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

• We’re not ashamed to copy what works in other climes, says Tinubu
• Abductors of Makurdi varsity female students demand N40m ransom
• Telecom tariff hike necessary to save jobs, says Tijani

We have highlighted the five most important developments in the news today, Friday, February 28, and present them below.

5 issues in the news that should matter to you today

1. We’re not ashamed to copy what works in other climes, says Tinubu: On February 27, President Bola Tinubu told the Airtel delegation led by its chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, that his administration is prepared to learn and not ashamed of copying what is working in other climes.

President Tinubu spoke at a meeting with an Airtel delegation led by its chairman, Mittal, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

2. Telecom tariff hike necessary to save jobs, says Tijani: On Thursday, February 27, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike was necessary to save job losses from companies' collapse.

He explained that the government carefully considered the decision given the critical role the telecom sector plays in the economy.

3. Business owners, CSOs kick as FG plans another tariff hike: Small Business Owners and civil society organisations, CSOs, have said there is no justification for the proposed further hike in electricity tariffs, following disclosure by the Federal Government on Thursday, February 27, that it is considering increasing tariffs for customers outside the Band-A category to improve the liquidity of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, NESI.

Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who disclosed this at the public presentation of the National Integrated Electricity Policy (NIEP) and Nigeria Integrated Resource Plan (NIRP) in Abuja, said the government can no longer afford the N3 trillion power sector subsidy.

4. Abductors of Makurdi varsity female students demand N40m ransom: Abductors of the female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, JoSTUM, have demanded N40 million ransom to have them released.

A friend of one of the victims disclosed on Thursday, February 27, that “the kidnappers have started contacting the families of the girls for money.”

5. Ramadan: Sultan alerts Muslims on moon, Bauchi, Kebbi schools shut: The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims to look out for the 2025 Ramadan moon from Friday, February 28, 2025.

The Sultan made the call on Thursday, February 27, in a statement signed by the Secretary General of the NSCIA, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.