A dispatch rider attached to the convoy of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has been killed after a petrol tanker rammed into the motorcade in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Akpabio disclosed the incident on Tuesday during plenary, announcing the death and extending condolences to the family of the deceased officer.

The dispatch rider, a police officer assigned to escort the Senate President, was part of the convoy that picked Akpabio up from the Ibadan Airport en route to Oyo State for the installation of a colleague.

Recounting the incident, Akpabio said the officer was run over by a tanker shortly after the convoy departed the airport.

“We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague, but the vehicles that came to pick me up at the Ibadan airport, unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered,” the Senate President told lawmakers.

He added that the officer had been buried about 15 minutes before the plenary session, describing the loss as painful and tragic.

“We just buried him 15 minutes ago in Kogi State. He left behind two wives and four children,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President appealed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to consider offering automatic employment to the children of the deceased officer, assuring that he would personally intervene if vacancies were unavailable.

“By the grace of God, I’m recommending two of his senior children for employment immediately in any parastatals that may wish to. Otherwise, I will employ them personally in any of my private concerns,” he said.

Following the disclosure, Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) rose on a motion of personal explanation to formally brief the Senate on the tragedy.

While sympathising with Akpabio, Karimi revealed that the deceased dispatch rider, identified as Hussaini, was a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who was due to retire next year. He said the officer, an indigene of Kogi State, had served in the Senate President’s convoy since 2023, when Akpabio assumed office.

In the same motion, Karimi also informed the chamber of the death of another officer, Ibrahim Tukur, a driver attached to Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East), who reportedly died on Saturday after 25 years of service.

The senator conveyed condolences to the families of both deceased officers and to the Kogi State Government.

Thereafter, the Senate President directed senators to observe a one-minute silence in honour of the late dispatch rider and the deceased driver.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday justified his administration’s decision to take over the management of primary healthcare from local government councils, saying the move was necessary to reverse years of poor service delivery and has begun to yield positive results.

Fubara spoke during the inauguration of the Ahoada Zonal Hospital, a newly completed secondary healthcare facility designed to serve communities across the Rivers West Senatorial District.

The governor recalled that residents suffered greatly when primary healthcare was left solely in the hands of local councils, stressing that the state government had to intervene to achieve meaningful outcomes.

“What we are doing here is to support the local government, as some of these responsibilities are primarily theirs. Primary healthcare was left with the LGAs and we suffered a lot. We realised that if we truly wanted results, some of these responsibilities had to be taken away, and I am happy that this decision is already yielding positive results,” he said.

Fubara said his administration made the right call by embarking on major hospital projects across the state, noting that the Ahoada and Bori Zonal Hospitals had already been inaugurated, while similar facilities in Degema, Omoku and Etche would be completed and commissioned before the end of March 2026.

According to him, the focus of his government goes beyond road construction and housing to include heavy investments in education and quality healthcare as core pillars of effective governance.

“All ongoing projects in Ahoada will be completed, and we will also initiate new ones as requested by the people,” he assured.

The governor described the Ahoada Zonal Hospital as a strategic healthcare hub that would reduce pressure on tertiary hospitals, particularly the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital in Port Harcourt.

“This project is not just one we inherited; it is a pre-decorated inheritance. It is meant to serve Ahoada and, by extension, Abua, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni and even Emohua as the closest neighbour. Instead of everyone running to BMH, this facility can provide services close to what you get in a teaching hospital,” he said.

Fubara stressed that the government did not make a mistake in undertaking what he described as a “complicated but necessary” project, adding that similar zonal hospitals were being developed in Bori, Degema, Omoku and Etche.

“What we are telling our people is simple: your health is important to us. No matter how much wealth you have, you need good health to enjoy it. The well-being of our people remains the top priority of this government,” he said, while commending the Ministry of Health for its commitment.

The governor also thanked the people of Ahoada and the Ekpeye Kingdom for their steadfast support, acknowledging the sacrifices made by many in standing with his administration.

In a political appeal, Fubara called on stakeholders in the Orashi region to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and work towards ensuring his re-election in 2027.

“We have taken on the responsibility of making 2027 easier for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State. The projects we are executing are so that our people will see a responsible government and have every reason to listen to us and support us,” he said.

He urged political leaders and supporters to begin early mobilisation, saying, “You already have the machinery. Start the work now so that 2027 will be an easy ride for Mr President in this Orashi region.”

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has raised concerns over controversies trailing the recently enacted Tax Reform Acts, warning that the issues cast doubt on the integrity and transparency of Nigeria’s lawmaking process.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the developments pose a serious threat to constitutional governance and could erode public confidence in legislative procedures.

Osigwe called for a comprehensive, open and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the passage of the laws, stressing that such a process is necessary to restore trust in the National Assembly.

The association also urged relevant authorities to suspend the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts pending the outcome of the proposed investigation.

“The Nigerian Bar Association considers it imperative that a comprehensive, open and transparent investigation be conducted to clarify the circumstances surrounding the enactment of the laws and to restore public confidence in the legislative process,” the statement said.

“Until these issues are fully examined and resolved, all plans for the implementation of the Tax Reform Acts should be immediately suspended.”

According to the NBA, the legal and policy uncertainty generated by the controversy could have far-reaching implications, including disruption of the business environment, erosion of investor confidence and unpredictability for individuals and corporate entities required to comply with the laws.

The association warned that such uncertainty undermines economic stability and is inconsistent with the principles of the rule of law.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has confirmed that the National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) now automatically serves as the Tax Identification Number (TIN) for individual Nigerians.

The clarification was made on Monday in a public awareness message shared by the Service on X, as part of efforts to explain provisions of the newly enacted tax laws.

FIRS also disclosed that registered businesses will no longer require a separate Tax Identification Number, as their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration number will now function as their official tax identifier under the revised tax framework.

The announcement follows growing public concerns over provisions in the new tax laws that require a Tax ID for certain transactions, including bank account ownership.

According to the Service, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), which comes into effect in January 2026, mandates the use of a Tax ID for specified financial and commercial transactions. However, FIRS stressed that the requirement is not new.

“This requirement has existed since the Finance Act of 2019 and has now been reinforced under the Nigeria Tax Administration Act,” the Service said.
FIRS explained that the Tax ID system consolidates all previously issued tax identification numbers by the Service and State Internal Revenue Services into a single, unified identifier.

“For individuals, your NIN automatically serves as your Tax ID, while for registered companies, your CAC RC number is used. You do not need a physical card, as the Tax ID is a unique number linked directly to your identity,” it stated.

The Service said the reform is aimed at simplifying taxpayer identification, eliminating duplication, curbing tax evasion, and promoting fairness by ensuring that all individuals and entities with taxable income contribute appropriately.

FIRS urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation surrounding the reform, assuring the public that the updated tax framework is designed to improve efficiency, transparency, and trust in tax administration.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally declared all armed groups operating across Nigeria as terrorist organisations, warning that any group involved in kidnapping, attacks on farmers, or the terrorisation of communities will henceforth be treated and prosecuted as terrorists.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the declaration on Monday in Abuja during an end-of-year press conference, stressing that the era of “ambiguous nomenclature” was over.

“Let me be clear,” Idris said. “Henceforth, any armed group that kidnaps our children, attacks our farmers, or terrorises our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist organisation.”

According to the minister, the move is backed by a new national counterterrorism doctrine introduced in 2025 and anchored on four pillars: unified command, intelligence, community stability, and counterinsurgency.

He explained that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency would soon translate into massive recruitment into the Armed Forces and Police, as well as the deployment of trained and well-equipped Forest Guards to secure forests and other vulnerable locations.

Idris also confirmed the release of the remaining 130 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, bringing the total number of freed pupils to 230.

“With this development, it can be confirmed that all the abducted pupils have been freed. Not a single pupil is left in captivity due to the efforts of our security agencies,” he said.

The minister said the Federal Government empathised with the parents of the pupils over the trauma of the abduction and wished the families healing, reunion, and a peaceful Christmas season. He added that decisive measures had been taken to ensure such mass abductions never occur again.

Looking ahead to 2026, Idris said the administration’s mission is to build “a secure, competitive, and prosperous Nigeria,” noting that security dominates the 2026 budget with a record allocation of ₦5.41 trillion—the largest single allocation to defence and security in Nigeria’s history.

He said the funding would support modern military equipment, a new national intelligence architecture, and a secure digital border surveillance system.

On economic performance, the minister said 2025 closed with strong indicators across key sectors. Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.98 percent in the third quarter of 2025, driven largely by the non-oil sector.

Headline inflation declined for eight consecutive months to 14.45 percent in November, while food inflation continued on a downward trend.

External reserves, he added, rose to about $44.56 billion, while Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of ₦6.69 trillion in the third quarter of 2025—up 27.29 percent year-on-year. Business confidence also strengthened, with the Purchasing Managers Index showing 12 consecutive months of expansion.

In the power sector, Idris said Nigeria recorded its highest-ever daily energy output of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours on March 4, 2025. He noted that the year also marked the launch of the Presidential Metering Initiative and the issuance of the first bond under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme.
Investor confidence, he said, was further reflected in a massively oversubscribed Eurobond issuance, which attracted orders worth 400 percent of the $2.3 billion target.

“The temporary pains of reform are yielding permanent gains,” Idris said. “President Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria is big, his strategy unambiguous, and his resolve unshakeable. We are consolidating stability, protecting our homeland, empowering our youth, and building a nation where every citizen can thrive. Nigeria is truly on the move.”

A Professor of Food Processing and Biochemical Engineering at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Professor Monday Ohwesiri Akusu, has called on the Rivers State Government to support the commercial cultivation of Allanblackia floribunda, popularly known as the tallow tree, as a healthier and cheaper alternative raw material for food processing.

Prof. Akusu said the seeds of Allanblackia can be used to produce zero trans-fat margarine, bakery fat and shortening, thereby reducing the health risks associated with trans-fat consumption, particularly coronary heart diseases.

The don made the call while delivering the 124th Inaugural Lecture of Rivers State University, titled “Food Processing for Healthy Living and Wealth Creation in an Emerging Economy,” last Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
According to him, partially hydrogenated fats—commonly found in spreads, bakery fats, shortening and margarine—have long dominated the food supply chain despite their high trans-fat content, a trend he said must be urgently reversed.

He explained that consumers are increasingly abandoning hydrogenated fats due to health concerns and turning to alternatives such as stearin and olein derived from palm oil, soybean oil and groundnut oil.

However, Prof. Akusu noted that rising costs and scarcity of these raw materials, especially crude palm oil, have made sustained production difficult.
He cited figures showing that in 2021 alone, the Central Bank of Nigeria imported ₦20.28 billion worth of palm oil from China, ₦16.49 billion from Malaysia, and ₦31.43 billion worth of palm olein, also from Malaysia.
He described the figures as “staggering” and unsustainable.

To address this, Prof. Akusu advocated a new approach centred on the utilisation of locally under-exploited crops such as Allanblackia seeds and African pear pulp for the production of heart-friendly, non-hydrogenated bakery fats and margarine.

“Allanblackia floribunda fruits are abundant in Rivers State, especially in Etche Local Government Area, including communities such as Okehi, Igbodo, Ubimini, Oyigbo, Ndoki, Ogbakiri, Elibrada and Rumuewhor,” he said, adding that the tree grows widely in Etche forests.

He disclosed that laboratory trials have successfully produced margarine and bakery fats from Allanblackia seeds, capable of delivering up to 1,000 kilocalories of energy, which supports efficient heart function.

Beyond fats and oils, Prof. Akusu advised Nigerians to consume more coloured fruits and vegetables, noting that they are rich in micronutrients and bioactive compounds that inhibit cancer cell growth. These include watermelon, red apples, purple cabbage, pepper, oranges, shrimps, lobsters, carrots, palm oil and red wine.

He also called for measures to reduce post-harvest losses of pepper by encouraging the commercial production of branded ground pepper and pepper sauce for local and export markets.

Describing pepper as the “king of spices,” he said it contains powerful antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals responsible for cancer.

He noted that although Nigeria produces large quantities of pepper with superior nutritional content, most pepper sauces sold in supermarkets are imported.

“Our research enabled us to stabilise locally produced pepper sauce without separation, using a mathematical solution,” he revealed.

The professor further encouraged young graduates to invest in the machine-shelling of egusi seeds, noting that machine-processed egusi retains the same quality and taste as hand-peeled varieties.

He also recommended the establishment of an integrated plantain processing factory to produce plantain flour for use in composite noodles made with wheat and ginger.

“Nigeria is the 13th largest consumer of foreign noodles in the world. We produced instant noodles from plantain and wheat composite flours spiced with ginger. From plantain peels, we also extracted pectin with excellent gelling properties for making jam and marmalade,” he said.

Prof. Akusu concluded that with the right policy support, food processing innovation could significantly improve public health, reduce import dependence, and create wealth in Nigeria’s emerging economy.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday commissioned the state’s first-ever purpose-built Permanent Secretaries’ Quarters, a landmark intervention aimed at strengthening staff welfare and boosting efficiency within the civil service.

The housing estate, located in Elimgbu Community, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, was inaugurated by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, at a ceremony attended by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee, led by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru.

Speaking at the event, Governor Fubara said the project was conceived to improve living conditions, enhance health outcomes and ultimately raise productivity among senior civil servants. He noted that insecurity and uncertainty over basic needs often undermine performance and decision-making, particularly for family men and women in public service.

He stressed that the strategic role of Permanent Secretaries in policy coordination and service delivery makes it imperative for government to provide them with decent accommodation and mobility. According to him, meeting these fundamental needs would enable public officers to discharge their responsibilities with greater focus, commitment and integrity, adding that similar welfare initiatives would, in due course, be extended to other cadres in the service.

The governor urged beneficiaries to protect the facilities and directed the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure proper maintenance and sustainability. He added that improved welfare would discourage sharp practices, enhance productivity and contribute to the overall development of Rivers State and the country.

In her remarks, Dr. Walson-Jack described the project as a strategic investment in institutional stability and staff motivation. She commended the quality of the design and amenities, urging the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture with renewed professionalism and dedication to duty.

APC National Secretary, Senator Bashiru, hailed Rivers State as the first fully APC-controlled state in the South-South, calling on residents to support the party’s governance agenda, which he said aligns with national development objectives.

Earlier, the Rivers State Head of Civil Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, described the project as historic, noting that it was conceptualised, executed and completed within record time under Governor Fubara’s administration. She said the initiative signalled a deliberate shift towards improving service delivery through enhanced staff welfare.

Providing details of the project, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate consists of 29 housing units—nine detached duplexes and 20 terrace buildings. He added that the facility is equipped with a water treatment plant, central power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gymnasium, recreational areas and landscaped green spaces, all designed to promote comfort, performance and productivity.