Author: New Daily Prime

Israel’s military yesterday launched deadly strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen j,ust hours after the Iran-backed militant group’s latest attack on Israel.Nine people were killed and three others injured in Israeli airstrikes on a port and oil facility near the capital Sanaa, said Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, in a post on X.Earlier, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV said the Israeli strikes targeted the Heyzaz and Dhahban power stations near the capital, and the Hodeidah port and Ras Isa oil facility.Israel’s military said the airstrikes were retaliation for Houthi missile and drone attacks on Israel over the past…

The State House has earmarked a significant portion of the 2025 budget for various expenditures, including N15.09 billion for the purchase of tyres for bulletproof vehicles, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), operational vehicles, and plain cars. Additionally, N5.49 billion has been proposed for the annual maintenance of the Presidential Villa. These details were made public in the newly released 2025 Appropriation Bill, presented by the Budget Office of the Federation on Thursday, December 19. The bill was introduced by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday as part of his administration’s ambitious N49.70 trillion spending plan, titled the “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace,…

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Additionally, the service has introduced zero per cent import duty on these products. This decision is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s investment climate and increasing domestic gas utilization. The announcement was made by the NCS’s National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement issued on Wednesday. In the statement, the NCS explained that, under the Presidential Gas for Growth Initiative, fiscal incentives were…

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is expected to meet with the Senate today (Thursday) to review the Tax Reform Bills sent by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly. In light of the widespread controversy surrounding the tax reform bills, particularly with resistance from the North, President Tinubu had called for calm and instructed the Attorney General to engage with the National Assembly to resolve the contentious issues. In response, the Senate established a panel to meet with the Attorney General for discussions on the matter. However, the proposed meeting had been…

Elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has stated that the ongoing debates around President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills will only be resolved through a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria. Clark argued that the disagreements regarding the tax reforms could be addressed if the country underwent restructuring, adopted a new constitution, or returned to the 1963 Republican Constitution. In a statement released on Wednesday, the former National Commissioner for Information emphasized that the controversies surrounding the tax reforms underscore the urgent need for a full and detailed review of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism. He called for political consensus-building among stakeholders…

The Federal Government has announced a strategic shift towards the renewable energy sector to address energy access challenges and enhance supply to critical sectors such as education, health, agriculture, rural communities, and transportation. The move is part of efforts to meet the energy needs of millions of Nigerians, particularly in rural areas. A key component of this initiative is the deployment of mini-grids through the e-HEART project, which aims to solve energy access issues in rural communities. The project is expected to benefit over 80 million Nigerians, who are currently without electricity, and help in creating sustainable local economies while…

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed its pride and admiration for Ademola Lookman following his recent accolade as the African Player of the Year. The organisation lauded the 27-year-old for his achievement, his inspiring speech, and his exemplary conduct during the Confederation of African Football (CAF) award ceremony in Morocco on Monday, December 16. In a statement issued by Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, in Ibadan, Oyo State, the group congratulated Lookman on his success, marking his entry into the ranks of Nigerians who have won the prestigious award in recent years. “Afenifere is proud of…

The World Bank has called for urgent, people-centred action to address the intertwined challenges of poverty and climate change. The institution stressed the need for countries to prioritise investments in resilience, adaptation, and low-emission development to mitigate the impacts of these crises. This recommendation was outlined in the bank’s latest report, People in a Changing Climate: From Vulnerability to Action, released on Wednesday, December 18. The report summarises the findings from the first three years of Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs), focusing on the importance of placing people at the heart of climate policy. The World Bank’s findings cover…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday concluded its case against Oluwole Olutimehin, who is facing trial for allegedly embezzling N13.29 million from Sterling Bank Plc. Olutimehin is standing trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja. He is charged with one count of fraudulent conversion of the sum of N13.29 million, an offence allegedly committed on or about September 15, 2021. The case was initially heard before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, who retired in 2023, prompting the reassignment of the matter to Justice Oshodi. Olutimehin is accused of converting the funds belonging…

Seeks payment of withheld salaries, deductions By Alade Adisa The Congress of University Academics, CONUA, has said dispirited, hungry and financially challenged workers cannot perform to the highest level and has therefore appealed to President Bola Tinubu to order the payment of their three and a half months withheld salaries, as well as four months of third party deductions that have not been remitted to the appropriate quarters. The congress, in a press release by Dr Folasade Hunsu, the Chairperson, CONUA Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, and who is also the Southwest Zonal Coordinator, said members have been exposed to untold…