Compliments of the season! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, visited Plateau State after gunmen attacked 25 communities on Christmas Eve, resulting in over 150 deaths. Despite the IG’s assurance of a special operation, residents remained fearful, leading to mass exodus from affected areas. The IG emphasized collaboration with communities to combat crime, and President Bola Tinubu ordered the apprehension of perpetrators. Governor Caleb Mutfwang commended efforts but called for improved intelligence sharing. Tensions rose in Bokkos over rumors of another attack yesterday, causing residents to flee and transport fare to surge. The chairman of the Community Peace Observers has said there is ongoing fear and the need for heightened security in Bokkos town.
2. Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed the destruction of three towers on the Maiduguri – Damaturu Transmission Line by suspected insurgents using explosives. The General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, expressed sadness over the incident, revealing the loss of an NSCDC officer’s life during the attack. TCN conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and the NSCDC, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
4. The DO Foundation, a child rights advocacy group in Bayelsa, recently opposed the traditional marriage scheduled for December 26 between a four-year-old girl and a 54-year-old man in Akeddei community, Sagbama Local Government Area. The foundation labeled the marriage illegal, criminal, and a violation of the constitution and the Child Rights Act. In a released press statement, they condemned child marriage as horrendous and called for immediate action from the state government, Gender Response Initiative Team, and relevant stakeholders. The foundation urged security agencies to investigate, protect the child from exploitation, and demanded the arrest and prosecution of those involved. The group initiated an investigation to rescue the child from the situation. The marriage was reportedly arranged by the girl’s parents to prevent her from leaving the community, as she claimed she would die if not allowed to marry.
6. In the third quarter of 2023, foreign investments in Nigeria dropped to $654.7 million, marking the lowest in at least 11 years, as per the latest capital importation report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This represented a 36.5% decline from the previous quarter and a 43.6% decrease compared to Q3 2022. Other investment dominated, comprising 77.6% ($507.6 million), followed by Portfolio Investment at 13.3% ($87.1 million) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) at 9.13% ($59.8 million). The production/manufacturing sector led with $279.5 million (42.7% of total capital imported), followed by the financing sector with $127.9 million (19.5%) and shares with $85.5 million (13.1%). The Netherlands was the largest contributor with $175.62 million, followed by Singapore ($79.2 million) and the United States ($67.0 million). Lagos remained the top destination with $308.8 million, constituting 47.2% of total capital importation. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc received the highest capital importation at $222.8 million (34.0%).
