It is Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Nigeria’s news landscape this morning is dominated by major political realignments as the 2027 election cycle heats up, significant diplomatic moves involving cultural heritage, and a mixed economic outlook.
Here are the top headlines:
1. Politics: Defections and 2027 Posturing
The political map is shifting rapidly as key figures prepare for the next general election:
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APC Gains: Vice President Kashim Shettima officially received Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State into the APC fold during a grand reception in Gusau. Shettima declared that the end to insecurity is in sight under the current administration.
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Labour Party (LP) Strategy: The Labour Party has formally zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, a move announced by interim National Chairperson Nenadi Usman. This effectively rules out northern aspirants for the party’s top ticket.
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Resignation Deadline: Following a directive from President Tinubu, various state governors—including those of Kano and Niger states—have ordered all political appointees seeking elective offices in 2027 to resign by March 31, 2026, to comply with the Electoral Act.
2. Economy: Naira Stability & Fuel Crisis
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Naira Performance: The Naira opened the mid-week session with a slight recovery at the official window (NFEM), trading at approximately ₦1,375/$. In the parallel market, it remains steady between ₦1,420 and ₦1,435.
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Fuel Price Surge: The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has raised an alarm over “unsustainable” fuel costs, as pump prices trend toward ₦1,500 per litre. Global crude prices have surged to $112 per barrel due to escalating Middle East tensions involving Israel, the US, and Iran.
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Trade Reforms: The National Single Window (NSW) project is set to go live on March 27, aimed at digitizing cargo clearance to reduce port bottlenecks.
3. Security & Foreign Relations
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Swiss Cooperation: Switzerland has agreed to return Benin Bronzes and other artifacts to Nigeria. During a meeting in Abuja, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis also pledged support to combat insecurity in the North-East.
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US Military Support: A team of roughly 200 U.S. military advisors has been deployed to Bauchi to provide counter-terrorism training and intelligence sharing for Operation Hadin Kai, though they will not engage in direct combat.
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Police Re-organisation: The Inspector-General of Police has ordered a major shake-up, deploying new Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) across several commands to enhance national security.
4. Anti-Corruption & Judiciary
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Malami Asset Seizure: The EFCC has moved to enforce a forfeiture order on properties belonging to former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami in Abuja.
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El-Rufai Trial: Legal proceedings continue for former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged fraud, with his next bail hearing scheduled for March 31.
