The Federal Inland Revenue Service’s newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFiP) has been presented as a step toward improving Nigeria’s tax administration. But behind the official statements lies a troubling reality: this agreement risks placing Nigeria’s sovereign tax infrastructure within the influence of a foreign government. If allowed to stand, it may become one of the most hazardous strategic concessions Nigeria has made in recent years.

This concern has long been raised by policy experts, including Dr. Segun Adebayo, Executive Director of the Centre for African Policy Research & Advocacy (CAfPRA), who has consistently warned that Nigeria’s tax data should be treated as a national security asset.

During a public hearing on tax reforms in March 2025, Adebayo delivered a keynote address titled “Protecting Our Tax Sovereignty”. He argued that Nigeria’s rise as a fintech powerhouse — home to PayStack, Flutterwave, Interswitch, PiggyVest, Bamboo, and NIBSS — makes its financial and tax data one of its most strategic national resources. “Taxpayer data is national power,” he warned. “Allowing foreign control over this data is a threat to national security.”

Adebayo repeated this caution later that month in the Senate Pressroom, where he told journalists that giving foreign actors access to Nigeria’s tax system amounts to “handing the keys to your house and bedroom to a visitor.” His position was clear: no nation that values its independence should entrust its tax backbone to a foreign government.

His advocacy also influenced ongoing engagements with Senator Ned Munir Nwoko on strengthening the Nigerian Data Protection Act (Amendment) Bill. Adebayo proposed several amendments aimed at protecting Nigeria’s financial and GPS data by classifying them as sensitive personal data and restricting foreign involvement in the processing of tax information. Senator Nwoko welcomed these recommendations and instructed his team to study them further.

However, the tax reform bills ultimately passed without including any of these critical safeguards. In that vacuum, the FIRS–France MoU quietly emerged — without broad debate, without legislative scrutiny, and without the protection of data-sovereignty provisions that would have prevented such an agreement.

Why Experts Consider the FIRS–France MoU a National Security Risk

According to Dr. Adebayo and other data-sovereignty advocates, the risks extend far beyond technology cooperation.

1. Loss of Economic Autonomy

A country that outsources tax data management gives foreign powers visibility into its economic vulnerabilities and strengths — insight that can easily translate into leverage.

2. Exposure to Digital Surveillance

Foreign-developed tax systems provide built-in pathways for monitoring, espionage, and digital exploitation. Modern economic colonization often begins with data, not soldiers.

3. Geopolitical Dependence

With access to Nigeria’s tax ecosystem, France could gain an upper hand in trade, loans, and diplomatic negotiations. No serious sovereign state gives another nation such influence.

Adebayo and other observers also question why Nigeria bypassed its own digital innovators. As he asked during a House of Assembly address nine months ago: Why choose a foreign government agency over homegrown giants like Flutterwave, PayStack, NIBSS, Interswitch, and Bamboo — companies already trusted with billions of dollars in financial transactions across Africa?

Safeguards That Should Have Been Implemented

In his submission to Senator Nwoko earlier this year, Adebayo outlined precise amendments that would have prevented the current predicament:

• Classifying tax and financial records as sensitive personal data under the NDPA.
• Requiring at least 80% Nigerian ownership for any entity processing tax data.
• Mandating heightened security and local ownership requirements.
• Disclosing nationality and ownership of all subcontractors handling tax information.
• Extending cross-border data restrictions to foreign-owned entities operating within Nigeria.
• Empowering the Data Protection Commission to set Nigerian-ownership thresholds for data processors.

If adopted, these safeguards would have made the FIRS–France partnership impossible without National Assembly approval.

A Call for Immediate Action

Dr. Adebayo insists — as he did earlier this year — that Nigeria must act swiftly and decisively:

1. All digital tax reforms must remain 100% under Nigerian control.
2. No foreign entity should access Nigeria’s tax data, financial transactions, or national digital records.
3. Nigerian institutions — NIBSS, PayStack, Flutterwave, Interswitch, Bamboo, and others — must build and operate Nigeria’s tax infrastructure.
4. The FIRS–France MoU and all similar arrangements must be terminated immediately.
5. The National Assembly must urgently pass data-sovereignty amendments before the Nigeria Revenue Service becomes fully operational in January 2026.

Adebayo warns that tax data is the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy. No nation surrenders its heartbeat and expects to remain sovereign.

The National Assembly, the Presidency, and all patriotic Nigerians must now rise to safeguard the nation’s digital and economic future. Nigeria’s sovereignty is not a commodity — and it cannot be outsourced.

The Police Service Commission (PSC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has officially announced the commencement of the recruitment process for 50,000 new Police Constables and Specialist personnel.

This major drive is part of the Federal Government’s plan to inject over 94,000 new personnel into Nigeria’s security services, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a nationwide security emergency.

The initiative aims to strengthen community policing, enhance internal security, and significantly expand the manpower base of the NPF to confront escalating crime across the country.

The online application portal will open on Monday, December 15, 2025, and will close on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Apply

Prospective candidates are advised to follow the official guidelines meticulously. The recruitment process is free, merit-based, and will be conducted entirely online initially.

STEP 1: Check Your Eligibility
Before visiting the portal, ensure you meet the fundamental requirements:

•Nationality: Must be a Nigerian citizen by birth.

•Fitness: Must be physically, mentally, and psychologically fit.

•Character: Must be of good character and have no criminal record.

•Financial Status: Must be free from financial embarrassment.

•Age Limits:

• General Duty: 18 to 25 years.
• Specialists: Up to 28 years. •Gender Clause: Female applicants must not be pregnant during training. •Physical Requirements (General Duty):
• Males: Minimum height of 1.67m and an expanded chest measurement of 86cm.
• Females: Minimum height of 1.64m.
  
  STEP 2: Confirm Your Qualifications

The recruitment is categorized into two cadres, each with distinct educational requirements:

•General Duty (Police Constables) Minimum of five credits in GCE Ordinary Level, SSCE/NECO or equivalent, including English Language and Mathematics, in no more than two sittings. | 18 – 25 years |

•Specialists (e.g., Drivers, Artisans, Medics) Minimum of four credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in no more than two sittings. Must also have at least three years of relevant experience and a Trade Test Certificate. | 18 – 28 years |

“Specialist Roles” Include: Medical Assistants, Drivers, Mechanics, Auto-Electricians, Dispatch Riders, Forensic Assistants, Dog Handlers (K9), Horse Riders (Mounted Troop), Deckhands, Divers, Engineers, Boat Mechanics (Marine), Electricians, Plumbers, Welders, AC/Refrigeration Tech (Artisans), Tailors, Communication & IT Technicians, and Band Section Specialists.

STEP 3: Prepare Your Documents

All applicants must have soft (scanned) copies of the following documents ready for upload:
• First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC)
•SSCE/NECO result or equivalent
• Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age
• LGA/State of Origin Certificate
• Specialists must also include: Relevant Trade Test Certificates and a Driver’s Licence (for driver roles).

STEP 4: Apply Online

•Visit the official portal: https://npfapplication.psc.gov.ng

• Ensure you have your National Identification Number (NIN), a functional email address, and an active phone number.

•Follow the on-screen instructions to create an account, complete the application form, and upload all required documents.

STEP 5: Know the Next Stage

Once the portal closes, shortlisted candidates will be notified to proceed to the next phases of the selection process:
•Physical and Medical Examinations
•Aptitude Tests
• Background Verification

What Happens Next, Warnings and Expectations

The massive intake is part of a broader plan to recruit more than 94000 personnel into the nation’s security architecture, including paramilitary and military services. While the announcement has been widely welcomed, it has also drawn strong caution from security experts and civil society groups

Brig Gen Peter Aro (retd) and several other experts warned that numbers alone will not solve existing problems in the Nigeria Police Force.

They stressed the need for rigorous vetting to ensure that only capable disciplined, and professionally suited individuals are recruited, rather than people brought in through political connections or with questionable backgrounds. According to them this is crucial to avoid multiplying the challenges the Force is already dealing with.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Benin Zone, Adebanjo Ebhoade, echoed the same concerns. They insisted that the recruitment must be based purely on merit and kept completely free from political interference to guarantee that the nation attracts the most competent hands required to combat worsening insecurity.

The recruitment exercise has also reignited the national debate on state policing. Governor Mutfwang, along with Ondo Attorney General Kayode Ajulo SAN, argued that establishing state police backed by well designed legislative frameworks has become a necessary step for effective and localized crime fighting especially as security threats become increasingly complex across different regions.

Applicants are strongly advised to beware of fraudsters and refrain from making any payments, as the entire recruitment process is FREE OF CHARGE.

For official inquiries applicants can visit the PSC social media platforms or FAQ page or contact the dedicated helplines: 09060483893, 09135006008, 09135006009.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, before Justice Mariam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gwarinpa.

He is facing an eight-count charge.

Ngige, who previously served as governor of Anambra State, arrived at the court around 8:10 a.m. in the company of EFCC officials.

In the charge marked FCT/HC/CR/726/2025, he is named as the sole defendant.

The charge sheet, dated October 31 and filed on December 9 by a legal team led by Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), alleges that Ngige committed the offences during his tenure as Minister of Labour under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Count one states that between September 2015 and May 2023, while overseeing the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), he used his position to grant undue advantage to Cezimo Nigeria Limited, whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is described as his associate.

He is accused of approving seven NSITF consultancy, training, and supply contracts for the company worth ₦366,470,920.68 (Three Hundred and Sixty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty Naira and Sixty Eight Kobo).

Count two alleges that he again abused his position as supervising Minister of NSITF by favouring Zitacom Nigeria Limited, whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles, is also said to be his associate.

He is accused of awarding eight NSITF supply, training, and consultancy contracts to this company valued at ₦583,682,686.00 (Five Hundred and Eighty Three Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Six Naira).

Count three claims that he used his office to benefit Jeff & Xris Limited, linked to MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike, by approving eight consultancy, training, and supply contracts worth ₦362,043,163.16 (Three Hundred and Sixty Two Million, Forty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Three Naira and Sixteen Kobo).

Count four alleges that he extended similar advantage to Olde English Consolidated Limited, associated with MD/CEO and alter ego, Uzoma Igbonwa.

He is accused of approving four NSITF consultancy, training, and construction contracts for the company totalling ₦668,138,141.00 (Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, One Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, One Hundred and Forty One Naira).

Count five states that he also favoured Shale Atlantic Intercontinental Services Limited, linked to Uzoma Igbonwa, by awarding four NSITF consultancy, training, and supply contracts valued at ₦161,604,625.00 (One Hundred and Sixty One Million, Six Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Five Naira).

These alleged offences fall under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Count six alleges that he corruptly received ₦38,650,000 (Thirty Eight Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) through his “organisation called Senator (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige Campaign Organisation,” from Cezimo Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011901119), an NSITF contractor, while carrying out his official duties as Minister of Labour and Employment.

Count seven accuses him of corruptly accepting ₦55,003,000 (Fifty Five Million, Three Thousand Naira) through his “organisation called ‘Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme’” from Zitacom Nigeria Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1017263219), another NSITF contractor, during his time in office.

Count eight alleges that he received ₦26,130,000 (Twenty Six Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) through the “Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige Scholarship Scheme,” from Jeff & Xris Limited (Zenith Bank Account Number 1011533930), also an NSITF contractor, while performing his official duties.

These offences are said to violate Section 17(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and are punishable under Section 179(c) of the same Act.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission on Thursday sealed the headquarters of Ikeja Electric after the company allegedly failed to comply with regulatory directives issued by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.

The enforcement took place at the Alausa office in Lagos, where FCCPC officials, accompanied by security personnel, ordered staff out of the building and locked up the premises.

FCCPC Director of Surveillance and Investigation, Bola Adeyinka, explained that the action followed months of reminders and repeated engagements with Ikeja Electric.

Adeyinka noted that NERC had earlier issued a binding decision directing the electricity distribution company to unbundle a Maximum Demand customer account into twenty separate residential accounts.

The order recognised nineteen flats and a service point as individual customer units and required appropriate metering and connection.

According to the FCCPC, the failure to implement this directive left the complainant without electricity for more than two and a half years despite paying all required charges.
Adeyinka stressed that the prolonged outage prevented the property owner from putting the residential units to use.

The commission issued a directive in April outlining steps for compliance and later followed up with a Compliance Notice in October that gave the company seven business days to act.

With no action taken, the FCCPC moved to seal the headquarters, describing the enforcement as a proportionate measure. The seal will remain until Ikeja Electric provides written evidence of full compliance.

Ikeja Electric confirmed the development and acknowledged that the dispute arose from a compliance issue raised by the FCCPC.

The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kingsley Okotie, explained that Ikeja Electric had responded to the commission with concerns about the technical and operational implications of the directive.

Okotie added that the company submitted its reservations in writing, yet the commission proceeded with enforcement. He noted that the FCCPC is legally empowered to act and the company had no option but to allow the officials to carry out their work.

Documents provided by the company showed that its compliance response, dated October 14, stated that the property in question remained a single consolidated structure rather than a residential block with nineteen flats.

The company explained that the NERC Forum ruling instructed it to unbundle the existing account and provide twenty prepaid meters. However, its technical assessment found that the premises had not been partitioned into separate units and lacked the internal low-voltage network required to support twenty individual meters.

Ikeja Electric maintained that implementing the order in the current state of the property could pose safety risks and insisted its position was based on technical realities rather than disobedience.

Despite the seal, Okotie assured customers that electricity distribution across the network continued without interruption. He noted that the company began coordinating operations through its district centres to ensure the closure of the headquarters did not affect supply.

He described the commission’s approach as avoidable and explained that the issue could have been resolved quietly. Okotie added that Ikeja Electric is engaging the FCCPC in hopes of reaching a quick resolution, noting that a prolonged closure could create challenges for operational coordination.

He stressed that the company remains committed to keeping power flowing, especially at a time when customers rely heavily on stable electricity.

The FCCPC stated that the next step depends on Ikeja Electric’s willingness to comply fully with NERC’s directive. For now, the company’s headquarters remains sealed while discussions continue.

Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military personnel who were detained after a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft made what authorities in Ouagadougou described as an unauthorised emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, the country’s second-largest city.

The two crew members and nine passengers were cleared to return to Nigeria, though it remains uncertain whether the aircraft itself has been released. Their return followed two days of intense diplomatic exchanges between the governments of both countries.

The Association of Sahel States, made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, said the aircraft entered Burkinabe airspace without prior authorisation and labelled the incident an unfriendly act. Burkina Faso’s state news agency later reported that initial findings showed the plane had no clearance to overfly its territory.

Nigerian officials maintain that the diversion was solely a safety precaution. The Air Force explained that the C-130, which departed Lagos on 8 December 2025 for a ferry mission to Portugal, developed a technical issue shortly after take-off and diverted to the nearest suitable airfield in line with aviation safety standards. Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame confirmed that an investigation is underway and said Burkinabe authorities treated the personnel respectfully during the incident.

The episode came just a day after Nigerian airstrikes targeted a military camp in neighbouring Benin, where soldiers linked to an attempted coup were believed to be hiding. According to Nigerian government officials, the strikes were conducted at the request of Beninese authorities and in line with ECOWAS protocols after the coup plotters seized the national broadcaster and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon.

ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray warned that recent events underscored rising instability in the region, calling for deeper reflection on the future of democracy and stronger investment in security cooperation.

In Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), urged the armed forces to maintain constant readiness in the face of emerging threats. Speaking at a decoration ceremony for newly promoted senior army officers, he praised the military for its rapid intervention during the attempted coup in Benin, saying their swift response played a role in preventing the takeover. He stressed that modern security challenges demand closer collaboration among all branches of the military, adding that no service can operate effectively in isolation.

The Nigerian Air Force has indicated that plans to resume the Portugal-bound mission will proceed once outstanding issues surrounding the aircraft’s diversion are resolved.

Lagos State has approved the release and sentence review of 91 convicted inmates in honour of the 2025 UN Human Rights Day.

The decision was made under the state government’s constitutional power to grant clemency.

The beneficiaries are inmates who have already completed more than 70 per cent of their jail terms.

Out of the total number, 80 inmates have been cleared for immediate release.

The announcement was made by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), during a press briefing held on Wednesday by the Ministry of Justice and the Directorate of Citizens’ Rights.

He noted that the directorate, which handles a wide range of human rights-related issues, successfully resolved 1,200 cases within the past year.

He explained that when Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, Lagos State identified the need to rebuild public trust and restore citizens’ confidence in institutions responsible for protecting human rights.
“It was against this backdrop that the Directorate of Citizens Rights was created,” he said.

According to him, “It was a deliberate democratic intervention by the then governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Senator Bola Tinubu, now the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, designed to empower citizens with the knowledge of their rights, provide an accessible mechanism for redress, and ensure that abuses associated with military rule never again become part of our civil reality.”

He added that the directorate became a vital component of the state’s justice system. What began with five foundational units — the Citizens Mediation Unit, the Public Defender Unit, the Human Rights Unit, the Consumer Rights Protection Unit, and the Justice Now Information Unit — has grown into a network of fully established agencies.

Continuing his remarks, he said the directorate received about 1,950 petitions over the past year, resolved 1,200 of them through mediation, while the remaining cases are still under investigation or in court.

He stated that the directorate is currently managing around 50 fundamental rights cases across the Federal and State High Courts, covering issues such as alleged police misconduct, unlawful detention, property disputes, and denial of parental access.

While highlighting the directorate’s expanded role in safeguarding human rights and protecting the dignity of every resident, he urged Lagosians to respect the rights of others and obey the law. He assured that the directorate and the wider justice sector will continue to champion fairness, equality, accountability, and equal access to justice.

He also noted that “The Bureau of Public Defender continues to provide free legal representation to indigent residents, including survivors of domestic violence, victims of rape and sexual offenses, children in conflict with the law, and individuals unlawfully detained.”

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday ordered full compliance with his previous directive to withdraw all policemen attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country.

He also instructed the Minister of Interior, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to immediately replace police officers on special security duties to ensure that citizens are not left vulnerable.

The President issued the directives during his remarks ahead of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, emphasizing that in light of rising kidnappings and terrorism, all security forces must be fully utilised to protect the public.

Earlier, amid escalating security challenges, including the recent kidnappings of students in Kebbi and Niger States, President Tinubu had ordered the withdrawal of police officers from VIP duties and approved the recruitment of 20,000 additional officers.

Speaking at the Council Chambers, the President directed Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima to work with state governments through the National Economic Council (NEC) to identify grazing reserves that can be rehabilitated into ranches or livestock settlements.

He stressed that his orders on the withdrawal of police from VIPs are serious and must be implemented effectively, adding that anyone requiring police services must first obtain approval from the IGP, who in turn must seek clearance from him.

He said: “And I told the IGP, and I hope the minister of police affairs is here, if you have any problem of security because of the nature of the assignment, please contact the IGP and get my clearance.

“The minister of interior should liaise with the IGP and Civil Defence structure to replace those police officers who are on special security duties. So that you don’t leave people exposed.

“NSA and DSS to provide further information and form themselves into the committee and review the structure.

“It should be effective. We face challenges of kidnapping and terrorism; we need all the forces that we can utilise.”

He further added: “I know some of our people are exposed and I understand that we have to make exceptional provision for them, and civil defence are equally armed, and I want to know that from NSA to arm our forest guards too, take it very seriously.

“Again, specifically livestock reform, I think the Vice President should get the NEC first of all to see which villages or grazing reserves can be salvaged or rehabilitated into Ranches, Livestock settlements.

“We must eliminate the possibility of conflicts and turn the Livestock reform into economically viable development. The opportunity is there, let’s utilise it.

“And it is in NEC, if we exercise the constitutional requirement which states that the land belongs to the states, whichever one they can salvage, convert to a livestock village, let us stop this conflict area and turn it into economic opportunities and prosperity.”

The Federal Government on Wednesday charged former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah, in court over an alleged N5bn fraud said to have taken place in 2014.

Oduah, who served as aviation minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2014, appeared before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on five counts, including conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

She was brought before the court by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

In one of the charges, Oduah was alleged to have fraudulently secured N2.4bn through Broad Waters Resources from the Federal Ministry of Aviation, falsely claiming the money was for technical supervision.

The alleged offence is reported to have taken place in January 2014.

Additional charges claim she also obtained N1.6bn and another N839m through false pretences, in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act.

Oduah was arraigned alongside another defendant, Gloria Odita.

Both defendants entered not-guilty pleas to all the charges.

Oduah was represented by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), while Wale Balogun (SAN) appeared for Odita.

Justice Hamza Muazu granted Oduah bail based on self-recognisance but ordered her to submit her passport to the court.

He further ruled that she cannot travel outside the country without the court’s authorization.

This is the second attempt by the Federal Government to prosecute Oduah on this issue, as a previous case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission at the Federal High Court in Abuja was discontinued.