Ghana deports 42 Nigerians as enforcement tightens in Ashanti Region

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December 22, 2025

Photo credit: The Punch

2025-12-22 09:40:00

According to BusinessDay-linked reports and local Ghanaian coverage, Ghanaian authorities in the Ashanti Region deported at least 42 Nigerians following court rulings tied to alleged offences including prostitution and fraud-related activities.

The development is being framed as part of immigration enforcement, where prosecutions and deportations can run together—especially when public pressure builds around crime narratives involving foreign nationals.

For Nigerians in Ghana, episodes like this often trigger wider backlash, tighter profiling, and higher compliance costs—even for lawful residents and small business operators.

ModernGhana reported that “Those deported comprise 42 Nigerians,” while other Nigerian outlets said the deportations followed “court rulings” connected to the alleged offences.

Echotitbits take: This will inflame the usual Nigeria–Ghana social media wars, but the real issue is legal protection and diplomacy. Watch for Nigeria’s consular response, and whether Ghana frames this as targeted enforcement—or a broader crackdown likely to expand.

Source: Punch — Dec 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/ghana-deports-42-nigerians-for-prostitution-others/)

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Yuletide travel fares: FCCPC warns transport operators against unjustified hikes

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 22, 2025

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Photo credit: The Nation

2025-12-22 10:15:00

According to The Nation, the FCCPC is warning inter-city transport operators against unjustified festive-season fare spikes and consumer exploitation.

The warning signals a more assertive consumer-protection posture in a period when demand surges and informal pricing practices can become normalised—especially for travellers with limited alternatives.

But enforcement is the hard part: fare pricing is fragmented across parks, unions, and route operators, so deterrence often depends on visible sanctions and rapid complaint resolution.

The Guardian also described the warning as a check on “arbitrary fare hikes,” while Nairametrics carried similar caution aimed at inter-city operators.

Echotitbits take: If FCCPC wants this to land, it must publish complaint hotlines, name-and-shame repeat offenders, and coordinate with state transport ministries and park leadership. Watch for whether any operator is actually sanctioned this week.

Source: The Nation — Dec 22, 2025 (https://thenationonlineng.net/yuletide-fccpc-warns-transport-operators-against-arbitrary-fare-hikes/)

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Eyo season message: Tinubu urges calm celebration and warns against alcohol-fuelled disorder

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 22, 2025

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Photo credit: The Nation

2025-12-22 09:00:00

In a statement reported by *The Nation*, President Bola Tinubu has urged Eyo festival organisers and participants to keep the celebration peaceful, specifically cautioning against alcohol-fuelled disorder and any conduct that risks lives.

The message comes as Lagos ramps up “Detty December” activity—when concerts, tourism, and street festivals raise both economic activity and public safety concerns.

Tinubu’s appeal frames the Eyo festival as a shared civic moment, with organisers expected to manage crowd behaviour and ensure the cultural event doesn’t become a security problem.

With Lagos drawing visitors, the festival’s handling will influence perceptions of the city’s readiness for large-scale public events—especially amid ongoing national security pressures.

Legit.ng quoted Tinubu’s warning: “Stay in peace… No alcohol, no danger to anybody’s life,” while a post attributed to presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga also amplified the “No liquor” message in the context of keeping the festival calm and safe.

**Echotitbits take:** Lagos’ festive season is now an economic asset—so security, crowd control, and emergency readiness are part of protecting livelihoods. Watch for policing plans, traffic control, and whether organisers enforce rules without turning the festival into a flashpoint.

Source: The Nation — December 22, 2025 (https://thenationonlineng.net/sanwo-olu-promises-memorable-eyo-festival/)

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Budget pressure: FG projects ₦60.97tn oil revenue for 2026 on tighter assumptions

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 22, 2025

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Photo credit: The Punch

2025-12-22 09:00:00

An analysis published by *The Punch* says the Federal Government is projecting about ₦60.97 trillion in oil revenue for 2026—lower than the prior year’s expected oil take—reflecting more cautious assumptions on price and output.

The projection is tied to the 2026 Appropriation framework and the administration’s budget posture, where debt service, capital expenditure, and security spending are competing heavily for limited revenues.

Analysts note that oil revenue forecasts are especially sensitive to production disruptions, theft, and global price swings—meaning fiscal planning can change quickly if any variable moves.

The broader implication is clear: if oil underperforms, the pressure shifts to non-oil revenues, borrowing, and reforms—each with political and economic trade-offs.

Reuters reported the budget assumes “a crude oil price of $64.85 per barrel” with output around “1.84 million barrels per day,” while *The Guardian (Nigeria)* similarly stated the plan is built on a “$64.85 per barrel oil benchmark” and “1.84 million barrels per day” production assumption.

**Echotitbits take:** Conservative oil assumptions are good discipline—but only if the government actually delivers non-oil revenue growth. Watch for tax admin upgrades, customs efficiency, and whether production targets improve without new leakage.

Source: The Punch — December 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-projects-lower-n60-97tn-oil-revenue-for-2026/)

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Borno ambush: Operation Hadin Kai disrupts insurgent logistics in Konduga corridor

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 22, 2025

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Photo credit: Vanguard

2025-12-22 09:00:00

According to *Vanguard*, troops under Operation Hadin Kai, working with local vigilantes, carried out a coordinated long-range ambush in Borno State that disrupted insurgent logistics and led to multiple fatalities among the attackers.

The report says the action took place around movement routes between communities in Konduga LGA, a corridor often linked to insurgent resupply and tactical repositioning.

Security sources frame the operation as part of continuing “kinetic” efforts to degrade logistics chains—targeting movement, not just fixed camps.

While claims of battlefield success are frequent, residents and humanitarian watchers typically look for what follows: reduced attacks, safer roads, and sustained presence after the headlines.

Channels TV reported the operation “successfully disrupted a terrorist logistics operation,” while AllAfrica’s recap also described a “well-coordinated ambush” that neutralised insurgents—echoing the operational account carried by Vanguard.

**Echotitbits take:** Tactical wins matter, but civilians measure security by continuity. Watch whether follow-on operations clear and hold the corridor, whether displaced communities can return safely, and whether authorities communicate transparently about casualties and recovery.

Source: Vanguard — December 22, 2025 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/again-troops-of-operation-hadin-kai-kill-17-terrorists-in-coordinated-ambush/)

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Yule travel boost: FG temporarily opens Bodo–Bonny Road to ease movement

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 22, 2025

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Photo credit: The Punch

2025-12-22 09:00:00

According to *The Punch*, the Federal Government has temporarily opened the Bodo–Bonny Road corridor to ease movement for residents during the yuletide period, offering partial relief on a long-awaited route.

The opening is being framed as a humanitarian and economic lift for communities whose travel and commerce have been constrained for years by difficult terrain and limited road access.

Authorities say the temporary access is meant to improve safety and reduce travel bottlenecks, even as construction continues toward full completion.

For residents and businesses, the real benefit is time-cost: faster transport can lower prices of goods, shorten emergency response times, and improve local trade flow.

A Ministry of Information/official government release described the road as “temporarily opens, connecting communities and commerce,” while *The Guardian (Nigeria)* also reported the project as a major yuletide milestone and quoted the framing around safer travel on the legacy route.

**Echotitbits take:** Temporary openings are good headlines—but the public will judge by durability. Watch the restrictions (hours/vehicle types), security presence, and whether the final completion timeline holds in early 2026.

Source: The Punch — December 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-opens-bodo-bonny-road-ahead-of-yuletide/)

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Diaspora fraud case: Nigerian among six charged in $41m US stock manipulation probe

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B.O.B Echoload

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December 22, 2025

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Photo credit: The Punch

2025-12-22 09:00:00

A report by *The Punch* says US authorities have indicted a Nigerian and five others over an alleged $41 million insider trading and market manipulation scheme spanning multiple deals and tactics.

The allegations include using material non-public information, creating misleading narratives for investors, and manipulating stocks linked to healthcare/biopharma names—according to the prosecutorial outline.

If proven, the case underscores how cross-border financial crimes often blend insider access, digital coordination, and rapid trading to move money before investigators can react.

For diaspora communities, such prosecutions can carry reputational spillover—especially when defendants are described as dual nationals and the story spreads widely on social platforms.

The US Department of Justice press release quoted prosecutors saying the defendants engaged in “insider trading and market manipulation on a massive scale,” while the related court complaint states they “did knowingly and intentionally conspire… to commit securities fraud.”

**Echotitbits take:** This is a reminder that global finance enforcement is increasingly data-driven and cross-jurisdictional. Watch for whether SEC civil actions follow, asset-freeze efforts expand, and whether any defendants fight extradition or challenge evidence chains.

Source: The Punch — December 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/nigerian-five-others-indicted-in-41m-us-stock-market-fraud/)

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US tariff shock: Nigeria’s export earnings take a hit as trade gap risks widen

By

B.O.B Echoload

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December 22, 2025

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Photo credit: The Punch

2025-12-22 09:00:00

Figures cited by *The Punch* show Nigeria’s exports to the United States have taken a major hit in the wake of higher US tariffs, with the report estimating a roughly ₦1tn-scale export loss and a sharper trade imbalance.

The data-driven argument is that once tariffs rise, marginal cargoes—especially non-oil shipments—lose competitiveness quickly, while buyers switch to alternative suppliers.

Economists warn that tariff pressure can ripple beyond customs: export earnings affect FX inflows, port activity, manufacturing orders, and jobs tied to the export chain.

The story also revives an old weakness—Nigeria’s narrow export basket—where shocks to market access translate fast into national revenue and FX volatility.

BusinessDay reported that “Nigerian exports to the United States will now attract a 15 percent tariff,” while Nigeria Info FM similarly reported exports “will now face a 15% tariff” following an executive order—supporting the tariff-change backbone of the Punch analysis.

**Echotitbits take:** The policy response can’t be vibes: Nigeria must diversify export destinations, improve standards compliance, and negotiate carve-outs where possible. Watch for whether Abuja pursues targeted trade diplomacy—or quietly absorbs the loss and shifts focus to other markets.

Source: The Punch — December 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/nigeria-suffers-nearly-n1tn-export-loss-after-trump-tariff/)

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Dangote petrol rollout: ₦739/litre hits MRS outlets as supply test begins

By

B.O.B Echoload

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December 22, 2025

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Photo credit: The Punch
2025-12-22 09:00:00

In an update published by *The Punch*, Dangote Refinery has begun a nationwide petrol price rollout tied to its distribution arrangement with MRS Oil outlets, putting pump price at about ₦739 per litre in participating stations.

The move is being positioned as a stabilisation push—aimed at reducing downstream volatility, narrowing price dispersion across regions, and increasing locally refined supply into retail channels.

Market watchers say the real test will be continuity of supply and whether other marketers match the pricing—especially in high-transport-cost corridors where pump prices typically climb.

For consumers, the announcement lands as a pocketbook story: transport costs, food logistics, and small-business energy spending often respond quickly to fuel pricing shifts.

Channels TV reported Dangote’s statement that “Starting from Tuesday, MRS will start selling petrol at N739/litre,” while Vanguard also reported the refinery “commenced nationwide sales… at a pump price of N739 per litre” via MRS outlets.

**Echotitbits take:** This is not just a price headline—it’s a supply-chain stress test. Watch for (1) sustained volumes, (2) whether queues return, and (3) how regulators respond if pricing triggers new tension among marketers.

Source: The Punch — December 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/dangote-launches-n739-litre-petrol-at-mrs-stations-nationwide/)

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Tax reform credibility test: lawmakers demand probe into ‘altered’ bills after passage

By

B.O.B Echoload

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December 22, 2025

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Photo credit: The Punch
2025-12-22 09:00:00

Reporting by *The Punch* indicates Nigeria’s ongoing tax reform drive has hit a credibility storm, with fresh claims that versions of tax bills circulating publicly may differ from what lawmakers passed.

The dispute is fueling calls for a formal probe to confirm the authentic text, track the legislative handling from committee to final transmission, and determine whether any post-passage changes occurred.

Stakeholders argue that even the perception of tampering can undermine compliance, investor confidence, and the legitimacy of any reforms meant to widen the tax net and strengthen revenues.

Pressure is also mounting for certified copies to be made publicly available—so citizens, businesses, and tax professionals can compare what was debated, what was passed, and what was ultimately forwarded for assent.

Vanguard’s coverage of the controversy described growing calls for lawmakers to “probe” the alleged changes, while *The Guardian (Nigeria)* also framed the episode as a trust issue around “tax reform” that could complicate implementation if not clarified quickly.

**Echotitbits take:** In tax policy, process legitimacy is policy legitimacy. If government wants compliance, it must publish final gazetted versions fast, show redlines where possible, and make legislative documentation audit-proof—otherwise reform becomes litigation and politics, not revenue.

Source: The Punch — December 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/alleged-alterations-in-tax-laws-spark-calls-for-probe/)

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