Compilations of top 10 key happenings that you might have missed this Sunday, 14th December, 2025
2027: Tinubu targets South, North-Central for bloc vote
Details have emerged on how President Bola Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress, are building a movement to secure bloc votes from the South and North-Central regions ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Insiders at the APC secretariat said the move was designed to guarantee victory for the President despite growing resistance from some parts of the North.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that the plan, described by one principal party official as a “materialising countermeasure”, began more than five months ago.
The strategy, the official explained, was conceived after intelligence reports indicated potential political threats from the core North and the emergence of the African Democratic Party-led coalition of opposition leaders.
The party chieftain named the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma; National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru; and the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, as the brains behind the plan.
FG eyes N1.9tn from new 2026 development levy
The Federal Government is projecting to earn about N1.9tn from the newly introduced development levy in 2026, the first year it will show up in the federal budget after Nigeria’s sweeping 2025 tax reforms.
Figures in the 2026 Budget Call Circular seen by Sunday PUNCH on Friday put expected collections from the development levy at N1.899tn for 2026.
The projection shows collections are to rise to N2.41tn in 2027 and N3.13tn in 2028, making it one of the fastest-growing non-oil revenue lines over the medium term.
The levy is imposed at four per cent of companies’ assessable profits under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which was signed alongside three other tax reform laws on June 26, 2025, and is scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.
PDP leaders enlist Obasanjo for 2027 comeback
Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as part of moves to reposition the party for a possible return to power in the 2027 general elections.
The factional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, SAN, led other members of his executive to the penthouse residence of the former president at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The closed-door meeting with Obasanjo lasted for 40 minutes.In the entourage of the new PDP leadership were the Board of Trustees Chairman and former Senate President, Sen Adolphus Wabara.
The National Secretary and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja; two former governors of Niger and Plateau states, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu and Sen Jonah Jang; the party’s governorship candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections, and Dr Wole Oluyede, among others.
Aviation growth crashes to 2.88% as airfares soar
Aviation sector growth crashed to 2.88 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, even as passengers grapple with high airfares, latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics have shown.
The NBS Gross Domestic Product report for Q3 2025 indicated that the nominal year-on-year growth rate of air transport fell sharply to 2.88 per cent, down from 30.60 per cent in the second quarter and 57.21 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
Despite the weaker growth rate, the value of output in the sector rose. Air transport GDP at current basic prices increased from N78.71bn in Q3 2024 to N80.98bn in Q3 2025.
In Q1, the sector expanded from N67.28bn in 2024 to N105.77bn in 2025, while Q2 moved from N28.59bn to N37.35bn over the same period.
A quarter-on-quarter review for 2025 shows how volatile the industry has been.
The size of the sector dropped by about 64.7 per cent between Q1 and Q2, from N105.77bn to N37.35bn.
It then more than doubled between Q2 and Q3, with output jumping by about 116.8 per cent to N80.98bn.
NDLEA arrests suspected bandits’ drug supplier in Niger
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State and intercepted multiple consignments of drugs concealed in containers of local black soap and other items.
The suspect, Mohammed Sani, also known as Gamboli, was arrested on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at Anguwan Fadama, Kuta, three weeks after he escaped arrest during a raid on his residence in Anguwan Makera, Kuta.
NDLEA operatives had earlier, on November 20, raided his house and recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
In a statement released on Sunday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said the suspect fled during the operation but was later traced to his hideout through intelligence-led efforts.
He said intelligence reports linked him to the supply of illicit drugs to bandits in the area.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State. Photo: State House
The Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has announced plans to commence the dualisation of 3-3, Nkisi and Nkwelle roads in Onitsha as part of efforts to ease persistent traffic congestion in the affected areas.
In a video circulating online, Soludo, who inspected the area on Saturday, disclosed that residents and commuters around the 3-3 and Nkwelle axis are often trapped in traffic for as long as four to five hours daily.
The governor described the traffic situation as “unacceptable” and said his administration is determined to bring it to an end.
According to him, the proposed road projects form part of a broader infrastructure development agenda aimed at “unlocking” the 3-3 axis through an expanded and interconnected road network that will give rise to a “new Onitsha.”
EFCC denies me opportunity to perfect bail – Malami
Detained former minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Chika Malami, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of denying him the opportunity to perfect his bail conditions, even as he described the conditions as stringent and hard to meet.
His media aide, Muhammed Bello Doka, in a statement on Sunday, said that the commission’s claim that Malami denied himself bail because he has yet to meet bail conditions prescribed for him is incorrect, saying the conditions are a ploy to continue to detain him because bringing federal permanent secretaries under the government’s investigation is not possible.
Corruption: We are investigating ministers, top govt officials – CCB
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB) says it is investigating corruption cases involving former ministers, current top government officials and senior public office holders at both federal and state levels.
The CCB Chairman, Dr Abubakar Bello, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
“We have started investigating high-profile individuals. There is a former minister we have already taken to court.
“Right now, we are investigating another former minister and also a serving top government official.
“I won’t mention names because we are still at the investigation stage. We don’t want to turn it into a media trial,’ he said.
Investors converge on Owerri
Owerri took centre stage in Nigeria’s investment calendar last week as top political and business leaders from within and outside Africa gathered for the two-day Imo Economic and Investment Summit.
The event, hosted by Governor Hope Uzodimma, drew heavyweight participants including Vice President Kashim Shettima, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, former President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, and Minister of Finance Wale Edun
For many of the foreign guests, the summit signalled a rare moment where global attention shifted to the South-East as an emerging economic corridor.
The theme was clear: Imo is pitching itself as a new frontier for capital, energy development, manufacturing, technology and regional logistics
Detty December: Lagos hotels, events sold out as fun seekers scramble for space
Nigeria’s annual end of year revelry popularly known as Detty December has kicked off on a high note with hotels across strategic parts of Lagos fully booked and major event tickets selling out rapidly.
This year’s festivities coming amid biting economic hardship appear to be every bit as vibrant as in previous years as fun seekers returnees and nightlife lovers flood the city for concerts festivals and end of year parties.
We are Christmas ready” – Tonto Dikeh reveals as she shows off her massive Christmas decoration
Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh and her son, King Andrew, are ready for the Christmas season.The mum of one, via her Instagram page, shared a video of her massive Christmas decoration, revealing that they are Ready.
The season hits different when you realise that the birth of Jesus is a Living demonstration of God’s LOVE FOR ME..
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
He did not send an idea, a promise, or an angel—He sent His Son.
“Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). Given. On purpose. For love.The manger was not weakness; it was humility.The cross was not defeated; it was love poured out.
WE ARE CHRISTMAS READY”.
While counting down to her birthday in June, Dikeh had shown off the birthday note she received from her son’s schoolmate.
She stated that the letter is the only gift that holds dear to he heart as she claimed that she cried nonstop for an hour after receiving it.
While marking the New Year, Tonto stated that she is prioritizing her family over everything as she vowed to protect them with her life.
Tonto said she was ready for war if anyone wanted to declare war over them. However, the actress stated that she isn’t stup!d to ignore their foolishness.
