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 NIN now automatic Tax ID — FIRS The National Identification Number issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has now automatically become a Tax ID for Nigerians, according to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The declaration comes amidst concerns over a provision of the tax laws mandating a Tax ID for bank account ownership. According to data released by the NIMC, a total of 123.9 million Nigerians had been issued the NIN as of October 2025. In a public awareness campaign on the new tax laws posted on X on Monday, the Service also noted that for registered businesses, the RC number issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) automatically becomes their tax ID under the new tax system. The Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) billed to come into force from January 2026, mandates the use of Tax ID for certain transactions, according to the campaign. It, however, noted that this requirement is not new, adding that it has existed since the Finance Act...

 Matsiana to Spend Christmas in Jail  A 38-year-old woman, Matsiana Phyllicia Malatjie, has been arrested for allegedly masterminding the murder of her father.  The deceased is July Mkhavele from Makhuva village. The alleged murder took place on 19 November 2024.  Malatjie appeared before Giyani Magistrate’s Court on 23 December 2025 for a formal bail application. The court remanded the case, and she remains in custody.  She is expected to spend Christmas behind bars. The matter was postponed to 6 January 2026 for further proceedings.

Pedestrian killed in Manhattan scaffold collapse following garbage truck accident  A pedestrian was killed Tuesday morning in East Harlem when scaffolding collapsed after a garbage truck crash, police said. Authorities reported that a man driving a privately owned garbage truck, with a passenger beside him, was traveling west on East 101st Street around 6:30 a.m. when he struck a parked Kia. The parked vehicle, which was unoccupied, was pushed onto the sidewalk and into scaffolding at 345 East 101st Street. The pedestrian was beneath the scaffolding when it gave way and was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has not been identified. Several other people sustained minor injuries. The driver of the garbage truck and his passenger remained at the scene. Video shared on the Citizen app captured emergency responders addressing the situation. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.

New York Times journalist sues AI companies Investigative journalist John Carreyrou of the New York Times has filed a lawsuit against xAI, Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, Meta, and Perplexity, alleging that the companies trained their AI models using copyrighted books without authorization. Carreyrou, who gained recognition for uncovering the Theranos blood-testing scandal, filed the suit Monday alongside five other authors claiming tech companies have infringed on their intellectual property while developing large language models. The case comes amid a surge of intellectual property lawsuits against AI companies this year, involving rights holders from movie studios such as Disney and Warner Bros. to news organizations including the New York Times and Chicago Tribune. Some disputes have resulted in settlements, like the licensing deal between Disney and OpenAI. Unlike many prior class-action suits, this complaint is being brought by a small group of authors, who argue that class actions ca...

 ‎ ‎NAF C-130 FERRY FLIGHT LANDS SAFELY IN BANJUL EN ROUTE TO PORTUGAL FOR DEPOT MAINTENANCE ‎ ‎The Nigerian Air Force had  confirmed  that its C-130 aircraft, which earlier made a precautionary landing during a ferry flight, has successfully continued its journey and landed safely in Banjul, The Gambia.  ‎ This is after transiting Accra in line with an updated flight plan,  routing through Casablanca to Portugal for scheduled depot maintenance.  ‎ A statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame indicates that the Ferry flights for aircraft programmed for maintenance are required to operate through designated airfields, with movements appropriately spaced in accordance with established aviation safety procedures.  ‎ ‎All personnel are safe and the aircraft remains serviceable.  ‎ ‎The Nigerian Air Force appreciates the host authorities in Ghana, The Gambia, and other countries overflown for the kind sup...

 Alliance of Sahel States launches TV station to fight disinformation The leaders of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a grouping composed of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have inaugurated a new regional broadcaster based in the Malian capital, Bamako. The AES Television is considered a key step toward shared media sovereignty for the West African group, and has been described in official communications as an instrument to counter disinformation and promote the region's narrative. It was launched on Tuesday by Malian President Gen. Assimi Goita, Burkinabe President Capt. Ibrahim Traore and Nigerien President Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani who met in Bamako for a two-day summit to evaluate the first year of the AES confederation, Anadolu Agency reported. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formally withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2025 following a yearlong process. A statement from the Burkinabe presidency said the leaders would review implementat...

 ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS PASSES AWAY AT 105  Ira “Ike” Schab, a beloved World War II Navy veteran and one of the last remaining survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack, passed away peacefully at his home in Beaverton, Oregon, on December 20, 2025. He was 105 years old, surrounded by family. As a 21-year-old musician playing tuba in the USS Dobbin's band on December 7, 1941, Schab courageously helped pass ammunition to anti-aircraft gunners during the surprise attack that claimed over 2,400 American lives and led the United States into World War II.   For many years, he spoke little of that day, but later in life, he dedicated himself to attending annual commemorations in Hawaii to honor his fallen comrades and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.  With his passing, only about a dozen Pearl Harbor survivors remain. Let us remember and honor the service, bravery, and legacy of Ira Schab and all who served on that fateful day.