WHALEXTRA

No fewer than 173 people lost their lives in 1,156 emergency incidents recorded across Lagos State in 2025, according to data released by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). A breakdown of the emergency statistics showed that despite the fatalities, the total number of emergencies recorded in 2025 declined compared to figures from 2024. The report revealed that road crashes accounted for the highest number of incidents, with 394 cases recorded during the year. This was followed by tanker and truck-related accidents with 249 incidents, while fire outbreaks accounted for 204 emergencies. On a monthly basis, February 2025 recorded the highest number of emergencies with 122 cases. April followed closely with 121 incidents, while May recorded 119 cases. The data also showed that Alimosho Local Government Area had the highest number of emergencies in the state, recording 180 incidents. Eti-Osa followed with 144 cases, while Ikeja recorded 139 emergencies.

The naira depreciated against the dollar at the official  foreign exchange market  on Monday to begin on a bearish note. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s data showed that it dropped to N1,390.36 per dollar on Monday, down from N1,386.55 traded last week Friday. This means that the Naira weakened by N3.81 on Monday when compared to last week’s close of work exchange rate. Meanwhile, at the black market, Naira remained unchanged at between N1460 and N1470 per dollar on Monday, the same as on Friday, according to multiple Bureau de Change operators in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. Recall that after last week’s currency trading, the  naira appreciated significantly  across official and parallel foreign markets. The apex bank data showed that Nigeria’s external reserves stood at $46.18 billion as of January 29th, 2026.

Former presidential adviser Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has predicted that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could suffer an implosion  if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar secures the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general election. Baba-Ahmed made the assertion on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s  Politics Today , where he spoke on the dynamics within the coalition-backed party and the ambitions of its leading figures. According to him, Atiku is strongly positioned to emerge as the ADC’s flagbearer if the party conducts a national convention, a development he believes would trigger an exodus of aggrieved aspirants and supporters. “If ADC goes to convention, and it certainly will, because that’s what former Vice President Atiku wants, he will get the ticket,” Baba-Ahmed said. “And then, a lot of people will walk out because a lot of people are in that party only for the same thing. They want the ticket.”

  FOLLOWING the dispute over the rotational chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas between the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as  Sunday Igboho , yesterday, urged the monarchs to work together to address insecurity in the South West and advance its development agenda. This came as the Egbe Omo Oyo Niiwa Nitooto, yesterday, insisted that the primacy of the Alaafin of Oyo in the Council of Obas is settled by history, sacred by tradition, and non-negotiable under any political arrangement. Ads by  Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had named Oba Ladoja the new chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs. Under the new arrangement, the permanent chairmanship of the council is to rotate among the Olubadan, the Alaafin, and the Soun of Ogbomoso.

The Federal Government yesterday said its concerted efforts and international collaboration in tackling terrorism would have no negative effect on the overall economy. Such decisive actions, it believes, have the potential to reinforce investor confidence and economic growth. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy,  Mr. Wale Edun , in a statement, said the country’s security operations were designed to strengthen security rather than create uncertainty in financial or investment circles. Edun spoke against the background of concerns in some quarters on the joint security operation conducted by Nigeria and the United States (U.S.) against identified terrorist elements in Sokoto on Thursday. He explained that the context of the operation was crucial to understanding its broader economic implications.

Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has said the Federal Government will operate a single budget from March 2026. Agbese disclosed this on Friday in an interview with journalists in Abuja, stating that the repeal and re-enactment of both budgets would ensure a coherent and predictable funding structure. He said the repeal and re-enactment of the budget is intended to align the nation’s budgeting system with global and international best practices. According to him, it would also ensure transparency and accountability at all levels and lessen the burden of oversight during implementation.

  The chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has reaffirmed that the implementation of the  new tax reforms  will commence on January 1, 2026. Oyedele assured that the reforms under the new tax laws are intended to provide relief to Nigerians and stimulate economic growth. He disclosed this while addressing journalists following the visit of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, NTPIC, chaired by Joseph Tegbe, to President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Lagos. According to Oyedele: “The plan to commence the two remaining new laws on the 1st of January 2026 will go ahead as planned on schedule because these reforms are designed to provide relief to the Nigerian people.

  As Nigerians join the rest of the world in celebrating Christmas today,   President Bola Ahmed Tinubu   has reiterated his commitment to the protection of all faiths in an atmosphere of religious tolerance and harmony. He said his Administration would build on sustained engagements with leaders of major faiths to prevent conflict and promote peaceful coexistence, as part of broader efforts to strengthen national unity and stability. President Tinubu acknowledged the contributions of the Christian leaders to national development and urged them to sustain the tempo. In his Christmas message, the President said dialogue with Christian and Muslim leaders had remained central to his administration’s response to religious intolerance and insecurity, noting that such engagements would be expanded to reinforce harmony across the country. Statesmen, politicians, traditional rulers and religious leaders, who also felicitated Christians, renewed their appeals for mutual understand...

  Nigeria and the United States  yesterday launched a joint military operation to flush out terrorists in the Northwest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed last night. The Federal Government confirmed in a statement by the ministry that it remained engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States (U.S.), in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the joint operation in a tweet on his X handle. He said the attacks were on Islamic States of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sokoto State. The statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry was signed in the early hours of today by Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.

  In a major fiscal reset aimed at addressing revenue shortfalls, weak capital execution and overlapping budget cycles, the National Assembly on Tuesday approved a revised N43.5tn 2024 Appropriation Act and a reworked N48.3tn 2025 budget framework, with the 2025 fiscal year extended to March 31, 2026. The approval followed marathon plenary sessions in both chambers, culminating in the passage of the Appropriation Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bills for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, transmitted to the legislature by  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu  last Friday. At the Senate, the revised budgets were approved after the adoption of a consolidated report of the Committee on Appropriations, presented by its chairman, Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West). The exercise, lawmakers said, was designed to align Nigeria’s budget architecture with current fiscal realities, address implementation gaps and restore discipline to the budgeting process. Presenting the report, Adeola explaine...

Nigeria has emerged as a continental leader in Africa’s fast-growing digital payments ecosystem, as instant payment systems across the continent processed transactions worth nearly $2 trillion in 2024, according to a new report.   The State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems, SIIPS, 2025 Report, released by the AfricaNenda Foundation in partnership with the World Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, UNECA, show that Nigeria’s Instant Payments, NIP, is the first system in Africa to achieve “mature inclusivity”, setting a benchmark for other countries. The report notes that Africa’s digital payments landscape is expanding at a record pace, signalling a major shift towards more inclusive and interoperable financial systems. In total, 36 instant payment systems now live across 31 African countries, with five launched in the past year alone. Collectively, these systems processed 64 billion transactions valued at nearly $2 trillion in 2024, underscorin...

  The supply of  Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) , also known as petrol, increased to 71.5 million litres per day in November 2025 from 46million litres per day in October, indicating an increase of 55 per cent. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said the volume supplied came from both the domestic and the international market.  According to its November 2025 report – Fact sheet – released yesterday, the agency said the nation’s consumption also increased by 44.5 per cent to 52.1 million litres per day in November 2025, against 28.9 million litres in October, showing an excess of 37.4 million litres. The agency said that the significant increase in petrol supply in November 2025 was on account of the imports by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).  NMDPRA noted that the imports were aimed at building inventory and further guaranteeing supply during the peak demand period.

  Ahead of the  2027 general elections , the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 polls, Mr Peter Obi, has intensified consultations with northern leaders. He first took a trip to Zaria in Kaduna State and then Minna in Niger State. In Zaria, he met the former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), and then Minna, where he met Babangida. Obi, who confirmed this development, In a post on his verified X handle yesterday, he said, “As part of my ongoing efforts to engage with various stakeholders and contribute to the nation’s development, I embarked on a trip to Zaria yesterday. “My mission was to meet with Professor Ango Abdullahi, a distinguished academic and respected voice in our national discourse. “Our conversation focused on the pressing issues facing our country, the imperative of unity, and practical ways to rebuild Nigeria.

The League of Civil Society Groups has criticised recent public comments by President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, calling for a probe of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, describing the move as unnecessary and contrary to due process. Speaking in Abuja, Ambassador Mohammed Bassah. National Secretary, League of Civil Society Groups, said while the right to seek accountability is fundamental, raising allegations in the public space without first approaching the appropriate statutory authorities was “rather low” and potentially damaging to institutional stability. Bassah noted that if Dangote or any corporate entity had genuine concerns regarding regulatory conduct, the proper channels were available, including formal petitions to oversight bodies such as the National Assembly, the Code of Conduct Bureau, or other relevant anti-corruption agencies. “Civil society belie...

  The  Nigeria Police Force (NPF)  has resumed the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy pending the final determination of the matter currently before the court. The police said the decision followed a careful review of emerging security concerns and the need to ensure the safety of all citizens. NPF said at no point did the court restrain the Nigeria Police Force from enforcing the provisions of the law regarding the use of tinted glass on vehicles. A statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to inform the general public of the planned resumption of the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy pending the final determination of the matter currently before the court. This decision follows a careful review of emerging security concerns and the need to ensure the safety of all citizens. “Nonetheless, in the spirit of responsibility, transparency, and public convenience, the F...

  The  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  has urged OPay’s management and staff to place greater emphasis on complying with existing regulations to maintain business integrity and curb fraudulent activities. This call was made by the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters by OPay CEO, Mr. Steven Wen, along with other senior executives on Thursday. The call comes at a time when Nigerian fintech companies are facing increasing regulatory scrutiny, especially around Anti-Money Laundering controls, fraud prevention, and customer verification processes. The EFCC boss, speaking through its Chief of Staff, Michael Nzekwe, emphasised the role of anti-corruption in stimulating economic growth. He urged Opay to uphold strict compliance with laws in all business operations.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday met separately with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the  Ebonyi State  Governor, Francis Nwifuru, at the State House, Abuja.  The engagements, held behind closed doors, came amid mounting political tension in Rivers State and renewed speculation over Governor Fubara’s future in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Fubara was sighted entering the State House at about 5:01 p.m. and was received by the Presidential Protocol Liaison Officer before proceeding to the President’s office.  He departed around 5:45 p.m., but details of the discussions were not disclosed as at press time. Minutes earlier, Governor Nwifuru had also been ushered in for a separate meeting with the President. 

  Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the payment of a 13th-month salary to   Oyo State   workers, marking the seventh consecutive year the gesture will be extended to the state’s workforce. The governor also approved the payment of outstanding salaries and minimum wage arrears owed to staff of the  Ladoke Akintola University of Technology  (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. Makinde announced this on Monday while inaugurating the Governing Board of the Teaching Hospital at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.  He assured that his administration would soon address the issues that led to the recent strike by LAUTECH lecturers. The governor also tasked the newly inaugurated Governing Board with revamping the Oyo Annex of the Teaching Hospital within 12 months, pledging full support from the state government to make the facility fully operational.

President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a new batch of  non-career ambassadorial nominees  to the Senate. The new nominees include the immediate past Sole Administrator of Rivers State and former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former presidential aide, Ita Enang; former Imo State First Lady, Chioma Ohakim; and former Minister of Interior and former Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau. The nominations were announced on Thursday during plenary, after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter on the floor of the chamber. In the letter, Tinubu urged the Senate to give swift consideration to the nominees to help fill key diplomatic positions. Akpabio referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs with a directive to screen the nominees and report back within one week.

The marketing firm handling the sale of  Nigeria’s presidential Boeing 737-700 Business Jet  has withdrawn the aircraft’s listing. The jet, previously listed on the company’s website, could no longer be found when our correspondent visited. In an email response to  The PUNCH , Manager of Market Research at JetHQ, Laurie Barringer, confirmed that the company no longer has the aircraft listed for sale and directed further inquiries to the Nigerian government. “Thank you for your email. We no longer have the listing on the Boeing. You will need to reach out to the Nigerian Government for information as to what has become of the aircraft. I appreciate your time — Laurie Barringer, Manager of Market Research, JetHQ,” the email read. The media aide to the National Security Adviser, Ismail Garba, promised to respond but had yet to do so days after making the commitment.