The Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Ben Enamudu, clarified that Nigerians’ bank balances will not be taxed under the new tax laws. He said the only charge linked to bank accounts is a ₦50 stamp duty on certain electronic transfers, and that the reforms are intended to protect low-income earners.
Enamudu explained that there is no provision in Nigerian tax law for taxing money simply for being in your bank account. The ₦50 fee applies only when money is transferred to another person or account and is classified as stamp duty, not a tax on deposits or savings.
Under the new system, only the sender pays this ₦50 duty; previously, both sender and receiver shared the cost. Transfers below ₦10,000, salary-related payments, and transfers within the same bank (if accounts are linked) are not charged the duty. However, transfers to accounts in different banks will still attract the ₦50 charge.
He also noted that essential items like basic food, medicals, and education are exempt from value-added tax (VAT) under the reforms. Additionally, the tax rules allow rent relief for tenants and clarify that the well-known ₦800,000 threshold applies to taxable income after deductions, not total earnings. The new tax law took effect on January 4, 2026.
The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive set of measures aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in national examinations from 2026 onward.
The new policies, which will apply to examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO) and other examination bodies, are part of ongoing reforms to strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s assessment system.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to the statement, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government was intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to safeguard the integrity of national examinations.
One of the key measures is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation. While all candidates will answer the same questions, the sequence and arrangement will differ for each candidate, ensuring that every student writes a unique version of the examination and significantly reducing opportunities for collusion.
Dr Alausa also reaffirmed the ministry’s strict ban on the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level, noting that the directive—already communicated through an official circular—would be rigorously enforced to prevent last-minute school changes often linked to examination malpractice.
To further promote transparency, the minister said new national guidelines for continuous assessment have been developed for immediate implementation. All examination bodies, including WAEC, NECO and NBAIS, are required to strictly adhere to standardised submission deadlines.
Under the new framework, first-term continuous assessment scores must be submitted in January, while second- and third-term submissions are scheduled for April and August respectively. The timelines, he explained, are mandatory and designed to ensure consistency, data integrity and timely processing nationwide.
In addition, the ministry is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity Number for all candidates. The identifier will enable effective tracking throughout the examination process, strengthen monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification and data management.
Dr Alausa assured stakeholders that examinations would be conducted under strengthened supervision and in close coordination with examination bodies to ensure strict compliance with ethical and operational guidelines.
He said the measures reflect the Federal Government’s resolve to conduct examinations that are credible, fair and aligned with global best practices, while addressing Nigeria’s unique educational challenges.
The minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents and candidates to ensure the successful implementation of the reforms and the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations nationwide. NAN
The United Nations has strongly criticised recent US air strikes on Venezuela and the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro, warning that the action undermines core principles of international law.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the operation violated the long-standing rule that states must not use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another country.
“This is what we are seeing,” Shamdasani said, urging the international community to “come together with one voice” to affirm that the action contravenes international law agreed upon by UN member states.
US commandos, backed by warplanes, naval forces and air strikes, reportedly seized Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the early hours of Saturday. Maduro appeared in a New York court on Monday to deny US charges of drug trafficking and related offences, insisting he was kidnapped and remains Venezuela’s legitimate president.
Maduro, who assumed office in 2013 following the death of former president Hugo Chávez, has long been accused by the United States and the European Union of clinging to power through rigged elections and repression of political opponents. Western governments say corruption flourished under his leadership, with the most recent disputed election held in 2024.
Despite years of documenting what it describes as Venezuela’s worsening human rights situation, the UN rejected Washington’s justification for the intervention.
“Accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved by unilateral military intervention in violation of international law,” Shamdasani said, adding that using human rights arguments to justify such action was “unacceptable” and likely to worsen conditions in the country.
She also expressed concern over a state of emergency declared by Venezuelan authorities on Saturday, which allows property seizures, restricts freedom of movement and suspends the right to protest.
“Far from being a victory for human rights, this military intervention damages the architecture of international security, making every country less safe,” she warned.
The UN human rights office has been monitoring Venezuela from Panama since its international staff were expelled in early 2024.
Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said nearly eight million Venezuelans — about a quarter of the population — required humanitarian assistance even before the US operation. The UN refugee agency UNHCR reported no immediate signs of mass displacement but said it was closely monitoring developments and stood ready to support emergency relief efforts if needed.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has shared data showing welfare participation rates among immigrant households, stating that approximately 33.3 per cent of Nigerian immigrant households receive some form of public assistance in the United States.
The data was posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform on January 4, 2026, as Republican leaders continue to focus on immigration, welfare dependency, and the economic impact of immigrants in U.S. domestic politics.
The chart, titled “Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin,” covers about 114 countries and territories. It details the proportion of immigrant households receiving public support, including food assistance, healthcare benefits, and other government programmes.
According to the chart, the countries with the highest reported rates of immigrant households receiving welfare include Bhutan at 81.4 per cent, Yemen at 75.2 per cent, Somalia at 71.9 per cent, the Marshall Islands at 71.4 per cent, the Dominican Republic and Afghanistan at 68.1 per cent each, Congo at 66.0 per cent, Guinea at 65.8 per cent, Samoa (1940–1950) at 63.4 per cent, and Cape Verde at 63.1 per cent.
On the lower end of the scale, the countries with the lowest percentages of immigrant households receiving assistance were listed as Bermuda at 25.5 per cent, Saudi Arabia at 25.7 per cent, Israel/Palestine at 25.9 per cent, Argentina at 26.2 per cent, South America (unspecified) at 26.7 per cent, Korea at 27.2 per cent, Zambia at 28.0 per cent, Portugal at 28.2 per cent, Kenya at 28.5 per cent, and Kuwait at 29.3 per cent.
The welfare data comes amid a broader tightening of U.S. immigration policies under the Trump administration. In June 2025, a presidential proclamation imposed full and partial travel bans on nationals of several countries deemed to pose security risks, citing concerns such as terrorism, weak identity documentation systems, and insufficient cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.
Under the policy, full bans halted visa issuance and entry for citizens of 12 countries, while partial restrictions limited specific visa categories, including tourist, student, and exchange visas, for nationals of seven others.
In late December 2025, the White House issued an updated proclamation extending the measures into 2026 and expanding the list to 39 countries facing either full or partial restrictions from January 1, 2026. Countries added to the full ban list included Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, while individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority documents were also barred.
Partial restrictions were expanded to include Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These measures affect eligibility for immigrant visas and several non-immigrant categories, including F, M, and J visas for students and exchange visitors.
In addition to travel bans, the Trump administration has pursued stricter visa enforcement. In July 2025, the U.S. Department of State revised visa rules for Nigerians, limiting most non-immigrant visas to single-entry permits valid for three months. This marked a significant change from the previous system that allowed multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years and was described as part of efforts to strengthen security standards.
Overall, the administration has adopted a tougher approach to both legal and irregular migration. Reports indicate that approximately 85,000 visas were revoked in 2025 as part of expanded reviews and stricter enforcement measures targeting foreign visitors and students.
The naira began the first trading day of the new year on a positive note, appreciating to N1,430.84 per dollar at the official market, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The local currency extended the relative stability recorded in 2025, buoyed by improved foreign exchange (FX) supply, sustained CBN interventions, and stronger external reserves. Over the past week, the naira hovered around the N1,440/$ level at the official window, strengthening by N12.53 per dollar, representing an 86 basis points week-on-week gain.
During the period, the naira traded within a band of N1,427.00/$ to N1,445.68/$, appreciating in three out of four trading sessions. Analysts noted that the exchange rate remained broadly stable compared with the sharp volatility experienced in the previous year.
Meristem Securities highlighted that while the average exchange rate in 2025 stood at N1,519.63/$, slightly weaker than N1,486.03/$ in 2024, volatility declined significantly to 0.53 per cent from 4.58 per cent. The firm attributed the reduced volatility to improved FX liquidity and stronger external buffers.
At the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, the naira last traded below the N1,430/$ mark on October 31, 2025, when it exchanged at N1,421.73/$. Market stability has been largely driven by CBN-led reforms, including the rollout of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System in December 2024 and the introduction of the FX Code, both of which enhanced transparency, improved price discovery, and curbed speculative activities.
Nigeria’s external reserves also recorded a strong performance in 2025, rising 10.60 per cent year-to-date to $45.21 billion, from $40.9 billion at the end of 2024. Although reserve accumulation faced pressure in the first half of the year due to foreign debt servicing and FX interventions, it rebounded in the second half on the back of stronger trade receipts, robust capital inflows, and proceeds from Eurobond issuances.
Looking ahead, Meristem projected that the naira would trade within a range of N1,350/$ to N1,528.57/$ in 2026, supported by sustained foreign inflows and resilient external reserves. The firm also noted that planned foreign currency–denominated issuances by the Federal Government, as outlined in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), would further bolster reserves.
Despite expectations of relatively soft oil receipts, analysts anticipate that inflows from gas and non-oil exports, alongside strong foreign portfolio investment driven by improving investor confidence and a potentially dovish stance in developed economies, will support FX liquidity.
Coronation Research echoed similar optimism, projecting the naira to trade within N1,400/$ to N1,500/$ in 2026, supported by higher oil production, reduced reliance on fuel imports, and improved FX liquidity. However, it cautioned that sustained stability would depend on policy consistency, fiscal discipline, and continued reforms in the FX market.
AIICO Capital also maintained a stable outlook, stating that barring any major shift in FX supply, the naira is expected to trade around current levels.
In its 2026 outlook, the CBN reaffirmed its commitment to balancing price stability with output growth, pledging to deploy appropriate policy tools to attract foreign investment and consolidate stability in the foreign exchange market.
Mozambique head coach, Francisco Conde, has dismissed concerns over Nigeria’s star-studded squad, insisting that reputation and big names will not decide Monday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 round of 16 encounter against the Super Eagles.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference at the Fes Stadium, Morocco, on Sunday, Conde said his side would approach the clash with confidence, focusing on collective strength rather than individual Nigerian players such as Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman.
“The strength that we have is a collective strength. We are not thinking about one player alone, either Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman. We will play Nigeria as a whole team,” the former Vitória F.C. manager said.
Conde stressed that pedigree alone does not guarantee success in football.
“Names and jerseys don’t win games. My players have shown that when they played against several other big players.”
The Mozambique coach also commented on the $7,000 cash incentive promised to each player by President Daniel Chapo should the team defeat Nigeria, describing the gesture as a sign of belief and encouragement.
“This is historic. This is the first time we are in the round of 16. We are very happy and satisfied. Our president loves football, pushes us, and believes we are capable of winning this game. That is why he made the promise,” Conde explained.
Reflecting on Mozambique’s journey at the tournament, Conde said his team may lack global superstars but compensates with unity and commitment.
“We don’t have Victor Osimhen, but we have Elias Pelembe ‘Dominguez’, our 42-year-old captain, alongside young players aged 19, 20 and 21. This mix of youth and experience is our strength.”
Team captain Elias Pelembe ‘Dominguez’ echoed his coach’s confidence, insisting the Mambas are not intimidated by Nigeria.
“We are not afraid of Nigeria. Football is 90 minutes and anything can happen. We will fight hard and continue fighting. To dream is free, and we will fight until we cannot,” he said.
Nigeria and Mozambique will face off on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has refused to stop the Federal Government from implementing the new tax laws scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
In a ruling delivered by Justice Bello Kawu, the court dismissed an ex parte application filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the African Initiative for Abuse of Public Trust, which sought to halt the enforcement of the laws pending the resolution of legal challenges against them.
Justice Kawu held that the court lacked the authority to restrain the implementation of legislation that has already been duly passed and signed into law, in the absence of concrete evidence of wrongdoing.
“I am of the strong view that the court lacks power to stop implementation of a law already signed by the appropriate authority without concrete evidence of any wrongdoing,” the judge ruled.
He added that at the preliminary stage of the case, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to establish wrongdoing without delving into the substantive issues before the court.
“Granting an injunction at this stage will amount to touching on the subject matter of the main suit,” Justice Kawu said, stressing that an ex parte application cannot be used to prevent the coming into force of an Act that has already been signed and gazetted.
According to the certified true copy of the ruling delivered on December 23 and made available on Wednesday, the court affirmed that the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and other related tax laws would commence on January 1, 2026, and remain in force pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The court adjourned further hearing in the matter to January 9, 2026.
The plaintiff group had asked the court to halt the implementation of the new tax regime, citing ongoing controversies surrounding the laws. Listed as defendants in the suit are the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the President, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly.
In the motion marked M/17240/2025, the group sought interim injunctions restraining the Federal Government, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the National Assembly, and other relevant agencies from enforcing provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2025.
Although the court declined to grant the interim injunctions, it approved substituted service of court processes on the defendants. It directed that documents meant for the Federal Government be served through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, while those for the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly should be served through the Clerk of the National Assembly.
As the world counts down to the arrival of 2026, not all countries will celebrate the New Year at the same moment. Due to global time zones and the positioning of the International Date Line (IDL), some nations will welcome January 1 long before others — with celebrations unfolding over more than a full day across the planet.
Why New Year Comes Earlier for Some Countries
The Earth is divided into time zones measured from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The International Date Line, which runs roughly through the Pacific Ocean, determines where each new calendar day begins.
Countries located west of the IDL and operating on higher positive UTC offsets are the first to experience midnight on January 1. From there, the New Year moves westward hour by hour until the final places enter the new date.
Kiribati Takes the Global Lead
The first inhabited place on Earth to welcome 2026 will be Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in the Line Islands of Kiribati, which operates on UTC +14 — the world’s most advanced time zone.
When the clock strikes midnight in Kiritimati, it will still be around 10:00 a.m. on December 31, 2025, in GMT, meaning much of the world will still be preparing for New Year’s Eve.
Kiribati adopted this time arrangement in the 1990s to place all its islands on the same calendar day, unintentionally earning global recognition as the first New Year destination.
Chatham Islands and the Pacific Follow Closely
Just minutes later, the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, with their unusual UTC +13:45 time zone, will usher in the New Year. The islands’ midnight arrives about 10:15 a.m. GMT on December 31.
They are followed by Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau, and mainland New Zealand, all observing UTC +13 during the summer period. These Pacific nations and territories are traditionally among the earliest to mark the New Year with fireworks and cultural festivities.
Early Celebrations Spread Across the Pacific
Next in line are countries and territories operating on UTC +12, including Fiji, Nauru, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, parts of Kiribati, and sections of far-eastern Russia such as Kamchatka. Their New Year begins around 12:00 noon GMT on December 31.
From there, the celebrations roll into UTC +11 regions, including Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and eastern Australia — where cities like Sydney and Melbourne host some of the world’s most watched fireworks displays.
Asia, Europe and Africa Enter 2026 Later
By mid-afternoon GMT, the New Year reaches Japan, the Korean Peninsula, China, Southeast Asia, and later South Asia, including India and Sri Lanka.
Europe and Africa follow hours later. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Ghana, which observe UTC 0, officially enter 2026 at midnight GMT, while much of mainland Europe celebrates one to two hours afterward.
The Last Places to Welcome 2026
At the opposite end of the globe, American Samoa, operating on UTC −11, will be the last inhabited territory to celebrate New Year 2026.
Technically, the very last places on Earth to reach January 1 are Baker and Howland Islands (UTC −12), but these locations are uninhabited.
First and Last at a Glance
First inhabited place: Kiritimati, Kiribati (UTC +14)
Other early celebrants: Chatham Islands, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand
Last inhabited place: American Samoa (UTC −11)
A Global Celebration Stretched Over 26 Hours
Although New Year is marked everywhere at local midnight, the global celebration spans more than 26 hours from the first time zone to the last. This unique progression is why Pacific island nations often dominate early New Year headlines, symbolising the world’s first step into a new calendar year.
As 2026 approaches, while fireworks light up skies in the Pacific, much of the rest of the world will still be counting down — a reminder of how time, geography, and global coordination shape one shared moment differently across the planet.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured their place in the round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON topping Group C after back-to-back wins over Tanzania and Tunisia.
The Super Eagles then capped their group campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory against Uganda, ensuring nine points from three matches and confirming their status as group winners.
With that, their spot in the knockout stage was already guaranteed, and the final win served to maintain momentum ahead of the last-16 clash.
With Angola eliminated from contention as one of the best third-placed teams, Nigeria will now face the third-place finisher from Group F in the round of 16.
The match is scheduled for Monday night, January 5, at the Fez Stadium, the same venue Nigeria have used throughout the group stage.
Attention now turns to Group F, where Cameroon and Mozambique meet in Agadir on Wednesday evening to decide who finishes third.
Mozambique currently hold third place after a historic 3–2 victory over Gabon on Sunday, giving them three points. Cameroon also have three points but boast a slightly better goal difference.
Ivory Coast, the defending champions, top the group and will face already-eliminated Gabon in Marrakesh. While it is theoretically possible for them to drop to third, this outcome seems highly unlikely. Mozambique would secure third place — and the matchup with Nigeria — even with a draw or defeat against Cameroon, while Cameroon must avoid losing to claim that spot.
With Group F’s final standings to be confirmed on Wednesday, the Super Eagles can focus on maintaining their winning form, knowing they will face either Cameroon or Mozambique in the round of 16 at Fez.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested two suspects in connection with the Christmas Eve bomb explosion that killed five people and injured 32 others at a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, Borno State.
The attack occurred when a suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) inside the mosque during prayers.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, intelligence sources revealed that the attack was jointly coordinated by terrorist factions including Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), Ansaru, and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
The report disclosed that a Boko Haram cell led by Munzir Abu Ziyadah, a notorious IED specialist, allegedly prepared up to ten person-borne improvised explosive devices (PBIEDs) at the Ali Ngulde camp axis of Borno State. The terrorists reportedly moved through the Ngoshe Mountains into Gazuwa and Ngom communities ahead of the planned attacks, one of which culminated in the deadly mosque bombing.
Makama reported that troops of Operation Hadin Kai arrested the first suspect on Monday evening in Banki town, Borno State, during intelligence-led patrols. The suspect was said to have been intercepted with primed IED components.
The second suspect, identified as Ibrahim, was arrested in Damaturu, Yobe State, through collaboration between security operatives and a local hunters’ group. He was subsequently transferred to Maiduguri for further interrogation.
During questioning, Ibrahim reportedly led investigators to the Izala Mosque in the Tashan Joni area of Maiduguri, where he claimed to have abandoned a bag containing an IED after failing to get close enough to detonate it. However, security operatives were unable to locate the bag at the site.
Further interrogation reportedly led Ibrahim to confess that he played an accomplice role in the Gamboru Market mosque bombing. He admitted to planting an explosive device in a bag at the mosque entrance on Christmas Eve, while his accomplice, Adamu, now deceased, entered the mosque wearing a suicide vest and detonated it.
The suspect also confessed that six suicide bombers were deployed to Maiduguri ahead of the attack under the coordination of a terror kingpin. He reportedly identified three of the bombers — Salisu, Yusuf, and Adamu — as residents of Maiduguri, while the remaining three — Adamu, Yusuf, and Abdullahi — were said to be from Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The publication further revealed that a security sweep along the Cameroon–Nigeria border led to the interception of a Peugeot vehicle conveying six bags of urea fertiliser, a key component used in the manufacture of IEDs.
The driver and the consignment were taken into custody, while follow-up operations resulted in the arrest of the fertiliser dealer and the recovery of an additional six bags of urea fertiliser.
