Sharp Rise in Imports, Steady Exports Pushed Nigeria’s Foreign Trade to N36.6tn in Q4 2024, Says NBS Netherlands, France, Spain, India, Indonesia emerge as Nigeria’s largest export destinations China, India, Belgium, US, France remain top import sources
James Emejo in Abuja
Nigeria’s total merchandise trade recorded significant growth in the
fourth quarter of 2024, driven by a sharp rise in imports and steady export performance, according to the latest report by the National Bureau
of Statistics (NBS). According to the latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics report released by the NBS, total trade for
the period stood at N36.6 trillion, representing a 68.3 per cent increase from the corresponding quarter in 2023 and a 2.2 per cent rise from
the third quarter of 2024. The report indicates that while the Netherlands, France, Spain, India, and Indonesia emerged as Nigeria’s five
largest export destinations, China has remained the country’s top import Continued on page 5
To Curb Rising Inflation, FG Raises N2.72tn from T-Bill Market in Two Months… Page 12 Sunday, March 9, 2025 Vol 30. No 10927
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At 2025 IWD, Tinubu, First Lady, Atiku, AbdulRazaq Hail Nigerian Women’s Resilience, Hard Work…Page 6
Citing Party’s Constitution, South-South Zone of PDP Dares NWC, Insists Zonal Congress Constitutional Rejects zonal caretaker committee Atiku debunks defection report, advocates coalition to sack APC
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
deepened yesterday as the SouthSouth Zone of the party rebuked the National Working Committee (NWC) for overreaching itself by
appointing a caretaker committee for the zone, insisting that the recent zonal congress held in Calabar, the Cross River State
capital was constitutional. This is just as former vice president and presidential candidate of the PDP in the
2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has denied reports that he had dumped the party, saying he has no plans to leave the PDP.
He renewed his support for a coalition of political parties Continued on page 5
We are Traumatised by Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sexual Harassment Allegations, Says Akpabio Natasha suspended for misconduct, not sexual assault allegation, Senate leader insists
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, yesterday said the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, traumatised him and the Senate with what he described as her "useless sexual harassment allegations". This is just as the Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, has insisted that the senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district was suspended for gross misconduct, and not because of the sexual harassment allegation she made against Akpabio.
Akpabio and the Senate had come under heavy criticism following the sanction handed out to the female lawmaker, who was suspended for six months by the federal lawmakers. Speaking at an event to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD), Akpabio, who maintained his innocence of the sexual harassment allegations against him by the female senator, described himself as her latest victim, saying her previous allegations had also turned out to be false. He said: “It is only yesterday that I realised that what we are Continued on page 5
Tinubu RejoicesWith Age-long Ally, CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY… General, World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (left), and former German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, during fireside chat to Friend,Yemi Osinbajo at 68…Page 6 Director commemorate the International Women’s Day organised by the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland…Friday PHOTO: WTO WEBSITE