Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Lagos State Government has announced the implementation of a 5% withholding tax on gaming payouts, requiring licensed betting enterprises throughout the state to begin immediate automatic deductions from customer earnings. Mr. Are Bashir, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, gave the direction in a public notice to licensed gaming platforms, confirming the immediate implementation of the tax system targeting gains made by regulated betting operators. According to the letter sent on Friday, the state has begun to implement a 5% Withholding Tax (WHT) deduction on gaming profits in accordance with current Nigerian tax…

Terrorists on Friday kidnapped three persons in the Kyaram district of the Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what residents describe as a renewed wave of insecurity in the locality. According to Mr. Shehu Kanam, a local resident who verified the occurrence to our correspondent, the victims were allegedly abducted while traveling to Dadin Kowa, a nearby community. He claimed that the assailants are thought to be operating out of forested areas connected to the Yankari Game Reserve in nearby Bauchi State, which he characterized as a well-known criminal organization hideout. “The bandits are operating from the game…

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the demise of the Chief of Naval Operations of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Musa Katagum, who passed away on Thursday after a protracted illness. In a statement published on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed condolences to the family of the dead, as well as officers and men of the Nigerian Navy and the leadership of the Armed Forces. “President Tinubu condoled with his family, officers and men of the Nigerian Navy, and the leadership of the Armed Forces over the loss. “The President…

President Bola Tinubu has urged voters, security agencies, and Independent National Electoral Commission officials to maintain order during Saturday’s elections in the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers, and Kano states. The polls are scheduled for February 21, 2026, just days after Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law. Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, issued a statement on Friday. The president urged political parties, candidates, and supporters to avoid violence, inflammatory statements, and actions that could harm the electoral process. He warned against high-handedness, intimidation, or any acts that could disenfranchise voters or erode public trust, stressing…

The Plateau State Government has set up an independent committee to investigate widespread allegations of misconduct, harassment, and overzealous enforcement by officials of the Vehicle Inspection Office. In the face of mounting public disapproval of the agency’s practices, Transport Commissioner Davou Jatau conducted the inauguration on Friday in Jos. The Vehicle Inspection Office must enforce vehicle safety standards, traffic rules, and roadworthiness requirements within stringent legal and ethical bounds, Jatau emphasized, acknowledging the vital role that the transportation industry plays in promoting the state’s economic growth and social harmony. “The transport sector remains a pillar of our economy, and the…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has began a 24-hour security surveillance operation across Kwara State. Bala Bawa Bodinga, the corps’ Kwara State Commandant, made the announcement in Ilorin on Thursday, not long after taking over as commander. According to him, the new approach was intended to improve public safety and rebuild trust in the state’s security framework. Bodinga clarified that he was deployed to Kwara in response to orders from Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the Commandant-General, to strengthen operational efficacy and guarantee more stringent security for public areas and infrastructure. “I was directed by the Commandant-General to take…

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney says he would rather see Arsenal lift the Premier League trophy than rivals Manchester City or Liverpool this season. Rooney, who played for Manchester United for 13 years, acknowledged that his club loyalty affects his preferences, especially with regard to Liverpool. He claimed he would pick Arsenal over both teams in the race for the championship, even if he acknowledged Manchester City’s supremacy under Pep Guardiola. Despite his choice, Rooney emphasized the competitive nature of the season and hinted that crucial forthcoming games between the contenders could eventually determine the league winner, according to a…

The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has appealed to the public for assistance in locating one of its students who has been declared missing. According to a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Acting Director, Information and University Relations, Dr. Habib Yakoob, the university identified the student as Sadiya Usman, a 100-level student of the Department of Accounting. UniAbuja stated that she “was reported missing after she left her residence at Kontagora Estate, Gwagwalada, Abuja, at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 18 February 2026.” She was said to be on her way to the university’s Main Campus to write…

Ubong Akpan, the lawyer of the former governor of Kaduna state Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has described the raid of the former governor’s home as unlawful and a violation of due process and fundamental rights. Chronicle NG reports that Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have searched the Abuja residence of the former Kaduna governor as investigations into alleged financial improprieties deepen. Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to El-Rufai, confirmed on Thursday that agents of the anti-graft commission carried out the operation at the former governor’s Aso Drive home. “UPDATE: The Aso Drive residence of Malam…

The Ogun State Police Command has decided to arrest and charge a female TikTok user known as Mirabel after she confessed that her previous accusation of rape was fake. Mirabel is alleged to have made the revelation during a viral phone call with social media figure VeryDarkMan, also known as VDM. Mirabel admitted in an audio recording of the conversation, which was released online by VDM on Thursday, that her initial version was false. “Yes, sir, please help me; I am very sorry,” she was heard saying after being confronted with messages she had earlier claimed were sent by her…