IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced 25% tariffs on $155 billion worth of U.S. goods in retaliation to President Donald Trump’s trade measures.

Trudeau’s decision follows Trump’s executive order imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican imports, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. Additionally, U.S. tariffs will affect Canadian energy exports, including oil, natural gas, and electricity.

Rejecting the White House’s justification, Trudeau called the move “unjustified” and vowed that Canada would not allow it to go unanswered.

The retaliatory tariffs will take effect at 12:01 a.m. if the U.S. tariffs are implemented at midnight. Canada will initially impose duties on $30 billion of U.S. goods, with an additional $125 billion in tariffs following within 21 days. 

New statistics by the Transmission Company of Nigeria revealed that power generation climbed to 5,713.60 megawatts on Tuesday.

The latest data by TCN pushes the country’s 2025 generation feat to the highest since four years ago. 

According to the TCN, the whole of the 5,713MW recorded on Tuesday was successfully transmitted. The country recorded a 5.543MW generation on February 14. “This was recorded on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 21:30 hours, with the new generation peak of 5,713.60 megawatts (MW), surpassing the previous peak generation of 5,543.20MW achieved on February 14, 2025, by 170.40 MW,” the TCN stated.

It clarified that though this new peak is 88MW lower than the all-time maximum peak generation of 5,801.60MW recorded on March 1, 2021, it remains a notable achievement. It added that the maximum daily energy also rose to 125,542.06 megawatt-hours, up from 125,159.48MWh achieved last month. “Furthermore, a new record for the maximum daily energy ever attained in the history of the electricity industry in Nigeria was also set yesterday, with a total of 125,542.06 megawatt-hours (MWh). 

This surpasses the previous record of 125,159.48MWh achieved on February 14, 2025, by 382.58 MWh,” the statement added. 

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested six individuals suspected of vandalism in Kazaure Local Government Area.

In a statement issued on Monday in Dutse, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the arrests.

According to Shiisu, five suspects, aged between 28 and 53, were arrested for vandalism, while a 30-year-old man was taken into custody for allegedly receiving stolen items.

Two of the suspects were apprehended on February 26 for allegedly vandalizing streetlights, armored cable wires, and conduit service wires in the Bandutsi area of Kazaure.

Further investigations led to the arrest of three additional suspects on February 28, accused of conspiring to vandalize approximately 2,000 meters of high-tension wire in Faru and Daba villages.

During interrogation, the suspects reportedly identified 30-year-old Musa Yahaya from Wajen Gabas in Kazaure town as an accomplice who knowingly received the stolen items.

Shiisu stated that the suspects confessed to the crime and have been charged to court. 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned Jude Okoye, former manager of the defunct music duo P-Square, before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on allegations of misappropriating $1,019,763.87 and £34,537.59.

Jude Okoye, who is also facing a separate seven-count charge before Justice Alexander Owoeye at the Federal High Court, was granted bail on Monday in the sum of N100 million with two sureties.

In the new case, filed under reference Ref/99260/2025 before Justice Rahman Oshodi, Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, were charged with four counts by the EFCC.

During the proceedings, EFCC prosecutor Mohammed Bashiru alleged that Okoye dishonestly converted $767,544.15 received from Lex Records Ltd for music digital distribution and publishing royalties, depriving Peter Okoye of his rightful share.

The EFCC further accused Okoye of converting £34,537.59 from Lex Records Ltd, $133,566.49 from Kobalt Music, and $118,652.23 from Mtech Ltd—all intended for music royalties—with the intent of permanently depriving Peter Okoye of his financial interest.

The prosecution stated that the alleged offenses took place between 2016 and 2023, violating sections 278 and 285 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws of 2011.

Jude Okoye pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following his arraignment, his defense counsel informed the court of a bail application dated February 27, 2025. 

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning about the illegal circulation of substandard and falsified Knowit Insulin Syringe 40 IU 29G x 1/2 in Nigeria.

In a statement on Monday, NAFDAC raised concerns over the continued use of outdated 40 IU/ML insulin syringes, despite the availability of the standard 100 IU/ML version. The agency emphasized that the 40 IU/ML syringes are no longer registered and pose a significant risk of dosing errors, which could lead to life-threatening complications for diabetic patients.

“The 40 IU/ML insulin syringe was previously used alongside the 100 IU/ML variant for administering Lente animal insulins,” the statement explained. “However, with the discontinuation of animal insulins and the adoption of human insulins standardized at 100 IU/ML, the 40 IU/ML syringes are no longer applicable.”

NAFDAC warned that using a 40 IU/ML syringe for 100 IU/ML insulin increases the risk of miscalculations, which could result in incorrect dosages and serious health consequences.

To address this issue, NAFDAC has directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and remove the substandard syringes from circulation. It also urged importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers to remain vigilant and prevent the sale or distribution of the outdated product. 

The Federal Government of Nigeria owes the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) N7.74 trillion in fuel subsidy debt due to exchange rate differentials on petrol imports between June 2023 and September 2024. This debt arose as the government maintained fuel prices despite rising import costs.

A document presented to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in February 2025 revealed that the government plans to clear the debt within 210 days. Initially, NNPCL sought a refund of N4.71 trillion, but the outstanding balance increased due to exchange rate fluctuations.

The total exchange rate differential due was N10.499 trillion, but N2.756 trillion was recovered between November 2023 and September 2024, reducing the outstanding amount. The debt, which accounts for 14.07% of Nigeria’s 2025 budget, has sparked debate, with experts questioning the rationale for government refunds to NNPCL despite its oil sales on behalf of the government.

FAAC members also raised concerns over discrepancies in NNPCL’s revenue reports, prompting a reconciliation process involving the NNPCL and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).