The Federal Government has announced that, effective January 1, 2026, Nigerians and non-residents will not be able to open or operate bank accounts without a valid Tax Identification Number (Tax ID).
The new rule, contained in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, also extends to other financial services including insurance, stock market transactions, and government contracts.
Authorities say the measure is aimed at widening the tax base and improving compliance, while financial institutions have been directed to update their systems for enforcement.
Citizens and businesses are urged to obtain their Tax IDs before the deadline to avoid disruption in banking and related services.
The Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), has officially inaugurated its Governing Council and Principal Officers, marking another milestone in the institution’s development and governance structure.
The Governing Council is chaired by ex-Kogi Central Senator, Yakub Oseni from the North Central region, who will serve as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman. Other members include Dr. Iyang Abia (South-South), Dr. Kunle Alonge (South-West), Dr. Umar A. Ahmad (North-West), and Dr. Raphael Azibuike Onyekwelu (South-East).
In addition, the University also unveiled its new Principal Officers. Prof. O. J. Babayemi has been appointed Vice-Chancellor, while Mr. Mohammed Olaiya Aminu assumes duty as Registrar. Dr. Kazeem Popoola has been announced as the new Bursar, with Dr. Ganiyu Adigun serving as University Librarian.
The appointments signal the beginning of a new chapter for FUNATO as the leadership team is expected to steer the young institution towards academic excellence, innovation, and national relevance.
The Osun State Amotekun Corps has arrested nine suspects for various criminal offences, including burglary, theft, and vandalism.
Among those apprehended were three men accused of stealing iron steel worth over ₦4.5 million from a company in Ede, while others were caught breaking into homes and carting away valuables such as televisions, generators, and iron rods.
The Corps also arrested suspects for vandalising government property and stealing mobile phones in Ile-Ife. Some of the stolen items have been recovered, and all suspects are currently in custody awaiting prosecution.
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 65-year-old man, Engr. Chibuike Azubike, for parading himself as the “Obi of Lagos” and attempting to hold an installation ceremony.
Azubike, who hails from Imo State, was apprehended alongside three accomplices — Chief Chibuzor Ani (57), Chief Martins Nwaodika (65), and Ikechukwu Franklin Nnadi (41). According to police reports, the suspects had planned to unveil a so-called “Palace of Obi of Lagos State” valued at about ₦1.5 billion, with a public event scheduled to take place at Apple Hall in Amuwo Odofin.
The police disclosed that intelligence reports revealed the planned ceremony, prompting security operatives to move swiftly and seal off the venue before the event commenced. The suspects were taken into custody and are currently facing investigation.
Authorities have since warned against acts capable of undermining Lagos’ traditional institutions, stressing that no such title as “Obi of Lagos” exists.
President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, unveiling plans to deepen gas, renewable energy, and hydrogen investments as part of the nation’s energy transition drive.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Faruk Yabo Yusuf, at the High-Level Leaders’ Event of the Second Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tinubu said Nigeria’s transition plan would balance industrial growth, job protection, and climate action.
The president says, the country has already rolled out legal and policy frameworks, including the Climate Change Act 2021, and is finalising a new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0 with an economy-wide roadmap to be launched in 2025.
He explained that the government was prioritising gas-to-power projects alongside an accelerated scale-up of solar and wind under the “Mission 300” as well as utility-scale energy storage, among others being deployed to stabilise the national grid.
Tinubu listed other initiatives such as climate-smart agriculture for smallholder farmers, resilient housing projects, and a nationwide distribution of clean cookstoves and LPG cylinders to cut household air pollution by 60 per cent by 2030.
Tragedy struck in Ibadan as a journalist, Ojo Peter, was shot dead by suspected armed robbers along the Molete–Oke Ado axis on August 18, 2025. According to reports, the attackers demanded his bag, but after he insisted it contained no money, he was shot in the back.
The Oyo State Police Command has however confirmed the arrest of one suspect, Lateef Atanda, while another gang member, identified as Monday, was killed during a gun duel with officers. Police spokesperson, CSP Adewale Osifeso, said investigations are ongoing to track down others involved.
The International Press Centre (IPC) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have condemned the killing and called for justice, stressing the need for improved security to protect journalists and residents across Oyo State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled Sijibomi Ogundele, Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Construction Limited, over allegations of diverting ₦5.7 billion from an Enugu State government contract.
Ogundele, who was earlier declared wanted, surrendered to the EFCC in Abuja where he is being interrogated. Investigations revealed that the developer secured a 50 percent upfront payment—about ₦5.7 billion—on an ₦11 billion contract meant for the construction of “smart schools.” However, state officials allege that work executed so far is valued at only about ₦750 million.
The EFCC has frozen Ogundele’s bank accounts and seized his passport as part of the probe. He has not been granted bail as questioning continues. Ogundele, in a video released before his surrender, insisted the matter is a contractual dispute rather than a criminal case, stressing, “I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive.”
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration introduced a new 5% surcharge on petroleum products.
Oyedele explained that the levy is not a fresh policy but a provision of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Act of 2007, which was only restated in the recently gazetted tax laws for harmonisation and transparency. He stressed that the surcharge was not part of the original tax bills presented by the government to the National Assembly.
The tax expert also clarified that the surcharge does not automatically take effect in January 2026 as widely speculated. According to him, it can only commence when the Minister of Finance issues an official order in the government gazette.
Oyedele further noted that the surcharge is earmarked for road infrastructure funding, not general taxation, with exemptions granted for household kerosene, LPG, CNG, and renewable energy products. He assured that the measure is intended to improve Nigeria’s road network and ease transportation costs rather than impose hardship on citizens.
The wife of DSP Adama Adekunle Emmanuel, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) allegedly killed in Abuja, has cried out over the hardship her family now faces following his death.
Mrs. Titilayo Adams, the widow, lamented that her husband’s sudden death has left the family stranded, with expired house rent and two children who were due to resume school.
“My husband left behind his parents and two children who were supposed to resume school today, and our house rent has also expired. I have no job to cater for the children. All I want is justice for my husband,” she said.
DSP Emmanuel was reportedly shot dead by a colleague under circumstances the family has described as suspicious. The incident occurred in the morning at a hotel in the Life Camp area of the Federal Capital Territory.
Mrs. Adams alleged foul play, insisting that the explanations offered so far do not add up.
“From his body, we can visibly see gunshots at his shoulders and nothing strong indicating that it’s accidental fire. They want to cover up what actually occurred,” she claimed.
She also expressed displeasure that the corpse was moved to Maitama General Hospital without the family’s consent.
The widow further disclosed that her husband, who was attached to a politician in Life Camp, had left home on Sunday, August 31, with plans to return later that day.
According to her, the family has since received three conflicting accounts of how the officer died, an accidental discharge while fixing his rifle, a colleague’s stray fire, or a ricocheted bullet.
Despite the confusion, she lamented that no official statement has been communicated to the family by NSCDC authorities.
Veteran juju musician, Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, has once again debunked widespread rumours claiming that he had passed away. The false report, which surfaced barely five months after a similar hoax, caused panic among fans and admirers before Obey himself set the record straight.
Speaking through his media team, the music legend urged the public to disregard such unfounded claims, describing them as misleading and distressing. He reaffirmed that he is alive, in good health, and grateful to God for the gift of life.
Obey, who has enjoyed a decades-long career as one of Nigeria’s most respected music icons, also appealed to those behind the repeated death speculations to desist from spreading fake news capable of causing unnecessary anxiety to his family and followers.
The 82-year-old musician assured fans that he remains committed to his ministry and music, while calling for prayers for long life and peace rather than rumours of death.
