Five things to know to start your Saturday

Trump and Zelenskiy’s meeting turned into an open clash

A heated argument erupted in the Oval Office Friday when President Donald Trump harshly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, highlighting serious concerns about future American support for Ukraine.

This confrontation was unprecedented – no American president has ever publicly attacked a visiting foreign leader this way. The meeting quickly led to a breakdown in relations between Washington and Kyiv, with Trump even threatening to abandon support for Ukraine altogether.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance loudly accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for American aid and blamed him for preventing peace with Russia. After the argument, Zelensky was essentially forced to leave the White House, looking visibly upset.

During their exchange, Trump told Zelensky: “You’re right now, not really in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position,” Trump told the Ukrainian president. “You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”

“I’m not playing cards,” Zelensky said.

Raising his voice, after more back-and-forth, Trump said, “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”

Trump will host a crypto summit at the White House next Friday

President Donald Trump will lead the White House’s first cryptocurrency summit next Friday, showing his growing support for the industry.

Trump will speak at this event that “will include prominent founders, CEOs, and investors from the crypto industry, as well as members of the president’s Working Group on Digital Assets,” according to a White House statement released Friday night.

Venture capitalist and White House crypto czar David Sacks will lead the summit, with working group executive director Bo Hines managing the event.

Read Also: Israel ceasefire, Ukraine peace, trade top talks as Starmer meets Trump

Banks will start N100 ATM charges today

Commercial banks across Nigeria will begin charging N100 for certain ATM transactions starting today (Saturday), following new guidelines from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The CBN issued these revised ATM transaction fees in a circular dated February 10, 2025.

Under the new fee structure, withdrawals from your own bank’s ATMs will remain free. However, using another bank’s ATM will cost N100 per withdrawal of N20,000 or less at on-site ATMs (those located at bank branches). Off-site ATMs (located in places like shopping malls, gas stations, and other public areas) will have an additional charge of up to N500 per transaction. For international ATM withdrawals, charges will be based on cost recovery, meaning customers will pay whatever fee the international bank charges.

Notably, the CBN has clarified that Nigerians withdrawing less than N20,000 from another bank’s ATM will be charged a fee of N100 per transaction.

President Tinubu signed the N54.99tn 2025 budget into law

President Bola Tinubu signed the N54.99tn 2025 Appropriation Bill into law on Friday during a small ceremony at the State House in Abuja.

He commended the joint efforts of his administration and Nigerians, noting that their work was producing positive outcomes despite the challenging beginning when he took office in 2023.

The two chambers of the National Assembly passed the bill on February 13, following Tinubu’s request to increase the budget from his original proposal of N49.7tn made months earlier.

The National Assembly approved a N54.99tn ($36.6bn) budget for the fiscal year, which exceeded President Bola Tinubu’s more recent proposal of N54.2tn.

Tinubu explained that the increase was due to additional expected revenues from agencies including the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.

The extra revenue included N1.4tn from the FIRS, N1.2tn from the Nigeria Customs Service, and N1.8tn from other agencies.

Northern governors are shutting down schools for Ramadan

Bauchi State recently announced a scheduled term break that aligns with the beginning of Ramadan.

According to the 2024/2025 academic calendar signed by state Education Commissioner Fatima Musa, the “Approved School Calendar” indicates that the holiday will start on March 1 and end on April 5, creating a five-week break.

The education ministries in Kebbi and Kano states have also requested school closures during the holy month. According to their revised 2024/2025 academic calendars reviewed by our correspondent, the second term will end on February 28, 2025, with the Ramadan break starting on March 1, 2025.

According to a report by The Punch, a ministry source revealed that the Sokoto State government is considering closing schools during the holy month.

“We are considering it, but it may only be for two weeks so students and teachers can concentrate on their studies while they fast,” the source said.