Former President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his unwavering loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that he remained a committed member of the ruling party and will continue to promote its ideals.

In a statement reaffirming his political allegiance, Buhari emphasised that he would never distance himself from the party that brought him to power and supported him through two terms in office as president.

“I am an APC member, and I like to be addressed as such,” he said. “I will try to popularise the party by all means.”

The former president expressed deep gratitude to the APC for the platform it provided him, describing his tenure as the highest honour of his political career.

He maintained that he had no further personal demands from the party but remained committed to strengthening its foundation.

Buhari also highlighted the sacrifices made by the party’s founding fathers, stressing that their efforts in establishing a strong political movement should not be taken for granted.

He called for the protection of democratic principles and the continued growth of the APC as a vehicle for national development.

Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi. has urged Nigerians to ignore comments that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was wasteful and corrupt.

Umahi stated this during his working visit to Ondo State for a 2nd interactive session on the Ondo State axis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. 

The meeting, which was held at the Government House in Akure, followed the first stakeholders’ meeting on the project, which was held on October 31, 2024.

According to the Minister, “This Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of Mr. President’s four legacy projects.”

Umahi asked those criticising the project and President Bola Tinubu’s other legacy projects not to pass through the roads when they are completed.

The minister, who insisted that the project was transparent, noted that people have the right to be jealous and angry.

While reminding Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to issue a revocation order on the route in line with the laws of the land, The Works Minister said the alignment reduced the route from 75km to 71km.

However, he informed Ondo residents that President Tinubu was determined to complete all inherited projects and his administration’s four legacy projects.

According to him, “The man deserves our respect. I have not read the book, but the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is not wasteful and corrupt. Anyone criticising the project is waking up to say how one man (Tinubu) can be attributed to these types of projects.

“For those saying it is a waste of resources when the project is completed, they should not use the road.

“This is not a wasteful project, and it is not fraudulent. If someone is saying it’s a fraud, that person is also saying that I am a fraud, and I am not.

“This project has been very transparent, so we continue to engage the stakeholders. Every process step has been very transparent, and every detail is in the public domain.”

Speaking on other federal government projects in Ondo State, Engr. Umahi said they were looking into the issue of compensation so that the contract would not be stalled.

He said dualisation of the Ilesha-Akure-Benib Highway was stalled by funding but assured that the contractor was bound to make the road motorable.

The Minister, however, commended the government and people of the State for their support of the project, adding that all the necessary steps for its execution have been taken.

While commending Governor Aiyedatiwa for his keen interest in the state’s infrastructural development, Umahi promised that all Federal road projects in the State would be executed quickly.

A former Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Banjo Okunomo, said the coastal communities would not allow any sentiments to delay the projects.

He assured that the community leadership would ensure easy implementation of the project.

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, approved a new Value Added Tax sharing formula, allocating 55% to states and 35% to local government councils.

This decision followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Finance on four tax bills transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in October 2024.

Presenting the report on Thursday, the chairman of the committee, Abiodun Faleke, summarised the extensive review process, which followed a public hearing held from February 26 to February 28, 2025.

The report was considered clause by clause and adopted in a session presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday. 

The committee made 19 key recommendations under the Nigerian Tax Administration Bill, including a revised VAT distribution framework that had been a contentious issue between state governors and the Presidency.

Revised VAT sharing formula

Section 77 of the report introduces a new VAT distribution structure.

For states, 50% of the revenue is to be distributed equally, 20% based on population, and 30% based on consumption.

The emphasis is placed on the actual place of consumption, regardless of where tax returns are filed.

Local governments will receive 35% of VAT revenue under a similar formula.

Additionally, the timeline for issuing Taxpayer Identification Numbers has been extended from two to five working days to accommodate possible administrative challenges.

Any refusal to issue a TIN must be justified and communicated to the applicant.

Corporate tax filing

The timeframe for companies ceasing operations to file tax returns has been reduced from six months to three months to mitigate revenue losses.

The committee also recommended that taxable supply consumption should determine tax allocation, ensuring fairness in regions where company headquarters are concentrated.

On fiscalisation, the Federal Inland Revenue Service will establish further regulations to enforce the newly introduced system.

Additionally, Section 74 mandates that any tax remission by the President or a governor must receive approval from the National Assembly or respective state Houses of Assembly.

 Tax exemptions

Section 75 provides that presidential tax exemptions must be approved by the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, Section 76 authorises the Office of the Accountant General to deduct unremitted taxes from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies at the source, subject to National Assembly’s approval.

To enhance representation, the committee proposed appointing six Executive Directors to the FIRS Board, one from each geopolitical zone, in a rotational order.

Additionally, a representative from each state and the Federal Capital Territory will be appointed to ensure federal character compliance.

The committee recommended a fixed 4% cost of collection for FIRS, to be appropriated by the National Assembly.

It also proposed funding the Tax Appeal Tribunal from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, eliminating its current dependence on FIRS to ensure judicial neutrality.

Nigeria Tax Bill

Under the Nigeria Tax Bill, Section 27 now requires a Certificate of Acceptance for companies enjoying priority sector incentives to claim capital allowances.

The Industrial Inspectorate Department at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment will be responsible for certifying qualifying expenditures.

The committee also scrapped the previously proposed staggered reduction of the corporate income tax rate.

Instead, companies will continue to be taxed at 30%, while those in priority sectors will enjoy a reduced rate of 25% for five years.

Development levy adjustments

The revised bill also expands the beneficiaries of the Development Levy.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund will receive 50%, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund will get 3%, the National Information Technology Development Fund will receive 5%, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure will get 10%.

The Defence Infrastructure Fund will receive 10%, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund 5%, the National Sports Development Fund 5%, the Social Security Fund 10%, the National Board for Technological Incubation 10%, and the National Cybersecurity Fund 1%.

The bills are expected to be read for a third and final time before being passed into law next week.

A senior officer of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), DSP Kenneth Ndu, slumped and died on Thursday while eating beans and plantains with colleagues at the command headquarters in Abia State.

Ndu had reportedly returned from an investigative operation with his team hours before he collapsed. He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, where doctors confirmed his death.

Speaking with THE WHISTLER, a top officer, who requested anonymity, clarified that Ndu was a team leader of the Swift Response Squad, Zone 9 Umuahia, not the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), as some reports had suggested.

The report had read, “Tragedy struck at the Abia State Police Command on Thursday as the Commander of the DSP, Kenneth Ndu, slumped and died while eating with fellow officers.”

Confirming his death while clarifying, the source said, “Ndu was said to have died of cardiac arrest; the man is not a commander but a team leader at the Abia state command headquarters.”

THE WHISTLER also learnt that DSP Ndu was set to retire from the Nigerian Police Force in March 2025.

Alice Walton, the world’s richest woman, along with her brothers Jim and Rob Walton, saw their combined net worth decline by $6.2bn in a single day, according to Forbes estimates.

Each Walton sibling lost an average of $2bn, with Jim and Rob Walton alone seeing a $2.1bn drop in their fortunes.

The losses were compounded by a sharp decline in Walmart’s stock price, which has fallen 9.53 per cent over the past five days.

Shares of Walmart Inc. have been on a downward spiral, closing at $84.68 on March 13, down from $87.70 on March 10—a decline of $8.92 per share in just five days.
The retailer’s stock opened at $85.12 with a high of $85.35 and a low of $84.81, reflecting ongoing market jitters.

The company’s market capitalisation now stands at $684.04bn, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 35.28 and a dividend yield of 1.11 per cent.

The downturn in Walmart’s stock comes as China issues a stern warning to the retail giant over its handling of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.

Beijing recently summoned Walmart executives for discussions, following reports that the company was pressuring Chinese suppliers to cut wholesale prices to offset higher U.S. tariffs.

China’s Ministry of Commerce has expressed concerns that Walmart’s move could disrupt supply chains and violate commercial contracts, warning that if the retailer insists on shifting tariff-related costs onto Chinese manufacturers, the consequences could extend beyond just a meeting.

The escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and China is adding further uncertainty to Walmart’s stock performance.

The Trump administration recently doubled blanket tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to 20 per cent, intensifying the economic standoff between the world’s two largest economies.

Unlike her brothers Rob and Jim Walton, who serve on Walmart’s board, Alice Walton has taken a different path, dedicating herself to art and philanthropy.

She is the only daughter of Sam Walton and has focused on curating art rather than retail operations.
In 2011, she founded the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, featuring works by Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and Mark Rothko.

More recently, she has turned her attention to healthcare innovation, launching a holistic health institute in 2021, which was later renamed the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine in 2022.

With Walmart shares continuing their downward trajectory, the Walton family’s wealth remains vulnerable to ongoing economic and trade tensions.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced its 2025 disbursement guidelines, allocating billions of naira to universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, revealed that universities will receive N2,860,562,362.66 each, comprising N2,560,562,352.66 as normal allocation and N300,000,000.00 as zonal allocation.

Echono disclosed this at a Strategic Workshop with Heads of Institutions on the 2025 Disbursement Guideline on Thursday.

Polytechnics will get N1,994,335,731.71 each, consisting of N1,794,335,731.71 as normal allocation and N200,000,000.00 as zonal allocation.

Colleges of Education will receive N2,178,428,260.79 each, made up of N1,978,428,260.79 as normal allocation and N200,000,000.00 as zonal allocation.

Echonon noted that in line with the Federal Government’s directives, all physical infrastructure development allocations for 2025 shall be directed toward the upgrading, rehabilitation and renovation of dilapidated infrastructure in our beneficiary institutions.

“This was communicated to you earlier to enable you to consult widely and prepare your projects ahead of time. You were also advised to employ the services of your consultancy units and or physical planning units in the preparation.

“The 2025 Disbursement allocation is structured as follows: the total Direct Disbursement of (91.08 percent), is made up of (48.90 percent) as Annual Direct Disbursement and (42.18 percent) as Special Direct Disbursement. Designated Projects account for (8.72 percent l), while Stabilization funds are (0.20 percent ),” he said.

Echono emphasised that the 2025 disbursement guidelines prioritize infrastructure development, research and innovation, academic staff training, and student support services.

He highlighted key initiatives under the Special Direct Disbursement category, including increased funding for the Special High Impact Programme (SHIP), completion of the National Library building in Abuja, establishment of mechanized farms in some universities, and accelerated provision of student hostels through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and direct construction.

Other priority areas include expanding infrastructure to enhance student intake for medical courses, adopting medical simulation and technology to improve curriculum delivery and patient care, and providing alternative power to selected beneficiary institutions.

“Other key focus areas in the 2025 Disbursement Guidelines include expanding Infrastructure to enhance student’s intake for Doctors, Nurses, pharmacist and Dentist in our universities and colleges of medicine, adopted of medical simulation and technology to improve curriculum delivery and patient care, provision of alternative power to selected beneficiary institutions to obscure current difficulties in coping with energy costs. other priority include addressing campus security, enabling disaster recovery and completing previously distressed projects. Research and innovation support will continue with provision for the National Research Fund, institutionalization of R&D, existing an expanding partnerships, Research meets Industry (Triple Helix initiative), and commercialization of research outcomes,” he said.

The TETFund Executive Secretary also announced plans to establish 12 new Entrepreneurship for Innovation Hubs in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, promote the adoption and utilization of digital resources, and enforce the full utilization of the TERAS platform.

Echono urged Heads of Beneficiary Institutions to ensure the full utilization of their 2024 and previous allocations, while fast-tracking the procurement process to access their 2025 allocations.

A new law that would mandate government officials to prioritise local airlines for official trips would soon be sent to the National Assembly for legislative scrutiny, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, has said.

The new law, to be known as the ‘Fly Nigeria Act’, would soon be sent to the National Assembly. It would help to boost the country’s aviation industry by requiring that all government-funded official trips be taken using Nigerian airlines.

This is just as Keyamo said that a previously strained relationship with the UAE has been mended, which led to the resumption of flight operations on October 1, 2024.

He added that the welfare of local airlines has been prioritised through negotiations with international partners to support their development.

Keyamo said, “We are in the process of pushing the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly. There is a Fly America Act, and I believe there is also a Fly India Act. Most major countries have their own ‘Fly Act’ to promote their national airlines.

“Only when a local airline does not operate on a particular route can an international airline be used.”

According to Keyamo, the Fly Nigeria Act is not just an aviation policy but also a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s economy.

“This will be enacted as a law. We are unsure how nationalism will influence its reception, but it is a key policy push from us,” he added.

Speaking further, the Minister said this administration is the first to make the support of local airlines a primary objective.

“Across Africa, governments typically sponsor or support their national carriers, but in Nigeria, aviation has been entirely driven by private participation.

“It is essential to focus on private airlines that serve our domestic and regional airspace, creating policies that foster their growth and development while ensuring active government support for the sector.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has made remarkable improvements, particularly in revamping Hajj terminals across the country. Several terminals were reopened last year, and more are set to be rehabilitated this year.

“We have also taken decisive action against the misuse of private chartered planes for illegal activities, which has resulted in revenue losses for the federal government.”

Mr Keyamo noted that over the past decade, approximately ₦120bn has been lost due to unauthorised charter operations.

To address this, a task force was established dedicated to curbing illegal airline operations.

Additionally, African and Aerospace University, which is now fully operational and open to international students, was engaged.

The minister encouraged prospective applicants to take advantage of this opportunity.

He added that Abuja and Lagos airports have been recognised for their excellence in safety and emergency management, winning prestigious awards and securing re-certification.

“We also visited Boeing at their invitation after they identified Nigeria as the next major hub for the airline business.

“This visit resulted in the signing of an MOU that has already begun yielding benefits. Last year, Boeing trained pilots for private airlines in Nigeria at no cost, marking the success of this partnership.

“The ministry aims to set up a policy called the Fly Nigeria Act, which will be presented to the National Assembly to promote local airlines,” Keyamo said.
The minister said, Nigeria’s inability to fully comply with the Cape Town Convention has affected its capacity to lease or acquire aircraft, as the country was not represented on the relevant committee.

The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has said he was ready to work with the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to achieve a working country.

 Governor Bala stated this on Thursday when he hosted Obi at the State’s Presidential Lodge.

He explained that he discussed challenges facing the nation. He commended Obi’s dedicated efforts in leading the opposition voices.

He stressed that the opposition parties and politicians need to come together to give the country good governance.

“We discussed state by state challenges and I feel highly appreciative of what he is doing as the leader of the opposition because whether we like it or not, he is the leader of the opposition now in Nigeria. I want to say at this level not to make some of those doubting Thomases and mischievous minds to pre-empt what we are doing, that I’m ready to work with Peter Obi. We will make sure we come together, close ranks, bring good governance to the country, give vibrant opposition with knowledge, timelines, visions in such a manner that we will rescue and recover our country. Our coming together is a message and the message is going to resonate because all our colleagues, the PDP governors are behind this kind of journey because it is a transcendental one. We are coming together to work together irrespective of party, region, religion or any other thing,” he said.

In his remarks, the former Labour Party presidential candidate said his visit to the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum was to discuss issues happening in the North.

He emphasized that leaders have it as a duty to address the poverty and hardship in the country.

“It’s just a consultation and discussion meeting that will continue to go on as we talk about the future of this country. We have to discuss issues happening in the North. I have told the governor today that the North is a critical component if we are going to get it right in this country. There is poverty in Nigeria. We have to deal with the issue of poverty and until you solve poverty, then you can talk about criminality,” Obi said.

The Rivers State House of Assembly has asked the Department of State Services to investigate the Chief Judge of the State for alleged age falsification.

This was the subject of plenary on Thursday at the Assembly following the presentation of some documents to the assembly by the leader of the House, Hon Major Jack.

Afterwards the Deputy Speaker, Hon Dumle Maol raised an allegation against the Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi.

He said , “These document before me simply say that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi falsified his age in service. Mr Speaker, that is a very serious allegation, and I do hope that this House takes legislative notice.”

The House debated on it and resolved to write a letter to the Director of the DSS to do its investigation and revert to the House on their findings.

In his remarks, the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule called for an investigation into the alleged age falsification against the state chief judge.

He said, “The documents are only suggesting a case of age falsification by the honourable Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi. What it means is that there has to be an investigation to that effect.”

After a voice vote, the House  eventually agreed to write the DSS to investigate the age falsification allegation against the Chief Judge.