Author: Naija Daily News

Nigeria’s Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has called on African nations to take full ownership of the continent’s vast hydrocarbon resources, describing energy leadership as critical to achieving industrialisation and sustainable development. “We are sitting on immense natural wealth, yet we remain dependent. This must change. Renaissance is here to ignite that change, starting from Nigeria and spreading across the continent,” said Dr. Layi Fatona, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Renaissance, on Tuesday during a high-level panel themed Frontier Plays in Mature Basins at the ongoing Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Fatona stressed the…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned two men, Ibrahim Suleiman Umar and Tijani Adam Goni, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting job seekers of N4.8 million through a fake employment scheme. ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the duo were brought before Justice B.M. Bassi on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and forgery. According to the charge sheet, Umar and Goni conspired in June 2021 to obtain money from two victims, Saifdeen Yakub and Aminu Abubakar,…

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has begun implementing new pension increments for retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), following the partial release of N20.188 billion by the Federal Government. The adjustment, which includes a flat rate of N32,000 and percentage increases of 10.66% and 12.95%, will reflect in the September 2025 payroll cycle. In a statement on Tuesday, PTAD said the move followed President Bola Tinubu’s approval of an emergency budgetary allocation to support revised pension rates. “The Directorate is delighted to announce the commencement of the implementation of the N32,000, 10.66%, and 12.95% pension increment for eligible…

Scores of bandits have been killed in multiple airstrikes launched by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) around Babasango, near the Kwara–Kogi border. The operations, which began on Monday evening, targeted camps linked to the recent killing of 11 forest guards and a community leader in Oke-Ode, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Residents said the offensive became necessary after the heavily armed bandits, wielding AK-47 rifles, overpowered forest guards during Sunday’s attack and abducted an unspecified number of people. NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Ehimen Ejodame, confirmed the development in a statement, saying coordinated…

By Deborah Nnamdi The killing of Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a presenter with Arise Television, has reignited public anger over rising insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Maduagwu was reportedly attacked during a robbery at her Katampe residence in the early hours of September 29. Her death has triggered fresh call for urgent government action, with residents and civil society groups warning that the FCT—once seen as the country’s safest city—is now increasingly vulnerable to violent crime. In a statement on Monday, the Abuja Youths Forum described the incident as a “national tragedy,” accusing leaders of neglecting public safety. The…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed October 27, 2025, for the arraignment of politician and online publisher Omoyele Sowore on charges of allegedly making false statements against President Bola Tinubu. The case, filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, also lists social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) as co-defendants. According to the charges, Sowore allegedly used his official X and Facebook accounts on August 25 and 26, 2025, to claim that President Tinubu had declared there was no corruption under his administration. The…

Photo: Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms By Deborah Nnamdi The Federal Government has clarified that all income earned in Nigeria, including money generated by commercial sex workers, is subject to taxation under the law. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, disclosed during a tax education session organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David, Lagos. In a video from the event that has since gone viral, Oyedele explained that while gifts or upkeep money sent to relatives and dependents are exempt…

Nigeria and South Africa could be removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as early as next month—a move that could significantly boost investor confidence in both countries’ financial systems. The Paris-based FATF, which oversees global efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, placed Nigeria and South Africa on the grey list in February 2023 due to shortcomings in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing frameworks. However, recent on-site inspections conducted in Nigeria, South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique showed considerable progress, according to reports cited by Bloomberg. These findings could lead to their removal from…

By Sodeeq Kamsela, Abuja In a move that has puzzled many Nigerians, the Federal Government has cancelled the military parade scheduled for the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, October 1. The parade is an annual event to mark the West African nation’s independence from British colonial rule, and has only been cancelled twice post-civil war. The announcement, delivered Monday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), did not explain the decision. The announcement said, the “cancellation “in no way diminishes the significance of this milestone”, and assured that other activities marking the anniversary…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a new policy that makes compliance with the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD) a compulsory requirement for participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) or the issuance of exemption letters. The directive, which takes effect from October 6, 2025, was announced in a circular issued on Sunday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. According to the circular, all Nigerian graduates—whether from local universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, or foreign institutions—must show proof of uploading their final-year academic works, including projects, theses, or dissertations, to the NERD…