The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has received the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, His Excellency Muhannad Halmouri, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja. The meeting, according to a statement from the Ministry on Wednesday, is part of ongoing diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and reviewing consular, humanitarian, and regional matters of mutual concern. “Discussions during the meeting were focused on deepening cooperation between both countries in pilgrimage management and related consular matters.“The diplomatic developments coincide with heightened security cooperation in Nigeria. The United States on Tuesday deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria, marking the first official US military presence on Nigerian soil since airstrikes against terrorist groups on Christmas Day 2025. “The deployment follows agreements between the Federal Government and Washington to strengthen efforts against growing terrorist threats in West Africa.”

Thank God for Dangote refinery, Ojulari tells NigeriansOjulari has praised the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a critical stabiliser of Nigeria’s energy system. Speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit 2026 in Abuja, Ojulari said the refinery had provided NNPC with much-needed breathing space amid challenges of operating government-owned refineries and meeting domestic fuel demand. US sends troops to Nigeria after December airstrikesThe United States has deployed a small team of troops to Nigeria, marking its first official military presence on the ground since airstrikes targeted terrorists on Christmas Day 2025. NNPC ran refineries at monumental loss — OjulariOjulari disclosed that Nigeria’s state-owned refineries were operating at monumental losses, prompting his leadership team to halt operations to prevent further value erosion. Ruling on the motion, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, admitted it for debate after it received overwhelming support from senators.

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Bayo Ojulari, has said Nigeria, as an emerging global energy powerhouse, has the responsibility to utilise its abundant gas resources to power Africa’s rise and contribute meaningfully to global stability. Ojulari made the remarks while delivering his address at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026 held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The NNPC boss said the country’s road to a meaningful future is in its efforts to make use of its abundant gas resources to drive industrialisation and build a foundation for an export-led growth. “Nigeria’s pathway to a prosperous future lies in our collective ability to leverage our resource abundance, especially as gas sits at the heart of our strategy. It is our bridge to a cleaner future, our engine for industrialisation and our foundation for export-led growth,” he stated.

Photo credit: Deborah MusaThe National Councillors Forum of Nigeria has declared its support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general election, citing what it described as bold reforms and tangible grassroots development under his administration. “From urban centres to the most remote villages, our presence is felt, our voices heard, and our commitment to national development remains unwavering,” Nwikegwu stated. “I hereby formally declare our total, unwavering, and unconditional support for His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for re-election in 2027,” he announced. He called on serving and former councillors, ward leaders, grassroots mobilisers, and community stakeholders to begin nationwide mobilisation in support of the President. The Forum expressed confidence that sustained unity at the grassroots would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and accelerate national development.

Ojulari explained that once his management team began a detailed review of refinery operations, the financial reality became immediately clear. But when you look at the net, we were just leaking away value,” Ojulari said. As a result, Ojulari said the first major decision of his administration was to halt refinery operations to prevent further losses and allow for a rapid reassessment. Ojulari acknowledged that the decision to halt operations was politically sensitive, noting that NNPC had historically been pressured to keep refineries running to ensure fuel supply continuity. Ojulari’s comments mark one of the most candid acknowledgements by an NNPC chief executive that continued refinery operations, under prevailing conditions, were economically unjustifiable.

Cross River State Government has commenced the Measles–Rubella Vaccination Campaign, with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners reaffirming their commitment to supporting improved child and public health outcomes across the state. Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Governor of Cross River, Rt. The Chairman of the Cross River State House of Assembly Committee on Health Services, Nutrition and Food Security, Rt. He noted that integrating the Measles–Rubella campaign with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for adolescent girls and strengthening routine immunization reflects a holistic approach to disease prevention. Comfort Oko, the First Lady of Cross River State, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, urged parents and caregivers to fully embrace immunization as a proven means of securing a healthier future for children and communities.

He said, “Dr Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, slumped on the evening of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, while attempting to access his office premises. “The incident followed complications from an untreated knee injury, which caused him to lose balance and fall, resulting in his head hitting the staircase. “Dr Maina is currently receiving intensive medical care and remains under observation. Maina is widely known for his controversial role as head of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms and the high-profile corruption case that followed. Despite the sentence, Maina was released from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja on February 25, 2025, after serving part of his jail term.

An employee of an investment company in Lagos State, Bello Samuel, has been arraigned for allegedly diverting about N90m from the firm’s account for personal use. Samuel was arraigned by the Police Special Fraud Unit before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering. “Following a formal complaint by the affected company, operatives of the unit immediately commenced investigation into the matter,” the statement read. The statement also quoted the Commissioner of Police, Police Special Fraud Unit, Lagos, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, as reaffirming the unit’s commitment to combating financial crimes. PUNCH Metro had reported in January that Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, had convicted and sentenced a 64-year-old former Lagos State education director, Olawale Feliti, to two years and five months’ imprisonment for stealing N48,992,271.73 from Access Bank Plc.

At least 17 Palestinians, including six children, were killed on Tuesday in Israeli strikes across Gaza, hospital officials said, as Israel’s military said it responded to gunfire during an operation in the north of the territory. Hospital officials in Gaza disclosed that the deaths were reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says at least 529 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce took effect. The Israeli military says four of its soldiers have been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period. Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza.

A former spokesperson to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Segun Sowunmi, has announced his intention to run for the Ogun State governorship seat in 2027. Sowunmi made the declaration during an interactive session with his supporters and journalists via Zoom on Tuesday. He said his ambition was driven by the need to tackle insecurity, education and healthcare, among other governance challenges. Sowunmi lamented the lack of continuity in policies and programmes aimed at the development of Ogun State. “We need to design Ogun not to work for the person in Oke-Mosan, but to work for every person in the nooks and crannies of the state.

At least four persons are feared dead following separate cult-related clashes that erupted in different parts of Lagos State over the past week. While official confirmation was being awaited from the Lagos State Police Command on the earlier incidents, PUNCH Metro received another tip-off that a man was killed on Monday morning at Baba Adisa Bus Stop, Ibeju-Lekki. However, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Mrs Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the killing at Satellite Town, describing it as a suspected murder. None confirmed the incidents, except the one at Satellite Town, which was confirmed as a suspected murder. Last year, no fewer than 10 persons were killed within 10 days in incidents related to cult violence in Lagos.

A member of the House of Representatives from Adamawa State, Muhammed Basil, has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from partisan politics and assume the role of an elder statesman. On the chances of the PDP in Adamawa State ahead of the 2027 general elections, Basil said the party remained dominant and had no serious rival in the state. Meanwhile, Abba Atiku, one of the former vice-president’s sons, recently defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress. Another son of the former vice-president, Adamu Atiku, remains a member of the PDP and is currently serving as Commissioner for Works and Energy Development under Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri. Atiku Abubakar is currently a presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, with none of his sons reportedly involved in the party.

At least 40 persons, including children, were reportedly killed by bandits on Tuesday evening in two communities of Woro and Nuku in the Kaiama local government area of Kwara. The Tribune on Tuesday published that bandits in a renewed onslaught attacked two communities of Woro and Nuku in the Kaiama local government area of Kwara state on Tuesday evening. It was also gathered that the bandits had been going around the neighbouring Niger state villages preaching same before they infiltrated the affected communities in Kaiama local government area of Kwara state. “The angry bandits opened gin shot attack indiscriminately on the congregation and no fewer than 40 residents of the two communities died, few of them escaped. “Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is saddened by the cowardly attack on civilians in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama Local Government Area.

African Scrabble have announced a record prize purse of $35,000 for the 2026 Africa Scrabble Championship scheduled to hold in Monrovia, Liberia, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The Pan African Scrabble Association confirmed that the 16th edition of the championship will take place from October 21 to 25, 2026, with the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex on Tubman Boulevard set to host Africa’s leading Scrabble players. Historically, prize money at the Africa Scrabble Championship has been limited to only a small number of top placed players, making the expanded payout structure one of the most significant reforms in the competition’s 32 year history. The Pan African Scrabble Association also revealed that the proposed tournament budget submitted by the National Scrabble Association of Liberia is the largest ever for an Africa Scrabble Championship. The Africa Scrabble Championship was first staged in 1994 and has grown into the continent’s premier Scrabble event, attracting players from across Africa and the diaspora.

The Borno governor had ordered the direct payment of monthly federal allocations to the state’s 27 local government areas. He stated that the decision was aimed at boosting transparency and empowering local government chairpersons to drive grassroots development. The former lawmaker described the directive as commendable and in line with the constitution, democratic due process, and the interests of the masses. The former lawmaker said posterity would remember Governor Zulum’s action as an emblem of transparency and ethical leadership. “I am highly excited that such a succinct directive came from an incumbent state chief executive.