Punch acquires 30 pubs from McMullen’s
‘Strategically important’Punch said the deal represents a small but strategically important addition to its estate as it continues to pursue targeted acquisitions alongside organic growth. James Croft, group strategy and commercial director at Punch Pubs & Co, said: “We’re delighted to have completed the acquisition of these pubs from McMullen’s. This is a fantastic collection of pubs with real heritage, strong community roots and proven operators running them day to day, and we look forward to welcoming them into the Punch family. The deal follows Punch’s recent leadership restructure and comes amid a period of improved trading performance, with the pubco reporting EBITDA growth driven by conversions and acquisitions in its most recent financial results. The acquisition aligns with Punch’s ambition to accelerate growth through single site and small portfolio deals, with the pubco having previously said it plans to double its single site acquisition run rate.
Source:Punch
February 03, 2026 21:15 UTC
US set to deport 79 Nigerians on criminal list
Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of AmericaThe United States Department of Homeland Security has said it will deport no fewer than 79 convicted Nigerians listed on its ‘worst-of-the-worst’ criminal list. PUNCH Metro findings on the DHS website on Monday revealed that the 79 Nigerians were convicted of offences bordering on fraud, drug peddling, assault, manslaughter and robbery, among others. An accompanying note showed that the convicts were arrested as part of the United States’ crackdown on criminal immigrants. The note read, “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Trump’s administration has continued to crackdown on criminal and illegal immigrants across the US with many Nigerians in the country affected by the policy.
Source:Punch
February 03, 2026 21:11 UTC
Africa must not be supplicant for shrinking pool of aid — Okonjo-Iweala
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said Africa must reach out to the rest of the world not as a supplicant for a shrinking pool of aid. The lecture, entitled ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Africa and Nigeria in the Present Global Geopolitical and Geostrategic Context’, was well attended. She disclosed that Africa had 60 percent of the world’s solar energy potential but attracted only two percent of its solar investment. Okonjo-Iweala further stressed that Africa had abundant arable land and mineral wealth. The WTO Director-General noted that Africa had missed windows of opportunity before, praying however that the continent would not do so again.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 21:03 UTC
NIS arrests trafficking suspect, rescues 59 women, children in Borno
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rescued 59 women and children who were being trafficked from Katsina State to N’Djamena, the capital of the Republic of Chad. ALSO READ: Anambra: NAPTIP arrests four, rescues 17 victims in human trafficking raid“The agent deceived them with false employment offers. But recent breakthroughs came because of stronger cooperation with transport operators, drug control officers and community leaders in , Banki and Ngamboru Ngala,” he said. “I have visited Banki and Ngamboru Ngala to meet chairmen and stakeholders, urging them to share timely intelligence with our officers,” he said. The NIS has profiled the rescued victims and will hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further care and investigation.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 21:03 UTC
APC e-registration: Shinkafi decries exclusion
…asks Tinubu to scrap seat of Minister of State DefenseChieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has alleged exclusion from the ongoing e-registration exercise. Shinkafi urged the APC National Chairman to rein in Honourable Matawale. “So, what we are saying, the party in the party constitution, it was clearly stated in the articles of the party, APC constitution on how a member of the party should be registered. “He has the experience, he has the educational background, and the qualifications to handle the national defence and security of this country. “So, removing Matawale from the Federal Executive Council is not a bad idea because he is the one who is hatching acts of hatred, disunity, lack of cohesion, fragmentation in Zamfara APC.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 21:03 UTC
Leaders pay tribute to late Senator Okey Ezea
Senator Ezea, a member of the 10th Senate, died in November 2025. Until his death, Ezea was regarded as one of the outspoken lawmakers from the South-East and a prominent figure in the Red Chamber. Senator Ezea was a very good legislator. And he has been taking the best.”Earlier, the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, described Ezea as a loyal and consistent party member. “Even on his sickbed, barely hours before his passing, Senator Ezea never wavered in his commitment to the cause of his people, despite the grave health challenges he faced.
Source:Punch
February 03, 2026 20:47 UTC
Court to rule on final forfeiture of ex-acting Accountant General’s property, April 30
He prayed the court to discountenance the prosecution’s final forfeiture application on the ground that the said property is also part of the reason for which he is facing criminal trial in another court, questioned the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter and prayed the court to set aside EFCC’s application. ALSO READ: Alleged misappropriation: Court adjourns Ganduje’s case to April 15In response, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, made reference to a motion dated May 6, 2024, and filed on the same date, that sought the final forfeiture order. Relying on all the paragraphs in the affidavit, the prosecuting counsel urged the court to grant the application for the final forfeiture of the property. Explaining further, the prosecution counsel said, “My lord, the respondent at the material time of these transactions was the Director of Finance in the Ministry of Defence. Further in his argument, the prosecution counsel stated that, “We also filed another affidavit on May 16, 2024.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 20:14 UTC
Army assures Onitsha traders of security
The 82 Division, Nigerian Army, has assured traders in the Onitsha Main Market and traders in other economic centres in the region of security and safety. This is contained in a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 82 Division, Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, on Tuesday in Enugu. “This bold step represents a collective stand for peace, security, and economic progress in Anambra State and the South-East region at large. “Unrepentant criminals will face the full weight of the law and the decisive force of the security agencies, as no hiding place will shield them from justice. “The government collaboration with security agencies has strengthened confidence and provided the enabling environment for commerce to thrive,” the GOC added.
Source:Punch
February 03, 2026 19:57 UTC
UK Envoy Backs Nigeria's New Security Gender Policy
The British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, has called on Nigerian security agencies to implement the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Gender Policy II for 2026–2030. “We hope that through this policy, NSCDC will ensure that its objectives are achieved. The adoption of this gender policy goes with Nigeria’s third action plan on women’s peace and security. A Women, Peace and Security Expert, Dr Eleanor Nwandinobi, urged security agencies to take ownership of the policy and lead efforts to support persons living with disabilities. She said ensuring women’s involvement in national affairs is “a responsibility of collective efforts.”The NSCDC Gender Policy II builds on the corps’ first gender policy, which was introduced to enhance women’s participation in security operations and promote gender equality within the organisation.
Source:Punch
February 03, 2026 19:43 UTC
Guessing game continues as Senate fails to pass Electoral Act
The Senate failed to pass the Electoral Act Repeal and Enactment Bill 2026 on Tuesday for the third time. However, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, rising to offer an explanation, said lawmakers would first take the document home to study its details. The Senate subsequently set Thursday, the following day, as the new date to pass the bill. Being a joint committee report, the Senate and the House are expected to align on any changes. Electoral Act Repeal and Enactment Bill 2026
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 19:15 UTC
Nigeria targets early detection, research funding in nationwide cancer push
Nigeria is scaling up efforts to reduce cancer deaths through expanded early detection, increased research funding, and nationwide screening programmes, as government agencies and health advocates mobilise ahead of the 2026 World Cancer Day commemoration. And many lives can be saved if we act early, act together and act decisively.”While acknowledging progress made in recent years, including the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), an updated National Cancer Plan and the creation of the National Cancer Health Fund, he cautioned against complacency. He praised the Nigerian Cancer Society for its role in linking research to policy and practice. Waziri said efforts are under way to nationalise cancer screening services and integrate them across all levels of care. He added that strengthening the National Cancer Health Fund remains critical to improving access to care and addressing late presentation.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 19:15 UTC
Davido breaks silence on Grammy loss
Nigerian Grammy-nominated singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted to his loss at the 2026 Grammy Awards, expressing gratitude to his wife, Chioma, for standing by him during the moment. Davido, who was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category, admitted that the loss affected him deeply and initially made him unwilling to attend the Grammy after-party. “I said, ‘Baby listen, we lost again, let’s not go.’ She said, ‘Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.’ We outside. She dey my back, active geng,” Davido wrote. Reacting to this in a separate response, Chioma reaffirmed her support and belief in her husband, writing, “You already know that you’re the perfect one.”
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 19:13 UTC
Tinubu: FERMA to Adopt Preventive Road Maintenance Strategy
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to adopt a preventive, planned, and evidence-based approach to road maintenance to improve the condition and lifespan of federal roads. “Another important factor is that FERMA must continue to strengthen routine road condition audits, safety audits, and post-failure assessments across the federal road network. “Sustainable road maintenance is not an option; it is a compelling necessity. “A sustainable road maintenance framework must be preventive rather than reactive, planned rather than ad-hoc, and driven by evidence rather than assumptions,” he said. According to him, sustainable road infrastructure requires a shift from short-term, reactive interventions to long-term, lifecycle-based planning.
Source:Punch
February 03, 2026 19:10 UTC
Mandelson quits UK parliament over Jeffrey Epstein ties
A pivotal and often controversial figure in British politics, Mandelson, once dubbed the “Prince of Darkness”, has become engulfed in the Epstein maelstrom. Mandelson, 72, faces allegations that he disclosed market-sensitive information and confidential government information to financier Epstein. Starmer told ministers he was “appalled” at the revelations regarding Mandelson, according to a Downing Street readout of a cabinet meeting. Mandelson told the BBC on Sunday he had no memory of the money transfers and did not know whether the documents were authentic. His comments were “gobsmacking” and caused the public “to lose faith in all politicians”, Starmer told his cabinet.
Source:Punch
February 03, 2026 19:07 UTC
Gov Muftwang engages key US agencies on economic devt, bilateral trade
Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has begun a strategic visit to the United States aimed at strengthening economic development, investment flows and bilateral trade between Nigeria and the U.S. The visit aligns with Plateau State’s drive to expand sub-national international partnerships in support of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The discussions are focused on unlocking investment, trade and development opportunities that will benefit Plateau State and contribute to Nigeria’s broader economic growth. In his response, Congressman Riley Moore commended the Plateau State governor for the visit and expressed interest in deepening engagement between both countries. He reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Nigerian Government to promote a partnership that delivers mutual benefits to Nigeria and the United States.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
February 03, 2026 18:57 UTC