The Federal Government has announced that the first batch of Nigerians being repatriated from South Africa due to ongoing xenophobic attacks will arrive in the country on Thursday.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the flight is expected to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at 5:00 am on Thursday.

The statement added that the Air Peace-operated flight will depart from Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.

The repatriation exercise follows rising tensions and attacks against foreign nationals, including Nigerians, in parts of South Africa.

The Federal Government had earlier announced plans to evacuate over 1,000 willing Nigerians who registered for voluntary return after screening.

The government expressed dissatisfaction with the South African authorities over the handling of the attacks and has made arrangements, including funding approved by President Bola Tinubu, to facilitate the safe return of affected citizens.

Additional flights are expected in the coming days as part of the multi-flight operation.

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The International Monetary Fund stated on Tuesday, June 9, that reforms carried out by the Nigerian government have strengthened the country’s economy, but warned that more than 60 percent of Nigerians now live in poverty.

Since assuming office just over three years ago, President Bola Tinubu has eliminated a costly fuel subsidy that had kept petrol prices artificially low for decades, floated the naira exchange rate, and overhauled the nation’s tax system.

While economists have said these policy changes were long overdue, poverty has continued to rise, affecting 63 percent of the population by the end of 2025. More than 27 million people experienced food insecurity during that year, the IMF added.

“Strong reforms over the past three years have yielded improved macroeconomic outcomes and built resilience,” the IMF said in a statement following its annual review of the Nigerian economy. “Still, conditions for many Nigerians remain difficult,” it said.

Poverty has been increasing in Africa’s most populous nation for years. The World Bank reported last year that approximately 61 percent of the country’s population lived in poverty, up from 40 percent in 2019. Three-quarters of that increase occurred before Tinubu took office in 2023, the World Bank noted at the time. Widespread insecurity caused by armed groups, particularly in the north where most of the country’s food is grown, represents “another risk to people and economic activity,” the IMF said.

According to the latest official figures, inflation accelerated to an annual rate of 15.7 percent in April, reaching a five-month high. Analysts attributed the increase partly to higher fuel prices linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Economic growth is projected to reach 4.1 percent this year, following four percent in 2025.

The IMF warned that while higher costs for food, fertiliser, and fuel could boost Nigeria’s revenues, the country remains Africa’s largest oil producer. However, these increases could also intensify inflationary pressures on poor households, “potentially aggravating poverty and food insecurity.” Nigeria heads to the polls in January, when Tinubu is seeking re-election for a second term.

Several passengers are feared dead after a train on the Warri–Itakpe corridor derailed on Monday, sparking urgent rescue operations.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the incident, noting that emergency response teams and relevant agencies have been deployed to assist victims and manage the situation.

“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirms that an incident involving the Warri–Itakpe Train Service (WITS) occurred today. Emergency response teams and relevant authorities are currently at the scene attending to the situation and providing necessary assistance,” NRC Managing Director Kayode Opeifa stated.

Authorities have yet to release the official casualty figures, but investigations and rescue efforts are ongoing. The NRC assured that a detailed statement will follow once more information becomes available.

This derailment raises fresh concerns about railway safety in Nigeria, as the Warri–Itakpe line has been a critical transport corridor for passengers and goods.

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Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has signed the state’s Electricity Bill into law, describing it as a landmark step toward improving power supply, attracting investment, and driving economic growth.

In a statement by his Technical Adviser on Media and Strategic Communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev, Alia said the new law would open the power sector to increased investment, promote competition, enhance consumer protection, and expand electricity access to underserved communities.

The governor noted that the legislation would boost businesses, stimulate industrial growth, create jobs, and improve service delivery across both urban and rural areas.

He commended the Benue State House of Assembly for passing the bill, stressing that his administration is determined to break bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerate development.

Alia added that although the law should have been enacted years ago, his government is committed to building lasting achievements that future generations will be proud of.

The bill, passed months earlier by the Assembly, is part of broader reforms to strengthen infrastructure and regulatory systems.

It also establishes the Benue State Electricity/Power Management Agency to oversee electricity management and distribution.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has named Damilola Sonayon-James, 40, as the running mate to Obafemi Hamzat, its governorship candidate for the 2027 Lagos State election.

Sonayon-James, who currently serves as the party’s deputy woman leader in Lagos, was unveiled after what APC leaders described as a rigorous selection process.

Announcing the decision, Lagos APC chairman Cornelius Ojelabi said her emergence was based on competence, leadership capacity, grassroots acceptance, and loyalty to the party.

Ojelabi praised her track record, noting that she had distinguished herself through service and dedication.

He expressed confidence in the Hamzat–Sonayon-James ticket, describing it as one capable of advancing Lagos’s development agenda.

Sonayon-James is a governance and development professional with over 15 years of experience in public policy, sustainability, and community development.

She previously served as supervisor for agriculture and social services in Badagry West LCDA, where she championed initiatives in women’s empowerment, youth inclusion, and agricultural growth.

Popularly known as “Sisi Eko of APC,” she has also been active in grassroots mobilization and women’s leadership development.

The party said her selection underscores its commitment to inclusive leadership, youth participation, and women’s representation in governance.

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The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has announced the recovery of ₦521.77 million in unremitted Value Added Tax (VAT) from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The recovered funds represent VAT deductions on fees earned from Remita transactions between November 2018 and April 2024 that were not previously remitted to the Federal Government.

The investigation, launched by the House following concerns about revenue leakages and breaches of financial procedures, was led by committee chairman and Osun lawmaker, Bamidele Salam.

The committee directed the apex bank to remit the outstanding VAT, and the CBN confirmed compliance in a letter dated May 7, 2026, providing evidence of payment into government coffers.

Salam described the recovery as a validation of the National Assembly’s oversight role, stressing that legislative scrutiny remains vital to safeguarding public funds.

“The recovery demonstrates the effectiveness of oversight in ensuring accountability in government revenue management,” he said.

Beyond the VAT recovery, the committee disclosed that other outstanding liabilities involving the CBN are under review.

These include unrefunded charges of ₦954.3m with accrued interest of ₦2.33bn (totaling ₦3.28bn), and Treasury Single Account collections of ₦8.99bn with accumulated interest of ₦20.73bn, bringing the combined outstanding liability to over ₦33bn.

The committee is scheduled to resume hearings on June 8, 2026, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, where officials will provide further clarifications on unresolved liabilities.

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed an aerial surveillance aircraft to aid the rescue of teachers and pupils abducted from Yawota and Ahoro-Esinele communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

NAF spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the deployment in a statement on Sunday, noting that Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed the intervention during a courtesy visit by senior Air Force officials.

Makinde explained that the surveillance platform was activated immediately after the abduction was reported, providing critical intelligence to security agencies coordinating the search-and-rescue mission.

He assured residents that all necessary resources were being mobilized to secure the victims’ release.

“The intelligence generated from the surveillance missions has continued to assist security agencies in tracking developments and coordinating efforts towards securing the safe release of the victims,” Makinde said.

The governor commended the swift response of the Air Force, highlighting that the surveillance aircraft was made available while Oyo State’s newly acquired aerial assets are still being assembled at the NAF Base in Lagos.

He expressed optimism that the state’s investment in aerial platforms would significantly boost security operations once fully operational.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Suleh reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to supporting the rescue efforts and pledged continued collaboration with other security agencies.

The abduction, which occurred on May 15, 2026, involved 39 students and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire LGA, raising fresh concerns about school safety and persistent attacks on educational institutions.

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Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (Rtd), has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the N1.245 trillion dualisation of the Gombe-Biu Highway, describing it as a transformative infrastructure project for the North-East.

Buratai noted that the highway, first constructed in 1962, is being revived under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, reflecting the administration’s commitment to regional connectivity and economic growth.

The 139-kilometre road will be dualised using rigid pavement technology, a move expected to ease transportation, boost trade, and strengthen integration across the region.

He emphasised that the project could open new opportunities for businesses and local communities by improving access and reducing travel challenges.

Beyond economic benefits, Buratai highlighted its strategic importance, saying improved road infrastructure would enhance logistics, support the movement of personnel and supplies, and contribute to security and stability in the North-East.

The retired Army Chief also commended the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, alongside Governors Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe and Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno, for their collaboration in advancing the project.

Calling the initiative a significant investment in regional development, Buratai urged residents and stakeholders to support its successful implementation.

He expressed optimism that the project would deliver lasting benefits for communities along the corridor and accelerate socio-economic progress in the region.

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The Federal Government has finalized the screening of Nigerians who registered for evacuation from South Africa, setting the stage for their safe return home.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials confirmed that the exercise began on Thursday, June 4, and was jointly conducted by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the South African Police Service, and immigration authorities.

The screening was aimed at verifying the identities and eligibility of Nigerians seeking evacuation amid heightened security concerns and renewed xenophobic attacks.

With the process now concluded, authorities will determine the final list of cleared evacuees before deploying aircraft to convey them back to Nigeria.

“The Government will subsequently conclude arrangements for the deployment of aircraft to convey the evacuees back to Nigeria,” the ministry stated.

The Federal Government emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians abroad and ensuring the safe return of those affected by the latest wave of anti-foreigner violence in South Africa.

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