Nigerians have called for urgent reforms to the healthcare sector after the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son prompted an outpouring of grief and accounts of negligence and inadequate care. Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, have begun legal action against the hospital, accusing it of medical negligence. The law firm of Olisa Agbakoba, a medical negligence lawyer with two decades’ experience, was one of two that represented the Ugboma family in court. Some people are cautiously optimistic that the high-profile death of Adichie’s’s son will trigger an overhaul of the health regulatory framework. “Right now, I can talk to my children and tell them I fought for their mother even in death,’ he said.

Without stable and reasonably priced electricity, the economy will remain in stagnation. The implication was that in less than a week, electricity allocation to DisCos from the national grid dropped by 520MW. In the 2026 Budget, the Federal Government allocated N1.09 trillion for electricity capital projects. Specific regional projects involve solar and grid extension initiatives in Kano State (₦5.95 billion) and Oyo State (₦2.8 billion). Improving electricity access by adding at least 1GW, according to the World Bank, will raise Nigeria’s average daily dispatched electricity from around 4GW, far below the estimated demand of over 20GW.

Airlines operating international routes out of Nigeria are recording gradual drop in passenger traffic following strict United States (U.S.) visa sanctions that have significantly reduced the number of Nigerians eligible to travel to the North American country. As it stands, Nigeria has no direct flight links between it and U.S, but two United States carriers – Delta and United Airlines operate regular frequencies into the country. It was learnt that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, the two airlines operating to the United Kingdom from Nigeria, are experiencing drop in traffic, while airlines like Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways and others are also having the same unpleasant experience. Though, apart from the two United States airlines mentioned above with direct flights to the U.S, no other foreign airlines operate directly to the country. Akporiaye attributed this to the U.S. visa sanctions, lamenting that travel agents had recorded numerous visa denials within the period.

Two Nigerians, Chukwudi Okafor, 31, and Samuel Eze, 34, who are living in India, have been arrested for allegedly beating their friend, Emeka Christian, to death following a dispute over a woman in Pune, India. The victim objected to this, which led to a quarrel,” a police source told India Today. “What began as a verbal dispute turned into a fatal assault,” Senior Police Inspector Mansing Patil told India Today. This is not the first time Nigerians have been arrested for alleged murder in India. In 2025, the police arrested two Nigerians, Ayoola Babajide and Oghene Igere, over the alleged killing of their friend, also a Nigerian, Lucky Ikechukwu Ijeh.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Wale Oriade, on Thursday recounted his harrowing experience following his release last Saturday after 39 days in captivity. Oriade, in a statement issued in Ibadan, the state capital, revealed that his abductors spoke fluent English and never disclosed their tribe or identity. Oriade expressed deep gratitude to party leaders, the media, security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians who stood by him during what he described as a difficult and mysterious period. The party chieftain explained, “A Nissan Micra vehicle blocked my car. The APC chieftain also urged the government to create more job opportunities for youths to enhance productivity, stressing the importance of unity and resilience in overcoming adversity, and expressed optimism for a better future.

The Senate on Thursday gave an assurance that Nigeria is working assiduously to rebuild its reputation perception on the global stage. He said, “In today’s interconnected world, national reputation is no longer a matter of sentiment or propaganda; it is a strategic asset. Drawing from personal experience, Keshi likened national reputation to family values that must be consciously protected. Nigeria’s global reputation image is on the decline. They valued themselves and believed they had a reputation to protect.”The former UBA board chairman said national reputation had become one of the most valuable but intangible assets of any country.

From left, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye and Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, during the Inauguration of the Council by Governor Makinde, held at House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan. Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday inaugurated a new Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs in Ibadan, with the chairmanship set to rotate among three leading traditional rulers in the state. However, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, one of the foremost monarchs in the state, was conspicuously absent from the event. The inauguration followed the passage of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the Oyo State House of Assembly, a move aimed at strengthening traditional institutions in the state. “So on that basis, I hereby pronounce the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs inaugurated, in person of Kabieyesi Olubadan of Ibadan land for two years.

He said there was no provocation, and it was not clear what happened or what caused O'Neill to do what he did. Whitehall, Santry, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the manslaughter of Mr Lynn on July 30th, 2023. He walked back to where the couple was standing and punched Mr Lynn “with significant force into his head”. Counsel said a single punch caused Mr Lynn to fall backwards, severing an arter,y and he would have lost consciousness straight away. Mr Lynn lived at home with his parents who were hardworking people originally from Co Mayo and Co Donegal.

Udoito is a prominent activist and advocate for the rights of the Ekid people concerning ancestral lands in the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve. Azare said police investigations revealed that the defendant allegedly accused His Excellency, Umo Eno, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, of unlawfully selling ancestral lands in Eket Local Government Area to private entities and misappropriating the proceeds. 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022, and the Internal Security and Enforcement Law, Cap. 4, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022,” the Commissioner said. According to the commissioner, Udoito has been remanded in correctional custody after pleading not guilty to the charges.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has denied a report claiming that the Federal Government has paused the issuance of implementation guidelines for the new tax laws due to uncertainty. A media report (not The PUNCH) had stated that the Nigerian government halted the issuance of guidelines for the implementation of the new tax laws, quoting Oyedele as having instructed the Nigeria Revenue Service and the Joint Revenue Board to wait because the final version of the laws was unclear. He explained that the uncertainty prompted him to instruct his team to obtain a printed copy of the laws from the Government Printer, as stipulated by the Acts Authentication Act. “The Acts Authentication Act says whatever the Government Printer publishes is the evidence of the law that was passed,” Oyedele said. Reacting in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, Oyedele shared a screenshot of a the report headline and watermarked it “Fake News.”

The 2026 Tata Punch facelift has recently been launched in India, with prices starting from Rs 5.59 lakh (ex-showroom). Interior: Black & grey dashboard, black fabric seats, 2-spoke steering wheel and semi-digital cluster. Black & grey dashboard, black fabric seats, 2-spoke steering wheel and semi-digital cluster. Tata Punch Pure+Powertrain Ex-Showroom Price 1.2-litre NA Petrol Rs 6.99 lakh (MT), Rs 7.54 lakh (AMT) 1.2-litre NA Petrol+CNG Rs 7.99 lakh (MT), Rs 8.54 lakh (AMT)Key Features (over Pure): –Exterior: Wheel covers, body-coloured door handles and shark fin antenna. Tata Punch: Engine SpecificationsEngine 1.2-litre petrol 1.2-litre petrol with CNG 1.2-litre turbo petrol Max Power 88PS 73.5PS 120PS Peak Torque 115Nm 103Nm 170Nm Transmission 5-speed manual/5-speed AMT 5-speed manual/5-speed AMT 6-speed manualCompetition CheckThe Punch rivals the likes of Hyundai Exter, Citroen C3, and select variants of Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger and Maruti Fronx/Toyota Taisor.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen drinks from a glass as she attends a joint press conference with Serbia's President after their meeting in Belgrade on October 15, 2025. Business Insider reports on Wednesday that the European Commission confirmed that Nigeria, alongside South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique and Tanzania, had strengthened its AML/CFT regimes and no longer posed “strategic deficiencies” under EU assessment standards. The commission noted that the affected countries had implemented reforms that brought their financial systems in line with international standards set by the FATF. Reacting to the development, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, described Nigeria’s removal from the list as a major boost to investor confidence. Removed from EU’s financial ‘high-risk’ list!Congrats to President @officialABAT on this achievement.

File: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. The Federal Government achieved an 85 per cent capital expenditure performance in the 2024 fiscal year following the extension of the budget implementation period, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has said. Edun said, “In terms of the capital budget. Edun acknowledged that capital expenditure in 2025 would be lower, explaining that the government chose to focus on completing existing projects rather than initiating new ones. He described the capital expenditure outcome as part of a broader fiscal effort anchored on discipline and transparency.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Thursday, presided over the 156th National Economic Council meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. Tinubu gave the directive at the Federal Executive Council meeting held on December 10, 2025. He tasked NEC to collaborate with the Ministry of Livestock Development in developing a roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s livestock industry. At its 155th meeting held on December 18 2025, NEC responded by inaugurating a committee on livestock development to expedite the implementation of livestock production and ranching reforms nationwide. The committee was tasked to review recommendations from the Presidential Livestock Reform Committee and the Ministry of Livestock Development, as well as identify interested states for the programme’s implementation.

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have stepped up cooperation to strengthen border security and curb smuggling activities in northeastern Nigeria, as enforcement agencies intensify coordination along key border corridors. He said Customs remained committed to working closely with sister security agencies in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities. “The visit underscores the importance of inter-agency cooperation in enhancing security operations and ensuring the effective execution of our mandates,” Tako said. In response, Bande described the Nigeria Customs Service as a strategic partner in national security and assured the Customs delegation of the NSCDC’s readiness to provide tactical support when required. He said such support would be particularly focused on border protection and management, adding that security agencies in Adamawa State operate as a unified front.