Makinde dares Fayose: ‘Bring proof’ over alleged ₦50bn Tinubu payout claims

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December 28, 2025

Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-28 09:00:00

In an update published by PUNCH, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde challenged former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose to provide evidence for claims that ₦50bn was paid to him in connection with the aftermath of the 2024 Ibadan explosion.

Makinde’s camp described the allegation as baseless and insisted government actions around the explosion response were transparent.

The exchange adds to widening PDP infighting and raises questions about how emergency support funds are tracked and communicated in politically heated periods.

PUNCH quoted Makinde’s spokesperson saying, “If he (Fayose) has proof… he should provide it,” while The Nigerian Voice quoted the aide: “He who makes an allegation must provide evidence.”

Echotitbits take: Allegations like this thrive when public finance reporting is weak. A routine, publishable disaster-response ledger—covering inflows, approvals, and disbursements—would reduce rumor cycles and sharpen accountability.

Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/prove-i-took-n50bn-from-tinubu-makinde-tells-fayose/)

The Punch December 28, 2025
https://punchng.com/prove-i-took-n50bn-from-tinubu-makinde-tells-fayose/

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Reps constitution review: new push to tighten how state electoral commissions are appointed

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 28, 2025

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Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-28 09:00:00

Reporting by PUNCH indicates the House of Representatives is advancing constitutional changes aimed at strengthening State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), focusing on clearer appointment criteria and expanded operational powers.

Supporters argue the changes could improve credibility of local and state elections, while critics caution that reforms must also address funding independence and enforcement capacity.

The move fits into a wider constitutional review agenda that lawmakers say targets governance and electoral reforms before the next cycle.

AllAfrica, citing Leadership, listed proposed bills to “provide the criteria for appointing members of the State Independent Electoral Commission” and to “grant the commission additional powers.”

Echotitbits take: If appointment rules tighten but funding remains politically controlled, SIECs may still struggle. Watch whether reforms include financial autonomy and penalties for electoral offences at the state level.

Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/reps-move-to-strengthen-state-electoral-commission/)

The Punch December 28, 2025
https://punchng.com/reps-move-to-strengthen-state-electoral-commission/

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Tinubu’s Eyo appearance puts Lagos culture—and tourism politics—back in spotlight

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 28, 2025

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Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-28 09:00:00

According to PUNCH, President Bola Tinubu attended the 2025 Eyo Festival in Lagos and used the moment to emphasize culture as a lever for tourism and destination branding.

The event, held at Tafawa Balewa Square, also honored notable late Lagos leaders and featured traditional processions that draw local and diaspora audiences.

Stakeholders see the festival’s revival as part of Lagos’ broader push to convert heritage into year-round tourism revenue and global attention.

GazetteNG reported Tinubu describing the carnival as “a great rekindling of our culture,” while The Nation quoted him saying, “The Eyo Festival is a vibrant expression of the rich traditions of Lagos.”

Echotitbits take: Beyond pageantry, Lagos can turn cultural “peaks” into consistent visitor flows with safety planning, transport coordination, and curated diaspora packages. Watch for how the state markets Eyo alongside other heritage assets in 2026.

Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/tinubu-joins-lagos-eyo-festival/)

The Punch December 28, 2025
https://punchng.com/tinubu-joins-lagos-eyo-festival/

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Balogun high‑rise inferno: China‑returnee confirmed among victims as rescue winds down

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 28, 2025

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Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-28 09:00:00

From PUNCH reports, emergency responders confirmed that three bodies—including a China-based trader—were recovered from the rubble of the fire-ravaged Great Nigeria Insurance House near Balogun Market, Lagos Island.

Officials said the blaze, which started on upper floors of the high-rise commercial building, escalated into a complex rescue-and-recovery operation involving multiple agencies working amid structural risks.

Authorities urged traders and nearby occupants to keep off the immediate area as assessments continued, while families waited for updates on missing persons.

Premium Times reported LASEMA warning that “The fire continues to spread vertically,” while Peoples Gazette quoted officials saying teams were working “under challenging conditions because of the building’s height.”

Echotitbits take: Lagos’ dense, older commercial corridors need stricter fire-code enforcement, warehouse-use regulation, and rapid-access equipment—especially for high-rise markets. Watch next for demolition decisions, compensation claims, and the fire-cause investigation.

Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/lagos-fire-trapped-china-returnee-two-others-recovered-dead/)

The Punch December 28, 2025
https://punchng.com/lagos-fire-trapped-china-returnee-two-others-recovered-dead/

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Nollywood mourns as actress Allwell Ademola dies at 43

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 28, 2025

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Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-28 09:00:00

According to Punch, Nollywood actress Allwell Ademola has died at the age of 43, sparking tributes across Nigeria’s film community.

Colleagues and fans have shared condolences and highlighted her body of work as the industry reflects on another major loss.

Echotitbits take: Nollywood’s labour realities—health insurance gaps, irregular income cycles and weak welfare systems—still leave many creatives exposed. Watch for guild-led welfare reforms and more structured support funds.

Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/icyimi-nollywood-actress-allwell-ademola-dies-at-43/)

The Punch 2025-12-28

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Myanmar’s junta pushes election plan amid five-year civil conflict

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 28, 2025

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Photo Credit: RFI
2025-12-28 09:00:00

In an update published by Punch, Myanmar’s military authorities said they intend to press ahead with an election plan, coming after roughly five years of civil conflict and political turbulence.

Opposition groups and several international observers have questioned whether the conditions for a credible vote exist amid security operations, detentions, and restrictions on political activity.

Echotitbits take: Elections in conflict settings often become legitimacy contests rather than dispute-resolution tools. Watch who is allowed to register, independent monitoring access, and whether violence intensifies around campaign periods.
https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20251223-myanmar-junta-stages-election-after-five-years-of-civil-war
Source: RFI — December 28, 2025 (https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20251223-myanmar-junta-stages-election-after-five-years-of-civil-war)

RFI 2025-12-28

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Ghana arrests 141 Nigerians in cybercrime sweep, reigniting cross‑border fraud debate

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 28, 2025

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Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-28 09:00:00

Reporting by Punch indicates Ghanaian authorities arrested 141 Nigerians in a crackdown linked to suspected cybercrime activity.

The arrests highlight intensifying regional pressure on online fraud networks and the diplomatic sensitivities that follow large-scale detentions of foreign nationals.

Echotitbits take: This will test consular response and law‑enforcement cooperation. Watch for public charge sheets, verified victim counts, and whether both countries set up stronger joint cybercrime tasking rather than periodic raids.

Source: The Punch — December 27, 2025 (https://punchng.com/ghana-arrests-141-nigerians-over-cybercrime/)

The Punch 2025-12-27

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Tinubu backs US precision strike on Sokoto terror camps as debris sparks questions

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 28, 2025

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Photo Credit: The Nation
2025-12-28 09:00:00

According to The Nation, President Bola Tinubu approved a US precision air strike targeting terrorist camps in Sokoto State, in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

The report situates the operation within a broader push to degrade armed groups operating in remote border and forest areas.

TheCable’s newspaper review said US congressman Riley Moore claimed the strikes “prevented planned Christmas attacks,” and also noted government statements that debris from precision‑guided munitions fell in parts of Sokoto and Kwara.

Echotitbits take: Joint operations raise legitimate questions: oversight, civilian harm monitoring, and whether follow‑on operations actually degrade networks or merely displace them. Watch for casualty transparency, follow‑up arrests, and community reassurance measures.

Source: The Nation — December 28, 2025 (https://thenationonlineng.net/tinubu-okays-us-air-strike-on-terrorists-in-sokoto/)

The Nation 2025-12-28

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FG prepares deployment of 7,000 forest guards across northern states

By

B.O.B Echoload

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December 28, 2025

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Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-28 09:00:00

In a report published by Punch, the federal government said thousands of newly recruited forest guard operatives have completed training ahead of deployment across northern states.

The initiative is presented as part of a wider push to curb banditry and improve security in forested corridors often linked to armed groups.

TheCable’s newspaper roundup said “7,000 newly recruited forest guards… have completed a three-month intensive training programme,” reflecting how multiple dailies framed the move as a new layer in the security architecture.

Echotitbits take: The headline number is less important than command-and-control, rules of engagement, funding, and coordination with police, DSS and the military. Watch whether the programme becomes community-embedded intelligence—or just another uniformed layer with unclear accountability.

Source: The Punch — December 27, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-to-deploy-7000-forest-guards-in-north/)

The Punch 2025-12-27

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IED blasts on Zamfara highway leave travellers feared dead

By

B.O.B Echoload

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December 28, 2025

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Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-28 09:00:00

Punch reports that two suspected improvised explosive devices detonated along a highway in Zamfara State, with early accounts indicating fatalities and injuries among travellers.

Authorities were said to be assessing the scene and casualty figures, while residents raised renewed alarms about insecurity on key routes linking rural communities.

TheCable’s newspaper review noted that “at least nine persons were killed… after two suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) detonated along the Magami–Dansadau road in Maru LGA of Zamfara,” echoing the incident details as they filtered into national coverage.

Echotitbits take: Road insecurity is becoming a strategic economic risk—movement of food, goods and labour is disrupted long before official casualty counts settle. Watch for a coordinated response: patrols, intelligence-led sweeps, and safer transport corridors.

Source: The Punch — December 28, 2025 (https://punchng.com/many-feared-dead-as-explosion-rocks-zamfara-highway/)

The Punch 2025-12-28

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