Four major aviation unions have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the management of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, warning that failure to conclude the long-delayed review of staff Conditions of Service will result in a total withdrawal of services across the institution. Staff of NCAT have at different times complained that workers in other aviation agencies, such as the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, enjoy better welfare packages than they do. According to the statement, NCAT management has repeatedly failed to conclude the review of the institution’s Conditions of Service despite several engagements, meetings, and assurances given to staff unions over time. “Given its status as the centre of aviation excellence in Nigeria, we have consistently supported management as partners in progress,” the unions added. Contacted, NCAT spokesperson Jude Amadi said he was not aware of the ultimatum but promised to confirm and revert to our correspondent.

2026 Tata Punch Facelift – Variant-Wise Powertrain Options | V3CarsTata Motors launched the 2026 Punch on January 13, 2026. For 2026, Tata Motors are offering the Punch with 2 petrol engine options – a 1.2L normal petrol and a 1.2L turbo petrol – as well as a 1.2L CNG bi-fuel option with the choice of both a manual and AMT automatic transmission. Prices for the Punch 2026 range from Rs. 2026 Tata Punch Powertrain SpecificationsHere are the power and torque specifications of the 2026 Tata Punch facelift:2026 TATA PUNCHPOWERTRAIN SPECS Engine 1.2L Normal Petrol 1.2L Turbo Petrol 1.2L CNG Bi-Fuel Power 88PS @ 6000rpm 120PS @ 5500rpm 73PS @ 6000rpm Torque 115Nm @ 3250rpm 170Nm @ 1750-4000rpm 103Nm @ 3250rpm Transmission 5-speed MT5-speed AMT 6-speed MT 5-speed MT5-speed AMTThe new turbo petrol engine makes the Punch the most powerful SUV in its segment. Check out how the normal petrol, turbo petrol and CNG engines of the Punch facelift compares against rivals such as the Hyundai Exter, Maruti Suzuki Fronx, Nissan Magnite and the Renault Kiger by tapping the links below:Also Read: 2026 Tata Punch Vs Rivals – Petrol Specs Compared2026 Tata Punch Vs Rivals – CNG Specs ComparedHelpful Tools:

Suspected assailants have killed a housewife and her four children, including an infant, in their home early on Saturday in Kano, The Guardian gathered. The ugly incident occurred in the early hours, and everyone is under tense situation now. The neighbour who came out of the house told us she found everyone in the house in a pool of their blood. The entire Dorayi Chiranci and Dorayi Babba cannot sleep with their eyes closed. While the entire circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear, security operatives said an investigation had since commenced on the horrifying incident.

No fewer than 248 passengers narrowly escaped death on Friday night after a Qatar Airways aircraft developed a technical fault mid-air and was forced to make an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that the aircraft, which was fully loaded with 248 passengers and 12 crew members, encountered the problem while airborne within Nigerian airspace, triggering distress alerts and an immediate emergency response. According to a preliminary report by LASEMA, obtained by PUNCH Online, the agency said it activated the state’s emergency response plan immediately upon receiving the distress call through its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines. Eyewitnesses at the airport described tense moments as emergency responders lined the runway, while passengers on board braced for an unexpected landing. LASEMA explained that upon arrival at the scene, its Lagos Response Team discovered that the aircraft had already conducted a forced landing due to technical issues.

The Anambra State Police Command has revealed that a male suspect, Ifesinachi Ezeolu aged 28 years, as the person inside the violent masquerade that carried out several unprovoked attacks on residents during a festival in Awgbu community, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state. Following the development, the Anambra State Police Command arrested the masquerade and took him into custody. However, a press statement released on Saturday by the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, revealed that the 28-year-old suspect was behind the masquerade. The statement read in part, “The Anambra State Police Command has revealed a male suspect, Ifesinachi Ezeolu aged 28 years as the person inside the violent conduct displayed during the outing of a masquerade in Awgbu community. “The command also emphasizes that masquerade activities, like all public gatherings, must be conducted peacefully and within the confines of the law.

The Nigerian Army has recorded a major peace milestone in Cross River State with the voluntary surrender of militants under the state government’s amnesty programme in Akpabuyo Local Government Area. The militants came from two camps. The second, headed by John Isaac, also known as Akpokolo and popularly called the Akpokolo Marine Forces or Border Boys, presented forty-one fighters. The 13 Brigade commended the Cross River State Government, led by Governor Bassey Edet Otu, for its “unwavering commitment to peace, security, and stability,” and emphasised the importance of civil-military collaboration in sustaining security. The army urged the public to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to maintain a safe and secure Cross River State.

The Association also said that by protecting innocent lives at great personal risk, the Imam stood firmly on the side of humanity. “The late Imam Abubakar Abdullahi will forever be remembered for his rare moral bravery and selflessness at a time of grave danger. In a world often divided by suspicion and hatred, the Imam stood as a bridge-builder and a living symbol of what true religion represents,” CAN said. The statement recalled that in recognition of his exceptional service to humanity, Imam Abdullahi was honoured with an award during the association’s Sapphire Anniversary celebrations in 2021. CAN added that they believe that such courage as demonstrated by the late Imam deserves not only remembrance but amplification.

Budgetary personnel allocations to some federal universities in the country have recorded a substantial increase following the Federal Government’s approval of a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff and the introduction of new and enhanced allowance packages, Saturday PUNCH findings have shown. In the 2026 budget, the Federal Government allocated N3.52tn to education, representing 6.1 per cent of the N58.18tn national budget. Institutions captured under this category include the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Jos, University of Calabar, University of Ilorin and the University of Abuja. Others are the University of Port Harcourt, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Modibbo Adama University, University of Uyo, University of Maiduguri, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Bayero University and Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. Ahmadu Bello University followed, as its personnel allocation increased from N34bn to N44.5bn, reflecting a N10.5bn rise, or roughly 31 per cent.

There are strong indications that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, may head to court to challenge the emergence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, as Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. The inauguration followed the passage of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the Oyo State House of Assembly. The late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, also went to court. The late Alaafin was the permanent chairman of the Oyo State traditional council, and he stated this clearly in all his letters. Similarly, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, declined to comment on the matter.

They checked my phone, my siblings’ phones, my father’s phones — he was using two phones at the time — and then my mum’s phones. My dad started asking questions — where are you taking my wife to? Why didn’t you raise the alarm and tell the media and civil rights organisations about your parents’ ordeal? We didn’t know where they were. During those four years, did you have any contact with your parents at all — at least on the phone?

Plane turns back to Adelaide twicePassengers on a QantasLink plane have endured two mid-air scares as the aircraft was forced to turn around and head back to Adelaide twice.

No fewer than 248 passengers narrowly escaped death on Friday night after a Qatar Airways aircraft developed a technical fault mid-air and was forced to make an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that the aircraft, which was fully loaded with 248 passengers and 12 crew members, encountered the problem while airborne within Nigerian airspace, triggering distress alerts and an immediate emergency response. According to a preliminary report by LASEMA, obtained by PUNCH Online, the agency said it activated the state’s emergency response plan immediately upon receiving the distress call through its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines. Eyewitnesses at the airport described tense moments as emergency responders lined the runway, while passengers on board braced for an unexpected landing. LASEMA explained that upon arrival at the scene, its Lagos Response Team discovered that the aircraft had already conducted a forced landing due to technical issues.

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd), has said the Federal Government doesn’t pay ransom to kidnappers and terrorists. He said, “I do not encourage that because if you continue to pay terrorists and kidnappers, everyone will join. “Government doesn’t pay ransom to rescue anyone from terrorists. This country is big; if soldiers swing into action and cover a particular location, the terrorists immediately move to another location,” he said. “We are cooperating with neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, because this fight requires a collective effort,” he said.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is now undoubtedly the most successful commercial story in the history of African football as the commercial success of the Competition has led to over 90 percent increase in the CAF revenues at the onging tournament in Morocco. This, according a statement made available to The Guardian by CAF, is driven by an significant increase in the commercial partners of CAF, increase in media rights distribution and also CAF venturing into new markets most notably the Far East, China, Japan while also consolidating traditional markets.

The Lagos State Government has ordered a postmortem on nine-month-old identical twins, Testimony and Timothy Alozie, who reportedly died about 24 hours after receiving routine immunisation at a primary health care centre in the state. According to him, a nurse at the health centre advised that the children be given paracetamol if their temperature rose. He rejected preliminary explanations from the health centre that the deaths might have been caused by “food bacteria.”“The nurse is talking about bacteria, food bacteria. She said that it is food bacteria that killed my children. How can food bacteria kill a child?