1. The military high command has revealed that the recent spike in terrorists’ activities across the North-East and North-West regions is due to an influx of foreign fighters serving as reinforcements for Boko Haram terrorists. The outgone Director, Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, a Major-General, disclosed this to journalists at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, during a press briefing on Thursday.

2. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, has rejected the move to increase Value Added Tax, VAT. Rising from a meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the governors said the move is untimely. The governors also expressed support for the ongoing legislative process of the Tax Reform Bills.

3. The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, has forecast global oil demand growth rate at 1.4 million barrels per day (mb/d) in 2025, with a similar growth rate expected in 2026. This is coming amidst the projection by the federal government to increase crude oil production above 2million barrels per day.

4. The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has fixed January 20 for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to arraign the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, and a former First Bank Managing Director Stephen Onasanya for allegedly defrauding the bank of N12.3 billion.

5. Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, SGF, disclosed, on Tuesday, that he has mobilised his colleagues in the South to activate a robust platform to exchange intelligence and robust operational synergy. He also assured that they are fully committed to the security of the region against reports of terrorist attacks.

6. The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that 7,746 deceased voters were removed from the national voter register in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of December 2022. The Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Etta-Messi, disclosed this on Thursday.

7. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission will today arraign three former appointees of the ex-Governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-Rufai, in a new N64m money laundering case. The former appointees include the ex-Senior Special Adviser/Counsellor to the governor, Lawal Adebisi, the former Accountant General of Kaduna State, Umar Waziri, and the former Finance Commissioner, Yusuf Inuwa.

8. Tragedy struck in Okete, a quiet community in the Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, on Thursday, when a truck crashed into a residential building, killing nine members of a family. Sources told our correspondent that the incident occurred around 5 am when the family was still asleep.

9. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has criticised the Federal Government for its delay in implementing the duty-free food importation policy, particularly following the arrival of a 32,000-tonne shipment of brown rice from Thailand in Lagos. The LCCI noted that the shipment arrived after the expiration of the government’s 180-day duty-free import window, raising concerns about the policy’s effectiveness and timing.

10. A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Thursday, granted a warrant of arrest against Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, the manager of gospel singer Mercy Chinwo. Justice Alexander Owoeye granted the order following a motion ex parte brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, seeking the arrest of the manager.