The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has celebrated its newly retired Directors and other staff by presenting service awards to them for their contributions to the Commission’s progress and success in the discharge of its mandate to develop the Niger Delta region.

Speaking during the ceremony at the NDDC Club House in Port Harcourt, the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stressed the need to recognise and honour retired staff for their various roles in driving the development process.

Ogbuku commended the retirees for the meritorious service they had given to the Niger Delta region, in particular, and to Nigeria as a whole, noting that it was a great honour to be recognised by one’s organisation.

He urged the retired Directors and staff to see themselves as ambassadors of the NDDC in whatever post-retirement activities they undertake.

Ogbuku said that the NDDC management would continue to reward those who served the Commission well, noting that it was essential to recognise and reward the efforts of staff and retirees who served without blemish.

The Managing Director told the retirees, “You have an institutional memory of the NDDC that is invaluable to those still in service. We will, therefore, continue to tap into your wealth of experience by engaging some of you as consultants.”

In his remarks, the NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, commended the retiring Directors for serving the Commission well. Stating: “You’re leaving the NDDC is not because the Commission does not want you again, it is just the nature of public service.”

“Without you, the Executive Management would not have been able to perform optimally. Your loyalty and dedication have helped us to succeed. We will still need your services as consultants and contractors because you are a rich repository of invaluable institutional memories for the NDDC.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, the retiring Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr Patrick Ekade, described the ceremony as a celebration of the retirees’ service.

He said that the current NDDC management thought it wise to make the retirement process less stressful: “The honour the NDDC bestows on the retirees is to give hope to those still in service. It is a celebration of hope for the retirees.”

Responding on behalf of the retirees, the former Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision, Engr. Nelson Onwo, thanked the NDDC Board and Management for recognising their contributions and celebrating them even in retirement.

He promised they would continue to support the NDDC whenever called upon to assist.

He remarked: “I am excited to be leaving because it allows me to explore other areas of my life. But again, I am going to miss the warmth of the NDDC family and friends of many years.”

Also responding, the former Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr George Uzonwanne, observed that the NDDC, apart from being a “wonderful family,” had provided the retirees with the best training throughout their service to the Commission.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged the immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), with multiple counts of money laundering, marking what observers have described as one of the most high-profile corruption trials in recent times.

Malami is to face a 16-count charge bordering on alleged laundering of billions of naira, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

He was charged alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, Hajia Bashir Asabe.

According to the charge sheet, dated December 23, 2025, Malami allegedly laundered about ₦9 billion to acquire prime properties in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and other locations across the country.

The EFCC further alleged that the former Attorney-General is to account for about 30 houses, valued at approximately ₦212.8 billion, most of which were reportedly acquired during his eight-year tenure under the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari.

The anti-graft agency indicated that it may invoke the Non-Conviction Based Asset Forfeiture provisions of its Establishment Act to seize some of the properties. Under the law, the commission has a 14-day window to invite interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The EFCC is currently awaiting a date from the Federal High Court, Abuja, for the commencement of trial.

In what is shaping up as a major legal battle, the prosecution team is led by senior advocates Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Ekene Iheanacho (SAN), alongside 14 other lawyers. No fewer than 10 witnesses have been frontloaded in compliance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

The charge sheet details how Malami allegedly used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal and disguise the origin of illicit funds running into billions of naira through Sterling Bank accounts.

One of the counts alleged that between July 2022 and June 2025, Malami and his son procured Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal the unlawful origin of ₦1.014 billion, which the EFCC said the defendants reasonably ought to have known were proceeds of unlawful activities.

Other counts accused Malami, while serving as Attorney-General, of laundering ₦600 million between September 2020 and February 2021, retaining ₦600 million as cash collateral for a ₦500 million loan to Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, and disguising ₦500 million used to purchase a luxury duplex in Maitama, Abuja, through Rahamaniyya Properties Limited.

The EFCC maintained that the transactions violated various provisions of Nigeria’s money laundering laws and are punishable under the relevant sections of the Acts.

The case is expected to draw significant public attention as proceedings begin.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has called for a decisive shift from symbolic remembrance ceremonies to concrete, year-round support for Nigeria’s veterans and the families of fallen heroes, announcing a ₦100 million donation to the Nigerian Legion to underscore his administration’s commitment.

The Governor made the pledge on Tuesday at the 2026 Emblem Appeal Launch held at Government House, Port Harcourt, where he doubled the state’s 2025 contribution to the Legion.

He stressed that honouring those who fought to preserve Nigeria’s unity must go beyond annual emblem launches to deliberate policies and sustained welfare interventions.
Fubara said remembrance should translate into tangible improvements in the lives of surviving veterans and dependants of the fallen.

“It should go beyond coming here annually to do the emblem launching. It should go beyond that to support those who are still alive and appreciate the dead ones through any other means we can,” he stated.

Addressing concerns over an earlier pledge to employ 50 children of veterans, the Governor clarified that the delay was due to procedural requirements, not a policy reversal.

He urged the Nigerian Legion to submit the necessary list, assuring that action would follow immediately upon receipt.

The Governor also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing construction of the permanent Nigerian Legion State Secretariat in Rivers State, pledging that the project would be completed before the end of 2026.

He further appealed to individuals and organisations to redeem their pledges promptly to ensure uninterrupted welfare support for veterans.

In a welcome address, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, described Fubara—son of a soldier—as a steadfast ally of the military community, noting that his support reflected a deep understanding of the sacrifices made by service personnel.

He quoted the familiar refrain: “We don’t know them all, but we owe them all.”

Earlier, Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Rivers State Command, ACG Kuu Aminikpo Promise, commended the Governor for his consistent support, particularly the construction of the State Secretariat, which he described as a landmark intervention for the organisation.

The emblem launch signals the commencement of activities ahead of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day on January 15, reaffirming Rivers State’s resolve to move veterans’ welfare from ceremonial acknowledgement to sustained, all-year care.

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.”