Compilations of top 10 key latest happenings that you might have missed this Monday morning
FG declares kidnappers, bandits as terrorists
The Federal Government has officially designated kidnappers and violent armed groups as terrorists, marking a major escalation in Nigeria’s response to abductions, attacks on farmers, and community violence.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, during the end-of-year press briefing in Abuja.
This move signals a shift from treating mass kidnappings and rural attacks as ordinary crimes to confronting them under full counterterrorism measures.
“Henceforth, any armed group or individual that kidnaps our children, attacks our farmers, and terrorizes our communities is officially classified and will be dealt with as a terrorist.
FG approves mandatory drug test for public service applicants
The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing for prospective applicants into the Public Service.
A statement on Monday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, said the approval is part of efforts to address the growing problem of illicit drug use and its impact on national development and security.
He said Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals have been directed to make drug testing a core requirement in the recruitment of new personnel.
The statement partly read,
“The Federal Government has approved the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug testing as a requirement for prospective applicants into the Public Service, as part of ongoing efforts to curb the rising menace of illicit drug use and its attendant consequences on national development and security.
FG declares holidays for Christmas, New Year celebrations
The Federal Government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day.
The government also declared Thursday, January 1, 2026, for the New Year celebration.
The declaration was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the statement, the minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity, to use the festive season to pray for peace, improved security, and national progress.
He further advised Nigerians to remain law-abiding and security-conscious during the celebrations, while wishing them a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
FG to introduce mandatory vehicle recycling fee from 2026
The Federal Government has announced plans to tap into Nigeria’s largely informal vehicle recycling market, projecting annual revenues of over N150bn from 2026, as part of sweeping reforms to modernise the country’s automotive industry.
The National Automotive Design and Development Council disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, with the Director-General, Joseph Osanipin, saying the initiative would be driven by a comprehensive End-of-Life Vehicle programme already approved for implementation.
Osanipin explained that the policy would formalise the recycling of vehicles that have reached the end of their useful lives, turning what is currently an environmental and safety burden into a major economic opportunity.
“In developed countries, when you buy a new vehicle, during registration, you make a payment towards the disposal of that vehicle when it reaches the end of its life. When it gets to the end of its life, somebody has to be responsible for the disposal,” he said.
Lagos to name, shame hotels, vendors who cancel bookings for higher bids
The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to hotels, restaurants, and event venues against unjustified price hikes and the cancellation of confirmed bookings during the ongoing Detty December festivities.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed this in an interview with TVC News on Monday.
He said the government will no longer tolerate vendors reneging on prior commitments simply because they have received higher offers, saying that such illicit practices damage Lagos’ reputation as a leading cultural and tourism destination.
“This is unacceptable and will not be allowed in Lagos.
“If a commitment has been made, especially where deposits or agreements exist, vendors must honour it.
Cancelling bookings for higher bids undermines trust and hurts the image of our city.”
NELFUND: FG spends over N150bn on 788,000 students
The Federal Government has spent over N150 billion on 788,000 students under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund initiative.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, stated this at an end-of-year news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Idris said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had recorded significant achievements across different sectors, especially education.
According to him, 2025 has been a bumper year for targeted and catalytic policymaking and implementation, particularly for young Nigerians.
NELFUND has now supported over 788,000 Nigerian students with interest-free loans and stipends amounting to over N150 billion, and still counting.“
Similarly, the Federal Government’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) programme officially kicked off during the year.
“It is anchored on an investment in a new multi-million-dollar venture fund that will support the creative and digital entrepreneurship aspirations of young Nigerians.
Police arrest man with unlicensed guns, seize firearms in Osun
The Osun State Police Command has arrested multiple individuals in separate operations for unlawful possession of firearms and human remains, as part of proactive efforts to ensure a safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year celebration across the state.
In a statement released by the Osun Police Public Relations Officer Abiodun Ojelabi, on Monday, the arrests were conducted under the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, with a focus on intelligence-led operations targeting black spots and criminal hideouts.
According to the statement, on December 16, Alarape Wasiu, a resident of Olorunsogo community in the Panada area of Ikire, was arrested during a police operation for possession of an unlicensed single-barrel gun and three live cartridges.
The suspect was reportedly unable to provide a satisfactory account for the firearm.
‘Oversabi Aunty’ earns N99.8m in opening weekend‘
Oversabi Aunty’ has recorded a strong debut at the Nigerian box office, grossing N99.8 million in its opening weekend to emerge as the second highest-grossing film of the weekend.
The movie, distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, also ranks as Nollywood’s second highest opening film of 2025, underscoring a solid start in cinemas nationwide.
In a post shared on its official Instagram page, FilmOne thanked audiences across West Africa for the impressive turnout, describing the opening weekend performance as a major milestone for the production.
“Thank you West Africa,” the distributor said, noting that Oversabi Aunty delivered an opening weekend box office figure of N99.8 million, placing it among the top-performing Nollywood releases of the year.
The film’s opening performance highlights the growing appetite for locally produced titles and signals sustained cinema traffic as the year progresses.
Sanwo-Olu swears in speaker’s son, Vinod Obasa’s as Agege LG boss
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, swore-in the Vice-Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Mr Abdul Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, son of the Speaker, state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa as the substantive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area.
Sanwo-Olu, however, described the event as a call to service to the people of Agege and Lagos in general, urging him to prioritise grassroots development and align his administration with the state’s development agenda.
The swearing-in ceremony, also witnessed the inauguration of Toyin Adejimiwa as a Permanent Secretary, held at Lagos House, Ikeja.
Recall Vinod Obasa emerged as the Vice-Chairman of Agege Local Government on the banner of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and was sworn-in alongside the Chairman, Agege Local Government.
Mr Tunde Azeez on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
Kogi govt, FRSC, Military, others battle Lokoja-Abuja gridlock
The Kogi Government, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and other security agencies, including the military are battling to ease the huge gridlock that engulfed the Lokoja-Abuja Road since Friday evening.
Officials of government, FRSC, military, and police manned the road from the Murtala Mohammed Bridge through Koton Karfa to Ozi community near Gegu, controlling traffic to loose the gridlock.
The FRSC Sector Commander in Kogi, Mr Tenimu Etuku said more strategies were being deployed to overcome the gridlock and ease the plight of travellers.
“We have pulled out four fallen articulated vehicles from the road yet the traffic persisted due to impatience by motorists.
They hardly listen or wait for clearance of a route
