JUST BEFORE BED TIME | NATIONAL and GLOBAL NEWS ROUND UP | 020725

Nigeria and the World in 2025: An Age of Reckoning, Resilience, and Reinvention

In a world reeling from overlapping disruptions, political, technological, climatic, and cultural, 2025 is not business as usual. From the bustling streets of Lagos to the corridors of Davos, a spirit of urgency and reinvention pulses through the global zeitgeist. This is a time of reckoning: for how we govern, how we connect, how we live.

And Nigeria? She stands as a complex, captivating mirror of the world’s beauty and bruises.

Nigeria: Rising Through Resistance

Vaping Epidemic Among Youths

Nigeria’s youth, tech-savvy, hyper-connected, and culturally expressive, are increasingly seduced by vaping trends. The flavored fog of sleek e-cigarettes is spreading through campuses, malls, and TikTok feeds. But behind the minty smoke lies a crisis: early addiction, potential lung damage, and a public health blind spot. Activists are rising, demanding tighter regulations and stronger warnings, pushing back against deceptive marketing by Big Tobacco.

Nigeria Leads Africa’s Climate Action Drive as Vice President Champions Green Diplomacy in Ethiopia

Greening Africa Together: How Nigeria Is Leading the Continent's Climate Revolution

In an era when the planet’s alarm bells ring louder each day, Nigeria is not sitting on the sidelines, it’s striding boldly to the frontlines of Africa’s climate resilience movement. Under the stewardship of Vice President Kashim Shettima and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the country is turning environmental peril into purpose, and purpose into action. Their vision? To craft a greener, stronger, and more sustainable Africa, from the Sahel to the Savannah.

UN Pleads With World Leaders To Support Poor Countries, Combat Poverty, Hunger

United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres

The Sevilla Commitment: A Global Wake-Up Call—And What It Means for Nigeria

At the 4th International Conference for Finance and Development in Sevilla, Spain, world leaders and policymakers gathered to confront a painful truth: global development is faltering. With poverty and inequality growing, and with just five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations has unveiled a bold roadmap, the Sevilla Commitment, to change course.

A Wake-Up Call from the UN

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a stirring appeal urging wealthier nations not to “shut the door of finance” on developing economies. He painted a picture of a world beset by economic slowdown, climate chaos, and weakening cooperation. “We are here in Sevilla to change course,” he declared. “Lives are at stake.”

The Urgent Cry for Education Reform in Omudioga

No Teachers, No Chairs, No Future? The Urgent Cry for Education Reform in Omudioga

In the quiet town of Omudioga, nestled within the lush landscapes of Rivers State, Nigeria, the echoes of chalk on blackboards have grown faint. Instead, voices of frustration and despair rise from classrooms, if they can be called that, where students sit on bare floors, surrounded by crumbling walls and hope that is wearing thin.

This is the reality presented in the recent community report “No Teachers, No Chairs, We Need Development”, a video exposé that sheds light on the collapse of educational infrastructure in Omudioga. But this is more than a local crisis, it is a national call to action.

The Yelwata Protest and the Broken Promises

Nigeria’s Forgotten Millions: The Yelwata Protest and the Broken Promises to IDPs

🛑 "We are starving. We are sick. We are forgotten." These were the unspoken cries that echoed through the streets of Makurdi on June 19, 2025, as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Yelwata in Benue State blocked major roads, desperate to be seen and heard. Their protest was not just a plea—it was an indictment of a system that has systematically failed Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens.

🏚️ Life at the Margins

Yelwata’s IDPs aren’t asking for miracles, just the bare minimum to survive. Yet, their camps tell a harrowing story: no mattresses, no medical care, not even mosquito nets to ward off sickness. Children sleep on concrete floors, pregnant women endure without healthcare, and food has become a luxury, not a right.

JESD Unveils Splendor Ville Estate

JESD Unveils Splendor Ville Estate in Maitama II: A Strategic Real Estate Investment Opportunity in Abuja

Jonnie Estate Surveyors and Developers (JESD) has officially launched Splendor Ville Estate, a new residential development in Maitama II, Abuja. Touted as a premium real estate offering in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, the project promises high returns on investment and immediate land allocation, an attractive combination for both first-time buyers and seasoned investors.

Prime Location Meets Modern Accessibility

Located along a major expressway in the fast-developing Maitama II district, Splendor Ville Estate enjoys strategic positioning. The area is already bordered by tarred roads and is set to benefit further from ongoing regional infrastructure projects, including a new access road that is expected to boost connectivity across the FCT.

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Nigeria and Beyond: A Mirror of Power, Scandal, and Cultural Evolution (June 2025)

As June 2025 winds down, a tapestry of gripping stories has unfolded across Nigeria and the global stage, stories that speak not only to headlines, but to the values, struggles, and aspirations of society. From political controversy and celebrity influence to groundbreaking deals and cross-cultural recognition, here is a deeper look at the major news leads and their impact on the world around us.

Power and Controversy: Politics Under Scrutiny

EFCC Nabs Benue Governor’s Aide Over Sextortion and Cyberbullying

The arrest of Dr. Mkor Aondona, Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor, has sent shockwaves through political corridors. Accused of using ushering jobs as bait for sexual favors, and then blackmailing victims with secretly recorded videos, his case underscores the persistent abuse of power in political spaces. It has catalyzed national debate over sexual exploitation, consent, and accountability in public service.

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Echoes Across Borders: How Nigerians and the World Are Reacting to Global Flashpoints

In a whirlwind of charged emotions and geopolitical tension, recent developments, from Abuja to Tehran, have captivated public consciousness and sparked passionate responses across generational, ideological, and even continental lines. As the news cycle churns, the ripple effects of these stories reveal deeper currents shaped by history, identity, and hope.

The Kanu Conundrum: A DSS Cell Becomes Center Stage

When IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu invited skeptics to visit him in DSS custody, it wasn’t just a bold media moment, it was a strategic invocation of public trust. Supporters lauded his transparency and courage, evoking memories of the long-standing Biafran agitation, while critics raised eyebrows at the timing and potential theatrics.

APC National Chairman Ganduje, Resigns

Ganduje Resignation Shakes APC Leadership: What It Means for 2027 and Beyond

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the embattled National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has officially stepped down from his role, signaling a seismic shift in the party’s internal dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Breaking the Silence: Ganduje Steps Down

On Friday, June 27, 2025, multiple credible sources confirmed Ganduje’s resignation, with his personal belongings removed from the APC national secretariat in Abuja. While the official reason cited is health-related, insiders suggest that pressure from political factions, zoning demands, and leadership controversies played a decisive role.

Solving Nigeria's Food Crisis with Action

Beyond Fasting: Solving Nigeria's Food Crisis with Action, Not Prayer

According to the article by Punch with the title "Nigeria Hunger Crisis: Fasting Won't Solve Food Shortage" Nigeria, by contrast, boasts fertile land, abundant rainfall, and a youthful population, yet struggles to feed itself. Here is the summary of the story:

• Controversial Fasting Directive: Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture initially urged staff to fast and pray for three days in response to growing food insecurity. Public backlash led to the cancellation of the directive.
• Criticism of Spiritual Approach: The editorial criticized the reliance on spiritual measures rather than science-based, practical interventions. It called the move irrational given the scale of the hunger crisis.
• Food Insecurity Crisis:
• Over 25 million Nigerians faced severe food shortages in 2024.
• Prices of key staples like rice, garri, beans, and yam have risen over 300%.
• Malnutrition and preventable diseases are surging, especially among children.
• Root Causes Identified:
• Insecurity in major agricultural states (e.g., Benue, Kaduna, Zamfara) has displaced thousands of farmers.
• Poor infrastructure leads to massive post-harvest losses (up to $9 billion/year).
• Mismanagement of fertilizer subsidies and lack of storage solutions compound the problem.

Nigeria’s Drug Abuse Crisis

The Global Drug Abuse Crisis: A Converging Storm of Instability, Inequality, and Mental Health

In recent years, drug abuse has escalated from a localized concern to a full-blown global crisis. With an estimated 316 million people using drugs worldwide in 2023, 6% of the global population—this epidemic touches every continent, community, and class. From Nigeria’s urban centers to Latin America's trafficking routes and Asia's synthetic drug labs, the map of substance abuse is expanding, and evolving.

This article explores the key trends, driving forces, regional variations, and the urgent need for coordinated action at all levels.

A Widening Global Problem

Global drug use has surged by more than 30% over the past decade, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Cannabis remains the most used drug, but sharp increases are seen in opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and synthetic substances like fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Anna Wintour Steps Down as Vogue’s Editor in Chief After 37 Years

Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour: The Reign, The Revolution, and the Runway Beyond

After nearly four decades at the helm of Vogue, Anna Wintour has stepped down, leaving behind a legacy as towering and transformative as the magazine she led. From redefining fashion journalism to reimagining celebrity culture, her influence stretches far beyond the glossy pages she curated. This comprehensive retrospective celebrates the milestones, the mindset, and the metamorphosis of an industry shaped by her unmistakable bob and sunglasses.

The Editor Who Changed Everything

Appointed editor-in-chief in 1988, Wintour didn’t just direct Vogue, she rerouted the fashion world’s compass. By 2025, she had:

• Transformed Vogue into a cultural powerhouse marrying fashion, politics, technology, and art.
• Elevated the publication from trendwatcher to trendsetter, always two steps ahead of the conversation.
• Stayed on as Condé Nast’s Global Chief Content Officer and Vogue’s Global Editorial Director, even as she passed the editorial baton.

US Supreme Court Limits Courts’ Ability to Issue National Injunctions

The Birthright Battle: How the U.S. Supreme Court Reshaped a Constitutional Cornerstone

The Gavel Falls: A Pivotal Supreme Court Ruling

In June 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision that could redefine how presidential powers are contested in court. At the center of the storm? Birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment for over 150 years.

In a 6-3 decision, the Court ruled that lower federal courts overstepped their bounds when issuing nationwide injunctions to block President Trump’s efforts to restrict birthright citizenship. The ruling was more than a procedural footnote, it was a tectonic shift in the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive branch.