News on the Go: 5 things that should matter to you today

• Anambra 2025: Parties set for primaries as aspirants jostle for tickets
• FG to establish cultural villages nationwide
• Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger impose 0.5% levy on imports from Nigeria, ECOWAS nations

We have highlighted the five most important developments in the news today, Tuesday, April 1, and present them below.

5 issues in the news that should matter to you today

1. Anambra 2025: Parties set for primaries as aspirants jostle for tickets: With the November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election approaching, over 11 aspirants from major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP), are vying for their party’s ticket to challenge incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

While APGA has endorsed Soludo as its candidate, the APC, PDP, and LP will hold their primaries this Saturday, April 5, to select their flagbearers.

2. Lynching of Hunters: Kano Governor demands public parade of suspects: The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has called for the public parade of the 14 suspects arrested for the lynching of 16 hunters and demanded compensation for the victims’ families.

He made this demand on Monday, March 31, during a condolence visit from Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, in Kano.

3. FG to establish cultural villages nationwide: The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish Renewed Hope Cultural Villages across Nigeria to preserve the country’s cultural heritage, boost tourism, and stimulate economic growth.

Abiola Abdulkareem, Special Assistant to the Minister of Art, Culture, and Tourism, Hannatu Musawa, disclosed this on Monday, March 31, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

4. Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger impose 0.5% levy on imports from Nigeria, ECOWAS nations: The military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have introduced a 0.5% levy on imported goods from Nigeria and other Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) nations.

According to an official statement signed by the three countries, the levy, which took immediate effect last Friday, March 28, is intended to fund a newly formed three-state union after their exit from ECOWAS.

The new charge applies to all imported goods except humanitarian aid.

5. Burkina Faso Junta pardons soldiers convicted in 2015 failed coup: Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, has granted amnesty to 21 soldiers convicted for their involvement in a failed coup attempt in 2015.

An official decree confirming the pardon was seen by AFP on Monday, March 31.

The country, under military rule since September 2022 following a coup led by Traore, had previously announced a general amnesty for those convicted in the attempted overthrow of the transitional government that followed the fall of former President Blaise Compaoré.