WHALEXTRA

The West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF) has called for closer cooperation between the media and tax authorities across Africa. Press freedom the organisation said remains vital to improving tax compliance, strengthening transparency and supporting sustainable development on the continent. In a statement issued to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, the Executive Secretary of WATAF, Jules Tapsoba, said a free and independent media plays a major role in building accountable tax systems and increasing public trust in government institutions. According to him, accurate and responsible journalism helps citizens understand tax policies and public finance issues, while also ensuring that institutions remain accountable to the people. “A free and responsible press is indispensable to transparent tax systems. By informing citizens and holding institutions accountable, the media strengthens trust, improves compliance, and supports sustainable domestic revenue mobilisation,” Tapsoba sa...

  The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, says  President Bola Tinub u is committed to repositioning the   Nigeria Police Force   through strengthened education and training institutions. Alausa said this on Monday in Abuja when the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu, led senior police officers on a courtesy visit to his office. He said discussions focused on the establishment of a southern campus of the Police Academy in Erije, Abeokuta, Ogun, in line with the President’s agenda to improve professionalism and security delivery. “This meeting is in continuation of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to reposition the police to deliver on its core mandate and improve security across the country,” he said. Alausa added that the proposed campus was expected to admit its first set of students between September and November 2026, following expedited resource verification by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared  Halimat Adenike Tejuosho , a women leader of the City Boys Movement, wanted. A notice issued by the EFCC on Monday via X said Tejuosho has been declared wanted over an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence. The notice was signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity for the EFCC. The anti-graft agency called on members of the public with useful information about her whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide. he Commission also urged the members of the public to reach out via its official phone lines or email, or report to the nearest police station or other security agencies.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared N2.036 trillion among the federal government, states and the local government councils (LGCs). The revenue was shared at the April meeting of FAAC in Abuja. The N2.036 trillion total distributable revenue comprised statutory revenue of N1.320 trillion, Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N515.391 billion and augmentation of N200 billion. A communiqué issued by FAAC indicated that total gross revenue of N2.364 trillion was available in the month of March. It said that the total deduction for the cost of collection was N81.084 billion, while total transfers, refunds and savings were N246.872 billion and an augmentation of N200 billion.

The   Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)   and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday inaugurated a Joint Committee on Telecoms Identity Risk Management System (TIRMS) Portal to tackle the menace of subscriber identity module (SIM)-enabled fraudulent practices in the country, a development they averred threatened the digital economy ambition of the Federal Government. The TIRMS will aggregate data on churned (recycled) phone numbers, as well as numbers flagged within the financial sector; the Financial Services Industry will now have enhanced visibility into the status of phone numbers, one of the most widely utilized resources in the financial services sector. The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida said the MoU provides a structured framework for cooperation in critical areas including payment system integrity, fraud mitigation, digital inclusion, and the protection of consumers, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, wh...

  House of Representatives member and Coordinator of the Justice Forum, James Faleke, spoke with Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU and News Editor BUNMI OGUNMODEDE on preparations of the Lagos State  All Progressives Congress  (APC) for next year’s polls What are your expectations about 2027 concerning Lagos? Well, thank you very much. As an individual, my expectation is for God’s blessings that He keeps us alive and gives us the opportunity to continue serving and showcasing ourselves. Regarding the 2027 elections, I expect that negotiations and mobilisations will translate into massive votes. I anticipate strong support for Bola Tinubu and for the APC in Lagos, including the next governor of the state. I believe the outcome will be more positive than what we saw in 2023. Lagos has evolved, and I strongly believe that things will be better and more successful in 2027. First, I expect loyalty, someone who is committed to the party and understands its structure. The person sh...

  The  African Democratic Congress (ADC ) has announced the expulsion of several members, including Hon. Leke Abejide and Nafiu Bala Gombe, over alleged violations of the party’s constitution and disciplinary code. The decision was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, following resolutions reached at the party’s National Convention held on April 14, 2026, in Abuja. According to the statement, the expulsions were approved after deliberations by delegates at the convention, which was presided over by the party’s National Chairman, David Mark. “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to inform the public that, pursuant to resolutions reached at its National Convention held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Rainbow Event Centre, Garki, Abuja, the Party has approved the expulsion of certain individuals for acts deemed inconsistent with its constitution, values, and disciplinary framework,” the statement re...

The African Democratic Congress , ADC, caucus in the House of Representatives has demanded the prosecution and removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan. The caucus made the call over allegations of partisanship and compromised neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections. This comes after the caucus’ inaugural meeting held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, where members reviewed recent political developments and expressed deep concern about the credibility of the electoral umpire. The lawmakers alleged that Amupitan exhibited actions and made statements deemed inconsistent with the expectations of an impartial electoral body head. They cited allegations that the INEC chairman previously operated a personal X account where he reportedly expressed support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and shared controversial content relating to claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria.

  The  Nigerian Police Force  has highlighted some of the notable achievements carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department–Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) in several coordinated operations from January to date, leading to the arrest of fifty suspects. Addressing the press in Abuja on Monday, DCP Anthony Okon Placid, the Force Public Relations Officer, said the operatives had followed up on several gunrunning and kidnapping syndicates and clandestine activities, which led to the recovery of several dangerous weapons and illicit drugs, among other exhibits. The Police highlighted seven cases which led to the arrest of 50 suspects and the recovery of 17 rifles of various models, 111 live ammunitions of various calibres, two empty magazines, 17 live cartridges, three vehicles, three phones, seven magazines, five walkie-talkies, among other exhibits on display. The Police said that one Musa Jibrin was arrested for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and ban...

THE Naira yesterday appreciated to N1,392 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,396 per dollar Tuesday. Similarly, the naira appreciated to N1,369 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market,  NFEM. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria,  CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira fell to N1,369 per dollar from N1,389 per dollar on Tuesday,  reflecting  N20 appreciation for the naira.  Consequently, the margin between the parallel and official markets widened  to N23 per dollar from N5  per dollar on Tuesday.

  The  African Democratic Congress (ADC)  yesterday alleged plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent its members from participating in next year’s elections. National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the electoral commission is hatching a plot designed to stop the party from fielding candidates for the polls. Echoing him, former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu dismissed insinuations of a protracted leadership crisis, saying ADC structures remain intact despite intra-party conflicts. Rejecting INEC’s withdrawal of recognition of the Interim National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and the National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the party’s youth wing unveiled plans for a nationwide protest. It issued a 72-hour ultimatum to INEC to recognise the interim leadership or face civil action.

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) has disclosed that the naira traded within the range of N1,340 to N1,430 against the dollar in the official market in the first quarter of 2026. Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Muda Yusuf, made this known in a weekend statement while reviewing Nigeria’s economic performance in Q1 and providing an outlook for the second quarter. According to him, the relative stability of the naira during the period helped to moderate imported inflation and boost investor confidence. He attributed the exchange rate stability to improved external reserves, which climbed to about $50 billion as of March 11, 2026. Despite the gains, Yusuf noted that the cost-of-living crisis remained severe for many Nigerians, driven by high energy costs, insecurity, and persistent structural challenges within the economy.

  Tension is mounting in Katsina State as Governor  Dikko Umaru Radda  convenes an emergency Security Council meeting at the Government House to address serious security concerns. The meeting, which is still ongoing, has brought together top security officials, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Those present include senior officers of the Nigerian Army, officials from Defence Headquarters, and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force. Also in attendance are representatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Federal Fire Service, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Chairmen of affected local government areas are also participating, alongside the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other senior government officials.

Saudi Arabia announced that the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan will begin on Friday. “The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Thursday, is the completion of the 30th day of the month of Ramadan. Friday is the day of the Blessed Eid al-Fitr,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. The timing of the holiday, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar. Observing the Ramadan fast is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring believers to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours. Ads by  Observant Muslims are also encouraged to donate to the poor.

State governments have called for a forensic audit of Nigeria’s crude oil-backed borrowing arrangements , warning that opaque crude-for-loan and swap deals may be undermining inflows into the Federation Account. The PUNCH earlier reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited pledged 272,500 barrels per day of crude oil through a series of crude-for-loan deals totalling $8.86bn, according to an analysis of a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the NNPC’s financial statements. According to The PUNCH’s findings, NNPC has already fully repaid $2.61bn in loans, representing 29.4 per cent of the total credit facility, while $6.25bn or 70.6 per cent, remains outstanding. Also, out of the $8.86bn credit facility, only about $6.97bn has been received from seven crude-for-loan deals, as of December 2023. The demand was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 2026 retreat of the Federation Account Allocation Committee Post-Mortem Sub-...

  President Bola Tinubu  has approved the procurement of new equipment for the armed forces and other security agencies to enhance the fight against terrorism and banditry across the country, the Minister of Defence, Gen Christopher Musa (retd.), has disclosed. Musa, who briefed State House correspondents after a nearly two-hour security meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, said the President remained committed to supporting security agencies in their operations against insurgents. “The President has promised more equipment for us to be able to protect the nation, and we assure victory,” Musa stated. However, he did not specify the type or quantity of equipment approved by the President. Rather, he explained that the meeting, which was the first attended by the new Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, since his appointment, was convened to brief the President on the current security situation following recent attacks on military formations.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the alleged assassination attempt on Peter Obi and other party leaders in Benin City, describing the incident as a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy. In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the attackers allegedly followed Obi and members of the ADC from the party’s secretariat to the residence of a party leader, John Odigie-Oyegun, before opening fire. Reacting to the incident, the ADC said the attack represented “a grave and disturbing development” for the country’s democratic process. “Today’s attack on Mr. Peter Obi and other leaders of the African Democratic Congress is a grave and disturbing development, especially in light of the threats issued last year by the Governor of Edo State, warning Mr. Obi not to come to Edo State,” the statement said. The party added: “We didn’t know at the time that the Governor’s threat would include an assassination plot.”

Federal Government, through the National Social Investment Programme Agency, says no fewer than 22,000 farmers will benefit from interest-free loans under its FarmerMoni Dry and Wet Season Programme. The National Programme Manager, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme under NSIPA, Mr Hamza Baba, said this at the inauguration of the Renewed Hope GEEP 3.0. and the FarmerMoni Technical Working Group in Abuja on Wednesday. Baba, who described the loan as interest and collateral-free, said that the loans aimed to strengthen agricultural productivity and would be given to farmers across the country. “Under this particular scheme, we are expecting that from today our portal will be open for eligible farmers, to go and register, to access our loans. And these loans are interest-free and collateral-free. “The total sum per beneficiary is N300,000, and we arrive at this by looking at the economic production of each farming activity. So, we are targeting the vulnerable, poor farmers a...

  The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has rescued and repatriated 23 Nigerian youths suspected to be victims of human trafficking from Thailand. The Director-General of  NAPTIP,  Binta Adamu Bello, disclosed this on Wednesday while alerting the public to a new trend of trafficking to the South Asia region for cyber-enabled crimes. The Head of Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, conveyed the development in a statement titled ‘DG NAPTIP alerts on new trend of trafficking to the South Asia region for cyber-enabled crimes as the agency rescues 23 victims from Thailand.’ According to the statement, the operation was carried out with the support and collaboration of Eden (Myanmar), with critical assistance from the British Government.

The federal government has commended the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, for his strategic role in securing Nigeria’s election into Category C of the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for the 2026–2027 biennium. According to a statement by the Agency’s spokesperson, Osagie Edward, obtained by The Nation at the weekend, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, acknowledged Mobereola’s instrumental leadership and effective campaign coordination in a letter dated January 28, 2026. The statement indicated that the commendation letter addressed to the Director General highlighted his pivotal role in Nigeria’s victory at the IMO Council elections held in London. According to Edward, the minister noted that Mobereola’s strategic engagement with IMO Member States and effective campaign management were pivotal to Nigeria’s resounding success, reflecting a high level of dedication...