President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on January 27, 2026. Trump has taken more serious punches in the past month than in the year since his return to office a year ago. President Donald Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House on October 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Reeling, Trump turned his attention back home. The people of Minneapolis reminded Trump who really has the clout in our system.
(Photo by Darya NAZAROVA / AFP)Kyiv said on Thursday that it had received from Russia 1,000 remains of people that Moscow said were Ukrainian soldiers killed fighting the Kremlin’s army. The exchange of prisoners of war and the remains of killed soldiers is one of the few remaining areas of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky confirmed an exchange had taken place, writing on Telegram that the Russian side had received the remains of 38 killed Russian soldiers. Medinsky said the exchange was made possible as part of agreements struck between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul earlier last year. Tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed on both sides since Russia invaded, though neither side regularly publishes data on their own casualties.
The Lagos State Police Command has denied claims that its officers shot at residents protesting the demolition of their homes, insisting no gun was fired during Wednesday’s demonstration. Protesters from communities including Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin and Oko Baba marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding proper relocation plans, compensation, and justice for residents who reportedly lost their lives during past demolition exercises. PUNCH Online reports that tensions escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa when demonstrators were denied entry. Responding to the reports, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, told Channels Television on Thursday, “No gun was fired. “We spoke with the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who promptly — despite being in recess — sent five honourable members to appeal to them.
He said the future of Nigeria’s defence and security capability would be built locally through indigenous innovation and strategic partnerships. “By localising production, it will open pathways for export and regional leadership in defence manufacturing. According to him, DICON was established to drive indigenous defence manufacturing, reduce reliance on foreign supply chains and position Nigeria as a credible producer of military and security equipment. The country imported over ₦5.06tn worth of armoured vehicles, compared to ₦1.81tn spent on petrol—a difference of ₦3.25tn, with armoured vehicles accounting for 35.87 per cent of total imports,” he said. Nigeria’s renewed push for indigenous defence manufacturing comes amid rising security challenges and growing concerns over the high cost and sustainability of importing military and security equipment.
A burst of heavy gunfire and explosions erupted early on Thursday near the international airport in Niger’s capital Niamey before halting within hours, residents told AFP. The capital’s Diori Hamani International Airport houses an air force base and is located about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the presidential palace. The shooting began shortly after midnight, according to residents of a neighbourhood near the airport. According to ACLED, an NGO that tracks conflict casualties globally, jihadist violence killed nearly 2,000 people in 2025 in Niger. A huge uranium shipment with an unknown buyer, which left the country’s north in late November, has also been stuck at the airport for weeks.
File photo: Director-General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-ErewaThe controversy generated in Nigeria over President Bola Tinubu’s brief stumble during his official visit to Türkiye has been dismissed as “silly” by Turkish officials, according to Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa. On ground here in Ankara, their officials were shocked to learn that it was an issue in Nigerian media/blogs,” she wrote. According to her, one of the Turkish officials described the attention given to the incident as “silly and mischievous,” stressing that the visit itself was being widely celebrated in Türkiye. A video of the moment, shared by Turkish digital news platform Nefes Gazetesi and later circulated on X, showed Tinubu walking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before briefly losing his balance. A business forum was also expected to be held on the sidelines of the visit to connect Nigerian and Turkish investors.
The Kano State Government has assured residents of the state that the lingering emirate tussle in the state would soon be resolved. “The Kano emirship tussle will soon be resolved amicably because the state government is committed to dialogue with stakeholders,” Waiya said. He explained that the government’s approach is guided by respect for the rule of law, traditional institutions, and the collective interest of the people of Kano State. The law repealed the Kano State Emirates Council Law of 2019 and dissolved the emirate councils created under the previous administration. On the political future of the deputy governor, who has not defected alongside the governor, Waiya said the decision remains a personal choice.
Hyundai Exter Facelift: DesignThe spy shots of the prototype reveal that the split-style headlamp setup and the H-shaped LED daytime running lights will stay the same. Also Read: India-Spec Volkswagen Tayron R-Line Unveiled; Features, Specs, And MoreImage Source- Rushlane (Hyundai Exter facelift)Hyundai Exter Facelift: Interior, FeaturesThe mid-cycle update is expected to bring a variety of changes to the interior of the 2026 Hyundai Exter. Hyundai Exter Facelift: PowertrainOn the mechanical side, the facelifted 2026 Hyundai Exter will retain the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which is also offered with the Hy-CNG Duo kit. Hyundai Exter Facelift: Expected LaunchThe Hyundai Exter was first launched in the Indian market in 2023 and became a competitor to the Tata Punch, which has recently undergone significant updates. With a facelift version in development, the Exter is expected to intensify the competition with its Tata rival.
The payments, the court heard, included wages for a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner at the former minister’s property. The court was also told that about £4.6m was spent refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire allegedly linked to her use. “Those interested in the award and retention of lucrative oil and gas contracts provided significant financial and other advantages to Alison-Madueke. Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who faces one count of bribery relating to her and another of bribing a foreign public official. Her brother, Doye Agama, 69, a former archbishop, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and is attending the trial by video link for medical reasons.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, the Senate stressed the need for a more deliberate review process. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, underscored the importance of caution, particularly as preparations for future elections intensify. The council said Muslims across the country would not recognise or legitimise any election conducted under the leadership of an INEC chairman whose integrity, it claimed, is under a cloud. “How can Nigerians, especially Muslims, repose confidence in an INEC chairman who has been linked to such a divisive narrative,” the council’s president questioned. He warned that proceeding with elections under the current INEC leadership could worsen tensions.
The CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 recorded a landmark digital footprint, generating a record 6.1 billion digital impressions and 5.2 billion video views across social media platforms. For comparison, AFCON 2023 recorded approximately 2.1 billion digital views, meaning the 2025 edition nearly tripled that total. “The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 is now the most viewed football continental competition, generating an extraordinary 5.2 billion video views,” CAF said. According to the body, one of the biggest areas of growth came from the African diaspora, with millions of new users engaging with AFCON 2025 content throughout the tournament. “From breathtaking goals and dramatic match moments to behind-the-scenes access and fan reactions, content from TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 travelled at remarkable speed across borders, languages and cultures, reinforcing the competition’s status as a truly global spectacle.
A yet-to-be-identified male roadside trader was injured on Wednesday after a railing attached to a bridge under construction collapsed on him in the Ojuore area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. Akinbiyi said the trader was trapped beneath the fallen railing before being rescued by sympathisers, TRACE officials, and site engineers. He said, “A serious accident occurred today at the Ojuore road construction site when a section of the railing of the bridge under construction unexpectedly gave way. “The victim’s family has since taken custody of him and transported him to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention,” Akinbiyi added. He noted that efforts were ongoing to remove the fallen railing, while TRACE officials and the police remained at the scene to manage traffic and ensure safety.
The Federal Government has earmarked over N13.12bn for the procurement of arms, ammunition and related equipment for Nigeria’s security agencies in the 2026 appropriation bills. The Nigerian Air Force accounts for the largest share of the allocation, with N6.13bn set aside for various aircraft platforms, arms and ammunition. The Nigerian Immigration Service has been allocated N702.7m for arms, ammunition, webbing and ballistic protection equipment, while the Nigeria Police Force will receive N1.03bn for arms, ammunition and protective gear. The Department of State Services is expected to spend N1bn on arms and ammunition under the 2026 budget. Analysts note that unless further procurements are approved, Nigeria’s arms acquisition spending could decline further in 2026 despite mounting security challenges across the country.
Crude oil production opened the year strongly at 47.70 million barrels in January, before falling to 41.02 million barrels in February. Production rebounded in the final quarter, reaching 43.44 million barrels in October, 43.08 million barrels in November, and 44.08 million barrels in December, according to the NUPRC. Applying this average price to Nigeria’s total crude oil production of 530.41 million barrels, estimated gross crude oil revenue for 2025 stood at approximately $38.23bn. Converted at an exchange rate of N1,450 to the dollar, this translates to about N55.5tn in crude oil earnings for the year. Missed targetIn the 2025 budget, Nigeria planned to produce at least 2.1 million barrels of oil (crude oil and condensate) per day.
Those in attendance included the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Idris; Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru; Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu; Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo; Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia; Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno; Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among others. Last year, the APC unveiled a detailed timetable of activities for its nationwide ward, local government, state and zonal congresses, which will culminate in the party’s national convention. The emergency-style consultation by the APC leadership is coming at a time of unprecedented political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the ruling party recording its biggest wave of defections since it took power in 2015. The defected governors are Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State, from the Peoples Democratic Party); Peter Mbah (Enugu State, PDP); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State, PDP); Douye Diri (Bayelsa State, PDP); Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State, PDP); Agbu Kefas (Taraba State, PDP); Abba Yusuf (Kano State, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party); and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State, PDP). Control of these congresses is seen as crucial, as they will ultimately shape the composition of the party’s National Working Committee at the March national convention.
