The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Fed Govt unveils measures to curb exam malpractices

    Fed Govt unveils measures to curb exam malpractices

    The Federal Government has announced new measures to curb malpractices during the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.

    Among the modalities announced by Education Minister Tunji Alausa and Minister of State for Education Suwaiba Ahmed is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation mechanisms.

    The government said the measures are part of ongoing reforms to strengthen credibility, transparency, and public confidence in the examination assessment system.

    Alausa and Ahmed said in a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Press and Public Relations Director in the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, that the government was intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to safeguard the integrity of national examinations.

    They explained that while all candidates will answer the same examination questions, the sequencing and arrangement will differ for each candidate.

    Read Also: Coalition decries legislative interference in exam bodies affairs

    This, according to them, will ensure that every student writes a unique version of the examination and hence a reduction in the chances of collusion.

    They also reaffirmed the ministry’s strict policy prohibiting the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level.

    The ministers said the prohibition, already communicated through an official circular, will be rigorously enforced to prevent last-minute school changes often associated with examination malpractice.

    The statement reads: “To further ensure transparency, new national Continuous Assessment(CA) guidelines have been developed for immediate implementation.

    “All examination bodies (WAEC, NECO, NBAIS, etc) must strictly follow the standardised submission deadlines for each academic period.

    “The submission windows are first term CA, January; second term CA, April, and third term CA, August.”

    The statement added : “These timelines are mandatory and designed to ensure consistency, data integrity, and prompt processing of Continuous Assessment records across the country.

    “In addition, the Federal Ministry of Education is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. This identifier will enable effective tracking of learners throughout the examination process, strengthen monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification, and data management.” 

    The ministers assured stakeholders that examination administration will be conducted under strengthened supervision and coordination with relevant examination bodies to ensure strict compliance with established guidelines and ethical standards.

    They emphasised that these measures reflected the Federal Government’s resolve to conduct examinations that are credible, fair, and reflective of global best practices, while addressing Nigeria’s unique educational realities.

    The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents, and candidates to ensure the successful implementation of these strategies and the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations nationwide.

  • NRS chair: Tax reforms will support sustainable growth

    NRS chair: Tax reforms will support sustainable growth

    • ‘Laws not targeted at opposition figures’

    The tax laws that took effect last week will support sustainable development and rapid economic growth, Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), formerly Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has said.

    Speaking on a national television yesterday, Adedeji explained that while tax reform often attracts political commentary, the overriding objective remains the stability of the economy and the development of credible institutions capable of supporting long-term national progress.

    He dismissed fears that the new tax reform framework could be used by the Federal Government to marginalise political opposition or target individuals based on political affiliation.

    Adedeji said the reforms were driven by national interest and institutional accountability.

    He responded to concerns that the new tax regime might be weaponised through selective enforcement or politically motivated scrutiny of tax compliance records.

    He noted that such insinuations were misdirected, stressing that the administration’s approach to tax reform is guided by transparency, due process and a commitment to building strong and credible institutions.

    Addressing a question on whether the reforms could be used to suppress opposition voices, Adedeji said: “We need to commend the courage of Mr. President, that even though there is an election coming, he is courageous enough to continue on this path of statesmanship, not of that of politicians.”

    He explained that it would have been easier politically for the government to avoid far-reaching fiscal and institutional reforms ahead of an election cycle, but the President chose to continue with measures aimed at strengthening the country’s fiscal foundation and improving economic governance.

    Read Also: Stransact, NRS collaborate on new tax law enlightenment

    According to him, the tax reform agenda is focused on correcting structural weaknesses in the system, improving fairness, and creating a simplified and predictable compliance environment that encourages voluntary participation rather than fear or coercion.

    Adedeji said the scepticism expressed in some quarters is influenced by Nigeria’s historical concerns about how public institutions have previously been perceived.

    He maintained that the new framework is being designed to reduce discretion in tax administration and ensure that processes are rule-based.

    He said the NRS was working to institutionalise systems that promote accountability, automation and stronger governance safeguards, so that tax administration is guided by law rather than individual judgment or political influence.

    The NRS Chairman added that the reform journey places strong emphasis on trust between government and taxpayers, noting that confidence grows when citizens are assured that tax policies are not shaped by partisan considerations.

    He said the administration’s approach is centred on expanding growth opportunities, sustainably strengthening public finances and creating a system where citizens can clearly see the relationship between taxes paid and improvements in public services.

    He said the ongoing implementation process will continue through structured phases, with the ultimate goal of building a tax environment that supports investment, protects vulnerable groups and strengthens confidence in public administration, while insulating tax processes from political interference.

  • Tinubu seeks Senate’s confirmation for Abe, Adeniji as NUPRC, NMDPRA board chairmen

    Tinubu seeks Senate’s confirmation for Abe, Adeniji as NUPRC, NMDPRA board chairmen

    • 21 nominees on President’s request list for oil and gas regulators’ boards

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Senator Magnus Abe, and an energy expert, Adegbite Ebiowei Adeniji, as board chairmen of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

    The President also asked the Senate to confirm their appointments.

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President, in two separate letters to the Senate, sought confirmation of 21 nominees to serve on the boards of the two key petroleum-sector regulators established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

    For the NUPRC, President Tinubu nominated Abe, who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District for two terms, as the agency’s board chairman.

    Abe is a former board member of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and currently chairs the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.

    Other nominees for the NUPRC board as non-executive commissioners are: Engineer Paul Yaro Jezhi, a former chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Kaduna State, and Mr. Sunday Adebayo Babalola, a former deputy director of the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    The President also nominated seven executive commissioners for the NUPRC.

    They are: Muhammed Sabo Lamido (Finance); Edu Inyang (Exploration and Acreage); Justin Ezeala (Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning); Henry Darlington Oki (Development and Production); Indabawa Bashari Alka (Corporate Services and Administration); Mahmood Tijani (Health, Safety and Environment); and Ms. Olayemi Adeboyejo as Secretary and Legal Adviser.

    While Lamido and Adeboyejo were first appointed in 2022 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, and Alka in 2023 by President Tinubu, Inyang, Ezeala, Tijani, Babalola, and Jezhi are new nominees.

    In the second letter, the President nominated Adeniji, a lawyer with over 30 years’ experience in energy and natural resources, as chairman of the NMDPRA board.

    Read Also: Wike praises nominations of Abe, Kobani into NUPRC, NMDPRA by Tinubu 

    Adeniji previously served as Special Technical Adviser to the Minister of State for Petroleum on upstream and gas issues and was part of the World Bank Oil and Gas Policy team that advised Nigeria on petroleum-sector reforms.

    He is currently a managing partner at ENR Advisory.

    Also nominated as non-executive members of the NMDPRA board are Chief Kenneth Kobani, a former Minister of State for Trade and ex–Secretary to the Rivers State Government, and Mrs. Asabe Ahmed.

    Other nominees include Abiodun Adeniji (Executive Director, Finance); Francis Ogaree (Executive Director, Hydrocarbon); Oluwole Adama (Executive Director, Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure); and Dr. Mustapha Lamorde (Executive Director, Corporate Services and Administration).

    Additional proposed members are: Yahaya Nasamu Yinusa (Executive Director, Distribution Systems); Adeyemi Murtala Aminu (Executive Director, Corporate Services); Ms Modie Ogechukwu (Executive Director, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning); and Barrister Olawale Dawodu as Board Secretary and Legal Adviser.

    President Tinubu urged the Senate to consider and approve the nominations expeditiously, noting that the requests followed the recent confirmation of the chief executive officers of the two agencies.

    The Senate had confirmed Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as CEO of the NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of the NMDPRA.

    According to the statement, the President urged all appointees and nominees “to discharge their duties and responsibilities professionally as regulators of the oil and gas sectors”.

  • Prof. Aladeitan, Etsu Mohammed, others float pro-democracy group

    Prof. Aladeitan, Etsu Mohammed, others float pro-democracy group

    Prof Lanre Aladeitan has been appointed as the pioneer National Coordinator for the Partners for Democratic Advancement, a socio-political group which promotes civic engagement and constructive support for the reforms of President Bola Tinubu while encouraging unity, accountability, and national development.

    In a statement on Monday, the group’s Director of Communications & Media, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said the decision to appoint Aladeitan as the National Coordinator for the Partners for Democratic Advancement was approved by the group’s highest decision-making organ over the weekend.

    Olajengbesi said the Partners for Democratic Advancement aims to foster collective progress and democratic stability through citizens’ confidence in leadership.

    He said, “The Partners for Democratic Advancement will mobilise professionals and non-partisan Nigerians to carry out objective reviews of government performance and provide constructive support to the present administration;

    “Encourage youth participation in governance through education, advocacy, and community outreach;

    “Provide fact-based public communication that counters misinformation;

    “Strengthen citizen–government engagement by creating platforms for national and community-level dialogue; and

    “Support national unity, peace building, and responsible democratic advocacy.”

    Aladeitan, the group’s pioneer national coordinator, is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public and International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Abuja.

    He is a member of a number of professional bodies among which are the Nigerian Bar Association, The Association of MBA’s, The International Council of Small Businesses and The Debt Recovery Practitioners’ Association of Nigeria, the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators and the Institute of Energy Law.

    Other appointees include Femi Osabinu, Ibrahim Ibrahim, Igwe Umanta (Deputy National Coordinators), Etsu Muhammed (National Secretary), Owobu Godday (Deputy National Secretary), Prof John Onah (Director of Programmes), Komolafe Francis (Deputy Director, Programmes), Yinka Dada (Director, National Mobilisation), Ankeli Echo (Deputy Director, National Mobilisation), Kehinde Ali-Immanuel (Director, Finance), Balaraba Sadaat (Deputy Director, Finance), Farida Jauro (Director, Women Affairs), Chidinma Ogwo (Deputy Director, Women Affairs), Henry Oni Out (Director, Legal Affairs), and Umar Liman (Deputy Director, Legal Affairs).

  • 2027: Reps deputy speaker urges Igbo to invest votes in Tinubu, build strategic alliances

    2027: Reps deputy speaker urges Igbo to invest votes in Tinubu, build strategic alliances

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged the Igbo nation to strategically invest their votes in the 2027 general elections by delivering massive support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Kalu said the era of the South East “wasting votes” to make political statements that yield no tangible benefits for the region should end, stressing that such an approach does not serve the long-term interests of the Igbo people.

    According to him, rather than dispersing votes in unprofitable political directions, the region should rally behind President Tinubu in 2027 as part of a broader strategy to secure relevance and influence at the national level.

    He called on political leaders and stakeholders in the South East to begin building alliances that would translate into concrete political gains, warning against sentiment-driven decisions that weaken the region’s bargaining power.

    The Deputy Speaker spoke during visits to leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the three senatorial zones of Abia State, including former governors Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Senator John Bob Nwannunu, as well as former Managing Director of the defunct Hallmark Bank, Sir Mac Wabara.

    Kalu reiterated President Tinubu’s directive to APC leaders to intensify engagement with party stakeholders, promote unity and cohesion, and pursue reconciliation, while also checking on party leaders across the country.

    He said the President’s message was unambiguous, noting that leaders at all levels must reach out to one another, set aside divisive tendencies and work collectively to build a stronger and more united party and nation.

    According to him, the current period offers an opportunity for reflection, reconciliation and renewed commitment to the ideals of unity and inclusive governance.

    On the broader national political landscape, Kalu urged the Igbo to adopt a pragmatic approach to politics, insisting that votes should be invested where they can yield returns, not wasted.

    He argued that the most viable path to the eventual emergence of an Igbo president lies in building strong political alliances, particularly by supporting the South West at this time, saying such strategic cooperation would foster trust, inclusion and reciprocity within Nigeria’s political system.

    Kalu reaffirmed his commitment to President Tinubu’s vision, party unity and the advancement of the South East within the national political framework, assuring stakeholders of his continued dedication to effective representation and inclusive governance.

    Kalu charged party stakeholders to immediately intensify grassroots mobilization and strategic engagement to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the 2027 general elections.

    He declared that the era of merely negotiating for 25 percent votes for the President in Abia State is over, stressing that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state now has the structure, momentum and political capital to deliver outright victory. 

    Kalu expressed confidence that with growing grassroots support and renewed unity among stakeholders, Abia APC is fully positioned to win the state convincingly for President Bola Tinubu in future elections.

    The Deputy Speaker said, “I want us to remember that this President has shown leadership. The policies were tough, but the President was steadfast, courageous in his policies. He defended those policies, stood by them, today we have started benefiting from those policies. 

    “So, any man who did this is supposed to be praised, and I am happy that it is the government of APC that made this happen. Igbo’s, let us invest our votes. Igbo’s, let us not waste our votes. The time of wasting our votes just to prove a point, sentimental point is gone. What you play politics with is numbers, not how sentimental you were.

    “If you carry your vote and dump it where it does not count toward success, you have wasted your opportunity to go to the negotiation table and ask for what you have invested in. Why do we ask for dividends if we have not made any investments? There is no company in this world that will pay you dividends when you have not made any investments. 

    “The time of the investment has come, in the next few months we’ll be expected to make investments. Are we going to make investments or are we going to waste investments? The vote we have in our hands is the currency for investments.

    “When the time comes, I plead with Igbos; let your votes count, not because it is not going to be counted, or because it was given where it would not drive success, know that as it is today, in the political calculation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is where we will invest our votes and it will count. 

    “That’s the truth, let’s keep sentiments aside, let’s forget emotions. He’s from the south, the southern political corridor must stay united, it must be consolidated, so that we will be seen as standing as one. Any attempt to use any sentiments to break us, and then the south east will go with a paltry sum of votes, whereas it will swing the way that we don’t want and this thing might go back to where it’s coming from. 

    “It’s not what we should encourage as leaders in Igbo land. We should invest our votes. We are investing it because truly these two years that the president has been in office, he has proven that he wants to work with the Igbo’s. He has proven that there is no discrimination in the allocation of projects, in the setting of projects. We may not have it all done at the same time but there is a political will to do the first thing. He’s a listening president, I beg of you let us stand by him, and his current policies.”

    The elder statesmen, in their separate remarks, commended the Deputy Speaker for his impressive performance at the National Assembly, describing his interventions and contributions as impactful and people-oriented. 

    They lauded his decision to present his two-year scorecard for open critique, noting that it reflected transparency, humility and a commitment to effective representation.

    They assured him of their continued support and pledged to work collectively to strengthen party structures and mobilize grassroots support to ensure resounding victory for the party at the polls come 2027.

  • Avoid divisive politics, align with Tinubu, APC forum advises Muftwang

    Avoid divisive politics, align with Tinubu, APC forum advises Muftwang

    The North Central All Progressives Congress (NC APC) Forum has called on Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang to jettison divisive political tendencies and align his administration with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, following his recent defection to the ruling party.

    The Forum said Muftwang’s entry into the APC must signal a clear break from policies and influences that promote ethnic or religious division, urging him to adopt inclusive governance and work closely with the Federal Government to address Plateau State’s security and development challenges.

    The Forum, in a statement issued on Monday by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, said the admonition had become imperative as Governor Caleb Muftwang’s defection provides a fresh opportunity for him to reposition his administration on the principles of unity, fairness and development, while deliberately distancing himself from individuals whose actions, it said, had previously fuelled division in the state.

    Zazzaga, a member of the APC campaign council during the 2023 general election, noted that the Forum, which comprises APC stakeholders from the six North Central states, is well placed to offer such advice, having actively championed Muftwang’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the APC. 

    He added that the Forum believed the governor’s leadership capacity would be better harnessed within the ruling party, stressing that his defection was in the overall interest of Plateau State and the North Central region.

    The Forum noted that during Muftwang’s time in the PDP, some officials around his administration were perceived to be advancing narrow interests that undermined cohesion in the state. 

    It said one of the motivations behind its campaign for his defection was to see him operate within a political environment that discourages such tendencies.

    It urged the governor to be deliberate in selecting his team and to work only with individuals genuinely committed to the development and stability of Plateau State.

    The APC group also called on Muftwang to govern as a leader for all citizens of the state, stressing that no community or group should feel excluded from governance or denied access to the dividends of democracy.

    On security, the Forum advised the governor to strengthen cooperation with President Tinubu and relevant federal security agencies, noting that closer alignment with the centre would improve coordination and response to the security challenges confronting Plateau State.

    It said working closely with the President would also enable the state to benefit more effectively from federal interventions and development programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Beyond policy direction, the Forum urged Muftwang to assert firm control over his administration and resist undue influence from political godfathers or individuals seeking to exert control over government decisions.

    Read Also: ALGON, APC raise alarm over alleged plot to stall governance at Osun LGAs 

    It said the governor’s defection to the APC should mark a turning point that allows him to govern with confidence and independence, free from external pressures that could undermine service delivery.

    The Forum disclosed that it faced intimidation and resistance while campaigning for Muftwang’s defection, particularly from individuals who feared that his move would affect their political ambitions. Despite this, it said it remained resolute because of its confidence in the governor’s leadership qualities.

    It expressed optimism that Muftwang’s presence in the APC would strengthen the party in Plateau State and contribute significantly to its electoral fortunes in the North Central ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The Forum recalled that it was among the first political groups to endorse President Tinubu for a second term, adding that its support for Muftwang’s defection was also informed by its commitment to consolidating APC support across the region.

    It said the governor’s popularity and political base in Plateau State would be crucial to advancing the party’s objectives and delivering stability, unity and development to the people.

  • Toyin Abraham’s ‘Oversabi Aunty’ hits N711 million in 18 days

    Toyin Abraham’s ‘Oversabi Aunty’ hits N711 million in 18 days

    Actress Toyin Abraham‘s directorial debut, “Oversabi Aunty,” has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming fourth hightest grossing Nollywood film of all time in West Africa with a box office earnings of over N711million in 18 days.

    The film distributor, FilmOne wrote on Instagram: “West Africa, you showed up and showed out in an Oversabi way. Thank you for the love.

    “In just 18 days, Oversabi Aunty grossed N711.5M, making it the 4th Highest Nollywood Film of all time in West Africa. Thank you to everyone for the love and support so far. This win is for all of us.”

    The film tells the story of a well-meaning but overly involved aunty who tries to fix everyone’s problems, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and touching revelations.

    The film’s advanced screening on December 18 generated significant buzz among audiences, paving the way for its nationwide release on December 19.

    The film boasts an all-star cast, including Mike Ezuruonye, Efe Irele, and Enioluwa Adeoluwa, among others.

    Abraham expressed her gratitude to fans, thanking them for their love and support.

    In a post on social media, Abraham wrote, “I may not have the perfect words, but my heart is full. Thank You, Lord and thank you to every single person watching and supporting Oversabi Aunty.I am deeply grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  • ALGON, APC raise alarm over alleged plot to stall governance at Osun LGAs 

    ALGON, APC raise alarm over alleged plot to stall governance at Osun LGAs 

    The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun State and the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday raised the alarm over alleged plots to stall governance at the local government areas of the state. 

    This is just as APC alleged that despite Supreme and Appeal Court verdicts which backed the reinstated executives, Osun State Government has concluded plan to procure order from Federal High Court and Magistrate to stall governance at the grassroots levels. 

    The Nation recalled that amid the control crisis between council executives of APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), several court verdicts and cases set room for confusion as to decided who is legally backed by the law to be in-charge of LGAs. 

    Meanwhile, executives of APC have been at councils since February 2025 and LGA workers who backed PDP excos later resumed duties on Monday. 

    Addressing newsmen at APC State Secretariat, ALGON chairman, Abiodun Idowu, blamed Osun State Government for defiance to apex court verdicts on the legitimate excos of the council.

    Idowu who is the Ifedayo Council chairman, said “Procurement of court order everywhere every time is an impediment to the development in Osun State m,it has caused us a lot of damages. We, local government chairmen cannot function under that process, they have gone to several High Court within and outside Osun State. 

    “We are over overhearing now that ,they are still going to Magistrate Court, I wonder after we have go to several courts all to Supreme Court, they are now reversing to Magistrate Court.This is just an attempt to to stop development in Osun State.”

    Read Also: APC, ALGON slam NULGE over demands

    Also, APC through its Director of Media, Chief Kola Olabisi urged the National Judicial Council(NJC) to treat petition filed against some judges over their conducts in granting orders. 

    “The entire judiciary of the country is further humbly notified that the judgments in Appeal No: CA/AK/15/2025 and the Supreme Court Suit No. SC/CV/773/2025 have jointly put to rest any purported claim of the Osun State Government over the Local Government Council allocations and subsistence of office of the APC Chairmen and Councillors. 

    “This is against the background of the latest self-deceit of the Osun State Government which has returned again to the Federal High Court and the Magistrate Court in Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/291/2025 and Charge No. MOS/601C/2025> respectively over the same subject matter already settled by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.”

    Efforts to get reaction from Osun State Government was abortive as the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi did not respond to calls and text sent to his phone as at the time of filing this report. 

  • 2026 budget planned to solidify Tinibu’s achievements – Information Minister

    2026 budget planned to solidify Tinibu’s achievements – Information Minister

    …says Tinubu’s reforms yielding results 

    The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the 2026 budget is planned to solidify the gains of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms.

    Idris maintained that various reforms are already  yielding positive results.

    The minister was said to have stated this in an op-ed published on Monday in newspapers, titled “A Defining Moment for Nigeria: Why Staying the Course Matters.”

    He stated, “Our ‘Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity’ is critical. It is a commitment to double down on what is working, to solidify gains, and to ensure that the shared prosperity we speak of becomes a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster.”  

    The Minister noted that the last 31 months have been a period of difficult but necessary change, beginning with key economic decisions taken to end long-standing stagnation and build a more stable future. 

     He said signs of progress are beginning to emerge, with business activity expanding, investor confidence improving, inflation easing, and Nigeria’s external reserves strengthening. “These are not just numbers,” the Minister said. “They are the foundation for lasting improvement in the daily lives of Nigerians.”

    Beyond economic indicators, the Minister emphasised the importance of trust and clear communication between the government and its citizens. He reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that Nigerians are kept informed about government actions, challenges, and progress.

    The Minister highlighted several interventions designed to directly impact lives, including the student loan programme (NELFUND), the Presidential CNG initiative to reduce transport costs, and youth-focused programmes such as LEEP, the Jubilee Fellows Programme, and the 3MTT initiative. He also noted ongoing efforts to tackle food insecurity through the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture and expanded mechanisation.

    On infrastructure, he noted major projects such as the Coastal Highway, the Sokoto–Badagry Expressway, the AKK Gas Pipeline, and new rail developments aimed at reducing costs and enhancing national connectivity.

    Read Also: U.S. precision air strike in Sokoto approved by Tinubu – Information Minister

    Addressing security, the Minister said the government is strengthening recruitment, equipment, and international cooperation. He cited the recent rescue of abducted students in Kebbi and Niger States as evidence of renewed focus and commitment.

    He acknowledged the fatigue many Nigerians feel and assured them that the government is committed to accelerating the delivery of relief through ongoing reforms. He urged Nigerians to see nation-building as a shared responsibility, urging citizens to engage constructively, protect public assets, and reject misinformation. 

    He praised President Tinubu for his calm and decisive leadership, noting that recent engagements with the United States helped strengthen bilateral relations and Nigeria’s anti-insurgency efforts. As the new year begins, the Minister urged Nigerians to stay focused on the future. “We have laid a new foundation,” he said. “Now, we must build the house together.”

  • Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

    Court grants EFCC’s request for interim forfeiture of N30.7m linked to alleged fraud in NNPC 

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order granting an  interim forfeiture of of N30,700, 000.00 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed was associated with an alleged fraud perpetrated by some senior officiala of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion, marked:FHC/ABJ/CS/2775/2025, filed by the EFCC and moved last Friday by its lawyer, Emenike Mgbemele.

    Justice Nwite held, in the ruling, that having considered all the material evidence placed before the court by the applicant, the application was meritorious and ought to be granted.

    The judge ordered the EFCC to publish the interim order of forfeiture in a national daily for interested persons to show cause, within 14 days, why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    He then adjourned till January 22 for the EFCC to report its compliance with the order for publication.

    The EFCC, in a supporting affidavit, said the funds are currently lodged in EFCC’s Recovery Account with United Bank for Africa (UBA) in account number: 9058700029 with manager’s cheque name: M/C Draft Outstanding Account, be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    It stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the funds were discoverd while investigating allegations of fraudulent activities of some high profile officials of the NNPC as well as other criminal petitions brought to the commission.

    The EFCC added: “In the cause of investigation and analysing some of the documents received from the bank, the name of Mr. Adamu Yakubu, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, featured prominently.

    “On September 2, 2025, Mr. Yakubu, whose name featured in the cause of investigation, was invited and he volunteered his statement.

    “Mr Yakubu submitted a ledger to the commission evidencing records of his transactions wherein the details of customers and the amount of dollars sold by them are recorded.

    “Upon analysing the entering in the ledger submitted by Mr Yakubu, it was revealed that over N4, 000, 000, 000.00 (Four Billion Naira) was transferred to the accounts of different individuals and companies on the instruction of one Mr. Ibrahim Sani, a staff of Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).

    “It was discovered that the balance of N30.7 million sought to be forfeited was still in possession of Yakubu from the funds which he claimed was given to him by Mr Ibrahim Sani.

    “On the 15th day of September 2025, Mr. Ibrahim Sani, a staff of FIRS, whose name appeared on the ledger and who Mr Yakubu claimed owned the N30, 700, OOO (Thirty Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only) was invited and he volunteered his statement.

    “Mr. Ibrahim Sani gave statement on how he had been using Yakubu, the BDC operator, to be sending monies to different individuals and companies.

    “Mr.Ibrahim equally confirmed how he usually deposit huge amount of money (Dollars) with Mr Yakubu who in turn sends its naira equivalent to individuals and companies accounts provided by him.

    “Mr. Ibrahim neither ascertained nor verified the source of these monies, which he has been depositing with Mr. Yakubu for onward transfer to other people, which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

    Read Also: Court declines bail to Bauchi finance commissioner, others accused of financing terrorism with $9.7m

    “Mr. Ibrahim, however, denied ownership of the N30.7 million found in Yakubu’s account as at the time of making his statement.”

    The EFCC further stated that Ibrahim claimed that Yakubu was not holding any of his money as at September 15, 2025.

    It added that Yakubu and Ibrahim denied ownership of the said N30.7 million found in the account of the former (Yakubu).

    The EFCC stated Mr. Yakubu has since raised four different managers’ cheques in the name of the EFCC Recovery Account in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    It added  that the source of the funds sought to be forfeited in the account of Mr. Yakubu “is proceeds of unlawful activities.”