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In recognition of his contributions and leadership, the chairman/chief executive officer (CEO) of Stanel Group and The Delborough Lagos, Dr Stanley Uzochukwu, has made the list of African leaders to attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald J. Trump in Washington on January 20.
The invitation was contained in a letter addressed to the young Nigerian usiness leader Dr. Uzochukwu dated January 13, 2025, signed by the chairman, Multicultural Coalition U.S. President Inaugural Ball Committee, Dr. J. Mark Burns.
It reads in part, “On behalf of The Multicultural Coalition U.S. Presidential Inauguration Ball host Committee honoring President Elect Donald J. Trump, it is my distinct honor and privilege to extend to you an invitation to our Inaugural Ball celebrating the commencement of the U.S. Presidential Inauguration.
“This prestigious event will be held on January 20th, 2025 at the Washington Times Building Arbor Ballroom, located at 3600 New York Ave, NE, Washington, DC 20002.
“In recognition of your exceptional contributions and leadership, as highlighted by a recommendation from the African Legacies Institute under the guidance of Madame Franya E. Cabral Ruiz, we would be especially honored to have your presence at this distinguished event.”
Recall that ‘The Delborough Lagos’ boss, Dr Stanley Uzochukwu, was also among the African leaders that were invited and attended the swearing-in of President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana on January 7, 2025.
Leading the delegation of The African Legacies Institute to the U.S. Presidential Inauguration of Trump will be H.E. Hailemariam, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
It will also be recalled that the Stanel boss stood on the same platform with President Trump and other world leaders at Liberty University, USA during a U.S./Africa CEOs Summit in 2020
Adura Aloba, brother of Mohbad, has responded to accusations made by actor Yomi Fabiyi regarding the singer’s death.
Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, and was buried the following day. However, on September 21, 2023, his body was exhumed by the police for an autopsy.
At a recent press conference, Fabiyi claimed that Adura had knowledge of the cause of Mohbad’s death and had requested money to share a video supporting his claim.
According to the actor, Adura messaged him on Instagram, saying he had evidence that could help unravel the cause of Mohbad’s death.
Fabiyi alleged that Adura requested N3 million to share the video that supposedly showed Mohbad’s wife Wunmi pushing the singer down the stairs during an altercation.
However, Adura denied the allegations, arguing that he did not create the video in question and that “Mohbad himself recorded it”.
He explained that he had sold Mohbad’s phone to someone who had access to the video.
Adura also confronted Fabiyi, stating that he had tried to explain the situation earlier. He accused Fabiyi of trying to tarnish his name.
“Firstly, I do not have much to say. This thing is in court already. So I do not need to say much. I cannot know about my brother’s death and keep quiet all these days. I am now so surprised. This video we are talking about is like three years ago. And I was not the one that did the video, it was Moh himself on the phone I sold to Damola. And the video was on that phone,” he said.
“I was the one who chatted Mr Yomi. And I had tried to make him understand. (Facing Fabiyi) You were invited and they told you who was chatting with you. And you insisted on the TikTok live. I saw everything on the TikTok live.
“Mohbad did the video and it was on his phone for more than three years ago… When I sold the phone to Damola, about a week later, I started seeing his messages with Mr Yomi. That was how it all happened. Mr Yomi is trying to tarnish my name that I did it.”
Abosede Aloba, Mohbad’s mum, also clashed with Fabiyi over the accusation against Adura.
3 Nigerians bag jail term in US for $2m fraud scheme targeting elderly, vulnerable individuals
AFOLABI
Three Nigerians in the US have been sentenced for their involvement in a prolonged fraud scheme that frequently targeted elderly victims, according to authorities.
Fatai Okunola, 38, of Kalamazoo, received a prison sentence of just over 10 years for his role in the conspiracy and was ordered to pay more than $730,000 in restitution.
Okunola was sentenced to five years for making false statements during naturalization and 10 years for money laundering, with all sentences to run concurrently.
Two residents of Dallas were also sentenced. Oluwaseyi Adeola, 34, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison and ordered to pay approximately $410,000 in restitution.
Ijeoma Adeola, 36, received three years’ probation for misprision of a felony and was ordered to pay just under $49,000 in restitution.
The defendants conspired with individuals in Nigeria to scam U.S. residents, many of whom were elderly or vulnerable.
The Nigerian partners used fake personas to develop relationships over the internet, social media, text, or phone, then solicited money from the victims.
Victims were instructed to send funds to the defendants, who opened multiple bank accounts and maintained P.O. boxes under alias names and shell businesses.
The defendants then transferred the money among themselves and to their Nigerian partners.
Okunola also used some funds to assist individuals in purchasing cars in the U.S. and shipping them to Nigeria.
Between 2017 and 2022, the scheme amassed over $2 million.
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten stated, “Financial fraud is not a ‘faceless’ crime — and today’s sentencings help secure a measure of justice for the victims of this international fraud scheme.”
He added that some victims “lost their retirement savings, took loans against their homes, or suffered other financial distress because of the defendants’ lies.”
Totten emphasised that the defendants exploited modern technology, including the internet and social media platforms, to prey on elderly and vulnerable victims.
Many Nigerians are reportedly being hired as prison officers in the United Kingdom, UK as the British government seeks to address staffing shortages in overcrowded prisons.
According to The Telegraph, the UK prison service is now sponsoring skilled worker visas for the first time, as a result of a rule change that allows them to recruit from abroad.
Prison governors disclosed that many of the new recruits come from Nigeria, with some skilled workers switching to the role from other visa routes.
However, many of these workers soon arrive in the UK only to encounter accommodation challenges, upon realizing that their job offers did not include any provision for housing.
Reports reveal that some have resorted to camping or even sleeping in their cars as a cost-saving measure.
Mark Fairhurst, president of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), shared an example of one foreign recruit who commuted 70 miles daily from Huddersfield to Nottingham but later decided to sleep in his car outside the prison to save costs.
At another prison, recruits camped in a wooded area near their workplace after discovering no housing was provided.
“We have got problems with people who turn up at the gates with cases in tow and with their families saying to the staff: ‘Where is the accommodation?’” said Mr. Fairhurst.
The recruitment drive follows changes in visa rules in October 2023, which added prison officers to the list of skilled workers eligible for sponsorship.
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) sources estimate that about 250 foreign nationals have been sponsored to join the prison service so far, completing Zoom interviews and vetting processes.
Prison governors report a high interest in these roles, with many applicants coming from Africa.
In one month last year, two-thirds of 3,500 applicants were from the continent.
Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors Association (PGA), believes online word-of-mouth among the Nigerian expat community has fueled the demand.
This influx has created challenges in some prisons, particularly in remote rural areas, where integration into local communities and communication issues have surfaced.
“It’s turned into an approach that has been promoted online by the expat Nigerian community,” Wheatley noted.
Despite these challenges, the Prison Service maintains that all recruits undergo thorough assessments and training.
“In October 2023, changes were made to the skilled worker visa scheme which has allowed the prison service to sponsor visa applications for foreign nationals,” said a spokesperson. “All staff – regardless of nationality – undergo robust assessments and training before they work in prisons. Our strengthened vetting process roots out those who fall below our high standards.”
However, Mr. Fairhurst has criticised the recruitment process, particularly the reliance on Zoom interviews and six weeks of training.
He argued that this system is inadequate for preparing recruits to manage prisoners effectively.
“The process is simply not fit for purpose,” he said, warning that it risks recruiting under-qualified or corrupt officers.
Stop Targeting My Family, Friends – Iyabo Ojo Blows Hot, Sends Final Warning To Lizzy Anjorin
AFOLABI
Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo has warned her colleague, Lizzy Anjorin to desist from constantly harassing and bullying her.
Ojo lamented that Anjorin has continuously targeted her loved ones with curses, threats, and defamation amid their court case.
Speaking via her Instagram page, she warned her colleague to respect her boundaries, focus on her life, and stop stalking her.
She wrote,
“PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
“To the General Public, Nigerian Authorities, and Government:
“@npf_nccc
“@nigeriapoliceforce
“I am compelled to expose a disturbing pattern of harassment by Liz Anjorin. Despite our ongoing court case, she continues to target my loved ones, hurling curses, threats, and defamation at them from her social media space.
“I urge the authorities to take note of this announcement.
“Liz Anjorin, I’m warning you publicly for the last time:
“Cyberstalking is a crime; be warned.
“Cease your harassment and bullying tactics immediately.
“Stop targeting innocent people, including my family, friends, and colleagues.
“Your actions will no longer be tolerated.
“Your constant curses on my children and partner are unacceptable. They have never responded or engaged with you.
“I demand that you:
“Respect boundaries
“Focus on your own life
“Stop stalking me
“The Nigerian Police and all authorities, please take note.
“To the general public, please be aware”.
Mohbad’s Brother Told Me Something That Can Be Linked To Late Singer’s Bent Neck In Casket – Yomi Fabiyi
AFOLABI
Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi, has claimed that late singer, Mohbad’s brother, Adura Aloba, offered to give him a video of the singer and his wife, Wunmi, fighting before his death.
Yomi made the claim during a recent press conference in Lagos State.
The movie star said the video captured the moment Wunmi pushed Mohbad down the stairs and broke his neck, which could be linked to why the singer’s neck was bent in the casket.
Yomi stated that he sent a petition to the Lagos State Police Criminal Investigation Department about his conversation with Adura.
However, he was later invited and told that Mohbad’s brother was being impersonated.
The thespian added that a discovery during his visit to the police showed that the investigation into Mohbad’s death was not harmonised.
He said, “At about 4:23pm, Adura Aloba, Mohbad’s younger brother had sent me a DM after listening to me for a while and reacting in the comment section.
“When he realised, I may not see the DM on time, he wrote in the comment section, asking I check my DM.
“He offered to give me a video recording of a fight that ensured between the late singer Mohbad and his wife, Cynthia.
“He demanded for N3 million. He went further to convince me by narrating how the altercation between his brother and his wife resulted in Mohbad failing off the stairs and hitting his head on the floor.
“Something that can equally be linked to the bent neck in the late singer’s casket.”
Recall that Mohbad tragically passed away in a controversial manner in September 2023 after exiting Naira Marley’s Marlian Music over alleged failure of the record label to fulfil contract agreement.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has announced the appointment of its principal officers, Naija News reports.
The Lagos State Assembly carried out the appointments during the plenary session on Friday.
The members appointed are: Hon Temitope Adedeji (Ifako Ijaiye 1) as Majority Leader, Hon Sanni Babatunde ( Kosofe 1) as Chief Whip, Hon. Richard Kasumu (Ikeja 2) as Deputy Majority Leader while Hon. David Setonji (Badagry 2) as Deputy Chief Whip.
Recall that the Lagos Assembly impeached its former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa on Monday, citing multiple statutory and financial violations.
Obasa was replaced by his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, a former chief whip and representative of Apapa Constituency 1.
Following Obasa’s impeachment, all principal offices and committees were dissolved immediately.
I Have All The Blood Test, Evidence – Late Alaafin Of Oyo’s Daughter Exposes Queen Dami’s ‘Paternity Secret’
AFOLABI
The daughter of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Adeyemi Adebisi Aminat, has accused her father’s ex-wife, Queen Dami of paternity fraud.
She accused Queen Dami of shaming someone over the paternity of their child, despite not knowing who the father of her child is.
Recall that Queen Dami was married to the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyeye but the marriage crashed after she allegedly broke a palace rule, an act that prompted her to leave her marriage and run away from the palace.
She later blamed the whole act on frustration and wrong advice from friends. Unfortunately, her relationship with the monarch was never repaired before his demise last year.
Speaking via series of Instagram post, the late monarch’s daughter accused Queen Dami of buying her child from Port Harcourt.
She warned that the Alaafin’s throne must not be rubbished, adding that she had all the blood tests and evidence before the King passed away.
She noted that the fact that the palace isn’t talking doesn’t mean they don’t know what to say.
She wrote, “Dammy you are insulting someone that they don’t know the father of their child. Do you know the father of your own child? The child you went to buy in Port Harcourt. The fact that we are not talking doesn’t mean we don’t know what to say.
“The Alaafin’s throne is not to be rubbished. Don’t play with me. I have all the blood tests and evidence before the king passed away. Go and give the child to the rightful owner”.
Martina Luis, the estranged wife of Pastor Abraham Daniel Ejeh, has broken her silence in an emotional revelation that has shocked the Nigerian Christian community.
Martina, visibly shaken but resolute, recounted how her once-loving husband and former Dunamis pastor spiralled into a life of turmoil after delving into occultic books like ‘The Seven Days of Moses’.
“He was a godly man, full of love and compassion for our family and the church,” Martina began, her voice heavy with grief. “But everything changed when he started reading those books. He became withdrawn, unstable, and began seeing everyone, even me, as an enemy.”
Martina shared that her husband’s transformation led to terrifying moments, including an instance where he allegedly attempted to harm their daughter. “He once held a knife to her, claiming that ‘sacrifices must be made.’ I was horrified, and it was then I knew he had completely lost his way,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
Her heartbreaking account continued with allegations of threats to use their children for rituals, violent outbursts, and an eventual abandonment of his faith. “He left God, fought the church, and became a man I couldn’t recognize anymore. It’s painful because he was such a good man before this.”
Martina has called on Nigerians and the Christian community to pray for Abraham, hoping he finds redemption and mental stability. “The God of Pastor Enenche is still at work,” she said, clinging to hope for the man she once loved.
This shocking revelation raises important questions about spiritual vigilance and the dangers of straying from one’s faith. It is a somber reminder that even those in positions of spiritual authority are not immune to the struggles of life and faith.
In response to a sustained increase in the price of Brent crude, the global benchmark, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has announced a new price list for its customers for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as petrol or fuel.
In a statement reportedly disseminated via email on Friday, The PUNCH quoted Dangote Refinery to have revealed that the new price for its refined products will be set at ₦955 per litre at the loading gantry, indicating a revision in its pricing framework.
The refinery specified that marketers purchasing between 2 million and 4.99 million litres will be charged ₦955 per litre, while those acquiring 5 million litres or more will benefit from a slightly lower rate of ₦950 per litre.
This adjustment represents an increase of ₦55.5, or 6.17 per cent, from the ₦899.50 per litre price that was offered as a holiday discount to Nigerians in December of the previous year.
The new pricing structure will apply to all stock balances that have not yet been lifted by the specified time, and any pending stock as of the effective time will also be subject to the revised rates.
The statement further indicated that this new pricing regime will come into effect at 5:30 PM today.
The notice titled, “Communication on PMS Price Review” read, “Dear Esteemed Customer, Trust this email finds you well.
“Kindly be advised that effective from 5:30 PM today, an upward adjustment has been implemented on the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit.
Quantity:
- Previous Price (NGN/Litre)
- 2 million-9.99 million -N899.50
- 10 million Litres & Above N895
Quantity:
- New Price (NGN/ Litre)
- 2 million – 4.99 million N955
- 5 million Litres & Above N950
“Please note that all stock balances yet to be lifted as at the above-stated time are to be repriced at the new reviewed prices.
“We shall communicate with customers on their revised volumes based on the reviewed prices, in due course.”
Naija News reports that the anticipated rise in prices is likely to significantly impact the downstream petroleum industry, especially private depots and retail markets.
An oil and gas specialist, Olatide Jeremiah, told newsmen that depots are expected to raise the loading prices of refined petroleum products due to the substantial influence exerted by the refinery.
Jeremiah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Price.ng, said, “Dangote Refinery’s influence on Fuel price has become unmatched; private depots, Major marketers, and independent Marketers will compete with this new price. Therefore, Nigerians should expect an increase in Petrol Pump Price.
“Brent Crude oil as of today is $81.84, highest in 2025, its one major factor for the increase.”
On Thursday, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed that the price of crude oil in the international market remains a significant force in driving the fluctuations in the pump prices of petrol.
He said the downstream sector is now fully deregulated, and the government is no longer involved in setting prices.
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China said on Friday its population fell for the third year running in 2024, extending a downward streak after more than six decades of growth as the country faces a rapidly ageing population and persistently low birth rates.
Once the world’s most populous country, China was overtaken by India in 2023, with Beijing seeking to boost falling birth rates through subsidies and pro-fertility propaganda.
The population stood at 1.408 billion by the end of the year, Beijing’s National Bureau of Statistics said, down from 1.410 billion in 2023.
The decline was less sharp than the previous year, when it was more than double the fall reported for 2022, data showed.
China ended its strict “one-child policy”, imposed in the 1980s over overpopulation fears, in 2016 and started letting couples have three children in 2021.
But that has failed to reverse the demographic decline for a country that has long relied on its vast workforce as a driver of economic growth.
Many say falling birth rates are due to the soaring cost of living, as well as the growing number of women going into the workforce and seeking higher education.
Population decline is likely to continue due to gloomy economic prospects for young people and as Chinese women “confront entrenched labour market gender discriminations”, Yun Zhou, a sociologist at the University of Michigan, told AFP.
People over 60 are expected to make up nearly a third of China’s population by 2035, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research group.
– ‘Trend won’t change’ –
Data released on Friday showed that the population aged 60 and overreached 310.31 million — just a few percentage points short of a quarter of the country and an increase from nearly 297 million recorded in 2023.
However, the data also showed China’s birth rate — among the lowest in the world — ticked up slightly from the previous year to 6.77 per 1,000 people.
“This uptick is unlikely to last, as the population of childbearing-age women is projected to decline sharply in the coming decades,” said Zhao Litao, a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute.
“In the long term, the trends of declining births, overall population contraction, and rapid ageing remain unchanged.”
He Yafu, an independent demographer in China, put the uptick in births down to women who deferred having children during the Covid-19 pandemic giving birth. There was also an increase in marriages in 2023 and 2024, the auspicious Year of the Dragon.
However, “the general trend of total population decline won’t change”, He told AFP.
“Unless strong policies to encourage childbirth are introduced… the proportion of the elderly population will continue to rise.”
Officials said in September they would gradually raise the statutory retirement age, which was set at 60 and among the lowest in the world. It had not been raised for decades.
The rules took effect from January 1.
China’s previous retirement age was set at a time of widespread scarcity and impoverishment before market reforms brought comparative wealth and rapid improvements in nutrition, health, and living conditions.
The world’s second-largest economy now has to contend with slowing growth, while a fast-greying population and a baby bust have piled pressure on pension and public health systems.
AFP
Joan Okorodudu is a prominent Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, model scout, skincare technician, and former Nigerian beauty queen.
Okorodudu received the prestigious Lifetime Presidential Award on October 7, 2024, as a result of her steadfast devotion to promoting African artists, culture, and fashion as well as her support of the Kakuma Refugees camp and young women.
Mrs. Joan Okorodudu was born in 1958 in Auchi, Nigeria, and attended a local government primary school, Ebu Lokoja Kogi State, and Itohan Girls Grammar School in Benin City, where she actively participated in athletics, which earned her a scholarship to Boston University in Massachusetts, where she earned a degree in political science.
During her NYSC, she applied for Miss Nigeria (Kaduna Zone) and won, which got her to the final in Lagos, where she won a car as the first runner-up.
During her early age, she was politically active as a member of the United Party Nigeria’s youth section. Also, she was active in American politics during Bill Clinton’s administration and she met President Biden when he visited the area for his campaigns and campaigned locally for Clinton in Wilmington, Delaware.
Her journey to the fashion world started at age 5 when she posses to take photographs like a model.
Later, during a trip to South Africa in 2007, Joan and her colleague Juliet Morgan now Mrs. Eke found themselves making an unplanned decision that gave birth to Isis Models Africa, a leading modeling agency in Africa after the South Africa Fashion Week and has regularly produces talented models that walk the most sought-after runways in Paris, Milan, New York, and other cities.
She is also the founder of an NGO dedicated to empowering young African talent, Runways to Freedom as well as Nigeria’s Next Super Model, a platform that has produced talents featured in international fashion events in Madrid, Paris, Milan, and other fashion capitals.
She is married to retired air vice-marshal and two-star Air Force General of the Nigerian Air Force Terry Omatsola Okorodudu, whom she met on the same flight. The couple have a son Bidemi Okorodudu.
President-elect Donald Trump released his official inaugural portrait Thursday, and social media users were mostly stunned by its staggering resemblance to another image — Trump’s own 2023 mugshot.
On his website, Trump revealed his and Vice President-elect JD Vance’s portraits under the headline, “Official Portraits Released — And They Go Hard????” His supporters on X, formerly called Twitter, were quick to agree, while others shared concern about the incoming president’s familiar expression.
“Trump intentionally imitating his mugshot in his inauguration portrait is quite a flourish,” one person wrote, with another commenting, “This is Trump’s official portrait, and it’s giving off Bond villain vibes soooo bad #TrumpIsAConvictedFelon.”
“It’s a very dark portrait designed to look scary and reminiscent of his mugshot,” someone else posted. “Just portends the dark and scary days that lay ahead. I would expect a POTUS looking forward to 4 years of prosperity and successes to at least smile for the camera.”
The mugshot in question was taken in August 2023 after Trump surrendered himself to authorities at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta after being indicted on election interference charges for attempting to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.
While his 2016 inaugural portrait similarly featured a stern look and narrowed eyes, Trump’s second one almost looks like a complete replica of his mugshot, as both see him scowling and tilting his head forward — save for the better harsher lighting.
Trump's 2025 inaugural portrait. Donald J. Trump 2025 Presidential Campaign
Trump supporters have praised the image as “badass” on social media and claimed that Trump purposefully scowled to remind people “of what the Deep State has put him through.”
Others, meanwhile, have taken the opportunity to roast the president-elect with gleeful abandon.
•Approve 30% derivation, 20% based on population
•Senate projects N100 trillion budget for 2026 fiscal year
•North jittery because it’s ill-prepared, Natasha explains
•Northern groups decry politicisation of issue
•ASUU insists move will destroy public varsities
After many weeks of controversy, governors of the 36 states of the federation and the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, yesterday, agreed on modalities for sharing the Value Added Tax (VAT).
The governors, at the end of their meeting, endorsed the sharing of the VAT proceeds on the basis of 50 per cent equality, unchanged from what is currently in operation; 30 per cent derivation, from 20 per cent currently in operation and 60 per cent that was proposed by the Presidential Tax Reform Committee headed by Mr. Taiwo Oyedele.
The governors also agreed on 20 per cent sharing on population basis, from 30 per cent which is the current allocation before the tax reform proposal.
The tax reform deal came as Senate yesterday projected a N100 trillion aggregate expenditure for the 2026 fiscal year, and vowed to free funds it said were being held by some government organisations.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West), made the disclosure during a Stakeholders Public Hearing and Interactive Session on the 2025 Appropriation Bill. The session had the theme, “The 2025 Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity.”
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, said some stakeholders in the north were jittery about the tax reform bills because the region was ill-prepared for such fiscal legislation.
At the same time, some northern groups urged Nigerians, particularly northerners, to be wary of political actors using the current tax reform debate as platform to advance their ambitions ahead of the 2027 general election.
However, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reiterated its stance against the proposed Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, warning that it would spell doom for public universities in the country if implemented.
The communique of the governors’ meeting with members of the Presidential Tax Reform Committee in Abuja, held behind closed-doors, was signed by Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq.
The communique stated, “The Forum endorsed a revised Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing formula to ensure equitable distribution of resources: 50 per cent based on equality, 30 per cent based on derivation, and 20 per cent based on population.
“The Forum reiterated its strong support for the comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s archaic tax laws. Members acknowledged the importance of modernising the tax system to enhance fiscal stability and align with global best practices.
“We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and presidential tax reform committee, convened on the 16th of January 2025 to deliberate on critical national issues, including the reform of Nigeria’s fiscal policies and tax system, arrived at more resolutions.
“Members agreed that there should be no increase in the VAT rate or reduction in Corporate Income Tax (CIT) at this time, to maintain economic stability.
“The Forum advocated for the continued exemption of essential goods and agricultural produce from VAT to safeguard the welfare of citizens and promote agricultural productivity.
“The meeting recommended that there should be no terminal clause for TETFUND, NASENI, and NITDA in the sharing of development levies in the bills
“The meeting supports the continuation of the legislative process at the National Assembly that will culminate in the eventual passage of the Tax Reform Bills.”
Yesterday’s meeting between the governors and members of the presidential committee marked a major breakthrough, as the northern states’ governors, emirs and chiefs had last year rejected the proposed tax amendment bills sent to the National Assembly by the federal government.
They said it was capable of jeopardising the wellbeing of the people in the region.
The northern leaders said they were not against any policy that would ensure the growth and development of the country, but called for equity and farness in the implementation of all national policies and programmes to ensure that no geopolitical zone was marginalised.
Their position was contained in a communique signed by Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State, after a joint meeting with the traditional council in Kaduna.
The communique read, “Forum notes with dismay the content of the recent Tax Reform Bill that was forwarded to the National Assembly.
“The contents blare against the interests of the north and other sub-nationals, especially the proposed amendment to the distribution of Value Added Tax (VAT) to Derivation-based Model.
“This is because companies remit VAT using location of their headquarters and tax office and not where the services and goods are consumed.
“In view of the foregoing, the Forum unanimously rejects the proposed Tax Amendments and call on members of National Assembly to oppose any bill that can jeopardise the well-being of our people.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Northern Governor’ Forum is not averse to any policies or programmes that will ensure the growth and development of the country.
“However, the Forum calls for equity and farness in the implementation of all national policies and programmes so as to ensure that no geopolitical zone is short-changed or marginalised.”
Senate Projects N100 Trillion Budget
The senate projected a N100 trillion aggregate expenditure for 2026, vowing to free funds held by some government organisations.
The National Assembly is currently considering the N49.7 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill submitted to a joint session of the two chambers of the federal legislature in December last year by President Bola Tinubu.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West), revealed the figure during a Stakeholders Public Hearing and Interactive Session on the 2025 Appropriation Bill, with the theme, “The 2025 Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity.”
The session had in attendance the governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, professional bodies, non-governmental organisations, and heads of critical economic agencies of the federal government.
Adeola said the National Assembly was working to shore up the federal government’s revenue by freeing funds held by organisations, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
He said, “In the past, we borrowed money to stabilise the naira, so that the exchange rate can be somehow good and that we are not being threatened. To stabilise the naira, we were borrowing.
“CBN is doing a lot of things behind the scenes.
“When this administration came, it said there is no need for that. If you recall, we are operating a free economy. We must be seen to be operating that free economy and it throws everything to the table. No more subsidy, no more exchange rate difference, and no more electricity tariff.
“By so doing, what we are trying to do, this N49.7 trillion 2025 budget you are seeing, maybe by next year it will have doubled because by then, there is still a lot of our revenue that still need to be freed.”
Adeola said, “A lot of revenue has been held hostage by no other person than organisations, like the NNPC. The NNPCL still believes that there are still some elements of subsidy that are being treated as an operational expense in their documents that they still need to wipe out for more revenue to be freed and all other sundry items.
“By the time all this comes to pass, I can tell you maybe next time when we are gathered here, we will start having a budget of a minimum of about N100 trillion. So we are working round the clock, especially on this side of the divide, to ensure that we shore up our revenue.”
Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, urged his colleagues and other critical stakeholders to make the 2025 budget one that prioritised the welfare of Nigerians.
Akpabio said, “Together, we must ensure that this budget is not a mere ledger of revenue and expenditure, but a living document that prioritises the welfare of every Nigerian.
“This is not an ordinary assembly, and this is not an ordinary moment. For we are not gathered here merely as legislators, public servants, or citizens, but as custodians of Nigeria’s destiny, stewards of its promise, and architects of its future.
“Our beloved nation faces trials that would shake the resolve of lesser nations, but I am here to affirm, with unshakable conviction, that within every challenge lies the seed of opportunity. The task before us is formidable, but it is neither beyond our reach nor beneath our determination.”
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) said it had saved Nigeria N1.9 trillion from contract fraud over the years. Director-General of BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, stated this during the budget defence session with the Senate Committee on Public Procurement.
Adedokun said the agency set up June 14, 2007 remained a key stakeholder in the war against corruption in the country, especially as regards contract awards, inflation, and diversion.
He said, “The BPP has within the last 17 years been changing the landscape of public procurement in Nigeria by ensuring transparency, fairness and efficiency on contracts awards and execution.
“The BPP has been saving the country from loss of at least N40 billion annually to contract inflation, diversion of public funds, and poor service delivery. Records from our price intelligence unit indicate that total money prevented so far from being diverted to personal pockets from contracts award is N1.9 trillion.
“BPP has over the years been significantly contributing to increased revenue generation by the relevant agencies, like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Pension Commission (PENCOM), among others.”
Natasha: North Jittery Because It’s Ill-Prepared
Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has said some stakeholders in the north were Jittery over the tax reform bills because the region was ill-prepared for such fiscal legislation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, called for the revitalisation of northern Nigeria’s socio-economic and cultural heritage.
She urged northerners to embrace the vision of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, who led the region to prosperity in the 1950s.
The senator, according to a statement by her media aide, Arogbonlo Israel, made the appeal while speaking at the Sardauna Memorial Day in Kaduna.
She highlighted the importance of education and cultural preservation to achieve the envisaged economic transformation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stated that in 1959, Nigeria’s groundnut export to the UK was valued at £27 million, equivalent of N3.6 trillion today, while current groundnut exports were only $3 million.
Akpoti-Uduaghan stated, “The only reason why the north is jittery about the Tax Reform Bills is because we are ill-prepared. If we were generating N3.6 trillion from one agricultural product, would we be bothered about the reforms?
“Hence, we must task our leaders with developmental mind-sets to stir up the entrepreneurial ecosystems so our lands and factories can be productive once again.
“Let’s act from a position of economic abundance for our region and country at large.”
She urged collaboration among northern leaders and civil society to achieve those goals.
According to her, “In 1959, Nigeria groundnut export to United Kingdom alone stood at £27 million, which has an equivalent purchasing power of N3.6 trillion today.
“The residue from the groundnut’s oil extraction was also exported to the UK as livestock feeds. Today, Nigeria’s groundnut exports sit at distant $3 million.
“The northern Nigeria’s cotton industry shaped the Liverpool cloth market in London, UK, between the 50s and 70s, while the Kaduna Textile Mill flourished, creating thousands of jobs.
“Today, the cotton industry in Nigeria is pretty much non-existent while this same industry generates $21 billion annually. That’s the thriving economy Sardauna helped create and left for us to improve upon.”
Northern Groups Decry Politicisation of Tax Reform
Some northern groups urged Nigerians, especially northerners, to be wary of political actors using the current tax reform debate as platform to advance their 2027 political ambitions.
They said certain political actors were deliberately manipulating public sentiment, disguising personal interests under the guise of regional or national concern, thereby, diverting focus on tax reforms to an agenda centred on the 2027 general election.
The groups, which comprised Nigeria First Project Initiative, Muryar Talaka Awareness Initiative, and Coalition of Northern Nigerian Students Forum, gave their position via a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day engagement with youth groups, students, and community-based organisations at Arewa House, Kaduna.
The engagement was on the theme, “Tax Reform Bills: Between the Facts and Politics.”
The communique was jointly signed by National Coordinator, Nigeria First Project Initiative, Comrade Hamza Saulawa; National Secretary, Muryar Talaka Awareness Initiative, Comrade Bishir Dauda; and Coordinator, Coalition of Northern Nigerian Students Forum, Sadi Garba Sadiq.
Participants emphasised the need for accountability, transparency, and visionary leadership, particularly from the northern states governors.
They stated, “Only transparent and committed governance can lift the region out of its current economic and social challenges.”
The participants said the reforms aimed to simplify the country’s tax structure, broaden the tax net to include more sectors, and encourage compliance while supporting economic growth.
They added that the benefits were crucial for long-term fiscal stability and sustainable development of the country.
The participants also called for caution and restraint in the ongoing debate over the tax reform bills, and advised the public to disregard divisive rhetoric propagated by agents of discord seeking to exploit the issue for political gain.
They encouraged northerners to actively participate in the upcoming public hearings on the tax bills, stressing that citizens should present their views constructively and engage lawmakers through established democratic channels, as advised by President Bola Tinubu.
The groups specifically called on the northern states to diversify their revenue sources to reduce dependence on federal allocations.
They said governors and leaders should prioritise agricultural development, leveraging the region’s potential in value chains, such as cotton and groundnuts, to boost productivity.
They also urged northern states to capitalise on federal government policies on solid minerals and livestock development to generate income, employment, and revenue.
They said the tax reform bills, if implemented effectively, could significantly enhance the country’s revenue base, reduce over-dependence on oil revenue, and ensure a more equitable tax system.
Participants, however, expressed regret that the discourse on the tax reform bills had been heavily politicised, regionalised, and ethnically charged.
ASUU: Tax Bills Will Ruin Public Universities
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reiterated its stand against the proposed Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, saying it would spell doom for public universities in the country if implemented.
Addressing a press conference in Jos, the Bauchi zone of ASUU, comprising six universities, and led by Zonal Coordinator, Professor Namo Timothy, expressed the union’s concerns about the bill.
Timothy said the bill sought to replace the Development Levy, a major source of funding for Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) projects, with the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The move, ASUU argued, would have far-reaching implications for the survival of TETFund and the Nigerian tertiary education system.
The union stated that TETFund had been instrumental in infrastructure development, postgraduate training, research, and capacity-building in public tertiary institutions since 1993.
It wondered why the federal government would want to do away with the fund.
Timothy stated, “ASUU Bauchi Zone, made up Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Federal University, Kashere; Gombe State University, Gombe; Plateau State University, Bokkos; University of Jos, Jos; and Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi, has observed with concern, the on-going public debate on the review of the tax system in the country under a proposed presidential bill tagged, Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024, which is currently before the National Assembly.
“The bill seeks to enact a new law and to abrogate the Education Tax. The bill, if passed into law, will replace the Development Levy, a major source of funding of TETFund projects, so that all the funds generated from the Education Tax will be ceded to the newly established Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“This is dangerous and unpatriotic. Section 59 (3) of the proposed Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 stipulates that only 50 per ent of total collection from the Development Levy will be accessed by TETFund in 2025 and 2026 while the remaining part will be shared by National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“In 2027, 2028 and 2029, TETFund will receive 66.7 per cent of total collection, while in 2030 TETFund will receive zero allocation. The far-reaching implication of this toxic bill is that by 2030 all the funds generated from the Development Levy will be accessed solely by NELFUND.
“This portends danger for the survival of TETFund and, consequently, the Nigerian tertiary education system. It is noteworthy that TETFund has been the backbone of infrastructural development, postgraduate training, research and capacity-building in public tertiary institutions in Nigeria since 1993.”
The union leader called on the National Assembly to halt further debate on the bill and protect the sanctity of the TETFund Act 2011. He urged Nigerians to rise against anti-people policies of the Tinubu administration.
[Thisday]