Headline
13 States To Borrow Fresh N380bn In 2025 [SEE LIST]

No fewer than 13 state governments have projected an Internally Generated Revenue of N613bn for 2025.
The states also planned to secure fresh loans totaling N380bn in the upcoming year, The PUNCH’s investigation has revealed.
This comes despite a 40 per cent increase in the states’ statutory allocations from the Federation Account.
In the first half of 2024, about 22 states collectively borrowed N446bn, with debt servicing consuming a significant portion of their IGR.
These loans have pushed the total debt stock of Nigerian states to N11.47tn as of June 30, 2024.
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An analysis of public debt reports from the Debt Management Office (DMO) shows a 14.57 per cent increase from the N10.01tn recorded in December 2023.
The increase was primarily driven by a sharp rise in external debt, and exacerbated by the naira’s devaluation.
External debt for the states and the Federal Capital Territory climbed from $4.61bn to $4.89bn, reflecting a 6.14 per cent increase, while domestic debt saw a significant decline of 27.12 per cent, dropping from N5.86tn to N4.27tn.
In naira terms, however, foreign debt surged by a staggering 73.46 per cent, rising from N4.15tn to N7.2tn, following the devaluation of the naira from N899.39/$1 in December 2023 to N1,470.19/$1 by June 2024.
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States and the FCT accounted for 8.54 per cent of Nigeria’s total public debt of N134.3tn as of June 2024, down from 10.29 per cent in December 2023, despite an increase in their nominal debt levels.
According to their 2025-2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Papers, 13 states plan to borrow a combined total of N380bn to finance budget deficits in 2025.
These states include Adamawa, Kano, Anambra, Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Niger, and Oyo.
Adamawa, which did not take any loans this year, plans to borrow N31.5bn next year while projecting an IGR of N22.7bn.
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This was as Kano, which borrowed N6.4bn in the first half of 2024, projects fresh borrowings of N11bn and an IGR of N47.5bn for 2025.
Anambra targets a financing estimate of N18.5bn, including loans sourced through fundraising activities.
Despite taking loans of N19.2bn this year, Bauchi States also plans to take fresh loans of N71bn, with an IGR target of N47.2bn.
Borno borrowed N20bn this year but plans to raise N53bn through loans next year, targeting N30bn in IGR.
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Similarly, Niger State borrowed N34bn in 2024 and projects N31bn in loans next year, with an IGR target of N74bn.
Other loan projections include N35bn for Kebbi, N11.6bn for Kaduna, N8.5bn for Akwa Ibom, N13bn for Ebonyi, N8bn for Jigawa, N76.8bn for Oyo, and N11.7bn for Gombe. Their respective IGR targets for 2025 are N25.5bn, N68bn, N62bn, N26.5bn, N65.9bn, N67bn, and N6.8bn.
An economic expert, Paul Alaje, recently warned that debt servicing and accumulating loans could stifle economic development at the sub-national level.
He emphasised that the significant debts inherited from previous administrations have hindered growth and stressed the need for thorough scrutiny of state borrowing practices and the projects financed with these loans.
Headline
Russia, China Afraid Of US Under My Administration — Trump

United States President, Donald Trump, has said Russia and China fear the United States because of the strength of his administration, arguing that American global influence is driven primarily by its military power and leadership.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday stated that rival powers would not take NATO seriously without the United States, claiming the alliance lacks deterrent force in the absence of American involvement.
He expressed doubts about whether NATO members would come to the aid of the US in a real crisis, despite Washington’s continued commitment to the alliance.
READ ALSO:Trump To Withdraw US From 66 UN, International Organisations
The president credited his leadership with rebuilding the US military during his first term and sustaining its strength, describing this as the key reason adversaries show respect and caution toward the country.
He maintained that America’s military dominance has played a central role in preserving global stability and saving lives.
Trump also argued that his administration forced NATO members to increase defence spending, saying many allies had previously failed to meet financial commitments while relying heavily on the US.
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He added that his actions helped prevent further escalation in Eastern Europe and contributed to the resolution of multiple conflicts.
According to Trump, the United States remains the only nation that commands genuine fear and respect from both Russia and China, a position he attributed to his administration’s approach to defence, diplomacy, and global leadership.
“He wrote partly, “The only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT REBUILT U.S.A. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT.”
Headline
Trump To Withdraw US From 66 UN, International Organisations

United States President, Donald Trump, has announced plans to withdraw the US from 66 United Nations and international organisations, including key global bodies focused on climate change, peace and democracy.
The decision was disclosed in a presidential memorandum released by the White House on Wednesday evening, following a review of which “organizations, conventions, and treaties are contrary to the interests of the United States.”
According to Trump, the move will see the US end its participation in the affected organisations and cut all related funding.
A list shared by the White House showed that 35 of the organisations are non-UN bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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Although listed as a non-UN body by the White House, the IPCC is a United Nations organisation that brings together leading scientists to assess climate change evidence and provide periodic reports to guide political leaders.
The memorandum also announced the US withdrawal from 31 UN entities, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Democracy Fund, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on maternal and child health.
Several of the targeted UN bodies are involved in protecting vulnerable groups during armed conflicts, including the UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.
Reacting to the announcement, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a note to correspondents on Wednesday evening that the organisation expected to issue a response by Thursday morning.
Despite repeatedly stating his desire to limit US involvement in UN forums, Trump has continued to exert influence on international decision-making.
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In October last year, he threatened to impose sanctions on diplomats who formally adopted a levy on polluting shipping fuels that had already been agreed to at an earlier meeting, a move that stalled the deal for 12 months.
The Trump administration also sanctioned UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese after she released a report detailing the role of international and US companies in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
During his first term in 2017, Trump similarly threatened to cut aid to countries that supported a draft UN resolution condemning the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the US wields significant influence at the United Nations, including veto power, which it has repeatedly used to block efforts to end Israel’s war on Gaza before later mediating a ceasefire.
(Aljazeera)
Headline
UK Supported US Mission To Seize Russian-flagged Oil Tanker – Defense Ministry

The British Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that it provided support to the United States in its operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.
US seized the tanker, which was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, after pursuing it for more than two weeks across the Atlantic as part of Washington’s efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports.
According to Britain, its armed forces gave pre-planned operational support, including basing following a US request for assistance.
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The UK also said a military vessel provided support for the US forces pursuing the tanker, and the Royal Air Force provided surveillance support from the air.
Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the operation targeted a vessel with a nefarious history linked to Russian and Iranian sanctions evasion networks.
“This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting,” he said in a statement.
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According to him, the US was Britain’s closest defence and security partner.
“The depth of our defence relationship with the US is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice,” he added.
The British government said that the Bella-1 tanker, now renamed Marinera, is sanctioned by the US under its counter-Iran sanctions,
The MoD statement said the support was provided in full compliance with international law.
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