Author: Damilola

Goals from Semi Ajayi and Ademola Lookman earned Super Eagles of Nigeria three points in a closely contested Group C fixture against Tanzania at the Complexe Sportif de Fès on Tuesday. The match was Super Eagles’ opener in Group C at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign. While the Tanzania team put up a spirited fight, it failed to secure a result against the three-time champions. Nigeria asserted early dominance and nearly took the lead when Akor Adams’ powerful header struck the crossbar. Ademola Lookman also came close midway through the first half, but his 26th-minute effort…

The Senate on Tuesday advanced President Bola Tinubu’s N58.47 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill, approving the Bill at second reading after an extensive debate on the floor. The Bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator representing Ekiti Central, is formally titled “A Bill for an Act to Authorise the Issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N58,472,628,944,759 for the services of the Federation for the year ending 31st December, 2026.” Opening the debate, Bamidele explained that the Appropriation Bill provides the legal backing for implementing the Policy direction outlined by President Tinubu in the…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declined to recognise the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki, citing existing court rulings and unresolved legal disputes. In a letter dated December 22, 2025, and signed by its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the commission explained that it received multiple requests from lawyers representing the PDP, urging it to recognise and upload on its website the list of national officers purportedly elected at the party’s National Convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. INEC said it carefully examined the requests…

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has clarified that the National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission will automatically function as the Tax Identification Number (TIN) for individual Nigerians under the country’s new tax framework. The clarification was issued on Monday through a public awareness campaign shared on the FIRS’ official X handle, following widespread concerns over provisions in the new tax laws. According to the Service, registered businesses will also no longer need a separate TIN, as their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration number will now serve as their official tax identifier. The explanation comes…

The attack by the gunmen in Plateau was said to have taken place around 8pm, when the travellers were ambushed at the outskirts of the community.

The Federal Government (FG) has formally classified kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, a move that significantly toughens Nigeria’s response to abductions, attacks on farmers, and community violence. The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during the end-of-year press briefing, marking a clear departure from treating mass kidnappings and rural attacks as conventional criminal offences. According to Idris, the new designation brings such crimes fully under Nigeria’s counterterrorism framework, allowing security agencies to act more swiftly and decisively. “Henceforth, any armed group or individual that kidnaps our children, attacks our farmers,…

Nigeria’s trade relationship with the United States swung sharply into deficit in the first nine months of 2025, as exports to the American market declined steeply while imports more than doubled, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). An examination of NBS foreign trade figures shows that Nigeria exported goods valued at N3.65tn to the US between January and September 2025, down from N4.59tn recorded in the same period of 2024. The drop of N940.98bn represents a contraction of about 20.5 per cent year-on-year. In contrast, imports from the US climbed dramatically to N6.80tn within the same…

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has reinforced its presence on the Abuja–Lokoja highway with the deployment of additional personnel and tow trucks to tackle the lingering traffic congestion on the route. In a statement released on Sunday, the Corps’ spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the directive was issued by the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, in response to the prolonged gridlock and to ensure broken-down vehicles and other obstructions are promptly removed. “The FRSC Corps Marshal has ordered the deployment of additional officers and tow trucks along the Abuja–Lokoja Road to ease the ongoing traffic gridlock and ensure swift removal of…

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has again displayed his passion for football by placing a $25,000 bet (about N36 million) on Nigeria’s opening Group C match against Tanzania at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The singer shared a screenshot of his betting slip on his X handle on Sunday, encouraging support for the Super Eagles with the caption: “Let’s get this W Nigeria.” The Stake app slip shows that Davido backed both teams to score, with a potential payout of $96,564, estimated at about N140 million. This is not the first time the award-winning artiste has…

The Rivers State Police Command has announced an expanded security operation ahead of the Yuletide season, working closely with other security agencies to ensure peace, safety and public order throughout the state. In a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, residents were urged to embrace the festive period as a time for reflection and prayers for the continued peace and development of Rivers State and Nigeria at large. The statement said the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, had approved a comprehensive security arrangement involving the deployment of tactical units to key locations across the state. These include…