Top news in Nigeria this Friday morning, April 17, 2026, is dominated by a major judicial move against a former high-ranking official, economic shifts in inflation and currency, and a looming crisis in the aviation sector.
Politics & Judiciary
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Bench Warrant for Sadiya Farouq: The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has officially issued an arrest warrant for the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, and her former Permanent Secretary, Bashir Alkali.
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The Charges: They are facing a 20-count charge involving the alleged diversion of $1.3 million and ₦746.6 million.
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The Trigger: Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie issued the warrant after they failed to appear for their arraignment on Thursday. The EFCC counsel noted that while her lawyers claimed she was abroad for medical reasons, she had failed to provide medical reports or return her travel documents.
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Atiku vs. Tinubu Spat: President Tinubu has claimed that former VP Atiku Abubakar tried to privatize the ADC (African Democratic Congress) but was rejected, adding another layer to the ongoing political rivalry between the two.
Economy & Finance
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Inflation Hits 12-Month High: The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that headline inflation rose to 15.38% in March 2026. This marks the first increase in exactly a year, ending a 12-month period of decline.
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Key Drivers: Food inflation stands at 14.31%, with the highest spikes seen in Bayelsa, Sokoto, and Adamawa states.
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Naira Stability: The Naira opened the day at the official market (NFEM) around ₦1,340.88 per $1. While demand for imports remains high, Central Bank interventions have kept the rate from sliding back toward ₦1,400.
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Gig Economy Boom: A new report reveals Nigeria’s gig economy (ride-hailing, freelance digital work) has surpassed $5.17 billion, contributing nearly 2.8% to the national GDP.
Aviation Alert
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April 20 Shutdown Threat: The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) have reiterated their warning to suspend all domestic flight operations starting this Monday, April 20.
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The Reason: The price of aviation fuel (Jet A1) has skyrocketed by over 300%, rising from ₦900 in February to a staggering ₦3,300 per litre this week. Operators claim they are now flying at a loss.
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Other Noteworthy Headlines
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Wale Edun on IMF: Finance Minister Wale Edun has clarified that Nigeria has no plans to borrow from the IMF, focusing instead on domestic reforms and private sector investment.
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Seplat Gas Strategy: Energy giant Seplat has committed to ending all gas flaring within the next five years.
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Tragedy: Zainab, a cousin to former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has passed away following a prolonged battle with sickle-cell anemia.
