2025 | Page 27 of 263 | Trendbrio.com

Nigeria’s GDP Rebased to ₦205 Trillion, Grows 3.13% in Q1 2025

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago02 mins

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.13% year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter of 2025, according to new data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. This marks a significant improvement over the 2.27% growth recorded in Q1 2024, driven mainly by robust activity in the services and industry sectors. In a related development, the NBS announced that Nigeria’s GDP has been rebased to ₦205 trillion using 2019 as the new base year, replacing the previous 2010 benchmark. Statistician General of the Federation, Adeyemi Adeniran, disclosed that the revised GDP at current prices stood at ₦372.8 trillion (approximately $243 billion) in 2024, reflecting a 41.7% increase from the last rebasing in 2014. Key Highlights of the New GDP Data: Top Sectors by Contribution: The rebased data shows real estate surpassing crude oil and gas due to improved coverage of informal sector activities. Services remain the largest classification, contributing 53.09% of GDP in 2019, followed by agriculture (25.83%) and industries (21.08%). Adeniran also highlighted the growing impact of the informal economy, which accounted for ₦86.85 trillion or 42.5% of GDP in 2019, up from ₦39 trillion in 2015. Read Full Report: News360 Nigeria

Lagos Police Declare Abiodun Ariori Wanted After Deadly Clash at Owode Onirin, Ensure Stability in Area

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago03 mins

The Lagos State Police Command has declared Abiodun Ariori, CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, wanted in connection with a violent clash between traders and alleged land grabbers at Owode Onirin, Lagos. The incident, which left three people dead and several others injured, has escalated tensions in the area. In a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Ariori is accused of orchestrating the attack, which also involved the injury of a police inspector, whose life is reportedly in danger. The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, responded swiftly by leading a combined police team from the command’s operations department to the scene, working to restore order. To prevent further violence, CP Jimoh has ordered the continued deployment of police personnel in the Owode Onirin area. Authorities are focused on ensuring that normalcy is maintained and the situation does not escalate further. The police have urged Abiodun Ariori to surrender himself to the authorities. In addition, the Commissioner has ordered an orderly room trial for four police officers who were reportedly brought into the situation from outside Lagos State by the suspected land grabber. In a separate development, the police addressed rumors regarding the recent altercation at Balogun Market, clarifying that the conflict had no ethnic motivations. The incident, which involved a fight between hoodlums, resulted in one Ebuka Adindu from Abia State fatally stabbing Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State. Adindu, who also injured himself during the melee, is currently under arrest and receiving medical treatment in the hospital. Authorities have emphasized that the fight was a random altercation and not driven by ethnic tensions. The police continue to investigate both incidents and have reassured the public that efforts are being made to maintain peace and ensure justice for those affected.

President Tinubu Returns to Abuja After Successful State Visit to Brazil, Secures Key Bilateral Deals

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago04 mins

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived back in Abuja at approximately 1:20 a.m. on Thursday following a productive three-day state visit to Brazil. The visit resulted in several significant agreements aimed at deepening Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic ties with South America’s largest economy. The President was welcomed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by a high-profile delegation, including Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Also present were top officials such as Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and several ministers, including Nyesom Wike (FCT), Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Economic Planning), and Bello Matawalle (Defence, State). During the visit, Nigeria and Brazil signed five key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), covering aviation, trade, diplomacy, science, and finance. One notable development was the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement that will enable direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo, to be operated by Air Peace. Additionally, President Tinubu announced the return of Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil giant, to Nigeria, marking a significant shift after the company’s exit from joint ventures five years ago. “We have the largest gas repository in the world. So I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t rejoin Nigeria as a partner as soon as possible,” Tinubu stated during a joint press conference with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasília. Other key agreements included political consultations, scientific collaboration, and agricultural financing, with Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture and Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development playing pivotal roles in these efforts. While in Brazil, President Tinubu also courted Brazilian investors, highlighting Nigeria’s stable and transparent economic environment. He pointed to recent growth in Nigeria’s capital markets as evidence of renewed investor confidence and committed to implementing reforms aimed at unlocking capital, protecting investments, and fostering innovation. In a meeting with Nigerians living in Brazil, the President encouraged the diaspora to take a more active role in Nigeria’s development, particularly in driving technology-driven growth and food security. “We must bring Nigeria to the forefront of Africa’s progress, driven by technology, food sovereignty, and the courage to change our destiny,” Tinubu emphasized. The visit also featured red-carpet honors, cultural exchanges, and productive bilateral talks, which both leaders hailed as the beginning of a new era in Nigeria-Brazil relations.

Clash Between Traders at Mandilas Market on Lagos Island Leads to Fatality, Multiple Injuries

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago02 mins

Tensions erupted at Mandilas Market on Lagos Island on Friday following a violent altercation between a youth and an Igbo trader. The confrontation quickly escalated, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. According to eyewitness reports, the dispute initially appeared to be a minor disagreement but soon spiraled out of control. The altercation culminated in the fatal stabbing of the Yoruba youth involved in the clash. His death sparked outrage among local youths, who retaliated with violent attacks that further fueled the chaos. In the ensuing melee, several bystanders were injured as traders sought refuge and closed their shops in fear. The normally busy market ground to a halt as panic spread. Security forces were promptly deployed to the scene in an effort to restore order, though the full scope of the damage and arrests remains unclear. As of this morning, the Lagos State Police Command has launched an investigation into the incident, but no official statement has been released at this time. Authorities are actively working to identify and apprehend those responsible for the violence. The situation continues to unfold, and more details are expected as investigations progress.

Breaking: Nigeria’s Popular TikToker Peller Kidnapped

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago01 mins

Fast-rising TikTok sensation, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has been reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen on Wednesday night. According to viral videos making the rounds on social media, the 20-year-old content creator was live on TikTok when his car was stopped by armed men. In the footage, Peller could be heard questioning why a gun was pointed at him, before the gunmen ordered him to step out of his vehicle. He complied and has not been seen since. An aide to the TikToker, who arrived at the scene moments later, confirmed that Peller’s car was found abandoned. “We don’t know who took him,” the aide said, further heightening fears about his whereabouts. Meanwhile, some social media users alleged that Peller might have mistaken the gunmen for policemen conducting late-night stop-and-search operations before realizing the danger too late.

Equatorial Guinea Official Baltasar Engonga Bags 8-Year Jail Term

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago01 mins

A court in Equatorial Guinea has sentenced Baltasar Ebang Engonga, a former senior government official, to eight years in prison for embezzlement. Engonga became famous after sextapes involving him and several women leaked online. According to Hilario Mitogo, press director of the Supreme Court, the Bioko provincial tribunal found Engonga guilty of diverting funds meant for professional travel expenses for personal use. He was also fined $220,000. Engonga, a former head of the national financial investigation agency, was tried alongside five other senior officials accused of misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds. The case follows his detention in November, when videos of him with women, including the spouses of other officials, surfaced on social media while investigations into the embezzlement charges were ongoing.

France Returns Human Skulls to Madagascar, 128 Years After Colonial Massacre

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago03 mins

France has returned three human skulls to Madagascar, more than 128 years after they were looted during the colonial era. The skulls, which had been held in a Paris museum, were formally handed over at a ceremony at the French Ministry of Culture on Tuesday. One of the skulls is believed to belong to King Toera of Madagascar, who was decapitated by French colonial forces during a massacre in 1897. The other two skulls are from the Sakalava ethnic group, a prominent group on the island. The remains were originally taken as trophies following the violent suppression of local resistance to French colonial rule. King Toera’s skull, along with those of others, was later placed in the French national collections, a stark reminder of the brutality of the colonial period. “These skulls entered the national collections in circumstances that clearly violated human dignity and were a product of colonial violence,” said French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati at the ceremony. The return of these remains marks a significant moment in the ongoing movement for the restitution of cultural artifacts looted during colonial times. French authorities have increasingly engaged in the process of returning such items to their countries of origin. At the ceremony, Volamiranty Donna Mara, Madagascar’s Minister of Culture, expressed gratitude for the return, describing the taking of the skulls as “an open wound” that has remained for 128 years. “They are not collectors’ items,” Mara said. “They are the invisible and indelible link that unites our present to our past.” The skulls were delivered in boxes draped in traditional cloth, and the somber ceremony was marked by a solemn procession through the ornate French ministry. A joint scientific committee has confirmed that the skulls originate from the Sakalava people. While it could not definitively identify one as belonging to King Toera, the historical context and evidence strongly suggest it is his. The ceremony serves as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and an acknowledgment of the painful legacy of colonialism, with continued calls for the return of more cultural treasures to their rightful homes.

Israel’s Gaza Offensive Claims 51 More Lives, 10 Palestinians Die from Hunger

Fola Badmus3 weeks ago3 weeks ago01 mins

The Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that 10 more Palestinians have died from famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, including two children, bringing the total number of hunger-related fatalities to 313. Of those, 119 were children. The dire situation has worsened amid ongoing conflict, with aid access severely restricted. Israeli forces have killed 51 Palestinians since the early hours of Wednesday, including 12 individuals who were waiting for aid deliveries. As Israel’s military offensive continues, its forces have intensified efforts to occupy Gaza City. Al Jazeera’s team on the ground has reported widespread destruction, with tanks and warplanes leveling entire blocks. Since the start of the conflict, Israel’s actions in Gaza have resulted in at least 62,895 deaths and 158,927 injuries. The current escalation is part of a broader conflict that began with Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which left 1,139 Israelis dead and over 200 taken captive.