1. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called off the nationwide protest scheduled for Wednesday. This decision comes after the NLC and affiliated unions embarked on nationwide demonstrations on Tuesday to protest the soaring cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and general hardships experienced across the country.
2. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has hiked the benchmark interest rate by 400 basis points, setting it at a historic high of 22.75%. CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, announced this adjustment while presenting the communiqué after the first MPC meeting of the year held in Abuja on Tuesday.
3. The Senate has urged the Federal Government to implement a food stamps program as a strategic measure to alleviate hunger and combat food crises in the country. Additionally, it called upon the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to collaborate with development partners and stakeholders, including the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, which previously introduced the Temporary Food Assistance Programme.
4. Tragedy struck at the Celestial Church of Christ, Grace of Comfort Parish, Omitoto, in Osun State, as Pastor Moris Fadehan was reportedly murdered inside the church premises by one of his assistants, Lekan Ogundipe. The suspect reportedly alerted others to the discovery of the pastor’s partially burnt remains inside the church on Monday.
5. The Plateau State Police Command has apprehended a 29-year-old man, Joseph Yakubu, for allegedly bludgeoning his father, Yakubu Dalyop, to death with a pestle during a dispute. The victim succumbed to his injuries after being rendered unconscious by the assault.
6. A suspected outbreak of meningitis has claimed the lives of at least 20 students in boarding public schools across Potiskum, Fika, and Fune local government areas of Yobe State. The fatalities occurred within Government Science Technical College, Government Girls Science Technical College, and Federal Government Girls College.
7. Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, has distanced himself from the economic hardships facing Nigerians, stating during the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting under his leadership that neither he nor his team should be held responsible for the prevailing economic challenges.
8. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has initiated the sale of US dollars to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, with each eligible operator granted access to $20,000. This development was disclosed in a statement released by the apex bank on Tuesday.
9. Barrister Chris Agidy, Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) to Senator Ned Nwoko representing Delta North, who was abducted by bandits in 2023, has been reported dead. The Federal Capital Territory Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the tragic incident on Tuesday, stating that the deceased’s body has been recovered.
10. The Kaduna State Government has confirmed five fatalities resulting from a lassa fever outbreak in the state. Hajiya Umma Ahmed, the state’s Commissioner for Health, confirmed this development on Tuesday, underscoring the need for proactive measures to curb the spread of the disease.
