Category: Breaking News

JUST IN::Tinubu declares State of Emergency in Rivers, suspends Gov Fubara, Deputy , Assembly members for Six Months

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State for six months, citing prolonged political unrest and governance paralysis. The announcement was made during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday.   As part of the emergency measures, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been suspended. President Tinubu has appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state administrator to oversee governance during this period.   The President, invoking Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, explained…

JUST IN: Wike revokes PDP’s New Secretariat Land

Emporium Reporters

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land allocation for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) proposed new national secretariat in the Central Area of Abuja.   In a statement issued by the FCT Administration, the revocation was attributed to “inconsistent documentation and non-compliance with regulatory procedures.” The statement emphasized that the decision was in line with Wike’s commitment to transparency and enforcement of land-use policies in the capital city.   “The decision was taken in the interest of the public good and to uphold…

BREAKING: House of Reps Passes Four Tax Reform Bills Amid Controversy

Emporium Reporters

The House of Representatives has passed four major tax reform bills for the third reading, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s fiscal policy overhaul.   The bills, which included the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill 2024, Nigeria Revenue Service Bill 2024, and the Joint Revenue Board Tax Bill 2024, were transmitted to the National Assembly in October 2024.   The passage followed the approval of the report by the House Committee on Finance, which reviewed submissions from stakeholders, despite opposition from Northern leaders, the Nigeria Governors Forum,…

BREAKING: Former Presidential Aide Doyin Okupe Dies at 72 After Battle with Cancer

Emporium Reporters

Dr. Doyin Okupe, former presidential aide to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, has died at the age of 72.   Okupe, a prominent physician and politician, passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer. Family sources confirmed that he had been seriously ill in recent weeks.   The former Labour Party chieftain and ally of Peter Obi was first diagnosed with prostate cancer 16 years ago and later developed sarcoma in his right shoulder. Despite receiving treatment in Israel in 2023, his health deteriorated.   Okupe’s death marks the…

JUST IN: Senate suspends Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over alleged misconduct

Emporium Reporters

The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months following allegations of misconduct and violation of parliamentary rules.   The decision was reached on Thursday, March 6, 2025, after the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions presented its findings.   The suspension came after a heated confrontation in the Senate chamber where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan protested the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.   During the session, Akpoti-Uduaghan raised her voice, demanding an explanation for the removal of her nameplate and seat reassignment. The…

JUST IN: Dangote Refinery reduces petrol price to N825 per litre

Emporium Reporters

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a reduction in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from N890 to N825 per litre, effective February 27, 2025. The refinery stated that the price adjustment aimed to ease the financial burden on Nigerians, particularly as the country prepares for the upcoming Ramadan season. It also aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic recovery efforts. This marks the second price reduction in February 2025, following an earlier N60 slash at the beginning of the month. In December 2024, Dangote…

JUST IN: Nigeria Customs suspends implementation of 4% FOB charge

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the suspension of the implementation of the 4% Free-on-Board (FOB) charge on imports, as stipulated in Section 18(1)(a) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023. The decision followed ongoing consultations with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun, and other key stakeholders.   In a statement released by the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS stated that the suspension will allow for comprehensive stakeholder engagement to fine-tune the Act’s…

JUST IN : Tinubu increases 2025 Budget to N54.2 Trillion

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Tinubu has announced a significant increase in the proposed 2025 national budget, raised it from N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion. The revised figure, reflected an additional N4.5 trillion in revenue, included contributions from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigeria Customs Service, and other government-owned agencies.   The president explained that the increased revenue would be used to bolster key sectors, including the Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industry, and support Nigeria’s diversification agenda. Investments are set to focus on the solid minerals sector and…

JUST IN : NLC suspends planned protest over Telecom Tariff hike

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its planned protest against the recent 50% hike in telecommunication tariffs following a meeting with a delegation from the Federal Government led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.   The meeting, held on Monday, was aimed at maintaining industrial harmony and addressing public concerns over the tariff increase. According to a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the SGF’s office, Segun Imohiosen, both parties agreed to set up a 10-man committee comprising…

JUST IN: NLC declares Nationwide protest over 50% Telecom Tariff Hike

Emporium Reporters

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide protest against the recent 50% increase in telecommunication tariffs, approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025.   The protest is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, as stated in a communiqué issued after the NLC’s National Administrative Council meeting held on Wednesday.   The NCC’s approval for telecom companies to increase service charges has sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians, with the NLC describing the hike as “anti-people and unacceptable.”   In a strong reaction,…