The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has reduced the benchmark interest rate from 27.5 percent to 27 percent, its first cut after months of tightening.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said that the decision was driven by sustained disinflation and projections of easing inflation for the rest of 2025, while other measures, such as raising the Cash Reserve Requirement for commercial banks to 45 percent, were introduced to tighten liquidity.

With the next MPC meeting fixed for November 22nd, stakeholders have said that the committee’s ability to sustain price stability while supporting growth will be closely watched in the months ahead.

The Federal Government has promised that members of the Nigerian Armed Forces (NHIA) will be fully integrated into the National Health Insurance Authority, guaranteeing access to comprehensive healthcare for service members, their families, and eligible retirees.

The Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, disclosed this in Abuja during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Ministry of Defense Health Implementation Programme.

Matawalle said that the initiative would strengthen the resilience of Nigeria’s defense health system while ensuring that soldiers and their dependents enjoy the same health safeguards as other citizens under the NHIA.

At least eight children were killed by explosive drones in a gang-controlled slum in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, according sources close to the region.
Haiti’s National Human Rights Defence Network said that Albert Steevenson who was believed to be the target, was distributing gifts to children when the attack occurred, with explosions heard in Cité Soleil.
However, one of Viv Ansanm’s leaders, Jimmy Chérizier, best known as Barbecue, has vowed to avenge the deaths.

The military-led West African countries Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, denouncing it as a tool of neocolonial repression.

Recall that Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have been members of the ICC, located in the Hague, for more than two decades.

However, according to a joint statement released by the trio, they viewed the court as incapable of prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and genocide.

The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has launched a strong legal offensive against the Federal Government, describing the criminal defamation charges filed against her as an act of political persecution and an exhibition of double standard.

In a preliminary objection seeking the dismissal of the six counts filed against her by the Attorney General of the Federation, the Kogi senator contended that while the Federal Government was quick to file charges against her based on the complaint of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the same government ignored her own earlier petitions against Akpabio.

Recall that, her defence team urged the courts to dismiss the charges at the preliminary stage, warning that allowing the matter to proceed would not only waste taxpayers’ resources but also undermine the credibility of the justice system.