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         ABUJA, Nigeria  .  The Federal Government has introduced sweeping reductions in import duties on essential goods as part of its 2026 Fiscal Policy Measures (FPM) , aimed at reducing the cost of living, easing inflationary pressures, and stimulating economic growth. The new tariff regime, which took effect in July, reduces import duties on 127 product categories , including staple foods, passenger vehicles, industrial machinery, and electric vehicles. Among the major changes, import duty on bulk rice has been cut from 70% to 47.5% , while broken rice now attracts a 30% tariff . Duties on crude palm oil and raw cane sugar have also been lowered to reduce food production costs and improve affordability. In the transport sector, import duty on passenger vehicles has been reduced from 70% to 40% , while mass transit buses, electric vehicles (EVs), and manufacturing machinery have been granted zero import duty to encourage cleaner transpo...

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – Two police officers attached to the Aluu Divisional Police Station have been killed after unidentified gunmen attacked a security checkpoint along the Mbodo-Aluu axis of Obiri Ikwerre Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State . The attack occurred at about 9:00 p.m. while the officers were reportedly carrying out a routine stop-and-search operation. The assailants opened fire, killing the officers and triggering panic among residents and motorists in the area. Videos circulating on social media showed the slain officers lying in pools of blood while still dressed in their police uniforms, underscoring the brutality of the attack. When journalists visited the scene, residents and business owners declined to comment, citing fears over the deteriorating security situation in the area. In response to the incident, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju , visited the scene alongside members of the Command's management team...

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Police Force has renewed its commitment to tackling corruption and criminality within its ranks, following a series of high-profile cases involving officers accused of armed robbery, extortion and abuse of office. The move comes after police authorities uncovered several incidents in which serving officers allegedly used official weapons and uniforms to rob and extort members of the public, raising fresh concerns about discipline, accountability and public trust in the Force. One of the most notable cases occurred in Rivers State , where 11 police officers were linked to a robbery syndicate that allegedly abducted victims and forced them to transfer money from their bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets. According to police authorities, some of the officers have been dismissed, while others remain wanted. In a separate operation in Edo State , six serving police officers and four civilian accomplices were arrested over an alleged kidnapping and exto...

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully rescued ten National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted during an ISWAP attack on Lassa Community in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The attack, which occured at about 0900 hours (9:00 a.m.) on Monday, 29 June 2026, targeted the Technical Secondary School while the students were writing exams. Immediately upon reciept of the incident, Theatre Command scrambled both strike and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircrafts from the Air Component of OPHK to support troops mobilised to the area for a coordinated search and rescue operation. The troops, with support from the air platforms overhead providing guidance, made contact around DAGGU and after the firefight, the operation has so far resulted in the successful rescue of ten victims, who were unhurt and are currently receiving the necessary care and support, while efforts remain ongoing to rescue the remaining victim and ...

  The Executive Chairman of Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Aminat Oluwakemi Alabi, has welcomed the introduction of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) and the “Adopt a School for Snacks 4 Thought” – PBAT FEEDS initiative, scheduled for launch on Tuesday, 30th June 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Describing the initiative as a timely and commendable intervention, Hon. Alabi noted that the programme will not only improve the nutritional well-being of school children but also enhance their learning capacity and overall academic performance. The programme is designed to provide nutritious breakfast snacks to 30,000 public primary school pupils across the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State. Kuramo Primary School, Victoria Island, Lagos, has been selected as the pilot school within Iru-Victoria Island LCDA for the commencement of the initiative. The initiative is being champi...

  Nigeria's health sector has recorded significant progress under the Federal Government's ongoing reform programme, with health insurance enrolment rising from 16 million to 22 million Nigerians over the past three years. The achievements were announced by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate , following the 15th Expanded Ministerial Oversight Committee meeting on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Abuja. According to the minister, Nigeria's health system is now ranked 4th in Africa , behind South Africa, Tunisia and Kenya, reflecting improvements driven by the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII). Prof. Pate revealed that of the ₦339 billion disbursed through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund since its establishment, ₦235 billion—nearly 70%—was released within the last three years , enabling major investments in primary healthcare across the country. The funding has supported over 8,000 Prim...