TikTok has restored its services in the United States (US) following a brief nationwide shutdown caused by a federal ban over national security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership.

The ban, which took effect on Sunday, temporarily forced TikTok offline, leaving over 170 million US users without access to the platform.

It also led to the app being removed from Apple and Google’s digital stores in compliance with federal regulations.

However, Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, pledged to delay the enforcement of the ban through an executive order on his first day in office.

 

In a statement on X, TikTok appreciated Trump for providing “the necessary clarity and assurance” for service providers to support the app without fear of penalties.

“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the company said.

“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”

According to reports, some users gained partial access to TikTok shortly after the announcement, although the app remains unavailable for download on Apple and Google’s stores.

 More citizens seek greener pastures due to hardship, institutions battle with brain drain

As more Nigerians are eager and willing to leave the country in search of greener pastures abroad for various reasons, there are concerns that the Japa syndrome, if not quickly addressed, may further deplete the country’s workforce, findings by the LEADERSHIP Data Mining Department have shown.

Japa is Nigerian informal term that roughly translates to citizens leaving the country without intending to return. Japa combines the Yoruba expression já pa, meaning “to run” or “flee,” as per migration.

There are growing concerns that the export of human capital has created significant workforce gaps across various sectors of the Nigerian economy. Analysts highlight the health sector as the most severely affected, with an alarming exodus of doctors and nurses in recent years. Similarly, the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and engineering sectors have also felt the impact of the “Japa” syndrome.

Experts warn that the ongoing brain drain from this trend could lead to a loss of potential entrepreneurs and a critical shortage of skilled professionals. Moreover, according to the experts, employees are increasingly losing faith in the country’s economic prospects, with many determined to migrate despite incentives offered by employers to encourage them to stay.

Of late, the economic policies of the recent administrations have led to hyper inflation and wiped out most paid workers’ purchasing power, making more people willing to look for better opportunities abroad.

Recently, the Oyo State Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Chairman, Dr Happy Adedapo, appealed to the governments to incentivise health workers and doctors to reduce ‘japa’ syndrome in Nigeria.

In an interview with the newsmen in Ibadan, he remarked that the ‘Japa’ syndrome, one of the significant challenges faced by health workers in 2024, would be reduced to the barest minimum if doctors were made comfortable.

He said, “It’s not too much for the government to give car loans to doctors to encourage them and keep them in the system. The Japa syndrome should be reduced to the barest minimum.”

Also, many Information and Communications Technology (ICT) experts have raised concerns that Nigeria’s economic progress could be significantly hindered by the ongoing exodus of tech talents seeking better opportunities abroad.

One of these experts, the chief executive officer of Agotech Solutions, Mr Wale Adedeji, called on the government to implement measures to curb this brain drain. He highlighted that one of the persistent challenges in the IT sector is the high cost of retaining talent. According to him, international companies increasingly recruit skilled professionals from Nigeria, drawn by the country’s reputation for producing exceptional tech talent.

To address this issue, Mr. Adedeji suggested a multi-faceted approach.

He emphasised the need for the government to establish and fund learning hubs where individuals can acquire in-demand skills.

He also proposed significant infrastructure investment to facilitate business ease.

According to him, creating a local version of Silicon Valley in Nigeria—with tech parks, free hotspot zones, and widespread internet access—would empower youths and tech enthusiasts, fostering innovation and reducing the allure of relocating abroad.

Data gathered showed that 56 percent of Nigerians have considered migrating from the country, marking a significant 20-percentage-point increase from the 2017 figure of 36 percent, according to a report by Afrobarometer, a pan-African research network.

“The share that says they have given ‘a lot’ of thought to the idea has tripled, from 11 percent to 33 percent,” the report stated.

The data shows this trend is particularly pronounced among the most educated citizens. Nigerians with post-secondary qualifications comprise 71 percent of those considering migration, while urban residents and youth represent 63 percent and 60 percent, respectively.

Afrobarometer attributes the desire for migration to seeking better opportunities, employment prospects, and relief from economic hardship.

“The most common reasons cited for potential emigration are finding work opportunities (42%) and escaping economic hardship or poverty (39%),” the report noted.

Preferred destinations for aspiring migrants include North America, Europe, and the Middle East. The report also highlights that two-thirds (66%) of unemployed Nigerians actively seeking work have considered leaving the country. Among those employed, 58% of full-time and 56 percent of part-time workers have expressed similar intentions.

Migration from Nigeria has surged in recent years. Between January and September 2023, 1,574,357 people left the country, bringing the total number of emigrants in the past two years to 3,679,496.

A separate survey by the African Polling Institute in 2022 found that 69 percent of Nigerians aged 18–35 would relocate if given the opportunity. This exodus has contributed to a significant brain drain, particularly in the health sector, as professionals leave for better working conditions abroad.

Experts said the government has failed to address underlying issues and implement effective measures to curb the ongoing emigration crisis. Beyond the brain drain, the migration wave has strained family ties and disrupted communities, according to the experts. Despite these challenges, the economic hardships, systemic failures, and other factors driving migration remain unresolved.

According to Banji Alimi, an HR expert, many of these migrants graduated from Nigerian universities, which are highly subsidised by the government. Those seeking greener abroad take years of training and skills acquired locally.

Chief executive officer of OLM Consulting, Joshua Coker, said the “japa syndrome” had triggered a significant shift in the labour market, transitioning it from employer-centric to employee-focused.

He attributed this wave of migration to poor working conditions, inadequate remuneration, insecurity, and challenging economic realities.

Coker further noted that additional factors, such as the deteriorating state of the economy, the high cost of living, and human rights violations had also driven young Nigerians to seek better opportunities in developed countries.

He mentioned that he once read an article about a significant wave of Indian migration to countries like the United Kingdom and the United States during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. However, many of these individuals eventually returned to India, where they played a pivotal role in advancing the nation’s achievements in technology, medical sciences, and other fields.

Coker said that regarding relocation, India comes first, followed by Palestine and then Nigeria in the context of migration to the United Kingdom.

According to recent data, approximately 3,679,496 Nigerians have left the country in the past two years. The International Organisation for Migration estimates the Nigerian diaspora population to be around 17 million as of 2024.

Migration expert Charles Dickson observed that despite the arduous visa application processes, the dangers associated with some migration routes, and the often inhumane treatment Nigerians face abroad, the exodus continues unabated. He attributed this persistence to the resilience and tenacity of Nigerians, who endure significant hardships while holding onto the hope of a better future—something many feel is unattainable at home.

Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State, participated in the 2025 edition of the Houston half-marathon in the US. 

In a post on X account on Sunday, the governor announced that he completed the 21-kilometre race “in 2 hours 53 minutes”.

Makinde added that the finish was faster than his achievement at the 2022 Berkeley half-marathon in San Francisco, California.

He said he achieved the time despite the “freezing temperatures at 1 degree Celsius” throughout the Houston half-marathon race.

“I also took part in a 5k fun run yesterday, which I completed in 38 minutes,” the post reads.

The Houston half-marathon has gained popularity since its debut in 2002. It is part of the three-race annual sporting event in Houston, alongside the marathon and 5km race.

Addisu Gobena of Ethiopia won this year’s men’s half marathon, clocking 59 minutes and 17 seconds.

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Makinde is, however, not the first Nigerian governor to participate in a marathon event. Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, participated in the 21.79km Coal City half marathon in 2024. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos, finished the 10km Access Bank Lagos City marathon in 2022.

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has decried the surge in the rate of vandalism of transmission towers in the country.

The national transmission company said that over 18 transmission towers were vandalised between January 9 and 14, 2025, across Rivers, Abia, and Kano States.

General Manager of Transmission for the Port Harcourt Region, Emmanuel Okpa, reported that routine patrols by linesmen on January 10, 2025, uncovered damage to towers 171 through 181 and tower 184.

“On January 14, vandals targeted towers 146, 147, and 149 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV line in Rivers State, removing base brackets and compromising the stability of the towers.

“In Abia State, Engr. Azuh Lucky, Head of the Lines Department for the Region, reported the theft of bolts, nuts, and structural members from towers 160 to 162 on the Alaoji/Umuahia 132kV line, which was under repair on January 13, 2025,” TCN general manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated in a statement on Sunday.

According to her, towers 105, 106, and 107 along the Katsina-Gazoua 132/33kV transmission line in Kano State, were critically damaged by vandals on January 9, 2025, compromising their structural integrity and risking collapse.

“In the early hours of January 17, 2025, vandalised 132kV underground transmission cables were discovered by TCN engineers near Millennium Park in Abuja. This affected power supply to the central area and its environs.

“These incidents pose a significant challenge to our operations as a company. We have bolstered security measures, increased line patrol, and the number of vigilante groups, and we are also collaborating with security operatives. However, we need and are appealing for the full support of every Nigerian, particularly those in communities hosting our installations. We must collectively recognize that the transmission network is our collective asset and essential for our socioeconomic development.

“The vandals and those who buy stolen materials are sabotaging the nation. All hands must be on deck to ensure the growth of the nation’s power sector, which is critical to the development of our country

“TCN’s grid expansion plans are under tremendous strain due to the persistent vandalism of its installations. The financial implications of constant repairs to vandalised transmission installations, along with the stress on the grid, are having adverse effects on TCNs grid expansion drive,” Mbah said.

The company made a “clarion call” for everyone to join forces with TCN to put an end to the menace and safeguard our electricity network.

Dangote Refinery has announced a five per cent increase in the ex-depot price of petrol from N899.50 to N950 per litre due to a significant rise in global crude oil prices, which surged from $70 to $82 per barrel. This adjustment is lower than the 15 per cent increase in crude prices, and the refinery has absorbed about 50 per cent of the cost increases to maintain retail prices at N970 per litre across Nigeria.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has clarified that the recent adjustment in its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) is directly related to the significant increase in global crude oil prices.

This is as key distribution partners MRS Oil, Heyden, and Ardova have agreed to sell petrol at N970 per litre nationwide.

Group branding and communications officer for the group Anthony Chiejina, who made this known said as crude remains the primary input in the production of PMS, any fluctuation in its international price inevitably impacts the cost of the finished product.

The company said as crude remains the primary input in the production of PMS, any fluctuation in its international price inevitably impacts the cost of the finished product.

According to Dangote Petroleum Refinery, we recognise the critical importance of affordable fuel for all Nigerians, and we remain committed to offering the best value with guaranteed quality to our customers.

“While we have made a five per cent adjustment to our ex-depot price from N899.50 to N950 per litre, it is important to note that this increase is considerably lower than the 15 per cent rise in global crude oil prices, which has seen Brent Crude rise from $70 to $82 in a matter of days, in addition to the premium for Nigerian crude (approximately $3 per barrel) in international markets. Furthermore, Dangote Refinery has maintained the Single-Point Mooring (SPM) ex-vessel price at N895 per litre.”

It added that “all our partners, including Ardova, Heyden, and MRS Holdings, will offer petrol to Nigerians at a retail price of N970 per litre nationwide. We have absorbed the increased logistics costs to guarantee uniform pricing across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“Dangote Refinery has absorbed approximately 50 per cent of the cost increases in the international oil market.”

Dangote Refinery stated that “this is due to our unwavering commitment to quality and affordability, as well as the ownership of the refinery by Nigerians, which remain central to our mission.

“If Dangote Refinery were to pass on the entire increase in the price of crude oil to the market, the retail price of PMS would be approximately N1,150 to N1,200 per litre in some locations, compared to the current price of N970 per litre.

“We are committed to providing reliable, top-quality petrol to the Nigerian people at competitive prices. In these challenging times, we continue to prioritise the best interests of Nigerians, striving to shield consumers from the full impact of global price volatility while adapting to evolving market conditions.”

The Company appreciated the continued trust and support of Nigerians as we strive to deliver the best value for their money and contribute to the development of a self-sufficient economy that is resilient to international price fluctuations.

“In the interest of transparency and good governance, Dangote Refinery will commence publishing its ex-depot price, ex-vessel price as well as pump price on a weekly basis so that consumers are not exploited.

“We would like to express our gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the introduction of the visionary naira for the Crude Initiative. This groundbreaking initiative has enabled consistent access to high-quality PMS for all Nigerians, while also insulating the Nigerian consumers from the volatility of the global oil market,” Dangote Refinery added.

Members of a child trafficking syndicate arrested by the operatives of Ondo State Police Command have confessed that they usually sell each stolen child at the rate of N500,000 to their receivers.

The suspects, 43-year-old as Lukman Isiaka, Abosede Olanipekun, 23; and Mrs Sabira Izuorah, 68, were arrested by the police while in possession of 14 babies and toddlers stolen from Akure, Ondo State and Ilesa in Osun State.

The children were recovered from Izuorah who claimed to operate an orphanage in Ihiala in Anambra State.

Among the children recovered from the suspects are four three-week old babies, two weeks old, two months old, and ten other children.

Izuorah who was a former Director from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in Anambra State, admitted to having received the children from the other suspects.

Speaking with journalists at the Ondo State Police headquarters in Akure, Izuorah said, “I have a registered orphanage. I took care of the children. The name of my orphanage is Clarion Children’s Care and Reforms Initiatives, and it started full operation in 2020.

“Lukman and his wife brought a total of 11 children to me. I don’t pay them; it is the adoptive parents who pay them. The adoptive parents don’t pay me; they give us food items and supplies.

“I stopped Lukman and his wife from bringing children for me in November 2024. All the children were no longer with me, but I went to recover them from their adoptive parents. It didn’t start with me, and it will not end with me.”

However, Lukman who claimed to be a bricklayer said he had been involved in the business since 2023.

He said Izuorah introduced him and his wife to the illicit trade when he left Ondo State to work in Anambra.

While saying Izuorah always paid him N500,000 per child, which she in turn sold to her prospective buyers for N1 million and above, Lukman said, “I have been stealing children since 2023.

“I have given a total of 11 children to Izuorah. The method my wife and I use to steal the children is when we are going, and we see any child roaming about, we call them and say we will buy soft drinks and biscuits for them.

“After telling them that, they will follow us. After walking for about 10 minutes, we will board a bike to the park, where we will board a vehicle to Anambra State to give Izuorah the children.

“She normally gives us N500,000 for each child that we bring to her. I met Izuorah when we went to Anambra to work. I’m a bricklayer. She was the one who introduced me to the business after training me, and since then, I have been giving her children.

“I don’t know anything about the two-month-old and four-month-old babies. She is the one who can say where she got them from. I only operate in Akure, Ondo State, and Ilesa, Osun State.”

Parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, stated that intelligence-led policing made the operation a success when Lukman and Abosede were traced to Ottah village in Edo State, where they were arrested.

Afolabi said the arrested couple led the police operatives to Anambra State, where Izuorah was arrested and moved to Akure.

“A case of a missing child was reported at Okuta Elerin-Nla Division in Akure. A complainant reported that Abosede deceived her by claiming she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby.

“Meanwhile, Lukman distracted the complainant by engaging her in a personal conversation and requested that she follow him to Olukayode Plaza in the market to get a mobile phone. On getting to the market area, he abandoned her and left.

“When the complainant returned to the shop, she discovered that her child was missing, with no trace of Abosede, the supposed sister of the man she followed to the market; thus, a report was made at the Division.

“During interrogation, the suspects admitted to abducting the child and other children from Ondo and Osun States and selling them to Sabira Izuorah, aged 62 years, in Ihiala, Anambra State, at the rate of One Million Naira (₦1,000,000) per child,” the CP narrated.

The police boss added, “The following babies were found in her custody: Baby Favour (female, 3 weeks old), Baby Chidera (female, 2 weeks old), Baby Chinyere (female, 2 months and 5 days old), and Baby Uzoma (male, 1 week old).”

The CP added that on January 14, 2025, 10 children sold by Mrs Izuorah were rescued from various locations.

He stressed that their parents identified their children which include Dauda Alarape, male, 3½ years; Babalola David, male, 4 years; Asaolu Pamilerin, 7 years; Ayomide Abass, male, 2 years who was stolen from Orita-Obele in Akure; Komolafe Oluwasekemi, female, 4 years who was stolen from Igado in Ilesha and Adedeji Olalekan, male, 6½ years.

Others are Ahmed Abdulrasaq, male, 5½ years, stolen from Ibodi Town, Osun State; Mary Wuraola, female, 2 years, stolen from Ilesha, Osun State; Mubarak Akinwunmi, male, 6 years, stolen from Osogbo, Osun State; and an unknown child whose name and parents have not been identified but stolen from Osun State.

He added that some children are currently on the missing list while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue them.

In the first of such public declarations ahead of elections, six politicians have taken to the stage of an event in Yola, Adamawa State to declare their ambitions to run for governor.

The aspirants seized the inauguration of the Council of Elders by the Gongola People’s Forum, GPF, to express their desires to fill the gaps in the governance of the state.

The aspirants, Senator Ishaku Abbo, Mr Denis Habila Gapsiso, Dr Ishaya Inuwa Durkwa, Mr Yuguda Garba, Dr Musa Maigana, and Mr Kube Dwana each stepped forward to articulate their vision for Adamawa State.

The most widely known of the six, Ishaku Abbo, the senator for Adamawa Central Zone between 2019 and 2023, said he is driven by a sense of commitment to fill gaps in governance.

In their separate speeches, the aspirants said they were poised to address the many challenges currently troubling the state.

DAILY POST reports that the Gongola People’s Forum which was formed last year to unite the minority ethnicities mostly within Old Gongola State, particularly the part now called Adamawa State, has been waxing in popularity among its vast membership.

It is unclear now whether the forum would try to endorse any of the known aspirants and more to come or allow everyone to test their individual strengths at the polls.

Other politicians within the fold of GPF who are rumoured to be equally interested in the Adamawa guber race but were not at the GPF meeting include Chief Maurice Vunobolki, Wafari Theman, Caleb Andrew Myebangara, and Alhaji Bello Ibrahim Hong

Tragedy struck on Sunday when gunmen suspected to be hired assassins shot and killed the Shepherd-in-charge of a Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) in Idiroko Border town of Ipokia local government area of Ogun State.

The deceased, identified as Yomi Adetula was shot dead right inside his church during the Sunday service around 11a.m. while preaching.

An eyewitness at the scene told LEADERSHIP that Adetula’s assailants, wielding AK-47 rifles and numbering about six, all clad in Celestial Church’s garments, stormed the Hebrew Celestial Church located at the Odo Eran area of the Old Garrage Road in Idiroko where they rained bullets on the deceased pastor, waiting to certify him dead and dismembering his body inside the church before leaving the scene.

LEADERSHIP further gathered that the deceased was the Idiroko Unit Commander of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-SAFE Corps; one of the community security outfits established and funded by the Ogun State government.

While the reasons behind the murder could not be immediately ascertained, our correspondent however, gathered that late Adetula had for the past few months been having running battles with certain smuggling cartel in Idiroko Border town, which necessitated his transfer to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in December 2024.

Sources within his church in Idiroko also confided in this newspaper that the development led to the forceful closure of his church in December by some suspected smugglers.

The State Commander of So-SAFE Corps, Soji Ganzalo, who confirmed the incident said that he received the news of Adetula’s assassination with a rude shock.

Ganzalo however, assured that the Corp would not relent until the matter is properly investigated, while also promising to assist appropriate security agencies with necessary information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.