1. Tinubu Urges Judges to Safeguard Judicial Integrity at National Conference
President Bola Tinubu opened the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference in Abuja with a message stressing that justice “must not be for sale.” Addressing superior court judges from across the country, he called for resistance to corruption and political interference, while describing the constitution as the anchor of Nigeria’s democracy. Tinubu also pledged improved welfare, stronger security for judicial officers, and support for reforms aimed at clearing case backlogs.
The conference’s focus on judicial independence comes at a time when courts face mounting pressure over delayed trials and allegations of executive influence in several high-profile cases.
2. Headline Inflation Falls to 16.05 Percent in October, Lowest Since Mid-2022
New data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows headline inflation dropped to 16.05 percent in October from 18.02 percent in September. The decline is tied to improved food supply during the harvest season and steadier fuel availability. Year-on-year inflation fell sharply from 33.88 percent in October 2024, while core inflation stood at 18.2 percent.
The figures reflect the combined effect of monetary tightening and foreign-exchange policy adjustments, marking one of the steepest month-to-month declines recorded in recent years.
3. Gunmen Abduct Dozens of Girls from School in Northwest Nigeria
At least 25 students were abducted late Monday when armed men attacked a girls’ boarding school in Maga, Zamfara State. Witnesses say the attackers overpowered security personnel before moving the children into nearby forest terrain. Local officials have launched search operations, working with federal security agencies amid concerns that the incident aligns with tactics used in earlier mass school kidnappings in the region.
The attack adds to a series of school-related abductions across the northwest this year, where criminal gangs continue to target educational institutions for ransom.
4. Tinubu Meets Duke of Edinburgh, Discusses Youth Empowerment Reforms
President Bola Tinubu received the Duke of Edinburgh at the State House, where both discussed new partnerships to expand youth development programmes across Nigeria. The talks centered on scaling the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, which currently engages about 50,000 Nigerian participants.
The meeting comes as the government seeks global collaborations to address unemployment pressures among young people, who make up a significant share of the country’s population.
5. Senate Demands Recruitment of 100,000 Soldiers to Combat Insecurity
The Senate passed a resolution urging President Tinubu to approve the recruitment of at least 100,000 additional military personnel. Lawmakers referenced ongoing security challenges, noting that more than 2,000 deaths from insurgency and banditry have been recorded this year.
The motion also calls for streamlined enlistment processes and improved welfare for service members deployed across conflict-affected states, particularly in the northwest and northeast.
6. Lagos Suspends Lekki-Ajah Road Rehabilitation Indefinitely
The Lagos State Government has suspended the planned eight-month rehabilitation of the Lekki-Ajah corridor, just days after announcing the project. Officials say the pause will allow for more stakeholder consultations to reduce hardship for commuters and businesses along the route.
The corridor serves hundreds of thousands of daily users, and business groups had expressed concerns over projected losses and congestion during the construction period.
7. ECOWAS Warns Nigeria’s Democratic Challenges Could Affect Regional Stability
ECOWAS leaders meeting in Accra cautioned that strains on Nigeria’s democratic processes could have wider implications for West Africa. The bloc highlighted concerns over civic freedoms and electoral practices while acknowledging Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms.
The warning forms part of a new ECOWAS effort to reinforce democratic norms across member states, following recent debates over political space, party conflicts, and the independence of institutions in the region’s largest democracy.
