wednesday, the Kremlin press service revealed. The two sides are set to exchange 175 prisoners-of-war each. In addition, Moscow will return 23 critically wounded Ukrainian servicemen to demonstrate its goodwill, the press service noted.

Need for lasting peace

Putin and Trump reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a “lasting peace” rather than a temporary solution for the Ukraine conflict. Moscow regards the need to “eliminate the root causes of the crisis,” as well as meet “Russia’s legitimate interests in the area of security” and “the complete cessation of foreign military aid and the provision of intelligence information to Kiev,” as key elements required to achieve the goal, the Kremlin press service noted.

Bilateral cooperation

Ties between Russia and the US were also discussed, with both agreeing to work on mutually beneficial projects. Washington and Moscow have been considering a “broad spectrum of areas where our two countries may establish cooperation,” the Kremlin press service stated.

“The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved,” the White House said.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Putin agrees to 30-day halt on energy facility strikes but no full Ukraine ceasefire

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire that President Donald Trump hoped would be the first step toward a permanent peace deal.

Ukraine said it would support the scaled-back agreement, which would require both countries to hold off firing on each other's energy infrastructure for about a month. Experts said Putin avoided making significant concessions in what could be a play for time as Russian troops advance in eastern Ukraine.

The White House said talks on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea as well as a more complete ceasefire and a permanent peace deal would begin immediately, following a lengthy call between Trump and Putin on Tuesday.

It was unclear whether Ukraine would be involved in those talks, which Trump envoy Steve Witkoff said will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

"Up until recently, we really didn't have consensus around these two aspects - the energy and infrastructure ceasefire and the Black Sea moratorium on firing - and today we got to that place, and I think it's a relatively short distance to a full ceasefire from there," Witkoff told Fox News "Hannity" program.

The Kremlin did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment, outside business hours, on Witkoff's remarks.

Putin ordered the Russian military to stop attacks against energy sites after speaking with Trump, the Kremlin said.

But he raised concerns that a temporary ceasefire might allow Ukraine to rearm and mobilize more soldiers, and doubled down on his demand that any resolution required an end to all military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, according to a Kremlin statement.

Trump told Fox News aid to Ukraine did not come up in the conversation.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his country would support the proposal to stop strikes on energy facilities and infrastructure for 30 days. He said Russia launched more than 40 drones late on Tuesday, hitting a hospital in Sumy and other areas, including the Kyiv region that surrounds the Ukrainian capital.

"Today, Putin de facto rejected the proposal for a complete ceasefire. It would be right for the world to reject in response any attempts by Putin to drag out the war," Zelenskiy said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Trump, who has had a complicated relationship with Zelenskiy, spoke positively of his call with Putin.

"We had a great call. It lasted almost two hours," Trump said on Fox News's "The Ingraham Angle" show.

But the U.S. president did not get what he wanted. Ukraine, which Trump had previously described as being more difficult to work with than Russia, had agreed to the U.S. proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire. Putin did not.

"This call brought to light how difficult of an interlocutor Russia is going to be and the general unwillingness of Russia to talk about making real progress in stopping this war," said Kristine Berzina, a managing director at the German Marshall Fund think tank. She called the limited ceasefire "a very small step forward."

Since Russia's full-scale 2022 invasion, Ukraine has tried to fight back against its much larger neighbor with drone and missile strikes deep in Russian territory, including on energy facilities. Those attacks, which Moscow says amount to terrorism, have allowed Kyiv to keep pressure on Russia's economy.

That means a ceasefire on attacking energy infrastructure could benefit Russia, said Maria Snegovaya, senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

In a social media post after the call, Trump said he and Putin had agreed to work quickly toward a ceasefire and eventually a permanent peace agreement.

"Many elements of a Contract for Peace were discussed, including the fact that thousands of soldiers are being killed, and both President Putin and President Zelenskyy would like to see it end," he wrote, using an alternate spelling for the Ukrainian leader.

Ukraine said on March 11 it was prepared to accept a full 30-day ceasefire, a step that U.S. officials said would lead to a more substantial round of negotiations to end Europe's biggest conflict since World War Two. The war has killed or wounded hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions and reduced entire towns to rubble.

Trump has hinted that a permanent peace deal could include territorial concessions by Kyiv and control of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Zelenskiy, who arrived in Helsinki for an official visit on Tuesday shortly after Trump and Putin's call ended, said Europe must be included in Ukraine peace talks.

The talks between Trump and Putin came as Israel resumed its attacks on Hamas in Gaza, threatening a fragile truce and underscoring the difficulty of securing lasting ceasefires in long-running conflicts.

The two leaders also discussed how to prevent future conflicts in the Middle East and "shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel," the White House said.

U.S. SHIFT WORRIES EUROPEAN ALLIES

Russian forces are advancing in Ukraine's east and pushing back Ukrainian troops from Russia's Kursk region.

The agreement on a narrow ceasefire reflects Trump's desire to normalize relations with Russia and suggests that Putin may be playing for time, said Susan Colbourn, an expert on European security issues at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy.

"It was striking how little concession Trump is asking from the Russians, although they invaded their neighbor," Colbourn said.

The U.S. president's overtures to Putin since returning to the White House in January have alarmed U.S. allies.

Ukraine and its Western allies have long described Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an imperialist land grab, and Zelenskiy has accused Putin of deliberately prolonging the war.

Zelenskiy says Ukraine's sovereignty is not negotiable and Russia must surrender the territory it has seized.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Tuesday that Russia had massively expanded its military-industrial production capacity in preparation for "future confrontation with European democracies."

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, Germany's outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the limited ceasefire was an important first step but again called for a complete ceasefire. He reiterated that Ukraine must be part of any final decision.

Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and most of four eastern Ukrainian regions following its invasion in 2022. All told, it controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Putin said he sent troops into Ukraine because NATO's creeping expansion threatened Russia's security. He has demanded Ukraine drop any ambition of joining the Western military alliance.

Putin has also said Russia must keep control of Ukrainian territory it has seized, Western sanctions should be eased and Kyiv must stage a presidential election. Zelenskiy, elected in 2019, has remained in office under martial law he imposed because of the war.

RT/Reuters

US President Donald Trump’s penchant for shaking things up is fracturing the Global North. The Global South must remain steadfast in its commitment to peaceful development and seize this moment to advance a more equitable and just global order.

One of the central focuses of last week’s “two sessions”, China’s annual parliamentary meetings, is the increasingly prominent role of private technology companies in driving the country’s development. Indeed, a decade after the launch of the “Made in China 2025” initiative, most of its targets have been achieved, positioning the country as a global technological powerhouse.

Through the Digital Silk Road and companies like DeepSeek, China’s advancements are helping to propel the Global South’s Fourth Industrial Revolution, enabling countries in Africa, for example, to leapfrog development stages in their race to embrace the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

If President Xi Jinping’s “Made in China 2025” initiative has met most of its goals, President Trump’s second attempt to “Make America Great Again” (Maga) is off to a contentious and rocky start. For instance, efforts to improve government efficiency through the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) programme have drawn criticism, with some accusing the Trump administration of steering US democracy towards authoritarianism.

Last month’s altercation between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office was, for many, a watershed moment. It marked the unravelling of the transatlantic alliance and signalled the decline of US leadership in the post-World War II liberal international order.

For some, the post-Cold War era is transitioning from Francis Fukuyama’s idealistic vision of the “end of history”, where liberal democracy triumphs, to Samuel Huntington’s ominous view of a “clash of civilisations”, where race and religion become flashpoints and “might makes right” prevails.

Trump’s Maga world view has undoubtedly fuelled the rise of a far-right global movement, hinting at the potential for conflict along civilisational lines. Trump’s retreat from US global leadership has also had more immediate consequences: pulling out of the Paris Agreement and World Health Organization, as well as defunding USAID, the US Agency for International Development, has weakened efforts to tackle pressing humanitarian crises.

Nonetheless, Trump’s disruptive policies have also generated unexpected outcomes. The scaling back of USAID could also signal the closing of a dark chapter: US covert operations aimed at promoting democracy through sowing dissent and regime change.

Indeed, the American global campaign to advance rights and freedom has not only relied on illicit tactics but also led to disastrous wars, as seen in Iraqand Afghanistan. The demise of the US-led world order is unlikely to be mourned by countries in the Global South. But what will emerge to replace the crumbling Western-centric international order remains uncertain.

One thing seems clear: Trump’s aversion to war. During the recent tense meeting, Trump warned Zelensky against risking a third world war. For Trump, it is evident that a direct conflict between the United States and Russia could escalate into nuclear war.

This underscores the reality of today’s great power rivalry: any open military conflict between the US, Russia and China could lead to mutual self-destruction. Ironically, despite his seemingly amoral and transactional approach, it is Trump – among Western leaders – who appears to have fully grasped the existential dangers confronting humanity.

Some speculate that Trump could negotiate a grand bargain reminiscent of the Yalta Conference, with Russia and China, aiming to establish a modern-day Monroe Doctrinethat carves out separate spheres of influence among the three nuclear-armed superpowers. While it may not entirely eliminate the risk of war, this trilateral agreement could significantly lower the chances of catastrophic conflicts in hotspots like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Herein lies the complexity of Trump 2.0: his “America first” foreign policy is disruptive, impeding collective efforts to address looming global crises. But his attempt to shake things up has also created opportunities to mitigate the risk of great power conflicts. Yet these openings for peace may be short-lived.

Trump’s efforts to broker peace with Russia have been criticised as appeasement. While some in the European Union vow to continue supporting Ukraine in the war, others advocate for Europe to step into the role traditionally held by the US in defending the liberal international order.

Trump has upended America’s long-held self-ascribed role as the defender of democracy and human rights. However, it is doubtful Trump alone is enough to fully detach Americans from their self-perception as of a “city upon a hill”. After Trump, Americans may well revert to their sense of a manifest destiny as the guardian of the free world.

Trump’s wrecking-ball tactics have fractured the Western alliance. What emerges from this fracture remains uncertain. What is clear is that a divided Global North, much like a united one, could pose significant challenges and risks to the Global South.

In his “two sessions” work report, Chinese Premier Li Qiang outlined a plan to boost consumption as a key driver of domestic economic growth, alongside expanding the role of the private sector. But Li also highlighted external uncertainties and risks, such as the massive tariffs imposed by Trump, which have escalated into a trade war and now threaten the global economy.

In April, President Xi is expected to make a state visit to Malaysia, which is also scheduled in May to host the first top-level meeting between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Gulf Cooperation Council and China: the Asean+GCC+China summit.

These meetings are taking place amid historic shifts in the Global North, triggered by Trump’s America-first foreign policy. In response, countries in the Global South must remain committed to peaceful development, seizing this moment to promote an open, inclusive world order grounded in common interests and mutual respect.

SCMP

The federal government has awarded a contract for the renovation of two major Lagos ports — Tin Can and Apapa — to Chagoury Group, TheCable understands.

Chagoury Group is a multinational conglomerate led by Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire.

Sources close to the conversation said the federal executive council (FEC) approved the contract in February.

“Yes, the award was given to Chagoury Group after it followed due process,” a source said, responding to TheCable’s enquiry.

“FEC gave the approval sometime in February and the agency in charge, that is the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), will make the announcement soon.”

The NPA, in November 2023, announced plans to commence the rehabilitation of ports across the country, valuing the project at $1.1 billion.

On April 18, 2024, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said it secured a $700 million facility agreement for the rehabilitation of the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos.

Mohammed Bello-Koko, the ex-managing director of the NPA, had said the loan, negotiated with Citi Bank Nigeria, would be funded by the UK Export Finance (UKEF), an export credit agency, for the project.

Although no official announcement has been made yet, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, spokesperson of the NPA, confirmed that the project was awarded to Hitech Construction and ITB Nigeria, stressing that “Chagoury was not stated in the contract”.

TheCable’s checks found that Chagoury Group operates several subsidiaries — including two construction firms, Hitech and ITB Nigeria.

The conglomerate is reportedly responsible for the construction of major projects across Lagos state.

In September 2023, David Umahi, the minister of works, disclosed that Hitech would handle the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Hitech is also said to be the firm that oversaw the construction of the Lekki-Epe expressway and the Ajah flyover in Lagos.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in May 2024, criticised the federal government for awarding the construction of the coastal highway to Hitech, saying there was a conflict of interest.

Abubakar had said Seyi, President Bola Tinubu’s son, is a director on the board of CDK Integrated Industries, another subsidiary of the Group.

In response to Atiku, the presidency said Tinubu’s son is entitled to pursuehis business interests in Nigeria and around the world within the bounds of the law.

On March 16, Umahi said Tinubu did not recommend any company for the Lagos-Calabar road project.

The Cable

Following the recent 15 per cent increase by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in port and marine fees, berthing charges for vessels at Nigerian seaports have risen from $150,000 to approximately $200,000, according to the Shipping Agencies, Clearing and Forwarding Employers Association (SACFEA).

Addressing the challenges at Nigerian ports during a briefing in Lagos over the weekend, the SACFEA Chairman, Boma Alabi, compared vessel berthing charges across several ports.

She noted that berthing fees at Tema Port in Ghana stood at $15,000, Shanghai $21,000, Lome Port $26,000, Cotonou Port $27,000, Singapore $29,000 and Abidjan $60,000.

According to Alabi, Terminal 3 at Tema Port in Ghana is a well-structured facility, noting that its dedicated container terminal operates three berths and can accommodate ships up to 366 meters in length overall (LOA) with a 16-metre draught.

She referenced a 2024 report by NPS Meridian Port Services Limited, which revealed that Tema Port handles 1.9 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) yearly, whereas Nigerian ports process only 1.2 million TEUs per year.

Alabi explained that excessive berthing charges discourage customers and push them towards alternative ports like Cotonou and Lome, with relatively lower charges.

The high cost of doing business in Nigerian ports, she pointed out, makes them less competitive, allowing smaller countries to attract cargo that would have otherwise come to Nigeria.

She further highlighted the sharp increase in container costs, stating that a 20ft container, which previously cost N55,000 now costs N145,000, while a 40ft container, which was N100,000 costs N290,000, excluding port charges and logistics fees.

The SACFEA boss emphasised that the statistics indicate that Nigerian seaports were no longer attractive to investors, who preferred locations that offer better returns on investment (RoIs).

She warned that indirect taxation, imposed through various channels at the ports, make the business environment unfriendly, leading to a decline in manufacturing and a growing unemployment crisis.

Alabi urged the government to review port charges in line with rates in neighbouring countries and called on relevant agencies to engage stakeholders to restore Nigerian ports’ competitiveness.

“If port charges are reduced, cargo throughput will increase, leading to higher government revenue and more job opportunities for youths,” she stated.

Echoing similar concerns, the Deputy Managing Director of CMA CGM Nigeria, Ramesh Saraf, pointed out that despite significant international investment in the Lekki Port/Free Trade Zone, trans-shipment activities remained limited due to high costs.

“Lekki Deep Sea Port began operations in April 2023 at less than half its capacity, and, presently, even fewer activities are taking place. The cost of operations at Lekki Deep Sea Port is nearly three times higher than port charges in other countries,” Saraf said.

He further noted that the number of jobs created at Lekki Deep Sea Port remained far below expectations.

Saraf added that with the 15 per cent increase in port and marine fees, trans-shipment costs in Nigeria are now more than thrice higher than in competing ports.

As a result, Saraf lamented that many Nigerian importers and exporters were diverting their cargo to ports in Ghana and Cotonou, only to find alternative means of bringing their goods back into the country for sale.

The Guardian

Nigeria's inflation rate has dropped to 23.18% in February 2025, down from 24.48% in January, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. This marks the second consecutive month of decline following the recent overhaul of the country's Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The February figure represents a significant 8.52% decrease compared to the 31.70% recorded in February 2024. On a month-on-month basis, headline inflation stood at 2.04% in February.

Food Inflation Also Declines

Food inflation, a key driver of the headline rate, eased to 23.51% year-on-year in February, down from 26.08% in January. This figure is 14.41% lower than the 37.92% reported in February 2024.

"Compared to January 2025, there was an observed decline in the average prices of food items like Yam tuber, Potatoes, Soya beans, Flour of maize/cornmeal, Cassava, Bambara beans (Dried), etc.," the NBS stated in its report.

Impact of Data Rebasing

The significant drop in inflation figures can be partially attributed to the NBS's recent rebasing of the Consumer Price Index. In January, the bureau changed its base year from 2009 to 2024, leading to the first major drop in inflation in over a decade, with rates falling from 34.80% in December 2024 to 24.48% in January 2025.

This rebasing reflects changes in consumption patterns since the previous base year was established. Despite the technical adjustment, the consecutive monthly declines suggest a potential easing of inflationary pressures that had reached a 28-year high in 2024 following President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms, including the end of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira.

Regional Variations

The NBS report highlighted significant regional differences in food inflation:

- Highest year-on-year food inflation: Edo (33.59%), Enugu (30.72%), and Sokoto (30.19%)

- Lowest year-on-year food inflation: Kaduna (15.45%), Akwa-Ibom (15.53%), and Plateau (15.74%)

On a month-on-month basis, Sokoto (11.98%), Kogi (11.38%), and Edo (8.87%) recorded the highest food inflation rates, while Kaduna (-8.83%), Ondo (-4.78%), and Plateau (-3.73%) saw declines.

Monetary Policy Response

In response to the falling inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria maintained its key interest rate at 27.5% during its first rate-setting meeting of the year last month, following six consecutive hikes in 2024.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Local Government Inspector (LGI) of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) office in Eti-Osa, Lagos, Mrs Veronica Abella was absent yesterday when Ushie Rita Uguamaye, a corps member, who used her TikTok handle to express frustration over the deteriorating economic conditions in Nigeria, honoured her invitation.

Uguamaye got a message from the NYSC Local Government Inspector (LGI), instructing her to report to the Eti Osa 3 local government office by 10:00a.m. on Monday without fail.

However, human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, alongside lawyers – Festus Ogun, Adeyinka Oyesomi and Ojienoh Justice accompanied her to the LGI office in Eti-Osa, Lagos but Mrs Abella didn’t show up.

Speaking, Sowore said: “The journey with Uguamaye commenced in Lagos. She is scheduled to appear before the LGI today and we accompanied her to their office.

“We arrived at the Eti-Osa LGI office of the National Youth Service Corps with the Corps member. She was scheduled to appear before the LGI today and we escorted her to their offices with attorneys, Festus Ogun, Adeyinka Oyesomi and Ojienoh Justice, but LGI officials failed to show up throughout our stay. We will be back.”

Uguamaye has been trending on social media platforms after a video she posted on her TikTok account on March 15, 2025 went viral. In the video, she decried Nigeria’s economic hardship and inflation, expressing frustration that hard work no longer translates into financial stability.

She criticised President Bola Tinubu, labelling him a “terrible president” and questioning what the government was doing to ease citizens’ suffering.

Shortly after the video gained attention, she said she began receiving threats, allegedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to take down the post. She took to her Instagram page to express her disappointment at what she described as an attempt to stifle her voice, insisting that she had only spoken the truth about the country’s reality.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has defended the right of the young NYSC Corper to voice strong criticisms regarding Tinubu’s administration.

HURIWA affirmed that every citizen has the right to express their opinions and concerns about governmental performance without fear of intimidation or retribution.

The rights group said the provisions of fundamental human rights including freedom of expression encapsulated in chapter 4 of the Nigerian constitution is higher and far more superior than the NYSC bylaw.

According to the group, the extant NYSC bylaw does not negate the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of citizens including youth corpers. HURIWA in a statement by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko yesterday kicked against any attempt to harass, intimidate or threaten the corps member.

The group stated that the loyalty of corps members is to Nigeria and not to any specific holder of the office of the President of Nigeria. “In accordance with Section 39(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, it is stipulated that “every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

“This fundamental right is the cornerstone of our democracy, allowing citizens to hold their leaders accountable and advocate for positive change,” it stated.

HURIWA urged the NYSC leadership to reconsider any measures taken against this brave individual and to encourage a culture of free speech among all corps members, stressing that it is crucial for our democracy that young voices, especially those of future leaders, are not stifled but rather nurtured and empowered to contribute to national discourse.

Ceasefire over as Israel strikes Gaza after Hamas refused to release hostages, officials say

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is over as Israeli fighter jets began striking the Gaza Strip after Hamas refused repeated hostage deal offers, officials said. 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began striking Hamas terrorist targets across Gaza "in order to achieve the war objectives set by the political leadership, including the release of all our hostages—both the living and the fallen," the office of Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a letter. 

"This decision comes after Hamas repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected all proposals presented by U.S. President’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, as well as the mediators," the letter states. 

Israel will intensify its military actions against Hamas moving forward, authorities said.

"Under the direction of the political echelon, the IDF and Shin Bet are widely attacking terrorist targets of the Hamas terrorist organization throughout the Gaza Strip, more details below," the IDF and Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, said in a joint statement. 

Strikes were reported in multiple locations, including northern Gaza, Gaza City and the Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah in central and southern Gaza Strip

The Israeli military, which said it hit dozens of targets, said the strikes would continue for as long as necessary and would extend beyond air strikes, raising the prospect that Israeli ground troops could resume fighting.

The attacks were far wider in scale than the regular series of drone strikes the Israeli military has said it has conducted against individuals or small groups of suspected militants and follows weeks of failed efforts to agree an extension to the truce agreed on January 19.

In Washington, a White House spokesperson said Israel had consulted the U.S. administration before it carried out the strikes, which the military said targeted mid-level Hamas commanders and leadership officials as well as infrastructure belonging to the militant group.

"Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war," White House spokesperson Brian Hughes said.

Fox News/Reuters