Author: Hamza Rufai

DESPITE spending more than N14.36 billion on alternative sources of electricity for rural areas across the federation in 2024, the Federal Government proposed to spend N1.3 trillion to deepen its efforts in 2025. The Rural Electrification Agency will handle the projects under the Ministry of Power. This is as the REA, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is probing for N12.7 billion fraud, has failed to connect hundreds of communities to the national grid. As part of the ongoing probe, the EFCC traced 27 accounts to the suspended Managing Director of the REA, Salihijo Ahmad. In March 2024, Ahmad…

THE Federal Government has said all visa applications will go online before March 1. Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Monday when he was hosted on ‘X Spaces’ by an influencer, Dr Segun Awosanya. According to him, there is also now a centralised visa approval centre that has merged the visa regime to ensure uniformity, enhance national security, and reduce corruption. “The visa approval centre is also an achievement for this administration because we also now have a centralised visa approval centre. “This will stem corruption, ensure national security, and merge the visa regime to ensure uniformity.…

THE Nigerian Communications Commission approved a 50 per cent increase in call tariffs on Monday, which may raise the average cost of calls to N16.5 per minute. Based on the 2023 national telephone traffic data, this hike could generate over N6.74tn in revenue for telecom operators in 2025 if call volumes remain stable, hence Nigerians may pay this amount to the firms. However, this projection excludes the impact of free and discounted call promotions, which may alter actual revenue figures. An analysis of data from the latest 2023 Subscriber/Network Performance Report by the NCC showed that in 2023, total outgoing…

THE National Assembly has expressed concerns over the insufficient allocation of funds to the Ministry of Solid Minerals in the 2025 budget, querying plans by the Federal Government to diversify the nations economy. During a joint session today, the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committees on Solid Minerals, chaired by Senator Ekong Samson and Hon. Gaza Jonathan, the lawmakers expressed doubts about the government’s dedication to reducing its dependence on oil revenues. The lawmakers therefore summoned Finance Minister Wale Edun, Budget and Economic Planning Minister Senator Abubakar Bagudu, and the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, to clarify…

THE Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Tax Policy and Fiscal Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has disclosed that the National Assembly will pass the controversial tax reform bills into law in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025. Speaking at the weekend during The Platform, an event organised by The Covenant Nation to facilitate national development, Oyedele also said the implementation of the tax reform bills will commence in July. The NASS is expected to resume deliberations on the bills after the suspension of actions on it last year. President Bola Tinubu on October 13, 2024, asked the National Assembly to consider…

THE Dangote Petrochemical Refinery has attributed its recent adjustment in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to the rising cost of global crude oil. The refinery increased its ex-depot price from ₦899 to ₦955 per litre, according to a statement issued on its X handle on Sunday, 19th January 2025. Explaining the decision, the statement read: “The recent adjustment in our ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) is directly related to the significant increase in global crude oil prices. As crude remains the primary input in the production of PMS, any fluctuation in its…

IN a significant move to promote youth participation in Nigeria’s development, Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, has approved two slots for the Forum of National Youth Leaders of Political Parties in Nigeria (FNYLPPLN) in the Presidential Planning Committee of the upcoming National Youth Conference, Confab 2025. In a communiqué issued after a meeting held at the minister’s conference room in Abuja, Olawande emphasised the importance of youth engagement in Nigeria’s development. “The most critical issue concerning Nigeria’s youth engagement at hand right now is the organisation of a successful people’s National Youth Conference,” he stated. The minister…

TENSIONS again flared at the National Assembly as Senators and House Representatives members disrupted the 2025 budget defence session for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The disruption occurred on Friday during the presentation by the Minister of Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who appeared alongside Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo. There was an outburst from the lawmakers over the absence of budget documents in advance. Enraged, one lawmaker directly confronted the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas). Amid the heated atmosphere, Lokpobiri apologised for the mix-up, emphasising that the delay was unintentional and assuring the committee…

THE newly redeployed Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Adebiyi Olusesan Olufunso, has assured the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), of his support in delivering her mandate of effectively and efficiently monitoring and maintaining all Federal roads across the country. He made this disclosure today Thursday 16th January, 2025 during the Agency’s briefing and interactive session with the Permanent Secretary, by the Managing Director/CEO of FERMA, Engr. Emeka Agbasi, FNSE, in the company of his Directors and Heads of Units, at the Federal Ministry of Works’ Headquarters, Mabushi, Abuja. He assured them that he will work closely with the…

THE National Assembly Joint Committee on Basic Education Bodies has queried the National Examinations Council (NECO) for spending the revenue it generated from selling Senior School Certificate Examination registration forms without permission in 2024. This occured when Registrar, Prof Ibrahim Wushishi appeared before the panel to defend the 2024 budget performance and 2025 proposal at the National Assembly Complex. The Committee stepped down the budget defence session by the examination body due to discrepancies in their presentation. Wushishi told the Committee that it realised over N22 billion from the sales of the registration forms at the rate of N22, 250…

THE House of Representatives has announced the death of its Deputy Whip, Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga representing the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State. According to the House Spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr, she died after a brief illness on Wednesday. “It is with profound sorrow that the House of Representatives announces the passing of Rt. Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, who, until her demise, served as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, representing the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State. She passed away earlier today, January 15, 2025, after a brief illness. “Representative Onanuga, born on December 2,…

THE mood at the iconic Eagle Square in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, was sombre and reflective on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, as the nation stood still to honour the unmatched patriotism and sacrifices of fallen heroes on the occasion of the 2025 Armed Forces’ Remembrance Day on Wednesday. Nigeria is 64 years old — after independence — but behind the continued existence of the nation are the sacrifices of hundreds, even thousands of gallant troops who paid the supreme price in defence of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu who…

THE Senator representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume, has stated that he has too much respect for President Bola Tinubu to be a critic of him. Sen Ndume has been vocal over the economic situation under Tinubu stressing that the President is being misled by his advisers. The senator, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, refuted claims that he is antagonistic towards President Tinubu but rather his condemnation is aimed at the policies. ”I am not criticising the President but his policies. I am not a critic of this…

STRONG indications emerged on Monday that the Senate is on the verge of holding a public hearing on the Tax Reform Bills, with the aim of presenting them for a third reading and eventual passage. This development was confirmed following a closed-door session of the Senate Ad-hoc committee and key government officials, including the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji; Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele; and Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, The…

THE cashless tolling system is to commence on the Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Markurdi Expressway on Thursday, January 16, 2025. The system, which follows Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) guidelines for Public-Private Partnerships in the country, signifies the beginning of the operations and maintenance of the road for sustainable networks. This was contained in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the construction firm – China Harbour Engineering Company Nigeria Limited. The statement reads: “The cashless tolling system is a strategic programme under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), aimed at promoting a strong and sustainable transportation ecosystem. “Tolls collected will go towards…

THE Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has approved the posting/appointment of some senior officers to various command, staff and instructional positions. Army spokesman, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who announced this in a statement on Saturday, January 11, explained the posting/appointment was part of the COAS strategic moves to enhance operational effectiveness and administrative efficiency of the Nigerian Army. Maj.-Gen. Nwachukwu said the redeployment also underscores Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring robust and dynamic leadership structure capable of addressing emerging security challenges. He said the redeployment cuts across Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) at the Army Headquarters (AHQ), General Officers…

THE National Assembly, through its joint committee on Industry, Trade, and Investment, has criticized Nigeria’s border closure policy, labeling it ineffective in curbing cross-border crimes such as banditry and smuggling. During the 2025 budget defence session with the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, lawmakers expressed frustration over the ongoing security and economic challenges linked to the porous nature of the country’s borders with Niger and Chad, as it says Nigeria might be fooling herself. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Francis Fadaunsi argued that the current border closure policy is counterproductive. He suggested that it might be…

THE Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the country is not under “serious threat for now” for the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). While there have been concerns over the outbreak of the virus in certain parts of the world, the NCDC has assured Nigerians that the country is safe and there is no cause for alarm. “Let me say, there’s no serious threat for now. That’s one. Two, this HMPV virus, it’s not a new virus. It’s just that it’s not well-known. “But it’s been implicated in many respiratory infections over the years, over the countries, especially in children, and…

GOVERNOR Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has dismissed insinuations suggesting that Northern governors are fighting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because of the tax reforms he is initiating. Governor Sule stated this when he hosted a coalition of denominations under the umbrella of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on a thank-you visit at the Government House on Wednesday. The Governor dismissed claims suggesting that Northern governors are fighting the President over his tax reforms. According to him, it is only in a country like Nigeria where you see people who fought against the coming of President Tinubu are now claiming…

SEVERAL prominent opposition figures held a closed-door meeting with officials of the Social Democratic Party in Abuja on Tuesday. The agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed at the time of writing this report. The meeting took place early on Tuesday at the national secretariat of the SDP and included former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (former Chief Security Officer to General Sani Abacha), and Otunba Segun Showunmi, a former spokesman for Atiku Abubakar, among others. Confirming the meeting, Showunmi shared the news on his Facebook page. He wrote: “You must set forth at dawn! A…