President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country’s economy is resilient enough to weather any global challenges arising from the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Speaking during a visit by members of The Buhari Organisation, led by former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura, Tinubu revealed that Nigeria had already surpassed its 2024 revenue target — and did so months ahead of schedule.

“We achieved our revenue goals by August. Our non-oil revenue is performing strongly, and that gives us confidence. We’re not worried about whatever President Trump is doing across the ocean,” Tinubu said.

He emphasized that his administration has stabilized the economy and significantly reduced dependence on oil revenues, making Nigeria less vulnerable to international shocks.

President Trump’s economic measures including tariffs and oil market interventions have drawn criticism globally.

In April, he signed an executive order suspending duty-free treatment for several countries, including Nigeria, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

He also introduced a 14% tariff on Nigerian imports.

In July, under pressure from Trump, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies agreed to raise oil production by 548,000 barrels per day to bring down global oil prices.

Despite these developments, Tinubu maintained that Nigeria’s shift towards non-oil revenue streams has paid off.

According to 2023 data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Nigeria exported goods worth $6.29 billion to the U.S Crude oil accounted for $4.73 billion, petroleum gas for $920 million, and nitrogen-based fertilizers for $167 million.

A new nationwide survey by Chatham House, conducted in partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has revealed a steep decline in public trust in key Nigerian institutions.

According to the report, the Nigeria Police Force, the Presidency, and the federal government rank among the least trusted bodies in the country.

The findings, published under the Social Norms and Accountable Governance Project, show that nearly 46% of Nigerians said they “greatly distrust” the police, while only 7% expressed strong trust in the institution.

The Presidency fared only slightly better, with 36% of respondents expressing deep distrust, and 35% saying the same of the federal government.

Other public bodies, including the judiciary, local government councils, and state-level politicians, also scored low in public confidence, highlighting a broad and systemic trust crisis across Nigeria’s governance structure.

Chatham House linked the widespread distrust to years of ineffective reform efforts. Despite more than two decades of anti-corruption campaigns, many Nigerians believe these measures have failed to produce meaningful accountability.

The report pointed to entrenched political patronage, impunity, and selective justice as key factors eroding trust in public institutions.

“Corruption has not only weakened Nigeria’s economy but corroded public trust in governance, fuelling repeated crises of legitimacy,” the report said.

The survey also revealed a contradiction in public values.

While 59% of respondents agreed that in their communities, “power matters more than honesty,” a larger percentage—73%—said they feel disturbed when people are exploited.

Researchers interpret this paradox as a reflection of harsh economic and social conditions that force individuals to prioritize survival, even while maintaining a desire for justice and fairness.

Despite the pessimism, the report highlighted some positive signs.

Nearly half of the respondents believe their local communities are willing to monitor public spending on development projects. According to Chatham House, this shows a strong civic potential that can be harnessed to drive citizen-led accountability.

To rebuild trust, the report recommends that political leaders provide visible evidence of how tax revenues are used to deliver public services.

It also warns that the government’s efforts to expand its tax base may fail unless citizens believe their contributions are being put to good use.

“Nigeria is faced with a fundamental question: how to reduce the cost of being honest in a system where corruption is entrenched and formal institutions are widely distrusted,” the report concluded.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on Tuesday aboard his signature olive-green armoured train, ahead of a major military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

His arrival, confirmed by both AFP reporters and South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, marks only his second known trip abroad in six years.

The visit signals deepening ties among North Korea, China, and Russia, as Kim is set to appear alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and leaders from over two dozen other countries.

The parade, scheduled for Wednesday at Tiananmen Square, will showcase China’s military strength through grand displays, including flyovers, precision marching, and advanced weaponry.

While specific systems remain undisclosed, observers have already spotted rumored new technology, such as a gigantic laser weapon.

Kim’s appearance at this high-profile event highlights what analysts see as a formal public alignment between Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang.

“Kim’s presence signals a growing trilateral partnership among these nations,” said Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst, speaking to AFP.

Photos released by North Korea’s KCNA showed Kim during the journey, smoking outside his train with top aides and smiling inside a lavish, wood-paneled carriage adorned with national symbols.

Beijing has undergone heightened security in preparation for the celebration.

Streets are lined with military personnel, white barricades, and patriotic art installations bearing the inscription “1945–2025.” Chinese flags flutter across neighborhoods, while parts of the city remain closed to the public.

The event wraps up a week of intense diplomacy for Xi, who hosted leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin earlier this week.

The summit, attended by Putin and other Eurasian leaders, underscored China’s push to build non-Western alliances and challenge U.S. influence.

At the summit, Xi condemned global “bullying”, a veiled criticism of the U.S, while Putin reiterated support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine, blaming Western powers for the conflict.

Many of the SCO leaders, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, are expected to join Xi and Kim at the Wednesday parade.

Burkina Faso has officially passed a new law criminalising homosexuality, marking a significant shift in its legal stance on LGBTQ+ rights.

The country’s transitional, unelected parliament approved the legislation on Monday, following a draft family code earlier adopted by the cabinet.

Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala, speaking on state television, explained the implications of the new law.

“The law provides for a prison sentence of between two and five years as well as fines,” he said.

Bayala also stated that foreign nationals found guilty under the law would face deportation.

The legislation now awaits the formal signature of the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in 2022 after ousting Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba. Traoré’s approval will make the law fully effective.

Before this change, Burkina Faso was among the few African countries that allowed same-sex relationships.

Unlike former British colonies that inherited anti-gay laws, Burkina Faso, once a French colony, did not have such laws at independence in 1960.

However, the nation remains deeply conservative and religious, with less than 10% of the population identifying as non-religious.

The move aligns Burkina Faso with similar legislation in neighbouring countries. Mali, also under military rule, criminalised homosexuality last year.

Nigeria has long enforced a strict ban, while Ghana passed a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill that was never signed into law.

Uganda has implemented some of the harshest measures, including life sentences for consensual same-sex acts and the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality.”

International human rights organisations have criticised the growing wave of anti-LGBTQ+ laws across Africa.

The World Bank previously suspended loans to Uganda over similar legislation, although the ban was later lifted.