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The Federal Government has successfully brokered an agreement between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, following two days of intense conciliation meetings in Abuja.

The talks, which were convened by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, held on Monday, 29th and Tuesday, 30th September 2025, came on the heels of PENGASSAN’s directive to halt gas supply to the Dangote Refinery and withdraw the services of its members.

The union had justified its action as a direct response to what it described as the unlawful termination of over 800 of its members by the refinery’s management. But the Dangote Group, in its defense, told the meeting that the disengagement was purely a product of an ongoing reorganization exercise within the company.

The conciliation was attended by high-ranking officials of government, security chiefs, labour leaders and industry regulators.

Among them were the National Security Adviser; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS); Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, representing the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas); as well as the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Also present were the Chief Executives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), alongside representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the President and Secretary-General of PENGASSAN.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, at the meeting reaffirmed that ‘unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and this right should be respected.’ He stressed that no employer has the authority to deny or undermine this constitutional guarantee.

After hours of back-and-forth negotiations, a breakthrough was reached. It was agreed that the Dangote Group would immediately commence the process of redeploying the disengaged workers to other companies within the conglomerate without any loss of pay.

The government further assured that no worker would suffer victimisation for their role in the dispute, while PENGASSAN committed to initiating the process of calling off the strike.

The communique in full reads; ‘Sequel to the Notice to stop gas supply to Dangote Petroleum Refinery and withdrawal of services by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria [PENGASSAN], The National Security Adviser, Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, DG DSS, DG NIA, Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources [Gas] represented by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Chief Executives of NMDPRA and NUPRC, representatives of NNPCL held conciliation meetings with management of Dangote Group and the President and Secretary General TUC and leadership of PENGASSAN on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th September, 202

‘Whereas the leadership of PENGASSAN said that the directives given to stop the supply of gas to Dangote Petroleum and withdrawal of services was in response to the termination of appointment of over Eight Hundred members of PENGASSAN by the management of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, the management of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical on the other hand, explained the reason for disengagement of the workers was as a result of the ongoing reorganization in the company.

‘After a lengthy discussion, the matter was resolved as follows: The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected.

‘After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.

‘No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.

‘PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike. Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.’

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Salihu Lukman, has expressed concern over what he described as a plot to hijack party structures in certain state chapters by aspirants in the opposition party.

The former National Vice Chairman, North West of APC, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, specifically disclosed that there is a growing dissension in the Kaduna State chapter of the ADC.

‘People with ambition to contest elections have become restless and want to dominate the process of developing the structures of the party to the exclusion of their opponents,’ he alleged.

The ADC chieftain listed former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Mallam Jaafaru Sani and Alhaji Bashir Saidu amongst individuals creating disaffection in the Kaduna State chapter.

He cautioned that failure to work together as a united political family would create a serious setback for the party ahead of the next general elections.

His statement read, ‘The madness of controlling structures of ADC is the biggest threat before us. For whatever reason, those of us who want the ADC to be an equal opportunity party are being condemned. Sadly, some of our leaders, instead of providing fair leadership, are taking sides with strengthening aspiring candidates for the 2027 elections across the state to the exclusion of others.

‘I want to use the opportunity of this independence anniversary to appeal to all of us to stop this madness of trying to take over the structures of ADC and control it to the exclusion of so-called opponents. If ADC is to emerge as a strong party capable of defeating the APC in Kaduna State, we must agree to work together. Anybody who is not ready to work as part of a united opposition in Kaduna State is consciously or unconsciously working for the APC.

‘I am making this strong appeal with a very deep feeling of disappointment that we are recklessly mismanaging an opportunity to provide the needed leadership to our people. In particular, I want to appeal to Mal. Nasir El-Rufai, Mal. Jaafaru Sani and Alh. Bashir Saidu, as the opposition leader in Kaduna State, please stop encouraging the madness of aspiring candidates seeking to take over the structures of ADC to the exclusion of so-called opponents.

‘At the individual level, I have tried to talk to those I can talk to. Unfortunately, I must also admit that I have failed in many respects. The fact that we have Sen. Musa Bello aggressively seeking to control the structures of ADC in Zone 2 is a reflection of my failure. Largely because I am, in recent times, associated with Sen. Musa Bello, Sen. Lawal Adamu (Mr. La) has avoided all my requests to meet him.

‘I have met Mallam Jaafaru Sani on this matter. We have had some discussions with Mal. Nasir. Sincerely, I am saddened by the fact that we are not united, and the perception is that I am part of the problem. As a citizen from Kaduna State, I am willing to make every necessary sacrifice to move our state forward. I have no ambition to contest the election. Without sounding immodest, I made every sacrifice to contribute to forming the coalition and negotiating the agreement with ADC.

‘May I therefore appeal to Mallam Nasir and all our leaders to please seek to unite all of us. It is only if we are united in ADC that we can unite our people in the state to defeat the APC in 2027. We must bear in mind that it is not just about defeating APC but more about producing a government controlled by our party (ADC) based on collective leadership. We need to put an end to the era when we produce emperors as Governors. Anything short of producing a Goverment managed by collective leadership under ADC will be unacceptable.

‘May God Almighty touch the hearts of all us and guide us towards unity both within the ADC and in the state. Amin. Happy Independence Anniversary. ‘

TODAY, at least in political circles, Nigeria is ensconced in song and drum. It is 65 years since the founding fathers and mothers of Nigeria lowered the Union Jack, brimming with optimism that self-rule would usher in a country that Black people the world over would be proud of. Nigeria entered into the First Republic with hope and confidence, ruled by patriots who, even though they had their own fair share of human foibles, were all fairly united in their vision for a country that would hold its own among the comity of nations.

As we observed exactly one year ago, Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has in the last six decades weathered a lot of storms to be one of the world’s most remarkable, even notorious, countries. We noted that globally, Nigerians rule every sphere of life, from the economy to religion, sports and entertainment; that the Nigerian military and the police have made remarkable strides across the African continent and on the global stage; and that Nigerian cuisine is fast gaining the trust of people around the world, from Europe to America, and Asia. We added, however, that Nigeria’s leadership problem remains at the core of its troubles. Really, the tragedy of the Nigerian condition is that if you change the date of our October 1, 2024 comment to today’s date and publicise it, anyone who did not read that editorial would think that it was published today. Nigeria’s case is like that of the proverbial passenger in a vehicle (in the epochal song by the juju maestro, King Sunny Ade) who does not know where the driver is conveying him to, whether forward or backwards.

The newspapers today are naturally replete with the good wishes and achievements of officialdom: politicians never pass up an opportunity to blow their trumpet. They also never fail to sermonise on how to make Nigeria better, usually pointing attention to what the long-suffering populace need to do, not what they who criminally manage an abundantly blessed country need to do. It is a wonderful formula: lecture the same people you daily oppress. As Nigeria turns 65 today, we do not dispute the fact that the government, from federal to state, has something to celebrate. Road projects, some of them massive, are ongoing, and so are various poverty alleviation programmes, not to mention programmes in the education, health, tourism, agriculture, and sports sectors, among others. But as we noted last year, only the rulers are happy with Nigeria’s current state: the masses of Nigerians remain wrapped up in despondency and despair, trapped in appallingly horrendous living conditions that are hardly ever addressed by the feeble efforts of officialdom. It can be no cheering news that Nigeria is home to the world’s poorest, and is the global capital of out-of-school children, open defecation, and worst electricity access.

Beyond lamenting the failures of the ruling class, we aim at the higher responsibility of suggesting a pathway forward; a pathway which is not perfect, yet holds enormous promise. Across the land, citizens unencumbered by the traps of politics have proposed solutions to Nigeria’s various problems, and those solutions are rooted in the restructuring of the polity. The government is in possession of the report of the 2014 National Conference but has not acted upon it in its customary lethargy and lack of interest in things profound. We ask that it dusts off that report and take appropriate steps to implement it. Beyond that, it would be doing the country and posterity a whole lot of good by taking a hard, constructive look at the resolution of the end of the National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy held from 16th to 17th July, 2025 at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by a group of eminent Nigerians called The Patriots, in collaboration with the Nigerian Political Summit Group (NPSG).

The conference attended by civil society groups, women, the academia, ethnic nationalities, Nigerians in Diaspora, professional groups, faith-based organisations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, market men/women, security experts, student leaders, the private sector and persons with special needs across the country noted the inherent flaws in the existing constitutional frameworks. Those flaws manifest in the decline into a unitary system, poor leadership and weak delivery of governance arising from weak political structures and institutions; declining sense of citizenship and patriotism; an increasing multi-dimensional poverty and inequality that threaten peace, unity and development; widespread fear, anxiety and an increasing feeling of hopelessness; acute corruption and lack of accountability/transparency; insecurity across regions; sectional, ethnic, and religious conflicts with various dimensions and scope that have further weakened national unity and mutual distrust; poor infrastructure; poor management of the economy manifesting in disconnection from human capital development as well as environment mismanagement; and poor adaptation strategy resulting in increasing vulnerability of Nigeria and Nigerians to climate change.

The recommendations of the summit include a new, people-driven, inclusive, democratic Constitution anchored on ‘true federalism.’ The President is urged to introduce an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise elections to a national Constituent Assembly comprising delegates elected on non-partisan basis as well as representatives of special interest groups. The objective is a constitution that will return Nigeria to a truly federal system of government where the federating units will enjoy their autonomy as obtained in the First Republic and other genuine democracies of the world. According to the summit, the current presidential system is too expensive, prone to abuse, constitutes a hindrance to people’s welfare and a major threat to the future of democracy in Nigeria. It also recommends that the present six geopolitical zones should be restructured in such a way as to ensure a truly federal system of government. It recommends the devolution of powers from the centre to the federating units, agrees that a two-chamber federal legislature is unsustainably expensive for Nigeria, and recommends a more appropriate cost-effective system. It recommends that each federating unit should have its court hierarchy up to the Court of Appeal, thereby leaving the Federal Supreme Court to deal with heavy constitutional matters like interstate disputes, and disputes between the federal and subnational governments.

In addition, it recommends that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and that of the Minister of Justice as well as the office of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice at the state level should be separated to enable the appointment of non-politically partisan Attorneys-General; that all elections be conducted in a single day, that an amendment be made to the Electoral Act and the relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and that electronic transmission of results in real time be made mandatory. It asks that the new Constitution should include provisions for independent candidacy, and that once a person is elected on the platform of a political party, he or she shall not defect to another political party till the tenure is over.

We believe that these recommendations provide a profitable pathway forward. Reworking Nigeria will make all Nigerians happy. The government should implement the recommendations to make Nigeria better at 66, and thereafter.

The Nigerian Army has sustained its fierce onslaught against terrorists and criminal gangs across the country, recording sweeping operational gains in recent days.

A report made available to Tribune Online in Abuja on Wednesday stated ‘these include the rescue of 16 hostages, arrest of 25 suspects, neutralisation of several terrorists, and the recovery of a cache of weapons, explosives and logistics during the operations.’

The report explained that ‘ in Borno and Adamawa States, troops decimated ISWAP/JAS terrorists in Kolori and Karumi (Konduga Local Government Area, as well as Madagali Local Government Area

According to it, a key logistics supplier was intercepted in Mafa Local Government Area of the state with 23 cans of petrol concealed in a bag, while troops in Mubi North halted the smuggling of petrol and fertilisers.

It added that ‘ In Garkida, a terrorist who admitted to past attacks in Damboa was captured with assorted weapons including one M70AB2 rifle, four magazines and 150 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition.’

The report further added that the Troops of 1 Brigade foiled multiple terrorist attempts in Zamfara’s Maradun, Tsafe and Anka Local Government Areas, rescued six kidnap victims, and seized motorcycles.

It added that in Kaduna State, a notorious kidnap kingpin was arrested in Mayir Village, Sanga Local Government, following precise intelligence.

The statement read, ‘In Benue, Operation WHIRL STROKE neutralised a violent extremist in Katsina-Ala LGA and rescued 10 abducted passengers along the Kyado-Wukari road.

‘In Kwara State, three kidnap victims were freed near Eruku Town with a motorcycle recovered. Meanwhile, troops in Nasarawa intercepted a drug-laden vehicle and arrested two suspects, including the consignee.

‘In Imo State, two cultists were arrested in Mgbidi with a pistol, phones and a motorcycle and in Anambra, troops disrupted IPOB/ESN activities in Orumba North, where criminals detonated three IEDs before fleeing. The explosives, wires, cylinders and batteries were safely neutralised.

‘In Delta and Bayelsa States, troops recovered two locally made double-barrel guns, 27 cartridges and in joint operations with the NDLEA, apprehended 19 drug dealers with cannabis, tramadol, pentazocine, diazepam and Canadian lou. In Rivers and Bayelsa, troops seized over 1,200 litres of illegally refined AGO and crude oil in line with Operation DELTA SAFE directives. Four suspected kidnappers were also nabbed in Oshimili North LGA of Delta State.

‘These operations yielded recovery of M70AB2 rifle, four magazines, 150 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, two double-barrel guns, 27 cartridges, one pistol, several motorcycles, IEDs, large consignments of petrol and fertilisers, mobile phones and assorted illicit drugs.’

The Nigerian Army reiterated its unshakable commitment to hunt down terrorists, kidnappers and criminal elements wherever they operate, warning that ‘those who threaten the peace and security of the nation will face relentless military pressure and devastating consequences.’

It added that the Nigerian Army remains firm in safeguarding communities, enabling farming and supporting national economic recovery in line with the Federal Government’s drive for food security.

Irked by the increasing rate of deaths arising from crashes on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Federal Road Safety Corps has established an RTC clinic to provide immediate medical care for the victims.

The FRSC noted that many lives would have been saved if there were health facilities within proximity of the accident scenes.

The Sector Commander, RS2.2, Ogun State, Akinwumi Fasakin, at the commissioning of the multi-million-naira RTC clinic in Ogunmakin, decried the rising death toll from crashes on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

He added that many lives would have been saved if there had been prompt access to health facilities along the way.

In line with this directive, the RS2.29 KM27 Unit Command, Ogun State, recently commissioned a multi-million-naira RTC aimed at attending to victims of road traffic crashes along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The FRSC, according to him, has the constitutional responsibility of ensuring safety not only on the highways but on all roads in the country. Part of the measures is the establishment of RTCs at the various units.

‘With this development, many lives will be saved through the prompt response of medical service providers to the victims of road crashes.

‘This project (RTC) is a welcome development. It is in line with the vision of the leadership of the FRSC.’

Speaking in the same vein, the Acting Unit Commander, Phillip Gogomi, said: ‘The Command has recorded an alarming rate of crashes with attendant fatalities within its area of jurisdiction.

‘This is because the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is one of the most densely populated with vehicular movement, making it the busiest road in the West African region. This road also perhaps has the highest number of unlicensed drivers, who, in most cases, drive dangerously.

‘Another factor observed to be common with drivers on the expressway is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, as well as operating mechanically deficient vehicles.

‘It is on this background, and in compliance with the fulfilment of the FRSC 2025 Corporate Strategic Goals to achieve a 10 per cent reduction in road traffic fatalities and injuries through focused rescue intervention, that the Unit Command initiated the idea of building a clinic in this Command to mitigate the severity of crashes on our roads.

‘In the past ten years, the Command has been working very hard to improve the safety of lives and property on this road, but we have yet to reach the threshold of safety.

‘This is all the more reason for us to jointly work together in bringing safety to every doorstep until the entire Lagos-Ibadan expressway is completely safe for all categories of motorists.’

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has called on politicians and citizens alike to rise above ethnic and sectional sentiments and embrace pragmatic solutions to Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

In a message marking the country’s 65th Independence Anniversary, signed by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, Oba Owoade emphasised that national growth and development depend on justice, moral integrity, responsibility, selflessness, probity, and devotion to duty by both leaders and citizens.

The monarch stressed the need to harness Nigeria’s diversity as a source of strength, warning that failure to do so risks pushing the country toward disintegration. ‘As a people, we must judge our fellow Nigerians not by their ethnic origins but by the content of their character,’ he said.

Highlighting longstanding structural challenges, the Alaafin pointed to issues such as fear of dominance by certain states, over-concentration of power, absence of integrative national parties, lack of public accountability, and inequitable revenue allocation. He noted that these challenges have evolved over time and now pose serious threats to peace and security.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s historical journey, Oba Owoade recalled that the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates in 1914 brought together diverse peoples into one political space. Despite the challenge of diversity, the colonial administration and early leaders, including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and the Sardauna of Sokoto, worked to foster unity through policies that promoted cultural, political, and economic ties.

The Alaafin bemoaned the erosion of national values over time, contrasting the self-sufficiency of past governments with the present-day reliance on external borrowing amid widespread socio-economic challenges.

He urged Nigerians to revive values such as honesty, integrity, religious tolerance, and good neighborliness.

He however warned against the greed and exploitation of selfish political elites and encouraged parents to instill in their children the belief in the inherent goodness of Nigerians.

”Where were those legacies today? Why are things falling apart today? Why is it that public funds spent for successful running of regional governments by our founding fathers were sourced internally without any external borrowings?

‘Why is it that despite whooping amount of money being borrowed externally by the present-day governments, lives of citizens are still miserable? Where did we get it wrong? Are our problems, including insecurity and socio economic duoldrums defied solutions?

‘If we are honest with ourselves, we would mostly agree that all is not well with our nation and that the values we once held dearly had gone into oblivion. Where are values like honesty, integrity, good neighbourliness, religious tolerance and so on that once defined our society?

‘Ethnic, sectional, and religious diversities ought to serve as sources of national unity, cohesion, and integration. Unfortunately, political elites have often manipulated these identities for personal gain,’ he added.

Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) chairman, Dr Zacch Adedeji, speaks on two years of his headship of the apex tax agency, the reforms of President Bola Tinubu and what the economy stands to gain from next year.

It is two years since you took over as chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). How has the journey been and what would you give as your achievements in the agency?

When we set out on this journey, our mind was set on reforming the fiscal landscape of Nigeria and consequently changing the revenue structure of the Federation. To the glory of God, two years on, the figures are justifying that the reforms we embarked upon were the right steps to take. Let me start from the latest evidence, for the first time the three tiers of government shared a record monthly allocation in excess of N2trillion. States and local government councils are now more empowered to carry out their responsibilities to Nigerians in their domains. Nearly 70 per cent of what the three tiers of government gather every month to share comes from tax revenue collected by FIRS. This is an eloquent testimony to the reforms spearheaded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. So, all credits must go to the president for the courage he has demonstrated in leadership by setting the economic fundamentals right in order for the reforms to bring plenty fruits and gains for the Federation. By removing subsidy on petrol and collapsing the hitherto dual exchange rate windows, floating the Naira consequently, the health of the Federation account has blossomed greatly, as there are no bogus subsidy claims that would naturally have depleted the accruals into the pool.

In addition to these, the President in his inaugural speech, promised to make his industrial and economic policy one that will remove hurdles in the way of businesses. As a follow up to that, he set up a committee which worked so hard with other stakeholders to bring about the new tax laws that will go into effect from January next year. This is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria’s fiscal ecosystem since Independence in 1960. The President has fulfilled his promise to make businesses flourish by removing all burdens and hurdles. This has been done with the new tax laws which will eliminate multiple taxes. The president said we should not have more than single digit tax types and that has been achieved now. The various tax laws which are scattered in several legislations have now been consolidated and streamlined into a single document. Tax is not easy to collect anywhere in the world and it will be made more difficult if taxpayers go through unnecessary hurdles before they can pay taxes. The fact that these laws were scattered in various legislations gives room for different applications and make compliance cumbersome. But all that is history now. Perhaps the biggest deal for Nigerians is that food, education, shared transportation, agriculture are going to be VAT-free. This will have positive effect on more than 80 per cent of Nigerians. This is in addition to the tax adjustment of personal income of those in the low-income brackets. Small businesses with turnover of N50 million will not pay tax. All these go to show that President Tinubu is a compassionate leader who knows there the shoes pinch for businesses. A more business-friendly environment has now been created with these new laws.

As an agency, FIRS has grown in leaps and bounds in the last two years. Carrying out the president’s mandate, we re-structured our internal operations from the functional tax typologies to a customer-centric approach. Now, all tax types are paid at a one-stop shop. How do I mean? We put the taxpayers into the emerging tax, medium and government tax as well as large tax buckets. The categorisation is done according to the turnover thresholds of the companies, with those having turnover of N5 billion and above in the large taxpayers’ bucket. What this means is that these companies pay all the tax types they need to pay at a single tax office which caters for their categories. We no longer have a situation where several offices or units are writing the same company and asking for different things about the VAT or CIT and so on. This has engendered a shift in the mental geography of our staff and has seen a transition to a Federal Inland Revenue Service that is customer-focused. We are service providers to the taxpayers rather than coming across to them as a tax law enforcement agency. Non-oil tax revenue has grown exponentially and for the first time in a long while, we met and surpassed our oil and gas tax revenue target for this year, thanks to the improved security situation in the country which has energised the oil companies to grow and make profits.

Despite your praise for the President, there are those who say much has not really been done for the country and its citizens since he took over in 2023?

Even you journalists know that it will be inaccurate for anyone to come with such claims. Yes, the removal of subsidy on petrol created some disruptions in the living conditions of most Nigerians. Transportation costs went up, as did prices of goods and services. The disruptions can be likened to the pain of a woman in labour. After she is delivered of the baby, comfort and bliss will follow. To cushion the effect, President Tinubu came up with the compressed natural gas initiative which has seen millions of vehicles converted from petrol to CNG. CNG buses were also procured and distributed to states. From the height that it went earlier in the year, petrol price is coming down. Don’t forget that we also came up with the crude-for-naira initiative which is helping local refiners get access to crude oil in naira. The exchange rate that went up is also coming down. The FX market has navigated away from arbitrage which used to be the order of the day. Foreign airlines and others were owed $7 billion by Nigeria. President Tinubu came and cleared the debt. About 90 per cent of revenue was devoted to servicing debt, but the rate has gone down to about 50% in two years. Tax-to-GDP ratio was 10 per centwhen we took over, now it is 13.5 per cent. But that is not where we are going. We are aiming to beat Africa’s average of 15 per cent and achieve 18 per cent by 2027. External reserves have climbed up to $41 billion from $4 billion. The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) created by the President Tinubu has seen almost N90 billion disbursed to over 450, 000 students across the country.

There are many road projects going on and some completed across the country, covering all the six geo-political zones. These roads are opening up economic corridors across the country. Federal allocations to state have grown by almost 70%, enabling them to enjoy a great level of fiscal stability and debt management. According to the figures from DMO, about 30 states repaid N1.85trillion in debt over 18 months. We should keep these figures in perspective when X-raying this Administration.

What is the truth about this 5% surcharge on petrol?

The problem with the people bandying this about is either that they don’t read or they read but do not understand. In my earlier comments, I said there were many laws about taxes which were scattered in various legislations, making compliance difficult for taxpayers. To remove the burden, we harmonised these laws into a single document and one of such laws is the petrol tax. The law had existed under the FERMA Act 2007 and the purpose was to use the money therefrom for road maintenance. The new law lays down the procedure for this provision to come into effect. There must be a commencement order from the Minister of Finance which will be publicly announced and also gazetted. So, it does not automatically mean that this provision will go into effect from January next year. Remember, one of the first set of reliefs President Tinubu brought to Nigerians was to remove 7.5 per cent VAT on diesel. Is it that same president that will now impose additional cost on petrol for the citizens at this time?

Why was FIRS changed to Nigeria Revenue Service and what should taxpayers expect from the agency when it goes full throttle next year?

Let me start from what the taxpayers should expect from us. They should expect a fair tax administration that will also come without hassles. Our core mandate is simple: assess, collect and account for revenue accruing to the Federation. In doing this, we will be fairer as a tax authority and continue to provide quality service to our only customers, that is, the taxpayers. The president has done a lot in bringing reliefs to Nigerians and businesses with the new tax laws. Compliance should be easier now and of course our advocacy has been on voluntary compliance. Do the right thing at all times and don’t wait till our tax people visit your premises. If they have any issue, they should get in touch with us. With the new tax laws, evasion will be pretty difficult. Companies should be diligent in their tax planning. Those who still think they can find a way to game the system will find out that evasion or trying to cut corners will be costlier than being compliant and honest.

There is one proverb in my language, ‘If the main course is not satisfying, there is nothing anybody can give you as a gift that will be enough.’ So, if within, we cannot develop Nigeria, nobody will come and develop it for us. President Tinubu’s mantra has always been: ‘I’m not here to tax poverty; I’m here to tax prosperity. My government will tax the fruits of your investments and not the seeds.’ When companies are doing well and are making profits and are expanding their operations, we will benefit from their doing well. The tax rate is simple. If the base is 10, we will have three. If the base increases to 20, we will have six. If the base increases to 30, we will have nine. So, if I want to have more, it’s not by going on an aggressive revenue drive. It is to help the companies to do well and that is when I will do well too. So, that is why, for us at Nigeria Revenue Service, we are here to remove all the hurdles in the way of our taxpayers. This is what President Tinubu has done with the new tax laws. He has fulfilled his electoral promise and we should all commend him for being a promise keeper.

On why we are changing from Federal Inland Revenue Service to the Nigeria Revenue Service, the word federal in the name of the agency gives the erroneous impression that we are only collecting tax revenue for the federal government. When you say ‘Inland’, it wrongly means we are only collecting money from Nigeria, which is not what we are doing. I will give you examples. We collect VAT, 90% of which is for states. When you therefore say ‘federal’, it means we are not representing what we do. The new name, NRS, shows we are the sole tax authority for all revenue collection for the Nigerian federation according to our laws.

The Lawmaker representing the Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency, Hon. Akinmoyede Olafisoye Wasiu, on Tuesday, 30th September 2025, facilitated a 150-million-naira training/empowerment programme on fish farming for no fewer than 600 fish farmers in his constituency.

The lawmaker facilitated the empowerment programme through the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in conjunction with Holatekun International Services Limited for selected youths and women who specialized in fish farming in Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency.

At the end of the one-day training held at the Faith Joe Event Centre, Alegongo, Ibadan, each of the beneficiaries was given artificial fish ponds, fingerlings, fish feeds, and N200,000 each as start-up capital.

Similarly, the lawmaker also facilitated another 3-day training on entrepreneurship basics and empowerment skills under the 2025 capital project support for vulnerable persons in Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency.

At the end of the training attended by 100 youths within the Akinyele/Lagelu federal constituency, each participant also received #200,000 financial support for their businesses and certificates of participation.

Speaking on the two programmes, Hon. Akinmoyede Wasiu stressed that the motive behind the gesture was to teach the beneficiaries drawn from 26 wards in the Akinyele/Lagelu constituency to acquire necessary skills to be self-reliant and further reduce the level of poverty among the people in his constituency.

Hon. Lafi, who enjoined the beneficiaries to utilize the knowledge they acquired at the training and the money judiciously, disclosed that more empowerment programmes are underway for those who did not benefit from this one before the end of the last quarter of the year 2025.

The Oyo Central senatorial Chairman of the APC, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji, who spoke on behalf of the party, stated that from what happened at the programme, coupled with Hon. Lafi’s impressive performance, who has been serving his constituents conscientiously, the party may have no choice than to stand by him for re-election because the APC today stands on justice and fair play.

Also speaking, a former Vice-chairman of APC in Oyo State, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, also attested to Hon. Lafi’s outstanding performance, which, according to him, is quite different from his predecessors in the said federal constituency.

The coordinators of one of the training sessions, Mr Okunubi Goriola and some of the beneficiaries, Jimoh Ridwan Oladayo, Dr. Akintunde Isiaka, youth leader of Lagelu local government; Hon. Teslim Olomopupo, youth leader of Akinyele local government; Mrs Abosede Abodunrin, Women Leader of Lagelu local government; and Mrs Felicia Osunbunmi, Women Leader of Akinyele local government, appreciated Hon. Lafi for always accommodating the youth and women whenever he organises empowerment programmes for his constituents.

Some of the APC leaders who attended the programme include Alhaji Fatai Awoyoola, Engr. Akinniyi Emmanuel Akinbode, Arch. Hassan Giwa, Hon. Biodun Oladeji, Hon. D.A. Lawal, Hon. Mukaila Ambali, Hon. M.L. Lawal, Hon. Debo Arowomole, among others.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining peace in the Niger Delta region by pledging continued support for initiatives aimed at curbing drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the region.

The Managing Director of the Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who disclosed this during the sensitisation campaign against substance abuse in Igbokoda, in Ilaje local government area of Ondo state, stressed that tackling drug addiction is key to securing peace and stability in the region.

Ogbuku, who was represented by the Acting Director Ondo State office, Dr Victor Asonye,

assured to continue to support all efforts to curb drug abuse and illicit trafficking in the Niger Delta region.

He said the initiative was designed to curb the rising tide of drug abuse, particularly among young people, which has been fueling crime, cultism, and insecurity across the Niger Delta communities, said the

According to him, the campaign against substance abuse aligns with its broader mandate of sustainable development and peacebuilding, noting that infrastructure alone cannot deliver progress without addressing the social issues threatening human capital

He said, ‘Our campaign is about saving lives and protecting the future of our region. Substance abuse not only destroys individual potential; it fuels violence, erodes family values, and threatens the peace we all desire in the Niger Delta. The NDDC cannot ignore this challenge.

‘The NDDC is not only building roads and bridges; we are building peace and people. This campaign is part of our social investment to secure a healthier, safer, and more peaceful Niger Delta.’

‘Peace and stability remain the foundation for development in the Niger Delta, and this is why the NDDC has decided to embark on a campaign against substance abuse. Drug abuse is one of the hidden drivers of insecurity in our communities. It fuels cultism, armed robbery, militancy, and domestic violence.

He noted that drug abuse has become a growing challenge among students and youths, leading to poor academic performance, school dropouts, cultism, violence, and insecurity.

‘Many crimes in our communities are linked to substance abuse, and unless we tackle this problem early, it will continue to destroy lives and destabilise the peace we seek in the Niger Delta. As long as young people are trapped in the cycle of addiction, peace in the region will continue to be fragile.

‘We believe that sustainable peace cannot be achieved by building infrastructure alone. True peace is built on healthy, productive people who can contribute positively to society. Our campaign against substance abuse is therefore a peace initiative – designed to reduce crime, strengthen family values, and give our youths a chance to live meaningful lives.

‘By sensitising schools, communities, and marketplaces, and by working closely with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and youth groups, the NDDC is investing in peace. Every life saved from drugs is a step towards a safer and more prosperous Niger Delta.

‘This campaign is, therefore, about securing the future. We are building peace not just through dialogue or intervention, but by addressing one of the root causes of instability in our region’

He disclosed that the campaign was supported and launched in partnership with key stakeholders, including government agencies, security organisations, and educational institutions, ‘seeks to educate students about the dangers of drug abuse, empower them to make informed choices, and create student ambassadors who will promote awareness within their communities’

The Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Ondo State Command, Mr Nanzing David Sallah, in his presentation, appreciated NDDC for being at the forefront of waging war against drug abuse in the Niger Delta states.

Represented by the Deputy Commandant of Narcotics, Drug Demand Reduction Unit (DDRU), Mrs Yetunde Jeyifous, identified abuse of drugs as capable of destroying the lives of the students, urging them to shun drug abuse as they have a brighter future ahead of them.

In the presentation, the Deputy Commandant, Jeyifous, revealed that about 40 per cent of Nigerian youths between 18 and 35 years are involved in abuse of drugs nationally and stressed the need to sensitise and educate the school students on the dangers is important.

She said drug abuse remains a major driver of crime and insecurity across the country, warning that unless it is tackled, peace and development in the Niger Delta will remain elusive.

‘Drug abuse is the oxygen that fuels criminality and violence. From cultism to armed robbery, kidnapping to militancy, you will find drugs at the root of it.

‘If we are serious about peace in the Niger Delta, we must first confront substance abuse. That is why this NDDC initiative is not just welcome, it is urgent. It is a war we need to collectively fight, NDLEA cannot do it alone. Most of the vices we have in our society today are traceable to the use of substances.

‘Our position is clear, drug supply reduction through seizures and arrests must go hand in hand with drug demand reduction through sensitisation and rehabilitation. That is the holistic approach, and this campaign by NDDC is a bold step in the right direction.’

She added that the NDLEA is ready to partner with the Commission and other stakeholders to extend the sensitisation drive to schools, communities, and marketplaces across the Niger Delta.

‘We cannot afford to lose our youth to drugs. Every young person who escapes the trap of drug abuse is one more builder of peace, one more contributor to the future of this region.’

Some of the students who spoke after the programme expressed support for the campaign against substance abuse jointly championed by the NDDC and the NDLEA, describing it as timely and life-saving.

One of the students, John Ebiwonjumi, said: ‘This campaign is very important because many young people around us are falling into drugs without realising the damage. Some of them drop out of school, and some join violent groups. If we want peace in this area, we young people must say no to drugs.’

The students called on the NDDC and NDLEA to sustain the campaign, extend it to rural areas, and provide rehabilitation opportunities for those already struggling with addiction.

‘If we don’t help those already on drugs, the problem will not end. We need counselling centres in schools and communities, not just lectures.’

Nigeria celebrates its Independence every 1st October, marking the nation’s declaration of freedom from British dominance as a colonial master.

As Nigeria celebrates its 65th anniversary of independence today, Tribune Online looks at some 65 quick facts you should know about the country.

Nigeria is located in West Africa.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa.

Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960.

In the Atlantic Ocean, Nigeria is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea to the south.

The country covers an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 sq mi).

The country borders Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west.

Nigeria is a federal republic comprising 36 states.

Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria.

The official language of Nigeria is English, while the national languages are Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa.

Nigeria has over 500 different regional languages.

Nigeria is known for its diverse ethnic groups, with over 250 different ethnicities.

Nigeria became a republic on October 1, 1963.

Nigeria’s three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo.

The Nigerian currency is called the Naira.

There are 774 local governments in Nigeria.

The Federal government of Nigeria comprises three distinct branches, namely the legislative, executive, and judicial.

Nigeria has a rich cultural heritage, including traditional dances, music, and artwork.

Nigeria is home to various national parks and wildlife reserves, which include Yankari National Park and Cross River National Park.

Nigeria’s film industry is referred to as Nollywood.

Nigeria has the largest population of people of African descent in the world.

Nigeria has a tropical climate, with distinct dry and wet seasons.

The country has seen periods of military rule as well as periods of democratic governance.

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is known for its oil reserves.

The country has a diverse range of natural resources, including crude oil, tin, limestone, and coal.

Nigeria is known for its vibrant fashion industry, with traditional textiles like Ankara fabric being widely used.

Nigeria has a rich sporting history, with successes in football, athletics, boxing, and basketball among others.

Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a renowned figure in contemporary literature.

Nigeria is often referred to as the Giant of Africa due to its large population and economy.

Nigeria is a multi-religious country, with Islam and Christianity being the major religions.

The amalgamation of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate was done in 1914 by Lord Lugard.

Nigeria has a federal system of government, with power shared between the federal and state governments, and local governments.

Lake Chad, located in northeastern Nigeria, is a crucial water source for the country.

Nigeria is home to Wole Soyinka, the first African Nobel laureate in literature.

The country is rich in cultural festivals, including the Argungu Fishing Festival, Egungun Festival, and the Durbar Festival.

The Yoruba people of Nigeria have a strong tradition of wooden sculpture and art.

In 2015, Nigeria became the first African country to rid itself of the Ebola virus.

Nigeria has several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Sukur Cultural Landscape, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, and Aso Rock.

Nigerian writer, Chinua Achebe’s novel, ‘Things Fall Apart’ is one of the most widely read and studied African novels.

Nigerian footballer, Jay-Jay Okocha is considered one of the greatest African football players of all time.

Lagos was the former capital city of Nigeria before the federal capital was formally moved to Abuja on December 12, 1991 under the administration of General Ibrahim Babaginda.

Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa.

The Nigeria flag has two green stripes and a white stripe.

The Nigeria national motto is ‘Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.’

Nigeria’s current national anthem is ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee.’

The Nigeria coat of arms features an eagle, representing strength, and a shield, representing agriculture and the natural resources of the country.

Nigeria is a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Nigeria has produced many notable writers, including Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Wole Soyinka.

A Nigerian, Aliko Dangote, is the richest man in Africa.

The first newspaper in Nigeria, ‘Iwe Irohin fun awon ara Egba ati eya Yoruba,’ was established in Abeokuta, Ogun state, in 1859.

Nigerian late legendary musician and activist Fela Kuti is well known for his Afrobeat music and his criticism of government corruption and human rights abuses.

Nigeria has a growing music industry, producing internationally recognized artistes like Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy among others.

Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of Cassava.

Nigeria has a large diaspora population, with Nigerians living in virtually all countries around the world.

Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones: North-West, North-East, North-Central, South-West, South-East, and South-South.

Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe was the first ceremonial president of Nigeria.

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the first prime minister of Nigeria.

Nigeria is a member of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The country has a diverse music scene, with popular genres including Afrobeat, Afro-pop, hip-hop, fuji, and gospel music.

The Nigerian Civil War, otherwise known as the Biafra war, lasted from 1967 to 1970 and resulted in widespread violence and a significant loss of life.

Britain annexed Lagos, Nigeria as a crown colony in August 1861 with the Lagos Treaty of Cession.

Nigeria has a diverse transportation system, including road networks, railways, and waterways.

Nigeria has a rich history of traditional kingdoms and empires, such as the Benin Empire, Bornu Empire, and the Oyo Empire.

The Zuma Rock is one of the most famous geological landmarks in Nigeria.

The current President of Nigeria is Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons are the national female football team that has won an international trophy 10 times, securing their record-breaking 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in 2025.