Blog

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), has disclosed that it would revise the world economic growth projections downward next week when the World Economic Outlook is released, only stopping short of predicting a recession.

The Fund’s Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva made this known in an address titled “Toward a Better Balanced and More Resilient World Economy” delivered during the 2025 Spring Meetings of the World Bank on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

She noted that the Fund would evaluate the cost of the ongoing global trade war in the outlook while raising an alarm that global market resilience is being tested again, fueled by the recent tariff hikes imposed by President Donald Trump of the United States.

“When countries put up obstacles in the form of tariff and nontariff barriers, the flow diverts. Some sectors in some countries may be flooded by cheap imports; others may see shortages. Trade goes on, but disruptions incur costs” she noted.

She added that the Fund will quantify these costs in its new World Economic Outlook, to be released early next week.

“In it, our new growth projections will include notable markdowns, but not recession. We will also see markups to the inflation forecasts for some countries”.

“Six months ago, in this very place, I spoke of low growth and high debt. But I also spoke of resilience—countries surviving large shocks thanks to strong fundamentals and agile policies.

“This resilience is being tested again—by the reboot of the global trading system. Financial market volatility is up. And trade policy uncertainty is literally off the charts” she began.

She however, advised that it is time to respond wisely.

“And it is a call to respond wisely. A better balanced, more resilient world economy is within reach. We must act to secure it”.

Delving into the issues, Georgieva warned that trade tensions are like a pot that was bubbling for a long time and is now boiling over.

“To a large extent, what we see is the result of an erosion of trust—trust in the international system, and trust between countries.

“Global economic integration has lifted vast numbers of people out of poverty and made the world as a whole better off.

“But not everyone benefitted. Communities were hollowed out by jobs going overseas. Wages were repressed by the growing availability of low-cost labor.

“Prices went up when global supply chains were interrupted. Many blame the international economic system for the perceived unfairness in their lives.

“Trade distortions—tariff and nontariff barriers—have fed negative perceptions of a multilateral system seen to have failed to deliver a level playing field” she lamented.

By: Babajide Okeowo

Source: Ripples Nigeria

A businessman and a young woman were found d3ad in an apartment in the Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

 

It was gathered that the lovers were nak3d when their lifeless bodies were discovered in the man’s room on Friday, April 18, 2025. 

 

The spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, SP William Aya, who confirmed the incident on Saturday, gave the names of the deceased persons as Sheriff Salifu and Blessing Adama, both from Ankpa.

 

Blessing was said to be a student of the Kogi State College of Education.

 

The PPRO, who described the incident as sudden and unnatural, said the command has launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of their d3aths.

 

“One Salisu Ibrahim from Alo in Ankpa came to the station about 12 pm, where he reported that his tenant, one Sheriff Salifu, did not come out of his room as usual at about 09:31 am,” the PPRO stated.

 

“So, the brother to the deceased entered the room through the ceiling and met his brother and one Blessing Adama of Ojogobi Road Ankpa lying lifeless in the room. Both deceased were seen naked.

 

“The Divisional Police Officer in Ankpa detailed detectives and they moved to the scene were they saw the body, took photograph and took the deceased persons to the zonal hospital Ankpa before they were confirmed d3ad. 

 

“They were also taken for postmortem examination. But the family of Sheriff requested that the body should be released to them. So, he has been buried according to Islamic rite while the remains of Blessing Adama are still deposited at the mortuary,” he said.

 

 

 

Source: Linda Ikeji

Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has raised alarm over an attack on her family home in Obeiba-Ihima, Kogi State, calling on the Inspector-General of Police to urgently reinstate her withdrawn security aides.

In a statement released by her media office on Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan revealed that suspected gunmen targeted the ancestral residence, originally owned by her grandfather, while her younger brother was in town with contractors to inspect proposed constituency project sites.

“The unknown gunmen assumed I was in town and attacked my family’s house that night,” she said. “Thankfully, the civil defence team and community members responded promptly and chased them off.”

According to the senator, no lives were lost in the incident, but the property sustained damage. A formal complaint has since been filed with the police area command in Kogi State.

The lawmaker expressed concern over the deteriorating security around her, linking the attack to her suspension from the Senate and the subsequent withdrawal of her official security on March 6. She urged the authorities to take swift action to prevent future threats.

Read Also: Finnish court sets June date for Simon Ekpa’s appearance

Akpoti-Uduaghan has been at the centre of a tense political standoff following a confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over a controversial seating arrangement, which she claimed was intentionally designed to undermine her. She further accused Akpabio of retaliating against her for allegedly rejecting his sexual advances, a claim she made publicly on national television and later took to a United Nations forum, accusing the Senate leadership of political persecution.

Her suspension from the National Assembly was accompanied by salary cuts and the loss of official protection, actions she has described as punitive and unjust.

The Senate, however, maintains that her suspension was the result of repeated breaches of legislative decorum, including refusal to adhere to seating instructions, speaking out of turn, and general misconduct. Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, emphasized that the disciplinary measures had no link to the sexual harassment allegations.

The political conflict has further deepened, with Akpoti-Uduaghan, Senate President Akpabio, and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello all filing petitions accusing one another of involvement in an alleged assassination plot. While the senator accused both men of plotting to eliminate her, Akpabio and Bello have denied the claims and urged the police to prosecute her for defamation.

Despite the mounting tensions, Akpoti-Uduaghan insists that her resolve to serve her constituents remains firm.

“My commitment to Kogi Central and the Nigerian people is unshaken,” she said. “But no public servant should have to face violence or intimidation for doing their job.”

The senator urged the public to remain calm and support efforts to seek justice and uphold democratic values.

Source: Ripples Nigeria