Donald Trump said tariffs of 25 per cent on products from Canada and Mexico could be introduced as early as February, hours after taking office as US president on Monday.

Speaking at the White House while signing various orders shortly after his inauguration, Trump said, “We’re thinking in terms of 25 per cent on Mexico and Canada, because they’re allowing vast number of people … to come in.”

“I think we’ll do it Feb. 1,” Trump added, referring to the potential start date for the tariffs.

Earlier on Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump did not intend to impose tariffs on trading partners like Canada, Mexico, and China.

Instead, he planned to instruct the authorities to assess trade relations with China and its neighbours on the North American continent, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a summary of a planned memorandum and Trump’s advisers.

Shortly after winning the election in November, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China.

There are also fears in the EU that Trump could impose new tariffs.

Tariffs are a type of surcharge on imported goods. They are paid as goods enter the country.

Trump imposed a range of tariffs on imported goods during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021.

Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd) has inaugurated the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) museum and science library named in his honour in the FCT.

Located at Wasa District Cadastral Zone, Apo FCT, the science and museum complex occupies 4.18 hectares.

The architectural plan of the complex consisted of a pierce, science museum and library complex, an administrative block, a conference centre with comprehensive conference facilities and a guest house.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Danjuma funded the construction of the science museum and library.

The retired general, while speaking at the commissioning, said that asides erecting a building, the museum needed to be equipped with facilities deserving of a museum.

“You need to have regular correspondence between the academy of science and prospective donors to know how you are progressing and to ensure you have what makes the building a museum.

“With the deployment of science and technology, it is possible to access things we don’t have here, and to do that you need money and sustenance for regular correspondence,” he said.

Danjuma pledged to lend his voice in spreading the needs of the science community for availability of funds.

He stated that science was the bedrock of development for any nation.

Mrs Esuabana Nko-Asanye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, said the establishment of the science museum would serve as a heritage for generations.

“With this, I am certain that our research, development and innovation is going to be documented for the next generation of Nigerian children to have what they can fall back on to report on science.

“They can have what it takes to develop research, to come up with patents that we can expand our scope to commercialise and not just resting on the shelves.

“This is the foundation of all that, all our laboratories are now going to key in through this so that we have most of the things we need to train our children from kindergarten up to tertiary as scientists, innovators, and inventors,” she said.

Prof. Ekanem Braide, President of NAS, said the building plan was approved after some delay by Development Control in October 2023 and the building contract awarded in November 2023.

Braide stated that the museum would serve as a useful resource for inspiring and strengthening Science, Technology,Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education.

“The museum will also showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and civilisation that can produce cross-cultural understanding.

“It will be a source of knowledge and inspiration, while management of the museum will continue to collect, preserve, interpret and display objects of artistic, cultural and scientific significance for the education of the public, particularly students.

“The library will provide access to authentic and reliable information required to support learning and development, it will house all sections in an ideal library, including an e- section and a repository,” Braide stated.

The president said they would continue to promote both local and international collaborations among researchers, government, industries and communities for national development.

Prof. Mahouton Hounkonno, President, Network of African Science Academies (NASAC), said the museum represented the interface between the science community and the general community.

According to him, it is a meeting point where ideas are nurtured and curiosity transformed into discovery.

‘”As Africa faces unprecedented challenges from climate change, to technological adaptation, spaces like this become beacons of hope fostering education and system engagement.

“Science does not exist in isolation, it thrives in the lives of the people it tends to outlive.

“This museum will not only preserve the heritage of Nigerian science, but also inspire the next generation of innovators and problem solvers who will continue to shape the future of the nation and continent at large.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, on Monday, promised to construct more road infrastructure in area councils across the territory.

Wike made the promise while inaugurating the five-kilometre Naharati – River Ukya – Uguwan Hausawa access road in Abaji, Abaji Area Council of the FCT.

He explained that the measure was part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment for a dual development of Abuja city and satellite towns.

“I have told everybody who cares to listen that while we are developing the city, we are also developing the satellite towns.

“Throughout this week, from today to Friday, we have dedicated ourselves to inauguration of projects in the six area councils,” he said.

He assured residents of Abaji of additional road project, adding that funds have been earmarked in the FCT Administration’s 2025 budget.

He said that construction of the Naharati – River Ukya – Uguwan Hausawa access road was in fulfilment of the promise made to the residents of Abaji in late 2023.

He added that the request for two additional Police Divisions to beef up security in Abaji would be completed and inaugurated in a few months’ time.

The Minister also pointed out that construction was ongoing at the FCT University of Science and Technology, Abaji, as promised to the people.

He thanked the Abaji Traditional Council for conferring on him the traditional title of “Hasken Abaji”, meaning The Light of Abaji.

Dedicating the title to Tinubu, the minister described the President as the “light of Nigeria” due to his life-impacting programmes and people oriented projects.

Wike promised that more projects would be inaugurated in May to celebrate Tinubu’s second year in office.

Earlier, the Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department, Mr Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, said that the project aligned with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Zulkiflu added that the project was also part of Wike’s commitments to create an enabling environment and improved standard of living for people in satellite towns and area councils.

He said that road would create job opportunities, facilitate the transportation of goods and services, enhance the movement of farm produce, reduce traveling time and curb rural urban migration.

“Today we celebrate more than just the completion of the road; we honour unity, development, improved connectivity, community harmony and a promising future for the residents of Abaji Area Council,” he said.

Chairman of the council, Mr Abubakar Abdullahi, thanked Wike for the commitment to develop all area councils of the FCT.

Abdullahi said that besides the socio-economic impact, the road had connected residents of Naharati with Abaji town for the first time.

He added that following Wike’s footsteps, the council had completed the construction of an 80-bed hospital in Abaji to cater for the health needs of the residents.

He added that the council was equally building a 750-capacity ultra-model information and communication technology centre in Abaji.

“This is part of efforts to invest in human capital development for the long term benefit of the council.