Daily News....

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the tax reform bills for a second reading following an extensive and robust debate on the general principles of the legislation by the lawmakers. The House had earlier consolidated the four tax reform bills sent to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year into one before beginning the debate on the general principles.

 Owolabi Akinlolu, the policeman who allegedly raped a 17-year-old resident of Lagos State in his office, has been remanded in prison custody. Akinlolu, an officer attached at the Ogudu Police Station in Lagos, had promised to help the teenager retrieve her phone, which was stolen by ‘one chance’ robbers.

#######

 The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Wednesday, said no fewer than 14 million Nigerians are estimated to be involved in and addicted to the consumption of harmful drugs. The Deputy Commander of the Ondo State Command of NDLEA, Mrs Yetunde Joyifous, made the disclosure at a drug abuse awareness programme.

#######

 The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday confirmed Udeh Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the party. The decision, according to the party, followed a thorough examination of a memo presented to the party by the Acting National Chairman regarding legal judgments affirming Udeh Okoye’s position.

#######

 The Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday directed its members and Nigerians to boycott telecommunications services from Thursday, 13, 2025, following the implementation of a 50 percent telecom tariff. NLC stated that the boycott is expected to kick off on Thursday between 11 am and 2 pm till the end of February 2025.

######

 The Naira on Wednesday depreciated to N1,570 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,560 per dollar on Tuesday. But the Naira appreciated to N1,513 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

#####

 The Ogun Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps, confirmed on Wednesday the rescue of 16 women and girls allegedly forced into prostitution. While parading the victims and their trafficker in Abeokuta, Amotekun Corps Commander, Alade Adedigba, said the girls were rescued after an intelligence report.

######

 The All Progressives Congress has officially contracted a private company, Tunmef Global Limited, to commence a nationwide digital membership registration exercise with the ultimate aim of having a comprehensive and up-to-date database of its members ahead of the 2027 general elections. The signing ceremony of the agreement with the contractor was concluded at the party secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday night.

######

 In a significant breakthrough against terrorism in the North-West, troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have eliminated several notorious terrorist commanders and dismantled multiple hideouts in Zamfara and Sokoto states. The coordinated military offensive, carried out between February 1 and 10, 2025, delivered a major blow to terrorist networks operating in the region, restoring a sense of security to affected communities.

######

 The Nigerian Customs Service, Area 2 Command in Onne, Rivers State in collaboration with the office of the National Security Adviser has destroyed about 60 containers of substandard and illegally imported pharmaceutical products worth over N100bn. The destruction took place at the Rivers State Waste Management dump site along the Port Harcourt Airport Road on Wednesday.

from dailypost