Compilations of top 10 key happenings that you might have missed this Wednesday evening, 24th December, 2025
Two Kano lawmakers die hours apart
The Kano State House of Assembly has been plunged into mourning following the sudden deaths of two members, Aminu Ungoggo and Sarki Daneji, who reportedly passed away within hours of each other on Wednesday.
The first to pass was Ungogo, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, who reportedly died at the Assembly complex after a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday by the Speaker’s spokesperson, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai.
“The late Hon. Ungogo died while in active duty at the Kano State House of Assembly. He is survived by his wife and children,” the statement read.
Speaker of the Assembly, Jibril Falgore, condoled with the family of the deceased, the constituents of Ungogo, and fellow lawmakers, describing the loss as irreplaceable.
“Hon. Ungogo’s death comes at a critical time when Kano citizens needed him most,” he said.Ungogo was scheduled to be buried on Wednesday evening at exactly 6:00pm in his hometown.
I see opportunities, not impediments, says new NUPRC boss
The newly appointed Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has assumed office with a pledge to reposition Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector, boost investments and drive higher oil and gas production in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
Eyesan made this known during her first town hall meeting with the management and staff of the Commission, according to a statement signed by the Head, Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, on Wednesday.
She formally assumed office on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, following a handover ceremony from the immediate past Commission Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe.
Recall that last week, President Bola Tinubu sought and secured the approval of the National Assembly for the nomination of the former NNPCL staff as the new chief executives of the NUPRC after the sudden resignation of the former CCE.
AFCON 2025: Davido wins $96,000 after predicting Super Eagles’ match against Tanzania
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, better known as Davido, has reportedly gained profit after correctly predicting the outcome of Nigeria’s opening match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The DMW Records boss staked a wager on the Super Eagles’ Group C encounter against Tanzania in Fes, Morocco, predicting that both teams would score in the fixture.
His forecast proved spot-on as Nigeria secured a 2-1 victory over the Taifa Stars in an entertaining contest on Tuesday.
A late strike from Ademola Lookman ensured all three points for the Super Eagles and handed Davido a hefty return on his investment.
Reports indicate that he earned a payout of $96,564 (approximately N150 million) from the successful wager.
Nigeria dominated possession for large periods of the match but found themselves trailing after Tanzania took the lead against the run of play.
However, the Super Eagles fought back to level the scores before Lookman’s decisive goal sealed the comeback victory.
The win puts Nigeria in a strong position in Group C as they chase a fourth AFCON title.
2027: Wike promised to hold PDP for Tinubu, Makinde alleges
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday broke his silence on his rift with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, disclosing that their fallout stemmed from Wike’s alleged declaration to “hold down” the Peoples Democratic Party for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Wike and Makinde were prominent members of the G-5 governors who opposed the PDP’s choice of Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate and Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman ahead of the 2023 general election, because both positions were occupied by politicians from the North.
Speaking during a media chat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Makinde said the relationship collapsed after Wike made what he described as a “shocking” declaration during a meeting with President Tinubu, which he said the President neither requested nor endorsed.
Makinde said,
“The real issue was that I was in a meeting with the President. Wike, the President’s Chief of Staff and two others were also at that meeting.
And Wike said to the President, ‘I will hold the PDP for you against 2027.’
Singer Simi flaunts baby bump in Adekunle Gold’s new music video
Nigerian singer Simi has set social media buzzing after showing off her baby bump in her husband Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video titled, _my Love Is The Same_.
In the heart-warming visuals aired on Wednesday, Simi is seen sharing intimate family moments with Adekunle Gold alongside their daughter, Deja.
The video celebrates love, growth and family, with fans describing it as emotional and beautifully put together.
The appearance of the pregnant singer quickly drew massive reactions online, with fans praising Adekunle Gold’s artistry and musical journey.
One of their fans on YouTube, Manny OG, described the singer as a “great legend in the making,” adding that he feels privileged to experience Adekunle Gold in his prime.
Another fan, Yettydlaw, noted that it has been a privilege watching Adekunle Gold’s evolution from the start of his career to the present, while also expressing excitement about his upcoming full orchestra concert.
Lokpobiri urges training for ‘analogue’ ministers as FG goes paperless
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has urged the Office of the Head of the Civil Service to prioritise capacity-building for ministers and civil servants to ensure the success of Nigeria’s push towards a fully digital public service.
Lokpobiri made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during the flag-off of the Enterprise Content Management System at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, warning that many public officials still operate in “analogue” mode despite the Federal Government’s digitalisation drive.
Lokpobiri’s call for comprehensive training comes just hours after the Minister of Works, David Umahi, publicly admitted at a press briefing on Tuesday that he was still struggling to fully adapt to the new digital work processes and would require additional training to effectively operate within the system.
“There are a lot of analogue civil servants. There are also a lot of analogue ministers that you need to train so that this thing will be used by everyone,” he said.
Wike holds end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, will on Monday, December 29, hold his end-of-the-year media chat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The media interaction is expected to provide the minister with an opportunity to review key milestones recorded in the Federal Capital Territory in 2025, as well as outline ongoing and future projects under his leadership.
During the session, Wike is also expected to address pressing national issues, governance reforms in the FCT, infrastructure development, security, and policy directions of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, particularly as they relate to Abuja and its satellite towns.
The end-of-year media chat will bring together journalists from both print and electronic media across the country, who are expected to engage the minister on a wide range of issues, including urban renewal, road construction, housing delivery, revenue generation, and enforcement of development regulations in the nation’s capital.
Observers say the choice of Port Harcourt, Wike’s home state, for the media engagement underscores his continued engagement with stakeholders across different parts of the country and reflects his long-standing relationship with the media.
Just In: Explosion rocks mosque in Maiduguri
An Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) suspected to have been planted in a Mosque at Gamboru Main Market in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital exploded when worshippers were conducting their Magrib prayers at about 6: pm
Sources said, the Mosque usually hosts many people including traders and sellers who patronizes the Gamboru market on daily basis.
Our Correspondent observed that this explosion targeting a worship centre is the latest, as Maiduguri residents had not witnessed any bomb blast within the city.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Keneth Daso phone lines could not be reached at press time.
Why FG can’t enforce illegally altered tax reform laws – SANs
Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, have advanced reasons why the Federal Government should not proceed with its plan to commence the enforcement of new tax laws from January 1, 2026.
In separate reactions, the senior lawyers insisted that it would amount to an affront on the rule of law for such enforcement to begin, despite alleged post-passage alterations to the legislations.
They argued that a law that was duly passed by the National Assembly and officially gazette, could not be enforced if it is found to contain illegal alterations.
It was their position that since the alterations were not done by the legislative arm of the In a blunt and curt reaction, Mr. Mohammed Abeny, SAN, described a declaration by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, that even President Bola Tinubu cannot stop the January 1 commencement date of the new tax law, as “reckless talk and disregard to rule of law in governance.”
Petrol price falls 12.6% YoY in Nov 2025 – NBS
The average retail price of Premium Motor Spirit fell sharply Year-on-Year (YoY) in November 2025, offering mild relief to consumers grappling with elevated transport and energy costs, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has disclosed.
Data from the PMS Report for November show that petrol sold at an average of ₦1,061.35 nationwide, representing a 12.59 percent decline from ₦1,214.17 recorded in November 2024.
However, the report indicates that prices edged higher on a Month-on-Month basis, as the November average increased by 0.86 percent from ₦1,052.31 in October 2025.
According to the report, “The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) for November 2025 was ₦1,061.35, indicating a 12.59% decrease compared to the value recorded in November 2024 (₦1,214.17),” the report stated.
