Nigeria’s oil and gas regulator, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has issued new guidance aimed at speeding up contracting processes and blocking firms without proven technical capacity from winning industry jobs. The Board said the NCEC Application Guidance Notes, which take effect from December 2025, are designed to strengthen compliance with Presidential Directives on local content and to eliminate unqualified intermediaries from the contracting chain. Under the rules, possession of a valid Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC) remains mandatory for participation in oil and gas contracting.  NCDMB warned that the misuse or unmerited possession of NCECs has been a major contributor to contracting delays and the admission of firms lacking capacity. According to the Board, the guidance notes target widespread abuses including multiple certificate applications unsupported by real assets, forged documentation, under-declared personnel and the use...

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its support for the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) and the Africa Energy Bank (AEB), as preparations continue for the bank’s formal launch. RoundReports reports that the pledge was made on Thursday in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, during a courtesy visit by APPO’s new Secretary General, Farid Ghezali, who was accompanied by senior officials of the organisation. The meeting followed Nigeria’s handover earlier this week of the fully established office of the Africa Energy Bank, clearing the way for its launch by APPO in partnership with Afreximbank. Ogbe said the success of APPO and the Africa Energy Bank would be central to the future of Africa’s oil and gas industry, adding that the NCDMB was ready to provide operational support for the bank’s take-off. According to him, the board’s position aligned with the directives of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister...

The Federal Government has restated its determination to end what it describes as long-standing interference by state governments in funds allocated to Nigeria’s 774 local government areas from the Federation Account. The assurance was given on Thursday in Abuja by the chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mohammed Shehu during the 2025 budget performance appraisal and 2026 budget defence organised by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Finance. Shehu believed persistent encroachment by state governments had crippled local administration and undermined service delivery at the grassroots, adding that the commission was ready to take concrete steps to enforce financial autonomy for councils. He disclosed plans to revive a dedicated Local Government Committee within the commission to closely track allocations and spending at council level nationwide. “ We will monitor every single local government in Nigeria ,” he said, adding that President...

At least 162 people have been killed in a gun attack on a village in Nigeria’s west-central Kwara state, one of the deadliest incidents in the country in recent months, according to the Red Cross. The assault occurred late on Tuesday in Woro, in Kaiama Local Government Area, days after the military said it had carried out operations in the area against what it described as “ terrorist elements .” Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq initially confirmed 75 deaths on Wednesday night while addressing residents at the palace of the Emir of Kaiama. AbdulRazaq said the victims were “ local Muslims massacred for refusing to surrender to extremists preaching a strange doctrine .” READ ALSO : Bayelsa Govt Takes over Treatment of Toru-Orua Crash Victims However, Babaomo Ayodeji, the state secretary of the Red Cross disclosed that by Wednesday, the death toll had more than doubled, revising an earlier figure of 67. “ Reports said that the death toll now stands at 162, as the search for mor...

Nigeria’s Senate on Tuesday retreated into a prolonged closed-door session as lawmakers intensified internal consultations on the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, delaying open debate on the highly anticipated bill. The closed session, which had lasted for more than two hours by mid-afternoon, followed renewed scrutiny by senators of the provisions contained in the Electoral Act Amendment Bills currently before the upper chamber. Last week, the Senate set up a seven-member ad hoc committee to fine-tune the report of its Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.  READ ALSO :  Tax Reforms Cut PAYE Burden for Low-income Workers The panel, chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, was mandated to collate additional inputs from senators ahead of Tuesday’s plenary, when consideration of the bill had been expected to begin. Consequently, the committee was given 48 hours to complete its assignment and submit its findings to the Senate. However, when lawmakers reconvened on Tuesda...

Nearly 15,000 HR, payroll and finance professionals registered for a nationwide engagement session on the implementation of Nigeria’s Tax Reform Acts, with officials outlining measures designed to protect low-income workers and simplify compliance. A recent virtual briefing, held in collaboration with the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), focused on how the new laws affect Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) calculations, filing obligations and the taxation of remote work, partnerships and personal income. Details of the briefing were contained in a press release by Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. According to Oyedele, the reforms introduce automatic exemptions for workers earning the national minimum wage or less.  With allowable deductions and rent relief applied, employees earning up to N100,000 a month could see their tax liability fall to zero, he added. Clarifying questions around fiscal federalism, he stressed that Personal Income Tax rema...

The Bayelsa State Government has assumed responsibility for the medical treatment of victims injured in a road accident that occurred on Tuesday around Toru-Orua, along the Sagbama–Ekeremor road. RoundReports reports that the Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, said Governor Douye Diri directed the ministry and emergency medical teams to ensure prompt and adequate care for all those affected. Addressing reports circulating online that ten people were killed in the crash involving an 18-seater bus, Brisibe dismissed the claim, confirming that two fatalities were recorded. He said other victims rescued from the scene were stabilised after receiving emergency care from government ambulance teams deployed along the Sagbama–Ekeremor axis, where traffic had increased due to movement related to the burial of the late Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in Ofoni. According to the health commissioner, the injured were taken to Sagbama General Hospital and the Niger De...

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bayelsa State Branch, has held a valedictory session in honour of the late Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, paying tribute to his legacy as a senior advocate of the law and public servant. The session, held on Thursday at the State High Court Complex in Yenagoa, drew a cross-section of political leaders, jurists and members of the legal profession from within and outside the state. Among those in attendance were Governor Douye Diri; a former governor and senator representing Bayelsa West, Henry Seriake Dickson; the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Abrakasa-Ayemieye; the widow of the deceased, Mrs Ewhrudjakpo, and members of his family. Speaking during the session, Governor Diri said he was still struggling to come to terms with the death of his deputy, whom he described as a dependable ally and trusted professional.  He recalled Ewhrudjakpo’s role as head of his legal team during the election petitions ...

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been granted honorary citizenship of the US state of Georgia and recognised as an “ Outstanding Citizen ” entitled to the courtesies of a goodwill ambassador. The proclamation was issued by Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, acting on behalf of the Republican-controlled state government, and dated 16 January 2026. It was formally presented on Friday in Milledgeville, one of Georgia’s capital cities, by State Representative Gab Okoye.  The certificate was received on Kanu’s behalf by a former Nigerian consul general to South Africa, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke.  In the proclamation, Raffensperger declared: “ I do hereby proclaim Nnamdi Okwu Kanu as an Honorary Georgia Citizen ,” adding that he should be “ accorded every courtesy as a Goodwill Ambassador from Georgia ” in his travels within the United States and abroad. READ ALSO : FG Moves to Scrap HND, Empower Polytechnics to Awa...

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division Garrison Strike Force have killed six suspected terrorists during an offensive in the Sububu forests of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, the military said on Saturday. The operation, conducted under Operation FANSAN YAMMA Sector 2, also led to the rescue of an abducted underage girl, the recovery of arms and ammunition, and the destruction of several militant camps across the forest axis. According to the army, the first encounter took place at Indulumu village, where soldiers engaged armed fighters and killed two of them after a brief firefight, adding that one AK-47 rifle was recovered at the scene. The troops then advanced to Ruduno village, where they came under further resistance. Four more militants were killed, while another AK-47 rifle, a magazine loaded with 28 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and two motorcycles were recovered or destroyed, the army said. READ ALSO :  Police Confirm Mass Abduction in Kaduna Community afte...

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a blues-soaked vampire allegory rooted in America’s racial history, has rewritten Academy Awards history after securing a record 16 nominations, the highest ever for a single film. The Warner Bros drama surpassed the long-standing mark of 14 nominations jointly held by All About Eve, Titanic and La La Land, earning recognition across the Academy’s top prizes as well as a broad sweep of technical categories. The film is nominated for best picture and best director, with Michael B Jordan receiving his first Oscar nomination for best actor for a dual performance at the centre of the story.  Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo were recognised in the supporting categories, underlining the breadth of the Academy’s endorsement. Sinners also featured prominently in technical fields including cinematography, editing and sound, while benefiting from the Academy’s newly introduced casting award. READ ALSO : Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as First African Filmmaker t...

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has affirmed that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the recognised leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, distancing former governor Nyesom Wike from the ruling party. Speaking on Channels Television’s Hard Copy on Thursday, Bwala addressed the ongoing political crisis in Rivers, where the State House of Assembly has launched impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara. Bwala reiterated the position of the APC’s national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, that Fubara, not Wike, holds the reins of the party in the state. “ I agree with the point highlighted by the national chairman that in Rivers State, Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC. Wike is not a member of the APC, so he cannot speak for the APC ,” he said. He added that while Wike may retain influence within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his current role as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory does not trans...

The Federal Government has announced a sweeping reform of Nigeria’s tertiary education system, bringing the end of the Higher National Diploma (HND) as it seeks to elevate polytechnics to degree-awarding institutions. Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa revealed the policy shift on Wednesday during a high-level retreat in Abuja for governing council chairmen, rectors and other stakeholders in the polytechnic sector. The move, Alausa said, is designed to dismantle the entrenched dichotomy between HND holders and university graduates, a divide that has long stifled the career advancement and professional recognition of polytechnic alumni. “ This administration is committed to repositioning polytechnics as centres of excellence. They must no longer be seen as inferior to universities but as equal partners in national development ,” he said. The minister stressed that Nigeria’s future hinges on a technically skilled workforce capable of solving real-world problems, a strength he believes li...

A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced a 22-year-old man, Ishaq AbdulRazaq, to 18 months’ imprisonment for the s£xual abuse and exploitation of a five-year-old girl. The offence, which occurred on 21 July 2025 in the Gaa-Odota area of Ilorin, involved the defendant luring and s£xually abusing the minor.  The case was brought under Section 32(2) of the Child Rights Law of Kwara State, which criminalises the s£xual exploitation of children. Following a detailed review of the evidence presented, the presiding judge, Justice Oba Muritala Folorunsho, found AbdulRazaq guilty as charged. During allocutus, defence counsel Dr Bunmi Bewaji appealed for leniency, describing the convict as a remorseful first-time offender who had displayed willingness to reform. READ ALSO : One Killed, Eight Injured in Rivers Masquerade Shooting However, in delivering his judgment, Justice Folorunsho imposed a custodial sentence of one and a half years. “ This judgment serves as a stern warni...

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed that a mass abduction took place in Kurmin Wali, a community in Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, days after the state command had publicly denied any such incident. The confirmation follows mounting pressure from church leaders and civil society organisations, who had earlier reported that over 160 worshippers were abducted during Sunday services last week, including congregants from the Cherubim and Seraphim Church. At the time, the Kaduna State Police Command dismissed the reports, stating that there was no verifiable evidence of an attack or missing persons.  However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified that the initial denial stemmed from conflicting accounts presented during a Kaduna State Security Council meeting.  READ ALSO : Imo Releases N600m for Families of Fallen Soldiers According to Hundeyin, some local representatives had disputed the abd...

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has welcomed the Federal Government’s latest tax reforms, following a high-level stakeholder engagement with the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.  RoundReports learnt that the hybrid session, held recently, brought together industry leaders and policymakers to examine the implications of the new tax regime on the manufacturing sector. The dialogue, which featured a robust question-and-answer segment, spotlighted a raft of measures designed to ease the tax burden on manufacturers and streamline compliance processes.  According to MAN, the reforms are a huge step towards fostering a more business-friendly environment and enhancing industrial competitiveness. Among the headline benefits outlined were the harmonisation of multiple taxes, a move expected to reduce operational bottlenecks and eliminate overlapping levies that have long plagued manufacturers.  The reforms also promise expanded input VAT credi...

One person was killed and eight others injured in the early hours of Monday after a shooting during a masquerade procession in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, police have confirmed. The Rivers State Police Command said the incident occurred along Sambo Street at about 1:30 am, though it was reported at the Omoku Police Division around 7:00 am. According to the police, trouble began during a masquerade outing by youths in the area when a confrontation broke out between the group and a man identified as Barrister Akpudi Ikechukwu, who was accompanied by four personnel of the Nigeria Forest Guards Security Service. During the altercation, gunshots were fired, leaving nine members of the masquerade group with gunshot wounds.  One of the victims, identified simply as Obulo, was later confirmed dead at Omoku Hospital, while the remaining eight victims are currently receiving treatment at the same facility. READ ALSO : Troops Arrest Suspected Gun-runn...

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested nearly 78,000 drug offenders and seized close to 15,000 tonnes of illicit substances over the past five years. NDLEA's Chairman, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (rtd), disclosed the figures on Tuesday during an award and commendation ceremony for NDLEA personnel at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.  Marwa disclosed the operations had dealt a great blow to both domestic and transnational drug trafficking networks. According to him, a total of 77,792 suspects were arrested between 2021 and 2025, including 128 individuals identified as drug barons who played central roles in major trafficking rings.  READ ALSO : Troops Repel Coordinated Terrorist Attacks in Adamawa, Borno During the same period, he added, the agency seized 14,847,000 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs, disrupting supply chains across several regions. He stated that the NDLEA secured 14,225 convictions within the timeframe, describing the outcome...

A former spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has forecast internal crisis and possible defections within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following its convention ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Baba-Ahmed warned that competing interests could fracture the party once a flagbearer emerges. He gave the warning during his appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today on Tuesday, saying that Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the most likely beneficiary of the ADC’s presidential ticket, a development he argued would leave other power blocs within the party marginalised. “ ADC will bleed after its convention because almost certainly Vice President Atiku Abubakar will get the ticket. When he does, some people will walk out ,” he said. READ ALSO : Sowore to Face Trial on January 22 over Alleged Cyberstalking of Tinubu Baba-Ahmed maintained that the party’s current composition, which includes several high-profile political figures, makes it vulne...

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial in the case filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) against activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore over alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation of President Bola Tinubu. Justice Mohammed Garba Umar adjourned the matter on Monday after Sowore was arraigned on an amended two-count charge bordering on cyberbullying of the President through social media posts. Sowore pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him in open court. The case stems from a five-count charge filed by the DSS in September 2025 against Sowore, alongside X Corp and Meta Platforms Inc., over online posts in which President Tinubu was described as a “ criminal .”  However, following an application by the DSS’s counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, the court struck out the two foreign technology companies as co-defendants. In an earlier ruling, Justice Umar held that X Corp and Meta Platforms Inc. were no longer pr...