REPS CALL FOR SUSPENSION OF NEW TAX LAW OVER ALTERATION CONTROVERSY By EgbemaVoice, The House of Representatives has formally urged the Federal Government to suspend the planned implementation of the new Tax Law scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025. The call follows mounting concerns and public debate over alleged alterations to the law after its passage by the National Assembly. Lawmakers noted that the controversy surrounding the tax reforms has created confusion among citizens, businesses, and key stakeholders, particularly regarding the authenticity of the version being circulated. According to the House, proceeding with implementation under such uncertainty could undermine public trust and weaken compliance. The House emphasized the need for transparency and due legislative process, insisting that only laws duly passed by the National Assembly and properly gazetted should be implemented. Members called on relevant authorities to clarify the status of the law, reissue the au...

By EgbemaVoice, The Management and Crew of Egbema VOICE have extended warm felicitations to the Niger Delta icon and Managing Director of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief (Engr.) Kestin Pondi, on his conferment with the prestigious traditional title of OWENA of Ozoro Kingdom, Isoko, Delta State. The highly revered title was bestowed by His Royal Majesty, Barr. Anthony Efetobore Ogbogbo, Ibuka I, the Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, in recognition of High Chief Pondi’s outstanding leadership, visionary contributions, and enduring impact on peace, security, and development across the Niger Delta region. EgbemaVoice News joins well-meaning Nigerians, traditional institutions, and stakeholders in celebrating this distinguished honour, which stands as a testament to High Chief Pondi’s unwavering commitment to service, excellence, and community development. We congratulate the OWENA of Ozoro Kingdom and wish him continued wisdom, strength, and greater achievements in h...

Nigerian Government approved the air strikes by US: Foreign Minister Tuggar By EgbemaVoice  The Nigeria government said President Bola Tinubu gave the go-ahead for the US strikes against terrorists in the country’s North-Western region.  Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said this on Friday, hours after the US Department of War and President Donald Trump announced the North American nation had conducted strikes against the terrorists. “Now that the US is cooperating, we would do it jointly, and we would ensure, just as the President emphasised yesterday before he gave the go-ahead, that it must be made clear that it is a joint operation, and it is not targeting any religion nor simply in the name of one religion or the other,” the minister said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.  “We are a multi-religious country, and we are working with partners like the US to fight terrorism and safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians,” the minister said. ...

By EgbemaVoice, Dr. Umar Ardo, a former PDP gubernatorial aspirant for Adamawa State, has stated that the recent wave of defections into the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not guarantee the party’s success in northern Nigeria.  He said no governor, regardless of influence, can deliver the region to the APC in a presidential election. In an interview with TRUST TV, Dr. Ardo said he is familiar with the political terrain of northern Nigeria and believes that grassroots voters in the region are not easily swayed by elite political movements.  He said the assumption that bringing governors into the APC will automatically translate into electoral victory is deeply flawed. Dr. Ardo said the North has a history of independent political behavior, and that the loyalty of voters cannot be transferred simply through political alliances or defections.  He warned that overreliance on governors to secure votes could backfire for the ruling party. His words, "Forget about the pres...

By EgbemaVoice, Fresh political intrigue is unfolding in Rivers State as a new report claims that powerful figures close to President Bola Tinubu are allegedly working behind the scenes to frustrate FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s plan to block Governor Sim Fubara’s second-term ambition. According to the report, key figures including Works Minister Dave Umahi, NSA Nuhu Ribadu, and Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma are said to be quietly aligning with Fubara, seeing him as a counterweight to Wike’s growing influence. Sources allege that before his reinstatement after the six-month emergency rule in Rivers, Fubara entered a peace deal—brokered by Ribadu—with Wike and pro-Wike lawmakers. The deal reportedly required Fubara to complete one term only, allow Wike control of LG chairmen, and stay out of 2027 politics. However, after returning, Fubara allegedly began building his own power base, securing support from Umahi (a longtime Wike rival) and Uzodinma, who reportedly sees this as payba...

A Necessary Strike, A Divisive Narrative: Reflections on the US Airstrike in Nigeria By Babaita Idris Olalekan, EgbemaVoice  The recent news of a successful US airstrike in Nigeria, conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian government, marks a significant moment in the long and brutal struggle against terrorist insurgencies in the region. On the surface, this operation represents a tactical victory worth acknowledging. The precision and intelligence required for such actions underscore the importance of international cooperation in confronting threats that transcend borders. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) should be commended for its role in this collaboration. Leveraging external expertise and resources is a pragmatic step for any nation facing an internal security crisis of this magnitude, and it signals a willingness to use every tool available to protect its citizens. However, this necessary military action has been tragically undermined by th...

By EgbemaVoice, Residents of Offa, Kwara State, were thrown into panic late Thursday night after loud explosions rocked parts of the town, destroying residential buildings. This comes shortly after United States President Donald Trump announced U.S. airstrikes targeting ISIS positions in parts of Nigeria. However, it remains unclear whether the military action in Offa was part of the US airstrikes or carried out solely by the Nigerian military. Eyewitnesses reported seeing debris raining down from the sky, suggesting the explosion may have been caused by a drone-delivered bomb. The video footage shows damaged buildings and distressed residents calling on the Kwara State Government to urgently intervene. Some residents questioned why Offa, a largely peaceful town, would be affected by such an incident. “Why would they launch a bomb here?” one visibly shaken resident asked. Another added, “We saw the drone remnants after it destroyed a house.” A member of the local vigilante ...

By EgbemaVoice, Former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has advised the Federal Government to disregard any appeals for surrender from bandits operating in different parts of the country, insisting that the criminals must first be completely dealt with. Babangida made his position known in a post on his verified X handle, formerly Twitter, where he called for a decisive military response against armed groups terrorising communities nationwide. According to the former leader, security agencies should prioritise the full neutralisation of bandits before considering dialogue or negotiations of any kind. He maintained that accepting surrender prematurely could undermine efforts to end insecurity. “While the bandits are pleading for surrender, we must not accept their plea until every one of them is neutralised and eliminated,” Babangida wrote. He added that once this is achieved, individuals he described as negotiators and sympathisers, including Sheikh...

Just In; Nigeria 🇳🇬 federal government Confirms Ongoing US Security Cooperation Following American Airstrikes on Terror!st Targets in Northwest By EgbemaVoice, The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a press release confirming structured security cooperation and intelligence collaboration with the United States, which has contributed to precision air strikes targeting terrorist positions in Nigeria's North West region.

BREAKING!!!! Stop Military Cooperation With US Bombing Terrorists Immediately – Sheikh Gumi Warns Tinubu President Tinubu  By EgbemaVoice, Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has called on the Federal Government to immediately halt all military cooperation with the United States following reported US airstrikes. Gumi warned that American involvement could worsen Nigeria’s security challenges and undermine national sovereignty. Gumi made the call in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday. He said while Islam permits the fight against terrorism, such actions should only be carried out by what he described as “clean hands,” arguing that the United States lacks the moral authority to lead such efforts because of its global military record. According to the cleric, Nigeria made a mistake by allowing foreign powers to play a role in its counterterrorism operations, insisting that “terrorists do not truly fight terrorists” and that such interventions often result in c...

Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries! I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing. Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.   DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Press Statement Christmas: Otuaro Urges Peace, Unity In N'Delta, Hails Tinubu’s Support For Amnesty Programme By EgbemaVoice  The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has extended warm Christmas greetings to the people of the Niger Delta, calling for renewed commitment to peace, unity and communal harmony as the region prepares to enter the New Year. Otuaro, in a message issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Igoniko Oduma, thanked stakeholders, traditional rulers, ex-agitators, youths and communities across the Niger Delta for their sustained support for the PAP and for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He described peace and unity as the bedrock upon which sustainable development in the Niger Delta must continue to be built, urging the people to remain steadfast in protecting the hard-earned stability currently enjoyed in the region. “Peace and unity remain the strongest foundations for sustainable develop...

OPEN LETTER FROM THE CONCERNED ELDERS OF WARRI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY DATE: 24/12/2025 TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, INEC, AND THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC DEMOCRACY UNDER THREAT IN WARRI: ELDERS ISSUE FINAL WARNING OVER INEC's DANGEROUS SILENCE While we extend wishes of a peaceful celebration to Nigerians mostly Christians, it is deeply painful and indeed pathetic that we must again draw national attention to an injustice that has been allowed to fester unchecked. We write as elders who are frustrated, tired and angered by months of restraint, silence and disappointment over the evil and deliberate delay in releasing the final ward delineation result for Warri Federal Constituency. To the Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Security Adviser, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigerian public: this matter has crossed the boundary between delay and dereliction, between caution and conspiracy. What is happening in Warri today is no longer a...

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU INAUGURATES COMMITTEE ON STRATEGY, CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND MOBILISATION FOR APC President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday in Lagos, inaugurated a Committee on Strategy, Conflict Resolution and Mobilisation to resolve conflicts within the All Progressives Congress as it approaches the 2027 general elections.   The committee, which comprises Governors of the party, members of the Federal Executive Council, and other notable stakeholders, has the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Bala Buni, as Chairman, and Muiz Banire, former Legal Adviser of the APC, as Member/Secretary.   Other members include Senator Adamu Aliero, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbduRazak, Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, Governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Bassey Otu(Cross River), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta).   Governors Uba ...

PRESS RELEASE EFCC’s Open Defiance of Court Order, Continued Illegal Detention, and Media Trial of Abubakar Malami, SAN From: Office of Abubakar Malami, SAN The Office of Abubakar Malami, SAN, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, issues this press release to formally alert the Nigerian public and the international community to the brazen, contemptuous, and lawless conduct of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in its handling of matters concerning Mr. Malami. Following the clear and unequivocal court order granted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on 23 December 2025, admitting Abubakar Malami, SAN, to bail on already fulfilled conditions, officials of the EFCC were formally served with the court process. Rather than comply with the authority of the court, the Commission refused to accept the court-backed letter, chased away the bailiff, and insisted on the continued detention of Mr. Malami in blatant defiance of th...

My Fellow Nigerians, As we mark this year's Christmas, may the love of Christ and his message of grace, hope, peace, and goodwill to humanity abide with us all. Beyond the celebration and festivities of this season, Christmas reminds us to reflect on the significance of Jesus Christ's birth and his message of salvation as the Prince of Peace. On this Holy Day, I wish all Christians in Nigeria and around the world a Merry Christmas. I thank God for the opportunity to serve as the leader of our great country, and I pray for peace in our land, especially among individuals of differing religious beliefs. As your President, I remain committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect all people of different faiths from violence. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us also reflect on the many contributions that Christians in Nigeria, as followers of Christ, have made and continue to make toward the progress of our country. The lov...

By EgbemaVoice, 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 explained ...

‎ The Ijaw of Edo State and the Oba of Benin:  ‎ ‎A Historical Examination of Authority, Contact, and Early European Records ‎For centuries, debates have surrounded the ancient relationships between the Benin Kingdom and neighboring peoples of the Niger Delta — particularly the Ijaw. ‎ ‎ One question often asked is whether historical records (including early Portuguese and other European sources) affirm that the Oba of Benin held traditional or cultural authority over the Ijaw communities of the lower Benin and Warri river systems. ‎ ‎This examination synthesizes primary European accounts, historical scholarship, and local evidence to show what the records do — and do not — support. ‎ ‎ 1. The Kingdom of Benin: Power and Reach ‎The Kingdom of Benin (not to be confused with the modern Republic of Benin) was one of West Africa’s most durable pre-colonial states, centered in today’s Edo State of Nigeria. By the 15th century it had formed a centralized monarchy under strong rulers like...

By EgbemaVoice, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has said he regrets supporting President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, admitting that the decision did not produce the outcome he had hoped for. Makinde made the disclosure on Tuesday while speaking with journalists at the Government House in Ibadan. The governor was one of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors — popularly known as the G5 — who openly worked against their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 polls. The group, led by then Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, opposed Atiku’s candidacy over zoning concerns, arguing that the PDP should have presented a southern presidential candidate following the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner. Makinde said his decision to back Tinubu, who was then the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was based on the belief that he would act in the national interest if elected. “I said it ...

By Dare Adeleke At last, Nyesom Wike has been unmasked, exposed; stripped of pretence, and dragged into the unforgiving daylight of public scrutiny. What remains is not a master strategist, nor a political colossus, but a man consumed by appetite, driven by ego, and willing to burn down institutions to satisfy personal ambition. Governor Seyi Makinde’s recent revelations did not merely embarrass Wike; they performed a political autopsy. The findings were damning. Wike did not stumble into betrayal, he engineered it. Unlike Judas Iscariot, who was recruited into treachery, Wike conceived, cooked, and executed a conspiracy against his own party, the PDP, fully aware that Nigeria’s fragile democracy depends on the survival of a credible opposition. This was no ideological disagreement. It was transactional sabotage. Wike set out to weaken the opposition to the point of collapse so he could ingratiate himself with the APC and extract personal reward. The prize was a powerful ministerial ap...

The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has formally welcomed members of the National Assembly who today defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing their decision as courageous, principled, and forward looking. Governor Fubara noted that the lawmakers’ action represents a bold demonstration of commitment to the collective progress of Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole. Those who defected include two Distinguished Senators, Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East) and Senator Barinada Mpigi (Rivers South-East), as well as Members of the House of Representatives: Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Cyril Hart, Victor Obuzor, Blessing Amadi, and Felix Nwaeke. The Governor also commended them for aligning with earlier defectors who had already taken similar steps in support of his administration and the APC. These include Hon. Boniface Emerengwa, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, Hon. Boma Goodhead who joined APC from PDP and H...

By Tessy Ogbemi, The Niger Delta Civil Society Forum (NDCSF) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to apply the same constitutional firmness he recently demonstrated on local government autonomy by directing that the 13 per cent derivation funds be paid directly to oil-producing host communities. The group said the continued payment of the constitutionally guaranteed derivation funds to state governments amounts to a long-standing injustice against communities whose natural resources sustain the Nigerian economy. In a statement issued on Monday in Warri Delta State, the National Coordinator of the forum, Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, reacted to President Tinubu’s directive to the 36 state governors to release local government allocations in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment. He argued that the President should extend such decisive action to the implementation of Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the principle of derivation. According to Kagba...

By EgbemaVoice, Bukuru, Plateau State — A tragic incident occurred this afternoon at Bukuru Filin Sarki Market, where a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps reportedly opened fire on civilians, leaving four innocent traders injured. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the shooting occurred at about 4:00 p.m., following an altercation involving a motorcycle rider alleged to have violated traffic rules by riding against a one-way direction within the crowded market area. The situation reportedly escalated, resulting in gunshots that struck traders who were not involved in the traffic incident. The injured victims were immediately rushed to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment. Their current conditions remain undisclosed as of the time of filing this report. In response to the incident, the Chairman of the market/community promptly proceeded to Sector 5 of the Nigerian Army in Bukuru to formally report the matter and seek immediate intervention. Security presence wa...

' By EgbemaVoice, Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), has commended the administration of Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, describing the state as one of the most peaceful in Nigeria. Ribadu spoke on Monday when he led a federal government delegation, inluding David Umahi, minister of works; Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited; Balarabe Lawal, minsiter of environment; and top security officers to the state as part of the peace efforts to resume oil operations in Ogoniland. “We are here as, you know, envoys of Mr President Bola Ahmed. We are here on a mission to thank you for the cooperation,” he said. “Thank you for working together as one to address some of the challenges and difficulties we all inherited. We have worked as one. And particularly, we are here because of the Ogoni part of Nigeria.