“The Institute, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Head of Public Affairs, Dr. Osime Samuel, said the attackers engaged security personnel in a fierce exchange of gunfire but were forced to retreat following what it described as a swift and coordinated response by security forces.”

Gunmen on Wednesday night attempted another attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State.

The NIPSS security operatives repelled the attack and killed one of the attackers during a gun battle.

The gunmen attempted to gain access to the institution at around 11pm but were repelled by security operatives.

The Institute, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Head of Public Affairs, Dr. Osime Samuel, said the attackers engaged security personnel in a fierce exchange of gunfire but were forced to retreat following what it described as a swift and coordinated response by security forces.

According to the statement, one of the assailants was neutralised during the encounter, while several others reportedly escaped with varying degrees of injuries.

NIPSS, however, said the attackers failed to penetrate the Institute’s security perimeter, stressing that all participants of the Senior Executive Course, staff, residents and facilities remained safe.

The Institute added that security agencies had intensified efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects, while surveillance and other proactive security measures had been reinforced within and around the institution.

The Federal Government has called on state governments, local education authorities and private school owners to actively participate in the Digitalised Nigeria Education Management Information System, known as DNEMIS, to strengthen education planning and service delivery across the country.

Speaking at the official launch of the platform in Abuja, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said effective education reforms depend on credible and comprehensive data.

Alausa noted that the digital platform will provide real-time information on classrooms, teachers, enrolment, computer facilities, water and sanitation infrastructure, among other key indicators.

He also said that DNEMIS will transform the collection, analysis and use of education data, enabling governments to identify gaps, deploy resources efficiently and make evidence-based decisions.

He stressed that accurate data remains critical for monitoring progress, evaluating interventions and planning for the future of the education sector.

Alausa also commended development partners, including the World Bank, UNICEF, the European Union and the Norwegian Government for supporting the development and rollout of the platform, adding that their intervention helped overcome implementation challenges and accelerated the project’s delivery.

The Director-General of the National Bureau of Statistics, Semiu Adeyemi Adeniran, pledged the agency’s support for DNEMIS.

He further stated that the NBS would integrate its systems with the platform and use household surveys and Small Area Estimation data to validate education statistics, ensuring a single reliable source of education data for national planning and policy implementation.

Nigeria has successfully navigated the toughest phase of its economic reforms and is now prioritising accelerated, broad-based growth that benefits citizens and businesses, according to the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele.

Speaking at the Nigeria Employers’ Summit 2026 organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in Abuja, Oyedele said the bold reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration averted an imminent economic collapse and established a foundation for macroeconomic stability.

Addressing business leaders, policymakers, and development partners during a high-level panel titled “Reforms in Focus: The Milestones, the Challenges and the Prospects,” the Minister acknowledged the short-term hardships caused by the reforms but described them as essential for restoring fiscal sustainability.

“Before the reforms, Nigeria faced an unsustainable fiscal situation where oil revenues were largely consumed by fuel subsidies and non-oil revenue by debt obligations, leaving little room for investment in infrastructure and other critical sectors,” Oyedele explained.

He emphasised that the reforms were necessary to prevent economic collapse. “The task before us now is to consolidate the gains, deepen stability and accelerate productive, inclusive growth that improves the lives of Nigerians,” the Minister stated.

Oyedele noted that the economy has transitioned from severe volatility to increasing stability, creating conditions to attract investment, boost productivity, and build long-term resilience. The next phase of reforms, he said, will focus on faster economic growth, expanding opportunities across sectors, reducing inflation, and protecting vulnerable groups including low-income earners and small businesses.

The Minister also addressed public perceptions of government policies, particularly borrowing. He observed that criticism often stems from viewing debt through the lens of personal finance rather than strategic fiscal management. He cited the recent tax reforms as an example, which were designed to protect small businesses and low-income households while ensuring higher contributions from those with greater capacity.

Oyedele called on Nigerians to adopt a more balanced narrative about the country’s progress, recognising improvements in fiscal management, debt sustainability, investor confidence, and overall economic stability despite remaining challenges.

Other panelists, including Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA); Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE); and Dr. Wilson Erumebor, Principal Economist at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), acknowledged the necessity of the reforms while urging stronger actions to deliver tangible benefits to businesses and citizens.

Discussions at the summit centred on healthcare financing, infrastructure development, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, power sector reforms, tax administration, and translating macroeconomic stability into better living standards and enterprise competitiveness.

The Nigeria Employers’ Summit 2026 convened senior government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, and economic experts to explore how ongoing reforms and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles can enhance competitiveness and drive inclusive national growth.