Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has assumed responsibility for collecting mineral royalties from mining operators nationwide, following new tax laws effective January 1, 2026.

NRS

The shift emerged from a Thursday meeting between Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake and NRS Chairman Dr. Zacch Adedeji. Their joint statement, endorsed by both, confirms NRS now administers all federally collectible revenues, including royalties.

Enacted by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2025, the Nigeria Tax Laws 2025 empower this transition. The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development remains a key partner, supplying pricing data, geological insights, and sector coordination.

NRS Special Adviser Dare Adekanmbi’s statement outlines collaborative steps: a nationwide sensitization program for operators on filing and payments; development of a digital royalty system; and regular joint technical sessions to address issues.

Both agencies pledge orderly, transparent implementation to boost the mining sector. Operators must comply with obligations and join upcoming programs.

The move aims to streamline revenue collection while fostering mining growth.

Microsoft has rolled out a new set of features for its Microsoft 365 Copilot platform, including tools for complex, multi-step work and deeper research tasks, as competition in workplace artificial intelligence (AI) intensifies.

The update introduces Copilot Cowork, a capability aimed at handling long-running tasks across Microsoft 365 applications.

The feature is being made available through the company’s Frontier programme, which typically gives early access to experimental tools.

Microsoft is also integrating technology linked to Claude – an AI model developed by Anthropic –into Copilot, signalling a broader shift toward using multiple AI systems within a single product rather than relying on a single model.

Jared Spataro, chief marketing officer for AI at Work at Microsoft, says the company is positioning Copilot as a system embedded directly into workplace software, rather than a standalone tool.

“Microsoft 365 Copilot is your AI for work,” he says, adding that it draws on multiple AI models and is integrated into existing workflows.

Alongside this, Microsoft has upgraded its Researcher feature, which is designed to analyse information from multiple sources and generate structured reports.

A new “Critique” function separates the drafting and review process between different AI models – one generates an initial response, while another evaluates and refines it.

The company says this approach improves output quality, with Researcher showing gains on its internal benchmark for accuracy, completeness and objectivity.

Another addition, called Model Council, allows users to compare outputs from different AI models side-by-side, highlighting differences in responses and reasoning.

The updates form part of what Microsoft calls “Wave 3” of Copilot, as it pushes to embed generative AI deeper into enterprise software. The move reflects a wider industry trend towards combining models from multiple providers, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to improve performance and reliability.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) has debunked recent circulation of unauthorised information regarding a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO).

In a statement, DPRP noted that several online platforms and unofficial sources have published unverified, and in some instances inaccurate, information relating to a potential offering.

“Such reports do not originate from DPRP and should be treated with caution. All official updates regarding any potential transaction will be communicated strictly through DPRP’s formal public disclosures and announcements issued by its appointed advisers, in line with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

“Accordingly, the public, investors, and all market participants are strongly advised to disregard speculative commentary and rely solely on verified information formally issued by DPRP or its authorised representatives,” the statement said.

The firm assured stakeholders that, when appropriate, comprehensive, and accurate details regarding any proposed transaction will be made available through official channels, including regulatory filings, authorised press releases, and coordinated communications by the Enterprise and its appointed advisers.