Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday said Mexico has received almost 11,000 deported migrants from the United States since January 20 when President Donald Trump took office.

Sheinbaum said the figure included about 2,500 non-Mexicans.

Sheinbaum, earlier this week, reached a deal with Trump to pause threatened tariffs on Mexican goods in exchange for deploying thousands of National Guard police to the country’s northern border with the United States in a bid to further reduce the flow of U.S.-bound migrants.

The Mexican president, while speaking at her regular morning press conference, added that Mexico has also repatriated deported migrants to Honduras via flights as well as ground transportation.

She, however, emphasized that the repatriations were not forced.

“It’s voluntary. We will accompany them so they can go to their home countries,” she said

The Nigerian currency, Naira, continued its appreciation run against the dollar at the parallel foreign exchange market on Friday.

According to a Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, Abubakar Alhasan, the Naira appreciated to N1565 per dollar at the close of business on Friday from N1570 traded on Thursday.

This means that on Friday, the Naira recorded a N5 gain against the dollar compared to the N1,570 exchange rate the previous day.

Meanwhile, at the official FX, the Naira closed at N1,500.41 per dollar on Friday from N1,499.98 exchange on Thursday, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s FX data.

A comparison across the FX market showed that the gap between the official and parallel windows has shrunk to N64.59.

DAILY POST reports that in the five days, the Naira recorded significant appreciation, with the highest on Thursday.

The Naira’s gain against the dollar may not be unconnected to CBN’s FX Code and FX sell extension to BDC operator policies

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested nine suspects linked to the gruesome killing of Justice Azuka, the lawmaker representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly.

Azuka was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas.

His decomposing body was discovered by the roadside near the Second Niger Bridge in the early hours of Thursday.

Announcing the arrests in a press statement on Friday, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Nnaghe Itam, disclosed that a joint security team comprising police operatives and Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) personnel had launched a mission to rescue the abducted lawmaker, only to find his lifeless body.

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“Our interaction today is to highlight some of the notable breakthroughs recorded by the Anambra State Police Command on major incidents in the state within the period under review,” Itam said.

“Many of you are aware of the gruesome murder of Justice Azuka, the State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the Anambra State House of Assembly who was abducted on December 24, 2024, in Onitsha.

“This serious incident motivated the Command to go the extra mile in intelligence gathering and discreet investigation.

“In the early hours of February 6, 2025, at the Second Niger Bridge, the joint security team comprising the police and AVG operatives, on a mission to rescue the abducted State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North, found his lifeless body at the scene. (May his soul rest in perfect peace.)”

According to him, on the same day the body was discovered, “the command operatives in a joint operation with Anambra State vigilante operatives, acting on intelligence-led information, arrested nine suspects actively involved in this unfortunate incident and recovered two pump-action guns.

“One of the suspects sustained a gunshot injury in his leg during a gun duel with the Police operatives.”

The arrested suspects include: Ugochukwu Onuorah (30); Ikemefuna Ossai (20); Ikenna Orugu (27); Chibuike Obiefuna (19); Chinonso Olisa (19); Chinedu Okoli (21); David Ojini (25); and Peter Sunday (20), described as the most notorious, with a tattoo on his chest reading “No peace 4 d Government.”

The Commissioner also revealed that the command had successfully arrested “one Chidiebere Nwosu, a kidnap suspect in Uruagu, Nnewi, and neutralised some of his gang members that were involved in the attack of Police personnel attached to the Rapid Response Squad after a successful arrest on 3rd October 2024.”

He further disclosed: “We have also neutralized more than 100 notorious criminals and successfully destroyed many criminal camps in Ufuma, Eziowelle, Achalla, Ogbaru, and many other places in the State.”

CP Itam extended his appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, “for his guidance and overall support,” and also thanked “the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, sister agencies, the media, residents of the State, Anambra State Vigilante operatives, Civil Society Groups, Organisations, and many others for their unflinching support within the nine months that I have spent in the State as the Commissioner

of Police.”

The National Identity Management Commission has identified over 6,000 Nigeriens registered on its database with the National Identification Number.

This was as President Bola Tinubu directed an inter-ministerial committee to ensure comprehensive data for the National Social Register for the Federal Government’s social investment programmes.

Impeccable sources in the Presidency told Saturday PUNCH that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, briefed the Federal Executive Council on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, on the activities of NIMC, an agency under his purview.

The minister reportedly affirmed that the NINs were withdrawn from the illegal holders in an ongoing database clean-up. 

On October 13, 2022, the Defence Headquarters in Abuja said troops in conjunction with the Nigeria Police and operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service intercepted two suspected fake NIMC officials.

The Director of Defence Media Operations at the time, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, in a statement, said, “It was revealed that the suspects had visited the Gagamari IDP camp in the Niger Republic to register non-Nigerians in the IDP camp.

“Items recovered from the suspects include National Identification Number registration machine, printing machine, laminating machine, a computer tracking machine and a generator set among other items.”

The fake agents were reportedly charging non-Nigerian citizens, primarily from neighbouring countries such as Niger Republic, to obtain Nigerian NIN.

Investigations revealed that such fraudulent registrations occurred in border communities, further heightening the risk of unauthorised access to Nigerian identity credentials.

The NIMC enrols citizens and legal residents, assigning them a unique NIN.

The 11-digit number is tied to an individual’s biometric and demographic data, providing a centralised system to verify personal identity for various governmental and private transactions.

Sources at the Presidency told our correspondent that President Tinubu wanted the existing database to reflect the details of the most vulnerable Nigerians who needed social interventions such as conditional cash transfers and student loans.

A source said, “It was the Minister of Interior that gave that briefing because, you know, NIMC is under him.

“The interior minister said NIMC is tidying up the database because they found over 6,000 people from Niger Republic who obtained NIN. But they have been wiped from the database.

“The humanitarian ministry needs the data for its social register to perform its function. Also, the education ministry needs that data for student loans. The President doesn’t want to disburse money to people they cannot identify. They (NIMC) are ensuring that they verify the data. They are also registering more Nigerians and fine-tuning the data. So, the President wants it done quickly.”

The source revealed that after the briefing, the President asked the national security adviser and the interior minister to join an existing panel overseeing the humanitarian ministry.

Recall that while announcing the suspension of the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, on January 7, 2024, Tinubu asked a panel headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, “conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes to conclusively reform the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative.”

On January 12, the President suspended all Social Investment Programmes administered by the National Social Investment Programme Agency, including the school feeding programme, for six weeks.

A day later, he approved the establishment of a Special Presidential Panel to be led by Mr Wale Edun.

The SPP included the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance as Chairman, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, as a member. 

Other members are the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris; Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijjani; and the Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande.

The panel now includes the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Interior Minister, Tunji-Ojo; the Education Minister, Tunji Alausa; and the Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda.

Another source at Tuesday’s FEC meeting said, “It is an inter-ministerial committee; the President asked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Minister of Interior to join. The National Security Adviser is also on that committee. The interior minister is there because, you know, NIMC is under him.”

Giving further context to the developments, the Director-General of NIMC, Bisoye Coker-Odusote, said the agency was working to ensure transparency and accuracy in government payments, particularly for humanitarian purposes.

In a phone interview with our correspondent on Friday, she said, “There is a presidential panel for the humanitarian ministry. If you recall, when the former minister left, they set up an interim panel. So the Minister of Interior and the others have been added to that panel to ensure that they can use the NIN to make payments for humanitarian ministry so that the NIN can be used to ensure accuracy and transparency.

“This literally means that the people collecting money are not ghost beneficiaries, they’re real people, and they’re identifiable. So, you have to use a verifiable set of records to identify them, and that’s where NIMC comes into play using the NIN.

“It will save the country a lot of money if you can tie NIN and identify those beneficiaries. That way, everything is transparent. Nigerians can see that the government has made the right choice and has paid the people that receive the money. The people that really need the money are the ones that get the money.”

Coker-Odusote added that the data clean-up would ensure accurate and verifiable details on the National Social Register.

“The National Social Register under humanitarian [ministry] houses the names of all the beneficiaries they want to pay.

“Now, you have to be able to verify the identities on those social registers, which means they must have a NIN for you to be able to make your payment.

“That way, you just ensure people don’t put fictitious names on the list. You’re able to make sure you verify the identities of those people. Once you’re able to verify the identity, you can make payments,” she added.

The NIMC DG clarified that recent reports about SIM registration concerns stemmed from the telecommunication companies, which had been rectified.

“What has been in the news about NIN-SIM linkage is from the telcos’ end. The telcos have more than one number for each person.

“So, they had an issue, a glitch on their end, and they corrected it already. It has nothing to do with NIMC. We don’t collect more than one phone number,” she stated.

As of the time of filing this report, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Sola Akinlabi, declined to comment on the issue.

Security experts argue that undocumented foreigners holding a NIN is not new, adding that the tide will continue if there is no political will to stem it.

An expert, Brig. Gen. Aliyu Momoh (retd.), said, “There is nothing new in what is happening in the country. Our borders are porous. But the political will is what is lacking.

“Everywhere you go in some northern states, you see many non-Nigerians moving freely without documentation. Can Nigerians do that in Chad or Cameroon? No! Can you walk in Niger Republic without your papers as a Nigerian?

“However, because of socio-cultural and religious factors, there has not been much action taken for several years now. But I will give it to the current leadership, both of the President Bola Tinubu and the Service Chiefs. There is so much to be done. But we must give it to them.”

The House of Representatives member representing Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency of Sokoto State, Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki, has donated N100 million to his constituents as Ramadan palliatives.

Presenting the cheque on Friday in Sokoto to a 35-member Ramadan Palliatives Committee, to procure and distribute the palliatives to members of his constituency, Dasuki said this was timely because of the state of the economy and the upcoming Holy month of Ramadan.

“Ramadan starts soon and what we are doing today is to ensure that Muslim faithful in Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency are supported as they observe Ramadan, which is one of the pillars of Islam. The committee will decide the kind of Ramadan palliatives to give to the people,” Dasuki said.

He said the Ramadan palliatives committee comprises Imams and some community leaders in the constituency.

“Our plan is to ensure that these palliatives get to the people before Ramadan to provide succour to them during the Holy month of Ramadan,” Hon. Dasuki added.

The committee is chaired by Hon. Abubakar Sadiq Sanyinna, who is also the chairman of Elders Committee in Tambuwal, while the Deputy Chairman is Hon. Adamu Haruna Kebbe, who is the former Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Special Duties, with Hon. Attahiru Danmadi, Senior Legislative Assistant to Rep Dasuki, serving as the secretary of the committee.

Other members of the committee include Hon. Alhaji Haruna Kamaniya, PDP Chairman in Kebbe local government area, and Hon. Alhaji Ummaru Sarkin Noma, PDP Chairman in Tambuwal local government area of Sokoto State.

Rep Dasuki urged the people of Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency to embrace charity and be generous to others.

Describing the observance of Ramadan as one of the five pillars of Islam, making it a fundamental aspect of the Muslim faith, Rep Dasuki said increased acts of kindness and generosity create a spirit of unity and compassion, both within the Muslim community and in the broader society.

The United States government and Nigeria have entered into a partnership under the Fiscal Year 2023 Cultural Property Agreement Implementation Grant, aimed at protecting and preserving Nok heritage and artifacts.

The $90,000 grant will support the documentation, preservation, and safeguarding of Nok artifacts, ensuring their protection for future generations.

Strengthening U.S.-Nigeria Cultural Collaboration

The signing ceremony, which took place in Abuja, underscored the U.S. government's commitment to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage, particularly in safeguarding threatened Nok artifacts. The Nok civilization, known for its distinctive terracotta sculptures, is one of West Africa’s oldest cultures, with its artifacts serving as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s artistic and historical heritage.

Speaking at the event, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, emphasized that the project would ensure that critical preservation skills and knowledge are effectively transmitted and sustained.

“Over the last five years, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has allocated $1.2 million to cultural preservation efforts, working closely with partners such as the Ministry of Culture. This latest grant will fund digital documentation, museum education workshops, site security measures, and in-person seminars led by experts from Yale University Art Gallery.”

Ambassador Mills further highlighted that cultural preservation is a shared responsibility, reflecting American values and strengthening U.S.-Nigeria ties.

“History defines who we are. By preserving these artifacts, we are not only safeguarding our past but ensuring that future generations can learn from and be inspired by them. The Nok terracotta artifacts stand as a testament to the ingenuity of Africa’s early civilizations and remain vital to the cultural identity of the Nigerian people.”

Nigeria’s Commitment to Cultural Preservation

Nigeria’s Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, emphasized that artifacts are more than historical relics—they are expressions of ancestral creativity, ingenuity, and identity. She praised the initiative as a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its rich archaeological heritage.

“This project underscores the collaborative efforts between the United States and Nigeria in preserving the ancient Nok arts. It is a reminder that cultural preservation transcends borders and unites us in protecting human history.”

The Minister highlighted key aspects of the project, including:

1. Online digital documentation of Nok artifacts

2. Museum education workshops and in-person seminars for National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) staff

Implementation of site security measures

3. Educational programs and documentaries to raise public awareness

4. Refurbishment of exhibition and archive spaces

5. Creation of a digital inventory to serve as a model for other Nigerian museums

“This initiative will strengthen our ability to document and protect cultural artifacts nationwide, ensuring our rich and diverse heritage is preserved for future generations.”

Wheyham Foundation’s Role in the Project

According to Mr. Yahaya Maikori, Chairman of Wheyham Foundation, the partnership represents a significant step toward securing Nigeria’s historical legacy.

“This cultural preservation project, initiated by the U.S. Embassy, aims to document artifacts in both private and public collections. We are also developing a digital museum to provide virtual experiences, renovating the Nok Museum, and conducting educational outreach to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.”

A Global Commitment to Heritage Protection

The project, which focuses on documenting, protecting, and promoting Nigeria’s archaeological treasures, will be implemented by the Wheyham Foundation in collaboration with NCMM and Yale University Art Gallery.

With this initiative, Nigeria’s cultural treasures are set to receive greater protection, ensuring that future generations can connect with and appreciate the legacy of the Nok civilization.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has called for the death penalty for individuals involved in drug peddling, especially those responsible for producing and selling fake or substandard medicines.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, made this demand on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. She argued that only severe punishments would deter offenders, particularly when their actions lead to fatalities, especially among children.

Fake Drugs Are Silent Killers

Adeyeye recounted an incident where a children’s medicine was sold at N13,000 by one vendor but at N3,000 by another. When the cheaper version was tested at NAFDAC’s Kaduna laboratory, it was found to contain no active ingredients.

Expressing her frustration, she declared:

“You don’t need to put a gun to a child’s head to kill them. Just give them bad medicine. That’s why I want the death penalty.”

Weak Penalties Encouraging Drug Crimes

The NAFDAC boss also criticized lenient punishments for drug-related offenses. She cited an example where a trafficker was caught with 225mg of Tramadol, a dose capable of causing death or brain damage, yet only faced a five-year prison sentence or a fine of N250,000.

She argued that such mild penalties are ineffective deterrents, as offenders can easily afford the fines.

“Who doesn’t know that a person can simply withdraw N250,000 from an ATM? That is part of our problem — there are no strict measures to stop offenders from repeating the same crime,” she lamented.

NAFDAC Seeks Legislative and Judicial Backing

Adeyeye stressed that the fight against substandard and falsified medicines requires the cooperation of the judiciary and the National Assembly. She revealed that NAFDAC is currently working with lawmakers to push for stricter laws and stiffer penalties for offenders.

“If our laws are not strong enough or the judiciary is not firm in its stance, we will continue to face this challenge. If you kill a child with bad medicine, you deserve to die.”

The proposal has sparked debates on the appropriate punishment for drug peddlers, with some supporting harsh penalties to curb the menace, while others argue for reform-based approaches.

Thirteen patients from the United States have come to Nigeria for kidney transplants at the Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre.

This is according to Vice President Kashim Shettima who observed that Nigeria is witnessing a surge in reverse medical tourism, with patients from the United States and other countries thronging the nation’s hospitals to seek affordable and high-quality kidney transplants.

The Vice President attributed the choice of Nigeria for treatment to affordability and high-quality expertise within the country’s medical community.

Speaking on Thursday during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN) at the Presidential Villa ahead of the association’s 37th Scientific Conference, VP Shettima stressed the need for further investments in specialised medical education to sustain this progress.

He said: “There is reverse medical tourism these days fundamentally because of the level of care at some of our hospitals. Recently, thirteen patients from the United States came to Nigeria for kidney transplants at Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre because it is much cheaper here, and they receive the same level of expertise available anywhere in the world.”

The Vice President praised Dr. Olalekan Olatise, Chief Medical Director of Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, for his contributions to kidney care, describing him as “a very decent man who is highly altruistic” in his efforts to assist humanity.

Shettima however noted the financial strain on patients, many of whom sell their homes or rely on government support to afford transplants.

“While getting a kidney transplant is a significant challenge, life after a transplant presents even more difficulties. Many patients struggle with the cost of post-transplant care, including immunosuppressants, which are essential to maintaining their health,” he said.

The Vice President recalled healthcare initiatives he had embarked on during his tenure as Governor of Borno State, as well as the success of ongoing free maternal care programmes he introduced.

“At a hospital in my neighbourhood, we provide a bag of rice and beans to every new mother. They record about 30 births daily, more than even the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). Over 4,000 deliveries have been recorded in less than eight months, with all medical expenses covered, including caesarean sections,” Shettima said.

The Vice President also reiterated the need for Nigeria to build its medical workforce, noting that when he was in Borno State as Governor, he took 60 female students to study medicine in Sudan.

“About 58 of them completed their education and passed the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) licensing exams. Most of them are now in their medical residency programmes. The beauty of training women in medicine is that they are more likely to stay back and serve their communities.

“We must make deliberate and targeted investments in specialised healthcare education in this country,” the Vice President said.

Earlier, Dr. Olatise, who also serves as the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 37th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, said the conference with the theme, “Revolutionizing Kidney Care in Nigeria: Evidence-Based Innovations,” will take place in Abuja from February 19-21, 2025.

The association also announced plans to honour Vice President Shettima with the Kidney Champion Award in recognition of his advocacy and direct support for kidney patients, including funding immunosuppressants and proposing the establishment of a specialised laboratory for post-transplant care.

“We have noticed the role the Vice President is playing in looking after kidney patients in the country. He has been involved in purchasing immunosuppressants, providing post-transplant care, and even considering setting up a lab to monitor calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) levels for kidney patients. This award is a recognition of his commitment,” Olatise said.

The conference is expected to attract over 600 participants, including Nigerian medical professionals based abroad, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and manufacturers of dialysis consumables.

As part of its commitment to improving healthcare access, Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre recently partnered with Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto to perform a successful kidney transplant.

Other members of the delegation included the Secretary of LOC, Dr Adegboyega Faponle, and the NAN Treasurer, Dr Manmak Mamven

Priscilla, daughter of Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo, has tied the knot with Tanzanian artist Juma Jux in an Islamic ceremony held in Tanzania on Friday.

Videos and photos from the event were shared on an Instagram page dedicated to the couple, jux.priscy, on Friday.

The ceremony was attended by close friends and family, including social media influencer Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Tanzanian singer Diamond Platinumz, and his wife.

PUNCH reported in September 2024 that Iyabo Ojo confirmed Priscilla’s engagement to Juma Jux with photos and videos of the pair circulating online.

The artist had also visited Nigeria to spend some time with the Ojo family, during which he joined Priscilla to embrace the Yoruba culture by donning matching traditional attire for a photo shoot.

Iyabo Ojo left Nigeria on Wednesday for Tanzania alongside Enioluwa, where she was welcomed by her daughter and in-laws.

This Islamic ceremony is believed by many to be the first of the planned events, with fans eagerly awaiting a celebration in Nigeria.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has said that none of the 30 proposals for new states met the requirements of Section 8 of the Constitution.

Kalu, in a statement issued Friday by his media office, clarified that the parliament has not taken a position on the issue.

He explained that to create a new state, the Constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, the House of Representatives, state houses of assembly, and local governments.

Kalu said the National Assembly was committed to following the procedure and is inviting the applicants to resubmit their proposals once they’ve complied with the constitutional guidelines.

He said: “We are the people’s parliament. We are not taking any position on the issue of creation of states. We have heard a lot of people giving different narratives to the letter that was read.

“Let me clear the dust.

“During the Ninth Assembly, we received more requests for state creation and some of them came through private member bills. Some came from the memoranda we called for and in this Tenth Assembly, we have received 30, not 31.

“I think, on that list, they repeated Ibadan State twice. It is 30 that we have received.

“As we speak, none of these 30 proposals have met the requirements of Section 8 and that was why we decided to bring it to the notice of Nigerians that your application before us is ineffective.

“Therefore, you need to comply with Section 8 so that when we don’t consider the state creation request, you will know where it emanated from.

“So, the notice to the public is that you have between now and March 5 to enable you cure the gaps in your application for state creation.”