Compilations of top 10 key happenings that you need to know this Tuesday evening, 16th December, 2025
Nigeria’s World Cup dream alive as DR Congo face player eligibility probe
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that it has initiated a probe into DR Congo’s use of ineligible players during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a development that could reopen Nigeria’s path to the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, PUNCH Online reports.
DR Congo eliminated Nigeria from the African play-offs in November after a 4–3 penalty shoot-out victory in Morocco, a result that ended the Super Eagles’ hopes of progressing to the FIFA intercontinental play-off.
The Congolese side has since been handed a bye into the final of the intercontinental play-off tournament, where they are scheduled to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica.
However, their participation at that stage could now be in doubt following concerns raised by the NFF over the eligibility of several DR Congo players fielded during the African play-offs.
Buhari suspected his Aso Villa office was bugged – Daughter
Fatima Buhari, daughter of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that her father, at one point, believed his office in the Presidential Villa was under secret surveillance.
The disclosure is contained in a new book, From Soldier to Statesman:
The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by the Director-General of the Institute for Police and Security Policy Research, Dr Charles Omole, and unveiled in Abuja on Monday.
Fatima, in the book, stated that the suspicion led her and her late father to communicate by writing notes rather than speaking.
According to Fatima, there were occasions when Buhari feared conversations in his office were being monitored, prompting unusual precautions during their interactions.
Insecurity: Tinubu meets service chiefs as military pounds terrorists
President Bola Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the Service Chiefs at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday evening.
The session began around 6:01 pm local time, with the security chiefs arriving at the forecourt before being ushered into the President’s office.
This marks Tinubu’s first engagement with the military high command since swearing in General Christopher Musa (retd.) as the new Minister of Defence on December 4, 2025.
While the official agenda remains undisclosed, the meeting comes amid mounting security concerns, including the ongoing captivity of 115 students kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in November, and the recent approval by Nigeria’s Senate for troop deployment to Benin Republic following an attempted coup there.
Nasarawa gov announces end-of-year bonus for workers
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has announced an undisclosed end-of-year bonus for civil servants across the 13 local government areas of the state.
The governor also unveiled the state’s new public service rules to guide workers in the discharge of their duties.
Sule made the announcement during the commemoration of the Nasarawa State Civil Service Week, held in Lafia, the state capital, on Tuesday.
He, however, said the state government would have announced a 13th-month bonus for workers, but noted that some local governments were not doing well financially and might not be able to do the same for their staff.
Kidnapping no longer easy for criminals in Rivers, says Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed optimism that his administration’s ongoing delivery of infrastructure across the state will reinforce public trust and translate into increased support for President Bola Tinubu.
Fubara spoke on Tuesday during the commissioning of the 5.94-kilometre Ihuowo–Ihuama Road in Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state.
He noted that the road had previously served as a death trap and an epicentre of crime and kidnapping, adding that its completion would significantly improve security and safety in the area.
The governor said,
“This particular corridor of the road in Ahoada East leading to Ihuama was a trap. Kidnapping was at a very high rate along this corridor.
Let me not mention the concern of Eze Okpata (Paramount Ruler), who said our women lost their lives or their babies while trying to access the major road before getting to the hospital.
Go hard after terrorism financiers, Ogun students charge Tinubu
NAOSS acknowledged the incumbent administration’s intense efforts in combating terrorism, insurgency, banditry and kidnapping across the country; dealing with the backers of perpetrators of these criminal elements would serve as a decisive blow to their nefarious activities.
The association, in a statement jointly signed by its National President and General Secretary, Olubodun Olalekan and Adesanya Peter Ifedayo, respectively, expressed concerns over the spate of banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria, and called for more pragmatic steps to halt the menace.
According to the NAOSS, the President Tinubu-led administration would cut the jugular veins of terrorists and block their financial lifeline, if it can bring sponsors and financiers of terrorism and banditry to justice.
Kogi Govt uncovers massive arms cache from criminal hideouts
Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has announced the recovery of a massive cache of arms and ammunition from criminal hideouts, following a decisive joint security operation carried out in the state.
Ododo disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday at the Government House, Lokoja.
He stated that the operation was the outcome of a week-long, sustained, intelligence-driven surveillance by security agencies working in firm coordination with the state government
According to him, security operatives executed a coordinated overnight operation that uncovered a major criminal enclave where a significant stockpile of weapons was concealed.
He said no arrests were made during the raid.
Edo NLC factions differ on planned nationwide strike
THE two factions of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Edo State on Tuesday differed on Wednesday’s planned nationwide protest against insecurity and other national issues.
While the caretaker committee set up by the national leadership of the Union of Comrade Joe Ajaero led by Professor Monday Igbafen pledged its support after what it was said was a State Executive Committee (SEC) of the union.
The Acting Chairman of the Union inaugurated by the affiliates of the NLC after they announced the sacking of the leadership led by Mr Odion Olaye, Bernard Egwakide urged all affiliate unions not participate in the protest saying it was ill-timed.
It’s over for now’ – TikToker Jarvis announces breakup with Peller
TikTok star Jarvis, born Elizabeth Amadou, has confirmed that she has ended her relationship with fellow influencer Peller (Hamzat Habeeb).
Jarvis made the revelation during a live video broadcast on Tuesday, as reactions continued to trail Peller’s hospitalisation following a crash on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos that occurred during a livestream.
Responding to online comments about the accident and their relationship, Jarvis said the ridicule circulating on social media was only aggravating an already painful situation.
“It’s always people will mock me. Because I can see concern about this online. People will mock him.
Stop mocking him. Stop shading him,” she said.
Jarvis stressed that the incident should not be used to judge Peller’s personality, noting that she had never presented him as a bad person.
According to Jarvis, Peller’s challenge lies in emotional regulation rather than ill intent.
“Yes, he cannot control his emotions. He cannot control. That’s the problem.“I can control mine, but he can’t control his. We need to join hands together to help him,” she said.
Confirming the breakup, Jarvis explained that the decision was necessary and should not be interpreted as desertion or hostility.
“Peller is a sweet guy, I do not even want it to end but it has happened. The relationship is not the thing now. It’s not saying ‘Let’s go back to who we were.’
“The solution is ‘Let’s put our heads together to work on him to be better. Not space of we not talking, it is space of this relationship thing, it is over for now,” she said.
Jarvis also appealed to fans and social media users to stop spreading what she described as damaging narratives and ridicule.“Stop your shading.
How is it helping? It’s not helping. Don’t use it against him. Encourage him. Encourage us.
Help us. Stop using our pain to mock us,” she said.
Visibly emotional, she said the online backlash had intensified the distress surrounding the situation.
Jarvis urged the public to focus on gratitude that no life was lost, adding that her foremost concern was the well-being of both herself and Peller.
Police insist no court order restrained tinted glass permit enforcement
The Nigeria Police Force had insisted that there was no court order that restrained the force from enforcing the tinted glass permit, as had been speculated.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja that the order being talked about was to maintain the status quo on the issue.
He said the status quo at the time the order was made was the enforcement of the policy.
At no point did any court restrain the Nigerian Police Force from enforcing the tinted gas permit policy.
“That injunction talked about maintaining the status quo, and I don’t want to go into the technicalities, but it talked about maintaining the status quo.
“At the time that order was given, the status quo was enforcement, not pre-enforcement,” he said.
