The management of the National Assembly has commenced the review of the new tax legislation process after controversy on the official gazette.

In a statement issued on Friday, Director of Information  in the National Assembly, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, said the leadership and management of the legislative body are addressing the issues strictly within their constitutional and statutory mandate.

Bi-Allah said the relevant committees, in collaboration with the management of the national assembly, have commenced an internal review in line with the constitution, the Acts Authentication Act, the standing orders of both chambers, and established parliamentary practice.

He said the leadership has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to work with relevant agencies to facilitate the publication of the acts in the Official Gazette and issue certified true copies of the assented laws to stakeholders and members of the public on request.

The director said the administrative action is intended solely to authenticate and formally reflect the legislative decisions of the national assembly.

He added that the review is confined to institutional processes and does not imply or concede any defect in the exercise of legislative authority by either chamber.

Bi-Allah said the exercise is being undertaken without prejudice to the powers, functions, or actions of any other arm or agency of government.

“The National Assembly remains fully committed to the principles of constitutionalism, separation of powers, and due process.

“Where procedural or administrative refinements are identified, appropriate measures will be taken in accordance with the law and established parliamentary conventions.

“Members of the public are respectfully urged to allow the National Assembly’s institutional processes to proceed without conjecture,” he said.

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• Billionaire Realtors Group (BRG) honouredHon. Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, with the Excellence in Youth Development and Leadership Award during its BRG Excellence Awards 7.0 in Lagos.
• The Minister was recognised for his commitment to policies that empower Nigerian youths through entrepreneurship, skills development, and economic participation, and he delivered the keynote address at the event.
• BRG reaffirmed youth empowerment as a core mission, leveraging training, mentorship, and structured real estate opportunities to promote economic inclusion and reduce Nigeria’s housing deficit.

Billionaire Realtors Group Network Limited (BRG) has honoured the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, with the Award of Excellence in Youth Development and Leadership.

The award was presented during the BRG Excellence Awards 7.0, recently held on Monday, December 15, 2025 at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos.

Hon. Olawande, who also delivered the keynote address at the event, was recognised for his leadership and commitment to policies and initiatives that empower Nigerian youths across entrepreneurship, skills development, and economic participation.

In his address, the Minister emphasised the importance of private sector collaboration in driving youth employment and economic inclusion, commending BRG for creating a platform that enables young professionals to build sustainable careers within the real estate sector.

BRG noted that youth empowerment remains a core pillar of its mission, particularly through training, mentorship, and access to structured real estate sales opportunities.“This recognition aligns with our mission to empower the sales force and support leadership that creates pathways for young Nigerians to thrive economically,” the organisation stated

Through strategic developer alliances and a strong emphasis on professionalism and due diligence, BRG has built a brokerage model that continues to contribute to reducing Nigeria’s housing deficit while promoting youth participation in the sector.

The honour further reinforces BRG’s commitment to partnering with government and industry leaders to drive sustainable development within Nigeria’s real estate ecosystem.

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Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has disclosed that Nigerian intelligence played a central role in the recent United States airstrike carried out in the country as part of a joint counterterrorism operation.

It would be recalled that the United States, under President Trump’s command, had launched Airstrikes on terrorists in Northern Nigeria.

Yusuf Tuggar.

Nigeria’s minister of Foreign Affairs speaks

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Tuggar stated that Nigeria supplied the intelligence that informed the strike and worked closely with US authorities throughout the process.

According to the minister, he held extensive consultations with the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, ahead of the operation. He explained that the discussions included multiple phone calls before the strike was executed.

Tuggar revealed that the talks with US officials culminated in consultations with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who granted approval for the operation after being fully briefed.

He added that both Nigeria and the United States agreed on how the operation would be communicated to the public, stressing that it was a counterterrorism action conducted under an existing joint security framework between the two countries.

He emphasizes strikes targeted at terrorists

The minister emphasized that the airstrike had no religious motivation, noting that its sole objective was to combat terrorism and protect Nigerian lives.

His words in part …

“It’s Nigeria that provided the intelligence. We have been working closely with the Americans. This is what we’ve always been hoping for to work the the Americans and other countries to combat t£rrorism and stop the d£ath of innocent Nigerians. This is a vindication of Tinubu administration for those who thought there was some foot dragging, or that the government wasn’t doing enough.

I was on the phone for 19 minutes with the US secretary of State Marco Rubio. We spoke extensively and we agreed that I was going to speak with president Tinubu to give the go ahead. We also agreed that the statement that would follow would clearly show that this was a strike against terrorism, part of an ongoing joint operation between Nigeria and the United States

This has nothing to do with religion. It is about protecting Nigerians.”

Watch video below …

Nigeria 🇳🇬 provided intelligence for the USA 🇺🇸 strike in Nigeria. We spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio twice: once 19 minutes before the strike and another time 5 minutes before it went on.

~Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar says

pic.twitter.com/qteXA20PvM

— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) December 26, 2025

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. Urges Vigilance Against Fraudsters

Ecobank Nigeria, a member of Africa’s leading pan-African banking group, has assured customers of uninterrupted access to banking services throughout the year-end holiday period via its secure and robust digital platforms. 

The bank also urged customers to remain vigilant against fraud and scams during the festive season.

Speaking on the development, the Head, Products & Analytics, Consumer & Commercial Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Victor Yalokwu, said the bank’s digital channels — including the Ecobank Mobile App, Ecobank Business App, USSD *326#, Ecobank Online, OmniPlus, Omnilite, EcobankPay, RapidTransfer, Ecobank Cards, ATMs, PoS terminals, and over 35,000 Ecobank Xpress Point (Agent Banking) locations nationwide — will remain fully available to support customers throughout the yuletide and year-end holiday period.

He noted that customers will continue to enjoy a wide range of services during the period, including local and international funds transfers, bill payments and airtime top-ups, merchant payments, balance inquiries and account statements, as well as cardless cash withdrawals via ATMs.

According to Yalokwu, “Ecobank encourages customers to leverage these digital solutions for safe, fast and efficient banking, especially during the festive season when convenience and reliability are essential. While physical branch operations may be subject to adjusted working hours in line with public holidays, customers can be assured that Ecobank’s digital platforms are designed to deliver uninterrupted service and enhanced security at all times. 

“Ecobank remains committed to providing innovative financial solutions and exceptional customer service, and we wish all our customers a joyful festive season and a prosperous New Year.”

Yalokwu also cautioned customers to remain vigilant against fraudsters and scammers during the period. “Before you wrap up the year, tighten your security. December brings online sales, travel, and year-end distractions—this is exactly when scammers are most active. From fake festive deals to cloned merchant sites and suspicious messages, staying vigilant helps keep your money safe.”

He advised customers to shop only on trusted websites, never share their PINs, passwords, or one-time passwords (OTPs), avoid banking on public Wi-Fi networks, be cautious of urgent or emotionally charged messages, and regularly review their account activity.

Ecobank Nigeria is a member of the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking institution with operations in 33 African countries and international offices in London, Paris, Beijing, and Dubai. 

With over 220 branches, more than 36,000 agency banking locations, and robust digital platforms, Ecobank delivers accessible, affordable, and instant banking services. The bank is strategically positioned to support pan-African trade, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

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Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was found guilty on Friday of abusing his power to plunder millions from the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund and launder the proceeds.

His sentencing, expected later on Friday, is likely to heap years onto the six-year term he is already serving for a separate case related to the now-defunct state investment vehicle.

Presiding Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah convicted the 72-year-old former leader on all four counts of abuse of power, as well as all 21 counts of money laundering, involving around 2.28 billion ringgit ($554 million) from the fund.

Najib, dressed in a navy blue suit and white shirt, was seen looking down, slumped in his seat as the judge read the verdict.

While Najib, the son of one of the country’s founding fathers, was groomed for leadership from a young age, he experienced a spectacular fall from power as public anger mounted over the corruption scandal.

Since his 2018 election loss, investigations under successive governments have ensnared him and his wife Rosmah Mansor in graft allegations.

Prosecutors say Najib abused his positions as prime minister, finance minister and 1MDB advisory board chairman to move vast sums from the fund into his personal accounts more than a decade ago.

According to investigators, proceeds from the fund were used to bankroll high-end real estate, a luxury yacht and precious artworks.

– ‘Unmeritorious’ –

Delivering the verdict on Friday morning, Judge Sequerah dismissed several of the defence lawyers’ arguments, including that Najib had been duped by his close associate, the shadowy businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

“The evidence clearly points to the fact that this was no coincidence but was evident of a relationship in which Jho Low operated as a proxy or agent of the accused (Najib) with regard to the running of the affairs of 1MDB,” Sequerah said.

The defence’s argument that Najib was “misled and duped by management and by Jho Low is unmeritorious”, the judge said.

1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was a state investment fund launched by Najib in 2009, shortly after he became prime minister.

Whistleblowers said Jho Low, a well-connected Malaysian financier with no official role, helped set up the fund and made key financial decisions.

It is estimated that over $4.5 billion was diverted from 1MDB between 2009 and 2015 by fund officials and associates, including Low, who is currently on the run.

Judge Sequerah also dismissed claims that Middle East donors were responsible for the money flowing into Najib’s accounts, calling it a “tale that surpassed even those from the Arabian Nights”.

The prosecution presented bank records, testimony from over 50 witnesses and documentary evidence.

Najib “paints himself as a victim of rogue subordinates, when in truth, he was the single most powerful decision-maker”, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told the court during closing arguments.

“The accused wielded absolute financial, executive and political control,” he said.

– Dented image –

Najib’s lawyers have previously said the politician was unaware that 1MDB’s management was working hand in glove with Low to siphon large amounts of money from the fund, ostensibly established to foster economic growth in Malaysia.

Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, last week told journalists his client “never got a fair trial”.

He again blamed Low for the scandal, which sparked probes in several countries from Singapore to the United States, and dented Malaysia’s image abroad.

Najib has apologised for allowing the 1MDB scandal to happen during his tenure, but has consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining he knew nothing about illegal transfers from the fund.

His legal battle was dealt yet another blow on Monday after he lost a bid to serve the remainder of his current jail term at home rather than the Kajang Prison outside Kuala Lumpur.

Each count of abuse of power is punishable by up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to five times the amount of the bribe.

AFP

The post Malaysia’s ex-Prime Minister Najib found guilty of fraud appeared first on Vanguard News.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has disclosed that the Christmas Day US airstrikes in Nigeria were carried out with the full knowledge, intelligence support, and approval of the Nigerian government.

Tuggar made this known on Friday during an interview with Channels Television, stating that Nigerian authorities were in direct communication with the United States shortly before the strikes were executed.

The minister revealed that he spoke with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, for 19 minutes ahead of the operation and again five minutes before the strike was carried out.

“It’s Nigeria that provided the intelligence,” Tuggar said. “I was on the phone for 19 minutes yesterday (Thursday) with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. We spoke extensively, and we agreed that I was going to speak with President (Bola) Tinubu to give the go-ahead, and I did, and he gave his approval.”

The foreign affairs minister stressed that Nigeria has maintained a consistent approach of working with all international partners committed to the fight against terrorism, regardless of religion or the identity of victims.

“Nigeria has remained consistent in its approach, which is to work with all partners committed to the fight against terrorism irrespective of religion—whether the victims are Muslims or Christians—or the kind of terrorism that it is,” he said.

Tuggar explained that Nigeria has been working closely with the United States and other countries to address terrorism, adding that the airstrikes underscore the commitment of the Tinubu-led administration to tackling insecurity.

“We have been working closely with the Americans and other countries to fight terrorism. This is a clear indication that the Tinubu administration is doing something. For those who thought that we are not doing enough, this is an indication that we are committed and prepared to work with all parties,” he said.

He further noted that both governments agreed that the public statement following the airstrikes would clearly reflect the purpose of the operation.

“We agreed that the statement that would follow would show that the strike was against terrorism and had nothing to do with religion,” Tuggar added.

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Police in Ogun State have arrested eight persons for alleged breach of public peace, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and serious assault on police officers on Christmas Day.

The suspects, under the aegis of the Democratic Republic of Yoruba, were arrested for causing disturbance at Temidire Junction and Under-Bridge in the Sango-Ota area of Ogun State.

The suspects are Adewale Sosanya, ‘M’, aged 48; Opeyemi Oladotun, ‘M’, aged 31; Zara Gabriel, ‘F’, aged 22; Ajoke Gabriel, ‘F’, aged 19; Adewale Adebomojo, ‘F’, aged 48; Yusuf Tanimowo, ‘M’, aged 40; Olurotimi Ademola, ‘M’, aged 52; and Toyin Gabriel, ‘F’, aged 40.

Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta on Friday.

Babaseyi said that upon receiving the information, the police immediately mobilised, moved to the scene and dispersed the group of agitators.

He said, “The Ogun State Police Command has arrested eight (8) suspects for breach of public peace, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and serious assault on police officers following a disturbance caused by the group in parts of Sango-Ota, Ogun State.

“On 25th December 2025, Christmas Day, at Temidire Junction and Under-Bridge, Sango-Ota, a group agitating under the aegis of ‘Democratic Republic of the Yoruba’ unlawfully barricaded roads, set bonfires, disrupted the free flow of traffic, and attacked police officers deployed to maintain law and order,” he added.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include a Toyota Dyna vehicle used to convey the suspects, two broadcast speakers, a carton containing flags, shirts bearing inscriptions of their agitation, and banners displaying their messages and manifesto.

The Police PRO added that the suspects will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.
However, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, reassured residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

The CP warned that the command will not tolerate any act capable of breaching public peace, emphasising that any assault on police officers will be met with decisive action.

He urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities promptly through the Ogun State Police Command emergency lines: Gateway Shield (General Complaints Line – Toll Free): 0800 000 9111; Emergency Numbers: 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369, and 0708 497 2994.

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A familiar falsehood is making the rounds again, this time dressed up as commentary in an article titled “Governor Dapo Abiodun and His Greek Gift.” Published across multiple online platforms, the piece attempts to discredit Governor Dapo Abiodun by recycling allegations about local government finances that have already been thoroughly debunked.

The author claims that despite the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, nothing has changed, and then proceeds—without evidence—to pin the blame on the Ogun State Governor. No documents are cited. No financial records are referenced. What the reader gets instead is anger, insinuation, and recycled talking points.

This script is not new. In August 2023, similar allegations were made by a former local government chairman who claimed that Ogun LGs had received zero allocation from the Federation Account since 2021. When challenged, no proof was produced. Official records showed that Governor Abiodun was not a signatory to LG accounts and had no direct access to their funds.

More damaging to the claim is the position of the Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC), the legally constituted body responsible for disbursing LG funds in Ogun State. JAAC confirmed that allocations approved at its monthly meetings were paid into local government accounts and that these meetings were attended by chairmen, commissioners, labour leaders, and other statutory stakeholders. The same accuser attended several of these meetings without raising any alarm at the time.

What critics conveniently ignore is that during the COVID-19 years, federal allocations were insufficient to pay salaries and pensions. Instead of exploiting the situation, the Ogun State Government stepped in to support the councils, covering funding gaps running into billions of naira.

Governor Abiodun’s record of intervention is consistent: student support payments, transport reforms through CNG-powered buses and tricycles, and other cost-of-living measures introduced long before national subsidy removal.

Yet, the presentation of utility vehicles to local government chairmen has now been twisted into another conspiracy theory. Facts are replaced with florid language and innuendo, all aimed at sustaining a political narrative that evidence no longer supports.

This is not accountability journalism. It is political propaganda—loud, repetitive, and empty.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the federal government’s communication structure following the military airstrike carried out by the United States against terrorists in Nigeria.

The PDP, in a statement on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, submitted that the government failed to properly inform Nigerians, and it was the American government that first disclosed details of the security operation.

It added that the subsequent statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was too vague and did not offer insight to Nigerians about what transpired on their own soil.

While the PDP welcomed international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, it maintained that the government should have been the first to report the news in order to properly sensitize the Nigerian populace and avoid reliance on social media reports.

It also warned that such international operations must not compromise Nigeria’s sovereignty and security architecture.

The full statement, titled, “US STRIKE ON TERRORISTS: FG SHOULD COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY,” reads, “Nigerians were notified of the American strike on terrorists’ assets through the verified social media pages of President Trump and other American officials before the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a vague statement many hours later, offering a passive confirmation of the knowledge and cooperation of the Nigerian Government in the operation.

“While international cooperation in the fight against high crimes like terrorism is very much appreciated, the Peoples Democratic Party is deeply concerned about a communication structure where foreign powers break the news of security operations in our country before our government does.

“This inverted communication approach does not help the Federal Government or Nigerians in any way, especially when taken against the background that the US military has been reported to have previously entered and operated in Nigeria successfully without the permission and knowledge of the government.

“The Federal Government should have been the first to report the news in order to properly sensitize the Nigerian populace, instead of waiting to confirm news already in public circulation, unless they were taken unawares like the rest of the citizens.

“We urge the Federal Government to ensure that the defence agreement with the United States of America includes joint operations, which will ultimately result in knowledge sharing and experiential learning to help Nigeria sustainably combat insecurity, rather than full externally-led ‘precision attacks’.”

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Veteran journalist and publisher, Dele Momodu, has raised concerns over the whereabouts and response of President Bola Tinubu following reports of a United States–led military operation allegedly carried out on Nigerian soil with the cooperation of the Federal Government.

In a post on Friday, Momodu said Nigerians were informed “from far away USA” about the operation while many were still marking Christmas celebrations, describing the information released as “foggy and brief.”

He questioned why the President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, had not immediately addressed the nation or returned to Abuja to coordinate the country’s response alongside security chiefs and members of the war cabinet.

READ ALSO:

“In normal climes, we would have expected our own President to immediately abort his vacation and return to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, surrounded by his war cabinet, and his media team rolling out updates to a usually under-informed nation,” Momodu stated.

While acknowledging the global fight against terrorism, the media personality cautioned against any action that could be interpreted as an abdication of Nigeria’s sovereignty, urging President Tinubu to take visible leadership at what he described as a “crucial and historic moment.”

He appealed to the President to clearly define Nigeria’s position and reassure citizens, stressing that transparency and decisive leadership were essential in matters relating to national security.

Momodu noted further that the country remained in prayers amid the unfolding developments, as Nigerians await official clarification from the Presidency and security authorities on the reported operation.

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Two suspects have been arrested and arraigned before a court in Nasarawa State by the Nasarawa state police command for allegedly possessing banned knockouts and fireworks.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, speaking to newsmen, disclosed that the suspects, whose identities were withheld, were arrested in Keffi and charged to court.

According to the police, the arrests were part of ongoing enforcement efforts to curb the use and circulation of prohibited explosive materials, particularly during the festive period.

The command reiterated its warning against the sale, possession, and use of knockouts and fireworks, noting that offenders would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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• The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has confirmed the safe rescue and return of all 230 students and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Schools, Papiri, Niger State, ending a month-long ordeal that began on November 21, 2025.
• Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna clarified earlier discrepancies in reported figures, explaining that panic, delayed headcounts, and early escapes led to inflated initial numbers.
• The final reconciliation confirmed that all verified abductees have been reunited with their families

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has formally announced the safe return of every student and staff member abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Schools, Papiri, in Niger State. This final confirmation marks the end of a harrowing month-long ordeal that began on November 21, 2025.

In a detailed reconciliation statement, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Bishop of Kontagora and proprietor of the school, verified that 230 persons were rescued and have since been reunited with their families.

Breaking Down the Figures

The Diocese provided a clear breakdown of the rescued individuals to resolve earlier conflicting reports:

• Nursery/Primary Pupils: 204
• Secondary Students: 14
• Staff Members: 12
• Total Verified Abductees: 230

Addressing why initial reports suggested over 300 people were missing, Bishop Yohanna explained that the panic following the predawn raid led to significant discrepancies.

“A joint verification exercise by the state government, security agencies and school authorities later revealed that not all parents were present during the exercise… Some pupils fled into nearby bushes and did not immediately return for the first headcount, while some parents were absent during verification.”

The Bishop clarified that of the initial 315 listed as missing:

• 50 escaped in the first 48 hours.
• 35 were later found to have never been abducted or had escaped early and gone straight to their homes.
• 100 were released on December 7.

The final 130 were secured on December 21, bringing the verified total to 230.

The rescue was a coordinated effort involving the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the DSS, the Armed Forces, and the Niger State Government. Bishop Yohanna described the homecoming as the “best Christmas gift” the church could receive.

“A second and final verification conducted by the school authorities in collaboration with the Parents-Teachers Association established that an additional 35 persons had either not been abducted or had escaped earlier… We are deeply grateful to the Nigerian government, the Niger State government, and all security agencies whose interventions were instrumental in bringing this painful episode to an end.”

The school remains committed to providing counseling and healing support for the affected families as they begin their recovery process.

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For months, Ibom Plaza stood in silence — a hollow reminder of neglect in the very heart of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State’s capital.

The fountains were dry. The giant screen was blank. Walls peeled under the weight of time, and the once-iconic Offot Ukwa statue slowly surrendered to decay.

Today, the plaza breathes again.

When our reporter visited the facility on Tuesday, the transformation was impossible to miss. What was once an eyesore has been reborn as a masterpiece of art, leisure, and public space — a carefully curated beauty to behold.

Across social media, excited residents shared photographs of the upgraded facility, commending Governor Umo Eno for restoring a landmark many had written off.

A giant screen in the amphitheatre at Ibom Plaza, Uyo

A Plaza once left to wither

Ibom Plaza was not always this alive.

Once a rallying point for tourists, families, artists, photographers, and football lovers, the centre fell into visible decline after years of poor maintenance. Small business owners who depended on the plaza for survival were forcefully removed by the Akwa Ibom State Government, with assurances that upgrades would follow. But months passed. Nothing happened.

The empty, fenced space became a symbol of a broader governance issue — displacement without development. Media reports, including earlier stories by PREMIUM TIMES, questioned why a strategic public asset was allowed to rot after livelihoods had been disrupted in the name of renovation.

Public pressure mounted. Then, quietly, the plaza was shut down for upgrades, with the state government eventually rising to the occasion.

Portraits of former Akwa Ibom civilian governors, Akpan Isemin, Victor Attah, Godswill Akpabio, Udom Emmanuel and current governor, Umo

‘We needed to reclaim the plaza’ ­— Eno

Governor Eno, who formally reopened the facility on Tuesday, 23 December, framed the upgrade as a deliberate act of reclaiming public space.

“We needed to reclaim the plaza and make it a place where we can all gather like a town square to watch movies and listen to a live band,” he said.

The governor announced the establishment of a security outpost, restricted operating hours — opening at 7 a.m. and closing at midnight — and plans for a master plan for the area.

“The best is yet to come to this plaza,” Mr Eno added, disclosing a future vision that includes a flyover linking Wellington Bassey Way, separating vehicular movement from commercial and leisure activities beneath the proposed flyover.

A corridor at Ibom Plaza connecting Wellington Bassey Way with Abak Road, Uyo

‘This place was completely dead’ — Uyo council chairperson

At the reopening, the weight of that history hung in the air.

Standing before the refurbished facility, Uwemedimo Udo, chairperson of Uyo Local Government Area, recalled the original vision behind the plaza.

“This place was completely dead,” Mr Udo said, stressing that the decline was never the intention of former Governor Victor Attah, who delivered the plaza to the people on 26 December 2002 as part of his urban renewal programme.

“But I’m happy today that you’ve brought life back to Ibom Plaza,” he told Governor Eno.

Mr Udo assured residents that the plaza would not relapse into neglect, pledging continued maintenance and collaboration with agencies responsible for the facility.

Another section of Ibom Plaza, Uyo

From ‘den of criminals’ to civic space

For Anietie Eka, chairperson of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority — the agency supervising the plaza — the reopening marked a decisive break from a troubled past.

“Over the years, this place became a den for criminals,” he said.

He described the transformation as a return to the plaza’s founding identity, which Mr Attah once named “the beauty of vision.”

That vision, he said, is now visible again.

The statue of Offot Ukwa welcoming visitors to Ibom Plaza, Uyo

Water Fountains dance again

Now, Ibom Plaza tells a different story.

The once-dried water fountain is alive again, dancing in rhythmic sprays that draw curious onlookers. The restored Offot Ukwa statue stands proudly, no longer crumbling but commanding attention as a reclaimed cultural symbol.

The giant television screen — once a relic — now beams again, restoring a feature that once made the plaza a modern public attraction.

Flowers sway gently, softening the concrete edges of the space. At night, the water fountain sparkles, light reflects off the water and walls, creating a renewed sense of calm and invitation, residents told PREMIUM TIMES during the visit.

A living gallery in the open

Perhaps the most striking change is the art. The walls are no longer bare. They tell stories.

Beautiful, carefully executed paintings line the plaza, including portraits of Akwa Ibom’s civilian governors, woven into a broader narrative of history, identity, and continuity. Other artworks add colour, texture, and curiosity, pulling passersby closer and urging them to pause.

Ibom Plaza has become a living gallery — an open-air exhibition where art and public life intersect. It is, once again, a space to hold, admire, and experience.

Even the tall flower trees have not been overlooked. Carefully painted in Akwa Ibom and national colours — orange, green, and white — they rise as quiet symbols of identity, adding to a facility that is once again a beauty to behold.

But the upgrade goes beyond surface beautification.

Tourism sits at the heart of Governor Eno’s economic blueprint, the Arise Agenda, with Ibom Plaza now repositioned as part of a broader strategy to revive leisure and tourism in the state.

To drive that vision, the government is developing the Arise Park Resort, upgrading the Ibom Icon Hotels, and completing long-abandoned projects at the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre and the International Conference Centre— moves aimed at restoring Akwa Ibom’s place on Nigeria’s tourism map.

Why Ibom Plaza matters

Ibom Plaza’s decline mattered because of what it once represented.

Akwa Ibom State, home to a FIFA-approved international stadium, has hosted Nigeria’s Super Eagles and visiting foreign teams. Players, officials, and tourists often converged at the plaza — taking photographs, relaxing, and absorbing the ambience of Uyo.

That era faded as neglect set in.

With the current upgrade, there is a renewed hope that the plaza can reclaim its role as a social and tourism hub — a place where locals and visitors intersect, presenting the city at its best.

READ ALSO: Akwa Ibom seals off plaza for ‘maintenance’ after PREMIUM TIMES’ report

Livelihoods on hold

Yet beyond official optimism, displaced livelihoods linger.

Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, Emmanuel Sunday, a photographer, welcomed the upgrade but urged the management to consider former occupants in allocating spaces.

Another photographer, Sunny, said he was among those forcefully removed before the renovation. “I was one of those forcefully removed,” he said. “My livelihood depended on it.”

Similarly, Comfort Akpan, a former kiosk owner, appealed for inclusion but expressed fear that post-upgrade costs might shut her out. “I want them to just approve a space for me to continue my business,” she said.

For residents like Victor Okon, however, the revived giant screen already holds promise. “This is where I’ll be watching live football matches,” he said, referring to the English Premier League and Champions League.

The lingering question

Yet, beneath the admiration lies a familiar worry.

Akwa Ibom, like many parts of Nigeria, struggles with a weak maintenance culture. Public projects often shine briefly before slipping back into neglect.

The question many residents now ask quietly is not how beautiful Ibom Plaza looks today, but how long this beauty will last.

Will this restoration be sustained? Will traders and creatives be reintegrated thoughtfully? Will maintenance be institutionalised rather than reactive?

“To think that the Plaza was shut down for almost two years and it took only two weeks to turn it around tells us: when there is a will, there is a way. We only hope that the jobs were not done in such a hurry to meet the Christmas deadline as to diminish the quality,” Herbert Batta, a professor in the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo, said in a Facebook post.

For now, Ibom Plaza stands renewed — proof that decay is not irreversible and that public spaces, when cared for, can restore civic pride.

Its rebirth is welcome. Its survival will depend on consistency, transparency, and care.

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From John Silas, Lagos

A music professional, educationist and researcher, Dr kayode Morohunfola, has disclosed that music in Nigeria is not where it is supposed to be.

Morohunfola made the revelation at the Stagecoach Nigeria music presentation at
Ijeshatedo Children’s Christmas Community Concert Edition which featured Christmas Joy by Pam Andrews, Carol Africana, and Instrumental/Orchestra presentations and training which took place on 20th December, 2025.

He stated, “The music level in churches today is far far below expectations, so this kind of training will help the church.

“Some of these children, we are training them towards so many things, some of them will go to the popular space, some of them will go to the sacred place, while some of them will like to combine the two. So this is what we are trying to do. Musical training will go a long way even in shaping the popular music space, a lot of music in Nigeria is not where it supposed to be. It is not the fault of the musicians but lack of training. So these are some of the lacuna we are trying to fill,” the musical professional disclosed.

Speaking about his personal life and what he does, Morohunfola said, “I am a music professional, and in addition to music, I studied some other courses, economics, education, and even I still do some other things before I studied music up to doctorate level. My wife Adetoun Morohunfola, is also a music graduate, she has been involved in a lot of productions. She has been working with children, and working with teenagers, she is a teacher at Queens College and at the same time she has also worked with adults. Working with adults is at church level.

“Apart from all of my studies, I have so many years of experience as a church pianist and church choir master. I have taught in primary school, secondary school, and I have taught at university level too. I was the former Head of Department, Music Department, Bowen University and currently, I serve as a lecturer at the Mountain Top Conservatory of Music, Yaba, Lagos. Apart from these, I am also into research, Musicological Research, I have a lot of publications to my credit and I have presented paper both locally and internationally, I have also been involved in music performances both locally and internationally,” he stated.

On the evolution of Music in Nigeria and contributions of the church in music development, the Music expert said, “In the 50s, 40s, 60s, and up till the 70s, churches were not as much as this, and much of the churches were the conventional churches, such as the Methodist, Catholic, Anglican, most of them, at that point, trained teachers, and part of the vital trainings they gave to teachers through their teachers training colleges was music then.

“So most of them ended up becoming organists, pianists and choir masters in most churches. But even most of their music teachers then, they were the Europeans and Americans missionaries, who used their influence to bring in a lot of instruments to Nigeria,” he disclosed.

Speaking also was his wife who studied Music, Adetoun Morohunfola, she said, “As much as we want to thank God for the success of the just concluded Community concert with regard to Ijeshatedo Community, we are highly motivated by all we have been doing from time past knowing that this area of expertise lies around music.

“Now what we are all doing is just to make an impact in our environment. I must tell you, we started from the church ourselves because we are musicians, not just musicians in the church, we are actually learned people who went to school and acquired this knowledge in this area of expertise as we have been able to combine it with our talent and seeing it as a calling.”

She said the focus of the training they are giving are the young ones “Of course, the people that are benefiting from that are the middle age people, young people who are either children or early teenagers.

“Really before now, we operated in the secular space and we have also operated in the sacred space, why because when we go to church, we have the opportunity to work with little children, we take them on concert and our concerts are not mere concerts, they are concerts that tell stories. So they are not like classical presentations.

“Now in the secular we have also done this outside of the church because if you are looking at presentations, yes the presentations are actually inside of the church, but there are times we have gone outside of the church organising just what you saw on Saturday.

“And we have to rent a hall to be able to make our presentations even when they are related to bible stories.

“Now outside of the Bible stories, there are other stories that are presented in songs and in drama that we have, those are called non-seasonal presentations, so non-seasonal presentations can actually be either sacred or secular musicals,” she stated.

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• A Nigerian lady cried out over her parents’ store that was set ablaze in the 22-storey building fire at Lagos Island.
• She worried over how her father would take the news as she stated that it was the second time fire destroyed his shop this year.
• The major fire erupted at the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street in Lagos Island on December 24, 2025

A lady cried out as her parents’ store was affected by a fire that engulfed a 22-storey building in Lagos Island, Lagos State.

Emergency responders battled the fire at the plaza known as the Great Nigeria Insurance House, located on Martins Street in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State, on December 24, 2025.

A lady cries as her parents loses store to the Balogun market fire. Photo: @r_ita_wendyy
Source: TikTok

In a TikTok video by @r_ita_wendyy, the lady mentioned how she was informed about the news.

She said:

“One minute am in church for vigil mass for Christmas celebration, the next minute am in Lagos Island trying to pack out my parents’ goods from their store cause of their plaza is on the fire and the annoying is it’s for the second time this year.

Read also

Balogun market fire: Lady whose warehouse is close to burning plaza cries out over safety of goods

“My parent’s place of business is on fire. Worst year ever. Worst Christmas ever. I don’t know how my dad will handle this God Abegggg.”

Watch the TikTok video below:

Reactions as fire destroys lady’s parents’ store

@JENNY said:

“This Christmas some are grieving some are celebrating. I pray God help you heals us grieving. Got robbed of some of my properties and personal belongings on the 22nd.”

@Aarion said:

“so sorry darling , always trust in God, everything will be alright, sending you happiness and joy from here. no matter what the devil does you will still triumph.”

@roses4rosa said:

“I’m sorry, as someone who has experienced fire outbreak, I know how painful and heartbreaking this is. May God see you through

@Amara mira said:

“Up until now we have not found my uncle’s their shop is in that plaza that collapsed

@MRS BRIGHT said:

“Honestly, that was how we lost two shops last year too may God give you guys strength to overcome it not easy.”

@MegaSam said:

“That’s burnt offering if it’s second time, just know they are stepping higher in multiple folds…I wish them all the best.”

Read also

Sokoto: Trump sends message as US launches airstrike against terrorists in Nigeria “Merry Christmas”

@fabriceguedegbe2 said:

“Every December it burns, always in the same area, or rather, always in the same places. Or maybe it’s some kind of end-of-year ritual, because it’s getting strange.”

@MÖTÝ said:

“So they are unable to off the fire before it escalate….. Which country be this did you know how many people life wey don spoil like this.”Great Nigeria tower fire causes lady’s parents to lose store. Photo: @r_ita_wendyy
Source: TikTok

In a related story, a Nigerian lady sent a strong message to her customers as the fire affected her shop.

Woman loses 2 shops to Lagos Island fire

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a Nigerian businesswoman wept bitterly as she lost her two shops in the fire incident at the Great Nigeria Tower in Lagos Island.

She showed a video of her shops before the fire and after the flames affected them, and many people felt sorry for her.

Source: Legit.ng

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