Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

President Tinubu Scraps 5% Telecoms Tax, Bringing Relief To Nigerian Subscribers. In a significant move to alleviate financial burdens on Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu has abolished the 5 per cent excise duty on telecommunications services as part of the country’s new tax laws. The announcement, confirmed by Dr Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is set to ease cost pressures for millions of telecom subscribers across Nigeria. Dr Maida, speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, revealed that the tax, which was initially suspended in July 2023, has now been permanently removed. “The…

Barnsley FC Parts Ways With Super Eagles Star Kelechi Nwakali Over Pre-Season Delay. Barnsley Football Club, a League One side, has terminated the contract of Nigerian international midfielder Kelechi Nwakali due to his late return for pre-season training, the club confirmed on Tuesday. The decision marks the end of the 26-year-old’s brief stint with the Tykes, as manager Conor Hourihane announced that Nwakali would be allowed to leave before the summer transfer window closes. Nwakali, a former Super Eagles midfielder, returned to Barnsley late from holidays in Nigeria, a move that led to his exclusion from first-team training. Consequently,…

INEC Launches Nationwide Voter Registration For 2027 Elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has kicked off its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, starting with an online pre-registration phase on Monday, 18 August 2025. This marks a significant step towards preparing for the 2027 general elections and the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for 8 November 2025. Eligible Nigerians are urged to begin their registration via the dedicated portal at www.cvr.inecnigeria.org, with physical registration set to commence on 25 August 2025. The online pre-registration allows prospective voters, particularly those aged 18 and above, to input personal details such as…

Federal High Court In Abuja Freezes Four Bank Accounts Linked To Former NNPCL Chief Mele Kyari Amid Fraud Probe. A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four Jaiz Bank accounts allegedly connected to Mele Kolo Kyari, the former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), following accusations of fraud. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, 19 August 2025, came after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed an ex-parte motion seeking to preserve the funds pending further investigation. Justice Emeka Nwite, presiding over the case, granted the EFCC’s request,…

NSCIA Applauds Katsina Governor For Reintroducing Christian Religious Studies, Calls For Reciprocity Across Nigeria. The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has praised Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Umar Radda, for his decision to reintroduce Christian Religious Studies (CRS) in primary and secondary schools across the state. In a statement issued on 17 August 2025, signed by its Secretary-General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the NSCIA described the move as a commendable act of justice, fairness, and inclusivity, aligning with Islamic principles of equity and respect for minority rights. The council, led by its President-General, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji…

ICRC Unveils New Guidelines To Accelerate Public-Private Partnership Projects In Nigeria. The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has introduced new guidelines to streamline Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects across Nigeria, decentralising approval powers to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Unveiled on Sunday, 17 August 2025, during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, the framework aligns with a presidential directive from President Bola Tinubu to overhaul Nigeria’s infrastructure delivery and attract private sector investment. The guidelines, issued under the ICRC Act of 2005, aim to expedite project delivery while maintaining rigorous oversight. Under the new rules, federal ministries can now…

Niger State Police Arrest Salesgirl For Alleged N29m Theft From Phone Shop. The Niger State Police Command has apprehended a 23-year-old salesgirl, Sarah Ogbonna, for allegedly stealing phones and other items worth over N29 million from a phone shop in Minna, the state capital. The arrest, confirmed by Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun on Monday, 18 August 2025, followed a report lodged on 8 August by the shop owner at Obasanjo Complex, Minna, who suspected Ogbonna of pilfering goods entrusted to her. According to Abiodun, Sarah, a resident of Okada Road, Minna, had been employed at the…

Olubadan-Designate Oba Rashidi Ladoja Returns To Ibadan Amid Warm Welcome. Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Olubadan-designate and former Governor of Oyo State, arrived in Ibadan, the state capital, on Monday, 18 August 2025, marking his return after weeks away from the city. The 44th Olubadan-designate was warmly received by family, friends, and well-wishers at the Ibadan-Lagos tollgate before proceeding to his family compound in Isale-Osi, Ibadan South East Local Government Area. The homecoming signals the start of preparations for his coronation as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland, following his unanimous nomination by the Olubadan-in-Council on 4 August 2025. Upon arrival at…

NOA Endorses Imo State’s Ban On Nursery And Junior Secondary Graduation Parties, Textbook Changes. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has thrown its weight behind the Imo State Government’s bold decision to ban lavish graduation ceremonies for nursery, primary, and Junior Secondary School (JSS3) pupils, as well as the practice of annual textbook changes. Announced on 15 August 2025, the policy, outlined in a memo by Imo’s Commissioner for Education, Professor Bernard Ikegwuoha, aims to alleviate financial pressures on parents and refocus attention on academic excellence. The NOA, in a statement on 18 August 2025, hailed the move as a vital…

JAMB Mandates October Deadline For Public Universities To Complete 2025 Admissions. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed all public universities in Nigeria to finalise their 2025 admission processes by 31 October 2025. The directive, announced in JAMB’s weekly bulletin on 18 August 2025, also sets deadlines for private universities to conclude admissions by 30 November 2025, and all other tertiary institutions, whether public or private, by 31 December 2025. The decision, approved during the 2025 Policy Meeting chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, aims to stabilise Nigeria’s academic calendar and ensure equitable access to…

Nigerian Senate Urges Local Governments To Tap Capital Market For Infrastructure Funding. The Nigerian Senate has called on Local Government Areas (LGAs) to explore the capital market as a viable means to fund critical infrastructure projects, moving away from reliance on federal allocations. The directive, issued by the Senate Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, aims to address Nigeria’s growing infrastructure deficit through innovative financing solutions such as municipal bonds and Sukuk. Osita Izunaso, chairman of the committee, made the announcement ahead of a national stakeholders’ summit on municipal bonds and Sukuk, set to take place in Uyo, Akwa…

Finnish MP Eemeli Peltonen Dies By Suicide In Parliament House. A profound tragedy has struck Finland’s political community as Eemeli Peltonen, a 30-year-old Member of Parliament from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was confirmed to have taken his own life in the Parliament House in Helsinki earlier today. The incident, which occurred around 11:00 AM local time, has prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues, friends, and the public. Peltonen, a first-term MP representing the Uusimaa constituency, was elected in 2023 with nearly 6,000 votes. A rising figure in Finnish politics, he served on the parliament’s Administrative and Legal…