Northern Security Funding: Nigeria’s northern governors in Kaduna voted to fund their own security via the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund, targeting ₦228bn over 24 months to speed up intelligence and troop financing without waiting on Abuja. Sahel Diplomacy & Defence: Russia’s Lavrov continued Africa outreach, including talks with Niger and the Confederation of Sahel States, with pledges to deepen military cooperation and support a “Unified Force.” Local Governance & Inclusion (Niger): Niger State moved to domesticate its Women Economic Empowerment policy, appointing women as vice chairpersons across all 25 LGAs to strengthen grassroots participation. Energy & Power Payments (Regional): Nigeria’s electricity exports faced weak collections: NERC says Benin, Togo and Niger Republic paid only $4.82m of a $17.48m Q1 bill, leaving about $12.66m outstanding. Education vs Debt: UNESCO warns developing countries spent more on debt repayments than education in 2025, with Niger among those losing over 40% of education aid over three years. Digital Access for Learning: Airtel Africa plans to connect 5,000 schools with free internet by 2027 through UNICEF to narrow the digital education gap. Security Caution (Nigeria): An Anglican bishop warned that proposed state police could be hijacked for political victimisation unless corruption is tackled. Enterprise Development (Katsina): Katsina targets an “African model” for enterprise growth through KASEDA, focusing on MSMEs, jobs and inclusive economic transformation.