Rivers State

From emergency powers to education reforms, increased passport fees, and strengthened security strategies, 2025 was marked by a series of impactful government actions across Nigeria.

Some decisions stirred debate, others offered optimism, but collectively they left lasting effects on the country.

Here are the 10 most significant government decisions that shaped 2025.

Emergency Rule in Rivers State
In March 2025, the Federal Government imposed emergency rule in Rivers State, suspending the governor, deputy governor, and all state lawmakers for six months. The action followed a prolonged political standoff in which the governor dissolved the state assembly.

Analysts linked the tension to a fierce power tussle between former governor-turned-FCT minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

During the emergency period, retired Navy vice-admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe served as Sole Administrator. The government said the intervention was essential to restore order and safeguard critical oil infrastructure.

By September, the Federal Government ended the emergency, reinstated all suspended officials, and returned the state to normal governance. The restoration followed what authorities described as improved cooperation among political actors.

Opposition parties criticised the move as an overreach, insisting the president lacked the authority to remove elected officials simply through an emergency declaration. Although governance was restored after six months, the debate over federal authority persisted.

2. New national school curriculum for 2025/2026 session

In 2025, the federal government introduced an updated national curriculum for primary and secondary schools ahead of the 2025/2026 academic session. The revised syllabus expanded vocational, technical, and digital-skills training, signalling a stronger shift toward practical learning.

The curriculum also enhanced national history, heritage, and civic education components. One of the most notable changes was the introduction of trade-oriented and vocational subjects, even at the basic and junior secondary levels.

For parents, teachers, and students, the curriculum overhaul was one of the most visible education reforms of the year. It also sparked discussion on whether schools have the resources and capacity to deliver hands-on training effectively.

3. Passport Fee Hike to ₦100,000

In August, the Nigeria Immigration Service announced new passport fees: ₦100,000 for the five-year passport and ₦200,000 for the ten-year version. Previously, they cost ₦50,000 and ₦100,000. The new pricing took effect on September 1, 2025.

NIS said the increased fees would support automated processes, minimise delays, and enhance passport security. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo stated the reforms would enable applicants to receive their passports within a week, a major shift from the long waiting periods previously experienced.

Despite these assurances, many Nigerians criticised the hike as excessive and urged authorities to consider concessions for low-income citizens. Labour groups and civil society bodies, including the Nigeria Labour Congress, described the increase as burdensome amid ongoing economic strain.

4. Nationwide security emergency and mass recruitment of police and forest guards

In November, amid growing concerns over kidnappings, banditry, and insurgency, the Federal Government declared a national security emergency. It announced plans to recruit 20,000 additional police officers and authorised the deployment of forest guards to confront armed groups operating in remote areas.

President Bola Tinubu said the decision was vital to safeguard lives and stop insurgent activities from spreading further. He instructed security agencies to prioritise rescue efforts and secure high-risk locations such as schools, worship centres, and rural communities.

The declaration echoed heightened public frustration with insecurity and signalled a more assertive federal security approach. Whether the new recruits and forest-guard deployment will bring lasting improvements remains uncertain.

5. Tax Overhaul

In June 2025, the president signed four major tax reform Bills into law — the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025 (NRS), and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025.

These reforms repealed numerous outdated tax laws, eliminated overlapping statutes, and created a centralised revenue-collection agency.

The overhaul aims to simplify tax processes, widen the tax base, and reduce revenue leakages. It represents a major shift that could influence business operations and the country’s fiscal structure.

6. Nigeria finally moves to fill ambassadorial posts

After more than two years of delays, President Bola Tinubu submitted three non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation in November 2025. The nominees included Kayode Are, Aminu Dalhatu, and Ayodele Oke.

This step ended a lengthy diplomatic gap that had left many embassies and high commissions operating without substantive ambassadors.

The vacuum had drawn criticism from analysts, diaspora organisations, and opposition groups, who argued that Nigeria’s diplomatic influence and consular support suffered as a result.

Although confirmation is ongoing, the move positions the government to reassert its diplomatic presence after years of limited representation abroad.

7. Tinubu replaces top service chiefs

In October 2025, President Tinubu conducted a major restructuring of the military’s leadership — replacing most of the service chiefs in a wide-ranging overhaul designed to strengthen the nation’s security apparatus.

Key changes included:

Olufemi Oluyede — previously Chief of Army Staff — appointed Chief of Defence Staff, succeeding Christopher Musa.

Waidi Shaibu became Chief of Army Staff; S.K. Aneke was appointed Chief of Air Staff; and Idi Abbas became Chief of Naval Staff.

Only one top official, Chief of Defence Intelligence E.A.P. Undiendeye, retained his position.

The presidency said the restructuring was aimed at fortifying Nigeria’s security framework.

The shake-up took place amid widespread insecurity, including insurgency, banditry, and unrest in multiple regions. Many viewed the appointments as a clear attempt to recalibrate strategies for modern security challenges.

8. Maryam Sanda case — Clemency controversy

In October 2025, the federal government initially listed Maryam Sanda among 174 convicts granted clemency — reducing her sentence for the 2020 culpable homicide conviction. She had been sentenced to death for the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute in 2017.

The decision sparked immediate public outrage. The deceased’s family condemned the inclusion, describing it as reopening old wounds and calling it unjust.

Opposition groups and civil society leaders warned that pardoning someone convicted of a capital offence could erode confidence in the justice system.

Following the uproar, the presidency revisited the list. By late October, Sanda was removed from the full pardon category and her sentence was instead commuted to 12 years in prison.

The final clemency list was significantly reduced, removing several individuals convicted of serious crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and weapons offences.

9. Pardons & Honours: 2025’s Reckoning With History and Mercy

In October 2025, President Tinubu exercised his constitutional powers of clemency — issuing pardons, sentence reductions, and national honours in a sweeping reconciliation effort.

Among those pardoned posthumously were notable national figures: Herbert Macaulay — whose 1913 conviction had stained his legacy — and Mamman Jiya Vatsa, executed in 1986 and widely believed to have been wrongly sentenced.

Clemency was also extended to the Ogoni Nine — including Ken Saro-Wiwa — executed in 1995 for their activism against environmental harm in the Niger Delta. Their pardon was hailed as symbolic justice and the correction of long-standing wrongs.

The clemency list also included living inmates convicted of various offences — many recognised for rehabilitation, remorse, or good behaviour.

In total, the exercise covered 175 people through pardons, commuted sentences, reduced terms, and recognition for both deceased and living recipients.

10. NELFUND 2025: Student Loans, Opportunities and Oversight Challenges

In 2025, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund continued expanding financial support for students in tertiary institutions, easing tuition burdens and living costs, even as oversight concerns lingered.

By March 2025, NELFUND had disbursed ₦45.1 billion in loans nationwide, assisting thousands of undergraduates with tuition and upkeep. By May, total disbursement reached ₦56.85 billion, supporting 298,124 students across 198 tertiary institutions.

The 2024/2025 loan cycle concluded successfully on September 30, 2025, with a new application window opening from October 23, 2025, to January 31, 2026, for both returning and newly admitted students.

Loans were split between direct tuition payments and living allowances, offering relief to families grappling with rising education expenses.