The United States will hand over two top regional commands in NATO to European countries, diplomats said Monday, as President Donald Trump presses allies to take greater responsibility for their defence. Washington will transfer leadership of NATO’s Naples command, which focuses on the alliance’s south, to Italy and leadership of its Norfolk command in Virginia, focusing on the alliance’s north, to Britain. The United States will meanwhile take over the command of NATO’s maritime forces, based in the United Kingdom. The shuffling of NATO command positions comes as Washington has said it could reduce its defence presence in Europe to focus on other threats like China. But US NATO ambassador Matthew Whitaker separately on Monday insisted that the US leader was looking to strengthen, rather than “dismantle”, NATO by making Europe step up.

Residents of Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina are celebrating the release of notorious bandit leader, Abdu Lankai, who was abducted by fighters loyal to Bello Turji, amid fears that his death could have collapsed a fragile peace agreement in the area. His abduction sparked widespread anxiety, forcing residents to shut down shops and restrict movement over fears that renewed violence could erupt. ALSO READ: Alleged N37.4m fraud: Court orders remand of suspectFor six tense days, Jibia residents lived in fear. Hundreds of residents thronged the Mallamawa area of Jibia to celebrate his return, describing it as a restoration of normalcy and stability. Speaking after his release, Lankai thanked God for sparing his life and called for lasting peace.

The family of late Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 22-year-old Microbiology undergraduate of the University of Benin, has lamented the delay in securing justice for their daughter, nearly six years after she was raped and murdered inside a church in Benin. Omozuwa was allegedly attacked on May 27, 2020, when she went to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Edo Province 10, Ikpoba Hill, Benin to study in a quiet environment. While inside the church, she was reportedly assaulted, raped and struck on the head with a fire extinguisher by yet-to-be-identified persons. Also speaking, the elder sister of the deceased, Sandra Omozuwa, appealed to the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, to intervene by revisiting the case and ensuring that justice is delivered within a reasonable time. “I want to appeal to Nigerians and the Edo State Government to please come to our aid.

The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission have unveiled a joint framework to tackle the growing problem of failed airtime and data transactions, which have left consumers frustrated after payments are processed without service delivery. The regulators seek to clarify accountability, standardise complaint resolution timelines, and create a coordinated system for addressing grievances across both the financial and telecommunications sectors. The CBN emphasised that the framework represents a collaborative effort between the banking and telecommunications sectors to protect consumers and streamline complaint resolution processes. In January, Nigerian banks and telecommunications companies were given a deadline of March 1, 2026, to implement a new refund framework developed by the NCC and CBN to address these complaints. Director of Consumer Affairs at the NCC, Freda Bruce-Bennett, disclosed that the framework also establishes a Central Monitoring Dashboard to be jointly hosted by the NCC and the CBN.

Every year, thousands of Nigerian students preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or Direct Entry (DE) are first mandated to generate a JAMB profile code. In this article, Tribune Online finds it worthy to explain how to generate your JAMB profile code for the 2026 admission cycle in a simple, straightforward way. Before then, I’d like to walk us through what exactly a JAMB profile code is. A JAMB profile code is a unique 10-digit number linked to your personal details through your National Identification Number (NIN). Step-by-Step: How To Generate Your JAMB Profile CodeTo make the processes easy for you, I have put together a step-by-step guide on how to generate your JAMB profile code:Step 1: Open Your SMS AppUse the phone number you intend to keep throughout your admission process.

Amos Magaji, disclosed that the sum of N36 million (representing 0.1 percent) only has so far been released but not utilized due to the bottom-up cash plan policy initiated by office of the Accountant General for the Federation (oAGF). According to the Minister, Nigeria’s health sector is guided by Vision 20:2020, the Medium-Term National Development Plan (NDP) 2021–2025, and the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) II. He said the overarching goal of the Nigerian Constitution and the National Health Act (NHAct) is to guarantee the right to health for all Nigerians, noting that the 2016 National Health Policy provides the implementation framework for translating the provisions of the National Health Act and the Sustainable Development Goals into improved health outcomes and wellbeing for citizens. “The principles of Universal Health Coverage are central to the National Health Policy objective of strengthening Nigeria’s health system—particularly the Primary Health Care subsystem—to deliver quality, effective, efficient, equitable, accessible, affordable, acceptable and comprehensive health services to all Nigerians,” he said. He added that the National Health Policy 2016, themed “Promoting the Health of Nigerians to Accelerate Socio-economic Development,” provides the foundation for the National Strategic Health Development Plan II and supports accelerated implementation of the National Health Act, 2014.

He noted that despite repeated amendments to the Electoral Act with every election cycle, the same structural weaknesses persist, forcing courts to determine election outcomes long after votes have been cast. The apex court held that electronic transmission, being contained only in INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines, could not be treated as legally binding evidence in election petitions. Without explicit statutory provision, electronic transmission remains optional and legally inconsequential, no matter how transparent or efficient it may be,” he said. Drawing lessons from history, Agbakoba pointed to the June 12, 1993, presidential election as Nigeria’s benchmark for electoral credibility. According to him, mandatory electronic transmission would combine immediate verification with tamper-proof digital records, delivering transparency with greater efficiency, security and verifiability.

Updated information from the World Bank website indicates that the project has reached the decision meeting stage, the final internal stage before approval by the World Bank Group’s board. “Please note that projects or operations under preparation, as indicated on the World Bank website, can be subject to changes,” the source said. “Until the World Bank Board approves them, elements such as design, components, and financing envelopes may be revised or adjusted. This represents 41.3 per cent of the country’s external debt, underscoring the bank’s dominant role in financing Nigeria’s development initiatives. When grants are added, total World Bank support rises to about $9.77bn within the three-year window.

Reacting swiftly, the Osun State Government dismissed the allegations as unfounded and politically driven. The governor’s spokesperson, Molawale Rasheed, in a counter statement described the claims as spurious alarms intended to distract the public from broader governance issues. “The people of Osun are discerning and will not be misled by narratives designed to create fear,” he said. The government also called on security agencies to remain vigilant, not against peaceful expression, but against any attempt to exploit public gatherings for violence. “Security operatives should prevent any group from hijacking legitimate concerns to cause instability,” the spokesperson added.

Starzs to sign shipbuilding contractNigeria may see fresh investment by indigenous shipowners following the return of more than $27 billion in oil and gas Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) and the long-awaited activation of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF). Tugboats, which support anchoring and crude export operations, remained in demand as long as Nigeria continued exporting oil. NIMASA’s Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, said the revised interest rate reflected the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on indigenous operators. Beyond Nigeria, indigenous operators are also looking outward, as Ogbeifun disclosed that the lessons of the downturn had reinforced the need to think continentally rather than nationally. Speaking on human capital, Ogbeifun stressed the challenge of providing mandatory sea-time training for cadets, a costly obligation many shipowners struggle to meet.

Led by Dr Usman Bugaje, a former member of the House of Representatives, the MCE is demanding a total departure from manual processes. The coalition’s primary demand is the mandatory electronic transmission of results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Without decisive reforms, the 2027 elections face a crisis of legitimacy that will open the doors to political instability,” Bugaje stated. In a scathing contribution, renowned political economist Professor Pat Utomi described the state of the nation as dangerously on the brink. “If these demands are not implemented, we must take it that the powers-that-be are ready for war with the Nigerian people,” Utomi warned.

2026 Tata Punch EV Facelift Revealed Ahead Of Launch | V3CarsTata Motors have revealed the exterior design of 2026 Punch EV facelift ahead of its official launch later this month. The Punch EV facelift gets subtle cosmetic updates, focused mainly on revised plastic elements, while sheet metal remain unchanged. Tata Punch EV Facelift: What’s Changed On The Outside? At the front, the Punch EV facelift gets a reworked fascia with a cleaner, more EV-specific design. The Punch EV facelift is expected to retain the following features from the outgoing model:10.25-inch digital instrument clusterVentilated front seats360-degree surround view cameraWireless phone chargerConnected car technologyElectric sunroofAuto-dimming IRVMAmbient lighting6 airbags as standardTata Punch EV Facelift Battery, Range And PerformanceThe 2026 Punch EV facelift is expected to retain its existing battery and electric motor options.

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Monday, affirmed the decision of the Senate to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti, holding that the red chamber acted within its powers. The appellate court held that Senator Natasha was wrong on the February 20, 2025, incident when the Senate President allocated a new seat to her and refused to accept the order. To worsen the situation, the Court of Appeal held that the refusal of Senator Natasha to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Petition and Privileges did not help her matter. However, the court faulted the contempt charge against Senator Natasha and the N5 million fine imposed on her by Justice Binta Nyako. According to the Court of Appeal, the failure by the trial court to serve forms 48 and 49 on the Kogi Senator was fatal.

L-R: The ADC governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Niyi Aborishade, the state Chairman, Yinka Olona and the state Deputy chairman, Tiamiyu Abidikungun during the programme in Ibadan. The Chairman of the African Democratic Congress in Oyo State, Yinka Olona, on Monday said Governor Seyi Makinde is free to join the party if he is willing to abide by its rules and internal democratic processes. Speaking on reported defection rumours, the ADC chairman said the party’s doors remain open to all interested political actors but warned that no individual could hijack its structure. He stressed that the party operates a strong internal democratic system that must be respected by new entrants. “The difference between our party (ADC) and others is very clear.

At least four people, including a woman and her child, were killed overnight in Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, local officials said on Monday, as Moscow launched missiles and drones across several regions. In the eastern town of Bohodukhiv, a woman and her 10-year-old son were killed in a residential area, officials said. In the southern port city of Odesa, one person was killed and two others injured, according to regional Governor Oleh Kiper. He said residential infrastructure and a gas pipeline were damaged in an attack on a building and accused Russia of committing “another war crime … against civilians”. READ ALSO: US, Russia to Reestablish High-Level Military-to-Military DialogueIn the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, at least nine people, including a 13-year-old girl, were wounded in drone strikes, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said.