NNPC And Unremitted Billions Of Dollars

 By Jide Oyewusi

If there is a company all Nigerians must focus all their attention on and demand a transparent accountability from if Nigeria is ever going to move forward or make any meaningful progress, it is none other than the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

This is because even before independence, Nigeria’s major foreign exchange earner has been oil and so with the establishment of the NNPC, the company on which the major tripod of nation’s resources stand was born. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) was established on April 1, 1977 and later transformed into a limited liability company in July 2022 following the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021.

Nigerians Caught Between New Tax Regime And High Petrol Cost

 By Adekunle Adekoya

Happy New Year to all Nigerians, especially those who read this newspaper and this column. The year that ended about 48 hours ago was one hell of a year, by way of experience, particularly for those of us in Nigeria. On the political front, it was as interesting as ever, what with shameless defections from opposition parties to the ruling party especially by governors and legislators in opposition-controlled states.

*Tinubu and Shettima 

Economically, it was only towards the end of the year that some relief, however palpable, began to manifest, with the price of rice, which is the staple most consumed by Nigerians, coming down. The downside on the dining table was that the cost of protein — eggs, fish and meat — refused to follow rice in the downward journey, thus posing a stiff challenge to many households, majority of whom just cooked the staples, mainly carbohydrates, without the protein to make the diet meaningful for the body. Nevertheless, we survived that.

Tinubu’s Tax Tragedy And The New Year

 By Kenneth Okonkwo

Tax is generally regarded as a burden on the people. It is the compulsory contribution of the citizens to the development of their country. The citizens are expected to pay a proportion of their income to the government in trust, in return for the provision of needed infrastructure for economic and social development.

The unfortunate thing about taxation is that it is still compulsory for the citizens to pay it, even if the government fails to comply with its side of the bargain. In a corrupt society, the government embezzles the tax paid by the people, and spends it on ostentatious lifestyle while the people wallow in abject poverty and penury.

Tragic: A Nation Without Heroes Or In Need Of Heroes

 By Owei Lakemfa

Nigeria is like an orphan. A country without heroes.  The political leadership over the    decades have been held in suspicion by a frustrated citizenry whose situation simply gets worse.    The country    does not seem to have heroes that    generations can look up to or, can inspire.    

*Tinubu

The famous German writer,   Bertolt Brecht declared in his  play Life of Galileo: “Poor is the nation that has no heroes, but poorer still is the nation that, having heroes, fails to recognize and honour them”. This was what the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the    family of Michael Imoudu, the most famous labour leader in our history,    on Saturday, December 20, 2025    stepped in to correct. They not just revealed that Nigeria has contemporary heroes, but that we have men and women whose life and sacrifices seem fictional.    This was at the maiden  Michael Imoudu Awards, MIA    held in Lagos to commemorate the twentieth passing away of Imoudu, one of the most iconic figures in Nigeria history.

Traumatized Travellers, Broken Highways, And Coastal Road

 By Ugo Onuoha

The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, stipulated that the security and the welfare of Nigerians, not some Nigerians, not many Nigerians, nor a majority of the citizens, should be the priority of the government of the federation. The provision was not optional in terms of adherence to it. It was not a plea to the conscience of the rulers to do good. It was not a request either. It’s the raison d’etre of every administration. 

For the avoidance of doubt, we will reproduce aspects of the relevant constitutional decree. Yes, decree, because the prescription was made to be obeyed. It did not make room for any administration to offer excuses in lieu of compliance.

Why The CJN Must End Abuse Of Power In Judicial Appointments

 By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

A Judge who takes advantage of the judicial office for personal gain or for gain by his or her relative or relation abuses power…. such abuse of power profoundly violates the public’s trust in the judiciary. Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Rule 8:3 (2016)

*Justice Kekere-Ekun-CJN

Eight and a half years ago, in May 2017, a viral audio clip circulated which was said to be a conversation between a male Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a female judge who, in the preceding year, presided over an election petition involving the Senator.

Don’t Let Food Poisoning Ruin Your Yuletide Celebrations!

 By Sylvester Ojenagbon

The world over, a festive season is synonymous with feasting. It is usually a time when kitchens work overtime, and tables overflow with culinary abundance. 

However, for all the joy these lavish meals bring, they also usher in a period of heightened risk for a globally common, yet utterly miserable affliction: food poisoning.

The problem of foodborne illness is common, cutting across continents and development levels.

The World Health Organisation estimates that as many as one in ten people globally fall ill each year from eating contaminated food, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths, with children and those in low- and middle-income countries bearing the heaviest burden.

Deeper Life Retreat At 50: Beyond The Precincts Of Religion

By Banji Ojewale

At the time the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM, held its first Retreat in the premises of then National Technical Teachers’ College, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, December 24-28, 1975, the group, led by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi, hardly discerned that it was scripting a narrative that would roll into a half-century milestone in the womb of time. But then, not everything connected to that era had to do with abstract history, even if we agree that making history matters.  Events history admit must be substantive and possess the weight that turns a tide for the good of humanity. 

For, what is a record in the annals if it doesn’t transform or usher in something new to enable man forsake the beaten path?

The Supreme Court’s Emergency Politics

 By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

All judges are politicians whether they know it or not— Enrique Petracchi, former Chief Justice of Argentina, (2002)

Among lawyers trained in the traditions of the Common Law, judicial power is often mis-understood. In Nigeria, the 1999 Constitution divides the powers of the federation between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. The first two are elected. Judges are not. In the elected arms, it vests the legislative and executive powers of the federation.

How Tinubu’s Inner Circle Is Misleading Him

 By Dan Onwukwe

Presidents throughout history have relied on an inner circle of deeply trusted aides who, sometimes, work behind the scenes to shape their presidencies. These individuals often wield significant influence on policy and strategy due to their close relationship and access to the presidents. Some became more powerful than official Cabinet members.

*Tinubu

In the United States, such notable aides include Harry Hopkins, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s shrewd adviser who became his most trusted confidant. He was fondly called “one-man State Department” during World War II. He lived in the White House and managed crucial programmes. Marguerite “Missing” LeHand was  FDR’s Personal Secretary, and arguably the most trusted figure in his inner circle.

New Tax Law Goes Rogue

 By Andy Ezeani

It is two days to Christmas. This, universally, is a season of goodwill. Already, President Bola Tinubu has retired to Lagos for his holiday. No one will begrudge him rest at this most fitting season to relax. Against the backdrop of unceasing flow of crisis and problems that have characterized his presidency, most of them self-inflicted, though, Tinubu can do with every peace and goodwill Christmas offers. 

*Tinubu

Before he left Abuja last Friday, December 19 2025, after laying the 2026 annual budget before the National Assembly, the President reportedly left appropriate messages of goodwill for the lawmakers at the National Assembly. That would be very characteristic of him in relation to the lawmakers. 

Forgeries, Taxations And The Reign Of Rehoboam

 By Ugo Onuoha

A little over three months into the presidency of Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on September 5, 2023, I wrote an opinion piece titled “100 days of Rehoboam” in this space and elsewhere. Rehoboam was a king of the divided kingdom of ancient Israel. He was the son of King Solomon and the grandson of King David, both of whom were also past rulers of a united Israel.

*Tinubu

Rehoboam caused Israel to be divided through policies that inflicted pains on his people. He was reckless. He was proud. He was unfeeling. He took counsel from his scatter head fellow young men. He told the Israelites that the privations they suffered under his father should be regarded as a child’s play. And that while his predecessors chastised them with a whip, he would chastise them with a scorpion. And he verily proceeded to do so. Rehoboam and Tinubu share similarities and dissimilarities.

No Xmas Dinner For The Fisherman

By Banji Ojewale

Kotei chewed on the flameless cigarette between two fingers on his left hand, regretting it was the last he took from the pack. He wished the manufacturers could load more into the paper box. He wouldn’t mind the cost, as long as it reduced the frequency of his visits to Handzin Ayen, two streets away, for the stuff. This would also ensure he would not run out of the stuff too early. But there was a bigger worry: for years he had always failed his New Year resolution to quit the smoke.

 At the moment, Kotei was in the Yuletide loop. In a few days, the year would be running its course and make a demand on him to decide on old ways to disallow from following him into the incoming one. 

Instinctively, Kotei holding a pack of cigarettes, would recite the legend: I promise not to smoke again. I won’t ever go to Handzi Ayen for the cigarettes, even if she asks me to come for them for free. I’m now going to smoke these ones as a parting shot. Thereafter it’s bye-bye. They go away from me. Depart with the departing year. You won’t go with me into the new one. So, help me God! 

Between Farouk Ahmed And Bello Matawalle

By Adekunle Adekoya

What amounted to an earthquake occurred in the oil sector in the week ending today. Mallam Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, fell from his Olympian heights and his resignation from office was suddenly announced after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa Wednesday evening. In unclear circumstances, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, also resigned his job.

*Matawalle 

The earthquake coming from Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries and operator of the largest single train refinery in Africa started with tremors on Sunday when Africa’s richest man accused Farouk Ahmed’s NMDPRA of economic sabotage, alleging that regulatory actions were undermining local refining capacity in Nigeria.

Panacea To Nigeria’s Lingering Insecurity

 By Chiedu Uche Okoye

Our federal government’s use of multi-pronged approaches in tackling Nigeria’s security challenges will yield no positive results unless and until sub-national governments are constitutionally empowered to have their own state police.

The government’s execution of measures other than establishing state police will scratch the surface of the problem without solving it holistically. Despite the efforts, which the federal government has been making to stem the tide of perpetration of crimes in Nigeria, our country is still in the throes of asphyxiating security challenges.

Genocide In Nigeria: A United Nations Tribunals Is Long Overdue

 By Dianam Dakolo 

It is exactly one month now since the appearance of the Trinidadian-American singer and actress, Nicki Minaj, at the United Nations to make a case for global action against genocide in Nigeria, perpetrated by Fulani bandits and herdsmen and Kanuri terrorists against Christian communities in the North of the country.

We have also had a United States Congressional Committee on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria. Snippets of its findings and conclusions are now public knowledge - that genocide in Nigeria is real and horrific, and that top government functionaries and the security agencies, particularly from the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari up till date, have been manifestly complicit. 

Tinubu’s Low-Grade Ambassadors: A Disservice To Nigeria!

 By Olu Fasan

In the end, Nigeria’s obsequious Senate lived up to its reputation. 

Toadyish as ever, it supinely rubber-stamped President Bola Tinubu’s tacky list of ambassadorial nominees without as much as a whimper.

*Reno Omokri and Tinubu

Last week, following the infamous and shameful “bow and go” practice it has adopted in approving President Tinubu’s political appointees, the Senate waived through his ambassadorial nominees without questioning. The perverse implication of nominating controversial figures, and of clearing them without scrutiny, is that the President and the Senate both believe that anybody, just anybody, however questionable their pedigree, provided they are in the President’s good graces, can represent this country as an ambassador in a foreign land. That’s a disservice to Nigeria! 

Certificate Mills And Doubtful Acquisitions

 By Austin Oboh

 The Federal Government appears to have been recently startled out of a long slumber that had stretched on for years while more and more Nigerians discovered has­sle-free means of acquiring diploma and degree certificates with the cooperation of our West African neighbouurs. 

And in other cases, certificate mills sprouted at street corners, right under the watch of monitoring authorities, to feed the Nige­rian crave for certificates (not learning). Tuesday announcement by the Federal Ministry of Education suspending the ac­creditation or recognition of certificates from some West African countries, espe­cially Togo and Benin Republic, may have come like a knee-jerk reaction but it was a rousing up prompted by an embarrassing expose’ from a journalist who went as far as cracking his way through the NYSC with his arranged documents. The NYSC secretariat, with all its checks erected to stop impostors in their tracks, could not stop him. Again, state authorities were caught napping.

War Against Terror: Nigeria Needs Foreign Assistance

 By Emeka Alex Duru

A significant prayer point among the Igbo is that challenges do not force one to seek favours from an enemy. The supplication is deep. Seeking assistance from one’s enemy is an extreme point in desperation and fraught with uncertainties.

If it is turned down, the supplicant is left with shame; if answered, it is like drinking from a poisoned chalice in which the beneficiary, if ever he survives, is perpetually beholden to the questionable benefactor. It is dicey, from whatever angle it is looked at. A Nollywood flick of the early 1990’s, titled Living in Bondage, offers an analogy here.

Nigeria Needs Safe Schools

 By Gordon Brown

Edinburgh—In the last few weeks, more than 300 children have been abducted from Nigerian schools in a new wave of kidnappings by terrorist groups hellbent on extorting money and spreading fear.

By now, the pattern is depressingly familiar. On the morning of November 17, gunmen broke into the dormitories of a girls’ secondary school in Maga, a town in the northwestern state of Kebbi, killing the vice-principal and abducting 25 students. Only days later, on November 21, assailants staged an early-morning attack on St. Mary’s, a co-ed Catholic school in Papiri, a town in the neighboring state of Niger.

It was first reported that 227 people were abducted, but that number has since risen to 303 students – between the ages of eight and 18 – and 12 teachers, surpassing the notorious mass abduction of 276 female students in Chibok in 2014.