Raising the alarm in a statement by its Communications Associate, Titilade Alayande, Urban Alert disclosed that illegal mining activities have expanded beyond remote riverbanks and are now encroaching directly into neighbourhoods within Osogbo and surrounding communities, posing threats to lives, property and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove.

According to the group, affected areas include Aberensise Community in Akinlade Estate, Ilesa Garage area of Osogbo; Ifesowapo Community in Ajigun area along Owo–Eba Ilesa Road; and Olojaibala Community in Atakumosa West Local Government Area.

Urban Alert warned that large portions of these communities have reportedly been taken over by illegal miners, with operations threatening homes, farmlands and residents’ safety. The organisation noted that the activities have resulted in land degradation, destruction of farmlands, fear among residents, and contamination of water sources, especially given the proximity of the affected communities to the Osun River.

The group said the development represents a disturbing shift, as residents now view illegal mining not as a distant upstream problem but as an immediate neighbourhood emergency.

Read Also: Survival gets tougher in Osun, as electricity supply worsens

Urban Alert expressed concern that despite previous assurances by the Federal and Osun State governments on the safety of the Osun River, illegal miners have resurfaced and expanded their operations. It argued that periodic raids are ineffective without sustained surveillance, prosecution of offenders, dismantling of mining networks and removal of equipment and financiers enabling repeated re-entry.

The organisation revealed that it has received multiple distress calls and field reports indicating that residents feel powerless to confront the miners due to fear of intimidation and reprisals. In several accounts, residents alleged that miners often arrive in large numbers, accompanied by aggressive hoodlums, and operate with apparent disregard for local authority.

Urban Alert further expressed alarm over persistent claims by illegal operators that they enjoy backing from influential individuals, including alleged support from traditional institutions. It added that recent satellite imagery shows mining activities dangerously close to the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

Describing the situation as an unacceptable escalation, the organisation warned that continued illegal mining around water bodies and residential zones poses serious threats to human safety, cultural heritage and traditional beliefs.

Urban Alert called on the Osun State Government, relevant federal agencies and security institutions to take urgent and decisive action, including sealing off illegal mining sites, removing equipment, arresting and prosecuting operators, and providing transparent public updates on prosecutions.

It also urged the government to conduct an independent environmental assessment of the Osun River corridor around Osogbo and ensure continuous monitoring, with publicly available findings and protection for whistleblowers and threatened residents.

The Urban Alert advised affected communities to document incidents safely, report intimidation through confidential channels, avoid confrontation with armed groups and strengthen community-based reporting mechanisms.

The post Illegal Gold Miners Take Over Osogbo Communities, Threaten Residents, Osun Grove — Urban Alert appeared first on Afinju FM.

This followed the inauguration of an 18-member committee by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), on Reclaiming Ungoverned Spaces for Economic Viability and the Repositioning of the Nigerian Legion corps of Commissionaires and Veterans, at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.

A statement by the Ministry’s Deputy Director of Information, Enderline Chukwu unbehalf of the Director Information and Public Relations, said the committee was inaugurated at the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Abuja, with the minister represented by the Permanent Secretary, Richard Pheelangwa.

Musa said the repositioning of the Nigeria Legion was part of a broader government commitment to ensure that veterans who have served the nation with honour are not left behind but are empowered to live dignified and productive lives after service.

The Minister described the initiative as a deliberate and strategic policy intervention designed to address long-standing structural and operational challenges that have limited the contribution of the defence community to national development.

He described Nigeria Legion as “a critical institution with a proud history of service, sacrifice and patriotism”, noted that it has continued to play important roles in supporting national security and veterans affairs, and that evolving socio-economic realities makes it imperative to reform and reposition the corps for greater relevance and sustainability.

The post FG to Engage Military Retirees to Reclaim Ungovern Spaces, Strengthen National Security appeared first on Afinju FM.

The move, which is part of education reforms targeted at repositioning Nigeria’s education sector aims to ease the financial burden on families.

The policy was jointly issued by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Suiwaba Sai’d.

Under the new framework, schools are required to adopt standardised and durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years. The policy also expressly prohibits the practice of bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks, a move intended to ensure that learning materials can be reused over multiple academic sessions.

They added that the Federal Government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar nationwide to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning.

As part of efforts to curb unnecessary expenses, the policy streamlines graduation ceremonies in schools. According to the new guidelines, only pupils and students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) will be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies.

The ministers said the policy further strengthens the assessment, selection, and quality assurance of textbooks and instructional materials nationwide. The reforms address long-standing concerns about frequent but superficial textbook revisions, weak ranking standards, and practices that force parents to purchase new textbooks annually without meaningful improvements in content.

A major feature of the framework is the introduction of structured and substantive revision cycles. Under the policy, textbook updates must reflect clear improvements in content rather than minor changes in layout or pagination, helping to extend the lifespan of approved textbooks and ensure better value for money.

The policy also places limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, in line with international best practices in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania. The government said this measure will improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection for schools and education authorities.

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee the assessment and quality assurance of instructional materials, working with relevant agencies to ensure that only curriculum-aligned and high-quality textbooks are approved for use nationwide.

Read Also: Kano Govt Allocates ₦6.9bn to Roads, Drainage, Education, More

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing education reforms and commended the Universal Basic Education Commission, NERDC and other technical partners for their contributions to developing the policy.

The government also restated its resolve to protect educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for parents and ensure learners across Nigeria have access to quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and learning.

Source: TVC

The post FG Launches Reusable Textbook Policy to Reduce Education Costs appeared first on Afinju FM.

The state government also revealed that the Federal Government has yet to release the outstanding N20 billion balance from the N50 billion approved to support the reconstruction of Old Bodija and the surrounding communities affected by the explosion.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the government clarified that the N30 billion is still intact in the state government’s infrastructure support account with FirstBank, stressing that the funds have not been accessed or utilised.

The statement partly reads, “Following the unfortunate explosion that occurred on January 16, 2024, in the Bodija area of Ibadan, and being aware that intervention funds exist at the federal level for states facing emergencies, His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, Engr ‘Seyi Makinde, formally wrote to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, requesting approval for financial support to assist the state in managing the disaster.

“In the letter dated January 19, 2024, Governor Makinde outlined the immediate steps already taken by the Oyo State Government to mitigate the impact of the explosion.

“These measures included the deployment of earth-moving equipment to aid search-and-rescue efforts; the hospitalisation of injured victims with all medical bills fully covered by the state government; the deployment of ambulances and medical personnel to the scene; and the provision of accommodation for displaced victims in hotels at the expense of the state government.

“The governor then highlighted additional areas where federal assistance was required. These included: clearing of rubble and debris as part of continued search and rescue operations; immediate integrity tests on buildings within the affected axis and demolition of unsafe structures; compensation for owners of affected properties; reconstruction of Old Bodija and its environs; expansion of the emergency response hub; environmental impact assessment; logistics support and reimbursement; and infrastructural development required to restore normalcy to Bodija and surrounding communities after the massive destruction.

The post Ibadan Explosion: Oyo Says FG’s N30bn Fund Unused, N20bn Yet to Be Released appeared first on Afinju FM.

In a statement, Tinubu insisted that the tax laws will take effect on January 1, stressing that the reforms are not intended to impose additional tax burdens on citizens.

Instead, he explained that the measures are aimed at resetting the country’s tax structure, improving harmonisation across the system, safeguarding dignity, and reinforcing the social contract between the government and the people.

“The new tax laws, including those that took effect on June 26, 2025, and the remaining acts scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, will continue as planned,” the president said on Tuesday.

“These reforms are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for our country.”

He called for support from all Nigerians as the tax laws would take effect in a few days.

“Our administration is aware of the public discourse surrounding alleged changes to some provisions of the recently enacted tax laws.

“No substantial issue has been established that warrants a disruption of the reform process. Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures.”

Controversy has continued to surround the newly enacted tax laws following allegations by a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, that there are inconsistencies between the bills passed by the National Assembly and the versions later gazetted and released to the public.

Dasuki maintained that his legislative rights were violated, insisting that the contents of the gazetted tax laws differ from what lawmakers debated and approved during plenary sessions in the House.

“Before you can say there is a difference between what was gazetted and what was passed, we have what has not been gazetted. We don’t have what was passed,” he said.

His remarks triggered renewed calls for the suspension of the tax laws. Opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, as well as pressure groups such as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have condemned the alleged alterations and urged the Federal Government to pause the implementation of the legislation.

Read Also: National Assembly Commences Internal Review of Disputed Tax Laws

President Tinubu signed the four tax reform bills into law in June, in what the government has described as the most far-reaching overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.

The new laws comprise the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act. Together, they establish a unified framework under a single authority, the Nigeria Revenue Service.

Despite facing strong resistance from some lawmakers and influential stakeholders during the legislative process, the tax reform bills were eventually passed and are scheduled to come into force on January 1, 2026.

Source: TVC

The post New Tax Laws Will Take Effect January 1, Tinubu Insists appeared first on Afinju FM.

In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government reacted to a document circulating online that alleges the creation of a multi-agency task force aimed at targeting prominent opposition politicians.

The document claims that a programme tagged “ADP4VIP”, an acronym for Arrest, Detain, Prosecute for Very Important Persons, was set up to aggressively pursue opposition figures, particularly within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), through a task force allegedly involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), under the coordination of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The Federal Government, however, categorically denied the existence of such a programme, describing the allegations as fabricated and a deliberate act of disinformation.

According to the statement, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains focused on its core priorities, including economic reforms, tackling insecurity, expanding trade opportunities and restoring investor confidence.

It warned that attempts to portray lawful accountability as political persecution were aimed at shielding individuals from legitimate scrutiny by law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies.

The statement reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria categorically states that it harbours no plans to unlawfully arrest, detain, or prosecute opposition figures. This clarification is in response to a fabricated document in circulation alleging the establishment of a non-existent multi-agency task force for a purported programme tagged ‘ADP4VIP’ (Arrest, Detain, Prosecute for Very Important Persons).

“The baseless document falsely claims that a task force comprising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser, aims to aggressively target prominent opposition figures without due process.

“The authors of this deliberate disinformation imprudently cite “multiple credible sources” to allege a planned “systematic weakening and neutralisation of opposition political activity,” particularly within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“The Federal Government wishes to state emphatically:

The post FG Denies Plans to Target Opposition, Emphasizes Rule of Law appeared first on Afinju FM.

In a statement issued on behalf of the caucus, the Minority Leader, Rep. O.K. Chinda, said the controversy surrounding the tax laws was troubling and could not be dismissed as routine political disagreement, given the seriousness of claims that the laws were fraudulently altered, gazetted, and circulated to the public.

The statement was jointly signed by Rep. O.K. Chinda, Minority Leader; Rt. Hon. Ali Isa J.C., PhD, Minority Whip; Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki, Deputy Minority Leader; and Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi, Deputy Minority Whip

The Minority Caucus pledged its full support for the investigation, vowing to work with the House leadership to ensure that the truth is uncovered and that anyone found culpable is held accountable.

The caucus emphasised that the National Assembly is the lawful custodian of all legislation passed by the legislature.

It explained that the established procedure for gazetting laws begins with the Clerk to the National Assembly transmitting the authentic copies of duly passed and signed laws to the appropriate federal agency for publication.

“The National Assembly remains the repository of the genuine versions of all laws of the federation,” the statement said, adding that the caucus would insist on transparency and accuracy in resolving the matter.

The Minority Caucus urged Nigerians to disregard any version of the tax laws in circulation that does not bear the signatures of the Clerk to the National Assembly and the President, stressing that such documents did not originate from the legislature and do not reflect the laws as passed.

The post Reps Minority Caucus Calls For Suspension of Tax Reforms Implementation appeared first on Afinju FM.

In an urgent appeal to senior medical professionals and respected elders, posted on X and titled “Urgent Appeal to Avert a Looming Nationwide NARD Strike (TICS 2.0),” NARD Secretary-General Shuaibu Ibrahim cautioned that the nation was on the brink of a total and indefinite comprehensive strike.

The association said the strike would be the inevitable result of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government ignoring multiple deadlines for implementing the MoU signed with resident doctors.

NARD recalled that it suspended its indefinite strike after 29 days of industrial action, following the signing of an MoU with the government.

Under the agreement, the government committed to meeting NARD’s demands within four weeks.

The association, however, warned that it would resume a total, indefinite and comprehensive strike if the Federal Government failed to implement the agreed demands within the stipulated four weeks.

In a statement, the association said, “I write to you at a critical moment for Nigeria’s health sector and the medical profession. As revered elders, past and present leaders, and custodians of the values that have long sustained our noble calling, your voices carry unmatched moral authority and national weight.

“The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors stands on the brink of another nationwide industrial action — Total and Indefinite Comprehensive Strike (TICS 2.0) — triggered by the failure of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Government to honour the Memorandum of Understanding freely entered into with NARD.

“This development is deeply distressing, not only because of its implications for healthcare delivery, but because it represents a breakdown of trust, sincerity, and good faith in government–professional relations.”

NARD emphasised that resident doctors form the backbone of service delivery in Nigeria’s tertiary hospitals, adding that they are overworked and increasingly demoralised.

The association called on senior medical elders to intervene, saying their influence could compel the government to act and avert another nationwide crisis in healthcare services.

“For clarity, the sequence of events over the past few months underscores NARD’s patience and restraint. Following the suspension of the warning strike, NARD issued a two-week ultimatum, which elapsed without any meaningful response from the Federal Ministry of Health or the Federal Government at the last AGM.

The post Resident Doctors Raise Alarm Over Unfulfilled Agreements appeared first on Afinju FM.

The report, titled “Report of October 2025 Revenue Collection Presented at the Federation Account Allocation Committee Meeting Held on 18th November 2025,” was contained in a document prepared by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and presented at the November meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee.

In the section headed “Recovery from NNPC Ltd Outstanding Obligations,” the commission said the debts earlier reported at the October 2025 FAAC meeting stood at “$1,480,610,652.58 and N6,332,884,316,237.13 for PSC, DSDP, RA & MCA Liftings and JV & PSC Royalty Receivables respectively.”

The post FG Cancels $1.42bn, N5.57tn NNPC debt appeared first on Afinju FM.

The charges were filed at the federal high court in Abuja.

The post FG Files 16-Count Charges Against Malami, Son appeared first on Afinju FM.