Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

A lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. James Faleke, said President Bola Tinubu won the presidential 2023 election because he was anointed.

Faleke, who is also the Convener of Tinubu Support Groups, stated this yesterday in Abuja during the flag-off of nationwide rice distribution exercise.

He stated: “The DG had enumerated some of the achievements of the president very briefly. But you’re all aware that, despite the crisis and the Naira redesign, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not wanted to win the election; the Naira was redesigned. 

“And so many of us cannot even afford to buy bread because we have no naira, and there is no cash. We went into the election without cash, without anything l, but God who has anointed Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said he will win the election, and he won the election.”

Faleke told the support groups that the gathering was organised to thank them for their support.

He added that by January 2026, political activities and mobilisation would commence, saying they had to prepare. 

Faleke noted: “I’m sure that the party will announce its programme very soon, from membership registration to party congresses. So you need to get ready.

“We are also aware that voter registration, the first phase, has closed. The second phase will soon start in January. You must mobilise everyone to register. If you don’t have a voter’s card, you cannot vote.  And nobody will be a member of any of our support groups without a voter’s card. You must show your voter’s card before you are accepted or registered as a member of the support group. 

“We are not in a campaign yet. When the campaign begins, we will let you know. We will roll out.”

Earlier, the Director General of TSG, Dr. Umar Tanko-Yakasai, said Tinubu has stabilised the economy, given loans to students, and paid foreign debt of about $7 billion and $3.5 billion. 

On his part, Senator Magnus Abe said Tinubu is the answer to the country’s current challenges.

According to him, the past few years have shown that the president has done things in this country that no other leader has ever done. He has changed the narrative about our country, and he’s seeking real solutions to Nigeria’s problems in ways no leader has before. 

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By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

A graduate of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, has been shot dead in a suspected cult clash.

It was gathered that the clash, which resulted in his killing on Friday, was between members of the Neo Black Movement, otherwise known as Black Axe, and Vikings, DNKI.

The deceased graduate identified as Mark was reportedly shot in the stomach and attempts by friends and sympathisers to rush him to the hospital for medical care failed.

A source within the institution claimed the deceased was not the main target but the attackers made up of Black Axe hit men shot him because they could not locate their target.

He said: “These armed boys did not see their target and later saw Maro and shot him.”

He further said the deceased would have survived, but while his friends were rushing him to the hospital, their vehicle hit a speed bump causing an accident.

Few other friends described the deceased as a very calm and friendly person who avoided trouble and was always smiling.

The source added: “He focused more on making money and was not actively involved in cult activities. Other friends said they never even knew he was a cultist because he often advised them against cultism. Vikings members had advised him to leave the area, but he stayed because of his girlfriend.”

Contacted by Sunday Vanguard, Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, confirmed the incident and said the police are conducting a discreet and thorough investigation into the incident.

The post Bayelsa: Varsity graduate shot dead in suspected cult clash appeared first on Vanguard News.

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The family of the late renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, who died last month November, has told President Bola Tinubu that their late father mentored, guided, and commanded the loyalty of over 63 million Muslims across Nigeria and beyond during his lifetime.

Speaking on behalf of the 820-member Dahiru Bauchi family, the successor of the late cleric, Khalifa Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru Bauchi, made this known on Saturday in Bauchi when President Tinubu paid them a condolence visit on Saturday following the passing of the respected Islamic leader.

According to Khalifa Ibrahim, for over 56 consecutive years, the late Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi organised between five and 10 annual Islamic gatherings, each attracting millions of followers, disciples, students, adherents, devotees, and admirers, numbering more than 63 million.

He emphasised that despite commanding such a massive following, there was no record in Nigeria’s history from 1969 to 2025, that late Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi ever instigated violence, unrest, or chaos.

A formal message from the family, read by Dr. Bashir Dahiru Bauchi expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu for personally visiting the family and for earlier delegating top government officials to represent him during the funeral and burial rites of their father on Friday, November 28, 2025.

“All 820 family members of Shaykh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, OFR, his 82 surviving children, and his more than 63 million followers, disciples, students, devotees, adherents, and lovers sincerely welcome you and appreciate your unswerving loyalty and compassion in this moment of grief,” they told President.

The family also commended the President for sending the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima; the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, to honour the late scholar during the funeral.

Reflecting on his life, the family described Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi as a man who lived 101 years, five months, and three days, dedicating his life to faith, education, peace, unity, and service to humanity.

They disclosed that the late cleric fathered 100 children – 50 males and 50 females – out of whom 82 are alive, adding that 84 of his children (42 males and 42 females) memorised the Holy Qur’an, a feat the family described as unprecedented.

The family further revealed that Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s lineage comprises 512 grandchildren and 206 great-grandchildren, bringing the total family population to 820 members, which they described as one of the largest single-family lineages in the world.

They also noted that Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi produced over 400 Qur’anic memorisers within his family alone, cutting across children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

According to the family, the late cleric performed Hajj and Umrah consecutively from 1960 to 2023, making a total of 303 pilgrimages believed to be the highest ever by any individual.

They added that for 56 consecutive years, he organised special national prayers for peace, unity, and divine protection for Nigeria, and conducted Ramadan Tafsir sessions for about 75 consecutive years, from 1948 to 2023.

“He was the brain behind the creation of Federal Government Girls’ Colleges. He was the brain behind the performance of the opening & closing prayers before & after some of the functions, meetings, gatherings and occasions in 1969.

“He was the brain behind the sending of Islamic clerics to support & guide Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca and Madina. Sir, he was one of the pioneers in 1969,” the family told Tinubu during the visit.

The family formally presented five requests to President Tinubu which included the upgrading of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s national honour award from OFR to GCON, a special presidential dinner for his 82 surviving children and a demand of federal government’s sponsorship of a 500-page biography documenting his life and legacy.

Other demands included enhanced support for the 1,000 Qur’anic schools he established across Nigeria and parts of Africa as well as the naming of a Federal Government-owned institution or national monument after the late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi.

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•Call for enlightenment campaign by FG •New laws reward lazy states, make fiscal federalism impossible ―Expert

BUSINESS owners in the country have called on stakeholders in the revenue collection ecosystem and security agencies to prevent them from enforcers of taxes, levies, rates and charges, who often illegally block roads and lock up shops, as the new tax regime becomes fully operational from January 1, 2026.

They called on the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) and other stakeholders to amp up the sensitisation of agents whose actions usually contravene the country’s tax laws.

Their call followed the resolve of the JRB to tackle the menace of multiple and illegal taxation carried out by the non-state actors.

Recall that in a communiqué issued at its 158th meeting, held in Abuja, on December 9 and 10, 2025, the board called on the office of the National Security Adviser, Nigeria Police Force and all relevant security agencies to take immediate steps towards eliminating illegal roadblocks mounted and operated along the nation’s road transport corridors for the purpose of collection of taxes, levies, rates and charges.

The board said such enforcement would ensure the integrity of the nation’s tax administration process, especially at the sub-national level.

“The board re-emphasises the outright abolition of the design, production, issuance and enforcement of all manner of road stickers and related instruments by both state and non-state actors and encourages the resistance of such Nigerians, and the reporting of all such promoters of the issuances of stickers and related instruments to security authorities for appropriate sanctions,” the board stated.

But despite those recent assurances from the board, Nigerians, especially businesses, continue to fret as the January 1, 2025 date approaches.

There are palpable fears, especially among business owners, running small and medium-sized ones, regarding their fates as the implementation of the new tax regime commences.

One of those concerns still remains the likelihood of state agents, using the new tax policy to witch-hunt and extort operators, who till now, are yet to have a full grasp of what the laws entail.

For instance, Fatai Ayoola, who runs a logistics business in Lagos, expressed fears of being confronted with more financial burdens, come January 2026, when the new tax regime is fully operational.

Ayoola, despite the assurance that the new tax regime has come to take care of multiple taxation, reduce tax burdens of low-income earners and small businesses, among other issues, expressed skepticism about it going in favour of small businesses like his.

“Those local government guys have always been a problem to businesses like us. They stop us at every corner, asking for one permit or the other, especially when out for delivery,” he stated.

He argued that rather than ask the public to resist some of these non-state actors in the revenue collection ecosystem, the board should have gone on a sensitisation drive with the aim of informing these agents on the new development and how contravening the new law could work to their advantage.

Ayoola added that the board was being unrealistic by urging the public to resist those non-state actors by reporting them to security agents.

“Do we, as businesses, have the power to resist them? No. The fact remains that these people are not discreet about this. They do it in the full glare of law enforcement agents and until such actions are criminalised and scapegoats are made of some of them, what we are likely to be seeing next year is added tax burden on businesses and citizenry.

“I think government needs to do more in terms of enlightenment, especially for our category of business to enable us fully understand what to expect next year,” he stated

Another business operator, Showumi Abbas, who is into printing business, also expressed fears about the fate that awaits his business come 2026.

“For instance, our clients have started asking for withholding tax, for every transaction, despite the fact that the volume of such transaction cannot be said to have falled under those expected to pay tax.

“For instance, they charge us withholding tax for a transaction that is even below N100,000 and when you protest they tell you that’s what the new law says. I believe the concerns will always be there until full implementation starts,” Abbas added.

The concerns of Adams Makinde, a Lagos-based fashion designer, is the fact that some of the local government council officials, where his shop is domiciled, still came a few days ago, to start preparing his mind and those of others small businesses in the area, about planned increment in some of the bills, such as Radio, TV and even lock-up levies they will be paying to the council, annually, as from next year.

“I had thought the new policy had harmonised all these levies. Having to grapple with levy increment from the local government and also the new tax regime, may affect this business that is still trying to recover from the various reforms of the federal government,” he added.

He believed what would happen next year is that businesses would still have some of these levies forced down their throats by the non-state actors.

But, a finance and public affairs analyst, Mr Biyi Adesuyi, argued that while some of the fears expressed above may be founded, his greatest fear is that the new tax would not allow for true implementation of fiscal federalism.

“While it is good that the new tax policy intends to harmonise the various taxes and bring more people into the tax net, it, however, favours some lazy regions or state governments.

“For instance, it means whatever you make from VAT, comprising accruals from cigarettes and even alcohol, would be shared by those states or regions vehemently opposed to the idea of having those items sold in their areas.

“Besides, you will notice a lot of businesses are gravitating towards some states and regions because they find such places secure. But what this means is that whatever is made from VAT from these businesses that are in those regions or states will still be shared by those lazy states, doing nothing to secure their areas.

“This is not fiscal federalism. With fiscal federalism, Rivers State governor should not be earning the same salary with his counterparts in either Kebbi or even Borno. Each state governor should be paid according to what they generate. That is how fiscal federalism is practised,” Adesuyi, who is also the Managing Director of Wealthgate Advisors, added.

A marketing communication practitioner and Chief Executive Officer of Creato Urban, Odion Aleobua, stated that while the tax reforms are welcome, he, however, argued that the distrust of the public towards government’s policies might be the reform’s greatest undoing.

“I’ll advise that some of the people promoting the policy for government should not be involved in such venture.

“For instance, when the government begins to tell the public that banks will be telling the amount of money individuals have in their accounts, the way Taiwo Oyedele said recently, the reform may be negatively impacted,” he stated.

Aleobua also shared Adesuyi’s concerns that part of the new policy is a way of rewarding those ‘lazy’ states that only rely on feeding fat on what accrues from the centre.

READ ALSO: Don’t see taxes as punishment, FIRS boss tells Nigerians

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The National Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Phase 2, Ibena Rufus Salvation, has dismissed claims that beneficiaries of the programme’s scholarships, both at home and abroad, were drawn largely from Gbaramatu communities.

Salvation said beneficiaries of PAP scholarships and empowerment programmes are drawn from across the Niger Delta, including Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom and other oil-producing states, and not from any single clan or ethnic group.

In a statement on Saturday, the PAP Phase 2 chairman, who hails from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, described the allegation as false and misleading.

“My name is Ibena Rufus Salvation, and I am from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Am I from Gbaramatu? There are thousands of people on scholarship who are not from Gbaramatu. As a matter of fact, Dennis Otuaro does not even know the individuals benefiting; all he knows is that they are Niger Deltans,” he said.

Salvation explained that beneficiaries were selected through inputs from critical stakeholders, including traditional rulers, credible leaders and recognised beneficiaries of the programme, stressing that no genuine leader was protesting the current PAP leadership.

“No genuine leader is complaining about Otuaro. Those faceless persons should stop the blackmail. The era of cheap blackmail is over because Otuaro is visibly showing capacity. Beneficiaries are seeing the impact and leaders are happy,” he said.

Addressing claims surrounding an alleged N65,000 stipend increase, Salvation clarified that the budget approved by the National Assembly and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not include any increment in stipends.

“The approved budget did not capture stipends at all. Stipends were never increased. What the budget captured was reintegration, empowerment and accommodation of genuine beneficiaries who were left out during the struggle,” he explained.

According to him, the increased budget was targeted at rehabilitation and empowerment initiatives such as leadership training, scholarships and vocational skills acquisition, rather than stipends.

“The budget increment was for rehabilitation and empowerment. That is why you can see leadership training, scholarships, vocational training and empowerment programmes being carried out. It was not for stipend increment,” he added.

Salvation also dismissed claims that beneficiaries were limited to any ethnic group, noting that Urhobo, Itsekiri and other Niger Delta ethnic nationalities were fully represented.

“Is Gbaramatu in Rivers, Akwa Ibom or Bayelsa? Even Urhobo and Itsekiri people are beneficiaries. These allegations are cheap blackmail,” he stated.

He further questioned the credibility of the author of the publication, describing the individual as faceless and unknown within the programme.

“The name Tare mentioned in the alleged publication is a faceless human being. He does not even have a surname and is not a beneficiary of the programme,” he said.

Salvation commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for remaining focused despite what he described as distractions, and reaffirmed the support of PAP leaders and beneficiaries for the current leadership of the programme.

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The United States government has expanded its travel restrictions on Nigerians, now suspending legal immigration applications, including green cards, naturalisation, and other permanent residency pathways. This means Nigerians can no longer submit or have their applications processed for these programs.

According to CBS News, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing the suspension in line with President Donald Trump’s recent proclamation, which initially imposed partial travel restrictions on several developing countries, including Nigeria. The earlier restrictions affected nationals seeking entry on B‑1, B‑2, B‑1/B‑2, F, M, and J visas.

The latest suspension extends beyond Nigeria to include countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, as well as Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Nationals of these countries will no longer be able to apply for US citizenship or permanent residency.

US authorities cited national security concerns as the reason for the travel bans, explaining that a “general lack of stability and government control” in these countries makes it difficult to properly vet applicants or assess potential security threats. USCIS further stated it is “conducting a comprehensive review of anyone from anywhere who poses a threat to the U.S., including those identified in the President’s latest proclamation.”

The Nigerian government has yet to respond to the expanded restrictions but has previously expressed its willingness to collaborate with the US in addressing concerns related to immigration and security.

Related

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Plateau-based pastor, Rev Ezekiel Dachomo on Saturday conducted another mass burial in the Ratoso Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.

DAILY POST reports that terrorists had invaded the community and opened fire on miners, killing at least 12 persons instantly.

It was gathered that many other persons were missing following the unfortunate attack.

At the mass burial on Saturday, Dachomo could be heard in a viral video, urging residents to ensure that they defend themselves during attacks.

“You have to defend yourself, we all have the right to survive, do what you can do and God is going to help us”, he said.

Dachomo came into the limelight recently following his claim of genocide against Nigerian Christians.

Despite the push back from the presidency and other stakeholders, the clergy had maintained that the Islamic extremists are persecuting Christians and have vowed to eliminate them all.

Watch Video:

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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has confirmed that a fire incident occurred at one of its offices within its Abuja headquarters on Saturday, days ahead of the January 2026 implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws.

The incident was confirmed by Mr Sikiru Akinola, spokesperson to the Executive Chairman of the agency, Zacch Adedeji.

According to Akinola, the fire broke out on the fourth floor of the building and was promptly detected by security personnel on duty.

He said swift intervention by the Federal Capital Territory Fire Service, alongside other emergency responders, ensured the fire was quickly contained and prevented from spreading to other parts of the complex.

“We are grateful to report that no lives were lost in the incident,” Akinola said. “However, a number of offices on the affected floor sustained damage.”

He added that investigations into the cause of the fire have commenced, with preliminary findings suggesting a possible electrical fault.

“In the meantime, all internal safety protocols are being thoroughly reviewed and strengthened to mitigate against future occurrences,” he said.

DAILY POST reports that the incident comes just days before the planned implementation of the country’s new tax laws, which have generated pockets of controversy nationwide.

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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has disclosed that he visited the Anambra Correctional Centre to encourage inmates to better themselves through education and the acquisition of relevant skills.

Obi stated this after visiting the correctional facility in Amawbia on Friday.

According to the former Anambra governor, imprisonment does not mark the end of a purposeful life.

He encouraged the inmates to view their current circumstances as an opportunity for personal reform, renewal, and preparation to rejoin society as responsible citizens who could contribute meaningfully to national development.

He said, “History shows that confinement does not always mark the end of a meaningful life,” he said. “Nelson Mandela, jailed for 27 years, emerged to lead South Africa and inspire the world; Malcolm X transformed himself in prison into one of the most influential voices of the civil rights movement; Martha Stewart, after serving a prison sentence, rebuilt her brand and returned to the heights of global business; and Frank Abagnale, once imprisoned for fraud, went on to work with the FBI and became a respected security consultant. These lives remind us that with reform, education, and opportunity, confinement can give way to contribution.”

It will be recalled that inmates in correctional centres across the state had earlier sent an emissary to Obi, appealing for assistance due to their inability to pay NECO examination fees. In response, Obi gave an undertaking to NECO to allow the inmates to sit for the examinations, a commitment he has now fully honoured.

On the occasion, it was revealed that the total payment, covering NECO examination fees and logistics for all eligible candidates across the four correctional centres in Anambra State, amounted to ₦4,741,400.

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The Ogun State Government says it has taken disciplinary action against three environmental consultancy firms over their alleged roles in regulatory failures linked to pollution from closed lead battery recycling plants in Ogijo.

A two-part investigation by PREMIUM TIMES, in collaboration with The Examination and The New York Times, had exposed unsafe working conditions in the lead recycling facilities and widespread lead contamination in Ogijo, a community that borders Lagos and Ogun states.

A week after the investigation, the state government ordered the immediate closure of some of the battery recycling plants in Ogijo.

State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya

The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, insisted that the facilities will remain shut until a comprehensive health and environmental impact audit is completed.

An official statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday stated that during a review meeting held at the ministry’s conference room in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Mr Oresanya announced that the firms were suspended on Tuesday after a process audit revealed significant lapses in their professional duties, particularly in reporting environmental compliance levels of the affected companies.

In a follow-up message sent to PREMIUM TIMES, the commissioner confirmed the suspension order.

The affected environmental consultancy firms are Vyne Nurt Limited, Core Environmental Services Limited and Saag Chemicals Nigeria Limited.

Mr Oresanya said the consultants were attached to the now-shut Used Lead Acid Battery (ULAB) recycling companies and were expected to provide accurate environmental assessments to guide government oversight. However, findings from the audit indicated that critical pollution control devices meant to be installed at the facilities were either absent or non-functional.

According to him, the failure was traced to deficient reports submitted by the consultancy firms, which prevented the state from having a true picture of the environmental risks posed by the companies’ operations.

“To have a clearer picture, we invited five consultancy firms involved and gave them the chance to defend their positions on the reporting gap.

“Two of the environmental consultancy firms were able to give some explanations which though not entirely satisfactory ,but were given the opportunity to amend their ways while the three suspended firms deliberately absented themselves from the review meeting knowing fully well that they are complicit,” the commissioner said.

He added that the state government had, therefore, suspended the three firms from carrying out environmental consultancy services in Ogun State, pending when they are able to clear themselves of allegations arising from the audit of the closed ULAB facilities.

The commissioner disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) have been formally notified of the state’s decision.

What our investigation found

Our two-part investigative report revealed that the lead recycling factories in Ogijo have poisoned the very air residents breathe and the soil where children play.

Working with our partners, medical scientists collected 70 blood samples from factory workers and residents. They found that every tested worker showed dangerous lead exposure, with some levels as high as 38 µg/dL, which is many times above the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit.

Children in the community were not spared; eight out of 14 tested children had blood-lead levels exceeding five µg/dL, a threshold that health experts say poses serious risks to cognitive development.

Soil and dust samples collected around homes, farms, and a nearby school also showed catastrophic levels of contamination. In one school playground, the soil contained more than 1,900 ppm of lead, almost five times the level of many international safety limits.

Residents and workers reported chronic illnesses and symptoms consistent with lead poisoning, such as recurring stomach pains, fatigue, and poor concentration. Some families described their lives as being slowly suffocated by the black soot from the factory chimneys, fearing that their children’s futures had been stolen by a toxic smoke emitted by these factories.

Inside the plants, workers described a routine of crude, unsafe practices where used batteries are smashed by hand or with axes, molten lead is handled without adequate protective gear, and waste slag and lead dust are left exposed, allowing toxic particles to wash into soil or drift into the air.

Timeline of impact

Ogijo has been under heightened environmental scrutiny following concerns over lead and acid pollution associated with battery recycling activities.

Since the release of the two-part investigation, federal and state ministries, departments and agencies of government responsible for upholding labour and environmental laws have begun taking action after about a decade of poor regulatory oversight.

On Monday 24 November, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, led her team to seal up True Metals Nigeria Limited and Phoenix Steel Mills Limited,

During an inspection of True Metals, the battery-recycling plant at the center of the investigation, the minister said she found workers operating in what she described as “hazardous and dehumanising conditions.”

Days later, on 27 November, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, led a combined team of experts from the Ministries of Environment and Health, OGEPA, and NESREA, to Ogijo and ordered the closure of seven lead recycling factories.

READ ALSO: NAFDAC declares Indomie Vegetable Flavour unsafe, orders nationwide mop-up

Earlier in September, NESREA announced the seal up of nine lead recycling factories, after it received a copy of the soil and blood test results commissioned by our partners at The Examination and prepared by STRADev, a non-governmental environmental health organisation.

In addition, Chris Pruitt, executive chairman of the board of East Penn Manufacturing, a major US battery maker with ties to Nigerian companies, told The Examination and partner newsrooms that East Penn stopped buying lead from Nigeria and began to tighten its supplier code of conduct.

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