Nigeria has secured a fresh $1.25 billion financing package from the World Bank to support ongoing economic reforms, boost private sector investment and create more jobs across the country.

The funding was approved under the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration (NAIJA) programme and forms part of the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria, which will run from 2026 to 2032.

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According to the World Bank, the financing is designed to help Nigeria remove barriers to private investment, improve the business environment and lay the foundation for faster, more inclusive economic growth.

The programme will support reforms across critical sectors, including the capital market, digital economy, power sector, agriculture, trade liberalisation under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as domestic revenue mobilisation.

The global financial institution said the initiative is expected to expand electricity access to about 32 million Nigerians, provide broadband connectivity for 58 million people, improve health and nutrition services for 40 million citizens, and support approximately 9.5 million farmers.

The World Bank added that its six-year Country Partnership Framework is focused on mobilising private capital, strengthening economic resilience and creating productive jobs while supporting investments in infrastructure, digital connectivity, human capital and agricultural productivity.

Speaking on the approval, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mathew Verghis, said the framework builds on Nigeria’s recent macroeconomic reforms, which have contributed to stronger economic growth, improved public revenues and renewed investor confidence.

He stressed that sustaining the reform agenda would be crucial to unlocking the country’s full economic potential and creating more opportunities for millions of Nigerians.

The latest financing package is expected to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to accelerate economic reforms, attract investment and promote long-term, private sector-led growth.

Security operatives at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, have successfully repelled another attack by suspected gunmen, killing one of the assailants during a fierce exchange of gunfire.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. on Wednesday when the armed men reportedly attempted to breach the institute’s security perimeter.

However, security personnel swiftly responded, engaging the attackers in a gun battle that forced them to retreat.

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In a statement issued on Thursday by the institute’s Head of Public Affairs, Dr. Osime Samuel, NIPSS confirmed that one of the suspected attackers was neutralised, while several others escaped with varying degrees of injuries.

The institute said the attackers failed to gain access to its premises, assuring that participants of the Senior Executive Course, staff, residents, and facilities remained safe throughout the incident.

According to the statement, security agencies have intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects while strengthening surveillance and other proactive security measures within and around the institution.

NIPSS reaffirmed that the safety of lives and property remains its top priority and commended the prompt response and professionalism displayed by security operatives during the attack.

The institute also urged members of the public to disregard misinformation capable of causing unnecessary panic.

The latest assault comes just weeks after another failed attempt by gunmen to infiltrate the prestigious policy institute, raising fresh concerns over recurring security threats in the area.

The Indian government has directed Meta to delay the rollout of WhatsApp’s upcoming username feature, citing concerns that it could expose millions of users to fraud, phishing, and impersonation scams.

The move follows WhatsApp’s recent announcement that users worldwide would soon be able to connect using unique usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers, a feature designed to improve privacy.

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However, Indian authorities fear the change could be exploited by cybercriminals, particularly as the country continues to witness a sharp rise in online fraud.

According to reports, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has asked Meta to suspend the launch of the feature until consultations with the government are completed.

Officials warned that fraudsters could register deceptive usernames and pose as trusted individuals or organisations, making it more difficult for users—especially those with limited digital literacy—to identify scams.

The ministry also expressed concerns that the feature could fuel phishing attacks, impersonation, and the growing trend of so-called “digital arrest” scams that have affected thousands of victims across the country.

Responding to the concerns, Meta said the username feature has not yet been launched in India. The company noted that usernames for public figures and verified accounts have already been reserved to prevent impersonation.

Meta also stressed that users will still need a phone number to create and use a WhatsApp account, adding that the platform has built multiple layers of protection into the new feature to help detect and prevent scams.

India is WhatsApp’s largest market, with more than 500 million users. Government figures show that cyber fraud losses in the country reached nearly $3 billion in 2025, almost 40 times higher than the amount recorded in 2021, underscoring the growing challenge of online crime.

The WhatsApp username feature is already available on WeChat, the messaging platform owned by Chinese technology company Tencent.