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In a recent exchange, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar attributed Nigeria's economic challenges to the "poor policies" of President Bola Tinubu. However, the Presidency responded, accusing Atiku of hypocrisy and failing to propose better policy alternatives. Atiku criticized Tinubu's economic policies, stating that they are causing pain, despair, and a shrinking private sector. He also questioned the effectiveness of Tinubu's budget and characterized his initiatives as uninformed and chaotic.

On the other hand, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed Atiku's criticism, claiming it reflects a mission as a poor opposition figure. Onanuga defended Tinubu's reforms, including the removal of petrol subsidy and harmonization of exchange rates, emphasizing their long-term benefits. He countered Atiku's claims about a shrinking private sector and multinational companies leaving, stating they are not grounded in facts.

The Presidency highlighted Tinubu's acknowledgment that the reforms would cause immediate pain but insisted they are essential for future prosperity. Onanuga urged Atiku to be honest about the inherited weak economy and commended President Tinubu's focus on solving economic and security challenges through fiscal and tax policy reforms. Despite Atiku's criticism, the Presidency emphasized its commitment to nation-building and economic recovery initiated by President Tinubu.

Residents of Minna, the capital of Niger State, voiced their frustration on Monday by staging a protest against the soaring cost of living in the country. The demonstrators, consisting of women and youths, took to the streets, blocking major roads in the metropolis while chanting protest songs. Despite the visible presence of security agents, including policemen, the protesters pressed on with their grievances.

Citing the escalating prices of essential food items and expressing dissatisfaction with the government's response to address the situation, the protesters sought to draw attention to their plight by obstructing key roadways. The Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, engaged with the protesters, acknowledging the challenges faced by families and assuring them that the government is actively working to alleviate the cost of living and mitigate the effects of the petrol subsidy removal.

Simultaneously, a war of words unfolded on Sunday between the Presidency and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar regarding the state of the Nigerian economy and President Bola Tinubu's monetary policies. Atiku, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), used a post on X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the prevailing hunger in the nation, with basic commodities, including bread, becoming increasingly unaffordable for the average Nigerian. Responding swiftly, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, accused Atiku of adopting the role of a poor opposition-in-chief, asserting that the reforms initiated by the Tinubu government might bring immediate challenges but are designed to usher in prosperity in the medium and long terms.

Nigerian police have successfully rescued five sisters who were kidnapped in Abuja, the country's capital. The joint police-army operation took place in the Kajuru forest in Kaduna State on Saturday night, where the girls were being held hostage. The abduction occurred earlier this month, and one of the sisters was tragically killed during the incident. Although the kidnappers had demanded a ransom, the police statement did not specify whether any payment was made. The rescued girls, aged from the early teens to 23, have now been reunited with their family.

The abduction involved the six sisters and their father, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, in Bwari, a suburb of Abuja, on January 2. Witnesses reported that the girls' uncle sought help but was ambushed and killed, along with three police officers. Mansoor was released by the kidnappers on the condition he raised a substantial ransom. Unfortunately, his 21-year-old daughter, Nabeeha, was killed as a warning. Kidnapping has become prevalent in Nigeria, with criminal gangs seeing it as a lucrative venture. The incident sparked national outrage, leading to calls for intensified efforts by security agencies to address the kidnapping crisis.

First Lady Remi Tinubu urged security agencies to step up their efforts, demanding a swift return of the Al-Kadriyar sisters. Despite a ransom demand of 65 million naira, Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar discouraged contributions, emphasizing that ransom payments worsen the situation. Nigerian law prohibits paying ransom, but victims often yield to secure their loved ones' release due to a lack of trust in authorities. Concerns about insecurity reaching the capital prompted Abuja's police force to establish a special squad to combat kidnapping gangs. Minister Abubakar asserted that operations against these gangs elsewhere forced them to move closer to the capital, and security agencies are working diligently to eliminate the threat.

On Tuesday, the Federal Government inaugurated four Reform Task Teams with the goal of expediting the realization of presidential objectives for the housing sector in Nigeria. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, stressed the importance of unlocking the sector's massive potential for fostering inclusive economic growth.

The four committees introduced are the Housing Institutions Reform Task Team, the Multi-Agency Project Delivery Team, the Land Reform Task Team, and the Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs Task Team. Minister Dangiwa challenged these committees to diligently work and present their recommendations within an eight-week timeframe. He emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms addressing systemic issues hindering development and removing legal impediments in the housing sector.

Dangiwa highlighted President Bola Tinubu's commitment to revitalizing the housing sector, citing the demerger from the Ministry of Works and the establishment of the task teams as significant steps toward realizing the Renewed Hope Agenda for the sector.

The Housing Institutions Reform Task Team aims to create a robust framework for optimizing housing agencies under the ministry's supervision, delivering decent and affordable homes to Nigerians. The Multi-Agency Project Delivery Task Team will ensure collaborative efforts among housing agencies for efficient housing delivery. The Land Reform Task Team focuses on developing a blueprint for sustainable land administration reforms, promoting easy and cost-effective land access. The Building Materials Manufacturing Hub Task Team will assess the current state of the building materials manufacturing sector, identifying challenges and opportunities.

Dangiwa assured the committees of the government's support and resources to fulfill their responsibilities within the specified timeline. He urged the Federal Housing Authority to intensify operations with government support and encouraged the Federal Mortgage Bank to provide mortgages, enabling more Nigerians to own homes.

Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, emphasized the necessity of these task teams in addressing multifaceted challenges in effective housing delivery. The chairmen and members of the committees were selected for their proven integrity and competence. The appointed chairmen include Adedeji Adesemoye for the Housing Institutions Reform Task Team, Dr. Ugochukwu Chime for the Land Reform Task Team, Nuhu Wya for the Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs Task Team, and Brig. Gen. Tunde Reis for the Multi-Agency Project Task Team.

Nigerians expressed their approval on Tuesday as President Bola Tinubu took a decisive step to reduce the size of his entourage for domestic and international travels by 60%. This move aims to curb excessive spending on travel.

The austerity measures extend to all federal ministries, departments, and agencies, including the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President, and the wives of both. President's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed the details, emphasizing the president's commitment to cutting costs.

On international trips, President Tinubu directed that only 20 individuals accompany him, reduced to five for the First Lady. The Vice President's entourage on official international trips is also limited to five, with the same restriction for the Vice President's wife.

This decision follows criticism of the Tinubu administration for sponsoring over a thousand delegates to COP28 in Dubai, with reports suggesting significant spending. Many Nigerians commended the president for this move, urging governors to follow suit to reduce recurrent expenditure.

Despite some skepticism, there was widespread appreciation for the cost-cutting initiative, with citizens lauding President Tinubu's leadership by example. The spokesperson emphasized that the president is determined to bring prudence and sanity to the management of public resources.

Further details include limits on staff members accompanying officials on domestic and international trips. Ministers and agency heads now face restrictions on the number of individuals allowed to travel with them. The president's spokesperson emphasized the seriousness of the directive and warned against defying it. This initiative reflects Tinubu's commitment to aligning government prudence with the expectations of Nigerian citizens.