SBM Intelligence

At least 52 people were killed and nearly 2,000 displaced in coordinated attacks on six villages in Plateau State’s Bokkos district, the worst since December 2023. In Kebbi State, 16 vigilantes were ambushed and killed by Lakurawa terrorists while attempting to recover stolen cattle. In Borno, Governor Babagana Zulum raised concerns over renewed Boko Haram activity, warning that parts of the state are slipping back under militant control.

The Nigerian government has warned that about 1,249 communities in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at high risk of flooding this year. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, disclosed this at the 2025 flood outlook presentation by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

France and Algeria have restored ties after months of tension over France’s support for Morocco’s Western Sahara plan. Meanwhile, Algeria banned Mali flights after shooting down a drone. Could Algeria’s renewed friendship with France worsen its relations with Sahel neighbours? At least 52 people were killed in recent attacks on six villages in Nigeria’s Plateau State. In Kebbi State, 16 vigilantes were killed by terrorists.

Nigeria recorded a balance of payments surplus of $6.83 billion in 2024, driven by the impact of reforms, stronger trade performance, and renewed investor confidence in the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria said, compared with deficits of $3.34 billion in 2023 and $3.32 billion in 2022. Nigeria’s current and capital accounts also showed a surplus of $17.22 billion in 2024, driven by a goods trade surplus of $13.17 billion.

Gunmen killed at least 52 people and displaced nearly 2,000 others over several days of attacks in Plateau state’s Bokkos district. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the scale of the violence became more apparent at the weekend as 52 people were confirmed dead while 22 others were taken to hospital. NEMA said that “gunmen carried out brutal assaults,” leading to multiple fatalities and widespread destruction of property. “Over 1,820 individuals have been displaced.

Nigeria has received more than one million meningitis vaccine doses from a Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat an outbreak of the deadly disease, Gavi said on Friday. More than 70 people have died from the outbreak across several Nigerian states, with over 800 cases recorded, Gavi said. Nigeria is one of the hotspots of the deadly disease in Africa, where at least 1,700 cases were reported last year, with more than 150 deaths recorded in seven states.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed a new board for the NNPC, intending to increase oil sector investments and raise production to 2 million barrels. How effective will the new board be in achieving these ambitious targets? Meanwhile, seven opposition states are suing President Tinubu over his suspension of elected officials in Rivers State, claiming it violates the Nigerian Constitution. What impact could this legal challenge have on Tinubu’s governance?

Thousands of residents in Benue State, Nigeria, have taken to the streets to protest the rising cases of herdsmen killings and kidnappings. The protesters, who blocked major roads, demanded urgent action from the government and security agencies to address the growing insecurity. The community of Olena has been under siege for four days, with several persons killed and many others abducted. Residents have fled their homes, alleging that electricity is always cut off before each attack.

Some Nigerian leaders have argued that Western-style democracy does not work well in Africa. Former President Obasanjo called for a new system. How can Nigeria create a democratic system that aligns with its cultural and political realities? Fulani herder-farmer violence in Nigeria has escalated into a nationwide security threat.

Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved ₦10.3 billion for healthcare products, including third-line anti-retroviral drugs. This move aims to enhance the accessibility and affordability of health commodities and services for Nigerians. The approved funds will cover various products, focusing on third-line anti-retroviral drugs for those resistant to first and second-line treatments.