Ibadan – President Bola Tinubu is expected to present the 2026 proposed Federal Budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 2:00 pm, barring any last-minute changes.
This is according to a letter dated December 17 and circulated to all National Assembly staff by the Secretary of Human Resources and Staff Development, Adm. Essien Eyo Essien, which stated that only accredited personnel will be allowed into the National Assembly Complex for the budget presentation.
According to the memo, all accredited staff must report to their duty posts no later than 11:00 am, as security protocols will restrict access for anyone arriving after that time. Non-accredited persons have also been advised to stay away from the complex.
Senate complies as President Tinubu seeks review of 2024 budget to N43.5trn
The country’s budget conundrum continued on Wednesday as President Bola Tinubu sought a repeal and re-enactment of the 2024 budget, reviewing it to N43.56trillion and harmonising portions of the 2025 budget with it.
Tinubu, in his covering letter, said the latest move was part of measures to end multiple budgets running concurrently.
The “Bill for an Act to Repeal and Re-enact the 2024/2025 Appropriations Act” was speedily passed through first and second readings on Wednesday at the Senate.
Farouk, Komolafe resign as Tinubu nominates new CEOs for petroleum regulators
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded the names of two nominees to the Senate for confirmation as chief executive officers of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said the nominations followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed, former Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, and Gbenga Komolafe, former Chief Executive of the NUPRC.
Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari after the creation of the agencies under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Cabal blocked Buhari from approving funds, weakened security – Ex-NSA Monguno
Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, has revealed that some funds approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari for his office were deliberately withheld by powerful interests within the Presidency.
Monguno, who served as NSA from 2015 to 2023, made the disclosure in a new book titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari.
The biography of the late president was written by Charles Omole and launched at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
In the book, Monguno explained that the funding problem started after he acted on intelligence from the Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet.
11 Nigerian soldiers freed after 10-day detention in Burkina Faso -Ministry
Eleven Nigerian soldiers have been released, 10 days after being detained in Burkina Faso.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed the development to newsmen on Wednesday night.
It remains unclear when the soldiers are expected to return to Nigeria, as their travel plans could not be verified.
The soldiers were held by Burkina Faso’s military authorities after their aircraft made an unscheduled landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8.
The landing followed a technical issue shortly after departing Lagos while en route to Portugal.
Reps probe airport, power, port, tax agreements with foreign companies, others
The House of Representatives on Wednesday vowed to investigate all agreements, treaties and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) entered into and signed between Nigeria and other parties.
The proposed multi-sectorial investigation was aimed at reviewing agreements will focus on infrastructure, finance, power, transportation, ICT, aviation, ports, environment and security.
Chairman, House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, Hon. Rabiu Yusuf who disclosed in Abuja while briefing Parliamentary Correspondents, affirmed that the Committee has engaged the service of management consultants as well as technical consultants that will provide forensic, legal, financial and technical expertise required for the national assignment.
Bafarawa dispels APC defection rumours, says he remains elder statesman
Former Sokoto State Governor and one-time presidential candidate, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, has dismissed reports suggesting that he has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that he has retired from active partisan politics and now operates strictly as an elder statesman.
Bafarawa, who had last year publicly renounced membership of any political party, said he was reacting to rumours circulating across news and social media platforms claiming that he had defected to the APC.
Speaking in Sokoto on Wednesday night, the former governor said he had made his position clear since leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Copyright row: Veteran Nollywood actor Lere Paimo seeks Makinde, Adeboye’s help
A renowned firmmaker, Lere Paimo, popularly known as “Eda Onile Ola,” on Wednesday, called on Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye and other well-to-do individuals in Nigeria to save him from being allegedly cheated over his long, originally produced “Ogbori Elemosho”.
He made this call during a press conference held in Ibadan, the state capital.
The classic Yoruba film “Ogbori Elemosho,” starring legendary actor Paimo, gained fame and was a significant epic released around the early 1980s.
However, some sources suggest it was a key work in the 1960s that built his reputation, establishing a historical drama genre in Nollywood.
Commercial Flights Return to Ibadan As NCAA Issues Provisional Permit After Major Upgrades
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given an approval for the commencement of scheduled flights operations at the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan.
The NCAA, in a letter dated December 16, 2025 and addressed to the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said it has given an approval for the issuance of provisional interim operational permit for the commencement of scheduled flight operations at the airport.
The approval followed efforts by the Oyo State Government to upgrade the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport, Alakia, Ibadan to an international airport, with the State government having undertaken several projects including the extension and widening of the runway, improvement of airfield lightings, the construction of a 500,000-litre aviation fuel storage facility and a new Protocol Lounge, among others.
Oyo Assembly Shifts ₦2bn from Overhead to Capital Expenditure, Passes ₦892b 2026 Budget
The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, approving a total budget of ₦892,085,074,480.79.
The bill was passed following the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning.
Speaking shortly after the passage, Hon. Olasunkanmi Babalola, Member representing Egbeda State Constituency, Deputy Leader of the House, and Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning described the moment as “historic,” emphasizing the Assembly’s commitment to fiscal discipline, infrastructure development, and timely governance.
Awujale: KWAM 1’s Fidipote ruling house moves to claim stool, says Fusengbuwa misses deadline
The Fidipote Ruling House of Ijebu Ode has written to the Ijebu Ode Local Government Area and Ogun State Government to overturn the right of the eligible ruling house, Fusengbuwa, to the vacant Awujale stool.
This was conveyed in a two-page letter addressed to the Secretary, Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of the state, on Wednesday, a copy of which was made available to newsmen.
In the letter co-signed by the Head and Secretary of the ruling house, Oba Tajudeen Omotayo and Omooba Tunde Aderibigbe, the family declared its eligibility to present candidates for the vacant stool of the Awujale, citing the expiration of the statutory period allotted to the Fusengbuwa Ruling House under the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, 2021 and the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration of 1959.
It said the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, which was first entitled to present candidates, failed to do so within the 14 days prescribed by law.
Fubara visits APC national secretariat
The newly defected Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday night paid an unscheduled visit to the national headquarters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fubara arrived at the party secretariat at about 6:50 p.m., where he was received by the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru; the National Welfare Secretary, Hon. Donatus Nwapa; and the Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), was also present to welcome the governor.
Kano tops continuous voters registration in North
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says Kano has recorded the highest number of people who revalidated their voter cards in northern Nigeria.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Kano State, Ambassador Abdu Abdussamadu Zango, made the revelation during a press briefing held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at its office in Kano state.
According to Zango, Kano State recorded 159,669 registrants, making it the highest. Sokoto followed with 152,650, while Borno recorded 123,835.
Other states with high figures include Jigawa with 116,246, the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) with 106,855, Kogi with 103,750, Zamfara with 101,511, Katsina with 98,968, and Kaduna with 89,899.
INEC also reported that Kebbi recorded 83,480, Niger 79,785, Adamawa 57,312, Kwara 55,802, Yobe 53,523, and Benue 53,207.
