Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Category: Government Policy

  • Polio cases drop sharply in Kano, Katsina as eradication push intensifies

    Polio cases drop sharply in Kano, Katsina as eradication push intensifies

    An illustration depicting a particle of the polio virus – New York Times
    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, Nigeria’s polio-response managers say reported circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases have fallen, with Kano and Katsina recording the biggest declines, even as officials warn outbreaks can rebound if immunisation gaps persist.

    The update was presented during a National Economic Council (NEC) review, where officials linked the improvement to intensified campaigns, tighter monitoring and stronger coordination in high-risk areas.

    State House reporting on the same NEC meeting referenced a national reduction figure and stressed that progress depends on sustaining high coverage and rapid response where surveillance detects new risks.

    The Whistler also reported the NEC briefing and echoed the warning that gains will only hold if surveillance and response remain consistent across states.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Kano and Katsina are pivotal in Nigeria’s polio history—progress there is meaningful but fragile. Watch for stronger routine immunisation (not only campaigns), improved surveillance quality, and faster close-out of ‘zero-dose’ pockets that can reseed outbreaks.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/govt-warns-as-polio-drops-in-kano-katsina/)

  • CJN says judges are exempt from police-withdrawal order for private individuals

    CJN says judges are exempt from police-withdrawal order for private individuals

    Photo Credit: Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun – TheNigerianvoice
    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, Nigeria’s Chief Justice clarified that judges are exempt from a directive withdrawing police personnel attached to private individuals, as the government seeks to redeploy officers to frontline security duties.

    The clarification aims to address concerns about judicial safety while broader police redeployment policies are implemented.

    The Guardian Nigeria reported the CJN’s clarification and quoted that judges were exempted from the police-withdrawal order.

    BusinessDay also reported the exemption and framed it as part of rationalising police deployments amid wider security pressures.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This policy highlights a trade-off: protecting institutions of justice while trying to free up police manpower for the wider population. Watch for how enforcement is applied (who loses police details), whether private security regulation tightens, and whether there is pushback from influential beneficiaries of police escorts.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/judges-exempted-from-police-withdrawal-order-says-cjn/)

  • Report says FG committed about ₦1.9trn to airport upgrades over two years

    Report says FG committed about ₦1.9trn to airport upgrades over two years

    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, a report says the Federal Government approved or committed roughly ₦1.9 trillion to airport upgrades over a two-year period, spanning equipment, safety systems and infrastructure improvements.

    The report links the spending to plans to modernise aviation facilities and strengthen safety and operational reliability across airports.

    The Guardian Nigeria reported related approvals around navigation and communication upgrades and described the effort as a comprehensive modernisation drive for air safety.

    BizWatch Nigeria also reported the overhaul and said it is aimed at improving air safety and modernising aviation infrastructure.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: The real measure isn’t the headline figure but delivery: which airports get what upgrades, whether timelines are met, and whether maintenance capacity is built into procurement. Watch for project breakdowns, independent oversight, and whether upgrades reduce delays, incidents and operating costs for airlines and passengers.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-earmarked-n1-9tn-for-airport-upgrades-in-two-years-report/)

  • Safe School Project plans more deployments as kidnapping risks persist

    Safe School Project plans more deployments as kidnapping risks persist

    Photo Credit: A school classroom session – Facebook/Nigerian Teachers
    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, the National Safe Schools Response and Coordination Centre says more security personnel will be deployed to schools to strengthen protection and deter attacks amid kidnapping concerns.

    Officials say the approach blends intelligence-led operations with visible security measures to reduce school vulnerability in high-risk locations.

    On its official platform, the NSSRCC describes its work as enhancing security for schools through coordination with security agencies and rapid response mechanisms.

    The Guardian Nigeria has previously highlighted gaps in school protection and warned that many schools remain exposed despite funding announcements, keeping pressure on implementation.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: School protection announcements are common—execution is the real test. Watch for state-by-state coverage, quick-response effectiveness, and whether community early-warning systems and safe transportation measures actually reduce abductions and attacks in the next quarter.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/kidnapping-safe-school-project-to-deploy-more-security-personnel/)

     

  • NiDCOM says diaspora portal passes 100,000 registrations as data mapping expands

    NiDCOM says diaspora portal passes 100,000 registrations as data mapping expands

    Photo Credit: The NIDCOM Boss, Abike Dabiri–Erewa – The New Nigerian
    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says more than 100,000 Nigerians have registered on its diaspora data-mapping portal, as it seeks more reliable population and skills data on citizens abroad.

    NiDCOM acknowledged the broader challenge of capturing accurate figures for a diaspora community estimated to be far larger than current registrations, and said the portal is designed to improve planning and engagement.

    A government-backed report on the portal’s launch said NiDCOM created the Data Mapping and Registry Portal to enhance realistic data capture for Nigerians living abroad.

    NiDCOM’s portal documentation describes the platform as a structured registry with country-specific mapping pages for diaspora communities.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Quality diaspora data can strengthen policy design—investment channels, diaspora bonds, consular support and targeted skills programmes. The key risk is trust: privacy protections and clear benefits for registration. Watch for incentives, data governance assurances, and evidence that registration improves services.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/nidcom-registers-over-100000-nigerians-abroad/)

     

  • Insecurity: Labour unions plan nationwide street protest for Dec. 17

    Insecurity: Labour unions plan nationwide street protest for Dec. 17

    File photo: Troops — Punch Newspapers
    2025-12-13

    According to The Punch, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will stage a nationwide protest on December 17 to demand stronger action on insecurity and to push for better protection of lives and livelihoods.

    The union leadership argues that persistent attacks, kidnappings and community violence are undermining economic activity and deepening hardship, and it wants government to treat security as an urgent national emergency.

    Separate reports by Vanguard and TheCable also described the planned action and quoted labour leaders framing the protest as a pressure tool to compel a firmer security response, with Vanguard noting it was intended to be nationwide.

    Organised labour urged citizens to support peaceful mobilisation while calling on authorities to avoid heavy-handed responses that could inflame tensions.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: If labour follows through, the protest will be a real test of how the government is reading public frustration about insecurity. Watch for: (1) whether state chapters mobilise beyond major cities, (2) whether government announces fresh security measures ahead of the date, and (3) whether the protest expands into broader economic demands.

    Source: The Punch — 13 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/nlc-to-hold-nationwide-protest-over-insecurity-december-17/?amp)

  • CBN gives payment firms 30 days to add dual channels for PoS transactions

    CBN gives payment firms 30 days to add dual channels for PoS transactions

    photo: CBN headquarters — Wikipedia

    According to The Punch, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed financial institutions, acquirers and payment service providers to implement mandatory dual connectivity for Point-of-Sale (PoS) transactions within one month to reduce failures and downtime.

    The directive, issued via a circular signed by the CBN’s Payments System Supervision leadership, is designed to ensure PoS transactions can automatically route through an alternative channel when one switch or aggregator fails.

    Daily Post also reported the same policy move, describing it as a 30‑day deadline aimed at stabilising PoS performance and reduce persistent transaction disruptions for merchants and consumers.

    Other industry reporting and commentary (including BusinessDay’s coverage shared on social platforms) echoed the policy intent: improve resilience, enforce reporting, and strengthen reliability testing across the payments ecosystem.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This is a quality-of-service crackdown, not just another circular. If enforcement is real, the biggest impact will be on downtime-driven “lost sales” for SMEs and on customer trust in cashless payments. Watch for compliance audits, penalties for repeated outages, and whether smaller aggregators can afford the redundancy costs without pushing fees higher for users.

    Source: The Punch — 12 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/cbn-sets-one-month-deadline-for-dual-pos-connectivity/)

     

  • DisCos added 187,765 meters in two months as national metering rate inches up

    DisCos added 187,765 meters in two months as national metering rate inches up

    Photo: Disco image – ThisDay

    According to The Punch, electricity distribution companies installed meters for 187,765 customers in September and October 2025, as reported by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    The report indicated 80,943 customers were metered in September and 106,822 in October, nudging the national metering rate upward from 55.37% to 56.07% and slightly expanding the total metered customer base.

    The Guardian also cited the NERC metering factsheet and highlighted the month-to-month improvement, while pointing out that the overall metering gap remains substantial despite incremental progress.

    Vanguard similarly reported the figures and reiterated NERC’s framing that the factsheet is meant to track DisCo progress in closing Nigeria’s long-running metering deficit.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Nigeria’s metering story is now about pace and fairness. The monthly gains are positive, but too slow relative to demand growth and consumer distrust of estimated billing. Watch for: (1) how quickly DisCos meter high-complaint feeders, (2) the availability and financing of meters under MAP/National Mass Metering efforts, and (3) whether dispute resolution improves as metering expands.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/187765-electricity-customers-metered-in-two-months-nerc/)

     

  • FG projects nearly ₦1.9trn from new 4% Development Levy in 2026 budget year

    FG projects nearly ₦1.9trn from new 4% Development Levy in 2026 budget year

    According to The Punch, the Federal Government is projecting about ₦1.899 trillion from the newly introduced 4% Development Levy in 2026, as the levy begins to feature in budget planning following Nigeria’s 2025 tax reforms.

    Punch reported that the levy is structured as a consolidation mechanism, rolling multiple earmarked levies into one charge on assessable profits, with the aim of simplifying compliance and improving collection efficiency.

    Deloitte’s tax update on the reform package described the measure as an “introduction of 4% development levy to replace the Tertiary Education Tax and various levies,” stressing the compliance and administrative simplification angle.

    EY’s highlights of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 similarly note that Section 59 replaces several earmarked taxes with a unified 4% development levy on assessable profits (with stated exclusions for certain company categories).

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: The test will be whether “consolidation” actually reduces friction for businesses or simply changes the label on compulsory payments. Watch for implementation guidance, agency handovers (who collects what and when), and whether the levy materially affects investment decisions—especially for sectors that previously paid some of the constituent levies at different effective rates.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-eyes-n1-9tn-from-new-2026-development-levy/)

     

    Photo: Twitter/@atikuabagudu

  • Burkina Faso detention row: Nigeria says detained soldiers safe as talks continue

    Burkina Faso detention row: Nigeria says detained soldiers safe as talks continue

    According to The Punch, Nigerian soldiers detained in Burkina Faso after a Nigerian Air Force C‑130 made a precautionary landing remained in custody days later, with Abuja pursuing diplomatic engagement to resolve the dispute.

    Punch reported that the aircraft was on an overseas mission and landed due to a technical concern, while Burkina Faso’s authorities and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) framed the incident as an unauthorised entry into their airspace.

    Premium Times quoted the Nigerian Air Force saying the landing was “in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols,” underscoring Abuja’s argument that the diversion was legitimate and safety-driven.

    The Guardian’s international coverage noted the AES described the episode as an “unfriendly act,” reflecting the heightened regional tensions between ECOWAS states and the Sahel alliance.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This is as much about regional politics as it is about aviation procedures. The AES–ECOWAS rift has created a trust deficit where even routine incidents can be interpreted as hostile moves. Watch for: the final terms of release/transfer, any formal diplomatic note exchanged, and whether Nigeria adjusts flight-clearance protocols when transiting AES-controlled airspace.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/nigerian-soldiers-spend-sixth-day-in-burkina-faso-detention/)

     

    Photo Credit: Nigeria Troops — Crisis Group