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End-of-Year Special: Major Events That Shaped 2025 in Politics, Power Shifts and High-Profile Deaths

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8 months ago

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Year 2025 birthed numerous events that sparked controversies, debates, and anxieties in Nigeria. It also marked initiations and implementations of strategic decisions by various institutions.

Among these events, as compiled by the Nigerian Tracker News, are some notable ones enlisted below:

The month of January for the year 2025, on the 18th, recorded the fuel tanker explosion near Suleja, Niger State. The gruesomely tragic moment claimed the lives of 86 people killed and 70 others injured.

The month also marked the beginning of the Telecom Tarrif Hike journey in Nigeria. The Nigerian Communication Commission(NCC) approved 50% tarrif increase for telecom operators which sparked public rejection.

In February, the country witnessed series of backlashes between the camps of the former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and the household of the Late General Sani Abacha.

The tumultuous period was as a result of the book written by General Babangida entitled: “A Journey in Service.”

In the book, the retired General acknowledged the shortcomings of his regime in their orchestration against the late Abiola not to be installed as the next civilian president for the nation after a successful election which had him as the winner. General Babangida annulled the election and arrested the late Abiola.

However, in that book he launched in February 20, 2025, after expressing remorse for his action, Babangida claimed Abacha, his then-chief of defence staff, led the forces behind the annulment decision.

But in a statement issued by Mohammed Abacha, the late general’s son, the family described Babangida’s claims as a “deliberate distortion of historical facts”.

The family accused Babangida of attempting to rewrite history, urging Nigerians to be wary of “revisionist narratives” that shift responsibility away from those truly accountable.

In Nigeria, the month of February for the year 2025 was filled with stories surrounding the trio: Babangida, MKO Abiola, and Abacha.

Moving forward in the month of March, the country further witnessed another round of drama in its political sphere.

On the 6th of March, 2025, the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan was suspended for six months following accusations of sexual harassment and abuse of office against the Senate President.

While rigorous exercises of law suits from both parties is still ongoing, the embattled Senator resumed seating in the house in September after expiration of her suspension.

Also, the month of March for 2025 bore the suspension of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the 18th.

President Tinubu imposed a six-month suspension on the Rivers State government and appointed a caretaker governor, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete- Ibas(rtd).

Although the President cited unaddressed attacks on oil pipelines which had led to unrest in the state as reason behind the suspension, the real issue was the leadership tussle between Wike and the governor, Fubara.

On 10th March, the country witnessed the resignation of the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-rufai, from the APC.

The development came as a shock to the Nigerian populace owing to the fact that he was a staunch supporter and advocate of the party. Following his resignation, he vowed to contribute to sending President Tinubu packing from the Villa in the coming 2027 president election.

Moreover, in April 2, 2025, the NNPC Board was dismissed by President Tinubu, marking the end of the then Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kolo Kyari, and the beginning of an era for the incumbent CEO, Bayo Ojulari.

The month of May, however, was ridden by killings and attacks that recorded about 20 persons being killed in Benue and 57 persons in Borno. There was also a record of devastating flood in Niger State, Mokwa, and Okrika in Rivers State.

On June 5 2025 the nation woke up to the announcement of the passing away of Former Minister of education,former NUC executive Secretary ,former minister of petroleum Professor Jibril Aminu.

Another high profile death was the passing away of the former chief justice of Nigeria Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais on June 6th 2025.

Furthermore, in June 28, 2025, the nation received a shocking news of the passing of a renowned industrialist and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata. He died at the age of 94, and he was buried in Madinah as per his wish.

Also, the Tax Reform Acts was signed into law in June 26, 2025. It introduced major changes in the Nigerian tax policy. The Tax Reform Acts will be effective January 1, 2026, including raising the VAT recovery for businesses and exempting small companies (turnover under ₦50m) from several taxes.

In July 2, 2025, the official unveiling of the African Democratic Congress(ADC) as the third force in the political landscape of the nation took place.

Opposition leaders namely: Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir Ahmad El-rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, David Mark, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and others, came together for the coalition.

Similarly in the very month of July, the sudden news of the death of the former President Muhammadu Buhari shook the nation. The late General, at the age of 82, died in London on 13th of July, 2025, after a brief illness.

He was flown back to the country and buried at his modest abode in Daura according to the Islamic rites.

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In the month of August, 23 to be precise, about 76 persons were rescued from gunmen following airstrike by the Nigerian AirForce in Kankara, Kastina State.

The month of September marked the resumptions of the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti from the Kogi Central on the 23, and the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, on the 19.

History, again, would have been written in the October month of 2025. The month was filled with issues spanning security breach and alleged coup plot against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It resulted into the arrest of 16 army officers linked to the coup plot in October 4, 2025, the raiding of houses of former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, who was accused of funding the operation that would have led to the successful coup plot, and the dismissal of the service chiefs on 24th of the same month.

In the same month of October, on 9, the President, through his Special adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the nomination of Prof. Joash Amupitan as the new INEC Boss after the expiration of tenure of Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu. He was later sworn in by the President in the State House on the 23, after facing a rigorous screening session at the Senate.

November month began with the U.S President Donald Trump’s pronouncement of Nigeria as “Country of Particular Concern.” In his tweet on X, on 1 November, Trump stated that Nigerian Christians are facing existential threat in the country as they are being killed discriminately by some Islamic radicalists. He further remarked that Nigeria is a disgraced nation, threatening to invade it with military action if the situation persisted.

The month of November was also marked by several cases of abductions of school children and attacks by bandits and terrorists.

The news of the abduction of 20 girls from Maga School broke the internet on the 17th of November, 2025.

Barely a week after the incident, another case of abduction was recorded in Niger State. Over 300 persons–teachers and school children–were abducted from the school in Papiri, Agwara local government area.

Attacks were recorded in most states in the North Central region of the country.

Similarly, the shocking news of a slain General of the Nigerian Army, General Uba Musa, Commander of the 25 Brigade, reeled the internet. HumAngle, an online news platform that focuses on insecurity, conflicts, and human reporting, narrated how the late General was ambushed by the ISWAP terrorists while on an operation with his troops along Wajiroko Village in Borno State. He was later executed on the 17th of November, 2025.

In the wave of all this, the then Minister of Defense, Abubakar Badaru, tendered his resignation letter. Although, reports have it that he was asked to step aside, but the presidency covered it up with resignation from him on health grounds which was announced on 1 December.

However, political activities took turns during the month as well as defections of politicians and divisions of parties into factions were also recorded.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar formally joined the African Democratic Congress(ADC) on the 24th of November, 2025.

The month also recorded the sentencing of the separatist leader of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on the 20th of November, 2025, and sent to a correctional facility in Sokoto State.

Lastly, the Nigerian government under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu thwarted the coup plot in Benin Republic on 7 December following a distress call by the democratically elected government to its fellow member countries in the ECOWAS.

President Tinubu sent military personnels to the country to restore normalcy in the midst of sudden junta action by some group of officers who are not pleased with the administration of the Benin’s incumbent President.

In other news, on 9th of December, some Nigerian military personnels on a mission to Portugal made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso. The government of Burkina Faso arrested the officers, citing trespasses on their airspace which they termed as “threat” to the sovereignty of their nation. Although, after series of diplomatic engagement by both countries, the officers were released and they continued their journey onward to Portugal.

The December month also recorded the most dramatic moment in the oil industry of Nigeria.

The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on the 15th of December, 2025, accused the former NMDPRA Boss, Engr. Ahmed Farouk, of financial misconduct, including misappropriation of public funds and spending approximately $7 million—without a clear lawful income source—on the education of his four children at exclusive schools in Switzerland.

Dangote further alleged that Farouk undermined Nigeria’s domestic refining sector by colluding with international traders through the continued issuance of import licences. He submitted a petition before the ICPC on the allegations and the commission has summoned him to come for public presentation of documents that can prove him right.

In the midst of this pandemonium, the accused, Engr. Ahmed Farouk, resigned his position as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority(NMDPRA).

The month also bore the outrage sparked by the denting narrative that accompanied the book launched by the family of the late President Buhari on the 17th.

The book entitled “From Soldier to Stateman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari” was authored by Dr. Charles Omole. It had contributions from the late President’s family–wife and children.

Loyalists of the late President Buhari didn’t take it likely with the information divulged by the wife, saying it shows hypocrisy as it doesn’t give the deceased any chance of responses to the claims made by the wife in the book.

On the other hand, the Critics of the late Buhari opined that the revelations by the wife is a vindication of their view about him. Stating that the deceased was a fraud sold to the myopic citizens of the country.

Above all, the information provided by the book is a confirmation to the claim made by Nigeria’s sensational writer, Prof. Farooq Kperogi, who once mentioned that late President Buhari and his Wife, Aisha, were not in good terms before his demise.

To round the recap up, a bomb explosion occurred at Gomboru Market, Maiduguri, on Wednesday evening of 24th. The tragic incident happened in a Mosque during a Magrib prayer session. It recorded five lives lost and 35 others injured.

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Emir of Gumel, Ahmad Muhammad Sani, Dies After 45 Years on the Throne

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2 days ago

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September 3, 2026

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The Emir of Gumel, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad Sani II, has died after more than four decades on the throne, bringing to an end the reign of one of Northern Nigeria’s longest-serving traditional rulers.

Ahmad Muhammad Sani II, who became the 16th Emir of Gumel, ascended the throne in 1980 following the death of his father, the late Emir Maina Muhammad Sani II. He subsequently received his staff of office from the then Governor of Kano State, the late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, in 1981.

His death marks the end of a historic reign that spanned more than 45 years and covered some of the most significant political, social and administrative changes in the old Kano State and, later, Jigawa State.

Before ascending the traditional throne, the late Emir was actively involved in public service and politics. He served as Commissioner for Information, Internal Affairs and Culture in the Kano State Government during the administration of Governor Abubakar Rimi between 1979 and 1980.

His transition from political office to the traditional institution came after the death of his father in December 1980. Historical records indicate that Ahmad Muhammad Sani was selected to succeed his father on December 16, 1980, while his formal presentation with the staff of office followed on May 29, 1981.

As Commissioner for Information, he was associated with important developments in the media sector of the then Kano State. Records indicate that during his tenure, he played a role in the establishment of Triumph newspaper and CTV67 television station, now associated with the state’s television broadcasting history, while also overseeing the expansion of Radio Kano.

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His educational background was also notable. He attended Gumel Primary School and Hadejia Middle School before graduating from Kano High School at Rumfa College in 1961. He later obtained qualifications in Public Administration from the Institute of Administration in Zaria, now part of Ahmadu Bello University, and pursued further studies in Political Science and International Relations at Ohio University in the United States.

Before entering politics, Ahmad Muhammad Sani had worked with the Gumel Native Authority and later joined the Immigration Department, where he was posted to Ngamboru Ngala in present-day Borno State. He subsequently served as a senior government official in the Kazaure Divisional Office before moving into politics in 1978.

His long reign as Emir of Gumel made him one of the most experienced traditional rulers in Northern Nigeria. The Jigawa State Government describes him as the 16th Emir of Gumel and records that he had remained on the throne since 1981.

Over the years, the Emir became associated with efforts to promote peace, education, community development and the preservation of traditional values. His palace also played a role in mobilising communities around government programmes, including public health initiatives.

The World Health Organisation, for instance, previously identified the Emir of Gumel as one of the traditional rulers who played an active role in promoting immunisation activities in his emirate. The organisation reported that he publicly vaccinated his own children as part of efforts to reassure communities about the safety of polio vaccination.

Even in the later years of his reign, the Emir continued to participate in peace-building and community affairs. In 2025, he was represented at a farmers-herders peace meeting in Jigawa, where his message emphasised dialogue and mutual understanding as essential to achieving lasting peace.

In December 2025, the Emirate marked his 45th anniversary on the throne, with prominent national and traditional figures, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Sultan of Sokoto, participating in activities associated with the anniversary.

His death therefore comes after a reign that began in the final years of the Second Republic and continued through successive military governments, the return to democratic rule in 1999, the creation of Jigawa State and several generations of political leadership.

The Emir of Gumel’s reign also represented a unique bridge between political administration and traditional leadership. Having served as a senior political office holder before becoming a monarch, he brought extensive experience of government and public administration to the traditional institution.

With his passing, the Gumel Emirate loses a monarch whose tenure lasted more than four decades and whose public career had already begun before his accession to the throne.

Details concerning his burial arrangements, the circumstances surrounding his death and the process for selecting his successor are expected to be announced by the Gumel Emirate Council and the Jigawa State Government

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Uber Shutdowns Operations in Nigeria

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3 days ago

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September 2, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Ride-hailing company, Uber, has shut down its operations in Nigeria.

In a statement, the company, which came into Nigeria in 2014, said its exit is effective from September 2, 2026.

“We are writing to share some difficult news. After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective 2 September 2026.

“Since we first launched in Lagos in 2014, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of your daily life connecting you with independent transportation providers.

“Whether it was a morning commute, a ride to see loved ones, or exploring the city, thank you for trusting the platform to connect you to a driver to get you there safely. We know this may cause disruption to your routine, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

In a memo on Wednesday, the ride-hailing company also announced elimination of roughly 3,300 positions.

The job cuts focused on management and coordination roles, according to its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.

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“Today, we’re making a number of significant organizational changes across Uber. We are removing layers, simplifying team structures, refining our global location strategy, and focusing our people and investments against the biggest opportunities ahead of us.”

“As a result, we will be reducing the size of our team by about 10%. Everyone whose role has been affected has already been notified, except in countries where we will follow the required local process.

“This wasn’t a decision we made lightly, because it will have a real impact on our teammates and friends who have worked hard for Uber. It’s important to say that these changes are about how we’re organized and what we’re prioritizing, not about anyone’s contributions to Uber, which we will always value.

“I’m sure you’re asking, ‘Why, and why now?’ particularly since our business is performing so well. Over the last 5+ years, Uber has grown by orders of magnitude, with our top line nearly tripling. We’ve built new products, expanded into new businesses, reached more consumers and supported more earners, and become a much larger and stronger company. But that growth has also brought complexity: more layers, more coordination, more fragmented ownership, and in some cases structures that made sense when businesses were smaller but no longer serve us well at our current scale.

“Our opportunity from here is enormous: we have the chance to bring Uber to hundreds of millions more people; to invest even more in drivers, couriers and merchants; and to innovate across our core businesses and build the autonomous future.

“The changes we’re making today are designed to do two things: make Uber simpler and faster, and create more capacity to invest in our future. A leaner organization will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating. It will also generate savings that we intend to reinvest in growth, innovation, and the capabilities that will matter most over the coming years.

“It’s our job as leaders to make these difficult calls, and to give you transparency into our thinking and our decision-making process.”

The layoffs are the latest round of job cuts for Uber, which eliminated roles in customer service and HR earlier this year.

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Author of ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ Languishes in Billion Dollar Debt

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3 days ago

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September 2, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the bestselling ’Rich Dad Poor Dad’ book, has accumulated an estimated $1.2 billion debt connected to his aggressive real estate investment.

According to reports, the debt is the estimated amount the 79-year-old author and his business partners borrowed to acquire approximately 1,500 property units as Mr Kiyosaki continues to expand his real estate holdings.

Despite the significant debt, Mr Kiyosaki does not appear apprehensive about the liabilities, maintaining that borrowing money to acquire income-generating assets is a strategy commonly used by wealthy individuals.

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“So, I’m a billion two in debt,” the author said on the ‘Get Rich Education’ podcast recently, adding that people “should not do what I do, right? But I studied it since 1974… If you’re going to learn to use debt, you’d better take some education.”

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Mr Kiyosaki’s ex-wife and business partner, Kim Kiyosaki, revealed that the debt did not reflect the amount her ex-husband personally owes.

She stressed that it is connected to the real estate properties owned by them and their business partners, adding that Mr Kiyosaki’s personal share of the liabilities is small.

Vanity Fair estimated Mr Kiyosaki’s share of the debt at around $30 million to $60 million.

“We have a lot of apartment houses with our partners. So technically, yes, we have all this debt,” the ex-wife told Vanity Fair.

Speaking to the magazine, Mr Kiyosaki stated, “If it all comes to hell, you can talk to my attorney. Firewalls—that’s the way the rich play the game.”

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