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

Top headlines this Friday morning include dramatic scenes in the House of Representatives as the State Police bill passed amid a minority walkout. The United States has imposed a 12.5 per cent tariff on imports from Nigeria, accusing the country of failing to effectively prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labour. On security, President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from its current structure to 12 divisions. Below are the top stories. Walkout rocks House as state police bill passes The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish State Police across Nigeria, despite a protest and walkout by members of the minority caucus, who argued that the legal framework required further refinement and that the constitutional amendment process was not properly followed. The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the establishment of state police services and for related matters,” secured the constitutionally required two-thirds majority after consideration by the House. Read the full story below: https://punchng.com/walkout-rocks-house-as-state-police-bill-passes/ Tinubu approves expansion of Nigerian Army to 12 divisions President Bola Tinubu has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen the country’s security architecture. The move, according to the Presidency, is aimed at improving the operational effectiveness of the Army and enhancing its capacity to respond to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges. Read the full story below: https://punchng.com/breaking-tinubu-approves-expansion-of-nigerian-army-to-12-divisions/ US imposes 12.5% tariff on Nigerian imports over forced labour claims The United States has imposed a 12.5 per cent tariff on imports from Nigeria as part of a new trade measure targeting countries it says have failed to prohibit the importation of goods produced with forced labour. The tariff affects imports from 60 economies that Washington says have not “imposed and effectively enforced a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.” Read the full story below: https://punchng.com/us-imposes-12-5-tariff-on-nigerian-imports-over-forced-labour-claims/ Army declares soldier wanted for selling military uniforms to terrorists The Nigerian Army has declared Private Mohammed Yusuf Amutu wanted for allegedly selling military uniforms to terrorists and other criminal elements. The soldier, who served at the Nigerian Army Ordnance Kits Factory, absconded from his unit in June. Read the full story below: https://punchng.com/army-declares-soldier-wanted-for-selling-military-uniforms-to-terrorists/ Enugu Air incident shuts Benin runway, NSIB begins probe Panic gripped passengers and airport officials on Thursday after an Enugu Air aircraft carrying 63 passengers and five crew members veered off the runway and ran into the surrounding bush after landing at the Benin Airport in Edo State, prompting a safety investigation and forcing Air Peace to suspend all flights to and from the airport. The Embraer E170 aircraft, operating as Flight 4264 from Lagos to Benin with registration 5N-ENR, overran the end of Runway 05 at about 3:10 p.m. local time. Read the full story below: https://punchng.com/enugu-air-incident-shuts-benin-runway-nsib-begins-probe/