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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday urged Nigerians to shun hate and embrace unity across religious lines, declaring that ‘hate is not an option for us.’

Speaking at the funeral service of the mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, in Plateau State, the President used his own family as an example of peaceful coexistence, stressing that love and understanding can bridge any divide.

‘I inherited Islam from my parents and haven’t changed, but my wife is a pastor. She prays for me, and there’s no conflict. I have never tried to convince her to convert,’ Tinubu said.

The President continued by emphasizing the need for mutual respect among people of different faiths, insisting that Nigerians are all accountable to one divine authority.

‘I believe in the freedom of religion. We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to the same Almighty God. We will account to Him,’ he added.

Tinubu said faith should never be a reason for division or hostility, adding that Nigeria’s diversity will only become a strength when tolerance and respect prevail.

‘Our differences are not meant to divide us but to strengthen us. Hate is not an option,’ he stressed.

He concluded by praying for the soul of the departed to rest in peace and for God to comfort the bereaved family.

As the countdown to the January, 2026 effective take off of two landmark Tax Reform laws gathers steam, wrong narratives and misconceptions about aspects of the new tax laws have also been on the increase. While some of the misconceptions are borne out of innocent ignorance, others are mostly from a place of political mischievousness. In this Explainer I will be addressing the misconceptions around the income tax provisions in the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025.

Over the past couple of months, I have noticed the following misconceptions and wrong narratives around the issue of income tax, many of which emanate from individuals or businesses who have clearly been evading income taxes: my

1. Nigerians pay higher income taxes from January 1, 2026

2. Money in individual bank accounts would be automatically taxed by the government

3. Federal government is desperate to raise revenue by taxing the income of Nigerians heavily.

4. Tax laws will stifle productivity

I will briefly touch on each of these misconceptions, providing clarifications in layman terms.

1. HIGHER OR LOWER INCOME TAXES FOR INDIVIDUALS?

The reality is that the income tax paid by MAJORITY of Nigerians will reduce following the new personal income tax provisions in the Nigerian Tax Act, 2025 that exempted individuals earning N800,000 and below per annum from paying income tax. What this means is that Nigerians earning minimum wage or below will pay zero income tax.

I understand some will argue that minimum wage is N70,000 per month, which translates to N840,000 per annum and ordinarily means a minimum wage earner still has N40,000 above the N800,000 exemption threshold that is subjected to an income tax of 15% under the new tax law. That is correct, but here is the catch, there is what is called TAXABLE INCOME and is not necessarily equivalent to the total income of an individual.

Taxable income is simply the part of the total income that can be taxed after allowable deductions have been made. Under the NTA 2025, you can deduct the following from your GROSS income to get your TAXABLE income:

a) NHIS contribution (5% of salary for most employees)

b) Annual rent (corresponding to 20% of the rent up to a maximum of N500,000)

c) National Housing Fund deduction (2.5% of gross pay)

d) Employee Pension contribution (8% of employee salary)

e) Life insurance premium for you and your spouse

In other words, a minimum wage earner claim some or all of these deductions and these will certainly drive down the taxable income within the exemption threshold of N800,000 per annum.

Let us do a practical calculation for an individual earning N70,000 monthly (minimum wage) who pays an annual rent of N200,000 in addition to NHIS, NHF and contributory pension deductions.

His gross annual income = N840,000

Pension contributions = N67,200

NHF deduction = N21,000

NHIS deduction = N42,000

20% of Annual Rent = N40,000

By the time you make these allowable deductions from the N840,000 gross income, the individual’s TAXABLE INCOME becomes N710,800. This falls well within the exemption threshold which means the individual will not pay any income tax.

If an individual earns N80,000 monthly, and we use similar deductions for NHIS, NHF and CPS while raising annual rent to N300,000 with 20% amounting to N60,000, the individual will still be exempt from paying income tax as the taxable income would be N799,200 – within the N800,000 tax exemption threshold. Even when we calculate for an individual earning an annual gross income of N1.2m, the individual may even fall within the tax exempt status depending on the deductions he or she claims or at worst the individual may just be taxed an effective tax rate of 2.5% under the new law as against 4.6% under the old law.

The tax band is progressive in nature and only makes the rich with reasonably much higher annual gross income to pay a little more than before, which is a fair system. Although, depending on the deductions they may claim, they can end up paying lesser income tax than before. This in itself opens a lot of opportunities for the economy especially the life insurance sector as well as the health sector since one can actually sign up for health insurance and/or life insurance in order to pay lesser income tax while at the same time benefiting from quality all-round cheaper healthcare offered by the NHIS for the family.

Below is a demo tax calculation for an individual earning an annual gross income of N50 million. The individual lives in an apartment he purchased with a bank loan of N80 million at an annual interest rate of 27% with a five year tenor, making his annual interest payment to be approximately N4.32 million. This particular individual also makes N5 million contribution towards his pension and another N2.5 million NHIS contribution that covers himself, his spouse and four kids.

After deducting N5 million pension contributions, N2.5 million NHIS contribution and N4.32 million interest payment, his taxable income out of the N50 million gross income becomes just N35.18 million. However, this N35.18 million is not taxed a flat rate of 23% (under the old law, income above N3.2 million is taxed a flat rate of 24%), rather it is progressive – the first 800k is 0%, next N2.2m is taxed at 15%, next N9m is taxed at 18%, next N13m is taxed at 21% while the next N25m is taxed at 23%.

The income tax of this individual under the new tax laws is N7.02 million, which is basically 14.0% of his gross income – just 1.1% higher than his effective tax rate under the old laws. This is still by far very fair when you consider what is obtainable in many other countries of the world where effective tax rate can get to as high as 60% of taxable income.

2. WILL INCOME TAX BE AUTOMATICALLY DEDUCTED FROM BANK ACCOUNTS?

The simple answer is NO. Taxes would not be automatically deducted from the bank account of Nigerians.

This misconception is probably because of the provisions in section 29 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act which mandates banks and other financial institutions to furnish the tax authority on a quarterly basis information (name and addresses) about their customers with cumulative monthly transactions of N25 million and above for individuals or N100 million and above for a body corporate. Even though the information will help a tax authority know those ELIGIBLE taxpayers evading taxes, the provision does not amount to automatic deduction of taxes from the accounts.

Crucially, if your monthly cumulative transactions as an individual does not amount to N25 million and above or from N100 million for corporate bodies, this provision does not concern you in any way. Only about 5% of the population have bank accounts that have more than half a million in them. So, in essence, more than 90% of Nigerians, which includes all the poor and vulnerable people in Nigeria are not affected by this provision.

3. IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DESPERATE TO RAISE REVENUE BY TAXING THE INCOME OF NIGERIANS HEAVILY?

Again, the simple and short answer is NO!

The reforms in the income tax laws are not particularly meant for the federal government to raise more revenue by taxing Nigerians heavily, the reverse is actually the case. The tax laws are meant to relieve poor Nigerians of tax burden. Meanwhile, the greatest beneficiary of personal income tax revenues are the states because Section 3(2) of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act confers jurisdiction on the state tax authority in respect of tax on the income, profit or gains of individuals residing in a state. Therefore, personal income tax is part of the IGR sources of state governments.

The FG only retains income taxes from personnel of the armed forces and personnel of the Nigerian Foreign Service in addition to non-residents (those not living in Nigeria) who derive income or profit from Nigeria. Under the new tax laws, the FG has even exempted members of the armed forces from paying income tax. So, the federal government cannot raise revenue from the income of civilians living in Nigeria as that is the exclusive preserve of the states.

Also, the fact that the tax laws exempted Nigerians earning below N800,000 per annum from income tax shows that the tax laws are not necessarily about raising revenues but reducing tax burden on Nigerians so that they can have more disposable income. The tax laws simply tried to focus on increasing tax compliance by the high income earners with the state governments being the ultimate beneficiary in any case.

4. WILL THE TAX LAWS STIFLE PRODUCTIVITY?

Definitely NOT!

The new tax laws are primarily meant to boost productivity and not stifle it. This is not difficult to prove. First, the wide range of exemptions for both individual taxpayers and small businesses clearly indicates an intention to bring relief to low income individuals and small businesses. Section 56 of the Nigeria Tax Act pegs the income (profit) tax rate for small businesses at 0%.

In section 147 (page 331) of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, a small company is defined as a company with an annual gross turnover of N100m or less and with total fixed assets not exceeding N250m. This is basically 90% of businesses in Nigeria. A tax law that exempts over 90% of businesses in the country from paying profit tax cannot be stifling productivity under any circumstances!

In fact the same section 56 of the Nigeria Tax Act pegs the profit tax rate for larger companies at 30% with a proviso that this rate shall be REDUCED to 25% from a date to be determined in an order issued by the President on the advice of the National Economic Council. This provision was a compromise position reached to allay the fears of the Nigerian Governors Forum who felt the initial proposal to progressively reduce CIT for large companies to 25% by 2030 would likely reduce revenue inflows into the federation account since CIT revenue is shared by the three tiers of government.

The provision allows the eventual rate reduction to happen when the states (who are represented in the National Economic Council) are confident that such a reduction will not adversely impact on the federation revenue inflows. The Council will then advise the President to proclaim the order reducing CIT to 25%. If the new tax laws were to be anti-productivity, the company income tax rate would have been jerked up to above the 30% rate in the old Income Tax law.

CONCLUSION

From the foregoing, it is evidently clear that the income tax provisions in both the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act are people-friendly, business-friendly, pro-poor and formulated to stimulate productivity by reducing the amount of money businesses pay as profit taxes or eliminating the profit tax entirely for small businesses. It is important that states through their tax authorities massively educate residents on the correct provisions of the tax laws especially as it pertains to income taxes.

As I conclude, I must emphasise that tax is an obligation that citizens owe their country. There is no valid excuse for any ELIGIBLE taxpayer, especially those who are not classified poor, to shy away from paying their fair share of taxes. This also applies to eligible corporate taxpayers. The new tax laws makes tax evasion more difficult and will bring many eligible taxpayers, hitherto avoiding taxes, into the tax net. As more high networth individuals and entities are captured in the tax net, they will have more motivation to demand for accountability from elected and appointed leaders across the three tiers of government who manage these tax revenues. This is potentially a very good news for accelerated national development.

Following his conviction and 50-month prison sentence for transporting people for prostitution in the United States, Hip Hop legend Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces one of the darkest chapters of his life. Once celebrated as a global music and business icon, his reputation now hangs in the balance.

Here are 15 things to know about the fallen star:

Early Life: Born Sean John Combs on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, New York, Diddy grew up in Mount Vernon, raised by his mother after his father was killed when he was just two years old.

Education and Hustle: Combs attended Howard University, where he majored in business. Though he left before graduation, his time there shaped his drive and ambition.

Music Industry Breakthrough: Diddy began his career as an intern at Uptown Records, quickly rising through the ranks before launching his own label.

Bad Boy Records Legacy: In 1993, he founded Bad Boy Records, propelling artists like The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112, and Mase to global fame.

Hitmaker Extraordinaire: As Puff Daddy, Diddy released several chart-topping singles. His 1997 tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., ‘I’ll Be Missing You,’ dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for 11 weeks.

The Business Mogul: Beyond music, Combs built a vast business empire, investing in brands like Cîroc vodka, DeLeón tequila, and AquaHydrate, with his net worth once estimated at over $800 million.

Fashion Influence: In 1998, he launched the Sean John clothing line, which redefined urban fashion and earned him the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2004.

Television and Media Expansion: In 2013, Combs co-founded Revolt TV, a music and lifestyle network designed to amplify Black culture and creativity.

Multiple Reinventions: Known for frequently changing his stage name – Puff Daddy, Puffy, P. Diddy, Diddy, and Love – his identity shifts became part of his enduring brand.

Lavish Lifestyle: Diddy was famous for his extravagant ‘White Parties,’ luxury mansions, and celebrity-filled gatherings that defined the hip-hop elite lifestyle of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Legal Troubles: His career has long been marred by controversies – from nightclub shootings in 1999 to multiple civil lawsuits alleging abuse, violence, and misconduct.

Criminal Conviction: In July 2025, Combs was found guilty of transporting individuals for prostitution and was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison in New York on October 3, 2025.

Courtroom Apology: During his sentencing, Diddy publicly apologized to his family, fans, and victims, admitting that ‘power and fame blinded him to the consequences of his actions.’

Public Reaction:

The conviction sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with many fans expressing disappointment while others called it a long-overdue reckoning.

Legacy in Question: Once hailed as a symbol of Black excellence and innovation, Combs’ influence on music, fashion, and business now stands overshadowed by scandal leaving his legacy deeply tarnished.

From chart-topping success to a federal prison sentence, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ story is a powerful reminder of how fame, fortune, and unchecked excess can ultimately lead to a dramatic fall from grace.

No fewer than 250 commercial taxi drivers have been arrested across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for violating safety directives restricting only one passenger in the front seat.

The arrests, which took place within the first 48 hours of a renewed enforcement drive that began on October 2, were part of a wider campaign to end overloading and unsafe transport practices in Abuja.

Confirming the development, the FCT Sector Commander, Corps Commander Felix Theman, said the operation was launched to restore passenger dignity and safety on the roads.

‘Enforcement is the most civil and effective way to ensure that safety is not compromised for convenience,’ Theman stated.

He noted that many of the apprehended drivers were found carrying two passengers in the front seat, a practice that violates vehicle design standards and makes proper seatbelt use impossible.

The FRSC warned that overloading endangers lives, puts extra strain on tyres and suspension systems, and reduces a driver’s control in emergencies.

‘The overloading of passengers and goods not only endangers lives but also places undue stress on vehicles. It impairs the driver’s ability to control the vehicle effectively, especially in emergency situations,’ Theman added.

Theman disclosed that the Command had consulted transport unions and stakeholders before the operation, noting that the unions pledged full support for the safety drive.

The enforcement, he said, is being carried out with the aid of mobile magistrate courts for the on-the-spot prosecution of offenders.

He further warned commercial drivers using unsafe vehicles to upgrade or risk immediate impoundment as part of the broader push for safer urban transport.

‘Passengers must support the FRSC’s efforts to protect their right to safe and dignified transportation,’ he said.

The FRSC also announced that full activation of mobile court locations across the FCT will begin on Monday, October 6, to further intensify the clampdown on violators.

ýýPresident Bola Tinubu will attend funeral prayers for Nana Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of APC Chairman Prof. Nantewe Yilwatda after which he will address Christian leaders during his visit to Plateau State today, Saturday, 4 October, the presidency has said.

ýThe mother of APC National Chairman Mama Lydia Yilwatda died on August 17 at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital aged 83.

Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga announced this in a statement on Friday.

ýHe said during the visit, Tinubu will address northern church leaders at the COCIN Church headquarters in Jos.

Tinubu is further expected to use his address to the Christian leaders in Plateau State to dismiss the claims of religious genocide in Nigeria as being peddled by some lawmakers in the United States of America.

Recall that the President had last Tuesday in Imo State said allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria were ‘unfounded and misleading’

Here, no faith is under siege, no community is excluded. Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side-not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us,’ Tinubu said while addressing a gathering at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Convention Centre, Owerri.

ýýThe President will return to Lagos on the same day after the visit.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has officially announced his intention to contest the 2026 governorship election under the APC platform.

Omisore made the announcement on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, revealing that a formal declaration will take place on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the Osun APC Secretariat in Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo.

The event, themed ‘Fix the Broken, Restore Our Dreams,’ marks the beginning of his campaign journey.

‘My beloved people of Osun State, after deep reflection and wide consultations, I have decided to formally declare my intention to contest for the Governor of Osun State in 2026 under our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),’ Omisore stated.

He noted that his campaign would focus on restoring hope, improving governance, and creating a brighter future for the people of Osun State.

‘This is not just my mission; it is a collective one. I humbly invite you to join me as we take this bold step towards the Osun Rescue Mission 2026,’ he added.

Omisore, who previously contested the 2014 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining the APC, is expected to be among the top contenders for the party’s governorship ticket in the forthcoming election.

The Borno State Police Command has warned that criminals are increasingly using tinted vehicles to commit robberies, kidnappings, drug trafficking, and even terrorism across Nigeria.

Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso, made this known in a statement released on Saturday, saying data from the Command’s Crime Frequency Report revealed that many serious crimes were carried out using vehicles with darkened glass.

‘Our findings show that tinted vehicles have frequently been used to conceal or facilitate serious crimes. Armed robbers, kidnappers, drug traffickers, and terrorists have all taken advantage of dark glass to hide their identities or illicit objects,’ Daso stated.

He cited a shocking example involving a University of Maiduguri lecturer murdered on April 2, 2024, where CCTV footage captured the vehicle but not the suspects’ faces due to heavy tinting – delaying justice.

Another tragic case, he said, occurred on September 26, 2025, when three children died after being trapped inside a dark-tinted vehicle. Passersby could not see them in time to intervene.

Daso said these incidents show why regulation is critical:

‘Criminals exploit the anonymity that dark glass provides. Failing to regulate it leaves law enforcement handicapped and the public vulnerable.’

He, however, clarified that the regulation is not a total ban on tinted vehicles. Exemptions apply to factory-fitted tint, VIPs, and individuals with medical conditions such as photophobia.

Vehicle owners must now register for digital tinted glass permits, which will capture biometric data, NIN, and vehicle details to aid investigations.

‘This process creates a verifiable database that strengthens security. When a tinted car is linked to a crime, we can trace its owner swiftly,’ he said, assuring that the process will be transparent and corruption-free.

The police also warned officers against using the regulation as a means to extort motorists, urging the public to report unprofessional conduct through the Complaint Response Unit (CRU).

Meanwhile, the Force Headquarters said it had not yet received the Federal High Court order reportedly stopping the enforcement of tinted-glass permits.

Force PRO, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that enforcement continues nationwide, adding that vehicles without valid tinted permits risk fines and possible impoundment as of October 2, 2025.

The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Ben Kalu has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what he called demolition of the houses and offices of South Easterners in Lagos State

Kalu made the request on Friday while speaking during the reception at the Enyimba International Stadium organised in honour of Tinubu after inaugurating some projects in Abia.

Kalu pleaded with the president to speak with the Lagos State governor to allow the Igbo people whose houses have not been destroyed already to regularize their documents.

He said that destruction at this time of hardship makes the hearts of victims bleed, stressing that the need for an amicable resolution rather than destruction of property.

‘I also want to say that the destruction and the demolition of the houses, the offices of our brothers in Lagos makes our hearts bleed,’ he said.

The Deputy Speaker also urged the President to grant a sea port to enhance trade in the Southeast zone.

‘Mr President, we want to thank you for what you are doing in our state through our governor and what you are doing around the south East.

‘But I must say it is about time that we had another sea port in the South East; South Easterners are mainly traders and We need a sea port to enhance our trading.

Kalu said governance is about partnership hence the state must partner the federal government and the federal government must partner the state.

He said although he is an All Progressives Congress (APC) party member, it is his character to support the governors of his state to ensure the state succeeded and promised to support Alex Otti to succeed.

‘I have gone with him from the morning, visiting all the projects till this evening and I have seen the state’s projects carried out by the governor and for that we commend him.

‘But as a member and citizen of this state, I request, like Oliver Twist, that the governor should do more,’ he said.

He thanked the president for his assistance in the projects in Abia and urged the Abia Information Commissioner and media houses in Abia to accord Tinubu his merited credits.

Kalu said this would induce the president to do more for the state and the South East which he had shown love to.

Less than 24 hours after learning his fate in federal court, music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is back in the headlines, this time facing a new sexual assault lawsuit filed in Los Angeles.

According to TMZ, the new lawsuit was filed by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who represents over 100 alleged victims suing Diddy for sexual assault. The complainant, identified as Leiana Ripley, alleged the incident happened around November 1, 2016, at Club Playhouse in L.A.

Ripley claims Diddy approached her with a drink and ordered her to take it. When she hesitated, he allegedly snapped: ‘Bitch, I’m not asking you. Drink that st and shut the f up.’* Feeling intimidated, she said she complied – only for Diddy to allegedly put his arm around her, shove his hand under her skirt, and penetrate her with his fingers while saying, ‘Bitch, I do what I want, take that s*.’*

The lawsuit claims Ripley tried to push him off but Diddy laughed, appearing amused by her discomfort, before eventually letting her go. She reportedly left the club in shock, returned to her hotel, and later discovered bruising and a tear in her genital area.

Ripley says the incident left her traumatized and is seeking damages for emotional and physical distress.

Diddy’s legal team ,who were in a New York courtroom on October 3 for his sentencing in a separate criminal case have not yet responded to the latest allegations.

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were the stars of the show as Arsenal cruised past West Ham United on Saturday, marking Mikel Arteta’s 300th game in charge with a dominant 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.

Rice opened his account for the season against his former club, finishing neatly after Eberechi Eze’s shot was parried by Alphonse Areola. The goal came shortly after captain Martin Odegaard was forced off with an injury, the third straight home game the midfielder has failed to finish.

Despite the setback, Arsenal maintained full control of the match. Their attacking intent was clear from the start, with Arteta fielding an adventurous midfield of Rice, Odegaard, and Eze, showing the depth of a squad strengthened by a £250m summer overhaul.

The Gunners sealed victory in the second half after Jurrien Timber was brought down by El Hadji Malick Diouf inside the box. Saka, making his 200th Premier League appearance, calmly converted the resulting penalty, his 55th league goal for the club.

The win sent Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table, overtaking Liverpool ahead of their clash with Chelsea later in the day.

For West Ham, new boss Nuno Espirito Santo is still searching for his first win. His side showed flashes of discipline and organisation but were ultimately second best against a superior Arsenal team.

Niclas Fullkrug went close from a corner, while Lucas Paquetá fired over the bar, but the visitors rarely threatened Guglielmo Vicario’s goal.