Morning recap: Reps approve state police bill, US imposes 12.5% tariff on Nigerian imports, other top stories

Nigeria's House of Representatives has passed a crucial bill to establish state police forces, a move aimed at decentralizing security responsibilities. The vote, however, was marked by a protest and walkout from members of the minority caucus. They argued that the bill's legal framework required further refinement and that the constitutional amendment process was not followed correctly. Despite the dissent, the bill secured the constitutionally mandated two-thirds majority.

In parallel, the United States has imposed a 12.5% tariff on imports from Nigeria. This measure is part of a broader trade action targeting countries Washington accuses of failing to effectively prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labor. The tariff affects imports from 60 economies that do not meet this standard.

On the security front, President Bola Tinubu has authorized a significant expansion of the Nigerian Army. The army will grow from its current eight divisions to twelve, accompanied by the recruitment of an additional 28,000 personnel. The Presidency stated this expansion is intended to bolster the army's operational effectiveness and enhance its capacity to address the nation's evolving security challenges.