FG Engages US Over Visa Ban on Nigerians
The Federal Government has said it is engaging the United States through diplomatic channels to ensure Nigeria is removed from the list of countries affected by Washington’s recent immigrant visa restrictions. On January 14, the US announced an immigrant visa pause affecting 75 countries, including Nigeria, a move that has raised concerns among Nigerians seeking to live and work permanently in America. He noted that Nigeria was not the only country affected by the US action and urged Nigerians to remain calm as diplomatic engagements continue. “Moreover, Nigeria is not the only country affected by the visa restrictions. The media director stressed that the Federal Government was committed to protecting the interests of Nigerians abroad and strengthening bilateral relations with the United States.
Source:Punch
February 01, 2026 05:13 UTC
Hosting firm refunds clients after PUNCH report
A Nigerian-based website hosting firm, HostNowNow Limited, has refunded two clients following a report by Sunday PUNCH on alleged failure to provide hosting services and refusal to refund money paid. The refund came weeks after a Sunday PUNCH special report titled ‘How local web hosting services ruin businesses, withhold refunds,’ published on December 28, 2025, which detailed complaints against the firm. Eventually, Giwa said he was forced to register with another hosting company using a different domain name, a move he said negatively affected the business. Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Odekola confirmed the refund, saying, “Yes, we have received the refund from them. The firm said it had provided domain registration and web hosting services for nearly 10 years but recently experienced an unexpected incident that affected its internal systems, including renewals, support requests, and backup operations.
Source:Punch
February 01, 2026 04:32 UTC
Wilder on Joshua: 'I hope he heals' after fatal crash
Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has sent a heartfelt message to Anthony Joshua following the car crash in Nigeria that killed two of the British boxer’s close friends, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Last month, Joshua was a passenger in a crash that claimed the lives of his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele while on holiday in Nigeria. Earlier this week, Joshua spoke out for the first time after the accident, describing the loss as devastating. We went back home, went to see our families, and everything just got flipped upside down,” Joshua said. While Joshua has not said whether he will fight again, promoter Eddie Hearn believes he will return to boxing when the time is right.
Source:Punch
February 01, 2026 02:38 UTC
Minister Urges Public Cooperation for Ending Insecurity
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd), has called on Nigerians to deny bandits, kidnappers and terrorists any form of safe haven, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to ending insecurity in the country. Asymmetric warfare is not easy; it is not like conventional warfare, where you are fighting another country. In asymmetric warfare, the enemy is within, and that is why it is the most dangerous. Musa disclosed that Nigeria recently signed security-related agreements in Turkey aimed at improving peace and stability. We recently returned from Turkey, where we signed some agreements aimed at improving security and peace in Nigeria”.
Source:Punch
February 01, 2026 00:58 UTC
Matawalle: Tinubu set for convincing 2027 victory
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has expressed strong confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure a convincing victory in the 2027 Presidential election, urging Nigerians and political stakeholders to rally behind the President’s reform agenda. Speaking at his residence in Abuja on Saturday, Dr. Matawalle said President Tinubu’s leadership and policy direction have positioned the country on the path of economic stabilisation, institutional strengthening and national cohesion. He said, “President Tinubu has taken bold steps to stabilise the economy and strengthen national institutions. The minister also appealed to Nigerians to support government policies aimed at promoting sustainable economic growth, improving security and strengthening national unity. “Rather than engaging in rancour and short-term political calculations, we should focus on solutions that deliver jobs, security and stronger institutions for Nigerians,” he said.
Source:Punch
January 31, 2026 22:34 UTC
Ikere Gorge Dam Concession to Create 10,000 Jobs
The Federal Government has announced that the concession of the Ikere hydropower plant in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State will generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, while boosting power supply by six megawatts to the state and neighbouring states. He said the development aligns with the policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to revitalise the energy sector and create employment opportunities for Nigerians. The PUNCH reports that Ikere Gorge Dam is a major earth-fill dam located on the Ogun River near Iseyin in Oyo State. Adelabu said the project would stimulate electricity market development and enhance economic growth in the host community. He said the success recorded at the Ikere Gorge hydropower plant was a product of collaboration between the two ministries to strengthen Nigeria’s hydropower infrastructure.
Source:Punch
January 31, 2026 20:24 UTC
‘Backing down isn’t an option’: Minnesota ICE shootings mobilize Americans to join ICE observer groups
View image in fullscreen A community member films federal agents conducting an immigration enforcement action in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on 27 January 2026. That just isn’t an option.”Navigating ‘shifting’ legal risks and unpredictable agentsAdding to the threat of ICE agents escalating violence against observers is the federal government’s threat of legal ramifications. Still, White House officials have claimed that it is “illegal” and an act of “violence” to record ICE agents, equivalent to “doxing”. After the deaths of Good and Pretti, federal officials called both residents “violent” and “terrorists”, even though video evidence showed otherwise. View image in fullscreen People use their phones to record federal agents at an intersection in the Cicero neighborhood during an immigration raid in Chicago, Illinois, on 22 October 2025.
Source:The Guardian
January 31, 2026 20:02 UTC
ADC Warns Electoral Bill Delays Threaten 2027 Elections
The African Democratic Congress, has called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Electoral Bill 2025, warning that continued delays could undermine critical electoral reforms and threaten the credibility of the 2027 elections. The move followed a three-hour closed-door executive session during which lawmakers examined the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill currently under consideration by the National Assembly. ADC stated, “The ADC also notes that some of the proposed amendments have introduced new compliance and eligibility requirements that need to be properly understood and met by political parties. “The ADC therefore calls on the National Assembly to promptly pass the bill. Any further delays pose a serious risk to the integrity of the 2027 general elections and undermine the integrity of the entire electoral process well in advance.
Source:Punch
January 31, 2026 18:58 UTC
How the right won the internet | Robert Topinka
The internet has totally changed the way in which politics is conducted. Future historians studying the role that fringe online ideas played in the US republic’s demise will be spoiled for choice. If you can cultivate online engagement, you can create new political styles and advance even the most extreme political ideas, such as total remigration. Reform UK – not so much a party as a corporation orbiting an influencer – understands the power of this politics well. This is why Joe Rogan and Tate were quick to link Labour’s digital ID scheme to the “great reset”.
Source:The Guardian
January 31, 2026 18:31 UTC
Otedola defends First Bank's N748bn loan write-off
We took a huge one-time hit of N748bn to admit old bad loans instead of pretending they do not exist. Painful headline, but it is a serious long-term move,” he wrote. It made N2.96tn in interest income and N1.91tn in net interest income, which gave it the strength to take the cleanup and still stay standing,” he stated. Otedola expressed optimism about the bank’s prospects, noting that the cleanup positioned First Bank favourably for the recapitalisation exercise and future growth. Bad loans cleared + strong income engine + long-term thinking = real value creation,” he concluded.
Source:Punch
January 31, 2026 17:49 UTC
Tinubu Urges Reactivation of West Africa Standby Force
President Bola Tinubu has called for the reactivation of a regional standby force to strengthen collective security efforts in West Africa and the Sahel, urging countries in the region to leverage Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja as an intelligence and operations hub. “Nigeria is favourably disposed to more collaborative and multilateral approaches aimed at dealing with the security crisis in the Sahel,” Tinubu said. Tinubu said the security situation in large parts of West Africa remains volatile, with rising casualties of violence, including among women and children. He further warned that drug cartels may be relocating operations to weaker jurisdictions in West Africa, amid intensified anti-narcotics campaigns in South America, raising the risk of alliances between traffickers and insurgent groups. Tinubu expressed optimism that the deliberations of intelligence chiefs and strategic stakeholders at the Accra conference would provide a sustainable framework for an inclusive regional counterterrorism strategy
Source:Punch
January 31, 2026 17:41 UTC
Soldiers overrun bandit enclaves, rescue kidnap victims in Kwara
Soldiers during the Operation Igbo Danu in Kwara...Photo Credit: Nigerian ArmyThe Nigerian Army has launched Operation Igbo Danu, also known as Operation Forest Flush, leading to the neutralisation of terrorists and rescue of kidnap victims across parts of Kwara State. This was disclosed in a statement published on the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Friday, which was signed by Captain Maureen Ogbuka, for the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division Nigerian Army. The statement further revealed that troops cleared Garin Dandi, described as a major bandit enclave in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Despite difficult terrain, the statement noted that troops maintained aggressive operations across forested areas, denying bandits freedom of movement. “The operation is ongoing to deal decisively with all terrorist networks operating within Kwara State,” the statement added.
Source:Punch
January 31, 2026 12:33 UTC
Army Kills Top ISWAP Commander, Foils Attacks in Borno
Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have killed a top Islamic State West Africa Province commander and foiled criminal operations, the force said on Saturday. The force in a statement signed by Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, revealed that the top ISWAP commander was killed in Borno State. This impressive development represents a major blow to the command and control structure of ISWAP in the region,” the statement said. The troops further revealed that, working with the Civilian Joint Task Force, they neutralised three terrorists during an ambush between Ngazalgana and Lamusheri communities in Borno State. The Joint Task Force also reported successes in Adamawa State.
Source:Punch
January 31, 2026 11:37 UTC
Djokovic stuns Sinner to set up Australian Open final with Alcaraz
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates victory over Italy's Jannik Sinner after their men's singles semi-final match on day thirteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 31, 2026. “I’m lost for words right now, to be honest,” said Djokovic, who dropped to his knees and was emotional when the match ended. It has proved increasingly difficult with the emergence of Sinner and Alcaraz, who have shared every Slam title since then. – Hate giving up –Against Zverev, Alcaraz only narrowly avoided crashing out after a huge fright at 4-4 in the third set when he pulled up in pain with what appeared to be cramp. In another action, wildcards John Peers and Olivia Gadecki became the first team to retain the Australian Open mixed-doubles title since 1988-89.
Source:Punch
January 31, 2026 05:57 UTC
IPOB declares February 2 sit-at-home across S’East, faults Soludo
PUNCH Online reports that Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week, citing continued observance of the sit-at-home declared by IPOB since July 30, 2021. The governor had said the sit-at-home was crippling the state’s economy and warned against further compliance with the order. However, traders at the market said the sit-at-home was in solidarity with the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial on charges related to separatist agitation. IPOB reiterated its demand for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and accused the Anambra State Government of escalating tensions through what it described as economic intimidation of traders. The Anambra State Government has yet to respond to the latest declaration as of the time of filing this report.
Source:Punch
January 31, 2026 05:51 UTC