Author: Gbenga Olaleye

Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, has spoken out against mounting calls for the removal of Nigeria’s service chiefs, asserting that such a move would not address the root causes of the country’s security crisis. In a statement issued on Thursday, the senior lawmaker and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) criticised individuals and groups demanding the dismissal of military leaders, suggesting that they are driven by ulterior motives rather than genuine concern for national security. “People calling for the removal of the current service chiefs have hidden agendas and are not acting…

Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has issued a stern warning to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana, threatening legal action should she be barred from resuming plenary duties on Monday, 15th September. The warning, contained in a letter dated 10 September and signed by her legal counsel, Chief Michael Numa, SAN, follows what Akpoti-Uduaghan describes as continued disregard for a court order permitting her return to legislative functions. “Take notice that failure to comply by Monday, 15th September 2025, will leave us with no alternative but to initiate proceedings against you personally and in your official…

The Nigerian government has announced that, starting from 1 January 2026, all Nigerians and non-residents will be required to obtain a Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) to open or operate bank accounts and access financial services. This directive follows the enactment of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. The law makes it compulsory for individuals and entities to present a valid Tax ID when engaging in banking, insurance, stockbroking, and other financial transactions. It also applies to contracts with federal and state governments. READ ALSO: FG reverses 5% telecom tax amid public…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has summoned the management of Dangote Refinery and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to an emergency meeting, following rising tensions over alleged violations of an agreement granting workers the right to freely associate with labour unions. The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 pm on Friday and is expected to include representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other key stakeholders in the labour and petroleum sectors. The move by the DSS comes just days after both parties — Dangote Refinery…

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an application brought forward by the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking to expedite the trial of Khalid Al-Barnawi, the suspected mastermind of the 26 August 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja, along with four co-defendants. At the hearing, DSS counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Alex Iziyon, moved the application for an accelerated hearing, asserting the agency’s readiness to ensure a swift determination of the case. The application faced no opposition from the defence counsels. The trial, which is currently at the stage of a trial-within-trial—a legal…

The Obidient Movement has appealed to former President Goodluck Jonathan to support Peter Obi in the upcoming 2027 presidential election, rather than joining the race himself. The appeal follows a closed-door meeting between the two leaders on Thursday, which Peter Obi shared publicly via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle. In the post, Obi described Jonathan as “a very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader,” adding that their discussions focused on the state of the nation. While speculation continues to grow about Jonathan’s potential return to presidential politics, the former president has not made any formal declaration. In a statement…

The Ogun State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Otunba Olufemi Soluade, has issued a strong warning to what he described as “desperate political opportunists and self-serving actors” allegedly working to destabilise the party amid ongoing leadership disputes. The warning comes in the wake of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s formal recognition of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively. INEC’s updated list of party executives, released on Wednesday, 10 September, brought clarity to the party’s national leadership crisis after weeks of internal wrangling. In a statement made available…

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has accused the Dangote Petroleum Refinery of undermining union activities, resisting workers’ rights to freedom of association, and attempting to weaken the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch through the creation of a rival group. In a statement issued on Friday and signed by NUPENG President Williams Akporeha and General Secretary Afolabi Olawale, the union criticised the Dangote Group’s recent public statements as “falsehoods” designed to mislead the public and weaken the labour movement. The allegations follow a recent shutdown of fuel depots by NUPENG, which protested against the refinery’s refusal…

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has reiterated his commitment to enhancing grassroots governance by supporting a bill that seeks to grant full financial and administrative autonomy to all 44 local government councils in the state. The governor’s stance was made public in a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, following the 31st Executive Council meeting held at the Government House Annex in Kwankwasiyya City. During the meeting, Governor Yusuf presided over discussions that culminated in the council’s approval to transmit the autonomy bill to the Kano State House of Assembly for further legislative…

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to eradicating malaria, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu declaring that the state “will not rest until malaria becomes history.” The governor made the statement during the Mid-Term Review of the Pathway to Malaria Pre-Elimination in Lagos State, held at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island. The review brought together key national policymakers, international development partners, and private sector stakeholders to assess progress made under the Impact Project and a digital malaria surveillance initiative launched in March. Sanwo-Olu announced that malaria prevalence in Lagos has dropped to around one percent, describing the achievement as a critical…