The Pan Niger Delta Forum reconciliation committee set up to mediate in the Rivers State political crisis has met with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, the two actors in the rift. Igali said the committee was made up of respectable Nigerians who are making headway and that both Wike and Fubara are cooperating with the members. If Wike and the governor were not ready to cooperate, they would not meet with them (committee). Accoring to him, a crisis in Rivers State will affect the entire country. “It is not about the growth of democracy and development in Rivers State or Nigeria.

The Sultanate Council has directed Muslims across the country to look for the new moon of Sha’aban 1447 AH on Monday, January 19, 2026. This was disclosed in a notice signed by the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Prof. Sambo Junaidu, and made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday. According to the statement issued by the Advisory Committee under the Sultanate Council, Monday corresponds to the 29th day of Rajab 1447 AH, making it the appropriate day for the crescent sighting that will determine the commencement of the Islamic month of Sha’aban. “The Committee wishes to inform the Muslim Ummah that the search for the new moon of Sha’aban 1447 AH should commence on Monday,” the statement read. “May Allah guide us and grant us success in fulfilling this duty,” the statement said.

A former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has described former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, as one of the enduring pillars of Nigeria’s democratic journey. Adewole stated this in a statement released in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday, to mark Akande’s 87th birthday. “In an age of political convenience, Chief Akande has remained a symbol of conviction,” he added. PUNCH Online reports that Akande rose through the ranks of public service with discipline, integrity and an unwavering commitment to the common good. He served as governor of Osun State between 1999 and 2003 under the Alliance for Democracy.

Responding to questions on whether he was aware of allegations that the police arrested peaceful protesters in Ekpoma, the IG said the police were often unfairly accused after violent incidents that occurred under the guise of protests. “When people have committed criminal offences during protests, we are used to narratives that the police arrested peaceful protesters,” Egbetokun said. “In the case of Ekpoma, of course, the police will not go after anybody who participated in a peaceful protest. The IG stressed that violence, looting and destruction of property, not peaceful protest, were the concern of the police. Egbetokun disclosed that 52 persons were arrested in Ekpoma, insisting they were not peaceful protesters but individuals allegedly involved in criminal activities.

A fire incident has gutted part of Leventis Plaza in Abuja, affecting a tailoring workshop located on the first floor of the commercial complex. The Federal Fire Service said the fire was suspected to have been caused by an electrical surge. “‎The Federal Fire Service successfully responded to a fire incident at Leventis Plaza, affecting a tailoring workshop on the first floor. Abraham noted that as a result of the response, property valued at about ₦900 million was saved out of an estimated ₦1 billion. Their timely intervention resulted in the protection of property valued at approximately 900,000,000 Naira out of an estimated 1,000,000,000 Naira prior to the incident.

The Nigerian Air Force has neutralised more than 40 terrorists in coordinated close air support and air interdiction operations at Azir and Musarram areas of Borno, disrupting planned attacks and bolstering ongoing ground operations. This was contained in a statement released by the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, on Sunday in Abuja. He said the NAF aircraft, in the early hours of January 16, swiftly responded to a distress report at Azir, where troops were engaged with terrorists withdrawing from the area. “On arrival, the aircraft sighted about 10 canoes and over 40 suspected terrorists, who were engaged in multiple passes, throwing them into disarray. Aneke said the operations demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led air power and close air–ground coordination in denying terrorists freedom of action.

During the leave, the President attended the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where he witnessed the signing of a major trade agreement between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the President’s return in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi trip,’ issued on Saturday. On the sidelines of the 2026 summit, Nigeria and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement aimed at strengthening bilateral economic ties. Both President Tinubu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing ceremony. The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week is an annual global initiative convened by the UAE to promote dialogue on sustainability, climate action and energy transition.

The promise of AI – the promise AI companies make to investors – is that there will be AI that can do your job, and when your boss fires you and replaces you with AI, he will keep half of your salary for himself and give the other half to the AI company. It’s why big investors are giving AI companies hundreds of billions of dollars. But no one is investing hundreds of billions in AI companies because they think AI will make radiology more expensive, not even if that also makes radiology more accurate. When really what they’re demanding is a world where 30% of the investment capital of the AI companies go into their shareholders’ pockets. Seven AI companies currently account for more than a third of the stock market, and they endlessly pass around the same $100bn IOU.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations 8 Division, Olaniyi Osoba, on Sunday. “This visit is part of our initial assessment following the safe return of Tidibale residents who were threatened by bandits. The GOC urged residents to support troops with timely intelligence, noting that information sharing was vital for early response and community defence. Community leaders said the insecurity had disrupted farming cycles, the backbone of the local economy, and deepened rural vulnerability. Speaking on behalf of the community, Sarkin Arewa, Alhaji Ibrahim, described the Army chief’s visit as reassuring for residents gradually returning home after months of instability.

In the suit, SERAP argued that Nigerians have a right to know how public funds meant to protect lives and property are being utilised. “Nigerians ought to know in what manner public funds, including security votes meant to ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians, are spent by the governors and the FCT minister,” the organisation said. The rights group argued that the Nigerian Constitution does not support secretive spending of public funds, stressing that democracy demands transparency and accountability. “The framers of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] never contemplated opaque spending of public funds as security votes,” SERAP said, noting that citizens’ right to know promotes openness and strengthens democratic governance. “There is a significant risk of embezzlement, misappropriation or diversion of public funds collected by the states and FCT as security votes,” the organisation argued.

“In terms of the capital budget, the budget, at the end of the day, is a law of the National Assembly. They extended the 2024 budget for the full year to ensure that projects were completed,” the minister told the audience. “Debt service is an obligation, and the government will find ways to meet it, but capital expenditure often suffers neglect. For the 2025 budget, only 17 per cent of the capital expenditure has been released. The 2024 budget was initially set at N35.06tn, with N13.77tn earmarked for capital expenditure.

Williams’ family lost four homes in the Eaton fire, which killed 19 people and destroyed about 9,500 buildings. “Immediately people saw dollar signs.”Altadena is known for its thriving Black community that moved there when redlining kept them from buying homes elsewhere. But freeway construction displaced Black residents including the Williams family. Together, the freeway construction and redlining pushed the Williams family closer to the fire-prone San Gabriel mountains. A rose and a black homes matter sign on a lawn Left: A blooming rose surrounded by burned vegetation on a burned lot in West Altadena Right: Black Homes Matter sign in West Altadena.

2026 Tata Punch – All Exterior Colour Options (Variant-Wise) | V3CarsTata Motors launched the 2026 Punch on January 13, 2026. In this article, we’ll explore all the exterior colour options for the new Punch. The new Punch facelift is available with 6 monotone and 6 dual-tone exterior colour options. The white exterior colour option is available with all the variants of the Tata Punch. Grey (Pure Grey)The grey exterior colour is available across all variants of the Punch.

The Deputy President- General of the Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has urged President Bola Tinubu to pardon the jailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, as part of measures to secure his 2027 re-election. In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Isiguzoro said pardoning Kanu, suspending the newly introduced tax law, and fully implementing the 2014 National Conference report would help stabilise the polity. The Igbo leader added that Tinubu also needs to accelerate the completion of major infrastructure projects and consider the creation of additional states. The Ohanaeze chieftain argued that granting Kanu a presidential pardon would immediately ease political tensions in the South-East and weaken separatist agitations ahead of 2027. “If Tinubu implements the 2014 Confab report, he will rewrite Nigeria’s political history and outsmart those plotting against him.

In part because of the excellent playing conditions, this has been an Africa Cup of Nations devoid of shocks. The World Cup will suffer from the same flaws. Like Senegal, Morocco are looking for their second Cup of Nations triumph but, 50 years after their previous success, there is real urgency about their quest. Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/ReutersThe sense so far has been of a Cup of Nations that has been almost too slick, too polished. That may yet be redeemed by a thrilling final but, with the World Cup and its inflated narratives looming, there is a risk that this becomes a forgotten Cup of Nations.