Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Inland Revenue Service has announced that the National Identification Number issued by the National Identity Management Commission will now automatically serve as the Tax Identification Number for individual Nigerians. The clarification was made in a public awareness campaign on the new tax laws posted by the FIRS on its official X handle on Monday. The Service also stated that for registered businesses, the Registration Certificate number issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission will function as their Tax ID under the new tax system. The announcement follows growing public concerns over provisions in the tax laws…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed more than 55,000 operatives across the country to enhance security during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. The nationwide deployment was ordered by the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Audi, to safeguard critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as protect lives and property before, during and after the yuletide period. According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Corps’ spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, the operation is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, as criminal elements often exploit festive periods to carry out unlawful activities. Audi…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Electronic Pharmacy Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan, marking a major step toward regulating online pharmaceutical services and improving access to quality medicines in Nigeria. The policy was unveiled on Monday in Abuja by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, who said it would provide a clear framework for the production, distribution and sale of medicines through digital platforms. He was represented at the event by the Director of Food and Drug Services in the ministry, Olubumi Aribeana. Pate said the initiative was designed to modernize…

By Atoyebi Nike The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has rejected claims that Nigerians’ bank accounts will be frozen or automatically debited from January 2026, describing the reports as untrue. In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Oyedele assured Nigerians that their bank accounts were safe, warning that misinformation was being used to stir panic and resistance against reforms meant to improve the system. “Don’t let anyone manipulate you. Your bank account is safe,” he said, adding that anyone making such claims should be asked to point to the specific…

By Atoyebi NikeThe National Human Rights Commission has reported a worsening internal displacement crisis in Nigeria, with Yobe and Benue states recording the highest numbers of internally displaced persons in mid-2025. Presenting the Commission’s dashboard, NHRC Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said Yobe accounted for 2,047 displaced persons, while Benue recorded 1,850. He noted that a total of 9,290 IDPs were documented across 11 states, with children making up 82 per cent of those reached. Ojukwu identified Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Taraba, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara as states facing ongoing humanitarian challenges driven by conflict,…

By Bagudu Mohammed When the novelist, poet, and online influencer Hadiza Bagudu wrote her now widely discussed essay, “We Protect Our Girls but Neglect the Boys,” perhaps she was not blunt enough for the gravity of the moment. That, at least, was my immediate thought after reading the alarm recently raised by a man of God whose intervention arrived with shock, surprise, and an invitation to deep reflection. I found myself compelled to share his message, urging others to contribute their views, not merely to argue, but to search collectively for answers, conviction, and ultimately, a better society. On X,…

By Bagudu Mohammed I found myself genuinely puzzled by this question, unsettled even, because it challenged an assumption I had carried unconsciously for years. I had always believed that marriage, by its very nature, was a shared project: equal in benefit, equal in sacrifice, equal in joy. Two people choose each other, celebrate their union, earn respect, and pursue fulfillment together. In many societies, happiness and even “success” are quietly measured by how early one settles down. This may explain why, at a certain age, every phone call home to grandma, grandpa, mum, dad, or even close friends eventually circles…

By Atoyebi Nike Microsoft says its partnership with the Federal Government has trained more than four million Nigerians in digital skills since 2021. The disclosure came on Tuesday in Lagos during a media roundtable addressed by Microsoft West Africa’s Director for Government Affairs, Nonye Ujam. She said 350,000 participants enrolled in Microsoft’s specialized student programmes, with 63,000 completing structured learning pathways and 43,000 earning global certifications. Ujam announced plans to train another 350,000 Nigerians in artificial intelligence through the AI National Skills Initiative, implemented with Data Science Nigeria and Lagos Business School. She added that Microsoft continues to strengthen Nigeria’s…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has introduced Nigeria’s first online platform for gas trading, clearing and settlement, marking a significant shift in the country’s energy market. Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the initiative as a major step toward a transparent and competitive gas economy. He said the system will improve pricing clarity, speed up market transactions and strengthen payment security for operators. Ekpo commended the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and its chief executive, Farouk A. Ahmed, for collaborating with JEX Markets Limited to develop…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Thursday sealed the headquarters of Ikeja Electric in Lagos over alleged non-compliance with regulatory directives and consumer rights violations. Security agents accompanied FCCPC officials as they locked the building, sending staff out of the premises. The enforcement followed repeated engagements with the company, which the commission said refused to implement a binding order issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. According to the FCCPC, NERC had directed Ikeja Electric to split a Maximum Demand account into 20 separate units and provide meters and connections for 19 residential apartments belonging…