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In a significant development for its economy, Nigeria's total public debt reached N142.3 trillion by September 30, 2024, marking a 5.97 percent increase from June's N134.3 trillion. This rise, equivalent to N8.02 trillion, primarily reflects the impact of currency depreciation on the country's external obligations.

Exchange Rate Impact on External Debt

While external debt showed only a marginal increase in dollar terms - from $42.90 billion to $43.03 billion - the naira equivalent surged by 9.22 percent to N68.89 trillion. This dramatic rise in local currency terms stems from the naira's depreciation, with the exchange rate weakening from N1,470.19 to N1,601.03 against the dollar during the quarter.

Domestic Debt Composition

The domestic debt portfolio, while decreasing in dollar terms from $48.45 billion to $45.87 billion, grew by 3.10 percent in naira terms to N73.43 trillion. Federal Government bonds dominate this category, comprising 78.95 percent of domestic debt at N54.65 trillion. Notably, Nigeria successfully launched its first domestic dollar-denominated bond, raising $500 million with an impressive 180 percent subscription rate, adding N1.47 trillion to the domestic debt stock.

Debt Distribution

The Federal Government holds the majority of both external and domestic debt. Its external obligations reached $38.12 billion, while states and the Federal Capital Territory accounted for $4.91 billion. In domestic terms, the Federal Government's share stood at N69.22 trillion, with states and FCT holding N4.21 trillion.

Debt Instruments Analysis

The domestic debt portfolio shows diverse instruments:

- Treasury Bills declined slightly to N11.73 trillion

- Promissory notes increased by 5.80 percent to N1.77 trillion

- FGN Sukuk decreased to N992.56 billion

- Savings Bonds grew by 16.11 percent to N64.09 billion

- Green Bonds remained stable at N15 billion

Sustainability Concerns

Despite the overall decrease in dollar-denominated debt from $91.35 billion to $88.89 billion, the rising naira-equivalent debt burden has sparked concerns among economic analysts. The situation is particularly worrying given that interest payments consume a significant portion of government revenue, raising questions about long-term debt sustainability in the face of continued currency volatility.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of University Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) in Nigeria have raised concerns over the alarming rate at which doctors, nurses, and other skilled health workers are leaving the country due to poor remuneration and working conditions. They warned that if this trend continues, tertiary healthcare facilities across the nation could face a severe workforce crisis within the next two years.

The CMD of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Wasiu Adeyemo, and the CMD of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Jesse Abiodun, sounded this alarm during the 2025 budget defence session before the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions.

Adeyemo highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating:

“Resignations occur almost daily, not even retirements. If this continues, in the next one or two years, our hospitals will be empty. While the government has invested significantly in infrastructure, it will all amount to nothing without addressing the poor remuneration of healthcare workers. Consultants are earning less than $1,000 monthly, which is a major reason for the exodus.”

Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Emeka Ayogu, echoed these concerns, attributing the mass exodus—commonly referred to as the “Japa syndrome”—to economic hardship, inadequate salaries, and poor working conditions. He noted:

“The money paid to doctors is insufficient to sustain them. Many leave for better opportunities abroad, not just because of poor pay but also due to unfavorable working environments. While judges recently received a 300% salary increase and military retirees were given benefits like bulletproof vehicles, retiring doctors, even after 30 to 35 years of service, are left struggling financially. This disparity is deeply troubling.”

Ayogu stressed the need for urgent reforms to prevent a further decline in Nigeria’s healthcare system, calling for improved remuneration, better working conditions, and the provision of necessary equipment and facilities to retain healthcare professionals.

The CMDs and NMA officials have urged the government to prioritize the welfare of healthcare workers, warning that failure to address these issues could lead to a collapse of the country’s tertiary healthcare system.

On Monday, an unnamed group of Northern Nigerians led by Jamilu Majia and Adams Funtua organised a luncheon to celebrate Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.

Majia, a musician, composed and released a music video in November 2024 to drum up support for Trump during the build-up to the presidential election.

In the music video posted on his TikTok page, he extolled Trump and urged Americans to vote for his return to the White House.

In the music video, children hold American flags and wear customised vests while singing about Trump.

However, the luncheon video he posted on his TikTok to celebrate Trump’s inauguration sparked mixed reactions and raised questions among netizens.

He posted the viral video with the caption, “Congratulations, President #Trump Inaugural Luncheon in Nigeria.”

A video from the gathering continues to trend online.

The one-minute, thirty-one-second video showcases jubilant Hausa participants singing in their native language, clapping, and expressing joy in honour of the occasion.

Analysis

The video featured attendees dressed in traditional Hausa attire, a dignitaries’ table adorned with juice, Coke, and water, and a banner in the background that read, “Congratulations, Mr. President. Trump’s inauguration.”

Set amidst vibrant decorations, the celebration included traditional Nigerian cuisine, such as jollof rice and suya, creating a lively atmosphere filled with cultural pride and festivity.

A special song was composed for Mr Trump in Hausa, accompanied by English subtitles. In the video, which had sparked discussions about the global interest in American politics, attendees stood, clapped, and danced enthusiastically to the song.

A woman and children were also seen at the front of the dignitaries’ table, singing, clapping, and dancing in unison with the celebratory crowd.

The song’s lyrics praised Trump’s boldness and commitment, describing him as a great leader chosen by God.

They sang, “In God, we trust Africa; in God, we trust America. Oh! Hail Donald Trump, the American President. Oh! Hail Donald Trump, America. We’re all in support. Donald Trump is the President. The great leader, Trump, may God uplift your dignity.

“God chose you, made you, and protected you. Always take care of your supporters. America loves you. Oh, hail Donald Trump. Africa is also praising you, Asia is praising you, the Middle East is praising you, and Latin America is praising you. Everyone supports you, and everyone believes in you, Donald Trump.”

Not the first time

This newspaper gathered that it was not the first time Nigerians celebrated Trump in election-related matters. They celebrated him after he won the presidential election in November 2024.

More so, in November 2020, a rally was held in Onitsha, Anambra State, to drum support for the 78-year-old when he sought a reelection. During the event, a group organised a pro-Trump rally to mobilise support for him.

The group, consisting primarily of women and youths, marched through the streets while singing victory songs for Trump, whom they believed deserved another term in office.

Dressed in white and blue uniforms, they waved the United States flag alongside banners and placards bearing inscriptions such as “Make America Great Again” and “President Trump: America needs a man like you.”

Trump tweeted about the rally, captioning it: “A parade for me in Nigeria, a great honour!”

However, Trump of the Republican Party lost his re-election bid to the immediate past President Joe Biden of the Democratic Party.

This newspaper earlier reported that two prominent Nigerians, William Kumuyi, founder of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, and renowned gospel artiste Nathaniel Bassey, ministered during Trump’s inauguration.

Kumuyi led a prayer session at President Trump’s Inaugural Prayer and Praise Convocation on Sunday in Washington, D.C., while Bassey performed at the inaugural prayer breakfast. The prayer breakfast is a non-political, faith-based event held every four years before the swearing-in of a new administration.

 

PT

 

Nigerian environmentalists on Tuesday condemned a government plan to resume oil production in the restive Ogoniland, demanding a halt until meaningful talks with local communities are completed.

Ogoniland, in Nigeria's coastal Rivers state, is a flashpoint for pollution in the oil-rich Niger River delta region where a $1 billion cleanup was launched in 2018 following a comprehensive 2011 United Nations Environmental Programme study.

More than 20 groups, including Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, and the Ogoni Solidarity Forum have criticised the plan, saying it disregards the environmental and social damage caused by decades of oil extraction.

In a 14-point demand issued on Tuesday, the groups slammed the government for initiating talks with a select group from the region, arguing it undermines efforts towards environmental justice and a cleanup of the heavily polluted environment.

"This decision disregards the enduring environmental, social, and economic injustices faced by the Ogoni people and undermines efforts toward sustainable development, environmental justice, community empowerment, and cleanup of the devastated environment," the groups said in a statement.

Ogoniland locals have a storied history of resistance to oil extraction on their land. Their struggle gained international attention in the 1990s with the execution of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders by the then-Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha.

They are also calling for a $1 trillion commitment for clean-up and compensation, the immediate release of a confiscated Saro-Wiwa memorial sculpture, and a full implementation of the U.N. report that recommended a comprehensive clean-up of Ogoniland.

"We stand in solidarity with the Ogoni people in their fight for justice and sustainable development," the groups concluded.

A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment.

 

Reuters

More than 2,400 aid trucks enter Gaza under truce, UN says no big looting issues

Nearly 900 humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the third day of a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas, as a senior U.N. official said so far there had been no apparent law-and-order issues.

The latest arrivals bring the three-day total to more than 2,400 trucks entering the enclave.

Throughout the 15-month war, the U.N. has described its humanitarian operation as opportunistic - facing problems with Israel's military operation, access restrictions by Israel into and throughout Gaza and more recently looting by armed gangs.

Muhannad Hadi, the top U.N. aid official for Gaza and the West Bank, said there had been minor incidents of looting in the past three days, but "not like before."

"It's not organized crime. Kids jumped on some trucks trying to take food baskets. There were some other people (who) tried to take some bottled water," he told reporters after visiting the Palestinian enclave on Tuesday.

"Hopefully within few days this will all disappear once the people of Gaza realize that we will have aid enough for everybody."

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 897 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, citing information it received from Israel and the guarantors for the ceasefire agreement - the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

This compares with 630 on Sunday and 915 on Monday. The truce deal requires at least 600 truckloads of aid to be allowed into Gaza every day of the initial six-week ceasefire, including 50 carrying fuel. Half of those trucks are supposed to go to Gaza's north, where experts have warned famine is imminent.

Hadi warned that problems were likely to arise: "Let's not assume that because there is a ceasefire life is going to be rosy and our work is going to be a walk in the park."

He said the aid operation faced logistical problems because the road network within Gaza was destroyed, adding that the movement of people with the enclave was also a complicating factor.

OCHA said on Tuesday that humanitarian priorities in Gaza include food assistance, opening bakeries, providing healthcare, restocking hospitals, repairing water networks, bringing material to repair shelters, and reuniting families.

 

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Zelenskiy says security guarantee would need at least 200,000 peacekeepers

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is seeking a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, said on Tuesday that at least 200,000 European peacekeepers would be needed to prevent a new Russian attack after any ceasefire deal.

The Ukrainian leader, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland a day after Trump returned to power following months of promises to end the war in Ukraine quickly, also urged European leaders to do more to defend the continent.

The prospect of a rapid settlement has focused minds in Kyiv and Europe on the urgent need for security guarantees to prevent any future Russian attack, with the idea of peacekeeping force circulating.

"From all the Europeans? 200,000, it's a minimum. It's a minimum, otherwise it's nothing," Zelenskiy said when asked about the idea of a peacekeeping contingent on an interview panel after delivering his speech.

That number is around the size of the entire French armed forces, estimated at just over 200,000 by France's defence ministry in 2020. Zelenskiy said at least that number would be needed as a security guarantee if Russia's armed forces totalled 1.5 million personnel and Ukraine had only half that number.

Zelenskiy said such a force would only be part of the security guarantees that Ukraine needed.

TRUMP MEETING

The Ukrainian leader said Kyiv was working to set up a meeting between himself and Trump.

"The teams have been working on a meeting, they are currently in the process," Zelenskiy said about those efforts.

Trump, who returned to office on Monday, has said he would stop the war in Ukraine swiftly, without saying how.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine would not agree to Russian demands that it drastically reduce the size of its military, predicting that Russian President Vladimir Putin would demand Ukraine cut its armed forces to a fifth of their size.

"This is what he wants. We will not allow this to happen," Zelenskiy said.

In his speech, Zelenskiy said Europe must make itself a strong global player, able to guarantee peace and security for itself and for others. He suggested Europe had less influence over Washington because the United States viewed its allies' contribution to security as lacking.

"Does anyone in the United States worry that Europe might abandon them someday – might stop being their ally? The answer is no," Zelenskiy said.

He said that Europeans needed to devise a united security and defence policy and alluded to a pre-inauguration remark by Trump, who proposed a massive hike in defence spending for NATO members to 5% of GDP.

"If it takes 5% of GDP to cover defence, then so be it, 5% it is. And there is no need to play with people's emotions that defence should be compensated at the expense of medicine or pensions – that's not fair," Zelenskiy said.

 

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine conflict ‘needs to end’ – Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that US President Donald Trump will begin working on a ceasefire agreement for Ukraine “almost immediately.”

Rubio was the first high-level cabinet member of the new Trump administration to be confirmed by the Senate on Monday following Trump’s inauguration.

Speaking to journalists shortly afterwards, Rubio said Ukraine will be a “top priority” for Trump and that efforts to reach a ceasefire will begin straight away, but did not give a specific timeframe for ending the conflict with Russia.

Some of the groundwork has “already been laid,” Rubio said, adding that it will be a complicated process. “I mean, it’s a complex conflict and a bloody one, and it needs to end,”CNN quoted him as saying.

Rubio insisted that both Ukraine and Russia will have to concede “something” as part of any deal, but he did not elaborate on what such concessions might be. Asked for specifics, Rubio said negotiations with such high stakes “are best conducted through diplomacy” rather than public forums.

“Obviously the countries involved, both the Russians and the Ukrainians, will have to make ultimate decisions about what they agreed to,”Rubio said.

During his campaign for president, Trump had repeatedly promised to resolve the Ukraine conflict within “24 hours” if returned to the White House. Asked on Monday following his inauguration whether he would keep that promise, Trump joked that he had “half a day left.”

Trump also reiterated his willingness to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin with a view to finding a diplomatic settlement of the crisis, saying that he wants to get it done “as quickly as possible” and that the conflict “should never have started.”

CNN reported on Monday that Trump has instructed aides to set up a phone call with Putin within the first few days of his term. The call is expected to lay the groundwork for meetings aimed at ending the conflict over the coming months, CNN said. Responding to that report on Tuesday, Putin’s foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov said that Moscow had not been contacted by the White House yet.

Putin extended good wishes to Trump ahead of his inauguration on Monday, saying he “welcomes” the new president’s comments about wanting to restore relations with Moscow and “the need to do everything to prevent World War Three.”

Moscow remains committed to its principles and believes that dialogue must be built on an “equal and mutually respectful basis,” Putin said.

 

Reuters/RT

Melissa Houston

Many are taking the entrepreneurial leap in 2025, and if you have that burning desire to join them but aren’t quite sure if it’s the right move for you, you are in good company. Transitioning from steady employment to start a business is a big decision, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Understanding Your Motivation

When it comes to entrepreneurship, you need to know why you want to start a business. Is it because you have a passion for an idea, or maybe you are dissatisfied with your current job, or have a strong desire for independence. Whatever your “why” is, you need to be aware of it.

Understanding your goals for wanting to start a business is important. Are you looking for financial freedom, a better work-life balance, or intend to build generational wealth? Your goals play into your “why,” and you need to be focused on your why to keep you motivated during the hard times. It needs to be a strong enough pull that you would want to give up a steady income job to pursue your business.

 

Evaluate Your Financial Readiness

Starting a new business can be an expensive endeavor and you need to be financially prepared to support yourself as you build your business. Do you have savings that will help support you financially while you wait for revenue to come into your business?

There are financial risks of entrepreneurship that you must consider. Unlike a steady-income job, starting a business often means navigating a period of uncertainty with no guaranteed income, especially in the early stages. You’ll need to account for startup costs, such as equipment, marketing, and operational expenses, which can quickly add up.

Additionally, cash flow might be inconsistent, requiring a solid financial cushion to cover personal and business expenses during slow periods. Without adequate savings or access to funding, you risk jeopardizing both your business and personal financial stability. It’s crucial to create a detailed budget, establish an emergency fund, and have a clear understanding of your break-even point to mitigate these risks effectively.

Comparing Lifestyle Impacts

Comparing lifestyle impacts requires understanding the key differences between the stability of job security and the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. A steady-income job often provides a predictable schedule, regular paychecks, and benefits like healthcare and retirement plans, creating a sense of stability and financial safety.

On the other hand, entrepreneurship offers the potential for greater flexibility and independence but comes with irregular income, longer hours, and higher levels of stress, especially in the beginning stages. Entrepreneurs must juggle multiple responsibilities, from managing clients to handling operations, which can disrupt work-life balance.

Weighing these differences carefully is essential to ensure that the entrepreneurial lifestyle aligns with your personal goals, financial situation, and capacity for managing risk.

Test the Waters

An alternative to going all in at the outset is to test the water by starting a side hustle. This means that you are working on building your business on a part time basis while maintaining your job. This gives you time to test your business idea and start bringing in revenue before you commit to the business full time.

 

Forbes

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has authorized telecommunications companies to implement their first tariff increase since 2013, though at a lower rate than requested. The approval caps the increase at 50%, falling short of the 100% hike sought by some operators.

In an announcement released Monday, NCC Director of Public Affairs Reuben Muoka explained that the decision was made under the commission's statutory authority to regulate telecommunications pricing. The adjustment aims to address the growing disparity between operational costs and existing tariffs while ensuring service quality remains uncompromised.

"This measured increase reflects our careful consideration of ongoing industry reforms and sustainability needs," the commission stated. The new rates will be implemented within the framework established by the 2013 NCC Cost Study and must comply with the recently introduced NCC Guidance on Tariff Simplification, 2024.

The decision follows mounting pressure from industry stakeholders. In December 2024, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) warned of potential service disruptions if tariffs remained unchanged. The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) had also advocated for tariff revisions by early 2025, with MTN Nigeria's CEO Karl Toriola specifically calling for a 100% increase.

The NCC emphasized that the adjustment will enable telecommunications companies to invest in critical infrastructure and innovation, potentially leading to improved network quality, enhanced customer service, and expanded coverage. The commission arrived at this decision after extensive consultations with both public and private sector stakeholders, aiming to balance consumer protection with industry sustainability.

To protect consumer interests, the NCC has mandated that operators:

- Implement the new rates transparently and fairly

- Clearly communicate the tariff changes to customers

- Demonstrate concrete improvements in service delivery

The commission has pledged to maintain active engagement with all stakeholders to ensure the telecommunications sector continues to support Nigeria's digital economy while protecting consumer interests and sustaining the broader ecosystem that enables nationwide connectivity.

President Donald Trump delivered a 30-minute speech from the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, his second inaugural address to the American people. Here is a transcript:

Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson, Senator Thune, Chief Justice Roberts, justices of the United States Supreme Court, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, President Biden, Vice President Harris and my fellow citizens:

The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation. And we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.

During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first. Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end. And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud and prosperous and free.

America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before. I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country. Sunlight is pouring over the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before.

Related Stories

But first, we must be honest about the challenges we face. While they are plentiful, they will be annihilated by this great momentum that the world is now witnessing and the United States of America. As we gather today, our government confronts a crisis of trust. For many years, the radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from our citizens. While the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair, we now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad.

It fails to protect our magnificent, law-abiding American citizens but provides sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world. We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders but refuses to defend American borders, or more importantly, its own people.

Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina, who’ve been treated so badly. And other states who are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago. Or more recently, Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense. They’re raging through the houses and communities, even affecting some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country, some of whom are sitting here right now. They don’t have a home any longer. That’s interesting.

But we can’t let this happen. Everyone is unable to do anything about it. That’s going to change. We have a public health system that does not deliver in times of disaster, yet more money is spent on it than any country anywhere in the world. And we have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves, in many cases to hate our country despite the love that we try so desperately to provide to them. All of this will change starting today and will change very quickly.

Our recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom. From this moment on, America’s decline is over.

Our liberties and our nation’s glorious destiny will no longer be denied and we will immediately restore the integrity, competency and loyalty of America’s government. Over the past eight years, I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. The journey to reclaim our Republic has not been an easy one, that I can tell you. Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed to take my life. Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear. But I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.

That is why each day under our administration of American patriots, we will be working to meet every crisis with dignity and power and strength. We will move with purpose and speed to bring back hope, prosperity, safety and peace for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed. For American citizens, Jan. 20, 2025, is Liberation Day.

It is my hope that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country. As our victory showed, the entire nation is rapidly unifying behind our agenda with dramatic increases in support from virtually every element of our society. Young and old, men and women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, urban, suburban and rural. And, very importantly, we had a powerful win in all seven swing states and the popular vote. We won by millions of people.

To the Black and Hispanic communities, I want to thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and trust that you have shown me with your vote. We set records, and I will not forget it. I’ve heard your voices in the campaign, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come.

Today is Martin Luther King Day and his honor — this will be a great honor — but in his honor, we will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make his dream come true.

National unity is now returning to America and confidence and pride is soaring like never before. In everything we do my administration will be inspired by a strong pursuit of excellence and unrelenting success. We will not forget our country. We will not forget our Constitution. And we will not forget our God.

Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It’s all about common sense. First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted. And we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country. Under the orders I sign today we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. And by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to U.S. soil, including our cities and inner cities.

As commander in chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions. And that is exactly what I am going to do. We will do it at a level that nobody has ever seen before. Next, I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices. The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices. And that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill.

America will be a manufacturing nation once again, and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have: the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth. And we are going to use it. We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again, right to the top, and export American energy all over the world. We will be a rich nation again. And it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.

With my actions today, we will end the Green New Deal and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American autoworkers. In other words, you’ll be able to buy the car of your choice. We will build automobiles in America again at a rate that nobody could have dreamt possible just a few years ago. And thank you to the auto workers of our nation for your inspiring vote of confidence. We did tremendously with their vote.

I will immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families. Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens. For this purpose, we are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues. It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our treasury coming from foreign sources.

The American Dream will soon be back and thriving like never before. To restore confidence and effectiveness to our federal government, my administration will establish the brand new Department of Government Efficiency.

After years and years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expression, I will also sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America. Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents. Something I know something about. We will not allow that to happen. It will not happen again. Under my leadership, we will restore fair, equal and impartial justice under the Constitution and the rule of law. And we are going to bring law and order back to our cities.

This week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit based. As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female. This week I will reinstate any service members who were unjustly expelled from the military for objecting to the Covid vaccine mandate with full back pay. And I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty. It’s going to end immediately. Our armed forces will be free to focus on their sole mission—defeating America’s enemies. Like in 2017, we will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen.

We will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end. And, perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into. My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be. A peacemaker and a unifier. I’m pleased to say that, as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families.

America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world. A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. And we will restore the name of the great President William McKinley to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs. President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent.

He was a natural businessman and gave Teddy Roosevelt the money for many of the great things he did, including the Panama Canal, which has foolishly been given to the country of Panama after the United States — the United States, I mean, think of this, spent more money than ever spent on a project before and lost 38,000 lives in the building of the Panama Canal. We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made. And Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy. And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.

Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization. So as we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success. We will not be deterred. Together, we will end the chronic disease epidemic and keep our children safe, healthy and disease free. The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation, one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons. And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.

And it’s the lifeblood of a great nation. And, right now, our nation is more ambitious than any other. There’s no nation like our nation. Americans are explorers, builders, innovators, entrepreneurs and pioneers. The spirit of the frontier is written into our hearts. The call of the next great adventure resounds from within our souls. Our American ancestors turned a small group of colonies on the edge of a vast continent into a mighty republic of the most extraordinary citizens on Earth. No one comes close. Americans pushed thousands of miles through a rugged land of untamed wilderness. They crossed deserts, scaled mountains, braved untold dangers, won the Wild West, ended slavery, rescued millions from tyranny, lifted millions from poverty, harnessed electricity, split the atom, launched mankind into the heavens and put the universe of human knowledge into the palm of the human hand. If we work together, there is nothing we cannot do and no dream we cannot achieve.

Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback. But as you see today, here I am. The American people have spoken. I stand before you now as proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do. In America, the impossible is what we do best. From New York to Los Angeles, from Philadelphia to Phoenix, from Chicago to Miami, from Houston to right here in Washington, D.C., our country was forged and built by the generations of patriots who gave everything they had for our rights and for our freedom. They were farmers and soldiers, cowboys and factory workers, steel workers and coal miners, police officers and pioneers who pushed onward, marched forward and let no obstacle defeat their spirit or their pride. Together they laid down the railroads, raised up the skyscrapers, built great highways, won two world wars, defeated fascism and communism, and triumphed over every single challenge that they faced.

After all we have been through together, we stand on the verge of the four greatest years in American history. With your help, we will restore an American promise and we will rebuild the nation that we love. And we love it so much. We are one people, one family and one glorious nation under God. So to every parent who dreams for their child and every child to dreams for their future: I am with you, I will fight for you and I will win for you. And we’re going to win like never before.

In recent years, our nation has suffered greatly. But we are going to bring it back and make it great again. Greater than ever before. We will be a nation like no other. Full of compassion, courage and exceptionalism. Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent, and totally unpredictable.

America will be respected again and admired again, including by people of religion, faith and goodwill. We will be prosperous. We will be proud. We will be strong and we will win like never before. We will not be conquered. We will not be intimidated. We will not be broken. And we will not fail.

From this day on, the United States of America will be a free, sovereign and independent nation. We will stand bravely. We will live proudly. We will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way. Because we are Americans. The future is ours. And our golden age has just begun.

Thank you. God bless America. Thank you all. Thank you.

 

AP

The death toll from a fuel truck explosion in Nigeria has climbed to 98 after additional bodies were recovered on Monday, according to the Niger state emergency agency. The blast occurred on Saturday in Dikko, Niger State, after a petrol truck overturned and ignited while people were gathering fuel from the wreckage.

Abdullahi Baba-Ara, Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed that 80 victims were buried in a mass grave near a health center in Dikko over the weekend. “After clearing the wreckage of the Dikko tanker, we discovered 12 more bodies today, raising the death toll to 98,” Baba-Ara told Reuters.

The explosion also left 69 people hospitalized with injuries.

This tragedy is the deadliest fuel truck explosion since October, when a similar incident in Jigawa State claimed 147 lives. Such accidents have become frequent in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, as the country struggles with a severe cost-of-living crisis.

Fuel prices have soared since President Bola Tinubu removed a petrol subsidy in 2023, further straining the population and contributing to the desperation that often leads people to risk their lives collecting fuel from tanker accidents.

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