July 16, 2026 - Voice of Liberty NG

DSO Reforms: NBC launches free digital TV access

July 16, 2026July 16, 2026 Aminu Imam

…To establish 6 regional studios to boost local content The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says it will establish six production studios across Nigeria’s geo-political zones to promote indigenous content and expand opportunities for content creators. The Director-General of the NBC, Charles Ebuebu, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Abuja, described the initiative as a key component of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) project. Ebuebu said the studios would be located across the six geo-political zones, while discussions were ongoing with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on…

French President, Macron plans state visit to Nigeria

July 16, 2026July 16, 2026 Aminu Imam

French President, Emmanuel Macron, will undertake a state visit to Nigeria later this year as both countries move to deepen cooperation in trade, security, agriculture and democratic governance. The French Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Marc Fonbaustier, announced the planned visit during the celebration of France’s National Day in Abuja on Tuesday night. Fonbaustier said Macron’s visit would come two years after President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Paris and provide an opportunity for both leaders to assess the progress recorded under the…

Kogi: Gunmen invade school during NECO exam, abduct principal, students

July 16, 2026July 16, 2026 Aminu Imam

Gunmen have attacked Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina local government area of Kogi State, abducting the principal, four students and a National Examinations Council (NECO) ad-hoc official. The attack reportedly occurred at about 5.25pm on Tuesday while students were writing an ongoing NECO examination. Security sources told security analyst Zagazola Makama that the armed men invaded the school premises, causing panic among students and members of staff before taking the six victims away to an undisclosed location. Following the attack, a joint team of security operatives launched a search-and-rescue…

M’Belt Forum accuses FG of neglecting abducted Northern students, teachers

July 16, 2026July 16, 2026 Aminu Imam

The Middle-Belt Forum (MBF) has accused the Federal Government of failing to give equal attention to schoolchildren, teachers and other citizens abducted by terrorists in parts of Northern Nigeria, urging authorities to intensify efforts to secure their release. In a statement issued yesterday by its National Spokesman, Luka Binniyat, the forum acknowledged the successful rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, but argued that victims in communities across Borno and Kaduna states have largely been neglected. “The rescue of the Oyo victims has demonstrated that determined action can…

Court orders final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to ex-AGF Malami

July 16, 2026July 16, 2026 Aminu Imam

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to the Federal Government. Justice Joyce AbdulMalik, who delivered the judgment yesterday, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), established the reasonable suspicion required by law to justify the forfeiture of the assets. The court ruled that Malami, his family members and companies linked to the properties failed to disprove the anti-graft agency’s allegation that the assets were…

FG grants Shell $11.5/barrel tax credit to unlock $20bn investment

July 16, 2026July 16, 2026 Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has approved a special production-linked tax credit for Shell Plc’s Bonga Southwest Aparo deepwater oil project in a fresh move aimed at unlocking billions of dollars in investment and accelerating Nigeria’s crude oil production. According to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu approved fiscal terms granting Shell and its partners a tax rebate of $11.50 for every barrel of crude oil produced from the project, more than double the standard incentive currently available under Nigeria’s fiscal framework. The report, citing people familiar with the matter…

NPC unveils online birth registration platform

July 16, 2026July 16, 2026 Aminu Imam

The National Population Commission (NPC) says Nigerians can now register births and deaths and obtain certificates online through its newly introduced digital registration platform, eliminating the need for physical visits in many cases. NPC Chairman, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, announced the commencement of the ‘Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics’ system and the ‘VitalReg’ platform at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday. According to Yusuf, the platform became operational nationwide on July 1, 2026, covering the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “Effective 1st July 2026, this transformative initiative…