Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 19th January, 2025.
The leader of the United Kingdom (UK)’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has fired fresh shots against Nigeria.
Naija News reports that the Nigerian-born politician made headlines in 2024 over the repeated onslaught against the country of her birth.
While delivering her first speech of the year at an event organized by Onward, a British think tank that researches economic and social issues, Badenoch said she does not want Britain to be like Nigeria’s terrible government, which destroys lives.
The Tory leader highlighted the importance of building trust, saying the Conservative Party is the right group to fix Britain because the UK could become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
Multiple sources have revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 36 state governors of the federation finally reached a consensus on the controversial tax reform bills during their New Year visit to his house in Lagos State.
Naija News reported that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that most state governors have been enlightened on the benefits of the Tax Reform Bills proposed by President Tinubu.
According to him, the Governors now understand the benefits of the bills.
He also submitted that the bills will increase revenue across the federal, states and local governments.
Less than 24 hours after the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) issued a communiqué regarding the decision to back the tax bill, President Tinubu commended the governors in a statement, saying it was clear that they meant well for Nigeria.
However, a source close to a governor who was privy to how the governors and Tinubu agreed to move on with the bills told Daily Trust that the deal was sealed in Lagos.
The National Assembly appears set to increase the proposed ₦47.94 trillion budget for 2025, following widespread appeals from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) during budget defence sessions.
Naija News reports that lawmakers have expressed dissatisfaction with the allocations provided by the Presidency, citing inadequate funding across various sectors.
Over recent days, the Assembly has been a hub of activity as ministers and agency heads voiced concerns over insufficient funding.
Starting January 9, the Minister of Environment, Abbas Balarabe Lawal, called for an increased budget to help his ministry achieve its objectives. The Environment Ministry, which allocated ₦64.25 billion, sought additional funds for its agencies, including the National Park Service, Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
Mahmud Kambari, Permanent Secretary of the Environment Ministry, highlighted funding as a persistent challenge, while Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General of the National Park Service, requested ₦5.01 billion to combat insecurity and illegal mining. Similarly, Zacharia Yaduma, Director-General of the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), lamented delays in fund disbursement and sought increased allocations.
The Ministry of Defence also raised concerns, with the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, requesting an additional ₦20 billion to compensate families of fallen military personnel. Matawalle emphasized the ministry’s inability to meet security demands with its current ₦50.44 billion allocation.
Details about the Department of State Services (DSS) operations that led to the arrest of 10 suspected Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) members in Ilesa, Osun State, have emerged.
The raid occurred at an old bungalow near St. Mary Catholic Church in the Ifofin and Ogbon Idio areas of Ilesa-East Local Government Area, Osun State.
According to reports, the operation took place around 1 a.m. on December 16, 2024, involving about 30 DSS operatives.
News of the arrests surfaced publicly on January 10, 2025, when the DSS sought a Federal High Court order in Abuja to detain the suspects for 60 days.
The suspects are identified as Adamu Abubakar (aka Abu Aisha), Babagana Bashuli, Muhammed Adam, Mustapha Abacha, Katuru Muhammed, Babakura Abacha, Muhammed Ciroma, Ali Gambo, Muhammed Umoru, and Muhammed Bundi.
The DSS disclosed that the suspects were arrested while being trained to manufacture and detonate explosives. Preliminary investigations revealed they are members of Boko Haram/ISWAP.
Sources confirmed to The PUNCH that the operation spanned 90 days, with two teams from the DSS headquarters conducting the surveillance.
The first team reportedly arrived in Ilesa in late September, while the second team followed in mid-November 2024.
An insider noted, “The Osun command was excluded from the operation due to concerns that the initial intelligence about ISWAP activities in Ilesa had been compromised.”
The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has reportedly scheduled a closed-door meeting with prominent Ogoni leaders to deliberate on the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.
According to SaharaReporters, sources indicate that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, is spearheading the initiative.
Insider sources reveal that the meeting is set for Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with Ribadu’s office overseeing the details, including a two-night stay at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
Invitations were reportedly sent to key Ogoni stakeholders, offering comprehensive travel arrangements, including flights from Port Harcourt to Abuja.
A letter signed by Ribadu’s Special Assistant, Goodluck Ebelo, assured the attendees of well-coordinated logistics and extended the government’s formal invitation.
Former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has praised the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, chairman of the presidential committee on tax policy and fiscal reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, and chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zaccheus Adedeji, for their roles in crafting the tax reform bill.
Naija News reports that the proposed tax reforms have sparked conversations across Nigeria, with stakeholders and some state Governors voicing their opinions on the bill’s implications.
In an interview on ARISE TV on Saturday, Kalu asserted that the reforms are non-political but necessary for economic growth, lauding the governors and key stakeholders supporting the reforms.
The lawmaker criticized the mindset of many Nigerians regarding the bill, stating that they are overly pampered and reluctant to embrace hard work.
Kalu described the existing tax laws as outdated and incapable of supporting Nigeria’s 21st-century economic aspirations, adding that many countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam that started with Nigeria have all left Nigeria behind.
The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed Governor Monday Okpehbolo, over secretariat tussle with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Naija News reports that the Chairman, Edo PDP Caretaker Committee, Tony Aziegbemi, in a statement on Saturday, described the invitation of its secretariat as criminal trespass and malicious.
Aziegbemi asserted that PDP remains the legitimate tenant of the building, stating that how the APC, led by its state chairman, Jaret Tenebe, occupied the building is a dangerous invitation to anarchy.
The party called on the Federal Government, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to intervene and urge Okpebholo and the APC to exercise restraint before the situation escalates.
The Presidential Tax Committee says it has no objection to the new “equitable” sharing formula for Value Added Tax (VAT) as proposed by the state governors.
This position was made known by the chairman of the presidential committee, Taiwo Oyedele, on Saturday.
Speaking as a guest on The Platform, an event organized by The Covenant Nation, Oyedele said arriving at a conclusion regarding such reforms anywhere in the world, needs to factor in technical inputs as well as political considerations.
Naija News recalls the state governors had earlier rejected the VAT-sharing formula of 20 percent based on equality, 60 percent based on derivation, and 20 percent based on population as proposed by the Oyedele-committee.
However, after a meeting with the committee, the governors, under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), announced a new proposed revised formula of 50 percent based on equality, 30 percent on derivation, and 20 percent based on population.
Speaking on the development, Oyedele told the audience on Saturday that the proposal has been accepted.
No fewer than 70 people have reportedly lost their lives in the devastating tanker explosion at Dikko Junction, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
Naija News reported that the incident occurred on Saturday when a tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) exploded as residents attempted to scoop fuel from the overturned vehicle.
Eyewitness reports indicate that the explosion left many victims burnt beyond recognition, plunging the community into mourning.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the death toll to Channels Television, stating that 25 injured victims were rushed to various hospitals in Suleja, Wuse, and nearby health facilities for urgent medical attention.
Following the incident, Governor Umaru Bago visited the tanker explosion scene and directed that vehicles from the Maje axis not be allowed to pass through the Dikko Bridge.
The Governor criticized the recklessness of certain drivers, stating that vehicles approaching from Maje may pass over the bridge, but they should instead proceed under it and make a proper U-turn.
He urged the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps to set up a detachment in the area to enforce the directive, simultaneously appealing to all relevant transport unions for their cooperation with the Road Safety Corps.
Governor Bago described the tanker explosion, which has claimed many lives, as pathetic, thanking God that the tragic incident did not extend to the adjoining communities.
The Nigeria Police Force has obtained a remand order from the Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, for the detention of social media influencer Reno Omokri, along with former Dunamis Church Pastor Abraham Daniel and two others, Enenche Idoga Alexander and Oboyinlo Enenche Peter.
According to SaharaReporters, the police are now seeking Reno Omokri, who previously served as Special Assistant on New Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, for the purpose of remanding him in custody alongside Pastor Abraham Daniel and the Enenche brothers.
The court order was issued by Chief Magistrate Emmanuel A. Iyanna on January 13, 2025, following an ex-parte motion filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The motion, presented by Francis Gabriel, Esq., listed Daniel Abraham, Enenche Idoga Alexander, Oboyinlo Enenche Peter, and Reno Omokri as respondents.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Iyanna directed the police to detain the respondents pending investigation and arraignment. The respondents are to be presented in court on January 30, 2025.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.