Compilations of top 10 key latest happenings that you might have missed this Friday evening, 26th December, 2025
SGF George Akume marries Ooni’s ex-Queen Zaynab
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has officially wed Queen Zaynab Ngohemba, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
The announcement was made public on Friday by a facebook user and member of the Dajoh family, Abraham Double-d Dajoh, via a celebratory social media postQueen Zaynab Ngohemba-George Akume Dajoh.
While the union is reportedly established, the Queen was officially welcomed into the Dajoh family home in Mbakor, Benue State, this December.
He confirmed the union between the high-ranking government official and the former Olori of the Ife Kingdom.
The Dajoh family described the union as “beautiful” and “uncommon,” as they formally welcomed her into their fold in Benue State.
In a statement that quickly went viral, the Dajoh family expressed their collective joy, signalling a significant chapter for the SGF’s household.
Sheikh Gumi criticises US airstrikes in Nigeria, calls for alternative partners
Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has criticised the United States’ recent airstrikes on terrorist camps in north-western Nigeria.
He described the attacks as potentially polarising and detrimental to national sovereignty.
This comes after US President Donald Trump’s announcement that US forces carried out “numerous deadly strikes” in north-western Nigeria.
According to Trump, the strikes were aimed at Islamic State terrorists targeting Christians, and the Federal Government’s confirmation of ongoing security and intelligence cooperation with the US.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the collaboration, which led to precision airstrikes, involves intelligence sharing and strategic coordination in line with international law and Nigeria’s sovereignty.
It emphasised that all counter-terrorism efforts prioritise civilian protection and national unity.
In a post on Facebook on Friday, Gumi argued that annihilating terrorists is an Islamic obligation, citing the Prophet Muhammad’s wish to destroy such groups.
However, he stressed that such action should be undertaken by “clean, holy hands” rather than foreign powers whose past, he claimed.
US strike: Nigeria gave intelligence, approved operation – Tuggar
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has said Nigeria provided the intelligence that led to the United States’ airstrike on terrorist targets in the country and formally approved the operation before it was carried out.
Tuggar disclosed this on Friday while speaking on Channels Television, a day after the US confirmed it had conducted a strike as part of counter-terrorism operations.
According to the minister, the operation was the outcome of ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States and was not motivated by religious considerations.
He said,
“It’s Nigeria that provided the intelligence. I was on the phone yesterday for 19 minutes with Secretary of State Marco Rubio of the United States.
We spoke extensively, and we agreed that I was going to speak with President Tinubu for President Tinubu to give the go-ahead.
Alteration claims: N’Assembly to re-gazzette tax laws, says Reps spokesperson
The National Assembly has directed its Clerk to re-gazette the nation’s tax laws and issue Certified True Copies of the versions passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, following allegations of alterations to the laws.
The decision was disclosed in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the House of Representatives spokesman, Akin Rotimi.
According PUNCH Online, two weeks ago, a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdussamad Dasuki, raised the alarm during plenary that the tax reform Acts passed by the parliament differed materially from copies in circulation at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Dasuki warned that the alleged alterations posed serious legal and constitutional risks, noting that they were not backed by any constitutional framework and could threaten Nigeria’s democratic order.
Akpabio predicts end to banditry in 2026, hails global collaboration
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Friday expressed optimism that Nigeria will overcome banditry and terrorism in 2026, urging citizens to embrace peace, unity, and collective responsibility in the fight against insecurity.
The message was contained in a Christmas statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media/Communication, Anietie Ekong, titled “Akpabio Upbeat Banditry Will Be Defeated In New Year.”
Akpabio said the country’s security challenges would be defeated in the new year and beyond, particularly with renewed collaboration between Nigeria and international partners.
He also called on Nigerians to set aside political, ethnic, and religious differences and work towards a more peaceful and equitable nation, stressing that national development can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace.
FG confirms major tax reforms to take effect January 1, 2026
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the January 1, 2026, commencement of Nigeria’s landmark tax reforms, dismissing calls for further delays.
Following a high-level meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Friday, December 26, 2025, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, confirmed that the final implementation phase—specifically covering the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act—is firmly on schedule.
The confirmation was made in a video via an X post shared by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre, which was sighted by PUNCH Online after the President met with the Tax Implementation Committee led by Oyedele on Friday.
According to Oyedele, the decision to proceed is rooted in the “pro-people” nature of the laws, which are strategically engineered to shift the tax burden away from the vulnerable.
Yuletide: Be obedient, respectful, Fubara’s wife urges Rivers children
Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Lady Valerie Fubara, has urged children in the state to be obedient, respectful and serve as good ambassadors.
She gave the charge while speaking during a special Christmas party she organised for the children at the government house, Port Harcourt.
Lady Fubara told the children to be obedient, diligent and focused on their endeavours.
This was contained in a statement from the government house press unit and sent to newsmen on Friday.
The statement reads,
“I pray that as you come to celebrate this 2025 children’s party, God will keep us in good health and usher us into 2026, and we will gather in love and unity to celebrate again another Christmas party.
“But I have advice for you, the beautiful children of Rivers State, to continue to pray for your State, Rivers State.
I want you children to be good children, be respectful, obedient to your parents, assist your parents and play with your gadgets with caution.
US Strike: ‘Nigeria needs all help to end terror’ – Northern Christian elders
The Chairman of the Northern States Christian Elders Forum, NOSCEF, Elder Sunday Oibe, has faulted critics opposing the reported United States military intervention against terrorist groups in Nigeria.
The Christian elders insist that the country urgently needs all available support to end the worsening insecurity.
Speaking in reaction to growing public opposition against foreign military involvement, Elder Oibe said Nigeria is facing an existential security crisis that requires decisive and collaborative action.
“There’s no gain saying that Nigeria needs help to curb this madness of insurgency, kidnapping and terrorism troubling the soul of this nation,” he said.
According to him, any assistance aimed at restoring peace should be welcomed, provided the Nigerian government is fully aware and involved in the process.“
In whatever way this help comes ,as long as the Nigerian government is in the know ,it is a welcome development.
Couple killed as gunmen attack church in Niger
A couple were killed in southwest Niger this week after armed individuals fired into the air inside a church, locals told AFP on Friday
The incident occurred in the Dosso region of Niger, a Sahel country that has been plagued for a decade by a conflict pitting the military against fighters said to be linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
ACLED, a non-governmental organisation monitoring conflicts around the world, said nearly 2,000 people had died as a result of such violence in Niger this year.
The attack happened in Mailo village at around 11:00 pm on Wednesday night.
Christians were attending mass in the church when armed individuals came in and fired into the air. There was panic,” a local requesting anonymity told AFP.“
A man and his wife ran and hid in their house but (the assailants) followed them and they were killed.”
Another local said some of the churchgoers had fled to neighbouring villages and others had headed for the bush.He said the attackers had made off with cattle.Relations between Christians and Muslims in Niger are generally peaceful.
Suspected jihadists are nonetheless blamed for attacks on churches in the western region of Tillaberi between 2018 and 2021, and the killing of 111 Muslim worshippers in Tillaberi this year.
Tinubu not relocating Nigeria’s capital to Lagos – Onoh
The former southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of forum of former members of Enugu State House of Assembly, Denge. Josef Onoh, has refuted the allegation that President Bola Tinubu was relocating Nigeria’s capital to Lagos state.
One Mohammed Bello Doka has in an opinion article presented a narrative of regional favoritism and “stealth” relocation of Nigeria’s capital through administrative and budgetary decisions.
But Onoh in a statement made available from Paris France, said that while concerns about equitable development are valid in a federation, the claims by Doka were overstated, selective, and misrepresent.
