Author name: clickreportteam

The United Nations has warned that terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria and across the West African and Sahel region are becoming increasingly sophisticated, adopting technologies such as drones, encrypted communications and cryptocurrencies to strengthen their operations. The warning was delivered by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Simão, during a briefing to the United Nations Security Council. Presenting the Secretary-General’s report covering developments between November 29, 2025 and June 30, 2026, Simão said armed groups are expanding their operational capabilities while coordinating attacks across national borders. According to him, terrorist organisations are increasingly exploiting advanced communication technologies, drones and digital financial tools, making the security threat more difficult to contain. He noted that the activities of the groups are closely linked to transnational organised crime, with the aim of expanding territorial and economic control, weakening public confidence in government institutions and undermining social cohesion. The briefing came as the Security Council reviewed the political, humanitarian and security situation in West Africa and the Sahel, a region facing persistent terrorist violence, political instability and growing humanitarian challenges. It also followed the council’s decision to extend the mandate of UNOWAS until January 31, 2029. Simão said Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso continue to experience deadly terrorist attacks, kidnappings and heavy civilian casualties. He disclosed that about 6.8 million people have been displaced across the region, while another 1.28 million are refugees or asylum seekers, warning that women, children and young people remain the most affected by the crisis. He added that insecurity and funding shortages continue to restrict humanitarian access in many conflict-affected communities. The UN official stressed that military operations alone would not defeat terrorism, urging governments and international partners to address the underlying causes of violent extremism through poverty reduction, improved governance, education, employment opportunities and humanitarian support. Despite the worsening security situation, Simão pointed to encouraging signs of regional cooperation, including the reopening of the Kamba border crossing between Nigeria and Niger and continued progress by the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission in implementing the 2002 International Court of Justice judgment on the two countries’ land and maritime boundary. He also noted renewed efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to operationalise its standby force, although financial constraints continue to limit its effectiveness. The UN warning comes weeks after the United States announced what it described as the largest seizure of terrorist equipment in Nigeria since the September 11, 2001 attacks. US Deputy Assistant and Senior Director for Counterterrorism, Dr Sebastian Gorka, said a joint operation with Nigerian security forces recovered a large cache of electronic devices and operational materials from jihadist groups and killed 199 militants during a single raid. Security Council members broadly agreed that terrorist networks in West Africa and the Sahel are becoming more sophisticated and increasingly connected to organised crime and illicit trafficking. Representatives from countries including the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Liberia, Pakistan and Burkina Faso stressed that security operations must be complemented by governance reforms, economic development, education, job creation and humanitarian assistance to tackle the root causes of instability. Council members also expressed concern over the growing role of drug trafficking, production and consumption in fuelling insecurity across the region, particularly in coastal West African countries, warning that young people remain the most vulnerable to its effects.

The Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has directed all large taxpayers to complete migration to the National E-Invoicing and Electronic Fiscal System (EFS) by July 31, 2026, warning that companies that fail to comply will face regulatory sanctions. The directive, contained in a public notice personally signed by Adedeji, stated that the revenue agency has commenced compliance monitoring to assess the level of adherence among affected businesses. It warned that organisations yet to complete the migration before the deadline would be subjected to enforcement actions in line with existing tax laws. The directive forms part of the implementation framework for the National E-Invoicing and Electronic Fiscal System, also known as the Merchant Buyer Solution (MBS). In a statement issued by the Chairman’s Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi, the NRS said the latest notice reinforces an earlier public notice released on February 17, 2026, which introduced a phased implementation timetable and made the adoption of the electronic invoicing platform mandatory for large taxpayers. According to the statement, the agency has moved beyond the sensitisation phase and is now actively monitoring compliance across eligible companies. It warned that any organisation found to be in default of the directive could face regulatory and enforcement measures as stipulated under relevant tax laws. The NRS urged all affected companies to immediately complete outstanding registration, onboarding, system integration, testing and validation processes, while ensuring they begin transmitting invoices through the e-invoicing platform before the compliance deadline. The public notice stated: “The NRS has already commenced compliance monitoring activities to assess the level of adherence to the e-invoicing mandate among large taxpayers. Consequently, any defaulting taxpayer may be subjected to appropriate regulatory and enforcement actions in accordance with the provisions of the relevant tax laws and regulations.” It added that the agency remains committed to supporting taxpayers to ensure a seamless transition to the new digital tax administration framework. The NRS defines large taxpayers as companies with an annual gross turnover of N5 billion and above, making them the first category of businesses required to adopt the electronic invoicing system. The agency disclosed that more than 1,000 companies had successfully complied with the directive as of the first quarter of 2026, reflecting growing adoption of the initiative among major corporate taxpayers. To achieve full compliance, affected organisations are required to complete registration and onboarding on the Merchant Buyer Solution, integrate their internal systems through approved Access Point Providers (APPs) or Systems Integrators (SIs), complete all validation and testing requirements, and begin transmitting invoices to the NRS platform in line with approved standards. They must also ensure that invoices received from suppliers carry valid Invoice Reference Numbers (RINs). The electronic invoicing initiative forms a key part of the NRS’s broader digital tax administration reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening tax compliance, reducing revenue leakages and enabling real-time monitoring of commercial transactions across the economy.