The United States wants Ukraine to hold elections, potentially by the end of the year, especially if Kyiv can agree on a truce with Russia in the coming months, a report by Reuters citing US President Donald Trump’s top Ukraine official.

Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, said in an interview that Ukrainian presidential and parliamentary elections, suspended during the war with Russia, “need to be done”.

“Most democratic nations have elections in their time of war. I think it is important they do so,” Kellogg said.

“I think it is good for democracy. That’s the beauty of a solid democracy, you have more than one person potentially running.”

Trump and Kellogg say they are working on a plan to broker a deal in the first several months of the new administration to end the all-out war that erupted with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The pair have only offered a few details about their strategy for ending the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two, and they have not offered or revealed when they might unveil such a plan.

The Trump plan is still evolving and no policy decisions have been made, but Kellogg and other White House officials have discussed in recent days pushing Ukraine to agree to elections as part of an initial truce with Russia, two people with knowledge of those conversations and a former U.S. official briefed about the election proposal said.

Trump officials are also debating whether to push for an initial ceasefire before trying to broker a more permanent deal, the two people familiar with the Trump administration discussions said, according to the report.

If presidential elections were to take place in Ukraine, the winner could be responsible for negotiating a longer-term pact with Moscow, the report said.

It is unclear how such a Trump proposal would be accepted in Kyiv even though President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Ukraine could hold elections this year if the fighting ends and strong security guarantees are in place to deter Russia from renewing hostilities.

General Ibrahim Babangida has reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s unity as political movement, The Nigerian Project, gears up for the 2027 elections and national reforms.

As the 2027 general elections draw near, political allies of former military president General Ibrahim Babangida are regrouping with a renewed focus on national unity and development.

During a courtesy visit by The Nigerian Project movement to his Hilltop mansion in Minna, Babangida reiterated his firm belief in a united and prosperous Nigeria.

He emphasized that a divided nation cannot achieve meaningful progress.

Reaffirming his stance on the indivisibility of Nigeria, the former president urged Nigerians to stay loyal to the nation and its leadership.

He called for inclusive governance that allows citizens to express their opinions, engage in debates, and see policies implemented for the country’s advancement.

“I believe in one Nigeria, and on its unity, I stand. Thank you for following my footsteps and upholding the ideals of patriotism and national unity that we all fought for,” Babangida told the delegation.

The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce an annual electricity subsidy of $600m for all customers from 2025 as part of efforts to reform the power sector.

[i]The subsidy, expected to last until 2027, aims to bridge the gap between cost-reflective tariffs and regulated electricity rates, while the government works towards eliminating the metering deficit and enhancing the financial sustainability of power distribution companies.[/i]

According to Nigeria’s Energy Compact document obtained by Sunday PUNCH, the initiative is part of the National Energy Compact and aligns with Nigeria’s broader electrification and clean energy transition plans.

Nigeria, alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, and nine other African countries, presented its energy compact at a two-day summit in Tanzania, with a focused on innovative energy solutions.

However, the policy is a temporary measure designed to ensure affordability while the government progressively moves towards full cost-reflective tariffs.

The document noted that the subsidy might take different forms, including a flat monthly subsidy per electricity consumer or a subsidy on the first 50 kilowatt-hours consumed each month.

This approach intends to reduce the regressivity of previous subsidies, where a significant portion benefited wealthier households.

By 2027, the government plans to introduce a social tariff to protect low-income and vulnerable customers once the broader cost-reflective framework is fully implemented.

The document noted the Federal Government’s trajectory to full cost-reflectivity included a “$600m per year subsidy in 2025 to 2027 (while metering gap is being closed), and then fully CRT except for social tariff for vulnerable customers.”

It added, “In order to decrease the regressivity of electricity subsidies, move towards a full cost reflective tariff system which includes a limited and uniform subsidy for all customers in 2025 while the metering gap is being closed. This scheme can take the form of a uniform monthly subsidy per customer, or the first 50 kWh per month being subsidised.”

A key focus of the reform is closing Nigeria’s metering gap, which currently stands at approximately seven million unmetered electricity end-users.

The government outlined a plan to install 1.5 million smart meters in 2025, four million in 2026, and 1.5 million in 2027.

The closure of the metering gap is expected to minimise losses in the sector, improve revenue collection efficiency, and ensure that tariffs are aligned with actual consumption, thereby reducing the need for future subsidies.

The electricity sector has struggled with financial sustainability due to high technical and commercial losses, low tariff recovery rates, and liquidity constraints.

Despite efforts under the Power Sector Recovery Programme, tariff shortfalls reached N650bn in 2023 and are expected to rise further in 2024, potentially exceeding N2.2tn.

The subsidy scheme would provide temporary relief while ensuring that distribution companies meet their financial obligations to power generation companies and the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

NCAA revokes licenses of two aviation operators over regulatory breaches

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revoked the Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) of two aviation companies Omni-Blu Aviation and Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited over violations of regulatory standards.

According to the NCAA, both companies were found to be in breach of Part 1.2.1.5 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs), which prohibits falsification, reproduction, or alteration of applications, licenses, certificates, logbooks, reports, or records. Under Part 1.2.1.5(b) of Nig. CARs, such infractions warrant the revocation of the Air Operator Certificate as a penalty.

As a result, the AOCs of Omni-Blu Aviation (OBA/AOC/12-15/002) and Eastwind Aviation (EAL/AOC/03-24/001) have been officially revoked, rendering them unable to operate aviation services in Nigeria. According to a post on the NCAA x handle.

Omni-Blu Aviation, a Lagos-based helicopter service provider, has been actively involved in the Oil & Gas sector, offering offshore transportation services. Similarly, Eastwind Aviation is a global commercial aviation services provider specializing in helicopter operations for the Nigerian Oil & Gas and Government sectors.

“In efforts to further sanitize the aviation industry, the NCAA has revoked the Air Operator Certificates of two operators:

“Eastwind Aviation Logistics Services Limited
Omni-Blu Aviation

“The Authority has determined that both Omni-Blu Aviation and Eastwind Aviation are in violation of Part 1.2.1.5 of Nig. CARs on Falsification, Reproduction, or Alteration of Applications, Licences, Certificates, Logbooks, Reports, or Records.

“Part 1.2.1.5(b) of Nig. CARs provide the sanction for such fraud as revocation of the certificate.

“Consequently, their respective Air Operator Certificates OBA/AOC/12-15/002 and EAL/AOC/03-24/001 are hereby revoked,”

The NCAA’s decision underscores the agency’s commitment to upholding strict safety and regulatory standards within the aviation industry. Given the high-risk nature of offshore helicopter services, the regulator emphasized the importance of compliance with safety measures and documentation integrity.

Recall that in October 2024 a Sikorsky SK76 helicopter operated by East Wind Aviation and contracted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited plunged into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima, off the coast of Calabar.

The aircraft was carrying six passengers and two crew members.

The NCAA has reiterated that it will continue to monitor all licensed operators closely and take necessary actions against any entity found violating regulatory provisions.

The Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, has confirmed that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has approved CFA Franc to be captured on Nigeria Export Proceeds, NXP, forms for the repatriation of export proceeds.

Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of the NEPC, disclosed this while addressing newsmen on the Non-Oil Export Performance for the year 2024 in Abuja on Friday.

Ayeni said that the council had earlier engaged the CBN on the inclusion of the CFA Franc to boost trading.

She said that the currency was one of the currencies to be received as export proceeds by the bankers.

“I am delighted to inform you that the CBN has magnanimously approved CFA to be captured on NXP forms for the repatriation of export proceeds.

“We will be working with CBN and the banks to ensure full implementation. “I must say that this is a remarkable breakthrough for the council and further reaffirms the impact of the council’s current flagship programme,” she said.

[b]She also highlighted other efforts by the agency to facilitate exports, including certification of 400 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) exporters.[b]

The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has announced a significant increase in the country’s non-oil export earnings for 2024, reaching a total of $5.456 billion, representing a 20.77% rise from the $4.517 billion recorded in 2023.

The growth has been attributed to increased production, improved global demand for Nigerian exports, supported by economic recovery and strategic trade partnerships, government trade policies, and expanding global market access.

Speaking at the presentation of the 2024 Non-Oil Export Performance Report, Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director/CEO of NEPC, highlighted that Cocoa Beans and Urea/Fertilizer emerged as the top contributors to the sector’s revenue.

“Despite the economic realities and the global economic downturn, the Council through collaboration with other relevant agencies has contributed towards economic diversification with an impressive non-oil performance of $5.456 billion in 2024. It is worth noting that this reflects a significant increase of 20.77% (938.442 million) compared to the recorded figure of US$4.517 Billion for the preceding year of 2023,” Ayeni said.

Cocoa Beans accounted for 30.55% of total non-oil exports, while Urea/Fertilizer contributed 15.74%, underscoring the pivotal role of agriculture and industrial exports in Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.

She further attributed the growth to enhanced production in key sectors such as agriculture, solid minerals, and manufacturing, alongside trade policy reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

On key drivers of growth, NEPC identified several factors that fueled the sector’s performance, including, Increased production of agricultural and industrial commodities such as Cocoa, Urea/Fertilizer, and Sesame Seeds.

Federal Government efforts to enhance trade policies and market access and increased participation in regional and international trade agreements.

“The impressive performance in 2024 reflects the success of our #doubleyourexport campaign, Export 35 Redefined initiative, and strengthened advocacy for non-oil exports,” Ayeni stated.

She added that a total of 246 distinct products were exported in 2024, spanning manufactured goods, semi-processed commodities, and raw materials. This is apart from Cocoa Beans and Urea/Fertilizer, Sesame Seeds, Cashew Nuts/Kernels, Aluminum Ingots, Cocoa Butter, Copper Ingots, Soya Beans/Meal, Gold Dore, and Hibiscus Flower ranked among the most exported products.

Cocoa Butter, in particular, witnessed a notable surge in demand, entering the top 10 export list due to improved processing and favorable market conditions.

Among exporting companies, Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemical Limited and Starlink Global & Ideal Limited led the pack, with export earnings of $475.3 million (8.71%) and $456.7 million (8.37%), respectively. Their dominance was largely due to large-scale exports of Fertilizer and Cocoa products.

“Of the top 20 exporting companies in Nigeria, Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemical Limited and Starlink Global & Ideal Limited secured the foremost position with $475,309,887.26, representing 8.71% and $456,740,920.00, representing 8.37% respectively. This is attributed to their notable export volumes of Fertilizer and Cocoa products,”

Ayeni acknowledged that Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT) plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s non-oil export landscape, with its contributions yet to be fully captured in official figures. She emphasized the need for improved mechanisms to integrate and record these transactions to reflect the true scale of Nigeria’s export potential.

“It is also interesting to note that there was an increase in the volume of agricultural commodities as non-oil export returns showed that 7.291 million metric tonnes of exportable products were exported in the period under review. More importantly, the result for 2024 would have been much more considering that the volume of Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT) represents a reasonable percentage of our exports,”

Looking ahead with the positive trajectory of non-oil exports, the NEPC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening export promotion strategies, increasing value addition in key commodities, and expanding market access through global trade partnerships.

The Council remains optimistic that with continued policy support and private sector participation, Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings will surpass current records in the coming years.

No Obidient Has The Moral Authority To Criticise The Kano Mass Weddings

You, as an Obidient, are insulting Kano because the Governor chose to spend ₦2.5 billion on a mass wedding for marriage-age couples in the state, yet you justices of when Peter Obi spent more than five times that amount on buying 400 cars for Igwes in Anambra.

You say the Kano Governor should have used the money to build schools. Kano State has two state-owned universities, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUST) and Northwest University, as well as multiple state-owned polytechnics. Kano also has more students on state scholarships abroad than most Southern states, with the exception of Lagos and Oyo.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has built multiple schools in less than two years. How many schools did Peter Obi build in Anambra in eight years? Zero. Odo. None! Yet, it is Kano you want to face?

You applauded when someone spent close to ₦1 billion to bury his mother, but you condemn when Kano spends ₦2.5 billion on a mass marriage? So celebrating death is better than celebrating marriage, which is the beginning of life for the next generation?

If you cannot learn to understand Arewa culture, then simply mind your own business and focus on the situations in your own individual states.

Reno Omokri