In a landmark move to boost transparency and strengthen Nigeria’s economy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has abolished the long-standing practice where revenue-generating agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) withheld huge sums as their “cost of collection.”

The new directive, announced by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, mandates that every kobo collected must now go directly into the Federation Account, as required by the Constitution.

Until now, agencies deducted massive amounts before remitting funds — for instance, FIRS alone retained over ₦250 billion in 2024. This practice reduced what was available for federal, state, and local governments through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

With Tinubu’s reform, more money will now be available to fund roads, schools, hospitals, jobs, and critical infrastructure across the country.

“This is about fairness, transparency, and accountability. Nigerians deserve to feel the impact of every naira collected,” Edun emphasized.

The policy also ties into Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring fiscal discipline while funding social protection programs. This October, the government is reaching 10 million vulnerable households with direct cash transfers, with a target to cover 50 million households by year’s end.

Analysts hail the reform as a “turning point in Nigeria’s fiscal history”, marking the end of leakages and a bold step toward a transparent, people-driven economy.

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Nigerian Senate is set to engage with US lawmakers following renewed debate on alleged targeted attacks against Christians in the country.

The controversy intensified after American TV host Bill Maher, on his HBO program, described the situation as a “silent genocide,” accusing Western media of downplaying mass killings by Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, and Fulani militias. He cited claims that over 100,000 Christians have been killed since 2009 and thousands of churches destroyed.

Maher’s remarks were echoed by Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who argued that the crisis had not received the international media attention it deserves.

Government Rejects Genocide Narrative
In response, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the claims as misleading and divisive. He emphasized that terrorist groups do not target Christians alone, insisting that Nigerians of all faiths—including Muslims and non-religious citizens—have suffered at the hands of violent extremists.

“Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a religious war is a gross misrepresentation of reality,” Idris said.

By: Fabian Apechihin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his Independence Day broadcast marking Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, assured citizens that the country has overcome its toughest challenges and is on the path to recovery.

Honouring the Founding Fathers

Tinubu paid tribute to the sacrifices of Nigeria’s independence leaders, including Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Margaret Ekpo, Anthony Enahoro, Michael Okpara, Aminu Kano, and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
“They believed it was Nigeria’s manifest destiny to lead the black race as the largest black nation on earth,” he said.

Journey So Far

Reflecting on six decades of nationhood, the President noted that Nigeria had endured a civil war, military dictatorships, and political crises but survived with “courage and grit.”
“At Independence, Nigeria had only 120 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions. Today, we have over 23,000 secondary schools, 274 universities, 183 polytechnics, and 236 colleges of education,” he said, adding that the country had made “remarkable progress” in healthcare, telecommunications, aviation, and infrastructure.

Tough Reforms, Signs of Recovery

Tinubu said he inherited a fragile economy distorted by decades of poor policies but chose reform over inaction.
“Our administration ended the corrupt fuel subsidy regime and abolished multiple foreign exchange rates that enriched a few while impoverishing the majority,” he stated.
According to him, the measures are yielding results:

• GDP grew by 4.23% in Q2 2025, the fastest in four years.
• Inflation fell to 20.12% in August, the lowest in three years.
• ₦20 trillion was realised from non-oil revenue by August.
• Debt service-to-revenue ratio dropped from 97% to below 50%.
• Foreign reserves climbed to $42.03 billion, the highest since 2019.
• Oil output rebounded to 1.68 million barrels per day, while Nigeria refined petrol domestically for the first time in four decades.
• The stock market surged from 55,000 points in May 2023 to 142,000 points by September 2025.

“The worst is over. Yesterday’s pains are giving way to today’s relief,” the President declared.

Tackling Insecurity

Tinubu said security agencies were making gains against insurgency, separatism, and banditry.
“Hundreds of communities have been liberated, with thousands of displaced persons returning home. We salute the gallantry of our armed forces,” he said.

Investing in Youth

Describing young people as Nigeria’s “greatest asset,” Tinubu highlighted ongoing programmes:

• NELFUND Student Loans: ₦99.5bn disbursed to 510,000 students.
• Credicorp Loans: ₦30bn given to 153,000 Nigerians for solar, housing, transport, and digital devices.
• YouthCred: Credit support extended to NYSC members.
• iDICE Programme: Partnership with AfDB, AFD, and IsDB to boost innovation in digital and creative sectors.

Call for Collective Effort

Acknowledging that reforms have caused temporary hardship, Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain steadfast.
“Our progress must not be measured by statistics alone, but by food on our tables, quality of education, electricity in our homes, and safety in our communities,” he said.

He called on citizens to embrace productivity, pay taxes, support local industries, and contribute to nation-building.
“The dawn of a new Nigeria is here — self-reliant, prosperous, and united. With God on our side, we will overcome. Let all hands be on deck,” he concluded.

Would you like me to compress this further into a shorter news report (around 6–7 tight paragraphs) for quick-read media, or keep it as a detailed feature-style recap like this one?