Category Nigeria News

The Federal Government has temporarily opened Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, measuring 47 kilometres and stretching from the Ahmadu Bello Way junction to Eleko village junction in Lagos State. 

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the opening of the coastal road at an event in Lagos attended by government officials, traditional rulers, and other key stakeholders.

He told the gathering on Friday that the opening of the highway will bring ease to commuters and is expected to end the harrowing driving experience for road users in the Lekki-Ajah corridor.

With Section 1 of the mega road project now opened to traffic, Umahi said the Federal Government has fulfilled a promise to the people.

READ ALSO: [Coastal Road] FG To Charge N3,000 On Average Per Toll Gate, Says Umahi

Last month, the works minister, during an inspection tour of the coastal highway project, assured that Section 1 would be completed and opened to traffic between December 12 and 17, 2025.

The former governor of Ebonyi State said April 2026 has been set aside to complete Section 1.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a project expected to run through nine coastal states across the country.

It will start in Lagos and terminate in Cross River. The mega road project will also pass through Edo, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Bayelsa, and Ogun states.

READ ALSO: Coastal Road To Be Completed In Eight Years, Cost N4b Per Km – FG

The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway has a projected full length of about 700km.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the construction of the coastal road in February 2024. Construction work began on the Lagos axis of the road the following month.

Two months later, specifically in May 2024, President Bola Tinubu flagged off the multimillion-naira project, which will cost N4bn per kilometre.

Umahi said in an April 2024 appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief that the road, which was a subject of controversy over its cost and the award of the contract, will be completed in eight years.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has extended the deadline for the migration of all beneficiaries under the Fast Track Scheme to the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, from December 31, 2025, to January 31, 2026.

Disclosing this in a statement, NCS spokesman Abdullahi Maiwada, said the move was in line with the service’s commitment to deepening trade facilitation, securing supply chains, and strengthening compliance with global standards.

“The extended timeline provides operators with ample opportunity to meet programme requirements and secure AEO certification without disruption to their business operations,” the statement read.

He described the extension as a reinforcement of the service’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and inclusive transition process for all stakeholders.

According to Maiwada, the decision to fully migrate from the fast-track scheme to AEO aligned with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and supported by Sections 108 to 111 of the NCS Act, 2023.

READ ALSO: FCCPC Seals Ikeja Electric For ‘Violating Consumer Rights’

The NIS spokesperson asked all existing Fast Track beneficiaries who had yet to complete their migration to initiate and conclude their AEO applications through the official platform:aeo.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng.

“For enquiries, technical support, or guidance, stakeholders may reach the dedicated helpdesk via [email protected].

“Only companies duly certified under the AEO Programme will continue to access the facilitation privileges previously available under the Fast Track Scheme,” he said.

The AEO programme, he stated, is a globally recognised compliance-based initiative that grants trusted operators enhanced benefits such as expedited cargo release, reduced documentation, lower inspection levels, pre-arrival processing, and greater predictability in cross-border trade.

Maiwada said that NCS would convene another comprehensive stakeholders` engagement forum on December 18 in Lagos, aimed at providing practical guidance on the AEO`s migration process, demonstrating application procedures, and addressing compliance-related concerns.

He said participants would have the opportunity to interact with AEO implementation teams and get access to comprehensive information on programme requirements, benefits, and operational modalities.

“The NCS urges all fast-track beneficiaries to take advantage of the extension period, participate actively in the engagement forum, and complete their transition to the AEO Programme.

“This proactive involvement not only ensures compliance with applicable regulations but also enhances the supply chain’s effectiveness and sustainability, fostering a collaborative environment that benefits all parties.

Former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, on Friday pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge.

Ngige was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gwarinpa.

He was alleged to have awarded eight contracts for supply, training, and consultancy, with NSITF, to the said company to the tune of ₦583,682,686.00 (Five Hundred and Eighty Three Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Six Naira) only.

READ ALSO: EFCC Arraigns Ngige On ₦2.2bn Corruption Allegations

Appearing before the court, the EFCC Counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, asked the high court for a date for the commencement of the trial.

Before the date, he asked that the accused be remanded in the custody of the anti-graft commission.

Counsel to the defendant said his client has been in the EFCC custody for the past three days

He said the defendant is not an unknown person in the country – a former minister – up until a year and three months ago.

Ngige argued that they will meet any bail condition for his client, saying the ex-minister is not in good health and needs to get to the hospital

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, before Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gwarinpa.

He is arraigned on an eight-count charge.

Ngige, former Anambra State Governor, arrived at the premises of the court, alongside a team of EFCC officials, at about 8:10 am.

In the eight-count charge, marked: FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, the former minister was the sole defendant.

According to the charge dated October 31 and filed on December 9 by a team of lawyers, led by Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), Ngige was alleged to have committed the offences while serving as Minister of Labour under the ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

In count one, the defendant was alleged to have, between September 2015 and May 2023, while being the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate.

READ ALSO: Ngige In EFCC Custody, Not Kidnapped — Aide

Ngige was said to have awarded seven contracts for consultancy, training, and supply by the NSITF to the said company to the tune of ₦366,470,920.68 (Three Hundred and Sixty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty Naira and Sixty Eight Kobo).

In count two, the defendant was alleged to have, while being the supervising Minister of NSITF, used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is his associate.

Ngige was alleged to have awarded eight contracts for supply, training, and consultancy, with NSITF, to the said company to the tune of ₦583,682,686.00 (Five Hundred and Eighty Three Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Six Naira) only.

Count three accused Ngige of using his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, is his associate, by the award of eight contracts for consultancy, training and supplies with NSITF to the said company to the tune of ₦362,043,163.16 (Three Hundred and Sixty Two Million, Forty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Three Naira and Sixteen Kobo) only.

In count four, he was allegedly to have used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Olde English Consolidated Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate.

He was accused of awarding four contracts for consultancy, training, and construction by NSITF to the said company to the tune of ₦668,138,141.00 (Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, One Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Forty One Naira) only.

In count five, the ex-minister was alleged to have used his position to confer unfair advantage upon Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa, is his associate.

Ngige was said to have awarded four contracts by NSITF to the said company for consultancy, training, and supply to the tune of ₦161,604,625.00 (One Hundred and Sixty One Million, Six Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Five Naira) only.

The offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In count six, the defendant was alleged to have corruptly accepted a gift to the tune of ₦38, 650,000 (Thirty Eight Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only, through his “organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119), a contractor with NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”

In count seven, Ngige was alleged to have, while being the minister between September 2015 and May 2023, corruptly accepted a gift, to the tune of ₦55,003,000 (Fifty Five Million, Three Thousand Naira) only.

The “gift” was received through his organisation called “Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), a contractor of NSITF, while performing your official act as Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment.”

Also in count eight, the former minister was allegedly to have corruptly accepted a gift, to the tune of ₦26,130,000 (Twenty Six Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) only, through his organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme.

The money was received from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), a contractor with NSITF, while performing his official act as Minister of Labour and Employment.

The Nigeria Immigration Service has announced that its Passport Digital Platform will undergo routine system maintenance, resulting in temporary service disruptions for users.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service wishes to inform the general public that it is carrying out routine maintenance on its Passport Digital Platform to enhance system performance and overall user experience,” the statement by the NIS spokesman, Akinsola Akinlabi, read.

According to the NIS, the maintenance window will run from 12:00 a.m. on 12 December to 6:00 a.m. on 14 December 2025 (GMT).

“During this period, users will experience temporary service interruptions, slow response times, or limited access to selected NIS Passport Services,” the NIS statement, issued on Friday, read in part.

PUBLIC NOTICE!

NIS CONDUCTS ROUTINE SYSTEM MAINTENANCE pic.twitter.com/su2qL0sRVB

NIS called for patience, saying that the exercise is essential to maintaining a secure and efficient digital passport ecosystem.

It also asked users who require assistance during the maintenance period to contact its support team via email at [email protected] or through its official social media handles.

“Our technical teams are working around the clock to ensure full service restoration within the stated timeframe,” the post read.

This comes just days after the Service announced that the activation of temporary complaint-response channels on social media following the takedown of its support accounts.

The service said the new channels were created to ensure uninterrupted engagement with applicants experiencing difficulties with passport and visa processes.

Taiwo Oyedele says banks will be required to request a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from all taxable Nigerians.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms said the move is part of the Federal Government’s new tax administration framework set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

”A taxable person is anyone who earns income through trade, business, or any economic activity. So banks must request a tax ID from taxable persons,” Oyedele disclosed in a video on his YouTube channel on Thursday.

READ ALSO: Customs Extend Fast Track Migration Deadline To January 2026

He cited Section 4 of the Nigerian Tax Administration Act (NTAA), which takes effect on January 1, 2026, which he says makes the possession of a tax ID mandatory for all taxable individuals.

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In this video, we break down the facts around Tax ID and banking, cutting through the confusion and misinformation.

Get a clear understanding of the rules whether you’re a student, worker or… pic.twitter.com/evzSLhis0M

According to Oyedele, the policy has existed since the 2020 Finance Act, but the NTAA now provides the formal legal backing for enforcement.

He added that income earners and businesses already issued TINs will not need to obtain new tax IDs.

“Yes, but with some exemptions. A section of the NTAA requires a taxable person to register and obtain a tax ID,” Oyedele said.

He, however, noted that the requirement does not apply to students or dependents, who will be exempted from needing a tax ID to maintain a bank account.

“This means that individuals who do not earn an income, such as students and dependents, do not need to obtain a tax ID.”

Tinubu Signs Tax Reform Bills Into Law

In January, President Tinubu signed four landmark tax reform bills into law, unifying Nigeria’s fragmented tax system, removing redundant overlaps, boosting investor confidence, enhancing transparency, and promoting coordinated efforts across all levels.

Tinubu described the legislation as a clear departure from previous policies, emphasising that the reforms are designed to ease the burden on working families, small businesses, and low-income earners while eliminating inefficiencies that have long plagued Nigeria’s fiscal structure.

He said the new tax limit forms the groundwork for the Nigeria of tomorrow, focused on unlocking opportunities for all.

The four bills are: the Nigeria Tax Bill (Fair Taxation), Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.

“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet.”