Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Former Atiku Abubakar spokesman, Daniel Bwala, met with President Bola Tinubu in Paris, expressing pleasure at Tinubu’s leadership passion. Bwala, once a vocal critic, had shifted support to Tinubu after the 2023 election. Despite facing criticism for the switch, he defended his right to change political ideology. The meeting in Paris follows Bwala’s visit to the President in Aso Villa Abuja. Bwala clarified that there were no promises of appointments during the meeting but expressed a willingness to work for the Nigerian people in any capacity.
2. Posters of the immediate past Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, advocating for his candidacy as the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, have emerged in Abuja just 48 hours after he left office. The posters, spotted around the Federal Secretariat and near the APC national secretariat, propose Bello as the leader for the party’s next phase, emphasizing the slogan “APC Next Level.” This suggests Bello is vying for the position currently held by Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State. Ganduje assumed the role after the resignation of Senator Abdullahi Adamu on August 3, 2023.
3. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State criticized PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for not reaching out to him after the recent Ibadan explosion. Makinde praised Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who visited to offer condolences. Makinde expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and Obi for their support but pointedly mentioned Atiku’s absence, emphasizing the need for leaders to prioritize both politics and humanity. In response, Obi commended Makinde’s prompt response to the explosion and thanked him for addressing the challenges faced by the affected individuals.
4. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released an additional $500 million to address outstanding foreign exchange (FX) liabilities and stabilize the Naira. However, the Naira continued to depreciate on the parallel market, nearing N1,500 to a dollar. President Bola Tinubu approved moving crude oil receipts from NNPC to the CBN to tackle economic challenges. Despite interventions, the Naira lost N40 in a day, closing at N1,460/$1 on the parallel market. The CBN’s efforts include settling outstanding commitments and implementing market reforms for stability. Challenges persist, with a substantial FX backlog estimated between $7 billion and $10 billion. Tinubu’s administration focuses on strategic reforms to boost transparency and investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.
5. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a $20 billion facility, plans to import crude oil from the United States, showcasing the competitiveness of American barrels globally. The refinery, Africa’s largest, is also expecting two million barrels of crude from Trafigura Group in February. Located in Lagos State, the facility has received six million barrels of crude from various sources. Trafigura Group sold two million barrels of WTI Midland to the Dangote refinery for end-February delivery, marking the first time it purchased non-Nigerian crude. The move to import US crude reflects the refinery’s capability to refine oil grades from various countries. The refinery continues efforts to commence operations, with previous production projections for 2023 not materializing.
6. Sadio Mane narrowly avoided a red card for a reckless tackle during Senegal’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations match against Ivory Coast. Despite the controversy, Mane played a crucial role in Senegal’s opening goal, providing the assist for Habib Diallo. The incident sparked debate among football fans who believed Mane should have received a red card, but the referee opted for a yellow card. In the end, Senegal was eliminated by Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout, with the defending champions losing 5-4 on penalties. Cristiano Ronaldo, Mane’s Al-Nassr teammate, sent him good wishes before the match. The game ended 1-1 after extra time, and Ivory Coast secured victory in the penalty shootout, advancing to the next stage of the tournament.
7. Injured Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who missed training for the AFCON 2023 quarterfinal clash against Angola, received a message of support from Spanish La Liga club, Cádiz. The club wished Nwabali a quick recovery and praised his performances at the tournament, labeling him as the ‘GOAT’ (Greatest of All Time). Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro had named Nwabali as the first-choice goalkeeper at the start of the tournament. Nwabali sustained an injury during the last-16 win against Cameroon and was replaced by Francis Uzoho. Cádiz’s official account in Nigeria sent their well-wishes for Nwabali’s recovery ahead of Nigeria’s next AFCON round.
