Oduduwa News

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced a major reform to Nigeria’s tax identification system, confirming that the National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will now automatically serve as the Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) for individual Nigerians. The service made the clarification as part of a public awareness campaign on its social media platforms, aimed at addressing public concerns over recent tax law provisions that require a Tax ID for certain financial and economic transactions.

Under the new policy framework, registered businesses and corporate entities will also no longer be required to obtain a separate Tax Identification Number from the FIRS. Instead, businesses’ Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration numbers will now act as their official Tax IDs. This change is intended to streamline the tax identification process and reduce the need for additional documentation or separate registration procedures.

FIRS explained that this shift is part of comprehensive reforms under the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), scheduled to take effect from January 2026. The NTAA mandates the use of a Tax ID for specified transactions — including the opening and operation of bank accounts — but stressed that the concept of a Tax ID is not new. It has been in place since the Finance Act of 2019, and the current reforms serve to unify and strengthen its application across the tax system.

According to the agency, the unified Tax ID system will eliminate multiple identifiers previously issued by federal and state tax authorities, thereby simplifying the process of taxpayer identification, reducing duplication, and closing loopholes that facilitate tax evasion. Individuals will not need any physical card for the Tax ID, as the NIN is a unique number already linked to their identity in government databases. Similarly, companies will use their existing CAC registration numbers directly as their tax identifiers.

FIRS also urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation circulating about the new policy and reiterated that the reforms are designed to improve transparency, efficiency, and fairness in tax administration. By aligning tax identifiers with existing national identity systems, the government aims to make it easier for taxpayers to comply with obligations while enhancing revenue mobilization and reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

Ibadan, Oyo State – Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has made it clear that while Nyesom Wike can choose to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, he himself will not. Makinde disclosed this during a media chat, expressing surprise at Wike’s declaration during a recent meeting with the president and other political figures.
The governor said he was shocked when Wike reportedly told Tinubu he would “hold the PDP for him against 2027.”

Makinde emphasized that Wike’s decision is his own, but he has chosen to remain loyal to his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and will not participate in organising support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.

Makinde stated that despite efforts to privately persuade Wike to reconsider, the minister insisted on his position. As a result, Makinde confronted Wike directly and reaffirmed that he would not align with Tinubu or the ruling party in the next election. His stance underscores a commitment to PDP principles and political independence.

Highlighting the broader implications, Makinde said his position reflects a desire to preserve democracy and party loyalty, stressing that individual political choices should not undermine the PDP. He described his refusal to support Tinubu as consistent with his duty to uphold democratic values and ensure the survival of his party.

Makinde’s remarks signal deepening divisions within the PDP, with Wike’s alignment with the APC drawing criticism from party loyalists. As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the governor’s stance highlights ongoing debates over political alliances, party loyalty, and the independence of key PDP figures.

An Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode has rejected an application for interim injunction filed by Fuji musician, Otunba Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1 De Ultimate), seeking to halt the ongoing process for the selection of a new Awujale of Ijebuland.

The court declined to restrain the Ogun State Government, Governor Dapo Abiodun, and other respondents from continuing with steps relating to the vacant Awujale stool, ruling that the request for interim relief lacked sufficient merit.

K1 had approached the court alleging violations of chieftaincy laws and his constitutional rights in the succession process, urging the court to suspend all actions pending the determination of his substantive suit.

While refusing the interim injunction, the court ordered an accelerated hearing of the main suit, fixing a new date to ensure the matter is resolved promptly as the contest over the revered Awujale stool continues.

Former presidential candidate and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has intensified consultations ahead of the 2027 general election, holding separate high-level meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.).

The closed-door meetings, held on Monday, are part of Dr. Hashim’s ongoing nationwide engagements with elder statesmen and key national figures to discuss the future direction of Nigeria.
Sources familiar with the consultations said Dr. Hashim assured both former leaders of his capacity to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges, rebuild national unity, stabilise the polity, and restore economic prosperity. He reportedly stressed that Nigeria urgently needs purposeful, inclusive, and unifying leadership to avert deeper national fractures.

Both Obasanjo and Babangida, though non-partisan, are widely regarded as influential elder statesmen who remain deeply invested in Nigeria’s unity and stability, having played defining roles in the country’s political and military history.

Dr. Hashim arrived at President Obasanjo’s residence in Abeokuta at about 11:00 a.m. and departed roughly an hour later. He subsequently travelled to Minna, where he met with General Babangida aboard a Hawker 800 jet with registration number 5N-BZP.

During the Minna meeting, Dr. Hashim reportedly appealed to Babangida’s historic role in preserving Nigeria’s unity, referencing the sacrifices made during the civil war.

“General, you still carry in your body the wounds of the war fought to keep Nigeria one. Many of your colleagues were not fortunate to survive that struggle. If Nigeria is allowed to disintegrate today through incompetent leadership, then the sacrifices of patriots like you would have been wasted,” Hashim was quoted as saying.
He emphasised that the 2027 election must be centred on national rescue, warning that continued leadership failure could further endanger the country’s cohesion and stability.
Dr. Hashim was accompanied on the visits by the Chairman of the North Central Renaissance Movement, Professor Nghargbu K’tsɔ, as well as other aides.

Political observers view the consultations as a strategic move by Dr. Hashim to position himself as a national consensus-building figure ahead of what is expected to be a highly consequential 2027 presidential election.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged torture and death of Chief Lukmon Suleiman Ojora Arounfale, the Baba Oba of Oyotunji Village in the United States, following a visit to the Alaafin of Oyo’s palace.

According to the petition, the incident occurred during a palace visit in April 2025, where a disagreement reportedly arose over traditional coronation practices linked to Oyotunji Village. Falana alleged that the disagreement escalated into a violent assault on the chief and members of his entourage by palace aides.

The petition claimed that Chief Arounfale, who was elderly, sustained serious injuries during the alleged assault and later died days after the visit. It further alleged that the victims were detained by police, forced to write statements, and compelled to apologise before being released.

Falana noted that although the Inspector-General of Police reportedly ordered an investigation, no arrests or prosecutions have followed. He therefore urged the DSS to carry out a fresh investigation and ensure accountability under the laws of Oyo State.

Nine individuals have been arrested by the Oyo State Environmental Task Force for illegally dumping waste on road medians in parts of Ibadan. The arrests followed early morning and overnight enforcement operations carried out by Environmental Health Officers of the Ministry of Environment. The offenders were fined and sentenced to community service as part of the penalties for the offense committed.

The offenders were apprehended at the Akala Expressway and the Leventis axis of the city during routine surveillance aimed at curbing environmental abuse and promoting public sanitation.

Speaking with journalists after the operation, a Director in the Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Areo, said the state government would not hesitate to clamp down on individuals who deliberately deface the environment through unlawful waste disposal. She stressed that enforcement activities would be intensified to safeguard public health and preserve the aesthetics of the state.

Mrs. Areo urged residents to shun indiscriminate dumping of refuse and make use of approved waste collection and disposal channels, reminding the public that maintaining a clean and healthy environment is a collective responsibility.

Gunmen on Monday attacked a police checkpoint at Ipele Junction in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, leaving two police officers and a female civilian injured.

According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants opened fire on officers on duty at the checkpoint, triggering panic among residents and commuters in the area. The unexpected shooting caused people to scamper for safety as bullets rang out around the busy junction.

The two police officers were reportedly shot during the attack, while a female civilian was hit by stray bullets. Security operatives at the checkpoint responded swiftly, returning fire and engaging the attackers in a brief gun duel.

The exchange forced the gunmen to flee the scene. However, security sources confirmed that one suspect was later arrested in connection with the attack, following a manhunt launched by security agencies.

The injured officers and the civilian were rushed to a nearby medical facility, where they are currently receiving treatment. Meanwhile, security presence has been reinforced around the area as investigations continue to track down other members of the fleeing gang.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has asserted that he holds the exclusive traditional authority to confer chieftaincy titles that extend beyond local domains and cover the entire Yorubaland. According to him, such titles are distinct from community-based chieftaincy titles and are rooted in pan-Yoruba history and tradition.

The monarch explained that titles bearing the name “Yorubaland” are not local honours and therefore should not be conferred by any other traditional ruler outside the authority of the Alaafin. He anchored his claim on historical precedent, customs, and what the palace described as established legal interpretations.

The statement has reignited debates within Yoruba traditional circles, particularly amid recent instances where other monarchs have conferred titles with pan-Yoruba significance. The Alaafin maintained that such actions amount to an overreach of traditional jurisdiction.

The controversy gained wider attention following the conferment of the Okanlomo of Yorubaland title on Seyi Tinubu, which drew public reactions and renewed scrutiny of traditional hierarchy and authority within Yorubaland.
While supporters argue that the Alaafin’s stance preserves historical order and Yoruba unity, critics insist that no law or court ruling grants absolute supremacy to any single monarch. Many elders and cultural stakeholders have therefore called for dialogue to prevent divisions and safeguard Yoruba cultural heritage.

The Alaafin of Oyo has conferred the revered traditional title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, meaning “the worthy child of the land,” on a prominent Yoruba son in a ceremony that blended age-long customs with contemporary relevance. The conferment underscores the monarch’s enduring commitment to recognising individuals whose conduct and contributions reflect the values, resilience, and aspirations of the Yoruba people.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Alaafin described the Okanlomo title as one reserved for individuals who embody service, loyalty, and a deep sense of responsibility to society. He noted that the honour goes beyond prestige, carrying with it a moral obligation to champion unity, cultural preservation, and development across Yorubaland.

The event drew traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and dignitaries from across the South-West, highlighting the cultural weight of the title within the Yoruba chieftaincy system. Cultural displays and traditional rites marked the occasion, reinforcing the historical roots and symbolism associated with the honour.

Observers say the conferment reflects a broader effort by the Oyo Palace to inspire younger generations to embrace leadership, integrity, and service, while strengthening the relevance of traditional institutions in modern governance and social development.

The Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) has fired a surgeon for secretly removing a patient’s kidney during a medical procedure. The dismissal was confirmed by the state’s Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, on Friday.

The incident came to light when Joshua Afolayan, a kidney transplant recipient, reported that his organ had been taken without his knowledge or consent. The hospital acted swiftly following the revelation, terminating the surgeon involved and initiating necessary investigations into the breach of medical ethics and patient rights.

The case has raised serious concerns about surgical consent and patient safety, prompting calls for stricter oversight and adherence to medical protocols within healthcare institutions.