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Singer Qdot has narrated a frightening ordeal of being robbed at gunpoint in his home alongside his official DJ, DJ FAYA.

The incident, which occurred around 2:00 a.m. on September 28, left the artist deeply shaken and traumatised.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Qdot described the shock and fear he experienced during the attack, revealing that the robbers carted away all his valuable possessions.

Despite the losses, he expressed gratitude for escaping with his life, saying he considers himself blessed to have survived the incident.

Qdot wrote, ‘On the 28th of September, around 2:00 AM, I was robbed at gunpoint in my own home, alongside my official DJ (DJ FAYA).

‘It was the most terrifying experience of my life. At that moment, I genuinely didn’t know if I would make it out alive. But by the grace and mercy of God, I’m still here.

‘I’m alive and for that, I’m eternally grateful. They took everything valuable I owned, down to the last pin. But they didn’t take my life, and that alone is a blessing I don’t take for granted. I won’t lie, I’m still in shock, traumatised, and deeply shaken by what happened. But I want you all to know: I’m okay. I’m safe now. I’m surrounded by love and support as I begin the long road to healing from this nightmare’.

Qdot thanked his supporters for their messages, calls, and outpouring of love, stating that their support means the world to him.

‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the messages, calls, and outpouring of love. Your support means more than words can express. I love you all and I’ll be back, stronger and wiser’. he added.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Salihu Moh. Lukman has raised concerns that internal struggles for control of the party’s structures could undermine its effectiveness ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Lukman expressed fears that unless the drift is addressed, the ADC may be unable to provide a strong challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

The former member of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) acknowledged the progress made in forming a coalition and adopting the ADC as its political platform.

However, he cautioned that some leaders appear to be working at cross purposes for personal interests rather than collective goals.

Reflecting on the journey so far, Lukman said he remains grateful to God for the coalition’s successes but urged party leaders to realign with the ADC’s primary purpose to ensure its relevance in the next electoral cycle.

‘Unfortunately, instead of working to build the party, we are setting ourselves to produce a party whose business will be limited to presenting candidates for elections. 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.

‘The madness of controlling the 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 structures of ADC and control it to the exclusion of so-called opponents.’

Lukman, who was particularly concerned about the leadership rat race in the Kaduna State chapter of the party, cautioned that the development, if not quickly checked, is capable of tearing apart the party in the state, even before the general elections

He said, ‘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 an opposition leader in Kaduna State to please stop encouraging the madness of aspiring candidates seeking to take over structures of ADC to the exclusion of so-called opponents.’

Calling for unity among party members, the former Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) emphasised that, ‘It is only if we are united in ADC that we will be able to unite our people in the state to defeat the APC in 2027.

‘We must bear in mind. 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 government managed by collective leadership under ADC will be unacceptable.’

Sixth Gamathon, Africa’s convention for video games and immersive media, has opened in Lagos, bringing together innovators for a week of creativity and economic opportunity.ing on October 4, it is the finale of a regional tour that has taken in Kenya, Ghana and South Africa.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Bridge’, Convener of Africacomicade, Michael Oscar, said it is aimed at connecting talent, investors and firms in Africa’s creative technology sector.

‘The regional tours in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa have shown the huge talent and potential on the continent. Gamathon Nigeria 2025 creates bridges between regions and sectors while setting pathways for youth empowerment, jobs, and growth,’ he said.

The event features workshops, studio tours and networking, with exhibitions in video games, animation, extended reality and digital fashion. A highlight will be the pitch competition for PC and mobile game developers, offering a $2,000 prize pool and direct access to investors.

Backed by the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Lagos State agencies and private sector partners, the organiser, Africacomicade noted that Gamathon is designed to drive investment, youth empowerment and job creation in Africa’s digital creative industries.

Singer Victor Okafor popularly known as Mr. Real has expressed regret over featuring Idowest on his hit track ‘Legbegbe’, claiming it limited the song’s potential and his career growth.

In a recent interview on Hip TV Trending, Mr. Real revealed that he wished he had released the record as a solo project, stating that it would have elevated him to the same status as some of Nigeria’s biggest stars, including Wizkid and Burna Boy.

Mr. Real claimed that a potential remix collaboration with Wizkid on ‘Legbegbe’ was scrapped due to complications allegedly involving D’banj.

He said the missed collaboration with Wizkid would have significantly boosted ‘Legbegbe”s success both in Nigeria and globally.

‘Legbegbe’ released in 2017, became a huge hit across Nigeria, catapulting Mr. Real to fame.

However, the singer stated that certain choices made during its rollout prevented him from fully capitalising on the song’s success.

Mr. Real stated: ‘I regret bringing Idowest into that song. I wish I had sung that song alone. If I had sung that song alone, I’d be on the same level as Burna Boy and Wizkid.’ He added that Wizkid’s remix plan didn’t materialize ‘all because of D’banj.’

As the world marked World Tourism Day 2025 last Saturday, the United Nations and key tourism stakeholders across Nigeria have called for a renewed commitment to make tourism a tool for sustainable transformation. The global celebration, held in Melaka, Malaysia, centred on the theme Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.

The UN Tourism Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, urged nations and operators to reflect deeply on how tourism impacts societies and the planet. According to him, the sector’s future lies not only in visitor numbers but in how its growth contributes to people’s empowerment, cultural preservation, and environmental protection.

‘We must look beyond numbers and reflect on how our sector impacts societies and our planet,’ Pololikashvili said. ‘Sustainable transformation through tourism is only possible if we embrace new ideas and listen to new voices. That means reshaping business practices, investing in the right values, and focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship. It also means investing in education, jobs, and the training of young talents.’

He noted that World Tourism Day in Melaka has once again demonstrated that tourism can serve as a force for good when guided by sustainability and inclusivity. ‘By working together, we can transform tourism into a tool for empowerment, cultural preservation, and environmental protection,’ he added.

In a similar message, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described tourism as ‘a powerful driver of transformation,’ noting that it builds bridges across cultures and fuels development. He, however, cautioned that its expansion must be managed responsibly to safeguard the very communities it celebrates.

‘Tourism creates jobs, fuels local economies, and strengthens bonds between people and places,’ Guterres said. ‘It builds bridges across cultures, preserves traditions, and restores cultural heritage. Yet tourism can also damage the very places it celebrates. As the world faces climate breakdown and rising inequalities, we need bold, sustainable action that puts people and the planet first.’

He urged countries to harness tourism as a force for resilience, sustainability, and shared progress.

Across the world, governments, operators, and civil society groups marked the day with events promoting inclusive tourism and sustainable development. In Nigeria, activities were held across several cities, including Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu, with the private sector playing a key role in mobilising awareness.

In Lagos, the State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, partnered the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) and other private operators to commemorate the day at Tarkwa Bay. The event brought together professionals, destination managers, and cultural promoters to discuss the future of sustainable tourism in the country.

Speaking on the significance of the celebration, Mr. Uche Wilson Ugwu, Vice President (South East) of FTAN, said the theme aligns with Nigeria’s need to reposition tourism as a development tool. He explained that true transformation begins when the industry is built on sustainability, cultural identity, and local participation.

‘Beyond celebrating the day, stakeholders must commit to practical actions that will make the South East a model for responsible tourism,’ Ugwu said. ‘Infrastructure development, security, and access roads remain critical to unlocking our region’s full potential. Without good roads and reliable utilities, even our best attractions remain hidden.’

He stressed the importance of capacity building and innovation, calling for continuous training of youth entrepreneurs and tour operators.

Ugwu maintained that sustainability depends on knowledge-sharing and the integration of modern technology into tourism promotion.

‘The South East must tell its story differently,’ he added. ‘We have history, cuisine, and craftsmanship that can compete globally. But this requires unity of purpose. Every operator, artisan, and policymaker must see themselves as part of the transformation process.’

Also speaking, Mr. Awomoyi Ayodeji, Principal Executive of Flyzone Tourism, said tourism remains a strategic tool for fostering peace, mutual understanding, and economic development among nations. According to him, sustainable transformation cannot be achieved without deliberate collaboration between governments, local communities, and the private sector.

‘Tourism contributes significantly to peace and development when it promotes cultural exchange, supports local economies, and encourages global citizenship,’ Awomoyi said. He identified inadequate infrastructure, insecurity, inconsistent government policies, and poor funding as some of the biggest challenges facing tourism in Nigeria.

Awomoyi stressed that capacity development and partnership are key. ‘Governments, private sector, and communities must work together to build skills, improve access, and foster partnerships. Only then can tourism reach its full potential as a tool for inclusion and sustainable change,’ he noted.

The Tinubu Grassroots Movement has commenced sensitisation of Lagosians on the policies and achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

At a community engagement held at Lagos Mainland Local Government and Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the group said that the exercises were not a political campaign but an effort to bridge the communication gap between government and citizens.

The Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Community Development Association (LCDA), Princess Samiat Bada, who spoke at the event, said that many residents are unaware of interventions of the current administration at both the federal and state levels to ease the pains associated with the economic reform of the Tinubu’s administration.

‘We do not want past mistakes to repeat themselves. The recurring complaints of hardship among Nigerians are being addressed, with prices of goods in the market already showing signs of reduction. Marketers are encouraged to maintain fairness and consideration in pricing’, she said.

The council boss highlighted several initiatives under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, ranging from distribution of food palliatives, interest free NELFUND (Nigerian Education Loan Fund) loan, financial support for farmers, and upgraded vocational training with monthly stipend amongst others.

‘This government has been distributing food palliatives. NELFUND has been introduced to assist students whose parents are unable to afford university fees. Farmers now have access to financial assistance through designated schemes and Young people under 40 who prefer vocational skills training over formal education can enroll in government-approved programmes and receive stipends of N45,000 monthly’, she said.

The group also commended improvements in national security, noting a decline in cases of kidnapping and insurgency.

Princess Bada appreciated the community members for their participation. She lauded Yaba LCDA Chairman Emilagba Jubril’s role in coordinating the distribution of palliatives, which she said had reached several communities within Lagos Mainland.

‘We are grateful for the turnout and for the continued commitment of the leadership in ensuring that residents benefit from government interventions,’ she said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Agriculture, Abiodun Yinusa, assured farmers of increased access to loans and resources via the Bank of Agriculture.

‘Everything we are doing is aimed at ensuring farmers at the grassroots are reached directly. This is why a second term is crucial, as Nigeria still requires the President’s leadership to fully actualise the Renewed Hope agenda,’ Yinusa concluded.

At Itire-Ikate LCDA, the council chairman, Oluwafemi Daniel, hailed President Tinubu as ‘a man of the people’ whose policies have instigated visible changes nationwide.

Is the country ready to set forth now?

Is there a reason to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Nigeria as an independent country? Some doubt it, mainly because of the many twists, turns and rocky rides. But, others contend that there are reasons to mark the landmark because the country has survived despite so many challenges that could have truncated the journey.

But, here we are.

The first indication that it would not be a smooth ride came soon after the Union Jack was lowered at the complex later named after the first Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Chief Obafemi Awolowo could hardly hide his indignation in his memoirs as he recalled that he was tucked in a corner at the event, far away from where other main actors in the independence struggle sat. Pettiness at play.

Since the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), one of the three major political parties opted to align with the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), leaving the Action Group (AG) in the lurch; it was obvious that some dirty fight lurked. Federal might was unleashed to dislodge the AG from the Western Region where it held sway, with a breakaway faction led by Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola propped up to seize control.

The process started as early as 1962, when an externally-induced implosion was made to hit the AG like a dynamite. Soon after came the Coker Commission of Enquiry, the Treasonable Felony Trial, restriction and later jailing of the AG leader and founder, Chief Awolowo.

Those not blinded by partisanship knew going that route would not end well as Awolowo was a cult figure in the Western Region. Before the Federal Elections of 1964, the alliance between NCNC and NPC had disintegrated. Two broad alliances went into that election. The NCNC and the Akintola splinter group formed the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA) while the NCNC and AG formed the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA). Obviously AG was the party of the Western Region, but the federal elections and the consequent regional election of January 1965 were ignobly rigged in favour of the NNA to dislodge the AG.

Politically, the trend has continued since then. Each election was hotly contested and rejected by the losers. It could hardly be said that, beyond electoral infrastructure put in place at so much cost, Nigeria has failed to mature on election matters over the years.

Apparently, for every action, there is a reaction. The manipulation of the polity led to the military coup of 1966. And, consequently, there was the pogrom, the counter-coup of July 1966 and the civil war that boiled over the following year. In the process, no institution of state was spared the accompanying desecration, including the military.

Although General Yakubu Gowon who was head of state when the war ended in January 1970 announced that there was ”no victor, no vanquished”, it was obvious that the Biafra secession bid had been quashed and there were consequences. Till date, the South East that sought to leave the union has continued to complain about marginalisation; at least politically.

Such political mistrust among the various parts of the country could not but have affected the economy, social relations, and thus, development. Insecurity, though diminished in some parts, is a concern in other parts of the country. In the North East, there is the Boko Haram and Ansaru insurgency that has raged for more than 16 years. It has claimed so many lives and herded many into poorly funded refugee camps. Happily, two kingpins of the groups have been nabbed. It’s progress.

It has spread to the North Central, especially in Plateau and Benue States, where some schools and targeted communities have not been spared. In the region, it took the form of religious intolerance, well-armed herders taking on farmers and wanton destruction of farms, homes and lives by terrorists. In the North West also, banditry and kidnapping have been the order of the day as enemies of state and criminals have continued to unleash their fury on the people. Kaduna State brandishes hope in the region and there may be a berth of peace in places like Zamfara and Katsina where there are still challenges.

In other parts of the country, the South West and South South, kidnapping for ransom has been on a lower scale. In all cases, the police and armed forces have recorded advances. Much work remains. The destruction of livelihoods has pushed more Nigerians into the poverty net.

Thus, until the Tinubu administration courageously came up with measures to check the periodic eruption of economic recession, it was as if successive governments, military or civilian, had no clue what to do. For two years now, the economy appears to have become stable, though it still has a long way to go.

The President said at the coronation of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, last week, that the economy has turned the bend. But, has it really? The macro-economic indices suggest that it has, with headline inflation constantly heading South month-on-month for about half a year now, and the GDP recording sometimes record increase. But, it is yet to percolate to the common man who, therefore, finds it difficult to believe the authorities. It is expected that the result would be more visible in 2026.

The story of the nation since independence has been a talent of official squandermania and brigandage, with little vision to plan and save. The subsidy scam and currency manipulation brought the economy to a state where we borrowed to pay routine government bills. Hence the task of rescue before the Tinubu administration thst has headed off the economic apocalypse with his reforms.

Obviously, where the economy has been in the doldrums for so long, the health and education sectors could only have received some battering. Neither has received up to seven per cent allocation from the budget in the past 20 years. Political leaders express disgust for the local health institutions by patronising foreign hospitals for the most common ailments.

When seizing power from the Shagari administration in 1983, General Muhammadu Buhari described our hospitals as ”mere consulting clinics”. Not much has changed since then, compounded now by exodus of doctors, old and young, who have chosen to export their services to other lands. Nigerian students, too, sell whatever is available to obtain higher education abroad. Until of course, the NELFUND initiative offering loans to students of the poor.

It should not be all about lamentations about missed opportunities. A lot could be done to salvage the situation as there is unanimity of opinion among experts that Nigeria has an abundance of human and material resources to draw it out of the wood. It has a population, all of about 230 million, mostly young people who are energetic and forward looking, as against 30 million in 1960. This is an asset that most countries lack.

It also has so much solid minerals in all parts of the country, mostly waiting to be tapped. Those being tapped are by criminals and foreigners. Crude oil that has been a blessing to other nations has been largely doom to Nigeria, owing to poor management and monumental corruption. Of late, though, crude oil output has ticked up due to work by our armed forces to curb criminals stealing our black gold.

If corruption is checked and appropriate persons are employed to ensure that Nigeria joins the league of developed countries, in a short while, Nigerians would be proud of their country again and we can stand tall in the comity of nations. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s handling of foreign exchange, the salvaging of corrupt practices have diminished instances of corruption as attested to by our captains of industry.

Nigerians should realise that pulling in different directions cannot help them. As we move towards the seventh decade after independence, we should realise that we owe future generations, and indeed the black world a duty to redeem our dignity by killing corruption and tapping resources available for development.

As Walter Rodney said, ‘every generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill or betray it.’ The reforms of the Tinubu administration is showing promise on many levels beginning with financial engineering whose success can trigger a wholesale rebirth. For instance, not long ago, critics were jittery and even gloating that the naira would dive down to N2,000 to a dollar. Now it’s below N1,500. Not there yet, but a sign we can reclaim our country.

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 N50m 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 N5b 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 done much 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 $7b 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 per cent in two years. Tax-to-GDP ratio was 10% when we took over, now it is 13.5%. 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 $41b from $4b.

The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) created by the President Tinubu has seen almost N90bn 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% 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.

Agbowhiame community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State was thrown into celebration last weekend when the Neo-Black Movement (NBM) of Africa, commissioned a newly renovated block of six classrooms at Agbowhiame Primary School, bringing relief, pride, and renewed hope to the community.

The commissioning ceremony, which attracted traditional rulers, government officials, community leaders, and residents, was described as a landmark moment in the pursuit of quality education for children in the locality.

National President of NBM of Africa, Dr. Charles Chimezie, said the project was more than just a renovation but a symbol of hope and opportunity for pupils of Agbowhiame.

‘What we see here is not just a renovated building. It is a powerful message that every child matters. This school is our promise to the children of Agbowhiame – we see you, we believe in you, and your dreams are valid,’ he said.

Chimezie highlighted NBM’s commitment to humanitarian service, recalling the group’s interventions during floods in Nigeria, palliatives given to the displaced people of Okuama community, and relief donations in Borno State. He listed the items provided to Agbowhiame Primary School to include:

125 school desks, 150 school uniforms, 500 notebooks, Replacement of all windows and doors, New roofs and ceilings, Complete flooring and full painting of classrooms and surroundings

According to him, education remains at the heart of NBM’s mission, aligning with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s RENEWED HOPE FOR MORE Agenda of improving education and infrastructure across Delta State.

Delta State Chairman Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB), Hon, Samuel Mariere, commended the members of the NBM for the initiative to renovate the school, noting that the gesture was aimed at completing the efforts of the state government in upgrading educational infrastructure and standards of education in the state.

Hon. Mariere, who applauded NBM leadership for this humanitarian gesture in the community, said that with this project the group had keyed into the MORE Agenda program of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, to give education its pride of place.

The Chairman who was represented at the occasion by Mr. Simon Akpogherhe, 2nd Member in SUBEB Board, expressed gratitude to NBM members for embarking on such humanitarian project aimed at uplifting standard of education in the community, noting that by this singular act, the Board had been challenged to do more in the school.

According to him: ‘I’ve listened to request of the Head Teacher and I can assure you today that the Board will see to it that these request are met. I have a Chairman who is very hard working and committed to improving the wellbeing of pupils in our schools. I would take all your request to him and am very optimistic that he would approve them to compliment the efforts of NBM in this school’.

President-General of Agbowhiame Community, Mr. Emmanuel Osieta, expressed deep gratitude to NBM for their generosity and commitment to the future of the children.

‘With the renovation of these classrooms, we are not just improving our facilities; we are igniting hope, ambition, and a sense of belonging among our pupils,’ Osieta said, while also urging parents to support their children to maximize the opportunity.

Chairman of Ughelli South Local Government Area, Dr. Lucky Avweromre, represented by his Vice Chairman, Hon. Happy Mukoro, commended NBM’s gesture, describing it as timely and complementary to the state government’s agenda of raising educational standards.

The Head Teacher of the school, Mr. Jacob Emakpor, who recalled the dilapidated state of the school before the intervention, appealed for additional support in fencing the compound, providing potable water, and recruiting more teachers.

Community leader Chief (Mrs) Maria Boro applauded NBM for its selfless service, not just in Agbowhiame but across the country, urging them to sustain their passion for community development.

Other dignitaries present at the occasion were the House of Assembly member representing Ughelli South constituency, Hon. Festus Utuama and Olorogun Johnson Boro, a former Commissioner in Delta state and an elder in the community. They both joined the SUBEB Chairman and national President of NBM of Africa in commissioning the newly renovated blocks of classrooms.

The event ended with songs of joy and appreciation as pupils, teachers, and parents expressed excitement over the new look of their school, which now stands as a beacon of hope for the entire community.

Nigeria’s foremost socio-cultural sports club, Ikoyi Club 1938 has rolled out the drums in celebration of its 87th anniversary.

Disclosing this at a pre anniversary Press briefing in Lagos on Monday, Vice Chairman of the Club, who also doubles as Chairman, Organising Committee of the 87th anniversary celebration, Bolaji Martins, said that the anniversary celebration which commenced with an official press briefing will run through Monday September 29th to Sunday October 5th, 2025.

According to him, part of the celebrations will include Staff Engagement and Anniversary Symposium/Business evening on Tuesday, September 30th . This will be followed by junior member’s party on Wednesday before a glamorous evening of fashion, music, dance and more for Ladies in the evening.

Thursday, September 2nd has been dedicated to the elders while Digital Night, an exploration of the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the world will hold Thursday evening.

Aviation Day is slated for Friday before Millennial Vibes in the evening. Saturday, October 4th will witness another bumper day with Health Walk in the morning, followed by International/Global Cultural Day and more. Saturday would be rounded off with Black Tie event in the evening.

Sunday, October 5th is the anniversary grand finale and Gala night. Themed Heritage and Legacy; the anniversary emphasizes the club’s long history and enduring legacy as a symbol of prestige and excellence.

Ikoyi Club was originally set up as European Club in 1938. Akinwumi Akintola is Ikoyi Club 1938 Chairman.