NIGERIA IN BRIEF: Naira defies 30% Fx inflows slump as weak import demand ease pressure and other stories
- +Tinubu’s homeland security adviser appointment raises questions over NSA powers
- +Naira defies 30%Fx inflows slump as weak import demand eases pressure
- +Nigerians turning to NDCover leadership failures say kwankwaso
- +Midnight terror in plateau leaves four dead in fresh attacks
President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security has sparked debate over the future of Nigeria’s security architecture, with analysts warning that the new office could either strengthen internal security coordination or create rivalry within the nation’s security system.
President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of retired Major General Adeyinka Famadewa as Special Adviser on Homeland Security has sparked debate over the future of Nigeria’s security architecture, with analysts warning that the new office could either strengthen internal security coordination or create rivalry within the nation’s security system. The appointment comes amid worsening insecurity across the country, with the presidency saying the move is aimed at improving intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency collaboration. However, concerns have emerged over possible overlaps with the Office of the National Security Adviser, currently headed by Nuhu Ribadu, which traditionally coordinates national security and intelligence matters for the President.
While critics fear the creation of another high-level security office could blur operational boundaries and complicate accountability, supporters argue that Nigeria’s growing domestic security challenges require a dedicated structure focused on internal threats and emergency management. Famadewa, a retired military intelligence officer and former senior official at the Office of the National Security Adviser, is credited with helping establish Nigeria’s Intelligence Fusion Centre to improve cooperation among security agencies.
Naira defies 30%Fx inflows slump as weak import demand eases pressure
The naira held firm in April despite a sharp 30 percent drop in foreign exchange inflows, as weaker import demand helped cushion pressure on the local currency amid escalating Middle East tensions. A report by Quest Merchant Bank showed the naira appreciated slightly to N1,374/$ during the month, with analysts attributing the stability to reduced demand for dollars by importers and lower speculative activity across the FX market.
However, the local currency weakened on Monday in the official market, slipping to N1,373.16/$ from N1,361.39/$, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria. While trading activity declined across market segments, turnover at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market surged sharply to over $502 million, as external reserves edged up to $48.36 billion.
Nigerians turning to NDCover leadership failures say kwankwaso
Former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso says rising dissatisfaction with governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pushing more Nigerians toward the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) coalition ahead of the 2027 elections. Speaking on ARISE News, Kwankwaso said the alliance, which includes Peter Obi, is gaining nationwide and diaspora support as citizens seek an alternative political platform.
Kwankwaso also lamented the lack of political rewards for his camp after supporting former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, claiming his movement delivered nearly two million votes that helped unseat the Peoples Democratic Party. He added that competence and leadership quality, not regional considerations, should determine the coalition’s choice of a presidential candidate in 2027.
Midnight terror in plateau leaves four dead in fresh attacks
Four persons were killed in separate attacks by suspected armed militants in Jos South and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State, as Governor Caleb Mutfwang announced fresh security measures including a ban on night grazing, night mining and underage grazing. The attacks, which occurred in Kogot village of Vwang District and Kyeng village in Riyom, claimed the lives of Ngo Shettu Badung, 78, Danjuma Badung, 52, Peter Dung, 22, and Amos Bele Danbwarang, 19, according to the Berom Youth Moulders-Association.
The association condemned the killings and urged security agencies to arrest those responsible, while Governor Mutfwang, during visits to affected communities in Barkin Ladi and Bassa LGAs, assured residents that perpetrators would face justice. Speaking at a security stakeholders’ meeting in Barkin Ladi, the governor ordered all mining activities to end by 5:00 p.m. daily and reiterated the statewide ban on night grazing, warning that any security personnel found complicit in the violence would be investigated and prosecuted. He also encouraged displaced farmers to return to their farms ahead of the planting season, promising improved security and fertiliser support.
