Understanding what life in Nigeria is really like today requires looking beyond headlines and statistics to see how actual people navigate their daily existence in Africa’s most populous nation. What Economic and Security Challenges Define Nigerian Life Today? Seven Steps to Understanding Contemporary Nigerian LifeIf you want to truly grasp what life is like in Nigeria today, here’s a practical framework based on years of observation:1. Understanding this informal sector is key to understanding Nigerian economic life. Living in Nigeria Today: The VerdictAfter all this research and reflection, what’s the actual answer to “what is life like in Nigeria today”?

The Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy & Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has clarified fears about the use of Tax Identification Numbers for bank accounts ahead of the January 2026 rollout of new tax regulations. He urged Nigerians not to panic, noting that the TIN requirement primarily applies to business accounts to facilitate efficient tax administration. He posted, “𝐓he 𝐅ear: Your bank account will be frozen without a Tax ID, and you will be automatically debited from January 2026. “𝐓he 𝐅act: Tax ID (TIN) is only required for income or business accounts. The Tax ID requirement is for ease of administration, not punishment, and applies primarily to business accounts.

City enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 pre-Christmas win over Premier League strugglers West Ham to stay just two points behind leaders Arsenal. And while the manager confessed to a degree of seasonal excess, he expects his players to have maintained their fitness standards. “Forest away has always been tough, especially in this period and especially with an important person in the history and the legacy like Mr Robertson, who unfortunately passed away,” said Guardiola. “It has always been a tough, tough place to go – for the crowd, especially for the quality they have,” he said. “The team invested a lot in the last years and was promoted in the Premier League and they are a really, really good side.”

(Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Mohamed Salah scored as 10-man Egypt beat South Africa 1-0 in Agadir on Friday to become the first qualifiers for the knockout stage of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa have three points, and Angola and Zimbabwe one each after they drew 1-1 in Marrakesh earlier. Midway through the opening half a pattern had developed — Egypt were pushing forward regularly while South Africa defended with calmness and solid tackling. A rare South Africa attack ended disappointingly as Lyle Foster struck a weak shot that was comfortably saved by 37-year-old Mohamed El Shenawy. Awarded a free-kick close to the touchline, South Africa performed an intricate, multi-pass move that ended tamely as El Shenawy clutched a cross.

Arne Slot believes Hugo Ekitike’s run of five goals in four matches indicates the striker has heeded the Liverpool manager’s advice when it comes to improving his fitness. Ekitike only managed three goals in his next 17 matches as the British record signing struggled to get to grips with the repeated demands of English football. Slot believes much of Ekitike’s recent progress can be attributed to better physical condition, although the Dutch boss said he had to convince the forward that such work was needed. “He showed a lot of hard work to get to this fitness level where he is at the moment,” Slot said ahead of Saturday’s match at home to basement club Wolves. “I also think we have been a bit more lucky than in the games before because we have played games where we were so much better than the other teams.

The National Assembly has initiated an internal investigation into allegations that certain provisions of the recently passed tax reform laws were altered after approval by lawmakers and presidential assent. “The Leadership and management of the National Assembly are addressing these matters strictly within its constitutional and statutory mandate,” the statement said. It added that the relevant committees of the National Assembly, working with its management, had commenced an internal review to clarify the issues raised. “Accordingly, the relevant Committees, in collaboration with the Management of the National Assembly, are conducting an internal review,” it stated. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee investigating alleged discrepancies in Nigeria’s gazetted tax laws pledged to submit its report as soon as its work is concluded.

Gelson Dala put Angola ahead midway through the first half and recalled Musona levelled deep in first half added time. Angola recovered quickly to establish control and took the lead after 24 minutes through Qatar-based striker Dala. Hugo Marques, the 39-year-old Angola goalkeeper, had his head heavily bandaged before continuing after a collision with an opponent. After Angola were dispossessed in midfield, Zimbabwe counterattacked swiftly and a superb pass found Musona inside the box. As both sides sought a second goal and the lead, Marques rescued Angola 12 minutes from the end of regular time with an acrobatic one-hand save from substitute Tawanda Chirewa.

National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Chief of Staff to the President, Rt-Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Principal Private Secretary to the President Hakeem Muri-Okunola during the Jumat Prayer at the Lekki Central Mosque, Lagos State. President Bola Tinubu joined Muslim worshippers on Friday at the Lekki Central Mosque in Lagos for Jumat prayers. “You cannot satisfy everyone at the same time,” Dr Arriyadhi told Tinubu. Femi Gbajabiamila, and National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, was welcomed at the mosque by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and the mosque management.

NAHCO equipment and an Air Peace Embraer 195-E2 aircraft at the Lagos airport following a ground handling incident. Photo: Air PeaceFlight operations involving a newly acquired Embraer 195-E2 aircraft belonging to Air Peace were disrupted on Friday following a ground handling incident at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. According to Air Peace, the aircraft, with registration number 5N-BYH, was scheduled to operate Flight P47750 from Lagos to Accra at the time of the incident. Air Peace added that the Embraer 195-E2 involved is part of its new fleet acquisitions, describing the damage as significant. Achimugu said, “Air Peace has suffered a lot of these technical issues through no fault of theirs.

A couple were killed in South-West Niger this week after armed individuals fired into the air inside a church, locals told AFP on Friday. ACLED, a non-governmental organisation monitoring conflicts around the world, said nearly 2,000 people had died as a result of such violence in Niger this year. Christians were attending mass in the church when armed individuals came in and fired into the air. Relations between Christians and Muslims in Niger are generally peaceful. Suspected jihadists are nonetheless blamed for attacks on churches in the western region of Tillaberi between 2018 and 2021, and the killing of 111 Muslim worshippers in Tillaberi this year.

(Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)Israel on Friday formally recognised Somaliland as an “independent and sovereign state” and signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties, as the region’s leader hailed its first-ever official recognition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “announced today the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state”, his office said, making Israel the first country to do so. The president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, hailed the move, saying it marked the beginning of a “strategic partnership”. Israel has been trying to bolster relations with countries in the Middle East and Africa. Historic agreements struck late in Trump’s first term in 2020 saw several countries, including Muslim-majority United Arab Emirates and Morocco, normalise relations with Israel.

The US’s Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State targets in Nigeria have been met with praise by Donald Trump supporters who for months had been agitating for the president to respond forcefully to the killings of Christians in the country. Death to all Islamic terrorists! North Carolina senator Ted Budd, a Republican, said that IS “is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Christians & religious minorities in Nigeria”. “I said, ‘Nope, let’s give a Christmas present,’” Trump remarked to the outlet. Hegseth on Friday warned of additional US strikes against IS targets in northern Nigeria.

Members of the state Fire Service during the operation at Amosun Compound, Aremo in Ibadan. Three persons were rescued with minor injuries after fire destroyed three bungalow residential buildings at Amosun Compound, Aremo, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday. In a statement, Akinwande said, “The agency received a distress call at exactly 00:15 hours today (Friday) from Mr Mayowa about a house on fire at Amosun Compound, Aremo, Ibadan. In a related development, the Oyo State Fire Service said it had doused a fire at Ajibade Street, opposite Guarantee Trust Bank, Mokola, Ibadan. “On arrival, we found heaps of refuse burning and threatening nearby buildings.

A female soldier, identified as Mohammed and two children were injured in an explosion involving a hand grenade at Maraba, Abacha Road, Nasarawa. The grenade reportedly detonated while being handled, injuring the soldier and two children belonging to the woman who presented the device. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the grenade was brought by a yet-to-be-identified soldier serving in the North East three years ago. The soldier left the grenade in his sister’s room, who is living in the same compound as Mohammed. Also, two children of the woman who brought out the grenade were severely injured,” the report said.

A practical first step is to learn the basics of forex trading and then align a simple plan with current liquidity patterns. What Better Liquidity Means For TradersHigher liquidity does not remove risk. Execution Tips For A More Liquid MarketA better market still punishes poor planning. ConclusionNigeria’s forex market is expanding because liquidity and access are moving in the right direction. The edge still comes from a simple plan, firm risk rules, and steady review.