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

• Bill Gates plans to give away 99% of his fortune
• Nigeria clears IMF debt, joins list of non-debtor nations
• Kano government bans live political shows, restricts media

We have highlighted the five most important developments in the news today, Friday, May 9, and present them below.

5 issues in the news that should matter to you today

1. Bill Gates plans to give away 99% of fortune: The Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, has announced his plan to donate nearly all of his $200 billion fortune, keeping just one per cent for himself. 

In a blog post on Gates Notes, he revealed that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will officially shut down by December 31, 2045. 

2. Nigeria clears IMF debt, joins list of non-debtor nations: Nigeria is no longer among the countries indebted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), having settled its $1.6 billion debt. 

The development places the country alongside nations like Switzerland, Singapore, China, and New Zealand on the IMF’s list of non-debtors. 

According to the IMF's report titled “Total IMF Credit Outstanding: Movement from May 01, 2025 to May 06, 2025”, 91 countries still owe a combined total of over $117 billion. As of May 6, 2025, Nigeria is no longer one of them.

3. Military blames foreign herders for killings in Benue, Plateau: The Defence Headquarters has linked recent violent attacks in Benue, Plateau, and nearby states to foreign herders crossing into Nigeria through poorly secured borders. 

Major General Markus Kangye, the Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja. 

He said linguistic and physical evidence indicates that many of the perpetrators are not Nigerian citizens, suggesting external involvement in the ongoing violence.

4. Kano government bans live political shows, restricts media: In a controversial move, the Kano State Government has banned all live political programmes on television and radio, citing the need to prevent “provocative” content. 

Journalists have also been warned against asking sensitive political questions during interviews. 

The announcement came after a meeting with media executives and was detailed in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, and signed by the Ministry’s Director of Special Duties, Sani Abba Yola.

5. Fuel marketers caution against sudden import ban: Petroleum marketers have urged the Federal Government to reconsider its plan to ban fuel importation, warning that Nigeria’s current refining capacity cannot meet local demand. 

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) said an abrupt ban could lead to fuel scarcity and soaring prices. 

This comes after President Tinubu’s directive under the “Nigeria First Policy” mandating that foreign procurement must be justified and approved with a waiver from the Bureau of Public Procurement.