Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: abuja

  • FIRS Abuja office fire contained as agency begins investigation

    FIRS Abuja office fire contained as agency begins investigation

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-21 00:05:00

    According to The Punch, a fire incident affected one of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) offices in Wuse, Abuja, with officials saying there were no fatalities and the blaze was contained.

    FIRS said security personnel on duty responded quickly, supported by the FCT Fire Service and other emergency responders, preventing the flames from spreading to other parts of the building.

    The agency added that while some offices on the impacted floor were damaged, work to review safety protocols is underway as investigators determine what caused the outbreak.

    TheCable also reported the fire was contained and quoted FIRS’ statement that “no life was lost in the incident.” In a separate update, Punch quoted the agency saying preliminary findings point to “a possible electrical fault” as the likely cause.

    Echotitbits take:
    Even without casualties, any disruption at a key revenue agency invites scrutiny. Watch for an official incident report, confirmation of what infrastructure or records were affected, and any new safety measures rolled out across other FIRS locations.

    Source: The Punch — December 21, 2025 (https://punchng.com/firs-probes-abuja-office-fire/)
    The Punch 2025-12-21

  • CBN’s BDC approvals deliver ₦192m in licensing fees as FX clean-up continues

    CBN’s BDC approvals deliver ₦192m in licensing fees as FX clean-up continues

    Photo credit: The Guardian Nigeria News — CBN HQ Abuja:

    2025-12-20 12:25:00

    Reporting by Punch indicates the Central Bank of Nigeria has collected ₦192 million in licensing-related fees after issuing final approvals to 82 bureau de change operators.

    The approvals sit within the CBN’s broader attempt to formalise retail FX activity, reduce leakages and improve traceability in foreign-exchange transactions.

    Beyond the revenue, the regulatory signal is the big story: tighter licensing and supervision could reshape the BDC landscape by pushing informal operators out and strengthening compliance expectations for approved players.

    For consumers, the outcome to watch is whether a more regulated ecosystem improves transparency and pricing—or simply shifts activity into other channels if supply remains constrained.

    Reuters reported the same final-licence milestone, describing approvals for “82 BDCs” and linking it to efforts to curb street trading.

    CBN guidance on BDC licensing also details fee requirements, including a “non-refundable final licence fee,” consistent with a structured licensing process.

    Echotitbits take: The real test is enforcement. If street trading remains unchecked, licensing reforms won’t translate into stability. Also watch how banks and fintechs integrate retail FX flows as regulators tighten the market structure.

    Source: The Guardian Nigeria News — December 20, 2025 https://guardian.ng/featured/cbn-issues-82-new-bdc-licences-moves-to-curb-unregistered-fx-operators/

  • Ned Nwoko says court ordered rehab assessment before Regina Daniels can see their children

    Ned Nwoko says court ordered rehab assessment before Regina Daniels can see their children

    Photo credit: The Sun Nigeria(file)
    2025-12-16

    In a statement responding to social media claims about access to his children, Senator Ned Nwoko says a court has set conditions — including drug rehabilitation and welfare assessment — before actress Regina Daniels can regain access.

    The dispute, now playing out publicly, combines sensitive family issues with legal and welfare processes, and has drawn intense online attention that could complicate proceedings.

    Nwoko’s team insists the children are in a stable environment and that the court‑ordered steps are meant to ensure safe and consistent parenting arrangements, with the substantive suit adjourned to February 2026.

    As with many high‑profile family disputes, the case raises broader questions about privacy, child welfare, and how public narratives intersect with judicial processes.

    Vanguard: “The ruling was resolved… with clear directions that Regina Daniels must undergo drug rehabilitation and be assessed… before access can be restored.”

    TheCable Lifestyle: “I want her alive and healthy, not just for me, but for our children,” Nwoko said.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Expect more statements and court filings as the hearing date approaches. Watch for verified court documents (not just social posts), welfare agency involvement, and any legal moves to limit online commentary around the children.

    Source: The Sun Nigeria— December 16, 2025 — https://thesun.ng/senator-nwokos-defection-to-apc-confirmed-by-spokesperson/#google_vignett

  • Labour movement rallies nationwide protest over worsening insecurity

    Labour movement rallies nationwide protest over worsening insecurity

    Unsplash (source.unsplash.com)
    2025-12-15

    In a report by Vanguard, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) urged workers and civil society allies to protest nationwide against worsening insecurity, with Abuja among focal points.

    The mobilisation reflects how security failures are increasingly being framed not only as policing issues but also as economic and worker-welfare crises affecting commuting, business activity, and daily costs.

    Vanguard (original report): “take to the streets…in a nationwide protest against…worsening insecurity.”

    Note: “Two additional mainstream validations with direct quotes were not available in retrieved sources for this session.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: If turnout is strong, pressure will mount for concrete security deliverables. Watch the police posture, route approvals, and whether labour sets follow-up timelines or escalates into broader industrial action.

    Source: Vanguard — December 15, 2025 (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/nlc-rallies-workers-allies-for-protest-over-insecurity/)

  • Tonto Dikeh shares testimony of quitting smoking after 27 years, says the turning point came through faith

    Tonto Dikeh shares testimony of quitting smoking after 27 years, says the turning point came through faith

    Photo/Video credit: DCLImagery (YouTube)

    According to Punch, actress Tonto Dikeh narrated a personal testimony at Streams of Joy International Church, saying she quit smoking after a 27-year habit that began in her teens.

    The account was shared widely online as clips of the service circulated, with commenters debating addiction, healing, and the role of community support.

    Dikeh framed the story as a new chapter, urging people who are struggling privately to seek help and stay accountable.

    • Vanguard (website): “Nollywood star Tonto Dikeh has recounted… a personal breakthrough from years of smoking…”
    • TheCable Lifestyle (website): “Speaking during a recent Sunday service… Dikeh framed her story… as an act of thanksgiving.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Celebrity testimonies can be polarizing, but they also open up real conversations about addiction, relapse risk, and where to find support. What matters next is follow-through—watch for whether Dikeh partners with credible wellness/mental-health or stop-smoking initiatives, and whether the discussion shifts from ‘viral moment’ to practical resources for the public.

    Source: Punch — 2025-12-15 — https://punchng.com/i-smoked-for-27-years-started-at-13-tonto-dikeh/

    2025-12-15

  • CJN says judges are exempt from police-withdrawal order for private individuals

    CJN says judges are exempt from police-withdrawal order for private individuals

    Photo Credit: Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun – TheNigerianvoice
    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, Nigeria’s Chief Justice clarified that judges are exempt from a directive withdrawing police personnel attached to private individuals, as the government seeks to redeploy officers to frontline security duties.

    The clarification aims to address concerns about judicial safety while broader police redeployment policies are implemented.

    The Guardian Nigeria reported the CJN’s clarification and quoted that judges were exempted from the police-withdrawal order.

    BusinessDay also reported the exemption and framed it as part of rationalising police deployments amid wider security pressures.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This policy highlights a trade-off: protecting institutions of justice while trying to free up police manpower for the wider population. Watch for how enforcement is applied (who loses police details), whether private security regulation tightens, and whether there is pushback from influential beneficiaries of police escorts.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/judges-exempted-from-police-withdrawal-order-says-cjn/)

  • U.S. lawmaker describes Nigeria visit as ‘heartbreaking’ amid violence concerns

    U.S. lawmaker describes Nigeria visit as ‘heartbreaking’ amid violence concerns

    According to The Punch, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore described his recent trip to Nigeria as “heartbreaking,” saying he encountered accounts of killings and insecurity that he believes deserve stronger attention from international partners.

    Punch reported that Moore linked his comments to broader debates about how violence in Nigeria is framed globally, and urged greater focus on protecting civilians and addressing the drivers of attacks.

    Daily Post also reported Moore’s remarks, repeating the “heartbreaking” description and situating it within ongoing discourse in the U.S. about Nigeria’s security challenges and religious/communal violence narratives.

    The comments add to a growing pattern of Nigeria-related security issues surfacing in U.S. political debate, often influencing advocacy, hearings and policy proposals.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: External commentary can amplify pressure—but it can also oversimplify complex conflict dynamics. The key is whether Nigeria’s security agencies and political leaders can show measurable progress that undercuts “genocide” or “state failure” narratives. Watch for diplomatic engagements, any new U.S. legislative moves tied to Nigeria, and local conflict-prevention steps in flashpoint states.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/my-trip-to-nigeria-heartbreaking-us-congressman-moore/)

     

     

    Photo: Riley Moore image — AFP

  • DisCos added 187,765 meters in two months as national metering rate inches up

    DisCos added 187,765 meters in two months as national metering rate inches up

    Photo: Disco image – ThisDay

    According to The Punch, electricity distribution companies installed meters for 187,765 customers in September and October 2025, as reported by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    The report indicated 80,943 customers were metered in September and 106,822 in October, nudging the national metering rate upward from 55.37% to 56.07% and slightly expanding the total metered customer base.

    The Guardian also cited the NERC metering factsheet and highlighted the month-to-month improvement, while pointing out that the overall metering gap remains substantial despite incremental progress.

    Vanguard similarly reported the figures and reiterated NERC’s framing that the factsheet is meant to track DisCo progress in closing Nigeria’s long-running metering deficit.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Nigeria’s metering story is now about pace and fairness. The monthly gains are positive, but too slow relative to demand growth and consumer distrust of estimated billing. Watch for: (1) how quickly DisCos meter high-complaint feeders, (2) the availability and financing of meters under MAP/National Mass Metering efforts, and (3) whether dispute resolution improves as metering expands.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/187765-electricity-customers-metered-in-two-months-nerc/)

     

  • Insecurity: Labour unions plan nationwide street protest for Dec. 17

    Insecurity: Labour unions plan nationwide street protest for Dec. 17

    File photo: Troops — Punch Newspapers
    2025-12-13

    According to The Punch, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will stage a nationwide protest on December 17 to demand stronger action on insecurity and to push for better protection of lives and livelihoods.

    The union leadership argues that persistent attacks, kidnappings and community violence are undermining economic activity and deepening hardship, and it wants government to treat security as an urgent national emergency.

    Separate reports by Vanguard and TheCable also described the planned action and quoted labour leaders framing the protest as a pressure tool to compel a firmer security response, with Vanguard noting it was intended to be nationwide.

    Organised labour urged citizens to support peaceful mobilisation while calling on authorities to avoid heavy-handed responses that could inflame tensions.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: If labour follows through, the protest will be a real test of how the government is reading public frustration about insecurity. Watch for: (1) whether state chapters mobilise beyond major cities, (2) whether government announces fresh security measures ahead of the date, and (3) whether the protest expands into broader economic demands.

    Source: The Punch — 13 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/nlc-to-hold-nationwide-protest-over-insecurity-december-17/?amp)