Naija daily news

Here are some of the top news stories from Nigeria for the day:

Politics

• President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of new service chiefs, replacing the outgoing chiefs of the army, navy, air force, and police. The new service chiefs are Major General Leo Irabor (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Ibrahim Attahiru (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo (Chief of Naval Staff), Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao (Chief of Air Staff), and Mr. Usman Alkali Baba (Inspector-General of Police).
• The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Okonjo-Iweala, a former Minister of Finance, becomes the first Nigerian and first African to hold the position.

Economy

• The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a new policy aimed at reducing the country's reliance on foreign exchange. The policy, which takes effect from March 2021, will require importers to pay for their foreign exchange requirements from the CBN's foreign exchange market.
• The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced a 0.45% gain in the All-Share Index, driven by gains in stocks such as Dangote Cement, Nestle Nigeria, and Guaranty Trust Bank.

Security

• The Nigerian Army has launched a new operation, code-named "Operation Whirl Stroke", aimed at tackling banditry and kidnapping in the North-Central region. The operation will involve troops from the 3rd Armoured Division and other units.
• The police have arrested a suspected kidnapper who allegedly kidnapped a businessman in Lagos and demanded a ransom of N50 million.

Sports

• The Super Eagles have qualified for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after defeating Lesotho 3-0 in their final qualifying match. The team will now participate in the tournament, which will be held in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.

Other News

• The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a new university in each of the six geo-political zones of the country. The new universities will be established to address the shortage of tertiary education institutions in the country.
• The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has warned of a high probability of flooding in some parts of the country due to the expected heavy rainfall in the coming weeks.

These are just a few of the top news stories from Nigeria for the day.