By Adenike Lawal

In a sweeping move to tackle rising insecurity, Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has ordered an immediate ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles from operating in Minna between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The decision, announced during a high-level security meeting at the Government House, follows a surge in criminal activities linked to night movements across the capital city.

Present at the briefing were security chiefs, traditional leaders including the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Faruk Bahago, and Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba.

Governor Bago described the ban as a necessary but temporary measure, aimed at reclaiming Minna’s streets from criminal elements.

“I will not sit back and watch as criminals take over our streets,” he declared. “This administration will confront them head-on and restore peace to our communities.”

While the curfew will be strictly enforced, exceptions will be made for medical emergencies.

Security forces have been directed to intensify raids on known hideouts, destroy drug hubs, and dismantle the strongholds of miscreants.

Bago also placed responsibility on community heads, ordering them to document all residents within their wards.

He warned that any property found to be sheltering criminals or aiding illegal drug activities will be demolished.

The governor issued a stern warning to parents, urging them to rein in their children and reject youth involvement in cultism, violence, or disruptive behavior.

“This is a zero tolerance government. If you are part of the problem, the law will catch up with you,” he warned.

He called for united action, saying, “Security is not just the job of the government or the police. It is a shared duty.”

This bold directive signals a tough, people-centered approach in Governor Bago’s war against crime, and a firm resolve to restore calm and order in the state capital.

By Adenike Lawal

Nigeria’s economic outlook just dimmed. The International Monetary Fund has lowered its 2025 growth projection for Africa’s largest economy to 3 percent, trimming it from an earlier forecast of 3.4 percent.

The revision, announced Tuesday at the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, is attributed to falling oil production and deepening global trade tensions.

The latest World Economic Outlook reveals growing concern over Nigeria’s fiscal vulnerability, as oil exports weaken and global demand softens.

The IMF warns that these pressures are squeezing government revenue and complicating planning in an already strained economy.

“Exporters are set to see weakening oil supply and declining revenues, which will affect fiscal space,” the report stated, placing Nigeria among resource-heavy economies facing the brunt of global shocks.

Adding fuel to the fire is a resurgence of trade protectionism. The United States has rolled out sweeping tariffs, triggering a ripple of retaliations and pushing global tariffs to levels not seen in nearly a century.

This, according to IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, signals a reset of the global economic order.

“This is a new era,” Gourinchas declared. “We are navigating through unprecedented uncertainty.”

The downgrade is part of a wider trend. Emerging markets and developing economies are expected to grow by just 3.7 percent in 2025, rising slightly to 3.9 percent in 2026.

Sub-Saharan Africa will remain sluggish, slowed by inflation, global fragmentation, and persistent geopolitical risks.

Meanwhile, global inflation remains stubborn. The IMF projects an average rate of 4.3 percent in 2025, cooling to 3.6 percent in 2026.

Developed nations like the U.S. are seeing inflationary spikes due to new tariffs, while emerging economies may see milder pressure.

With the global outlook shifting rapidly, central banks face tough decisions.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to maintain a cautious stance as it balances inflation control with economic support.

In its final word, the IMF warned that the year’s economic surprises are far from over.

“The unfolding of these trade measures is a significant negative shock to global growth,” the report said, underscoring the volatility shaping the future.

By Ifeoluwa Odunayo

In a bold move to challenge what they call exploitative and unsafe work conditions, drivers on popular ride hailing platforms Bolt and Uber will stage a 24 hour strike on May 1.

The protest, coordinated by the Lagos chapter of the Amalgamated Union of App Based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON), is set to begin on International Workers’ Day.

The drivers will log off all platforms in a united call for fair treatment, improved pay, and safer work environments.

AUATON’s Public Relations Officer, Steven Iwindoye, announced the industrial action in a statement released Tuesday, citing years of neglect and disregard for drivers’ welfare by ride hailing companies.

According to the union, drivers face poor remuneration, frequent and unjust deactivations, insecurity, and dangerous working conditions without adequate support from the companies that profit off their labour.

As tension builds ahead of the strike, the action promises to disrupt services across Lagos and draw national attention to the plight of app based transport workers demanding dignity, fairness and respect.