Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has joined the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood.

Kennedy joined Nollywood a few months after being sacked by President Bola Tinubu.

DAILY POST reports that Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye was appointed as minister in August 2023, and removed alongside four others in a cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024.

The 51-year-old politician has now shifted her focus to filmmaking barely four months after her removal from the cabinet.

Announcing her acting career on her X handle, the former minister shared a video of her latest project.

Kennedy who is also a lawyer and entrepreneur, joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015 and emerged the party’s first female presidential aspirant in 2023, before ultimately withdrawing to support Tinubu.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Columbus Irisoanga, popularly known as ‘Igbudu’ is dead.

Columbus Irisoanga’s death was announced by another veteran actress and politician, Hilda Dokubo, in a post on Instagram.

Hilda said that Irisoanga had gone to be with the Lord.

She also stated that the actor’s death is a heavy one on University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Nollywood.

“Our uncle Coli @colu_mbusirisoanga has gone to be with the lord. Ikoli eh dein na mu.

“There can’t be shortage of Angels in heaven that the few here are called home like this na! This one is heavy on Uniport Rivers state Nollywood,” she wrote.

Columbus’s death comes just a few days after another Nollywood actress, Pat Ugwu, 35, died.

Reality TV star and disc jockey, Tolani Shobajo, popularly known as Tolanibaj, has revealed that one of her best decisions was relocating to Nigeria from the United States.

In a post on her X handle, Tolanibaj revealed that the thought of her relocation didn’t make complete sense to her at the time, but she took the risk.

The reality star noted how it’s been six years since she moved to Nigeria, and she couldn’t be happier.

She wrote: “Honestly, one of the best choices I ever made in life was relocating to Nigeria. I’m grateful to God for the timing of my move. The thought of moving didn’t make complete sense to me at the time, but it just felt right, and I took the risk. It’s been six interesting years, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Tolanibaj was born on 20th October 1993 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

She rose to fame after participating in the Big Brother Naija reality show in 2020.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has raised concerns over the high rate of malnutrition in North Eastern Nigeria, revealing that 3.7 million children in the region are stunted, wasted, or anaemic.

This is according to a statement shared via email with our correspondent by FAO’s Communication Specialist, David Tsokar, on Thursday.

This statistic was disclosed during a high-level roundtable discussion convened by the Government of Borno State in collaboration with FAO to scale up the production and utilisation of the Tom Brown initiative.

The event, held at the UN House in Abuja on Wednesday, brought together representatives of federal ministries, donors, UN agencies, and NGOs, reaffirming their commitment to addressing food insecurity in the region.

According to the Northeast Nutrition Sector, represented by the Nutrition Sector Coordinator, John Mukisa, “an alarming 3.7 million children in northeastern Nigeria are stunted, wasted, or anaemic. Investments in low-cost, innovative, and locally sourced solutions such as Tom Brown could save the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States an estimated USD 120 million annually.”

The roundtable was held against the backdrop of a worsening food crisis in Nigeria, as recent Cadre Harmonisé figures indicate that 25 million Nigerians are currently food insecure—a number projected to rise to 33.1 million across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory between June and August 2025.

Borno State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Professor Baba Gana, stressed the urgency of combating malnutrition, stating, “Nigeria continues to bear one of the highest burdens of malnutrition globally. This reality underscores the urgency of our gathering today. It is imperative that we adopt innovative, community-driven approaches to combat malnutrition and ensure food security. Tom Brown has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in addressing malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children under five and lactating mothers.”

The FAO Representative ad interim, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, emphasised the broader benefits of the initiative, saying, “Scaling up Tom Brown will not only meet urgent nutritional needs but also create livelihood opportunities, strengthen local markets, and generate revenue for regional development. To bring this vision to life, we need partnership, expertise, and resources. Beyond figures and policies, we must remember the human faces behind the statistics—the children whose lives we can save, the families we can uplift, and the communities we can transform.”

The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, underscored the economic potential of Tom Brown, stating, “The production and commercialization of Tom Brown will attract investment from the private sector, boosting state revenue and positioning Borno as a leader in nutrition-sensitive agriculture.”

Stakeholders at the roundtable deliberated on the challenges and opportunities in scaling up Tom Brown production, with a focus on establishing a dedicated production facility in Borno State. The meeting resulted in a draft roadmap outlining expansion efforts, including strategies to sustain the initiative.

Tom Brown, a nutrient-dense food made from locally available ingredients, has been recognized as an effective intervention in reducing malnutrition and preventing relapse by up to 35 per cent among children discharged from UNICEF and WFP-supported nutrition centres.

FAO has also enhanced the product with fish protein, which has been distributed as emergency nutritional assistance to flood-affected families.

FAO and the Borno State Government have called on donors, government agencies, private sector investors, and humanitarian organizations to support the initiative.

“Scaling up Tom Brown production in Borno State and beyond has the potential to significantly reduce malnutrition and improve food security for the most vulnerable populations across Nigeria,” the FAO statement added.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that the country’s security and economy improved significantly during his eight-year tenure.

Buhari stated this on Wednesday while receiving members of the Katsina State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists at his country home in Daura, Katsina State.

The former President stated that he inherited a bad economy and security challenges from the Peoples Democratic Party, which was in government for 16 years.

Buhari, however, asserted that his government’s strategies successfully tackled these challenges, curbing terrorism and economic hardship.

He said, “Nigeria’s security and economy improved significantly under my administration compared to what we met in 2015. Things will continue to improve in Nigeria.”

The former President also acknowledged the country’s administrative challenges, noting that only those in positions of power truly understand these obstacles.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Yusuf Ibrahim-Jargaba, lauded Buhari’s efforts in tackling terrorism, banditry, and other security challenges during his tenure.

Ibrahim-Jargaba also commended the former president’s hard work, dedication, and selfless service, which he believes helped maintain the country’s unity.

British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has introduced a significant policy change, proposing that immigrants must wait at least 15 years before becoming eligible for British citizenship.

In her first major announcement as Conservative leader, Badenoch outlined plans to tighten the immigration system, including extending the waiting period for migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to ten years.

She also revealed that individuals who claim benefits, rely on social housing, or have criminal records would be permanently barred from settling in the UK.

She said in part, “I want to reduce immigration and make living here actually mean something. We need to change the way our immigration system works. So I am announcing that the conservative party is going to do the following things differently: 1. If you want to stay in our country permanently and apply for indefinite leave to remain, the time you have to live here before you apply would increase from 5 years to 10 years. 2. You will have to be a net contributor with a high enough salary, especially if you want to bring family members with you. And if you have a criminal record, you are banned.

“We would increase the time you can apply for a British passport from 12 months to 5 years, meaning it will take a minimum of 15 years to start an application. If you enter this country illegally or overstay your visa, you will be banned from ever getting leave to remain or a passport,” she said in a video shared on her X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday.”

The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review on Thursday proposed the creation of 31 new states in the country.

If the proposal scales through, the Nigerian state will be made up of 67 sub-national governments.

The proposal for new states was contained in a letter read during Thursday’s plenary session by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session in the absence of the Speaker, Mr Tajudeen Abbas.

The committee chaired by Kalu proposed six new states for North Central, four in the North East, five in the North West, five in South East, four in South-South and seven in South West. 

The letter read in part, “The committee proposes the creation of 31 new states. As amended, this section outlines specific requirements that must be fulfilled to initiate the process of state creation, which include the following:

1. New state and boundaries

“An act of the National Assembly for the purpose of creating a new state shall only be passed if it requires support by at least the third majority of members.

2. The House of Representatives, the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area are received by the National Assembly.

“Local government advocates for the creation of additional local government areas are only reminded that Section 8 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, applies to this process.

“Specifically, in accordance with Section 8 (3) of the Constitution, the outcome of the votes of the State Houses of Assembly in the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for fulfilment of state demands.

“Proposals shall be resubmitted in strict adherence to the stipulations. Submit three hard copies of the full proposal of the memoranda to the Secretariat of the Committee at Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, and Abuja.

“Sub-copies must also be sent electronically to the Committee’s email address at info.hccr.gov.nj. For further information or contact, please contact the Committee Clerk at 08069-232381.

“The committee remains committed to supporting the implementing efforts that align with the Constitutional provisions and would only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines. This is coming from the Clerk of the Committee on Constitutional Review.”

The proposed new states are Okun, Okura and Confluence states from Kogi; Benue Ala and Apa states from Benue; FCT state; Amana state from Adamawa; Katagum from Bauchi states and Savannah states from Borno and Muri State from Taraba.

Others are New Kaduna and Gujarat from Kaduna State; Tiga and Ari from Kano, and Kainji from Kebbi State; Etiti and Orashi as the 6th state in the South East Adada from Enugu, Orlu and Aba from the South East.

Also included are Ogoja from Cross River State, Warri from Delta, Ori and Obolo from Rivers; Torumbe from Ondo; Ibadan from Oyo, Lagoon from Lagos, Ogun, Ijebu from Ogun state as well as Oke Ogun/Ijesha from Oyo/Ogun/Osun States.

The Federal Government is engaging the World Bank for two fresh loans totalling $580m, which are expected to be approved in March 2025, according to findings by The PUNCH.

Information obtained from the website of the World Bank on Wednesday showed that the funding is aimed at improving nutrition and education initiatives, with two projects currently listed in the bank’s pipeline.

The projects, Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria 2.0 and HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All, are expected to receive final approvals on March 27 and March 20, 2025, respectively.

The HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All programme has a commitment of $552.18m, with $500m coming from the World Bank and an additional $54m from other sources. 

The initiative is designed to tackle Nigeria’s education crisis, where over 17 million children remain out of school.

It is expected to enhance early childhood education, primary and junior secondary schooling, as well as expand access to learning resources.

The programme will be implemented by the Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission.

The project remains in the ‘Concept Review’ phase, requiring further consultations before being finalised.

The second loan project, the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria 2.0 project, is expected to secure $80m from the World Bank to address malnutrition and food insecurity.

The PUNCH further observed that $232m was approved on June 27, 2018, for the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria.

This initial loan project was faced with a number of challenges, leading to some changes, including the cancellation of some amount from the total approved loan.

However, the Federal Government is currently engaging the World Bank to get an extra loan for a second part of this project.

The PUNCH further observed that the approval day for the second part was moved from February 20, 2025, to March 20.

As Nigeria continues to struggle with a high rate of stunting among children, the project seeks to improve access to quality nutrition services, particularly for pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children under five.

It will be implemented through primary healthcare facilities and community-based programmes.

Also, it will include interventions such as nutrition-smart agriculture to bolster household food security and dietary diversity.

Part of the funding will support project management, government coordination, and data-driven decision-making to enhance long-term sustainability.

This project is currently at the ‘Decision Meeting’ stage, indicating it is closer to final approval compared to the education initiative.

The approval of these loans is expected to enhance Nigeria’s human capital development by improving education and nutrition outcomes.

The World Bank has been a key development partner, funding various projects to address socioeconomic challenges in the country.

However, concerns persist over Nigeria’s growing debt burden, with economists questioning the government’s borrowing strategy.

The PUNCH further observed that the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has secured loans worth $6.95bn from the World Bank in about 18 months.

Not less than 10 loan projects have been approved by the World Bank under the current administration.

According to data from the external debt report released by the Debt Management Office, the World Bank’s share of Nigeria’s debt totals $17.32bn, with the majority owed to the International Development Association, which accounts for $16.84bn, which represents 39.14 per cent of Nigeria’s total external debt.

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, another arm of the World Bank, is owed $485.08m, or 1.13 per cent.

The PUNCH earlier reported that the Federal Government spent $3.58bn servicing its foreign debt in the first nine months of 2024, representing a 39.77 per cent increase from the $2.56bn spent during the same period in 2023.

This was according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria on international payment statistics.

The significant rise in external debt service payments shows the mounting pressure on Nigeria’s fiscal balance amid ongoing economic challenges.

The World Bank, in its recent International Debt Report, revealed that developing nations spent an unprecedented $1.4tn on foreign debt servicing in 2023, driven by a surge in interest rates to their highest levels in 20 years,

Interest payments alone reached $406bn, a nearly 30 per cent increase from the previous year, severely impacting spending in critical sectors such as health, education, and environmental programs.

According to the report, the most vulnerable economies, those eligible for loans from the World Bank’s International Development Association, bore the brunt of the financial strain.

In a statement on Monday, the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to reducing reliance on external debt financing and driving economic independence through strategic partnerships with the World Bank.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, made this known during a meeting with the World Bank Executive Director, Dr Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, where he outlined Nigeria’s shift towards private sector-led growth.

The statement read, “Edun emphasised that President Tinubu remains focused on strengthening Nigeria’s economic foundation, reducing dependency on external borrowing, and ensuring long-term, private-sector-led development.”

Edun acknowledged the critical role played by the World Bank in Nigeria’s development but stressed that the government is prioritising a business-friendly environment to attract sustainable investments.

This is part of a broader strategy to explore alternative financing models beyond traditional multilateral loans.

The administration’s economic plan focuses on fostering fiscal responsibility while ensuring that private capital is mobilised to drive economic expansion and job creation.

Ahmed, who previously served as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, commended the government’s macroeconomic reforms, which she noted have improved fiscal stability and bolstered investor confidence.

She also highlighted recent financial reforms within the World Bank that have strengthened its lending capacity, unlocking an additional $150bn in funding over the next decade.

This, she said, presents an opportunity for Nigeria to tap into strategic support while maintaining fiscal discipline.

The Kebbi State Police Command said on Wednesday it uncovered over 200 suspected illegal immigrants living in a three-bedroom flat in the Kuwait area of Birnin Kebbi.

The command’s spokesman,  Nafiu Abubakar, said 165 of the suspects were arrested while the others escaped.

Abubakar, said, “The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation on January 31, 2025, at about 5 p.m., after security operatives uncovered the presence of over 200 individuals living in a three-bedroom flat in the Kuwait area of Birnin Kebbi.

“A team of detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department raided the location and successfully apprehended 165 occupants.”

According to Abubakar, preliminary investigations revealed that all the illegal immigrants are from Francophone West African countries, with the breakdown as follows: Burkina Faso, 35; Benin Republic, 11; Niger Republic, five; Mali, four, and Ivory Coast, 110.

“Further findings showed that none of the individuals possessed valid travel documents, and they were allegedly involved in the Qnet Ponzi scheme, a suspected fraudulent investment platform known for defrauding unsuspecting individuals,” the police spokesman said.

He said following the conclusion of preliminary investigations, the police had handed over the suspect to the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kebbi State Command, for further investigations and legal action.

Last week, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said Nigeria deported no fewer than 828 illegal immigrants in 2024 as part of its intensified efforts to combat irregular migration and enhance national security.

The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has fixed March 18 for ruling on objection raised by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) against a suit filed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE over oil import licence dispute.

Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after counsel to the NNPCL,, Ademola Abimbola, SAN, and John Ibrahim (SAN) for Dangote Refinery, John Ibrahim, SAN, had canvassed their arguments and adopted their processes for and against the suit.

The NNPCL counsel, Abimbola moved his objections in urging the court for an order striking out the suit for lack of jurisdiction or in the alternative, an order striking out the name of the company from the suit.

Responding, the Dangote Refinery through its counsel, Ibrahim adopted his counter affidavit in urging the court to dismiss the NNPCL’s preliminary objection for being unnecessary.

After listening to the parties, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 18 for ruling.

Dangote Refinery had sued the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) as 1st and 2nd defendants.

Also joined in the suit are AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited.

The oil company, through its lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, prayed the court to nullify import licences issued by NMDPRA to the NNPCL and the five other companies for the purpose of importing refined petroleum products.

The company (plaintiff) also prayed the court to declare that NMDPRA was in violation of Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.

It stated that such licenses should only be issued in circumstances where there is a petroleum product shortfall.

It equally sought a N100 billion in damages against NMDPRA for allegedly continuing to issue import licences to NNPCL and the five companies for importing petroleum products, among other reliefs.

But in it’s preliminary objection, the NNPCL prayed the court to strike out the case for being incompetent.

It argued that the suit was premature and it disclosed no cause of action against it.

“This honourable court lacks the jurisdiction to hear this suit,” the NNPCL said.

The three marketers; AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, in their response, said the plaintiff did not produce adequate petroleum products for the daily consumption of Nigerians.

Besides, they argued that there was nothing placed before the court to prove the contrary.