News

By Uzair Adam

The leadership crisis rocking the Kano State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has intensified following the appointment of Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as Acting State Chairman after the removal of the former chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa.

The Daily Reality reports that the decision was announced after an emergency meeting of the NNPP State Executive Committee held at the party’s secretariat in Kano, where members endorsed Abiya’s appointment in line with the party’s constitution.

Speaking on the development, the party’s Assistant Legal Adviser, Barrister Yusuf Mukhtar, said the emergence of Abiya followed due process and was consistent with the provisions of the NNPP constitution.

He explained that the move came after Dungurawa was rejected and removed at the ward level.

Party sources disclosed that the action was based on a formal resolution submitted by the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee, which recommended the sack and expulsion of Dungurawa over alleged anti-party activities.

It was gathered that the resolution originated from the Gargari Ward Executive Committee in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area and was forwarded to the state leadership by the local government executive, led by Hon. Abdullahi Ali Uban Iya Dawanau.

The ward-level decision was reportedly adopted at the second executive meeting of the Gargari Ward, held about two weeks after the general election, where Dungurawa was accused of actions deemed inimical to the party’s interests.

After reviewing the report, the State Executive Committee ratified the resolution and approved Abiya’s emergence as Acting State Chairman, party officials said.

NNPP officials described the move as part of efforts to restore internal discipline, strengthen party unity and reposition the party for future political engagements in Kano State.

Reacting to his appointment, the Acting Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya, said the party would ensure fairness and justice for all members.

He added that the Kano NNPP would remain loyal to the party’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as the Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf.

By Anas Abbas

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has maintained that the federal government will go ahead with the enforcement of the newly enacted tax laws legislation as scheduled, dismissing calls for a delay amid widespread debate and criticism.

In a statement issued from the State House on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the President made clear that the new tax framework which includes measures that already took effect on June 26, 2025 and others set to begin on January 1, 2026 will be implemented in full and on time.

Describing the reforms as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal architecture, Tinubu stressed that the laws are intended to reset the country’s revenue system, promote fairness, and enhance economic competitiveness. He rejected claims that they are designed to raise the overall tax burden on citizens.

The Presidency acknowledged the ongoing public discourse surrounding allegations that the officially gazetted versions of the tax laws differ from those passed by the National Assembly, but maintained that no substantial legal flaw has been established that would justify halting the roll-out.

Tinubu urged Nigerians and all stakeholders to support the implementation phase, which he said is now firmly underway, and emphasized his administration’s commitment to due process and the integrity of duly enacted laws. He also pledged to work closely with the National Assembly to resolve any issues that may arise during implementation.

The announcement comes amid growing pressure from various groups including student associations and opposition voices who have called for suspension of the commencement date pending thorough review and public sensitization.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Yunusa Mu’azu, a well-known actor and producer in the Kannywood film industry, has issued a public appeal for urgent financial support for popular actress Zee Diamond Talatuwa, fondly known by fans as Maman Bintalo from the hit television drama Labarina.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Yunusa Mu’azu revealed that the actress is battling a serious and life-threatening medical condition involving blocked blood vessels and abnormally thick blood. According to medical reports shared in the post, the condition—linked to hereditary factors and allergies—has made even basic intravenous treatment difficult and places her at high risk of heart failure and kidney complications.

Doctors have reportedly advised that Zee Diamond must be taken abroad for specialized treatment, as the condition cannot be adequately managed locally. The total cost of the medical procedure and travel is estimated at ₦25 million.

Yunusa disclosed that members of the Kannywood community, alongside the actress’s relatives, have so far raised approximately ₦18 million, leaving a shortfall of ₦7 million. He added that medical experts have warned that the treatment must be carried out within the next two months, stressing that any delay could have fatal consequences.

The appeal has triggered renewed calls for support across social media, with colleagues, fans, and well-wishers urged to contribute toward closing the funding gap. The development has once again drawn attention to the health challenges faced by creative industry professionals and the strong culture of solidarity within the Hausa film industry.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 13 Brigade executed a successful rescue operation on Sunday, freeing eight civilians abducted by suspected militants along the Ikang-Cameroon waterways.

Acting on a tip-off from local residents, soldiers from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ikang swiftly mobilized after learning that gunmen had intercepted a commercial boat and seized its passengers—six adults and two minors.

A military spokesman said the troops deployed rapidly, blocking escape routes and dominating the area. Under pressure, the militants abandoned their captives at the Ini-Abasi Fishing Port and fled toward the open sea. All eight victims were recovered unharmed.

After documentation and debriefing at the brigade headquarters, the rescued individuals were released to their families. No casualties were reported during the mission.

Brigadier General PO Alimikhena, Commander of 13 Brigade, praised his troops for their professionalism and thanked the community for the timely intelligence. He reaffirmed the army’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols to deny criminals freedom of action in the region.

The public is urged to continue providing credible information to security agencies.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his heartfelt condolences to renowned sportsman Anthony Joshua, following a tragic accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that claimed two lives and left the athlete injured.

In a personal message, the President expressed his deep sympathies, describing the incident as “an immense tragedy” that casts a shadow on the season. He acknowledged the emotional weight Anthony Joshua and his family are bearing.

President Tinubu praised Anthony Joshua’s qualities as a sportsman, noting his “courage, discipline, and unwavering love for our country,” which have made him a source of national pride.

He emphasised the need for communal support in times of grief, urging citizens to “encourage one another as brothers and sisters with a shared destiny.”

The President concluded with prayers for divine strength, wisdom, and grace for Anthony Joshua, wishing him a speedy recovery and eternal rest for the souls of the departed.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Nigeria was thrown into darkness on Monday after the national electricity grid experienced another system failure following a sharp drop in power generation.

Findings showed that the disruption occurred at about 3 pm when major power stations supplying electricity to the grid suddenly lost generation, forcing the system to shut down.

Data obtained from industry sources indicated that electricity output earlier rose to about 4,800 megawatts on Monday. The figure later fell steeply to 139 megawatts as of 3 pm, which triggered the collapse of the grid.

The immediate cause of the failure was not confirmed at the time of reporting. However, the incident happened while the Nigerian Independent System Operator was working to increase electricity supply after recent gas shortages that followed cases of pipeline vandalism.

Checks further revealed that as of the time this report was filed, all 22 power plants connected to the national grid had dropped off from electricity generation.

The development left several parts of the country without power supply, as distribution companies struggled to restore electricity to affected areas.

More details are expected as authorities continue to assess the situation.

By Muhammad Abubakar

British/Nigerian-born professional boxer Anthony Joshua has survived a fatal road accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that claimed two lives.

The accident occurred on Monday along the Shagamu Interchange axis of the busy expressway. Confirming the incident, Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, said the crash involved multiple vehicles, resulting in the deaths of two persons at the scene.

Joshua was reportedly involved in the accident but escaped unhurt. Details surrounding the circumstances of the crash and the identities of the victims were yet to be fully disclosed as of press time.

Emergency responders were said to have arrived promptly, while traffic was temporarily disrupted as authorities cleared the scene and commenced investigations into the cause of the accident.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Federal Government generated a total of N8.09 trillion from Value Added Tax (VAT) and the Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) between January and November 2025, analysis of documents from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shown.

Of the amount, N7.69 trillion came from VAT collections, while N403.68 billion was realised from EMTL during the 11-month period.VAT receipts opened the year at N771.86 billion in January but declined to N654.46 billion in February and N637.61 billion in March. Collections rose slightly to N642.26 billion in April and climbed further to N742.82 billion in May before falling again to N678.16 billion in June.

Revenue improved in the second half of the year, with N687.9 billion recorded in July and N722.61 billion in August. September saw a peak of N872.63 billion, before dropping to N719.82 billion in October and N563.04 billion in November.

EMTL collections followed a similar fluctuating pattern. Revenue stood at N21.40 billion in January, rose to N36.63 billion in February, and fell to N26.01 billion in March. April recorded N40.48 billion, while N28.82 billion was collected in May.

Collections increased to N30 billion in June and N39.16 billion in July before declining to N33.68 billion in August. September recorded the highest EMTL revenue at N53.83 billion, followed by N49.86 billion in October and N43.4 billion in November.

Meanwhile, EMTL will be replaced by stamp duties from January 1, 2026, in line with the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) 2025. Under the new regime, a N50 stamp duty will be charged on transfers of N10,000 and above, with the sender bearing the cost, as mandated by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Digital payment firm PalmPay, in a notice to customers, said the charge would not apply to transfers between a customer’s own accounts where names and BVN or NIN match, stressing that the duty is remitted directly to the Federal Government.

Daily Trust reports that EMTL has become a growing source of non-oil revenue, generating N219.11 billion in 2024, exceeding its N174.24 billion projection. The growth was driven largely by the extension of the levy to fintech platforms such as OPay, PalmPay and Moniepoint.

Under the new stamp duty regime, government revenue is projected to rise to N456.07 billion in 2026, N579.82 billion in 2027 and N752.45 billion in 2028, figures already factored into the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

While officials insist no new tax has been introduced, analysts note that the N50 charge, though small individually, could generate hundreds of billions of naira annually due to the high volume of digital transactions, even as concerns persist over its impact on small businesses and POS operators.

By Anwar Usman

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has shared evidence proving that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, received N50 billion from the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu.

According to Fayose, the money was approved as emergency support after the deadly explosion that occurred in Ibadan in January 2024.

Governor Makinde had earlier denied this accusation and challenged Fayose to provide proof.

Sequel to that, Fayose released the documents and claimed that only N4.5 billion from the funds was given to people affected by the explosion.

He alleged that the remaining money was used to support Makinde’s alleged plan to run for president.

In a statement signed by Fayose said, he made the documents available to public so Nigerians could decide for themselves whether the Oyo State Government has been truthful.

Fayose also dared Makinde to take legal action against him, while insisting that there are records showing that other financial support sent to Oyo State by Tinubu’s administration was never disclosed to the public.

More over, Fayose claimed he has documents revealing the true Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State, which he said is different from what the governor has publicly stated.

The statement in part reads, “Meanwhile, only N4.5bn was released to victims of the Ibadan Explosion. Rather, he diverted this fund and many others to his Presidential ambition, which is the reason for the crisis in the PDP and his attacks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government.‎‎

“Also, there are documentary evidences on the actual Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Oyo State, as against Governor Makinde’s claim, but we will keep our gunpowder dry for now. My name is still Ayo Fayose, I don’t say what I can’t prove.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Zamfara State Police Command has successfully thwarted an attempted invasion of Maru metropolis by armed bandits who reportedly planned a mass abduction in the early hours of Sunday.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yazid Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

“Acting on timely intelligence, a joint security team comprising the Police, Military, Community Protection Guards, and Vigilante Groups swiftly engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat with suspected gunshot injuries. No casualties or abductions were recorded,” the statement read.

It added, “However, Security has since been reinforced in Maru and the surrounding areas.”

The State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Maikaba, commended the professionalism of the operatives and assured residents of the Command’s dedication to protecting lives and property.

He also called for continued public cooperation to enhance security.