A former presidential Aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Enugu State, Dr SKC Ogbonnia, has dumped the ruling party. Ogbonnia announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the APC chairman of the Owelli/Amoli/Ugbo/Ogugu ward in Awgu Local Government Area, Enugu State, on Tuesday. In recent months, the Nigerian political space has witnessed a surge in mass defections of lawmakers, governors, and other politicians who have switched allegiance from their former parties to join the ruling APC. Ogbonnia also accused President Bola Tinubu of running a failed government. This is a president who has not only failed in most critical areas of national development, but he is also irredeemable,” he added.

W’Bank projects 4.4% economic growth, cites reforms, export gainsOver the next 25 years alone, an additional 140.3 million people, a figure more than double the current urban population, are expected to live in Nigerian cities, with the urban population projected to reach around 264 million by 2050. Nigeria is expected to be the third most populous country in the world, after China and India, according to a report by the World Bank. Entitled ‘Multi-sector analytical review and pathway to transformation’, the report highlighted that Nigeria’s urban population has grown exponentially over the last 65 years – from just under seven million in 1960 to over 128 million in 2024, with nearly half the urban population living in slums. It is projected that 70 per cent of the population will live in urban areas by 2050, with cities at the centre of the country’s economic future. The World Bank study identified five core challenges that constrain livability and limit the economic potential of Nigerian cities.

by Jon Stojan Journalist @ jonstojanjournalistJon Stojan is a professional writer based in Wisconsin committed to delivering diverse and exceptional content..

Pastor Isaac Oyedepo drops offerings practicePastor Isaac Oyedepo, founder of the Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries, said God instructed him not to collect offerings at his newly launched Sunday services in Abuja. Nigeria, UAE remove tariffs on 13,000 productsNigeria and the United Arab Emirates agreed to scrap tariffs on over 13,000 imported products under the Nigeria–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Owo church attack victims identify suspects in courtIn a court session, victims of the Owo church massacre identified alleged attackers. Governors budget N525bn for security as killings riseState governors collectively earmarked N525bn for security in their 2026 budgets amid rising killings and insecurity across Nigeria. The allocations, intended to strengthen policing and local security infrastructure, come as violent incidents escalate in several regions.

Prices start at Rs. 5.59 lakhAvailable across two powertrain optionsEarlier this week, Tata Motors launched the new Punch facelift in India, with introductory prices starting at Rs. Bookings are currently underway, and while deliveries are expected to begin soon, let us take a closer look at the entry-level offering. Under the hood, the entry-level Smart variant of the new Punch facelift is offered only with the 1.2-litre NA petrol engine mated with a five-speed manual transmission. The model also gets a new 1.2-litre turbo-petrol motor in the higher trims, details of which you can find on our website.

Photo: Oyo State Police CommandThe Oyo State Police Command has rescued a 60-year-old kidnap victim, Isiaku Saidu, in Iseyin, Iseyin Local Government Area of the state. He said, “Over the past week, the command has recorded multiple operational successes, including the foiling of kidnapping attempts, the rescue of abducted victims, and the arrest of murder suspects. “Oyo Police foiled a kidnapping operation in Budo, Iseyin, on January 11, 2026. “Upon receipt of this information, the state Commissioner of Police directed that everything must be done to rescue the victim and apprehend those responsible. On the rescue of another kidnapped victim at Gelede Camp, Komu, in the Itesiwaju Local Government Area, the police said the victim was rescued without any ransom paid and three suspects were arrested.

2026 Tata Punch Vs Rivals – Dimensions ComparedTata Motors have launched the 2026 Punch facelift with prices ranging from Rs. Bookings for the 2026 Punch SUV are currently open. The Tata Punch is the tallest SUV in this comparison, which gives it a better road presence than other SUVs listed in the table above. The Nissan Magnite and the Renault Kiger offer the highest ground clearance of 205mm, followed closely by the 2026 Punch, which sits 193mm off the ground. The Punch offers the second most spacious boot in this comparison, only beaten by the Renault Kiger, which offers 405 litres.

The aggregate figures are driven by a handful of states with particularly large security vote provisions. Edo approved N12.87bn while Benue budgeted N12bn, keeping it among the top tier of states in terms of security vote allocations. By 2025, security vote spending had widened sharply. In Nigeria, security votes are special monthly allocations of public funds reserved by federal and state governments for security-related purposes. “State governments receive special security allocations.

Here is a detailed explainer how the 2026 Tata Punch facelift has evolved from the old Tata Punch. 2026 Tata Punch facelift vs old Tata Punch: Exterior When we talk about the design, the 2026 Tata Punch facelift has received the biggest change at the front. The vertically stacked headlamp clusters come following the design cue of the Tata Nexon and Tata Punch EV. 2026 Tata Punch facelift vs old Tata Punch: Interior & features Like the exterior, the interior of the new Tata Punch has equally been revised to get a refreshed look and more upmarket feel thanks to the revamped layout and new features. The 2026 Tata Punch facelift gets a more contemporary dual-spoke steering wheel with illuminated brand logo, which replaced the conventional steering wheel.

Barq Group and US-based Elroy Air have signed an initial agreement to form a joint venture that will invest $200m in a new manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi to produce the Chaparral autonomous cargo aircraft. The partnership combines Barq Group, a leading provider of smart mobility and logistics solutions across the MENA region, and Elroy Air, a pioneer in autonomous aerial systems for middle-mile logistics. Subject to regulatory approvals, the venture will supply Chaparral systems to commercial and humanitarian customers across the Middle East and North Africa. The aircraft completed the world’s first flight of a turbogenerator hybrid-electric aircraft in November 2023. Ahmed AlMazrui, Chief Executive Officer of Barq Group, described the agreement as “a strategic commitment to Abu Dhabi’s role in shaping the future of mobility.

Moses Itauma’s fight against American Jermaine Franklin has been rescheduled for March after the British heavyweight picked up an injury while training. The 21-year-old is unbeaten in 13 fights while 32-year-old Franklin has 24 wins and two losses on his record. “Unfortunately Moses Itauma has sustained an injury in camp and therefore the Magnificent 7 show has been re-scheduled for 28 March,” promoters Queensberry said. American Franklin has lost just two of his 26 contests, with those defeats coming against Anthony Joshua and Whyte. Itauma stepped into the ring twice in 2025 and had been expected to fight on 13 December before a raft of issues delayed his return.

The Federal Government has announced that Nigeria has eliminated tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the United Arab Emirates, and the UAE has removed tariffs on 7,315 products imported from Nigeria, as part of a new trade pact aimed at expanding market access for Nigerian goods, businesses, and professionals. For trade in goods, the ministry said Nigeria has committed to eliminating tariffs on 6,243 products imported from the UAE. The UAE also committed to eliminating tariffs on 7,315 products imported from Nigeria. Under the agreement, Nigeria will immediately remove tariffs on 3,949 products, representing 63.3 per cent of the total, while phasing out tariffs on 2,294 products over five years. On its part, the UAE will immediately eliminate tariffs on 2,805 products, representing 38.3 per cent of the total, remove tariffs on 1,468 products within three years, and on 3,042 products within five years.

Punch Facelift ArrivesTata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPV) officially launched its all-new Punch facelift on Tuesday, billing it as 'faster, smarter, bolder'. Optimistic 2026 OutlookShailesh Chandra, MD&CEO of TMPV, expressed confidence in robust sales figures for 2026. Milestones and Future AdditionsSeveral key milestones were achieved in 2025, including crossing 2.5 lakh electric vehicle (EV) sales. The Nexon EV became the first EV to surpass the 1 lakh sales mark, while the Tiago model approached 7 lakh sales. Beyond the Punch facelift, incremental volume is expected from the upcoming Sierra model, further bolstering the company's sales projections.

Tata Punch facelift crash tested against a truck at 50km/h shows strong cabin protection, six-airbag safety and five-star Bharat NCAP focus on real-world safety. Tata Motors has officially released a crash test video of the 2026 Tata Punch facelift, and it is one that car enthusiasts will want to watch closely. Tata Punch Facelift: Safety FeaturesThe video clearly captures the rapid deployment of safety systems. Tata Punch Facelift: EngineThe 2026 Tata Punch facelift comes from a 1.2-litre petrol engine, offered in naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. Also Read: Tata Punch Facelift Launched in India at Rs 5.59 Lakh, Bookings Now OpenThe Punch facelift holds a five-star rating under Bharat NCAP for both adult and child occupant protection.

Police have released a fresh plea for a man possibly connected to an incident that involved a teenager being hit with a “coward’s punch” after an Arrowtown wedding. Images were released of a man who police believed could assist them with inquiries about a violent incident which occurred outside the Fork and Tap bar in December. A police spokesperson said they believe the man was part of a wedding party for “Abi and Rob” that had been held at the Arrowtown Bowls Club earlier on December 21. “We are unable to clearly identify him,” the spokesperson said, “and these are the clearest images we can locate.”“One person was seriously injured in a coward’s punch - meaning the punch was served to an unsuspecting victim, not as a result of a fight.”