Media community pays tribute as The Punch reporter, Matthew Ochei, dies
It was a black Tuesday for journalists in Delta State and the Nigerian media as a correspondent of The Punch, Mr Matthew Ochei, died in the early hours of yesterday, after a brief illness. Ochei passed away at about 2:00 a.m., aged 43, leaving behind his wife, Mrs Uche Matthew Ochei, and three children. We pray that God will console you and give you the right frame of mind to bear this loss,” Oyowe added. Also speaking, the chairman of the Asaba Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Ifeanyi Olannye, described Ochei’s death as a painful personal and professional loss. As colleagues, friends and the wider media community mourn his passing, Ochei is remembered not just as a reporter, but as a committed professional whose voice helped sustain journalism in difficult times.
Source:The Guardian
January 07, 2026 03:32 UTC
Which State in Nigeria is Very Cold?
Plateau State unequivocally claims the title of Nigeria’s coldest state, with Jos serving as its perpetually cool capital. Plateau State dominates as Nigeria’s coldest state not just because of absolute minimum temperatures but because coolness pervades the entire state consistently throughout the year. Comparing Plateau State with other relatively cool Nigerian locations clarifies why it deserves the “coldest state” designation. Plateau State is Nigeria’s very cold state, with Jos maintaining average temperatures of 22-24°C year-round due to its elevation at approximately 1,200 metres above sea level. Plateau State maintains colder average temperatures across the entire state compared to Taraba State because elevated terrain covers most of Plateau State, creating consistent coolness affecting millions of residents daily.
Source:The Guardian
January 07, 2026 01:39 UTC
Burning BRT bus causes traffic on Third Mainland Bridge
A Lagos State BRT bus was engulfed in flames on the Third Mainland Bridge on Tuesday afternoon, disrupting traffic movement around the Adekunle axis inward Iyana Oworo. The incident was confirmed by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on its official X account. Traffic officers were deployed to control the flow of vehicles and reduce gridlock while fire suppression efforts continued. Because so many commuters depend on it to move between Lagos Mainland and Lagos Island, even a brief disruption can quickly cascade into heavy congestion. These incidents call for regular vehicle maintenance and stricter safety inspections to ensure passenger safety and prevent prolonged traffic congestion.
Source:The Guardian
January 07, 2026 01:18 UTC
Dias, Gvardiol sidelined as Man City face defensive crisis
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola gestures on the touchline during an English Premier League football match. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES. AN ADDITIONAL 40 IMAGES MAY BE USED IN EXTRA TIME. /Ruben Dias will be sidelined for up to six weeks and Josko Gvardiol is out for “a long time” as Manchester City battle a growing defensive crisis, manager Pep Guardiola said on Tuesday. City announced on Monday Gvardiol was facing a lengthy lay-off with a tibial fracture to his right leg he suffered in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 22:28 UTC
Chelsea interim coach to lead team against Fulham
Chelsea’s under-21 head coach Calum McFarlane will take charge of the first-team squad for tomorrow’s Premier League trip to Fulham, the club has confirmed. McFarlane, who has led Chelsea’s Under-21s since the summer, oversaw Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City following the departure of Enzo Maresca. Speaking at a media conference at Cobham on Monday, shortly after the appointment of Liam Rosenior as Chelsea’s new head coach, McFarlane provided an update on the transition. “I spoke to Liam briefly last night, and he’s really excited to take the role. “It was a brief conversation, and I understand he will be at Cobham later today, so I’m sure I will catch up with him more on that.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 22:07 UTC
Man Utd coaching job beyond ‘wildest dreams’, says Fletcher
Manchester United interim boss Darren Fletcher said Tuesday that leading the club was beyond his “wildest dreams” but insisted he has not considered replacing the sacked Ruben Amorim. “It’s an amazing honour to be able to lead a Manchester United team,” he said. “Everyone expects Manchester United to be on the top and winning, that’s the standard, that’s what we all have to try and achieve,” said a bullish Fletcher. He was asked what his United team would look like. “Hopefully it looks like a Manchester United team that represents a bit of me, I think in terms of what I know is Manchester United,” he said.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 22:00 UTC
Algeria 1-0 DR Congo: Africa Cup of Nations last 16 – as it happened
DR Congo will hope to pick their heads back up in time for the World Cup qualifiers in March. Share15h ago 18.39 GMT Full time: Algeria 1-0 DR Congo Wow, wow, wow, WOW! Algeria 1-0 DR Congo (Boulbina 119) ALGERIA WIN IT AT THE DEATH AND WHAT A GOAL TO WIN IT! Share16h ago 17.54 GMT End of 90: Algeria 0-0 DR Congo Some good chances in the second half but it remains goalless. DR Congo also make two changes with Kayembe and Kakuta coming on for Mukau and Sidiki.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 21:15 UTC
Unexploded bombs discovered in Niger village
Three bomb explosives have been discovered in a nearby bush, a few metres away from Ganaru village of the Zugurma district of Mashegu local council area of Niger State. A source from the community revealed that the farmers who were going for their farming activities discovered the explosive devices planted by the roadside and raised the alarm on Monday, 5th January 2026. Chairman of Mashegu local council, Mr Jibrin Egade, who confirmed the report, stated that the area has been protected from the people to avoid an explosion that could lead to casualties. Alhaji Mohammad applauded the government at all levels for their swift response, urging them to maintain the tempo of protecting the lives of the people. It would be recalled that this comes barely two days after over 30 people were grossly slaughtered in Kasuwa Daji market by terrorists in Borgu local council of Niger State.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 20:58 UTC
Resident doctors to withdraw services from January 12
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has directed its members in 91 tertiary health institutions across the country to withdraw their services completely and indefinitely from 12:00 am (midnight) on Monday, January 12, 2026. He said the MoU arose from NARD’s 19 demands, which address critical welfare, remuneration and professional practice issues affecting resident doctors nationwide. Suleiman accused the ministry of deploying delay tactics aimed at preventing resident doctors from negotiating their remuneration with the government for the next one year. He also frowned at delays in transmitting salary arrears owed to doctors in some institutions for similar processing. Suleiman stressed the need for urgent and proactive government intervention to address the deteriorating state of infrastructure and replace obsolete equipment across health institutions nationwide.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 20:16 UTC
Edo lawmaker Omoruyi dumps LP for ADC
Murphy Omoruyi, the last Labour Party (LP) member in Edo State’s House of Representatives, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing persistent crises within his former party and the demands of his constituents. Omoruyi, who represents Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency, addressed journalists in Benin City on Tuesday, describing his decision as a response to local calls for change. He explained that his loyalty to the LP had previously earned him the nickname “The Last Man Standing,” but ongoing intractable crises within the party made his continued membership untenable. “However, in spite of all efforts, the intractable crises rocking the Labour Party have made my continued stay in the party impossible,” he added. This defection consolidates the ADC’s growing presence in Edo State ahead of the 2027 general elections, while highlighting continued realignments among opposition politicians in Nigeria.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 19:20 UTC
2026 Tata Punch Facelift Revealed Ahead Of January 13 Launch
2026 Tata Punch Facelift Revealed Ahead Of January 13 Launch | V3CarsTata Motors have officially revealed the 2026 Punch facelift ahead of its launch on January 13. 2026 Tata Punch Facelift Revealed; Familiar Yet Sharper DesignThe updated Punch adopts Tata’s newer design language, drawing inspiration from the Punch EV to create a stronger family resemblance across ICE and electric models. 2026 Tata Punch Facelift Interior And Feature UpdatesInside, the Punch facelift borrows heavily from Tata’s newer models like the Nexon and Altroz, making the cabin feel more premium and tech-forward. 2026 Tata Punch Facelift Safety FeaturesThe Punch facelift is expected to continue offering a strong safety package. 2026 Tata Punch Expected Prices And RivalsThe outgoing Tata Punch was priced between Rs 5.50 lakh and Rs 9.30 lakh (ex-showroom).
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 18:45 UTC
Disneyland fight leaves bloodied dad with stitches after ‘sucker punch’
The Disneyland fight broke out on Dec. 30 just before 1 p.m. in the queue for the Indiana Jones Adventure dark ride at the Anaheim theme park. The victim was treated by Disneyland first aid staff for a large gash on his face that required stitches, according to Anaheim Police. That’s when he jumped in for one last sucker punch, which drew blood.”“It was incredibly traumatizing,” wrote Reddit user @Visible_General_8283. “The older man was covered in blood on his face.”The line-cutter and his family ran off after the brief fight, according to @ImaginaryBag1452. “If they find them, we plan to press charges,” the victim’s wife wrote on Reddit.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 18:44 UTC
Benue: Gboko APC chieftain backs Alia’s re-election bid
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gboko Local Government Area, Terfa Iorgilim, has thrown his weight behind the re-election bid of Governor Hyacinth Alia. The party chieftain, who hosted the Mbavarakaa people of Mbatiav, maternal kinsmen of Governor Alia, to a New Year get-together, said that the re-election bid of the governor is a “Mbaavarakaa project”. According to him, the governor donated the New Year gifts to the community through him, and he, in turn, deemed it appropriate to personally deliver the governor’s goodwill to his people. Iorgilim urged the people of Mbaavarakaa to take the governor’s re-election project seriously and advised against any action capable of undermining it ahead of 2027. He called on the community to distance itself from anyone who might work against the governor’s interest.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 17:47 UTC
Why politicians are dumping PDP for APC, others – Ex-lawmaker
“We are not jumping parties for political ambition. His comments come amid a wave of defections from the PDP to the APC and the African Democratic Congress. Bagos, who represented Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Plateau State, from 2019 until November 2023, formally defected to the APC on January 4, 2026, alongside other key stakeholders loyal to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang. The defection comes weeks after Governor Mutfwang himself resigned from the PDP, and subsequently joined the APC, citing the need for clearer direction amid the opposition party’s lingering internal crises. “We are not jumping parties because of sycophancy.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 17:24 UTC
Magnus Abe hails Tinubu for NUPRC board chairmanship appointment
Former Rivers South-East lawmaker, Senator Magnus Abe, has expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu following his appointment as Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. “Today the President is doing things differently and the numbers are beginning to show that Nigeria is on the right course,” Abe said. Thank you Mr President. He said, “Let me also thank the ‘001 of the Tinubu political family in Rivers State’, the FCT Minister, the man who did what no other politician has ever been able to achieve — he delivered Rivers state to Tinubu and the APC in the most difficult election in the history of Nigerian politics. “To all my friends and well-wishers across the land, just praise God, ignore the naysayers, pay your tax, and support the reform agenda.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 16:50 UTC