Nigeria’s GDP Grows 3.84 percent in Q4 2024…22-Year-Old Nigerian Earns Nobel Peace Prize Nomination…Nigeria Revises Counterterrorism Approach…Nigerian Separatists Allegedly Plan Targeted Killings of Officers
● Nigeria’s GDP Growth Accelerates in Q4 2024, Annual Growth Reaches 3.40%
Nigeria’s economy grew by 3.84 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, up from 3.46 percent in the previous quarter and the same period in 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The services sector led the growth, expanding by 5.37 percent and contributing 57.38 percent to the overall GDP.
“The agriculture sector grew by 1.76 percent, from the growth of 2.10 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023,” the NBS reported. Meanwhile, “The growth of the industry sector was 2.00 percent, a decline from 3.86 percent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023,” The Guardian also quoted.
Oil production averaged 1.54 million barrels per day, slightly lower than Q4 2023. The non-oil sector grew by 3.96 percent and contributed 95.40 percent to GDP.
The NBS also reported that the nominal GDP reached ₦78.37 trillion (approximately $52.23 billion) in Q4 2024, compared to ₦65.91 trillion (approximately $43.99 billion) in Q4 2023, representing a year-on-year nominal growth of 18.91 percent.
● 22-Year-Old Nigerian Zuriel Oduwole Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Nigerian-American education and gender equality advocate Zuriel Oduwole has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) confirmed the nomination.
The Nigerian media spotlighted her accomplishments. Born in Los Angeles to Nigerian grandparents, Oduwole has met with 36 world leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, to discuss education, policy, and development issues. At just 13, she played a role in mediating a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, meeting then-President David Granger at the United Nations to push for peaceful dialogue.
In 2020, she advised Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on global peace strategies during the Arab blockade of Qatar, which was resolved in 2021.
NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa congratulated Oduwole, calling her nomination “evidence of that resilient and hardworking Nigerian spirit” and urging young Nigerians to follow her example.
● Nigeria Reviews Counterterrorism Strategy Amid Evolving Threats
Nigeria is reassessing its counterterrorism strategy as terrorist groups adapt tactics, exploit new technologies, and take advantage of socio-political vulnerabilities, according to Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Laka emphasized the need to update the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) to reflect Nigeria’s current security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping.
“In light of these realities, the center has convened this meeting to engage all stakeholders in reviewing the strategy and adapting it to the current security dynamics,” Laka stated.
He stressed the importance of combining kinetic military operations with non-kinetic approaches to address the root causes of extremism. The NACTEST review aims to enhance coordination among security agencies and improve Nigeria’s ability to combat terrorism and organized crime.
● Tensions Rise in Nigeria’s South-East as IPOB Allegedly Plots Against Security Forces
Nigerian security intelligence has uncovered a plot by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), to target military and police personnel in the South-East region, Zagazola Makama reported.
IPOB is a separatist group advocating for an independent Biafra, while ESN serves as its paramilitary force. The Nigerian government has designated IPOB as a terrorist organization, citing its involvement in violent attacks.
According to intelligence sources, the group has allegedly placed a ₦1 million ($668) bounty on security officers lured into a trap. Their tactics allegedly involve using women and romantic relationships to ensnare officers, making them vulnerable to ambush or assassination.
Recently, IPOB/ESN members abducted a police recruit’s parents and seized their motorcycle to pressure him into quitting his job. While his parents were later released, the motorcycle remained with the group.
This development is seen as a direct response to intensified military and police operations against IPOB/ESN operatives in recent months.
Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
