The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s poor tax compliance rate, disclosing that only 19% of Nigerians currently pay taxes.

Adedeji made this revelation during the public presentation of a new book titled “Taxation: Essential Knowledge for Nigerian Children,” a publication supported by the FIRS to promote early tax education among the country’s youth.

Represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Research and Statistics, Aisha Mahmoud, Adedeji stressed that the findings were the outcome of several studies conducted by the agency.

“First of all, I want to say that we have run a couple of studies and we have found out that tax compliance is positively correlated with tax education,” he stated.

“When children are educated, they grow up to become responsible people, pay their taxes and do what is right.”

While noting the current tax compliance rate at 19%, Adedeji also pointed out that some other studies suggest the figure could be as low as 10% to 15%, indicating a potentially more dire situation.

According to him, the FIRS sees early education as a strategic tool to reverse this trend. 

“It is easier to make younger children become tax compliant when they grow up than reform tax-dodging adults,” he explained. “That is why we support initiatives like this book launch.”

The book, co-authored by Aderonke Atoyebi and Ejura Haruna, is aimed at instilling foundational knowledge about taxes and civic duties in children from a young age. 

Adedeji’s remarks come as the federal government intensifies efforts to broaden the tax net and improve revenue generation in the face of dwindling oil income and rising national debt.

In his second anniversary speech, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tax reforms, revealing plans to establish a Tax Ombudsman—a neutral body to protect vulnerable taxpayers and ensure fairness within the system.

“Most importantly, we are laying the foundation for a more sustainable future by introducing a new national fiscal policy,” President Tinubu said.

“This strategic framework will guide our approach to fair taxation, responsible borrowing, and disciplined spending.”

Constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has said that the rising cost of living and widespread public discontent under President Bola Tinubu’s administration could fuel a formidable opposition movement capable of unseating him in the 2027 general election.

Speaking in response to reports of an emerging political alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Ozekhome argued that if properly coordinated, Nigeria’s fractured opposition could defeat Tinubu, whose grip on state institutions remains a major hurdle.

“With the misery and disenchantment on the ground, a powerful force can ease him (Tinubu) out of power,” he said. “But the forces are massive, with Tinubu controlling virtually every apparatus of state power.”

He urged opposition blocs to consolidate, likening Nigeria’s political system to that of the United States where power typically alternates between two dominant parties. “We should have such a template where there is no dominant power bloc,” Ozekhome added.

Sharing Ozekhome’s view, another lawyer and rights activist, Abdul Mahmud, described Tinubu’s economic policies as neo-imperialist and harmful to the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

“Nigerians have suffered enough under Tinubu and will continue to suffer as he proceeds with his neo-imperialist economic policies,” Mahmud told The PUNCH. “Nigerians are tired of Tinubu and anybody/anyone but Tinubu will do in 2027.”

However, some stakeholders have cautioned against overly optimistic projections, especially regarding the proposed Atiku-Obi alliance.

The National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima, said the arrangement — in which Atiku is reportedly offering Obi the vice presidential slot in a one-term presidency — requires closer scrutiny.

He said the alliance could be “a pragmatic approach to coalition-building within Nigeria’s complex political landscape, aiming to unify diverse voter bases and enhance electoral viability.”

“By aligning with Obi, who has garnered significant support particularly among the youth and progressive factions, Atiku may seek to rejuvenate his own political capital while positioning himself as a unifier in a fragmented political arena,” Yerima said.

He, however, warned that the proposal may stir intra-party tensions and invite questions about motive and sincerity.

 “Is it a genuine attempt at fostering collaboration, or a calculated manoeuvre to consolidate power?” he asked.

Yerima maintained that it will ultimately be up to Nigerians to decide what political configuration best serves the country’s interest come 2027.

“Voters will make a meaning out of every permutation and decide what is good for them and the future of the country,” he noted.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to turn the Nigeria First Policy into law to boost the manufacturing sector.

MAN Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir, in his keynote address on Thursday at the 2025 BusinessDay Manufacturing Conference held in Lagos, said that gazetting the procurement policy would ensure it is implemented across all arms of government and the private sector.

‘Nigeria First’ is a procurement policy mandating Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies to prioritise locally made products in their budgetary allocations.

Ajayi-Kadir stated that manufacturing, which is burdened by high interest rates, can benefit from the policy when it is enforceable as law.

He recommended: “Make the Nigeria First Policy a binding law, and punitive measures should be put in place for violators. This is critical to give the policy legal standing, ensuring transparency, public awareness, and enforceability across government institutions and the private sector.”

Ajayi-Kadir warned that the Nigeria First policy risks going the way of past executive orders 003 and 005 that failed to make a tangible impact due to the absence of a formal legal framework.

He added, “Nigeria must seize this moment to transform its manufacturing sector by prioritising the patronage of local products. If we fail to nurture our own, we will forever be at the mercy of others.” 

Meanwhile, MAN’s DG bemoaned the challenges manufacturers faced. He stressed that 767 manufacturing companies shut down operations in 2023 alone, while over 18,000 jobs were lost in 2024.

He added that rising costs, policy inconsistencies, infrastructural decay, and currency depreciation have made the manufacturing sector nearly unviable.

Meanwhile, MAN urged the government to resolve the $2.4 bn in unsettled foreign exchange forwards, reverse the 15 per cent increase in port charges by the Nigerian Ports Authority and remove the suspended but previously enforced four per cent Free on Board levy on exports.

Ajayi-Kadir also called for the fast-tracking of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, which he said would inject 3.6 GW into the power grid and drastically reduce manufacturers’ energy burdens.

Further, MAN urged the Federal Government to adopt its 2024 Manufacturers Summit Report as working documents for a national industrial policy, stressing, “A nation without a clear industrial policy is like a ship without a rudder.”

The Dozens of students sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination at the Government Secondary School, Namnai, in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State narrowly escaped death on Wednesday evening after their classrooms collapsed during a heavy downpour accompanied by a windstorm.

The students, along with teachers, corps members, and external supervisors, were reportedly trapped in the debris of the collapsed structures and had to be rescued by local residents who responded swiftly to their pain of anguish and cries for help.

Arewa PUNCH learnt that several students, both male and female, sustained varying degrees of injuries, with some reportedly suffering fractures to their limbs.

The victims are currently receiving treatment at a nearby Primary Healthcare Centre in the town.

A resident, Alhaji DanAzumi Lauris, who spoke with Arewa PUNCH in a telephone interview, said the incident happened around 6 pm, shortly after the second set of students had begun their exams.

“It was the second batch of students who had just moved inside the classrooms to  sit for their exams that got trapped. The first set had already finished and left.

“The rains came suddenly with strong winds, and the old classroom structures couldn’t withstand it and collapsed on them,” he further narrated. 

He added that the windstorm did not only bring down the school buildings but also destroyed several homes within the community.

In a related development, our correspondent also reports that students in Jalingo, the state capital, were also affected by Wednesday’s heavy rainfall.

Some candidates were forced to remain at their exam centres until after 1am, as the torrential rains made it impossible for them to return home earlier.

Arewa PUNCH investigations, however revealed that the students’ plight was further compounded by the late arrival of WAEC papers for the day, resulting in the delay in sitting for the exams which did not begin until 8:pm after many of centres received their question papers.

Efforts to get the Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin to speak on the matter was unsuccessful as her phone line was not reachable as at the time of filing this story.

Organised Labour on Thursday delivered an unflattering assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s two years in office, saying his reforms and policies brought nothing but pain and suffering to Nigerians.

The labour movement countered Tinubu’s claims that the worst days are over, pointing out that his economic reforms have plunged over 150 million Nigerians into multidimensional poverty.

In a statement, the Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, submitted that far from renewing hope, his government has merely recycled the same failed neoliberal experiments of the past.

However, the All Progressives Congress pushed back against Tinubu’s critics, accusing the NLC of misrepresenting the reality.

Responding to the criticisms against the President, the APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, said the NLC’s evaluation lacked depth and objectivity.

“Their statement was sponsored. The NLC failed to engage with the real issues and instead chose to grandstand,” Arodiogbu said.

“It’s disappointing to see a professional body making comments that sound more like what you’d hear in a marketplace. They ought to consult economists and policy experts before making such superficial remarks,” he added.

Speaking on Tinubu’s midterm record, Arodiogbu commended the President’s performance.

In a national broadcast to commemorate his second anniversary on Thursday, Tinubu touted the benefits of his reforms, saying, “We are on course to building a greater, more economically stable nation.”

He stated that his administration is on course to making life better for Nigerians.

Tinubu acknowledged the pains his reforms have unleashed, adding that he does not take the patience of citizens for granted.

“Today, I proudly affirm that our economic reforms are working. We are on course to building a greater, more economically stable nation. Under our Renewed Hope Agenda, our administration pledged to tackle economic instability, improve security nationwide, reduce corruption, reform governance, and lift our people out of poverty.’’

But Ajaero dismissed Tinubu’s assertions, stating that the government’s failure to move the nation forward had only proved once again that ‘’you cannot cure a patient by prescribing the poison that made him sick in the first place.’’

He said, ‘’When President Bola Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, he promised a new dawn—bold economic reforms that would rescue Nigeria from fiscal instability and set it on a path to prosperity.

“But two years later, the only thing bolder than his rhetoric is the magnitude of suffering and hardship his policies have inflicted on workers and ordinary Nigerians.

“Far from renewing hope, his administration has recycled the same failed neoliberal experiments of the past, proving once again that you cannot cure a patient by prescribing the poison that made them sick in the first place.’’

The labour leader recalled how the sudden removal of the petrol subsidy sent shockwaves through an already fragile economy, causing fuel prices to skyrocket from N187 to over N600 per litre overnight.

Tinubu did not mention in his speech how much the country has saved from fuel subsidy removal, but he did indicate that net external reserves grew from $4 billion in 2023 to over $23 billion by the end of 2024.

While the government argued the move would free up public funds for development and reduce economic distortions, the NLC noted that Nigerians have seen no visible gains, only skyrocketing costs, business closures, and growing hunger.

“Instead of reinvestment, Nigerians got inflation so vicious that families now skip meals, businesses shutter daily, and transport costs consume the little that remains of workers’ wages,” the congress said.

The second pillar of Tinubu’s reforms, the unification of Nigeria’s multiple exchange rates, sought to enhance transparency and attract foreign investment. But the NLC said the policy has had a devastating impact on local production and consumer prices.

Ajaero stated that it only accelerated the naira’s collapse and imported inflation into the domestic economy, making everyday goods unaffordable.

“The naira, left to the so-called ‘market forces,’ has collapsed in value, turning Nigeria into a bargain basement for neighbouring countries while local industries suffocate under the weight of imported inflation,” Ajaero said.

What makes this pain even more frustrating, Ajaero observed, is that none of it is new, recalling the bitter pill and pains of past policies rammed down the nation’s throat by the International Monetary Fund.

He queried, ‘’We have seen this script before—subsidy removals, devaluations, and IMF-approved austerity—each time sold as the bitter pill Nigeria must swallow for a brighter future. But when has it ever worked?

“The same policies under past administrations only widened inequality, enriched a few, and left the majority poorer. Tinubu’s version is no different, except the suffering is deeper, the anger louder, and the government’s response more brutal.’’

He referenced the hyperinflation in the country, which he said had obliterated the workers’ wages.

Despite the optimism conveyed in the presidential broadcast, the NLC insists that macroeconomic statistics are cold comfort for citizens struggling to survive daily.

The union noted that economic performance is measured by how people feel, not by PowerPoint slides and selective data. “If this government truly wants to renew hope, it must abandon these cruel experiments and put Nigerians, not foreign creditors, at the centre of its policies.”

The Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, Chris Onyeka, told The PUNCH that the economic reforms seem like a deliberate imposition of pain on the poor in the service of foreign financial institutions and local elites.

“None of these policies are new. We have seen them under previous administrations. Each time sold as the bitter pill for a better tomorrow. But when has it ever worked?”

Tinubu introduced several policies to alleviate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal, such as the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas program to reduce dependence on petrol, lower transportation costs, and provide cleaner energy alternatives, helping to mitigate the impact of higher fuel prices.

The government implemented palliative measures such as direct cash transfers and food distribution programs aimed at cushioning vulnerable Nigerians from the immediate inflationary pressures caused by the sharp rise in fuel prices.

The union acknowledged the CNG intervention but described it as grossly inadequate given the scale of infrastructural deficits and transportation chaos.

“The only thing we single out is the provision of CNG buses for the use of Nigerian workers across the nation by the federal government to ease transportation, which remains inadequate and hampered by serious gas infrastructural deficits,” it said.

Beyond economic grievances, the NLC also decried what it called the Federal Government’s increasing hostility toward organised labour.

It cited unpaid wage awards, intimidation of labour leaders, the criminalisation of protests, and a consistent disregard for court rulings as examples of the administration’s authoritarian tendencies.

“For Nigerian workers, it has been two years of brutality, suppression, and broken promises,” Ajaero lamented.

The NLC also highlighted growing insecurity across the country as a critical concern, questioning the logic of discussing economic reforms when citizens face widespread kidnappings, insurgency, and banditry.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Council,  Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Gbenga Ekundayo, also faulted the fuel subsidy removal and called for a shift toward a production-driven economy.

“Transportation remains central to our economic structure, and removing fuel subsidies was a direct hit,” Ekundayo told The PUNCH.

The chairman said that, as an import-dependent country, higher fuel costs immediately affect the prices of goods and services, which affects the average Nigerian.

He argued that years of neglect of domestic production capacity have left the country vulnerable to global supply shocks and inflation, exacerbated by policy decisions that increase costs without compensatory measures.

“We’ve focused too much on subsidising consumption,” he said. “What we need is to subsidise production and support manufacturing, agriculture, and local industries so that we can bring down the cost of goods and build resilience into the economy.”

Ekundayo also criticised the inconsistency between the government’s rhetoric on austerity and its spending patterns, describing the disparity as damaging to public morale.

“Government is telling citizens to tighten their belts, but the political class is not doing the same,” he said. “There’s a glaring disconnect, and people are beginning to question whether the burden of reform is being fairly shared.”

However, he commended ongoing infrastructure projects, particularly road construction, saying they have the potential to stimulate job creation and improve the movement of goods and services.

“The construction works across different regions are a step in the right direction,” he said. “They can open up economic corridors and enhance trade. But the government must be transparent about the costs involved so that people can understand and own these projects.”

Ekundayo further stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s research and development capacity by forging stronger links between academic institutions and the real sector.

The NLC Chairman in Kwara State, Saheed Olayinka, said the worst is not yet over, arguing that the government has yet to tackle the real challenge facing the country.

“The government has not yet solved the economic problem facing the people. It is still chasing the shadows. The people cannot afford three square meals, the insecurity is not yet solved, and the gap between the naira and dollar is widening.’’

Similarly, the TUC Chairman in Bauchi State, Sabiu Barau, admonished the President to face the reality on the ground, noting that the cost of living is still very high.

‘’The masses are still suffering. Farmers in most places cannot go to the farm for fear of being attacked or kidnapped. There is no power supply. There are a lot of issues as far as I am concerned.”

He maintained that workers in the country are struggling to survive, noting that “The N70,000 new minimum wage is not enough.

“Most importantly, the aspect of the consequential adjustment is provocative. It may interest you to know that some workers got less than a N10,000 increase.”

Sunny James, the Akwa Ibom NLC Chairman, challenged Tinubu to show the practical evidence of what he has been able to do for Nigerians in the last two years.

“It’s not the issue of rhetoric; what is important and what Nigerians and workers are expecting is practical evidence. We want people who can walk the talk.

‘’If he says the worst days are over,  is it in the area of employment? Is it in the area of security when our roads are still not safe and people cannot sleep with their eyes closed? Nigerians can no longer tolerate promises; what we want is practical evidence,” he demanded.

The Benue State TUC Chairman, Gideon Akaa, described as laughable Tinubu’s submission that ‘’Nigeria’s worst days are over.’’

“Have the exchange rates dropped? Has inflation gone down? Have the prices of consumables in the market dropped? What about the electricity tariff? I think these are the indices to measure our standard.

“You say you increased salary, but can N70,000 feed a family of four in a month?  You cannot travel without your heart in your mouth because of kidnappers. Insecurity is on the rise every day, and you are saying the worst is over. Well, I’m yet to see that,” Akaa said.

Also, the labour leaders in Jigawa and Kaduna disagreed with the President’s optimism, stressing that the situation does not support his claim.

Sunusi Maigatari, the NLC Chairman in Jigawa State, noted, “We cannot agree with the President’s claim when the reality on the ground is that Nigerians are still grappling with hunger and hardship. The removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira have led to unprecedented inflation, making it difficult for ordinary Nigerians to make ends meet. The President’s claim that the worst days are over is far from the truth.”

He expressed concern about the suffering of citizens, particularly workers and the poor.

The Kaduna State Chairman of the NLC, Suleiman Ayuba, expressed scepticism over the Nigerian leader’s promise, adding that his administration has not done enough to address poverty in the country.

“We want to see action and not statements,” Ayuba said. ‘’He has been saying that even during the electioneering. They said they would bring all the goodies, and up till now we are still waiting.”

Ayuba questioned the President’s sincerity, asking if he meant to say that Nigeria’s worst days are over in the past two years or the next two years.

Furthermore, the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Laye Julius, and the Imo State NLC Chairman, Chigaemezu Nwigwe, dismissed Tinubu’s promises as a political statement.

Julius argued that with the level of insecurity, poor electricity supply, lack of employment for youths, exchange rate and continued borrowing, the country was worse off.

 “You are seeing that the security challenge in the North has not abated. In the past few months, we have lost several soldiers.

“And when you come to Benue State, Nigerians are being killed daily, and the President is saying the worst days are over?’’

Nwigwe said there was nothing to reflect the claim, even as he said the minimum wage implementation by the Federal Government was poor.

Murtala Usman, the NLC boss in Kebbi State, advised the President to review the minimum wage.

His TUC counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Alkali, equally asked the President to improve the workers’ welfare.

Reacting to Tinubu’s statement, the NLC leader in Plateau State, Eugene Mangji, said,  “I don’t know the indices he used to measure the situation in the country which led him to arrive at that conclusion.”

Mangji noted that the NLC has yet to experience the positive impact of the government’s policies.

The NLC chairman highlighted the stark contrast between the struggles of ordinary Nigerians and the seeming prosperity of some individuals, saying, “As we are crying, some people are building houses. The government is confiscating over 700 buildings at a time people are crying that they don’t have money.”

APC kicks

Countering NLC, the APC National Vice Chairman, Arodiogbu, insisted that Tinubu has performed creditably

“President Tinubu has a solid track record. I’ve reviewed his achievements personally, and I believe he deserves credit. People rarely praise an administration while it’s still in office; it’s usually after it’s gone that the true impact is recognised.”

He further noted that Tinubu was not pursuing populist policies, but rather making tough, necessary decisions for the country’s future.

“He has been transparent with Nigerians about the challenges we face and the sacrifices required for a better tomorrow. That’s what sets him apart from the opposition.”

President Bola Tinubu has signed an Executive Order aimed at slashing oil and gas projects’ costs, improving government revenue, and accelerating investment inflow into Nigeria’s energy sector.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, the Federal Government said the directive introduces far-reaching fiscal reforms that prioritise cost-efficiency, operational accountability, and national value retention.

Titled “Putting Every Barrel to Work: Nigeria’s New Presidential Directive on Cost Efficiency Targets New Investments, Improved Revenues and National Value,” the order sets a bold agenda for reining in production expenses while offering globally competitive terms to serious investors.

According to the statement, one of the key provisions of the Executive Order is a cap on tax credits, limiting them to no more than 20 per cent of a company’s annual tax liability.

This measure, the government explained, is designed to protect public revenues while still rewarding efficiency and responsible operations in the upstream sector. The effective date of the Order is set for April 30, 2025.

The Upstream Petroleum Operations Cost Efficiency Incentives Order (2025) introduces performance-based tax incentives for upstream operators who deliver verifiable cost savings that meet defined industry benchmarks.

A copy of the official gazette read, “The operating costs in the Nigerian oil and gas sector have been observed to be high compared to the global average, arising mainly from prolonged project execution timelines and local content requirements. The President has, in response to the high operating costs, issued policy directives on the reduction of oil and gas sector operating costs, contracting timelines and local content compliance requirements.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to efficient management of petroleum resources and reduction of petroleum cost in the upstream petroleum sector to enhance competitiveness and efficiency; and it has become necessary to provide additional measures to promote fiscal discipline, reduce operating cost and maximise Nigeria’s economic gains from the upstream petroleum operations through monitoring mechanisms and appropriate regime of incentives.”

It also directed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to publish benchmarks annually according to terrain, onshore, shallow water, and deep offshore.

The commission shall, on an annual basis, conduct an assessment and benchmarking study to establish appropriate cost benchmarks for upstream operational activities and Unit Operating Costs for onshore, shallow water, and deep offshore terrains; determine the cost benchmarks in accordance with guidelines issued by the Commission pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act, provided that prior to the issuance of guidelines, the Commission shall consult with relevant stakeholders and publish the underlying methodology for the annual benchmarking;

“With the objective of reducing the overall cost profile of petroleum operations, annually assign specific Unit Operating Cost reduction targets for each terrain, taking into consideration the peculiarities of their operating environment and production volume; and conduct annual reviews within the tax return cycle of the lessee’s or licensee’s performance with the key assessment metric being the Unit operating Costs to determine adherence to set targets,” it stated.

Additionally, detailed implementation guidelines for the new Order will be issued in due course. Among other provisions, the Order also caps available tax credits at 20 per cent of a company’s annual tax liability, protecting government revenues while still offering strong fiscal terms to incentivise efficient operators.

“Nigeria must attract investment inflows, not out of charity, but because investors are convinced of real and enduring value. This Order is a signal to the world: we are building an oil and gas sector that is efficient, competitive, and works for all Nigerians. It is about securing our future, creating jobs, and making every barrel count,” said President Tinubu.

To ensure effective implementation of the new Order, the President has tasked the Special Adviser on Energy to lead inter-agency coordination, ensuring alignment across key government institutions and translating policy intent into measurable outcomes.

“This is not a pursuit of cost reduction for its own sake. It is a deliberate strategy to position Nigeria’s upstream sector as globally competitive and fiscally resilient,” said the Special Adviser to the President on Energy,  Mrs Olu Verheijen. “With this reform, we are rewarding efficiency, strengthening investor confidence, and ultimately delivering greater value to the Nigerian people.”

The new Order builds on the administration’s 2024 presidential reform directives, which delivered improved fiscal terms, shortened project timelines, and aligned local content policies with global best practice.

Commenting via her official X handle, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy said the Executive Order links tax incentives to verifiable cost savings, introduces terrain-specific cost benchmarks for onshore, shallow water, and deep offshore operations, and caps tax credits to safeguard government revenue while incentivising operational efficiency.

She said, “Nigeria is raising the bar on upstream oil & gas reform. Today, I’m proud to share that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a landmark Presidential Order on Cost Efficiency, a bold and pragmatic step to make Nigeria’s upstream sector more globally competitive, fiscally resilient, and investor-aligned.

“At a time when oil prices are softening and capital is more selective, the Upstream Petroleum Operations Cost Efficiency Incentives Order (2025) does three powerful things: Links tax incentives to verifiable cost savings, Establishes terrain-specific cost benchmarks (onshore, shallow water, deep offshore) and Caps credits to protect government revenue while rewarding efficient operators

“This Order builds on earlier reforms, including improved fiscal terms, faster contracting, and commercially aligned local content rules. Now we are shifting from intent to execution with performance, discipline, and value at the centre. Let’s work together to put every barrel to work for our economy, for investors, and for the future of Nigeria’s energy security.”

A 14-year-old Gombe girl (names withheld), who was forced into early-child-marriage in Taraba State, has lamented the challenges she faced in the forced union with her wealthy spouse.

Narrating her ordeal to Arewa PUNCH in Gombe, the teenager cried out that she was forcefully married off through the support and consent of her grandfather, who connived with her parents and arranged the marriage against my will.

According to the adolescent  teenage wife, her erstwhile husband ties her down before forcefully engaging in an  intercourse with her.

She explained, “Barely one month after I got there, my grandfather connived with my parents and arranged the marriage against my will. He (erstwhile husband) started beating me and tying me down on the bed before raping me. Sometimes, he will call some people to help him hold my hands and tie me down.”

She lauded the government for providing her with food, shelter, and other essential support, while also expressing gratitude for the government’s intervention, adding, “The government has supported me and my relatives with foodstuffs, sleeping materials, and other interventions, including money, and they have promised to support me to continue my education which was stopped after primary school.”

Arewa PUNCH reports further that some of the items provided to the victim included: bags of rice, maize, packs of sugar, macaroni, insecticide-treated nets, wrappers, stove among others.

Decrying the challenges of the survivor, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Asma’u Iganus, disclosed that rather than feel sober and remorseful, the minor’s ‘husband’ has initiated legal actions against her for refusing to return.

Igamus said, “The Gombe State government is standing firm against all forms of child rights violations, including forced and underage marriages, rape, and all Gender-Based Violence.

“We have mobilised a legal team to ensure that this child is protected and allowed to study because that is what she wants.”

The commissioner further disclosed that the girl’s husband, who already has two wives, allegedly subjected her to physical and emotional abuse, stressing that, “The man used to invite some people into the room to help him tie her up on the bed and rape her without her consent.”

She continued,  “You can see the scars on her both wrists. We will not allow that to continue.

“We are going to Taraba to defend her and ensure that the girl is protected by challenging any proceedings that violate her rights.

“The Gombe State Governor and the First Lady are not taking violence against women and girls for granted. Their actions (support) demonstrate this administration’s dedication to combating child rights violations and promoting the well-being of citizens,” she added.

Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of “political bitterness” and “unfair” attacks on the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

In a response to Atiku’s criticism, Onanuga said the former vice president’s commentary was driven by “animosity rather than objective analysis.”

Onanuga stated this in a release he shared on X late Thursday.

“My attention has just been drawn to former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s vitriol against the Tinubu administration and the person of President Bola Tinubu,” Onanuga began.

“Atiku’s sweeping criticism is unfair and appears to be driven more by animosity than objective analysis.”

Onanuga urged Atiku to “acknowledge the significant progress and positive achievements made by this administration over the past two years”, unless he is “still living in Dubai.”

He stressed that Tinubu has shown uncommon political courage, saying: “In just two years, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has embarked on the most ambitious and audacious economic and institutional reforms ever seen in decades.”

Taking a swipe at Atiku’s campaign rhetoric, Onanuga reminded him: “During the campaign, Tinubu never promised that the reforms would be painless. But he was clear they were necessary to rescue the country from the brink of fiscal collapse to reverse years of unsustainable spending and lay a solid foundation for long-term inclusive growth.”

Onanuga highlighted Tinubu’s bold moves, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange system, which, he said, “successive administrations, including that of Obasanjo-Atiku Abubakar, acknowledged as necessary but failed to implement.”

He added, “Atiku promised the reforms in his manifesto. Indeed, all three major candidates in the election agreed they must be done, except that the responsibility to implement the reforms fell on President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 election.”

Countering Atiku’s claim that Tinubu’s policies are “anti-people,” Onanuga declared: “The Tinubu administration, fully acknowledging that its policies affect the vulnerable, has increased investments in social safety nets, introduced targeted interventions for low-income households, and more than doubled the minimum wage, from N30k to N70k.”

He added: “Some states even pay up to N85k to their workers, a feat made possible by increased federal allocations.”

On education, Onanuga dismissed Atiku’s claims as “entirely off the mark,” arguing: “Everyone knows the claim is false; it’s just an attempt to throw any muck at Bola Tinubu.”

He pointed to the Student Loan Scheme, noting that “over 600,000 Nigerian students have benefitted from the loans,” which cover tuition and living expenses. Onanuga quipped: “The loans do not yet cover Nigerians in expensive schools like Atiku’s American University in Yola.”

On fiscal discipline, Onanuga refuted claims that the Tinubu administration is recklessly borrowing to fund the 2025 budget, saying: “Atiku again ignorantly accused the Tinubu administration of borrowing fresh money to support the 2025 budget. He relied on social media gossip… The Finance Minister has debunked this as untrue and said that even this year, the government only wants to borrow about $1.2 billion.”

Onanuga argued that Tinubu’s government has achieved “phenomenal” revenue growth and improved fiscal management, stating: “Revenue has increased phenomenally. The debt service ratio to revenue has declined from 93 per cent to 60 per cent. This government has paid off the $3.4 billion IMF loan obtained in the Covid years. The current administration has discontinued Ways & Means deficit financing for the first time in decades.”

He added: “State revenue has risen, and subnational governments now have greater resources for local development and to pay their debts. This is the only positive Atiku admitted, forgetting to praise the Tinubu government that made this possible.”

Addressing the challenges of reform, Onanuga stated: “This government has admitted honestly that the reforms come with attendant challenges and has worked vigorously to lessen the pain.”

He underscored the administration’s achievements, quoting Tinubu’s anniversary statement: “We have made progress. Inflation is easing, food production is rising, investments are returning, and the foundation for a more prosperous, just, and inclusive Nigeria is being laid. These gains are in plain sight for everyone. Only those who play blind will not see them.”

In a parting shot at Atiku, Onanuga said: “Atiku and his co-travellers in the coalition party he is cobbling together need not worry about their democratic rights. As an acknowledged democrat, President Tinubu will not curtail their rights or silence them.”

He concluded: “Criticism must be elevated and constructive. When Atiku opposes government policies, he should also offer a solution.

“Otherwise, his opposition statements will be dismissed as mere partisan rhetoric and cheap talk. Nigerians deserve opposition leaders who offer solutions, not just criticism.”

The United States has lifted sanctions imposed on Gabon over a 2023 coup after the Central African country carried out an election, the State Department said Thursday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio “has certified and reported to Congress that a democratically elected government has taken office in Gabon,” a State Department spokesperson said.

As a result, the sanctions imposed in 2023 “have been lifted,” the spokesperson said.

US law requires the State Department to halt assistance to countries where the military takes charge, although Washington has occasionally skirted the guidelines for sensitive partners.

Gabon’s military in August 2023 removed Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family had run the oil-rich country for more than half a century and had been proclaimed the winner of an election marred by irregularities.

Coup leader General Brice Clotaire Oligui, who promised a two-year path to civilian rule, went on to win the presidency after taking 94.85 percent of the vote on April 12.

Despite the wide margin, international observers signalled no major irregularities, and the African Union also lifted sanctions on Gabon.

Even before the coup, Gabon was not a major recipient of US assistance, and President Donald Trump since returning to the White House has made sweeping cuts in aid overseas.

AFP/PUNCH NG

President Bola Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania on the election of Dr Sidi Ould Tah as the ninth President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

Speaking from Lagos in a telephone call with his Mauritanian counterpart on Thursday, Tinubu commended the transparent and credible process that produced Dr Tah at the AfDB’s Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

This was detailed in a Thursday statement, released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) on May 29, 2025.

“Dr Tah’s election is a testament to the robust democratic process within the AfDB, and I believe his wealth of experience, especially as Mauritania’s former Finance Minister and Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), will be invaluable in steering the Bank towards greater heights,” Tinubu said.

Tah will succeed Nigeria’s Dr Akinwumi Adesina, whose decade-long tenure concludes in September.

Tinubu expressed gratitude to the outgoing AfDB President, praising his contributions and wishing him well in future endeavours.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s enduring commitment to the AfDB, President Tinubu emphasised the country’s status as the Bank’s largest shareholder among its 54 African and 27 non-African member nations. 

He pledged Nigeria’s full support for Dr Tah’s vision, particularly in areas such as infrastructure development, agricultural transformation, energy access, and climate resilience.

“Nigeria remains committed to working closely with the incoming AfDB leadership to advance shared priorities across the continent,” Tinubu stated, highlighting the importance of strengthening regional financial institutions, promoting Africa’s economic independence, and building climate-resilient infrastructure.

Tinubu also referenced Nigeria’s recent approval of a $500 million capital replenishment for the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF), which extends its operations by another 15 years.

Established in 1976 and fully financed by Nigeria, the NTF is a dedicated AfDB fund supporting development projects across Africa.

“This renewed commitment underscores Nigeria’s dedication to the AfDB’s mission of driving inclusive growth and poverty reduction on the continent,” Tinubu affirmed.