Day: December 31, 2025

National Assembly releases signed Tax Bills, addresses gazetting discrepancies

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Assembly has moved to quell public concerns over alleged discrepancies between its official Votes and Proceedings and the gazetted versions of recently passed Tax Acts. In a decisive transparency push, the Assembly released copies of the transmitted Tax Bills, including pages bearing the President’s signature and certificate of authenticity. In a statement signed by Mr. Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, Director of Information for the Clerk of the National Assembly, the release allowed members of the public to independently examine the documents and verify their contents. Despite heightened public interest,…

NAHCON reinforces strict health screening standards for 2026 Hajj

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Wednesday convened a strategic meeting with State National Medical Team Leaders to strengthen health screening procedures for prospective pilgrims ahead of the upcoming Hajj operations. The meeting, held at the Hajj House Conference Hall in Abuja, focused on ensuring full compliance with medical screening guidelines issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which remain mandatory for all participating countries. In his welcome address, the Chairman of NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Sale Usman, emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s health regulations must strictly guide Nigeria’s Hajj…

Nigeria hits historic AfCFTA milestones in 2025, records multiple continental firsts

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria recorded far-reaching achievements in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement in 2025, emerging as a leading driver of Africa’s trade-led economic integration under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI).The milestones are contained in the Nigeria AfCFTA Achievements Report 2025, released by FMITI and overseen by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, working alongside the Honourable Minister of State, Senator John Enoh with institutional support from the Ministry’s leadership and partners. According to the report, Nigeria’s renewed…

FG dismisses fears over new Tax law, says Bank transfer narrations not under watch

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Government has dismissed public fears surrounding the newly introduced tax reforms, assured Nigerians that bank transfer narrations will not be monitored and personal accounts will not be automatically debited for tax purposes. Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, gave the clarification during an end-of-year programme on Channels Television, amid growing concerns that the reforms could lead to intrusive tracking of citizens’ bank transactions. Oyedele said the government neither intended nor possessed the capacity to monitor individual bank transfers for taxation, stressing…

MURIC urges DSS, Police to arrest man over alleged incitement against Igbo muslims

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute a man identified as Maazi Kanayo over an alleged audio message inciting violence against Igbo Muslims in South Eastern Nigeria. In a press statement issued on Wednesday, 31 December 2025, the faith-based human rights organisation said it was in possession of a viral audio recording in which the individual allegedly urged members of the public to target Igbo Muslims in parts of the South East. The statement, signed by MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor…

Attack on Kwara Women Protesters: MURIC demands arrest, prosecution of perpetrators

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Kwara State Chapter, has raised serious alarm over the violent attack on women from Oke-Odo community, Ifelodun Local Government Area, who were peacefully protesting at the Kwara State Government House over the growing menace of kidnapping in their area. MURIC said the women were lawfully exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly when their protest was allegedly disrupted by hired thugs, describing the incident as an unacceptable assault on unarmed citizens, particularly women. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the faith-based…

2026 will be year of renewed hope, national stability — Akpabio

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, has expressed optimism that 2026 will usher in renewed hope and steady national progress, anchored on institutional responsibility, legislative diligence, and collective national resolve. In his New Year message to Nigerians, Senator Akpabio commended the resilience and civic maturity of citizens despite prevailing socio-economic challenges, while reaffirming the Senate’s commitment to democratic stability, accountability, and national development. The message, signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, noted that the National Assembly particularly the Senate remained central…

Atiku lacks power to nullify Tax laws – TMSG

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has dismissed calls by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the suspension of the new tax laws, insisting that he neither has the authority nor the constitutional standing to declare the Acts a nullity. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, the group said Atiku’s demand that the January 1, 2026 commencement date of the tax reforms be suspended over alleged alterations to some provisions was legally unfounded. TMSG stressed that only the National Assembly is empowered to…

JUST IN: Peter Obi defects to ADC ahead of 2027 Election

Emporium Reporters

Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signalled a major realignment within Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election. Obi announced his defection on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, in Enugu, saying the move was driven by a shared commitment to “rescue” and transform Nigeria through a broad-based coalition of opposition leaders. “We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi declared. He added that the…

Nigerian Military crushes Terror Kingpins, rescues over 2,300 Hostages, foils ₦8.9bn Oil Theft in 2025

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian military recorded sweeping operational victories across the country in 2025, neutralised notorious terrorist kingpins, arrested thousands of criminal suspects, rescued more than 2,300 kidnapped victims and disrupted oil theft worth over ₦8.9 billion. The achievements were outlined in a comprehensive end-of-year operational media briefing held at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, on December 31, 2025. According to the DHQ, Nigerian troops, operating jointly with other security agencies, sustained intense kinetic and non-kinetic operations nationwide to counter terrorism, insurgency,…