The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced plans to reinstate 24-hour cargo clearance as part of its ongoing modernisation initiative, codenamed B’Odogwu.

Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Apapa on Monday, the Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) in charge of ICT and Modernisation, K.I. Adeola, highlighted the project’s transformative potential for Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.

The B’Odogwu project, approved in May 2022 and ratified by the Federal Executive Council in April 2023, is structured as a 20-year public-private partnership (PPP) between the NCS and the Trade Modernisation Project unit.

Adeola stressed that the initiative goes beyond technological deployment, aiming to build a comprehensive system that enhances trade facilitation and boosts revenue generation.

Arab nations oppose removing Palestinians from Gaza in letter to US

Five Arab foreign ministers and a senior Palestinian official sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio opposing plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza, as suggested by President Donald Trump in late January.

The letter was sent on Monday and signed by the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, as well as Palestinian presidential adviser Hussein al-Sheikh. It was reported first by Axios, which said the top diplomats met in Cairo over the weekend.

Trump first floated the suggestion of Jordan and Egypt taking in Palestinians from Gaza on Jan. 25. When asked if he was suggesting that as a long-term or short-term solution, the president said: "Could be either."

The U.S. president's comments echoed long-standing Palestinian fears of being permanently driven from their homes and were labeled as a proposal of ethnic cleansing by critics. Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations opposed the proposal.

"Reconstruction in Gaza should be through direct engagement with and participation of the people of Gaza. Palestinians will live in their land and help rebuild it," the letter said.

"And they should not be stripped of their agency during reconstruction as they must take ownership of the process with the support of the international community."

Israel's military assault on Gaza has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and led to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. The fighting has currently paused amid a fragile ceasefire.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

US arms shipments to Kyiv briefly paused before resuming over weekend, sources say

U.S. shipments of weapons into Ukraine were briefly paused in recent days before resuming over the weekend as the Trump administration debated its policy towards Kyiv, according to four people briefed on the matter.

Shipments restarted after the White House pulled back on its initial assessment to stop all aid to Ukraine, two of the sources said.

There are factions inside the administration that are at odds over the extent to which the U.S. should continue to aid Kyiv's war effort with weapons from U.S. stocks, said one of the people, a U.S. official.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Halting the flow of U.S. weapons would hinder Kyiv's ability to fight, and put it in a less advantaged negotiation position in peace talks.

It is unclear if the Trump administration will formally acknowledge the pause and subsequent resumption of shipments.

In his final months in office, Biden approved on average more than $1 billion in U.S. weapons pulled from U.S. stocks for Ukraine. Even more if new contracts for future production are included.

Ukraine weapons assistance from the U.S. has been facilitated in part through the use of Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the President to quickly transfer weapons and equipment from U.S. stocks to foreign countries without the need for congressional approval.

Since Donald Trump took office, no packages have been announced, but shipments authorized by Joe Biden were thought to continue to flow - and would for months - due to the backlog.

The revelation of the brief pause is the first outward sign of the intensity of the debate within the Trump administration.

The Trump administration has not sent a clear message on whether it will continue to provide significant military assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion.

Since the start of the conflict, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars' worth of military aid, including artillery systems, ammunition, and anti-tank missiles.

U.S. assistance has had a significant impact on the conflict, with Ukrainian forces using the equipment to inflict significant losses on Russian troops and equipment.

The drawdown of U.S. stocks has also raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the U.S.'s military aid efforts.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

No progress in organizing Putin-Trump meeting — Kremlin spokesman

Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that there was no new information regarding a potential meeting between Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.

"Before discussing a venue for such a meeting we must first determine what the meeting will be all about. There is no news on that front," the Kremlin spokesman told RBC.

He made these comments in response to a Reuters report indicating that the Russian side was considering the UAE and Saudi Arabia as possible venues for talks between Putin and Trump.

Reuters/Tass

It is quite a relief to be back here after so many years of absence. It used to be that one would not countenance any other thing until one had submitted the writing for the week until the urge started going down and one could as well miss one or two installment(s) and not feel too bad or weighed down. And now we are reviving and resuscitating the column again, hopefully with the necessary impetus and enthusiasm to sustain it for the (un)foreseeable future. It shows that life has its many phases and reflections and we have to not just live with that reality, but have to acknowledge its place in human life and action, being responsible for and representing the ups and downs and vicissitudes of life. That would perhaps be the reason why most Scriptures talk about life in terms of time and phases, with different times for different things under the sun - a time to talk, and a time for silence; a time for merriment, and a time for sorrow! What is important is to recognize the changing phases and respond appropriately, not insisting on continuing with whatever is on-going even when circumstances change and have called for a new direction.

To be sure, the changing nature of things is not necessarily a bad thing as it also affords a sense of pausing to take in assessment and be able to evaluate properly with a view to having the chance and possibility of changing direction if needed. In the instant case, I must report that I have been blessed and privileged to have experienced growth and development along the way; there have been high turns, low turns and average turns to mark the changing contours of life and the changing times defining the narratives and narrations. We take in more insights, reflect more, with all of this serving as necessary and dutiful experiences of life.

Maturity comes along the way, and that counts for much. Language and sentences construction would become more sober and methodical as against the ‘break the barrier’ extravagance of the younger days. How could we forget the series on the Interim National Government (ING) of Ernest Sonekan which did not end until that unfortunate contraption was done away with. It was just impossible to want to accept and live with the ignominy of playing games with the destinies and lives of Nigerians. A few and/or many thought such unfortunate situation could be exploited for persona gains and profit, but it was neither here nor there as what was uppermost was the pursuit of the truth and the need to protect the truth template for the society. This has always been the guardrail for the column and it is important to say that this cornerstone will not change no matter the phase or the time.

Discourse reflects and represents and is a testament to that commitment to place intellect at the service of the society and the people. It is a platform for the constant critical engagement with every and any issue confronting society and bordering on the need and desire for the pursuit of truth and catering to the welfare of the greater number/mass of the people. It is a timeless commitment and adventure that is also conscious of the place of time and life phases in its rendition. It offers critical but modulated and well considered insights on public issues to the advantage of all. I must state how excited I am to be starting this new phase of the column at this time that has been long in coming, which phase and time represent and reflect the fact that many things are beyond us as humans and happen only at the pleasure of God as the overall Sovereign. I do not take it for granted, even as I considered it a privilege, to have the opportunity of a public intellectual interactive platform of engagement. I therefore look forward to such critical and mutually beneficial interaction here as I welcome you all to yet another iteration of the column in its new phase and time element all to the Glory of God.

As we go on this exciting journey, one thing would be certain and constant - my commitment to the truth and its pursuit would be unyielding!

** Olaitan, Professor of Political Science, was Vice-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

As someone who regularly attends networking events, I get asked, "What do you do?” multiple times a month. In my experience, either you sound like you're too full of yourself or you sound boring.
Global communication expert Jessica Chen says she has a formula for answering the question in a creative way.
“Over time, I’ve discovered that the key — and often missing — ingredient for better small talk is relatability,” she says. Instead of just saying a job title, you should say, “You know how [talk about issues you solve]? So what I do is [share the solutions you offer]. In fact, [drop some proof].”
Simply naming your company and job title isn’t much of a conversation starter, she says, but asking a rhetorical question referencing a common problem helps paint a picture for others. For example: “You know how cyberattacks are getting more frequent and sophisticated?” 
Afterward, briefly explain how you solve that problem without using too much jargon, like: “What I do is create software systems that alert companies when a suspicious user tries to access their platform.”
Then finish your response with some added context. This is where you can use company names, numbers, or a story to tie it all together, Chen says. For instance, you could say: “In fact, our organization is one of the largest cybersecurity companies in the world with clients like [well-known company].” 
Though I typically hate being asked “What do you do?” maybe Chen’s formula will help me dread it a bit less, and foster some real, genuine conversation.

CNBC

Oil prices jumped on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, raising fears of crude supply disruption from two of the biggest suppliers to the U.S., but the prospect of lower fuel demand capped gains.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $73.97 a barrel, up $1.44, or 2%, by 0042 GMT, after hitting more than a week's high at $75.18 a barrel earlier in the session.

Brent crude futures rose 62 cents, or 0.8%, to $76.29 a barrel, after touching a high of $77.34.

Trump on Saturday ordered sweeping tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, kicking off a trade war that could dent global growth and reignite inflation.

Energy products from Canada will have only a 10% duty, but Mexican energy imports will be charged the full 25%, White House officials said.

"The relatively soft stance on Canadian energy imports is likely rooted in caution," Barclays analyst Amarpreet Singh said in a note.

"Tariffs on Canadian energy imports would likely be more disruptive for domestic energy markets than those on Mexican imports and might even be counterproductive to one of the president's key objectives - lowering energy costs."

Canada and Mexico are the top sources of U.S. crude imports, together accounting for about a quarter of the oil U.S. refiners process into fuels such as gasoline and heating oil, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

The tariffs will raise costs for the heavier crude grades U.S. refineries need for optimum production, industry sources said, cutting their profitability and potentially forcing production cuts.

U.S. gasoline futures jumped 2.6% to $2.1128 a gallon after hitting $2.162 earlier, the highest since Jan. 16.

The tariffs are bullish for near-term oil prices due to supply disruption risks, especially for heavier grades, said Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst at MST Marquee.

However, oil prices may fall beyond the next quarter as tariffs cause the demand outlook to deteriorate further and as OPEC+ has come under more pressure from Trump to unwind production cuts, he added.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, a group known as OPEC+, is unlikely to alter existing plans to raise output gradually when it meets on Monday, delegates from the producer group told Reuters, despite the pressure from Trump.

Reuters

President Donald Trump has ordered new tariffs on imports from key trading partners, triggering contrasting responses from Canada and China. The measures include 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on Chinese goods, set to take effect Tuesday.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced swift retaliation, unveiling countermeasures worth C$155 billion ($107 billion) on U.S. imports. C$30 billion in tariffs will be implemented immediately, matching Trump's timeline, with the remaining C$125 billion following in three weeks. The Canadian tariffs target American products including beer, wine, bourbon, fruits, and orange juice from Florida, along with clothing, sports equipment, and household appliances.

"From the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of the Korean Peninsula, we have fought and died alongside you during your darkest hours," said a somber Trudeau, flanked by his ministers. "We didn't ask for this but we will not back down." He encouraged Canadians to buy domestic products and vacation locally rather than in the U.S.

In contrast, China's response has been more measured. While denouncing the tariffs as a "serious violation" of international trade rules, Beijing has opted for a diplomatic approach, filing a symbolic challenge at the World Trade Organization while leaving the door open for negotiations. This measured tone marks a departure from the heated exchanges that characterized previous trade disputes with Trump.

Trump cited fentanyl trafficking as justification for the Chinese tariffs, prompting pushback from Beijing. "Fentanyl is America's problem," China's foreign ministry stated, asserting that they had already achieved "remarkable results" in anti-narcotics cooperation with the United States.

The trade tensions come at a challenging time for Canada, as Trudeau plans to step down amid low approval ratings once a new Liberal Party leader is chosen. The U.S.-Canada relationship is particularly crucial, with the 9,000-km border facilitating over $2.5 billion in daily trade. Canadian exports to the U.S. account for roughly 17.8% of Canada's GDP and more than 2.4 million jobs.

China, dealing with its own economic challenges despite meeting its 5% growth target last year, has been preparing for these tariffs by strengthening allied relationships and focusing on technological self-reliance. The country's massive trade surplus of nearly $1 trillion remains a point of vulnerability, leading analysts to expect China might seek an early deal with Trump to minimize economic impact.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the killing of 10 people in an attack on the Amegu Nkalaha community in Ishielu Local Government Area. The assault, which occurred on Sunday morning, was reportedly carried out by armed men, believed to be acting in reprisal over the killing of their cattle.

During the attack, several houses were set ablaze, and many residents sustained injuries. According to Joshua Ukandu, the police spokesperson in Ebonyi, 10 bodies were recovered from the scene, while the assailants appeared to have targeted specific homes for destruction.

Ukandu stated that security personnel have been deployed to the area, restoring normalcy. However, he noted that the motive behind the attack remains unclear, and an investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“The situation is now calm. We received reports of an attack on the community and immediately dispatched police operatives to the scene,” Ukandu said.

“On arrival, we found that houses had been selectively burnt, and we recovered 10 corpses. Our personnel remain on the ground, ensuring stability in the area. As of now, we cannot confirm the exact cause of the attack, but investigations are ongoing.”

Hezbollah chief says slain predecessor Nasrallah to be buried Feb. 23

The head of Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah said on Sunday that his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, would be laid to rest on Feb. 23, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli air attack on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Nasrallah, who had served as Hezbollah's secretary general for more than 30 years, was killed on Sept. 27 as Israel ramped up its air attacks on Hezbollah targets and just days before Israeli troops began ground incursions into southern Lebanon.

His successor Naim Qassem said in a televised address on Sunday that Nasrallah was killed "at a time when circumstances were difficult," forcing the group to conduct a temporary burial for him according to religious tradition.

Qassem said the group had now decided to hold "a grand funeral procession with a large public presence" for both Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, another top Hezbollah official killed in an Israeli strike nearly a week after Nasrallah.

Qassem confirmed on Sunday for the first time that Safieddine had been elected as Nasrallah's successor but was killed before the announcement was made. He said Safieddine would also be buried with the title of secretary general.

The killings of both Nasrallah and Safieddine - as well as many of the group's top military commanders - threw Hezbollah into disarray. The group announced on Oct. 29 that Qassem, the group's deputy leader, had been elected as its head.

A ceasefire agreed in late November ended hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and set a 60-day deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon, Hezbollah to remove its fighters and arms from the area and Lebanese troops to deploy there.

That deadline was extended last month until Feb. 18. Israel has continued to carry out some airstrikes on parts of Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of violating the terms of the ceasefire.

Hezbollah says Israel is responsible for the breaches and says the Lebanese state and the deal's foreign sponsors - the U.S. and France - should prevent Israel's violations. But it has not threatened to resume fighting.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine drone attack sparks fire, forces flight suspensions at several Russian airports

Ukraine's overnight drone attack targeted fuel and energy facilities in Russia, sparking a fire in the Astrakhan region and forcing the suspension of flights at several airports, Russian officials and media said on Monday.

"Ukrainian armed forces attempted a drone attack on objects located in the region, including fuel and energy facilities," Igor Babushkin, governor of the Astrakhan region in southern Russia, said on the Telegram messaging app.

"Falling drone sparked a fire. There were no casualties."

Babushkin did not say what was on fire. Baza, a Russian news Telegram channel that is close to Russia's security services, said that Ukraine attacked a gas processing plant near Astrakhan.

Russia's aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said that it was suspending flights from the airports of Astrakhan as well as from four others, in Kazan, Nizhnekamsk, Saratov and Ulyanovsk to ensure air safety.

Earlier, Rosaviatsia temporarily suspended flights from the Volgograd airport in southern Russia, but flights there have since been restored, it said on Telegram.

There were no official reports on any attack on Volgograd, but Baza, and other Russian news Telegram channels reported a large coordinated drone attack that reportedly targeted an oil refinery.

Reuters could not independently verify the Baza reports. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.

Kyiv has said previously that its attacks inside Russia are aimed at destroying energy, transport and military infrastructure that is key to Moscow's war efforts.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said they are also a response to Russia's continued bombing of Ukraine since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian army destroys Ukrainian military aerodromes, fuel storage facilities — top brass

The Russian army’s units have destroyed the infrastructure of military aerodromes and fuel storage facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed forces, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"Operational-tactical aviation, combat unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces’ group of forces inflicted damage on infrastructure of military airfields, fuel storage facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as troops and equipment of the Ukrainian armed groups in 153 areas," the report said.

Battlegroup Center

Ukraine’s armed forces lost up to 515 troops, a tank and six armored fighting vehicles, in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center in 24 hours, the ministry said.

"Units of Battlegroup Center continued active advance actions. Damage was inflicted on troops and equipment of two mechanized, two jaeger brigades, an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army, and an assault brigade Lyut of Ukraine’s National police near settlements of Dzerzhinsk, Druzhba, Lysovka, Nadezhdinka, Shevchenko, Uspenovka, Andreyevka, and Kotlino of the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy lost up to 515 troops, a tank, six armored fighting vehicles, ten cars, and six field branch artillery weapons, one of them produced by a NATO country," the report said.

Battlegroup West

Ukraine’s armed forces lost up to 295 troops and three armored fighting vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup West in 24 hours.

"Damage was inflicted on troops and equipment of five mechanized and a tank brigades of the Ukrainian army near settlements of Kondrashovka, Kolodeznoye, Kislovka, Monachinovka of the Kharkov Region and Makeyevka of the Lugansk People’s Republic. The enemy lost up to 295 troops, three armored fighting vehicles, 11 cars, a multiple-launch rocket system, four field branch artillery weapons. Two ammunition depots and an electronic warfare station were eliminated," the ministry said.

Battlegroup South

Ukraine’s armed forces lost up to 200 troops in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup South in 24 hours.

"The units of Battlegroup South took more favorable positions. Damage was inflicted on formations of two mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades near settlements of Ulakly, Belogorovka, Verkhnekamenskoye and Chasov Yar of the Donetsk People’s Republic. The Ukrainian army lost up to 200 troops, two cars, a multiple-launch rocket system, and seven field branch artillery weapons, two of which were produced by NATO countries. Four ammunition depots were destroyed," the report said.

Battlegroupы Dnepr, North

The losses of the Ukrainian armed forces in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr and Battlegroup North reached up to 80 troops, the ministry added.

"The units of Battlegroup North in the Kharkov area inflicted damage on formations of Ukraine’s infantry and air assault brigades near settlements of Liptsy and Volchansk of the Kharkov Region. The enemy lost up to 20 troops, two cars, and four field branch artillery weapons," according to the report.

Units of Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted damage on troops and equipment of Ukraine’s mechanized brigade and two coastal defense brigades near settlements of Rabotino, Primorskoye of the Zaporozhye Region, and Antonovka of the Kherson Region. The enemy lost up to 60 troops, three cars, three field branch artillery weapons, and two electronic warfare stations, the ministry said, adding that an ammunition depot was destroyed.

Battlegroup East

Moreover, Ukraine’s armed forces lost a tank and 140 troops in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup East in 24 hours.

Russia’s air defense downed a HIMARS system and 44 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Ukrainian armed forces in 24 hours, the Defense Ministry said.

"Air defense systems downed a US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and 44 drones," the ministry said.

In all, the Russian forces have destroyed 652 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 42,139 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20,997 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,513 multiple rocket launchers, 21,129 field artillery guns and mortars, and 31,127 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, the ministry added.

Reuters/Tass