MTN Nigeria celebrated the nation’s 65th Independence Day by offering a unique 65-second free call for the first national call on October 1, 2025, as part of its “Y’ello Independence Week” campaign running October 1-5, featuring discounts and consumer rewards across the country. MTN allowed its customers to make their very first national call of the day for 65 seconds free, a symbolic nod to 65 years of independence. Alongside the free calls, MTN provided discounts of 10% on 4G routers and 5% on 5G routers, aiming to improve internet connectivity across urban and rural areas. The week-long initiative includes giveaways such as smartphones, ₦20,000 shopping vouchers, and data rewards distributed at events across major cities. MTN’s MoMo Payment Service Bank (MoMo PSB) also contributed to the celebrations by waiving all transfer fees nationwide for 24 hours on Independence Day, fostering financial inclusion and easing everyday expenses for millions of Nigerians. Rosemary Aimankhu, Chief Commercial Officer of MTN Nigeria, said that Independence Day is about freedom, unity, and resilience. She added that by offering 65 seconds of free calls and nationwide free money transfers, MTN celebrates Nigeria’s 65th anniversary in a way that directly supports the everyday lives of millions.
Armed robbers kill ARISE TV anchor in shocking home attack
In the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a respected ARISE TV news anchor and producer, was tragically killed during an armed robbery at her residence in the Katampe area of Abuja. The 29-year-old journalist, also a trained lawyer, was attacked inside her home, prompting police investigations into the violent incident. Maduagwu, fondly known as “Sommie” by colleagues and viewers, was a cherished member of the ARISE News family. The station described her as a vibrant voice that connected deeply with the audience, as well as a professional and supportive colleague beyond her on-air roles. Born on December 26, 1995, she was also recognised for her advocacy work on women’s rights and her professional roles in law before entering the media. A statement from ARISE TV, signed by Hadiza Usman-Ajayi on behalf of management, expressed shock and condolences to Maduagwu’s family and friends, while calling for a “speedy investigation, apprehension and prosecution of the culprits” by the Nigerian Police. The police have confirmed they are actively investigating the circumstances around the robbery that led to Maduagwu’s death. ARISE TV emphasised that while Maduagwu’s voice is now silent, her passion and legacy will endure as part of their collective memory.
Nigeria to tax remote workers’ foreign income at up to 23% starting 2026
Beginning January 2026, Nigeria will require remote workers and freelancers earning from foreign companies to pay personal income tax on these earnings, with rates reaching up to 23%. This move forms part of the government’s efforts to widen the tax net, increase revenue, and align tax policy with the rapidly growing digital economy. In June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed landmark tax reforms into law that explicitly include remote workers and freelancers in Nigeria’s tax system. The reforms stipulate that residents of Nigeria must declare and pay taxes on income earned regardless of whether the money is brought into the country, effectively taxing global income for tax residents. Remote workers earning foreign income will be subject to a progressive tax regime, with annual taxable income rates reaching a maximum of 25%, while many freelancers can expect to pay around 23% after allowable deductions. Freelancers and remote employees working for foreign clients must self-assess and file annual tax returns since foreign employers typically do not withhold Nigerian taxes on their behalf. Failure to comply with tax registration and filing requirements will incur increasing fines, starting at ₦50,000 ($33.59) for failure to register and ₦100,000 ($67.19) for failure to file in the first month, escalating with continued non-compliance. False declarations may lead to fines up to ₦1 million or three years imprisonment.
SEC Warns Nigerians of AI-Generated Fake Celebrity Endorsements in Investment Scams
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria has issued a strong warning about a rising wave of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven scams wherein fraudsters are fabricating celebrity endorsements to lure investors into fraudulent schemes. These AI-manipulated endorsements, including deepfake videos of well-known politicians, celebrities, and TV personalities, are being widely circulated on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram, threatening unsuspecting Nigerians with false promises of guaranteed returns. On Monday, September 29, 2025, the SEC alerted the public to remain vigilant against illegal investment platforms such as CBEX, Silverkuun, and TOFRO, which falsely advertise AI-powered trading systems promising unrealistic profits but operate without regulatory approval or registration. The Commission emphasized that these platforms are not regulated by the SEC and carry significant investment risks. “Scammers are exploiting AI to fabricate endorsements and testimonials that appear genuine. This has made traditional fraud detection methods less effective, hence the need for tech-enabled regulation and greater public awareness,” stated a representative of the SEC. In addition to ramping up surveillance systems that use advanced technology to detect fraudulent activities in real time, the SEC is working closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit for data sharing and coordinated enforcement actions. The Commission has also engaged social media companies to remove misleading advertisements and cautioned influencers about collaborating with or promoting unlicensed investment schemes. “Any influencer or blogger found complicit in promoting illegal platforms will face regulatory sanctions or prosecution,” the SEC warned.
Nigerian scientist’s cassava and yam innovation scales food security across 15 countries
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has honoured Nigerian scientist Dr. Mercy Elohor Diebiru-Ojo after she was named a 2025 Africa Food Prize laureate for pioneering the application of Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology in multiplying cassava and yam seedlings. The award, announced earlier this month at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, recognises her groundbreaking work in improving seed systems for two of Africa’s staple foods. Dr. Diebiru-Ojo shared the prize with Kenyan scientist Professor Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, with each receiving part of the US$100,000 award. Dr. Diebiru-Ojo’s SAH technology enables rapid, clean multiplication of cassava and yam planting materials that are disease-free and vigorous, addressing longstanding challenges in seed multiplication that have traditionally limited crop yields and food security. Unlike conventional methods where planting material multiplication is slow and prone to pests and diseases, SAH provides farmers faster access to high-quality seedlings at scale. The technology has been deployed in more than 15 African countries, including Nigeria, where multiple production facilities are operational, some with government support to empower local farmers. IITA Director General Dr. Simeon Ehui hailed the achievement as a landmark for African agriculture, noting: “It is a proud day for our Institute and a significant moment for African agriculture. Dr. Diebiru-Ojo’s leadership has been pivotal in advancing Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) node culture for cassava and yam, two of Africa’s most important staples. SAH is a clean, nursery-based method that rapidly multiplies disease-free plantlets at scale, lowering risk, shortening time to field, and strengthening seed systems end-to-end.” Dr. Diebiru-Ojo, a plant breeder with a PhD from the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, expressed gratitude to IITA, CGIAR, Nigeria’s National Root Crops Research Institute, and other partners who supported the research. She emphasized that the award is a beginning rather than an end, urging continued efforts towards food security in Africa. The affordability of the SAH technology, dubbed “cassava-in-a-box,” makes it accessible to smallholder farmers, costing around ₦800 per 25 plants in Nigeria, with farmers appreciating its reliability and yield benefits.
Apple tests ChatGPT-like app following delayed Siri AI revamp for 2026
Apple is preparing a major overhaul of its Siri voice assistant, targeting a launch in 2026 as part of an iOS 26.4 update. The revamp will leverage advanced artificial intelligence and large language models to enable Siri to hold continuous, human-like conversations and perform more complex tasks across Apple devices. This ambitious upgrade follows delays due to engineering challenges and marks a pivotal shift in Apple’s AI strategy. According to reports, Apple has developed an internal ChatGPT-like app codenamed “Veritas” to test and refine the new Siri features ahead of launch in 2026. Moreso, Apple is expanding its AI development approach by partnering with major AI companies. The company is in talks with Google to integrate a custom-made version of Google’s Gemini AI model for summarization and web content processing. Apple has also explored talks with Anthropic to use their Claude model for planning functions but has favored Google’s offering due to cost and strategic considerations. Apple plans a three-component architecture for the new Siri: a planner to interpret user input, a search system to comb through the internet and personal devices, and a summarizer to produce final answers. While third-party AI will assist with web searches, Apple will retain exclusive control over processing personal data to uphold privacy standards. The company delayed the original Siri revamp planned for iOS 18 and now aims for a relaunch, responding to growing competitive pressure from rivals like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, which have added more sophisticated generative AI capabilities.