• Nigeria’s debt to World Bank set to hit ₦9.2 billion as FG considers six new loans
• Jonathan claims INEC’s votes are inaccurate due to ghost voters
• Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan files a ₦100 billion defamation suit against Godswill Akpabio
• NBS reports 3.84% rise in GDP against 2023 3.46% record
• EFCC charges 16 Chinese with cybercrime in Lagos

 Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Nigeria’s debt to World Bank set to hit ₦9.2 billion as FG considers six new loans

The Federal Government is expected to request six additional loans worth $2.23 billion from the World Bank in 2025 as the international financial institution continues to assist the country with its economic and structural reforms.

According to the World Bank’s official website, this will elevate Nigeria’s total approved loans to $9.25 billion over three years, indicating an increasing dependence on multilateral financing to support vital sectors of the economy, such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic resilience.

Jonathan claims INEC’s votes are inaccurate due to ghost voters

Former President Goodluck Jonathan expressed that the nation is not achieving accurate vote counts in elections due to the existence of what he called ‘ghost voters.’ 

He further asserted that it would be more honourable for the chairman and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to resign instead of giving in to pressures to manipulate election results. 

According to the former leader, the country’s electoral system will continue to face credibility challenges until men of integrity are in positions at INEC willing to resign rather than submit to pressures to rig the polls.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan files a ₦100 billion defamation suit against Godswill Akpabio

Senator Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents the Kogi Central Senatorial District, found herself isolated in the Senate after filing a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. 

This legal action stemmed from a recent confrontation between Akpabio and the Kogi lawmaker regarding the relocation of her seat.

In the lawsuit, the senator claims she is pursuing ₦100 billion in damages following a heated exchange with the Senate President, during which he allegedly summoned Senate Security to have her removed from the premises until other lawmakers stepped in.

NBS reports 3.84% rise in GDP against 2023 3.46% record

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported that the GDP growth rate for the fourth quarter of 2024 is 3.84%, up from 3.46% in Q4 2023. The services and petrol refining sectors mainly drove this growth.

The Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, pointed out that this growth represents an increase of 0.38% compared to the previous year’s fourth-quarter figure.

Adeniran stated, “The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate in real terms (constant prices) rose by 3.84% in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024 year-on-year, which is 0.38 percentage points higher than the 3.46% recorded in Q4 2023.”

EFCC charges 16 Chinese with cybercrime in Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought charges against 16 additional Chinese nationals in the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos. 

They appeared before Justice Daniel Osiagor, facing allegations of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud, which are reportedly intended to undermine the Nigerian economy.

These individuals are said to be part of a larger group of 792 suspects involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud, who were apprehended in Lagos during a sting operation called “Eagle Flush Operation” on December 10 of the previous year.

The accused were presented with various charges related to cybercrimes, including cyber-terrorism, possession of documents with pretences, and identity theft.