African Can Be Pope, Says Kaigama, Francis for Burial Saturday Trump, Macron, Starmer, others to attend final funeral rites Europe, Asia have highest number of electors
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The death of Pope Francis, who is
set for burial on Saturday, yesterday triggered fresh conversation on an African becoming the head of the
Catholic Church globally. The Archbishop of the Abuja Diocese of Nigeria, Ignatius Kaigama,
in his contribution, stated that African Cardinals have the same chance of becoming the pope just like anyone
from any other part of the world. Besides, it emerged yesterday that world leaders, including President
Donald Trump of the United States Continued on page 9
Adeniyi: Customs Generates N1.75tn in First Quarter, Says Duty Exemptions on Food Imports Have Led to Price Reduction... Page 5 Wednesday 23 April, 2025 Vol 30. No 10972. Price: N400
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Refrain from Unsubstantiated Allegations, Criticise With Facts, Senate Replies Bakare... Page 35
Ribadu: We’ll Defeat Nigeria’s Security Menace
Governors’ forum meets today amid killings Niger governor leads assault against area boys Okpebholo, Yahaya summon security parley Chuks Okocha, Linus Aleke in Abuja, Segun Awofadeji in Gombe, Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City, George Okoh in Makurdi, Laleye Dipo in
Minna and Ayodeji Ake in Lagos National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has assured
Nigerians that the country would defeat evil forces killing citizens and sacking communities all over the country.
Ribadu made the comments yesterday in Makurdi, where he conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s sympathy to Benue people over
the series of killings in the state by suspected herdsmen. The NSA’s remarks came was as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum
(NGF) scheduled a meeting today over the killings and clashes between Continued on page 9
IMF, Cardoso, Edun Pledge to Scale Up Social Spending, Improve Food Security in Nigeria Monetary Fund reiterates support for Nigeria’s economic reforms Downgrades country’s 2025 growth outlook to 3%, 2.7% for 2026 Says Nigeria’s Eurobond return reflects renewed investor confidence Urges vigilance as global risks pressure spreads
Obina Chima, Eromosele Abiodun and Nume Ekeghe in Washington DC The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, the Governor; Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr.
Olayemi Cardoso and Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr . Wale Edun, have pledged to continue to work together to scale up social spending, improve food security Continued on page 9
INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH ON THEIR MINDS...
L-R: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva; and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, after their deliberations on the sidelines of the ongoing IMF/ World Bank meetings in Washington DC, yesterday