Home Blog Page 105

Headlines that sparked Nigeria’s gender debates in 2025

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
-
0
Headlines that sparked Nigeria’s gender debates in 2025

IN 2025, Nigeria saw heated and national conversations about gender, power, dignity, and justice from viral celebrity sagas to political scandals that forced the nation to confront entrenched patriarchy and systemic barriers to women’s rights.

Celebrity lives trigger broader gender conversations

The year began with the separation of music icon, Innocent “2Baba” Idibia and actress, Annie Idibia. After 13 years of marriage, 2Baba confirmed their separation amid rumors of a new relationship with Edo State lawmaker, Natasha Osawaru. The separation, amplified by social media speculation and statements from both parties’ families, ignited widespread debate about women’s dignity, identity, and autonomy in public life.

Idibia publicly confirmed his relationship with Natasha and said he wanted to marry her, even as his divorce from Annie was ongoing. And Natasha adopted the Idibia surname on social media, sparking public reaction and debate.

2Baba’s relationship with Osawaru later drew further scrutiny when it faced public allegations of domestic violence, after viral clips showing relationship tensions including a widely reported dispute in London that required police intervention.

Annie returned to social media after months of absence. Similarly, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels’ marriage to a senator, Ned Nwoko became a highly visible social and legal drama. Daniels publicly alleged domestic and emotional mistreatment, while Nwoko denied the claims, citing personal disputes and substance abuse. Their conflict, which included child custody battles, triggered a national debate on domestic abuse, women’s rights, and power dynamics within celebrity marriages.

Political battles highlight gender barriers

In the political sphere, the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged as a central figure in gender-focused public debates. Her confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio in February led to a six-month suspension from the Senate on allegations of “gross misconduct”  which she described as politically motivated.

A Federal High Court later ruled her suspension unconstitutional, but the legal battle continued, with Akpabio filing multi-billion naira defamation suits against her. The high-profile dispute sparked nationwide discussions on sexism, abuse of power, and the safety of women in public office, with Akpoti becoming the most searched personality in Nigeria for 2025.

Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her troubles in the Senate began after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio, and her petition was dismissed by the Senate Committee on Ethics as “dead on arrival” due to procedural technicalities.

Akpoti‑Uduaghan also took legal action, filing a  suit against Akpabio, framing her fight as part of the broader struggle for political justice and gender equity. Her case drew international attention, including appeals to global parliamentary bodies, and underlined how resistance to harassment allegations in powerful institutions could fuel public perception of entrenched sexism in governance.

However, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation suit against Akpoti, keeping the controversy alive in the courts and public debate.

Public outrage over dignity, gendered treatment

In August, a viral incident involving Comfort Emmanson and Ibom Air captured the nation’s attention, quickly evolving into a wider conversation about human dignity, gendered treatment by state authorities, and selective justice. After an in‑flight disagreement over safety protocol, Emmanson was forcibly removed from the plane, a confrontation that left her clothes torn and her dignity publicly violated on camera, videos and images proliferated online.  

The controversy deepened when Emmanson was banned for life from flying by the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and faced legal charges, sparking a national outcry which legal experts, civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association condemned the treatment as degrading and an affront to fundamental rights. Others decried what they saw as selective justice and double standards in enforcement. 

Gender representation debates

Amid these high‑profile disputes, 2025 also saw debate over structural reforms to improve women’s political representation. Campaigners pushed for the “Special Seats for Women Bill” a proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee reserved legislative seats for women at national and state levels, seeking to rectify Nigeria’s stark underrepresentation of women in governance. Advocates pointed out that despite women making up nearly half the population, they held only a small fraction of parliamentary seats, a situation that hindered gender‑inclusive policymaking and entrenched male‑dominant committees even on women’s issues.

Grassroots movements and women’s organisations rallied behind the bill, arguing that institutional quotas were necessary to overcome entrenched barriers and create genuine pathways for women’s political leadership.

Abortion bill

The Nigerian Senate on October 26 suspended consideration of a controversial bill seeking to impose a 10-year jail term for abortion-related offences, following heated debate among lawmakers over what constitutes an “unlawful abortion.”

The bill, titled the Criminal Code Amendment Bill 2025, was introduced by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and aims to update sections of Nigeria’s Criminal Code Act to reflect modern realities. It also proposes stiffer penalties for sexual offences such as defilement and sexual assault.

The initial recommendation by the Senate Committee had pegged the punishment for sexual assault at five years, but an amendment increased it to 10 years. However, deliberations became heated when the chamber turned to the section of the bill seeking to raise the penalty for supplying drugs or instruments used to procure abortions from three years, as currently stated in law, to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Growing advocacy 

The year was not without positive moves. The ICIR launched a new initiative aimed at addressing sexual harassment in Nigerian universities, especially among female students highlighted a grassroots push to empower young women and challenge harassment culture in educational institutions. With sexual harassment affecting a large proportion of female undergraduates, activists called for stronger accountability mechanisms and safer learning environments. 

The initiative has trained Student Ambassadors and Project Support Lecturers from various Universities on empowering female students to confront sexual harassment in Nigerian universities.

Breaking the glass ceiling

In March, Nigerian travel content creator, Alma Asinobi, made history by attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest journey across all seven continents in just 60 hours.

Asinobi said her ambition was futile by the frustration of getting multiple visas for her intercontinental travel tours and to shed light on the challenges Africans face due to low-mobility passports.

Similarly, Hilda Baci broke the Guinness World Record for cooking a 8,780-kilogram pot of jollof rice, which the organisation confirmed that she cooked the world’s largest pot of Nigerian jollof rice, overcoming a dramatic setback when the giant custom-made pot collapsed during the weighing process at the venue.

Despite these efforts, data revealed a stark tens of thousands of gender‑based violence (GBV) cases were recorded in 2025 alone, underscoring the breadth of challenges facing women. Government and civil society interventions sought to respond, but the scale of violence and stigmatisation of survivors remained an urgent concern.

By year’s end, Nigeria’s public debate around gender, whether sparked by celebrity relationship breakdowns, high‑stakes political scandals, or grassroots activism, revealed a society intensely grappling with its gender norms. The narratives of 2025 highlighted seismic tensions between entrenched patriarchal structures and a rising generation demanding accountability, representation, and dignity, clearly showing that gender discussions in Nigeria are no longer confined behind closed doors as the new year approaches.

Ndume calls on FG, US to extend military operations to North-East

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
-
0
Ndume calls on FG, US to extend military operations to North-East

FORMER Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has called on the Federal Government to expand its joint military operations with the United States to the North-East, pointing to the lingering threat posed by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the region.

Ndume made the call in a statement issued on Saturday, where he praised the recent military airstrikes targeting ISWAP cells in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

“I also want to suggest that the military cooperation with the United States should extend to ground troops in training, intelligence, and logistics. They should also back it up with attack helicopter support for ground troops.”

The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army said widening the joint military operations to include the North-East would deal a major blow to insurgent groups in the region, especially ISWAP and Boko Haram.

Reacting to the recent suicide bomb attack on a mosque in Gamboru, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, which reportedly killed five people and injured several others, the lawmaker expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

“In this instance, on the eve of Christmas, all the victims were Muslims. So, the narrative of Christian genocide doesn’t exist. The terrorists making life unbearable for our people are blind to religion,” he stated.

Ndume’s comments come against the backdrop of renewed international focus on Nigeria’s security situation, following confirmation by United States President Donald Trump that American forces carried out a military airstrike targeting suspected terrorist elements in Sokoto State.

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated on Friday that President Tinubu had approved the US-led strikes against terrorists in the country’s North-Western region.

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to announce the US had struck in Sokoto  State, stating that the operation, which targeted militants responsible for the killing of “innocent Christians”, was ordered by him in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the United States.

Tinubu reaffirms support for state police, says “attack helicopters” arrives soon

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
-
0
Tinubu reaffirms support for state police, says “attack helicopters” arrives soon

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has stated that four attack helicopters will arrive in the country from the United States soon.

President Tinubu disclosed this during a meeting with a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria, led by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, at his Lagos residence on Friday.

He informed that the Federal Government had procured four attack helicopters from the United States, noting that they are expected to arrive in the country “soon.”

“Our orders for four attack helicopters from the United States of America will take some time to arrive. We have approached Turkey for assistance.

He urged CAN to collaborate with his administration in realising the nation’s shared goals, noting that some of the policies implemented by his government would require time to yield results.

“The mood of the nation is peaceful, although our ungoverned spaces are so large. The challenge is real, but we will surmount it. We are very religious. We are prayer warriors. We need your focus, vigilance, and cooperation.

Tinubu said that community and State Police will be a reality once the National Assembly completes the required legislative inputs, adding that “Military hardware is difficult to replace, also very expensive and not available off the shelf.”

The President’s reaffirmation on state police comes as the country battles a wave of insecurity and insurgency sweeping across the country, raising global concern and necessitating the involvement of the United States government.

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to announce the US had struck in Sokoto  State, which the Nigerian government later confirmed and said they were carried out in collaboration with the US.

He said that the operation, which targeted militants responsible for the killing of “innocent Christians”, was ordered by him in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the United States.

Outrage, pains as survivors of Offa blast recall agonising experiences

Editorial
-
0
Outrage, pains as survivors of Offa blast recall agonising experiences

By Dare Akogun

Victims of the blast in Offa, Kwara state, recount painful near-death experiences, with many losing their only source of livelihood. 

When Quadri Saka stepped out of his home late on Christmas night to buy a recharge card, he thought of nothing more than returning quickly to bed.

Moments later, a deafening blast tore through his neighbourhood near the Eid praying ground area of Offa, a bustling commercial town in southern Kwara State.

Walls collapsed. Roofs flew off. Homes that had sheltered families for decades crumbled in seconds.

Quadri Saka,one of the survivors of the blast recall his agonising experience
Quadri Saka,one of the survivors of the blast recall his agonising experience

Quadri had unknowingly walked away from death. Inside the house he had just left was his mother, Moromoke Saka, asleep on her bed. “The wall fell where I was lying” Moromoke recalls the moment vividly.

She had barely drifted into sleep when the night exploded around her. “I was lying down when I heard a very loud noise,” she told The ICIR, sitting on a low stool beside the ruins of her home the following morning.

“Before I could understand anything, the wall fell exactly where I was sleeping.”

Dust filled the room. Blocks crashed to the floor. Part of the roof caved in. Darkness swallowed everything. For some moments, I couldn’t move,” she said. “I was shouting ‘Allahu’ and calling my son’s name. I thought that was how my life would end.”

Outside, panic spread through Offa. People screamed, ran barefoot into the night, and abandoned their homes, unsure if more explosions would follow.

Quadri was already on his way back.The blast happened just as Quadri approached his street. “I heard a loud bang,” he recalled. “Something brushed my ear, and I fell to the ground.”

Disoriented and covered in dust, he stood up to a scene that no longer looked familiar. People were running. Buildings were damaged.

Then he saw his house had collapsed. “My mum was inside,” he said, his voice breaking. Without waiting for help, Quadri ran toward the rubble, shouting his mother’s name until he heard her respond faintly from inside.

“She was alive, but she couldn’t move,” he said.

Image of Offa Blast Survivors
Moromoke Saka,one of the survivors of Offa blast

Using the back of the building, one of the few sections still standing, Quadri dragged his mother out. Neighbours gathered around them in shock.

“If I had stayed inside,” Quadri said quietly, staring at the fallen wall, “we wouldn’t be here talking now.”

Their survival, mother and son believe, came down to seconds. The explosion that nearly killed the Sakas was not a single incident.

Between 10 p.m. and midnight on Thursday, December 25, at least two incidents were reported in Offa, one near the Eid praying ground and another around Solid Worth Hotel, about five minutes away.

Although no deaths were officially recorded, the blasts injured residents, destroyed homes and businesses, and left the town traumatised and searching for answers.

Like Moromoke, Musa Soliu was asleep when his life changed.

Musa Soliu,a survivor of the blast
Musa Soliu,a survivor of the blast

“My roof was blown open. I was already sleeping when I heard a loud noise, Soliu told The ICIR.

“Before I could understand what was happening, the wall of my room collapsed, and my roof was blown open.” Trapped briefly under rubble, he crawled out with injuries.

“A block fell on my chest,” he said, pointing to bruises. “My leg was also injured.” The next morning, Soliu returned to salvage his belongings.

Instead, he found an unfamiliar object among the debris. “I don’t know what it is,” he said. “People were saying it is part of a missile. I only know that everything I own is gone.”

Unable to afford hospital care, Soliu said he has been living with pain since the incident. Offa’s identity as a commercial hub meant the blast not only destroyed homes.

Alaba Awodele, a furniture maker, recalled that his workshop was damaged beyond recognition. “They said a bomb had been thrown into my shop,” he recalled.

“When I rushed here, I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

The machines he depended on for his daily income were destroyed. Furniture meant for customers preparing to move into new homes for the New Year lay broken.

“This is my source of livelihood,” Awodele said. “I don’t even know how to start again.”

Mary Oyagbile, one of the Offa blast survivor
Mary Oyagbile, one of the Offa blast survivor

Nearby, Mary Oyagbile stood inside her damaged fashion design shop, staring at ruined sewing machines and appliances.

“All my machines, my freezer, everything was destroyed,” she said softly. “I kept asking myself, what did we do wrong? It was like a movie” At Solid Worth Hotel, operations were immediately suspended.

Engr.Surajudeen Adewale,one of the survivors of the Offa blast.
Engr.Surajudeen Adewale, a witness to the Offa blast, recounts his experience

Surajudeen Adewale, an engineer who is a relative of the hotel owner, described the moment of the blast.

“It was terrible,” he said. “It happened like something from a movie.” One staff member sustained injuries and was later discharged from the hospital, but the incident forced the hotel to shut down temporarily. “This has affected our business,” Adewale said.

Security officials, he added, suggested the object involved was not a locally planted explosive. For nearly 24 hours, Offa residents lived with uncertainty, rumours and fear until the Federal Government issued a formal explanation.

In a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government confirmed that the explosions in Offa were caused by debris from precision-guided munitions deployed during a joint Nigeria–United States military operation against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in Sokoto State.

According to the statement, the strikes targeted two ISIS enclaves in the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, following approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The operation, carried out between 12:12 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. on December 26, involved 16 GPS-guided precision munitions deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, launched from maritime platforms in the Gulf of Guinea.

Crucially, the government confirmed that debris from the expended munitions fell in Offa, Kwara State, and in parts of Sokoto, including near a hotel.

“No civilian casualties were recorded,” the statement said, adding that security agencies promptly secured the affected areas. For residents like Moromoke and Quadri Saka, official explanations do little to erase the trauma and loss.

As evening approached the next day, many residents refused to sleep in their homes. “Any loud sound now scares me,” Moromoke said, clutching her wrapper tightly. “When night comes, my heart is not at rest.”

Quadri said he keeps replaying the moment he decided to step out. “It was just a recharge card,” he said. “Just that small thing saved my life.” Across Offa, survivors share the same haunting thought: how close they came, how easily they could have died.

While the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to national security and the fight against terrorism, residents are now calling for transparency, support and compensation for victims whose lives and livelihoods were shattered by a war fought hundreds of kilometres away.

Standing beside the collapsed wall that nearly killed him, Soliu looked dejected and lost “God spared us,” he said. “But we are still waiting to understand why this happened to us.

This is part of the ICIR terror series, read it HERE.

Somalia,AU, Arab League, others reject Israel’s recognition of Somaliland

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
-
0
Somalia,AU, Arab League, others reject Israel’s recognition of Somaliland

THE African Union (AU) has opposed any attempt to recognise Somalia’s secessionist region of Somaliland as an independent country, reiterating its unwavering support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a statement issued on Friday, the bloc said the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, had “unequivocally reaffirmed” the organisation’s position on the need to uphold “the respect for the intangibility of borders inherited at independence.”

He stated that the AU firmly rejects any initiative or action aimed at recognising Somaliland as an independent entity, recalling that Somaliland remains an integral part of the Federal Republic of Somalia. 

“Any attempt to undermine the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Somalia runs counter to the fundamental principles of the African Union and risks setting a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for peace and stability across the continent,” Youssouf said.

The ICIR reports that Israel, on Friday, announced its formal recognition of the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, making it the first country to take such a step.

A decision that could reshape regional dynamics and test Somalia’s longstanding opposition to secession.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would pursue immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and economic development, congratulating Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, in a statement, inviting him to pay an official visit to Israel.

Netanyahu said the declaration “is in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, brokered by President Trump’s first administration President Trump in 2020 and included Israel formalising diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with other countries joining later.

The Israeli statement said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Somaliland’s president signed a joint declaration formalising mutual recognition.

Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, describing the move as a step toward regional and global peace. He added that Somaliland was committed to forging partnerships, enhancing shared prosperity and advancing stability across the Middle East and Africa.

However, Somalia’s government condemned Israel’s action as an “unlawful step” and a “deliberate attack” on its sovereignty, reiterating its rejection of any recognition of Somaliland, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.

Similarly, Egypt said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Friday held phone conversations with his counterparts in Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss what they described as dangerous developments in the Horn of Africa following Israel’s announcement.

The Arab League also denounced Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, with its Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, describing the move as “provocative” and a “serious threat to regional security.”

Gheit said the league firmly rejects the decision, characterising it as a clear breach of international law and a violation of the principles of territorial integrity and state sovereignty enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

He emphasised that Somaliland remains an integral part of the internationally recognised Federal Republic of Somalia, warning that any unilateral recognition undermines established international norms guiding statehood and diplomatic recognition.

Since declaring its independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland has functioned as a de facto independent administrative, political, and security entity, with the central government unable to exercise control over the region and its leaders unable to gain international recognition.

The Somali government does not recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state, considers it an inseparable part of its territory, and regards any direct agreements or engagements with the region as violations of Somalia’s sovereignty and national unity.

Over the years, Somalia has mobilised international support to oppose any move by countries to recognise Somaliland.

In March, both Somalia and Somaliland denied receiving any proposal from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, with Mogadishu stating it categorically rejected any such plan.

Kwara explosion debris from US-backed strikes against terrorists in Sokoto – FG

Editorial
-
0
Kwara explosion debris from US-backed strikes against terrorists in Sokoto – FG

By Dare Akogun

THE Federal Government on Friday confirmed that the objects that caused explosions and destruction of properties in Offa, Kwara State, were debris from precision-guided munitions deployed during a joint Nigeria-United States military operation against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in Sokoto State.

The confirmation followed the anxiety and speculation after explosions rocked parts of Offa on Christmas night, damaging homes, shops, a hotel, and injuring residents.

In a statement on Friday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Federal Government said debris from expended munitions used during the operation fell in Offa, Kwara State, and in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State.

The statement said the precision strike operations were carried out against two major ISIS terrorist enclaves in the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza LGA of Sokoto State, following approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria, in close coordination with the Government of the United States of America, has successfully conducted precision strike operations against two major Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist enclaves located within the Bauni forest axis of Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State,” part of the statement read.

According to the government, intelligence reports had confirmed that the locations were being used as assembly and staging grounds by foreign ISIS elements infiltrating Nigeria from the Sahel region, in collaboration with local affiliates, to plan large-scale terrorist attacks within the country.

The strikes were executed between 12:12am and 1:30am on Friday, December 26, 2025, under established command and control structures, with the full involvement of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the supervision of the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff.

The Federal Government disclosed that the operation involved the deployment of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, launched from maritime platforms domiciled in the Gulf of Guinea.

“A total of 16 GPS-guided precision munitions were deployed using MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial platforms, successfully neutralising the targeted ISIS elements attempting to penetrate Nigeria from the Sahel corridor,” the statement said.

The government confirmed that debris from the operation was responsible for the incidents reported in Offa and parts of Sokoto.

“During the course of the operation, debris from expended munitions fell in Jabo, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, and in Offa, Kwara State, near the premises of a hotel. No civilian casualties were recorded in either location, and relevant authorities promptly secured the affected areas,” the statement added.

Residents of Offa had been thrown into panic on Thursday night after explosions hit two locations in the town, including the Eid praying ground area and around Solid Worth Hotel, damaging buildings and injuring several people.

Although no deaths were recorded, victims reported collapsed walls, blown-off roofs and destroyed shops, while security agencies cordoned off the affected areas.

Reacting to the latest confirmation, residents renewed calls for support and compensation for victims whose properties were destroyed during the incident.

The Federal Government, however, reiterated its commitment to national security and the protection of lives and property.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria reiterates its unwavering resolve to confront, degrade, and eliminate terrorist threats, particularly those posed by transnational extremist networks seeking to undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and security,” Idris said.

He added that Nigeria remained aligned with its strategic partners in executing coordinated actions aimed at ensuring peace, border security and regional stability.

“The Federal Government assures all Nigerians that it remains firmly in control of the national security architecture and is fully committed to the protection of lives and property.”

The government urged citizens to remain calm and vigilant as security agencies continue decisive actions against terrorist groups operating within and around Nigeria’s borders.

Tax law: Presidency insists on January 1 implementation date

Harrison EDEH
-
0
Tax law: Presidency insists on January 1 implementation date

DESPITE controversies trailing the alleged alteration of the gazetted tax laws, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has said the Federal Government would commence the implementation of the laws on January 1, 2026, as planned.

He disclosed this on Friday, December 26, in Lagos State while briefing journalists after meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

The meeting also had in attendance the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacchaeus Adedeji, and the Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, Joseph Tegbe.

“The plan to commence the new laws on January 1, 2026, will go ahead as planned on schedule because these reforms are designed to provide relief to the Nigerian people,” he stated.

“Bottom 98 per cent of workers will see either no Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax or lower taxes to be paid, small businesses, 97 per cent of them, will be exempted from Corporate Income Taxes, Value Added Tax (VAT), and Withholding Tax, and large businesses will see a drop in the taxes that they pay.

“The whole idea is to try and promote economic growth, inclusivity as well as shared prosperity for our people,” he added.

Oyedele welcomed the position of the National Assembly on the allegations about alteration. He explained that the Federal Government was ready to work with the federal lawmakers to address the concerns raised by Nigerians, including opposition figures, over the alleged alterations.

Recall that controversy had trailed the new tax laws. A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, recently raised concerns about what he described as discrepancies between tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions subsequently gazetted and made available to the public.

Dasuku argued that his legislative rights were breached because the content of the gazetted tax laws did not reflect what lawmakers debated and approved on the floor of the House.

Amid the controversies, the lawmakers, particularly the House of Representatives, confirmed that it was reviewing the tax laws following public backlash and allegations of unauthorised alterations to them by the executive.

Tinubu signed the four tax reform bills into law, marking what the government described as the most significant overhaul of the country’s tax system in decades.

The laws, which faced stiff opposition from federal lawmakers from the northern part of the country before their passage include the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act – all operating under a single authority – the Nigeria Revenue Service.

US military strikes in Sokoto raise questions over target location

BAMAS Victoria
-
0
US military strikes in Sokoto raise questions over target location

THE United States’ announcement of military strikes against what it described as ISIS targets in Nigeria’s Sokoto State has triggered debate, raising questions about the location of the strike and the nature of armed groups operating in northwestern Nigeria.

In a statement issued on December 25, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said on X that it carried out strikes “against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria” in Sokoto State. AFRICOM said the operation was conducted at the direction of the US President and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities. Nigerian officials later confirmed cooperation with the US, describing the action as part of ongoing counterterrorism collaboration.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, speaking on Channels Television on December 26, framed the development as a continuation of existing security efforts rather than a significant policy shift. “You can call it a new phase of an old conflict,” the minister said, adding that Nigeria remained open to working with the US and other partners willing to support its fight against terrorism.

“It’s an ongoing thing. We are working with the US, we are working with other countries as well,” Tuggar said, adding, “For all those that are prepared to work with us to combat terrorism and ensure security in our region and in Nigeria itself, we are ready to cooperate, we are ready to collaborate.”

The ICIR reports that the reported location of the strike, Sokoto State, has emerged as a central point of contention on social media.

Questions over the strike location and ISIS claims

The US President Donald Trump framed the strike in explicitly religious terms, claiming the targeted fighters had been “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” This characterisation has raised questions when viewed against the geographic and demographic realities of Sokoto State, which is one of Nigeria’s most predominantly Muslim states and a historic centre of Islamic leadership. While violence in northwestern Nigeria has affected communities of different faiths, there is no clear public record of sustained, religion-targeted killings of Christians in Sokoto at scale.

The assertion of an active ISIS campaign in Sokoto has also been questioned. Armed groups operating in the northwest are largely identified as bandit or jihadist networks, with no confirmed structured ISIS presence in the state.

Security analyst Malik Samuel, who recently returned from fieldwork in Sokoto and neighboring states, said the ISIS label was often used loosely to describe jihadist violence in the region.

“When people talk about ISIS operating in Sokoto and the North-West, they don’t mean ISWAP, which is prevalent in North-East Nigeria,” Samuel said. “What they are often referring to is Lakurawa. A lot of analysts have claimed Lakurawa is linked to Islamic State Sahel, but that is clearly not the case,” he added.

Samuel said he conducted field research in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Katsina about two months ago, with particular focus on Lakurawa activity in Sokoto and Kebbi. “The group is clearly not linked to the Islamic State; it is more closely aligned with Al-Qaeda–linked networks,” he argued.

Samuel, a senior researcher at Good Governance Africa, stressed, however, that mislabeling the group did not mean there were no jihadist threats in the area.

“This does not mean there are no terrorist or jihadist organisations operating. Lakurawa is an Islamist group that seeks the full implementation of Sharia in areas where it operates, but describing it as an ISIS affiliate is inaccurate,” he said.

Disputed impact of the strike

Samuel also reacted to comments suggesting no confirmed targets were hit in Jabo village, Tambuwal Local Government Area (LGA), one of the reported strike locations.

“If you look at where the strike happened, Tambuwal LGA, in a village called Jabo, groups like Lakurawa do not have a base there,” he said, noting further that “They have only a nominal presence, meaning fighters pass through but do not establish camps. Their main bases are in forested areas around Gudu, Tangaza, and Kware LGAs, certainly not Tambuwal.”

He said the skepticism surrounding the strike was understandable but noted it was possible a targeted individual might have been temporarily present in the area at the time of the strike.

Samuel added that information from his sources indicated the strikes were not limited to Tambuwal alone but also extended to Isa and Tangaza LGAs in Sokoto State.

“So, the operation was not confined to Tambuwal,” he said.

Nigeria’s capacity on strike campaigns

Responding to social media claims that Nigeria did not require US support to conduct such operations due to the recent record of precision airstrikes, including support provided to Benin Republic during a coup attempt, Samuel said, “Nigeria has been carrying out strikes.

“There were strikes last week, two weeks ago, and even before that, following the abduction of schoolgirls from Maga in Kebbi State. There have been operations in Kebbi, Niger, and Sokoto states,” he said.

He explained that frequent strikes had led to constant relocation of Lakurawa fighters to evade detection. “The question should be whether Nigeria could have said no to the US,” Samuel said. “Nigeria could have carried out these strikes and has been doing so. A lot of Lakurawa fighters have been killed in Niger and Kebbi states in the last three weeks,” he reasoned further.

Meanwhile, reports also circulated online suggesting explosions which occurred in Offa, Kwara State, over 600 kilometres – using google map – from Sokoto were linked to the US strike. Sources within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed only strike within Sokoto State.

Distance Offa, Kwara State to Sokoto via google map.
Distance Offa, Kwara State to Sokoto via google map.

The ICIR gathered that explosions were reported around midnight on Christmas Day at two locations in Offa town. Eyewitnesses said the first blast occurred near the Eid praying ground area, while a second was recorded near Solid Worth Hotel, about five minutes away. Residents said an undetonated explosive device was later discovered at the second location, prompting security agencies to cordon off the area.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not officially confirmed the exact cause or source of the explosions. Confirming awareness of the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Offa Local Government, Abiola Azeez Babatunde, said the council was monitoring developments following reports circulating online.

In a statement on Friday, Babatunde described the incident as a “suspected ordinance-related occurrence” around the Offa Yidi praying ground on December 25, 2025, adding that affected areas had been secured to allow for a thorough investigation.

House of Reps confirms review of tax reform laws amid controversy

Harrison EDEH
-
0
House of Reps confirms review of tax reform laws amid controversy

THE Federal House of Representatives has confirmed it is reviewing the recently passed tax reform laws following public backlash and allegations of unauthorised alterations.

Spokesman Akin Rotimi stated that the Green Chamber has inaugurated a committee to “establish the sequence of events and identify any factors that may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding the legislative and administrative handling of the Acts.”

In a statement on Friday, December 26, Rotimi, who represents Ekiti North (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, said the review “includes a careful examination of any lapses, irregularities, or external interferences, should any be established.”

The lawmaker said the National Assembly, comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives, has “directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to re-gazette the Acts and issue Certified True Copies of the versions duly passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly.”

Rotimi asked Nigerians to “allow the National Assembly’s institutional processes to proceed without speculation or conjecture”.

The move comes about two weeks after a lawmaker from Sokoto, Abdussamad Dasuki, raised the alarm over an alleged amendment to the gazetted version of the laws.

Dasuki claimed that the version passed by the National Assembly was different from those gazetted after months of intense debates and controversy.

According to him, the content of the gazetted tax laws was not a reflection of what the lawmakers debated and approved.

The laws are the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025.

Since the claim, opposition leaders and political parties, as well as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), have asked for the suspension of the laws billed for implementation on January 1, 2026.

Despite the controversies, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, defended the laws, saying they will improve Nigeria’s fiscal structure and reduce tax burdens on vulnerable citizens.

He also expressed optimism in the capacity of the Federal Lawmakers to thoroughly address concerns arising from the alteration of the gazetted copies.

Reactions trail US strikes against terrorists in Sokoto

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
-
0
Reactions trail US strikes against terrorists in Sokoto

NIGERIANS have reacted to US strikes targeting terrorists and their allies in Sokoto State.

The ICIR reported that United States President Donald Trump said his country’s forces carried out “powerful and deadly” strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) elements operating in North-Western Nigeria on Christmas Day – December 25.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attacks targeted terrorist elements through collaboration with the US as part of “structured security cooperation with international partners to address terrorism and violent extremism in the country.”

Similarly, the Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, a major general, said the operation demonstrated the Federal Government’s resolve, in collaboration with strategic international partners, to confront transnational terrorism and prevent foreign fighters from gaining a foothold in Nigeria.

Uba said in a statement on Friday that the operation was based on credible intelligence and designed to weaken the terrorists’ operational capacity while minimising collateral damage.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria, in conjunction with the United States of America, has successfully conducted precision strike operations against identified foreign ISIS-linked elements operating in parts of North-West Nigeria,” Uba said.

According to him, the strikes were carried out with the approval of the relevant authorities as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate terrorists and other criminal elements posing a threat to national security.

Former senator Shehu Sani is among eminent Nigerians who welcomed the development.

He, however, cautioned that Nigeria must not outsource its security responsibilities to foreign powers.

Sani made the remarks on Friday via his verified X handle.

“It’s a conscious action. Terrorists have become cancerous cells in our part of the country. They live by the sword. The narrative that the evil terrorists only target one faith remains absolutely false and misleading,” he wrote.

However, he cautioned against excessive dependence on foreign military intervention, stressing that enduring peace could only be achieved through internal efforts.

“Again, the ultimate security and peace in our country lies with ourselves and not with the US or any foreign power,” he said, adding, “They can complementarily or unilaterally strike, but they can’t eternally fight our battles.”

A former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, in a post on X said the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government was unaware of the strike.

“Although the Nigerian government now claims it was aware and describes the operation as a joint effort with vague “international partners,” it is evident that the strikes were carried out without the genuine authority or informed consent of the weaklings masquerading as government under President Bola Tinubu @officialABAT,” he wrote.

“My position remains unchanged. Judging by the nature of the confirmed strike on a village in Sokoto, it is clear that the US President under whose authority this operation occurred neither understands nor genuinely cares about Nigeria or Nigerians,” he added.

He noted that the situation highlighted a broader issue of incompetent leadership, which he said reduced the nation to a bystander in the face of challenges confronting it.

“It is deeply troubling that Nigeria (Africa’s most populous nation) lacks the capable and sovereign leadership required to protect its people and its territory. As a result, the country has been reduced to a bystander while its sovereignty is violated under the direction of U.S. President, Sowore noted further.

Similarly, Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi in a post on Facebook on Friday, argued that annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation, citing the Prophet Muhammad’s wish to destroy such groups.

Describing the attacks as potentially polarising and detrimental to national sovereignty, he stressed that such action should be undertaken by “clean, holy hands” rather than foreign powers whom he said shared same values with terrorists.

He urged the Federal Government to end all bilateral relationships with the US.

“If Nigeria wants military assistance, China, Turkey, and Pakistan can do the job effectively.
The US involvement in Nigeria will attract the real anti-US forces, making our land the theater of war. The USA’s involvement in Nigeria, citing coming to ‘protect Christians’, will ultimately polarize our nation and infringe on our sovereignty.
“Nigeria should halt all military cooperation with the USA immediately because of its imperial tendencies worldwide and seek the help of those neutral countries mentioned. Nigerians are too educated to be played with. This is going to be a 2027 campaign discourse,” Gumi stated.
The ICIR reports that the strikes came amid recent security incidents nationwide, including a deadly mosque bombing in Maiduguri, Borno State, that claimed several lives on Wednesday, December 24.
1...104105106...3,439Page 105 of 3,439