US commited $413m to counter insurgency operations in Nigeria
The United States has allocated $413 million for security operations in Nigeria and other African nations in 2026 as part of efforts to combat insurgency, banditry, and violent extremism across West Africa. The funding, approved under the National Defence Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2026, comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with persistent security challenges in its northeastern and northwestern regions.
- US commited $413m to counter insurgency operations in Nigeria
- LIRS set a January 31 deadline for filing annual returns
- Rivers State Assembly postponed sitting amid rumoured plot to remove the Speaker
- Global corporate bond yields hit lowest since 2007
- Trump met Venezuelan opposition leader Machado and received a Nobel medal
However, some analysts think this move reflects intensifying geopolitical competition in Africa, driven primarily by economic interests rather than humanitarian concerns. With Russia and China already deeply embedded in Africa through military cooperation and economic engagement, the United States is attempting to regain strategic ground. The NDAA also establishes a new Bureau of African Affairs within the State Department to coordinate US foreign policy in sub-Saharan Africa.
LIRS set a January 31 deadline for filing annual returns
Nigerian employers have until January 31, 2026, to file their annual tax returns for the 2025 financial year, according to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service. The deadline applies to all employers operating in Lagos State and is mandated under Section 14 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025.
Dr Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman of LIRS, emphasised that compliance is not optional, warning that failure to meet the deadline will result in administrative penalties. Employers must file detailed returns covering emoluments paid to employees, taxes deducted, and payments made to service providers, vendors, and consultants. All submissions must be made electronically through the LIRS eTax platform, as manual filings are no longer accepted.
Rivers State Assembly postponed sitting amid rumoured plot to remove the Speaker
The Rivers State House of Assembly failed to reconvene on Thursday, one week after initiating impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, amid rumours of a counter-plot to remove Speaker Martin Amaewhule. Political tensions escalated after four lawmakers withdrew their support for the impeachment between Monday and Wednesday, calling for an amicable resolution to the crisis.
A government source suggested that the Speaker may have gotten wind of plans to impeach him and chose not to reconvene the House. Several intervention groups, including the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Forum, have established committees aimed at resolving the rift between former governor Nyesom Wike and his successor.
Global corporate bond yields hit lowest since 2007
Corporate bond yield premiums have fallen to 103 basis points, the lowest level since June 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to a Bloomberg index tracking bonds across currencies and ratings. Investors are accepting historically low premiums on corporate debt, buoyed by optimism about the economic outlook.
The development mirrors market conditions in the months preceding the 2008 financial crisis, prompting some analysts to urge caution. Goldman Sachs strategists have warned against complacency, advising clients to maintain hedges in their portfolios despite the apparent calm in credit markets.
Trump met Venezuelan opposition leader Machado and received a Nobel medal
President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday, where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal in recognition of his role in removing former President Nicolás Maduro from power. The symbolic gesture came despite Trump’s earlier doubts about Machado’s ability to lead Venezuela, stating she lacks sufficient support within the country.
Trump confirmed on social media that Machado left the medal for him to keep, calling it a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. However, the Trump administration has not endorsed Machado for Venezuela’s presidency, instead working with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who served as Maduro’s vice president. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump supports new Venezuelan elections when the time is right, but provided no timeline.
