The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said that the FCT Administration would not condone unprofiled vehicles in the nation’s capital beginning from January 2025.

This is as he said that all commercial buses in the nation’s capital would be profiled by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, DSS.

Wike made this statement at the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme in Abuja on Thursday, where he handed over some new cars to beneficiaries to use as taxis.

“They are not paying a dime. No. The government is saying this is our support to feed your family and reduce the cost of transportation in the city. Abuja should compete with other cities in the world,” the minister said.

He charged the beneficiaries not to be ashamed that they are being empowered to be taxi drivers, saying that many Nigerians who reject taxi driving jobs at home gladly embrace such when they travel abroad.

To curb cases of kidnapping and ‘one-chance’ robbery, the minister said effective January 2025, any commercial bus not duly profiled by security agencies won’t be allowed to operate within the nation’s capital.

“Most of the Keke Napep and most of the motorcycles are informants. Everybody here that is a beneficiary is being profiled by the security.

“And so what we are coming up with is that from January next year, there will be nobody that will operate as a taxi driver or a bus driver without having approval from security, with security profiling you and without going about with the Abuja colour.

“Nothing like using any vehicle on the road. No, we won’t allow that. From January, we won’t allow that.

“We will take the vehicle number, name of the drivers and the rest so everybody will have confidence that this is the vehicle I’m entering in case anything happens,” he added.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it has recovered over N248bn in the last year.

The Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Wilson Uwajaren, made this disclosure on Thursday when he gave an update on the achievements of the anti-graft agency so far.

Uwajaren said the sum of over £53,000 and €172,000 were also recovered. €5,000 were also recovered for victims of crime in Spain, according to him.

According to him, the commission is taking its rapid response a notch higher as it will lead to a drop in cybercrime.

He further said the commission has also secured more than 35 convictions for Naira abuse by Nigerians at social events.

Uwajaren stated that three new directorates are set to emerge in Ekiti, Katsina and Anambra states.

A Nigerian lady who claims to be 38 years old has elicited a barrage of comments on social media with a whopping offer of N50M to her prospective partner.

The video which was shared by self-styled entertainer and media personality, Tunde Ednut showed the lady holding a banner which communicated her message.

In addition to the N50M cash gift, the lady noted that she would sponsor the wedding and place the man on a huge salary monthly.

She noted that she only desires a submissive man who wouldn’t cheat and stay at home to take care of her children.

The lady proudly showed off her poultry farm as one of her massive investments.

Sharing the video, Tunde Ednut wrote:

“Abeg, if una dey interested, please comment below “Yaaaaaaaaay”. She go see you for comment section, DM you.”

Reacting to the clip, @smplyjessie1 wrote: “Y’all She’s my Neighbor, she’s already married o.”

__malyk wrote: “On top this two line cages fowls ???? way everything no reach 50 millions ?.”

esianyee wrote: “Some women will just be embarrassing the rest of us. Madam go and sit down one place.”

billy_chigor wrote: “You get 50million na em you wan marry?”

godson_allsom wrote: “Promise me that we will be ?slaughtering chicken ?every two two days ?.”

maanaroyal wrote: “I believe It’s just content, you can’t have such Big Table and you’re BEGGING for someone to dine with!?”

charminghela_ wrote: “All she needs is a submissive man, just know say na you go be the wife for that house and the only thing wey you no go do na to born. But you go really hear whennnnn? ?.”

Watch the video below:

Lola Alao, the iconic Yoruba movie star, bared her soul, gave fans an intimate look into the tumultuous journey of her life and the heartbreaking reasons behind her two failed marriages.

During a recent interview with her colleague Biola Adebayo on the show Talk-to-B, Lola Alao pulled back the curtain on her life, offering fans an unfiltered look at the complexities surrounding her decisions to leave her Ex-hubbys.

She bare the truth, pinpointing her lack of patience as a significant factor in her marital struggles.

One of the most painful episodes she recounted involved her ex-husband, who, with astonishing audacity, cheated on her right in front of her eyes, a betrayal that shattered her trust and left her with no choice but to walk away.

Reflecting on her past, Lola acknowledged that had she been more patient, things might have turned out differently. However, she emphasized that she does not regret her choices, believing that maintaining her dignity was far more important than enduring a toxic relationship.

With profound insight, Lola extended a heartfelt message to married women everywhere: learn from her experiences and recognize the delicate balance between patience and self-respect.

She urged them to consider that while enduring the trials of marriage can sometimes be necessary, it should never come at the expense of one’s dignity.

To her, enduring a toxic relationship was far more painful than embracing the freedom that comes with leaving.

WATCH HER SPEAK IN CLIP BELOW

Donald Trump pulled an election stunt with a garbage truck Wednesday as the White House campaign was forced off-piste by muddled remarks from President Joe Biden about the Republican’s supporters that caused a headache for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

Harris had hoped to spend the day expanding on the final week “closing argument” she made at a huge Washington rally the night before — but found herself instead disavowing Biden’s remark that appeared to label Trump supporters “garbage.”

Trump — who, unlike Harris, has recently called his political opponents “garbage” in public — was on hand to exploit the misstep with a photo op, climbing into a garbage truck at an airport in Wisconsin and answering questions from reporters.

The row started over the weekend when a warm-up speaker at a Trump rally called the US territory of Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage,” in remarks that initially put the Republican campaign on the defensive.

Yet Biden’s gaffe provided Trump the opportunity to play the victim.

“How do you like my garbage truck? This truck is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden,” Trump said from the cabin of the vehicle.

“You can’t be president if you hate the American people, which I believe they do,” Trump added later at his rally in Green Bay, still wearing his high-visibility jacket.

But as Republicans voiced outrage over Biden’s remarks, anti-Trump political group The Lincoln Project shared a video from the Republican’s September 7 rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin — verified by AFP — in which he called “the people that surround” the vice president “garbage.”

Trump had just attacked Harris over employment figures before he said: “And it’s not her, it’s the people that surround her. They’re scum. They’re scum, and they want to take down our country. They are absolute garbage.”

Harris meanwhile traveled to North Carolina and onward to Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, focusing again on three of seven battleground states that could determine who wins the closest election in modern US history.

In Madison, Wisconsin she told supporters: “Folks are exhausted and want it to stop, the pointing fingers. It is time that we start locking arms together as a people who rise and fall together.”

More than 57 million have already cast their ballots via early or mail-in voting, over a third of the 2020 total.

– ‘Unstable, obsessed’ –

Trump — who has 34 felony convictions for crimes connected to the 2016 election — is expected to reject Tuesday’s result if he loses.

The Republican is already seizing on commonplace verification processes by election officials to amplify his claims of widespread “cheating.”

Harris meanwhile was forced to fend off questions about Biden’s gaffe, which came when the president reacted to a comedian at a Trump rally referring to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage.”

“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden said, before the White House sought to clarify that he was referring to Trump’s rhetoric, not to his supporters.

“Let me be clear, I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” said Harris, Biden’s vice president.

In North Carolina, Harris hammered home her campaign’s message to “turn the page” on Trump, leading the crowd in chants of “we are not going back!”

“This is someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance and out for unchecked power,” said Harris.

– ‘Cheating’ claims –

In Washington, Harris had spoken at the very spot where Trump stirred up a mob that went on to attack the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in a violent attempt to keep him in power even though he lost the 2020 election to Biden.

Trump has taken to social media to repeat his claims of voter fraud, appearing to set the stage for a repeat performance around the unfounded claim that his 2020 loss to Biden was rigged.

He denounced what he said was “cheating” at “large-scale levels never seen before” in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.

At his North Carolina rally, Trump again cast doubt on the fairness of voting machines and called for a return to paper ballots.

His campaign on Wednesday made a fresh plea for campaign donations by referencing Biden’s comments.

But one person who will not be voting for Trump on November 5 will be actor and former Republican governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, who endorsed Harris.

“Rejecting the results of an election is as un-American as it gets,” he said of Trump.

Inflation and the economy have been key issues this election, and on Wednesday new data showed solid economic growth despite a slight slowdown.

The United Kingdom, UK has launched the Immigration Salary List (ISL) for 2025, broadening opportunities for foreign skilled workers.

The ISL replaces the previous Shortage Occupation List, featuring a wider range of high-demand roles and raising salary thresholds to ensure competitive earnings.

This initiative underscores the UK’s commitment to fostering an environment where workers and expertise are actively sought and rewarded with a solid salary.

The ISL targets experts across diverse fields, including science, technology, the arts, and skilled trades. In contrast to earlier immigration policies, the ISL prioritizes attracting individuals with high-earning potential who can contribute meaningfully to the UK economy.

“The ISL opens new doors for those whose skills align with our economic and social growth ambitions,” said a spokesperson from the Home Office.

“We are focused on attracting the best minds who can bring innovation and drive into the UK.”

High-Demand Professions on the ISL.

The ISL for 2025 highlights 23 professions spanning biological sciences, graphic design, air traffic control, and even traditional crafts like stonemasonry and shipbuilding.

Among the notable roles, according to DAAD, are:

Biological Scientists with a minimum salary threshold of £38,000 and potential earnings from £47,500 to over £70,000.

Chemical Scientists in the Nuclear Industry (Scotland only) with a threshold of £35,200 and salaries ranging from £50,000 to £80,000.

Archaeologists starting at £36,400, with average salaries from £35,000 to £60,000.

Graphic and Multimedia Designers earning a minimum of £30,960, with salaries from £30,000 to £50,000.

Laboratory Technicians (with 3+ years of experience) have a minimum salary threshold of £28,800, with salaries reaching £40,000.

Pharmaceutical Technicians earning £29,600 as a minimum, with the potential to make up to £45,000.
High Integrity Pipe Welders (with 3+ years of experience) starting at £36,400, earning from £40,000 to £60,000.

Boat and Shop Builders and Repairers (Scotland only) have a minimum salary of £28,100, with salaries reaching £40,000.

Stonemasons and Related Trades with a minimum of £30,960 and salaries ranging up to £50,000.

Bricklayers earning a minimum of £30,960 and salaries up to £45,000.

Roofers, Roof Tilers, and Slaters with a minimum threshold of £30,960 and earnings up to £40,000.

Carpenters and Joiners with a minimum salary of £30,960 and salaries up to £45,000.

Retrofitters starting at £30,960 with potential earnings up to £50,000.

Classical Ballet Dancers earning a minimum of £30,960, with salaries varying based on performance and experience.

Commercial Pilots who start at £53,900, with salaries ranging from £60,000 to over £150,000.

Air Traffic Controllers starting at £49,600, with the potential to earn up to £100,000.

Aircraft Maintenance and Related Trades with a minimum salary of £35,200 and earnings reaching £55,000.

Ship and Hovercraft Officers earning a minimum of £38,000, with salaries ranging from £40,000 to £80,000.

Train and Tram Drivers with a threshold of £33,300 and salaries up to £50,000.

Managers and Proprietors in Forestry, Fishing, and Related Services (fishing boat masters only in Scotland) starting at £30,960, with salaries up to £50,000.

Forestry and Logging Workers earning a minimum salary of £28,100, with potential earnings reaching £35,000.

Farmers with a starting salary of £28,100 and potential earnings up to £40,000.

These roles come with minimum salary thresholds designed to attract top-tier professionals while supporting the UK’s growing industries.

How to Apply for UK Workers Visa

The primary visa for ISL-listed roles is the Skilled Worker visa, which allows for work and residence in the UK with the potential for permanent settlement. Prospective applicants are encouraged to use online job boards, government portals like GOV.UK, and recruitment agencies to find suitable roles.

The ISL’s introduction represents a major shift in the UK’s immigration landscape, aiming to build a stronger, skill-driven economy. For professionals ready to take their careers to the next level, this move offers a unique opportunity to thrive in the UK’s diverse and vibrant job market.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, is set to launch 100 free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for civil servants in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Musa, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

He said the decision is in line with current administration’s commitment to the advancement of the interests of workers and improvement in the living conditions of the poor, vulnerable and underserved in Kaduna State.

Musa noted that the the buses will convey civil servants to and from work, stressing that this is aimed at alleviating the suffering of workers and enhancing their productivity.

The statement added that a Joint Management Committee consisting of representatives of organized labour (NLC and TUC) and the State Government will be set up to manage the Free Transportation Scheme for civil servants.

“The Kaduna State Government will continue to fashion and implement policies and measures to bring succour to the people. We are committed to transforming the lives of the less privileged. With the sustained support of our citizens, we shall make Kaduna State a Model for Social Welfare Interventions,” the statement read.

Similarly, the governor approved a new minimum wage of ₦72,000 for Kaduna State civil servants effective November 2024.

Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says he was ambushed to sign a peace deal with Nyesom Wike’s camp. 

Fubara spoke on Wednesday during a non-denominational thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

The event was organised to commemorate the botched attempt to impeach Fubara on October 30, 2023, by lawmakers loyal to Wike.

Fubara and Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), have been at loggerheads over control of the political structure of the state.

The feud between the duo has sparked a political crisis in the state, led to conflicting court orders, and polarisation of the Rivers house of assembly.

In December 2023, Fubara and Wike signed an eight-point resolution deal to end the feud.

The peace deal was signed at the presidential villa in Abuja after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

The parties agreed that all impeachment proceedings against the governor and court cases should be withdrawn.

Despite the peace deal, the crisis persists.

‘THEY THINK THEY’RE SMART’

Speaking during the thanksgiving service, the Rivers governor said Wike’s camp failed to abide by the conditions stipulated in the peace agreement initiated by the president.

Fubara said he signed the deal because of his desire to return peace to the state.

He added that after he withdrew the cases in court, Wike’s camp failed to withdraw theirs.

The Rivers governor explained that he was “ambushed” with the peace deal by Wike’s camp and not by the president who initiated the deal.

“Because we are people of peace, if there is any advantage that was taken over us, it is because of our genuine interest for peace,” Fubara said.

“The preacher said something about peace. I want to tell you that we went to Abuja and Mr President, knowing the importance of peace in Rivers state, brought out some conditions.

“We came back here to this state. First, we did everything that had to be done with those conditions.

“We went to court immediately, withdrew our matters, but they did not. And you call yourself honourable, when you cannot even obey simple instruction, and you blame it on Fubara.

“How is Fubara the problem? Fubara is not the problem! It was because we withdrew our matter, even the matter you filed, and we said we don’t want to continue: you took advantage of it, and went and got a judgment. Is it not fraud?

“I discovered that I was being ambushed, not by the person who initiated the peace, but by people who believed that they are smarter.

“But you know such smartness, no matter what you call yourself, it is still foolishness before God.

“That is why, as they said, those other things that they are looking for, to make them feel they are coming back to life, we will not do it. So, let me see how they will come to life when we don’t do it.”

He added that those who boasted that his administration would not last have failed.

“I can tell you, they said we are not going to last for one week, we are here, we have done one year plus,” he said.

“We are also doing one anniversary of their attack. They said those buccaneers will not leave as local government chairmen, today, we have the 23 local government chairmen sitting here with us.

“They said their commissioners should resign so that we will be crippled. Today, we have more than 23 commissioners.”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says taxi driving is a noble means of livelihood and should be embraced to make a decent income.

Wike stated this at the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme in the Garki area of Abuja on Thursday when he handed over 80 new cars to beneficiaries to use as taxis.

“They are not paying a dime. No; the government is saying this is our support to feed your family and reduce the cost of transportation in the city… Abuja should compete with other cities in the world,” said the minister.

He encouraged the beneficiaries not to be ashamed that they are being empowered to be taxi drivers, saying that many Nigerians who reject taxi driving jobs at home gladly embrace such when they travel abroad.

“What you will see in the social media is that he wants them to be taxi drivers. We travel and see Nigerians who stay abroad and work as taxi drivers,” the former Rivers State governor said.

“Nigerians at home will say our uncle is in London, my uncle is in Houston, my uncle is in Paris, my uncle has sent us $200 but he (the uncle abroad) makes his money as a taxi driver, feeds his family and pays his taxes.

“Instead of encouraging how to feed our families, the next thing we will see in social media is that they are giving them jobs as taxi drivers.

“We can’t be taxi drivers here but we prefer taxi driving in London. That is the country you are in.”

To curtail kidnapping and cases of ‘one-chance’ robbery, the minister said effective January 2025, any commercial bus not duly profiled by security agencies won’t be allowed to operate within the nation’s capital.

Wike said, “Most of the Keke Napep and most of the motorcycles are informants. Everybody here that is a beneficiary is being profiled by the security.

“And so what we are coming up with is that from January next year, there will be nobody that will operate as a taxi driver or a bus driver without having approval from security, with security profiling you and without going about with Abuja colour.

“Nothing like using any vehicle on the road. No, we won’t allow that. From January, we won’t allow that.

“We will take the vehicle number, name of the drivers and the rest so everybody will have confidence that this is the vehicle I’m entering in case anything happens.”

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration has stated that the proposed tax reform bills is not against the north, adding that the bill will benefit all states.

Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement on Thursday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Recall that Governors of 19 Northern States of Nigeria, under the platform of the Northern Governors’ Forum, at their meeting on Monday, October 28, 2024, expressed their opposition to the new derivation-based model for Value-Added Tax (VAT) distribution in the new tax reform bills before the National Assembly.

Chairman of the forum, Governor Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, read the communiqué.

The Northern Governors’ Forum meeting also had traditional rulers from the region, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, in attendance.

Reacting, Tinubu’s spokesperson said: “While we commend the Governors and traditional rulers for supporting President Bola Tinubu over the success recorded in addressing the country’s security challenges, we consider it necessary to address the misunderstandings and misgivings around the tax reform already embarked upon by the administration.

“President Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council recently endorsed new policy initiatives aimed at streamlining Nigeria’s tax administration processes, enhancing efficiency and eliminating redundancies across the nation’s tax operations.

“These reforms emerged after an extensive review of existing tax laws. The National Assembly is considering four executive bills designed to transform and modernise Nigeria’s tax landscape.

“First is the Nigeria Tax Bill, which aims to eliminate unintended multiple taxation and make Nigeria’s economy more competitive by simplifying tax obligations for businesses and individuals nationwide.

“Second, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill (NTAB) proposes new rules governing the administration of all taxes in the country. Its objective is to harmonise tax administrative processes across federal, state and local jurisdictions for ease of compliance for taxpayers in all parts of the country.

“Third, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill seeks to rename the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to better reflect the mandate of the Service as the revenue agency for the entire federation, not just the Federal Government.

“Fourth, the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill proposes the creation of a Joint Revenue Board to replace the Joint Tax Board, covering federal and all states’ tax authorities.

“The fourth bill also suggests establishing the Office of Tax Ombudsman under the Joint Revenue Board, which would serve as a complaint resolution body for taxpayers.

“It is instructive to note that these proposed laws will not increase the number of taxes currently in operation. Instead, they are designed to optimise and simplify existing tax frameworks.

“The tax rates or percentages will remain the same under these reforms, as they focus on ensuring a more equitable distribution of tax obligations without adding to the burden on Nigerians.

“The reforms will not lead to job losses. On the contrary, they are structured to stimulate new avenues for job creation by supporting a dynamic, growth-oriented economy.

“Importantly, these laws will not absorb or eliminate the duties of any existing department, agency, or ministry. Instead, they aim to harmonise revenue collection and administration across the federation to ensure efficiency and cooperation.

“At the moment, tax administration lacks coordination among federal, state, and local tax authorities, often resulting in overlapping responsibilities, confusion, and inefficiency. Without reform, this inefficiency will persist.

“The proposed laws aim to coordinate efforts between different tiers of government, resulting in better tax resource management and greater clarity for taxpayers.

“Under existing laws, taxes like Company Income Tax (CIT), Personal Income Tax (PIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Petroleum Profits Tax (PPT), Tertiary Education Tax (TET), Value-Added Tax (VAT), and other taxing provisions in numerous laws are administered separately, with individual legislative frameworks.

“The proposed reforms seek to consolidate these multiple taxes, integrating CIT, PIT, CGT, VAT, PPT, and excise duties into a unified structure to reduce administrative fragmentation.

“On the proposed derivation-based VAT distribution model, which the Northern Governors oppose, it must be stressed that the new proposal, as enunciated in the Bill, is designed to create a fairer system.

“The current model for distributing VAT is based on where the tax is remitted rather than where goods and services are supplied or consumed. The ongoing tax reform seeks to correct the inherent inequity in the current derivation model as a basis for distributing VAT revenue.

“The new proposal before the National Assembly outlines a different form of derivation which considers the place of supply or consumption for relevant goods and services. This means that states in the Northern region that produce the food we eat should not lose out just because their products are VAT-exempt or consumed in other states.

“These reforms are critical to improving the lives of Nigerians and were not put forward by President Tinubu to undermine any part of the country. There is no better time than now for the National Assembly to give due consideration to these bills that will overhaul our tax systems and create the revenue all the tiers of government require to fund the development our country and people urgently need.”