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US, Others Condemn Genocide In Nigeria …As SERAP Seeks UN Special Session Over Killings …Security Operatives Stop Ezekwesili’s Protest To Villa …Buhari’s Visit To Plateau Belated, Says PDP

The United States Government has strongly condemned the attacks in Plateau State in which no fewer than 86 people were killed and several others injured.
Spokesperson for the US Department of State, Ms Heather Nauert, in a statement, yesterday, said the perpetrators of the attacks should be brought to justice.
She further said, “The United States condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the killing of civilians and destruction of property in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region over the weekend.
Similarly, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), yesterday, condemned the latest killing by suspected Fulani herdsmen in some communities in Plateau State.
It would be recalled that some suspected herdsmen killed over 86 persons during an attack on Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp villages of Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, over the weekend.
The National Public Relations Officer of the association, Mr Bestman Okereafor made the condemnation in a statement in Enugu.
The association condoled with the affected families and urged the Federal Government to address the issue of killings in the country.
“With great sadness, the leadership of NANS joins the world and fellow Nigerians in condemning the gruesome murder in some states of the federation, especially the most recent killings in Plateau State by suspected herdsmen.
The association, however, noted with concern that such killing had continued despite of its repeated appeals to the problem.
“NANS is appealing to Mr President to stand by his promise of protecting human rights and fighting human rights abuses,” Okoroafaor said.
Reacting, the newly registered political party, Young Progressives Party (YPP), accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of incompetence, over the continued logjam recorded in its budget preparations and over the incessant killings recorded across the country.
YPP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Egbeola Wale Martins, strongly condemned the latest killings in 11 villages in Plateau State, where over 86 innocent people were confirmed killed by rampaging herdsmen, who he said had become a more worrisome security threat than the once dreaded Boko Haram sect.
According to him, this incessant killing has now become a recurring event under the watchful eyes of an APC government that rode to power on the mantra of change anchored on security, economy and anti-corruption.
He said, “It is high time the APC led government declared a National mourning and emergency while also as a matter of national expediency re-jig the entire security apparatus as we cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different result.
“We are in desperate times that require drastic measures to be urgently taken to completely halt the incessant killings that have now become a norm in a society where sanity should prevail.”
“We advise the APC-led government to automate our budget preparation process by developing software that can aid seamless analysis and preparation of a flawless budget that can be submitted at least five months earlier to the National Assembly for consideration.”
Egbeola also condemn the just concluded APC convention, which he alleged was characterized by violence even with the presence of over 5,000 policemen and two surveillance helicopters.
“This show of shame aired on national television shows among other things how not to conduct a peaceful convention and the outcome of this shambolic charade called convention is beginning to be a cause for worry, because how can a party which cannot organize a credible convention organize or support a transparent, peaceful and credible elections come 2019,” he argued.
Also reacting, women groups in Plateau condemned the massacre of people, especially women and innocent children, in the recent attacks on its communities and cautioned opinion leaders against making inciting comments.
In separate interviews with newsmen, yesterday, in Jos, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) said the attacks were acts of inhumanity and criminality.
The FIDA Chairperson in Plateau, Mrs Mary Izam, said government should comply with the amended provisions of section 14(2b) of the 1999 Constitution of protecting lives and property of the citizenry.
The National Coordinator, Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigeria (CWEENS), Prof. Funmilayo Para-Mallam, also condemned the killings.
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to all the Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council, Geneva, urging their delegation to initiative and actively support the urgent holding of a special session of the Human Rights Council to address the ongoing killings of Nigerians and residents by suspected herdsmen and/or unknown persons in Nigeria, most recently in Plateau State where over 80 people were brutally murdered.
The organization urged the Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution to “condemn in the strongest possible terms the ongoing killings and revenge attacks on innocent Nigerians and residents by suspected herdsmen and/or unknown persons as well as the ongoing impunity enjoyed by suspected perpetrators and groups that have suggested these atrocities may be retaliatory killings.”
In the letter dated June 26, 2018, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, the organization said, “The proposed measures are necessary because several calls by Nigerians asking the Nigerian authorities to end the killings and attacks have largely gone unheeded for far too long. The Human Rights Council cannot ignore persistent attacks and killings of Nigerians and residents. If the Human Rights Council does not assume its responsibility and give voice to the victims, it would exacerbate the impunity of perpetrators; continue to hide their victims; and deepen the invisibility of the killings and attacks to the comity of nations.”
The organisation also urged “The Human Rights Council to stand ready to take additional measures according to the evolution of the situation in Plateau, Benue and several other states across Nigeria, including recommending that the UN General Assembly, in view of gross and systematic nature of the killings and attacks, and the failure of the Nigerian authorities to end the killings, considers the application of the measures foreseen in paragraph 8 of General Assembly resolution 60/251 (which authorises the suspension of the rights of membership in the council of a member of the council that commits and/or allows gross and systematic killings, attacks and other grave violations of human rights).”
The organisation expressed “serious concern that to date, no credible investigations have been carried out to determine who exactly is responsible for the killings and attacks and put an end to the atrocities.”
“SERAP urges the Human Rights Council to at the proposed special session adopt a resolution that expresses its deep concern about the ongoing killings and attacks on innocent Nigerians and residents in several states of the Federation, most recently in Plateau and Benue states of the country.
“The Human Rights Council should demand that the Nigerian authorities end these killings and attacks as a matter of critical and urgent priority, including by immediately identifying suspected perpetrators and their supporters, sponsors, and by conducting thorough, impartial and independent investigations with a view to bringing those responsible to justice and providing victims with access to justice and effective remedies, including adequate compensation, satisfaction and guarantee of non-repetition.
“The Human Rights Council should request the High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently appoint a group of independent experts to monitor, verify and report on the ongoing killings and attacks on innocent Nigerians and residents across many states of Nigeria, most recently in Plateau and Benue states, with relevant expertise in mass atrocity prevention, as well as in combating retaliatory attacks, with a view to making recommendations on preventing atrocities, combating farmers and herdsmen crisis, and improving the safety and security of all citizens and residents, as well as achieving accountability for the killings and attacks.
In another development, security operatives attached to the Presidential Villa Gate, close to the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, yesterday stopped what was described as a solo protest by former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili over the recent gruesome murder of over 86 people in Plateau State.
The former Minister was said to have been harassed and assaulted by the security operatives while attempting to march towards the Villa to demand accountability and end to the violent killings going on in the country.
Dressed in a symbolic red attire, Ezekwesili carried a banner with inscriptions such as Help!, #EndTheBloodFlow, #EndThe Killings, #WeWantJustice.
Ezekwesili who took to her twitter handle said, “I marched as far as I could to the villa to protest the ineffectual ways of Nigerian president on the terrorists/herdsmen killings.
The police, military and SSS trampled on my rights, seized my banner.” Recall that the Bring Back Our Girls group had in a statement last Monday said that the former minister would embark on the solo march on Tuesday at 11.30 am.
The group in its statement stated that the march was fully endorsed and supported by the BBOG as the issue was part of the things it had been advocating about for the past four years. However, the protest was stopped at the Presidential villa gate when the security operatives stationed around the gate manhandled her while struggling to retrieve the placards with different inscriptions from her.
It was gathered that Dr. Ezekwesili vehemently resisted any form of harassment which later turned to commotion as the Police allegedly dragged her. It was further gathered that journalists with the former minister covering the fracas were not spared, as their phones and cameras were allegedly seized by the security operatives. Speaking during the protest, Ezekwesili said: “I am addressing my message to you as the President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria.
I am addressing my demands to you as that one individual bestowed with the powers of centralised command and control of our security institutions and personnel to enforce the provisions of Section 14 subsection 2b of the Nigerian Constitution (As amended) which states that ‘the welfare and security of the citizens shall be the primary purpose of the government,.”
Six of the 12 demands she highlighted in her message to the President were: “Putting an end to the endless killings by herdsmen going on in the country”.
“Revealing the identity of the perpetrators of these wanton killings in Benue, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Plateau, Nasarawa and Kogi states etc”. Justice for the victims of violent killings across the country and secure the living in all parts of the country”.
“Ending the ineffectiveness of the security establishment”. “Ending your loyalty to the Service Chiefs. Stopping the blame game and confusing statements on the killings of the citizens.”
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, over his afterthought visit to Plateau State over the killing of scores of people in the state, describing the visit as belated.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, who stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital, said President Buhari has failed in its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
Ologbondiyan noted that the President was more interested in his re-election bid than to provide adequate security to the people who voted him into power.
He said “for us in the PDP, we believed that President Buhari is more interested in 2019 Presidential election than governance. He does not care about what happened between now and 2019.
He goes after votes and his passionate drive is how to secure electoral victory in his ill-fated desire to returned in 2019.
Otherwise, there is a huge lost of lives in the Plateau state and we felt that it goes beyond the issue of sending Vice President to go and check.
We think that responsibly, the first place that Mr President should go to is the Plateau state, not going to commission a state project in Cross River.
We cannot say that because Cross River is a PDP state and encourage Mr President to do what is not just because we want the President to do what is sensitive to the feelings of ordinary Nigerians.
His action of going to Cross river at the expense of going to Pleasure, where a huge number of Nigerians has been killed is, to say the least, is irresponsible.
Ologbondiyan stated that the APC government and President Buhari had failed to add value to the lives of the common man in the last three years but noted that the President has been moving around commissioning white elephant projects.
He said “as a matter of fact, what singular project has Mr President commissioned on behalf of Federal Government in last 2 years? The President always move about to commission projects like bus stop or boreholes in another state, whereas the basic responsibilities of being in governance are the protection of lives and property.
“We are witnessing a situation where country and our nation is almost returned to a burial parlour.
We believed that that should be a concern to Mr President not chasing after state projects for commissioning all in the game of seeking reelection in 2019.”
Speaking on the APC position on restructuring, Ologbondiyan said it was difficult for the party and its leaders to embrace restructuring because APC is a movement.
He said “ they lied to Nigerians and because our political system is metamorphosing, Nigerian didn’t believe that group of a political elite can come together, just to lied to them and seized political power.
“ can you tell me apart from restructuring, the singular promised that APC had made and had lived up to it ? not one, so denying restructuring wouldn’t be a surprise to us in the PDP because we knew from the onset that the party did not mean well for Nigerians.
“It is not new to us in our party that APC is now claiming that restructuring is parochial or restructuring has the different meaning to different people.”
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Tinubu Signs Four Tax Reform Bills Into Law …Says Nigeria Open For Business

President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed into law four tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue framework.
The four bills include: the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
They were passed by the National Assembly after months of consultations with various interest groups and stakeholders.
The ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by the leadership of the National Assembly and some legislators, governors, ministers, and aides of the President.
The presidency had earlier stated that the laws would transform tax administration in the country, increase revenue generation, improve the business environment, and give a boost to domestic and foreign investments.
“When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday.
Before the signing of the four bills, President Tinubu had earlier yesterday, said the tax reform bills will reset Nigeria’s economic trajectory and simplify its complex fiscal landscape.
Announcing the development via his official X handle, yesterday, the President declared, “In a few hours, I will sign four landmark tax reform bills into law, ushering in a bold new era of economic governance in our country.”
Tinubu made a call to investors and citizens alike, saying, “Let the world know that Nigeria is open for business, and this time, everyone has a fair shot.”
He described the bills as not just technical adjustments but a direct intervention to ease burdens on struggling Nigerians.
“These reforms go beyond streamlining tax codes. They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet,” Tinubu wrote.
According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”
He added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency.
The tax reforms, first introduced in October 2024, were part of Tinubu’s post-subsidy-removal recovery plan, aimed at expanding revenue without stifling productivity.
However, the bills faced turbulence at the National Assembly and amongst some state governors who rejected its passing in 2024.
At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed.
They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.
After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax.
By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.
In his tweet, Tinubu stressed that this is just the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.
“We are laying the foundation for a tax regime that is fair, transparent, and fit for a modern, ambitious Nigeria.
“A tax regime that rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and mobilises revenue without punishing productivity,” he stated.
He further acknowledged the contributions of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, the National Assembly, and Nigeria’s subnational governments.
The President added, “We are not just signing tax bills but rewriting the social contract.
“We are not there yet, but we are firmly on the road.”
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Senate Issues 10-Day Ultimatum As NNPCL Dodges ?210trn Audit Hearing

The Senate has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over its failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over ?210 trillion in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023.
Despite being summoned, no officials or external auditors from NNPCL showed up yesterday.
However, representatives from the representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services were present.
Angered by the NNPCL’s absence, the committee, yesterday, issued a 10-day ultimatum, demanding the company’s top executives to appear before the panel by July 10 or face constitutional sanctions.
A letter from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Dapo Segun, dated June 25, was read at the session.
It cited an ongoing management retreat and requested a two-month extension to prepare necessary documents and responses.
The letter partly read, “Having carefully reviewed your request, we hereby request your kind consideration to reschedule the engagement for a period of two months from now to enable us to collate the requested information and documentation.
“Furthermore, members of the Board and the senior management team of NNPC Limited are currently out of the office for a retreat, which makes it difficult to attend the rescheduled session on Thursday, 26th June, 2025.
“While appreciating the opportunity provided and the importance of this engagement, we reassure you of our commitment to the success of this exercise. Please accept the assurances of our highest regards.”
But lawmakers rejected the request.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, said NNPCL was not expected to submit documents, but rather provide verbal responses to 11 key questions previously sent.
“For an institution like NNPCL to ask for two months to respond to questions from its own audited records is unacceptable,” Wadada stated.
“If they fail to show up by July 10, we will invoke our constitutional powers. The Nigerian people deserve answers,” he warned.
Other lawmakers echoed similar frustrations.
Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) insisted that NNPCL’s Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, must personally lead the delegation at the next hearing.
The Tide reports that Ojulari took over from Mele Kyari on April 2, 2025.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North) said the two-month request suggested the company had no answers, but the committee would still grant a fair hearing by reconvening on July 10.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) warned the NNPCL against undermining the Senate, saying, “If they fail to appear again, Nigerians will know the Senate is not a toothless bulldog.”
Last week, the Senate panel grilled Segun and other top executives over what they described as “mind-boggling” irregularities in NNPCL’s financial statements.
The Senate flagged ?103 trillion in accrued expenses, including ?600 billion in retention fees, legal, and auditing costs—without supporting documentation.
Also questioned was another ?103 trillion listed under receivables. Just before the hearing, NNPCL submitted a revised report contradicting the previously published figures, raising more concerns.
The committee has demanded detailed answers to 11 specific queries and warned that failure to comply could trigger legislative consequences.
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17 Million Nigerians Travelled Abroad In One Year -NANTA

The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) said over 17 million Nigerians travelled out between 2023 and 2024.
This is as the association announced that it would be organising a maiden edition of Eastern Travel Market 2025 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital from 27th to 30th August, 2025.
Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone, Hope Ehiogie, disclosed this during a news briefing in Port Harcourt.
Ehiogie explained that the event aims to bring together over 1,000 travel professionals to discuss the future of the industry in the nation and give visibility to airlines, hospitality firms, hospitals and institutions in the South-South and South-East, tagged Eastern Zone.
He stated that the 17 million number marks a significant increase in overseas travel and tours.
According to him, “Nigerian travel industry has seen significant growth, with 17 million people traveling out of the country in 2023”.
Ehiogie further said the potential of tourism and travel would bring in over $12 million into the nation’s economy by 2026, saying it would be a major spike in the sector, as 2024 recorded about $4 million.
“The potential of tourism and travel is that it can generate about $12 million for the nation’s economy by 2026. Last year it was $4 million.
“In the area of travels, over 17 million Nigerians traveled out of the country two years ago for different purposes. This included, health, religious purposes, visit, education and others,” Ehiogie said.
While highlighting the potential of Nigeria’s tourism, he said the hospitality industry in Nigeria has come of age, saying it is now second to none.
The Vice Chairman of NANTA, Eastern Zone further said, “We are not creating an enabling environment for business to thrive. We need to support the industry and provide the necessary infrastructure for growth.”
He said the country has a lot of tourism potential, especially as the government is now showing interest in and supporting the sector.
Ehiogie emphasized that NANTA has been working to support the industry with initiatives such as training schools and platforms for airlines and hotels to sell their products.
He added, “We now have about four to five training schools in the region, and within two years, the first set of students will graduate. We are helping airlines sell tickets and hotels sell their rooms.”
Also speaking, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NANTA, Stephen Isokariari of Dial Travels, called for more support from the industry.
Isokariari stated, “We need to work together to grow the industry and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
“With the right support and infrastructure, the Nigerian travel industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy.”