Punch Newspapers - Latest News

JUST IN: National grid collapses for first time in 2025

Damilola Aina — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 15:24:17 +0000

Nigeria’s national power grid has recorded its first major collapse for the first time in 2025 barely ten days into the new year. The collapse has resulted in a nationwide blackout to the despair of Nigerians. This incident marks the 13th occurrence in the past 13 months. Checks by our correspondent showed that power generation

UPDATED: Lagos factory workers trapped in diesel reservoir die

Olugbenga Ige — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 14:57:58 +0000

Two factory workers, who were rescued after they got trapped while working on a diesel reservoir in the Ikosi area of Lagos State, have been confirmed dead. PUNCH Online learnt that the workers were rescued by officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and men of the Lagos State Fire Service. In a statement

NAPTIP arrests suspect for organ harvesting in A’Ibom

Patrick Odey — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 14:48:25 +0000

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has arrested one suspect in connection with organ harvesting in Akwa Ibom State. The agency has also secured over 60 convictions with over 15 cases still pending determination in courts. The State Zonal Coordinator of NAPTIP, Mr Emmanuel Awhen, disclosed this in Uyo, the state

Delta PDP knocks APC over Oborevwori’s defection rumour

Matthew Ochei — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 13:59:48 +0000

The Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has responded to the All Progressives Congress over rumours of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s alleged defection There had been rumours that Oborevwori was planning to join the APC, which the governor had earlier dismissed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Festus Ahon. Recall that

Annie Idibia celebrates 25-year friendship, 13th wedding anniversary with 2Baba

Deborah Sanusi — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 13:41:32 +0000

Nigerian actress Annie Idibia, on Saturday, celebrated her 25-year friendship and 13-year marriage to music icon Innocent Idibia, fondly called 2Baba. In a series of posts on her Instagram story, Annie shared clips of her family’s “Detty December moments” as she gushed over their union with 2Baba. Annie praised the bond they shared, despite the

Pope Francis expresses sadness over California wildfires

Agency Report — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 13:40:21 +0000

Pope Francis on Saturday expressed his sadness over the havoc caused by the giant California wildfires and expressed his spiritual closeness with the victims in a telegram to the archbishop of Los Angeles. “Saddened by the loss of life and the widespread destruction,” the pontiff expressed his “spiritual closeness” with the victims, Vatican number two

PICTORIAL: 11 injured in Lagos-Ibadan expressway crash

Johnson Idowu — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 13:16:13 +0000

At least 11 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries following a multi-vehicle collision that occurred along the Interchange section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday. PUNCH Online learnt in a statement signed by the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency spokesman, Babatunde Akinbiyi, that the accident occurred at about 7:30 am. Akinbiyi noted that

Fire razes shops in Kwara market, goods worth millions destroyed

Tunde Oyekola — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 12:57:23 +0000

Goods estimated at several millions of Naira were on Friday night destroyed in a fire outbreak which occurred at Olusola Saraki Market, Ita-Amo area in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State. According to the Kwara State Fire Service, items destroyed in the fire incident included clothing materials, provisions, soft drinks and meat. The

Army advocates developmental journalism in tackling insecurity

Rotimi Agbana — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 11:03:08 +0000

The Commander, 17 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Katsina State, Brigadier-General Babatunde Omopariola, on Friday, said developmental journalism should be accorded priority in the effort towards tackling insecurity. Omopariola made this known during a luncheon with members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Katsina State Council, led by its Chairman, Tukur Den-Ali, held at the Command’s Officer

EPL: David Moyes returns to Everton as manager

Agency Report — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 10:52:48 +0000

Scottish manager David Moyes has returned as Everton manager following Sean Dyche’s sacking, the Premier League club announced on Saturday. “David is widely recognised as one of the Premier League’s most experienced and accomplished managers, having led Everton for more than 500 matches from 2002 to 2013,” a statement on the club’s website read. Everton

PICTORIAL: Commissioner sacked by Kano gov dumps NNPP for APC

Olugbenga Ige — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 10:24:20 +0000

A former Kano State Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Abbas Abbas, has dumped the New Nigeria Peoples Party for the All Progressives Congress. PUNCH Online reports that Governor Abba Yusuf had in December 2024 sacked Abbas and five other commissioners during a cabinet shakeup. In a statement on Saturday, Ismail Mudashir, the Special Adviser

Ogun gov, others mourn ex-Speaker Bankole’s mother

Taiwo Bankole — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 10:21:25 +0000

The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; former state governor, Gbenga Daniel and Senator Solomon Adeola representing Ogun West, have commiserated with a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, over the death of his mother, Alhaja Monsurat Bankole. Bankole died on Friday after a brief illness at the age of 79 and

2024 Calabar Carnival attracted over 300,000 tourists, generated N14.06bn – Tourism Bureau

Agency Report — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 09:59:21 +0000

The Cross River Tourism Bureau says no fewer than 300,000 tourists attended the recently concluded 32-day Calabar Carnival held in Calabar, Cross River. The bureau’s Managing Director, Ekpenyong Ojoi, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Saturday. Ojoi said that there was a 42 per cent growth in tourist attendance for the carnival in

Outrage in Los Angeles as residents demand reason for wildfires

Agency Report — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 09:50:23 +0000

Californians on Friday demanded to know who is at fault for the vast devastation caused by the raging Los Angeles wildfires, as a strict curfew went into force to prevent looting and lawlessness. At least 11 people died as flames ripped through neighbourhoods and razed thousands of homes in a disaster that US President Joe

Naira abuse: EFCC invites billionaire Okoya’s sons

Solomon Odeniyi — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 09:00:03 +0000

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has invited Wahab and Raheem Okoya, sons of billionaire businessman, Chief Razaq Okoya, for questioning over alleged naira abuse. Raheem and Wahab are expected to report to the commission’s Lagos office for questioning on Monday. The brothers sparked widespread criticism after a video surfaced showing them flaunting and spraying

Zelenskyy hails US sanctions on Russia’s energy sector

Gift Habib — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 08:49:26 +0000

The United States has introduced a new round of sanctions targeting over 400 entities connected to Russia’s energy sector, prompting strong approval from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy, via his X on Friday described the sanctions as a significant step in disrupting Russia’s financial and logistical networks that support its ongoing war effort. The measures

Navy seeks media collaboration to tackle misinformation

Agency Report — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 08:39:37 +0000

As we begin 2025, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Michael Oamen, has called on the media to help manage misinformation capable of misleading the public. Oamen made the request during an end-of-year media engagement held at the Western Naval Command in Lagos. According to him, the speed at which information is

MMIA Customs surpassed 2024 target, raised N71.6bn — Controller

Agency Report — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 07:44:35 +0000

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Friday announced that it exceeded its revenue target for 2024, generating a total of N71.6 billion. The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Effiong Harrison, said in a statement on Friday that its target for 2024 was N56.861 billion. Harrison expressed delight over the record-breaking

N’Assembly rejects solid mineral ministry’s 2025 budget

Agency Report — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 07:24:44 +0000

The National Assembly joint committee on Solid Minerals, on Friday, rejected the budget estimates of the Ministry of Solid Minerals. The committee said that the estimates presented were greatly inadequate. The Chairman of the joint committee, Sen. Ekong Sampson, stated this after the minister, Dele Alake, presented the ministry’s 2025 budget estimate before the committee.

Best Altcoins to Buy This Weekend: Maximize Your Investment with These 4 Cryptos

Branded Content — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 06:58:57 +0000

As January 2025 begins, the crypto world is alive with market-shaping news. Blockchain interoperability and cross-border transactions are dominating discussions, bringing attention to projects like Qubetics, Stellar, Monero, and AAVE. With this exciting wave of innovation, now is the ideal time to explore the top altcoins to invest in this weekend. Introducing Qubetics ($TICS), a

India lawmaker shoots self dead

Tosin Oyediran — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 06:52:08 +0000

An Indian member of the Legislative Assembly, Gurpreet Gogi, has accidentally shoot himself dead The Aam Admi Party MLA shot himself accidentally and sustained injuries to his head, according to his family The incident occurred around midnight, and he was rushed to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Gulf News reported

Thousands of flights cancelled, delayed over US storm

Agency Report — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 06:37:26 +0000

Over 3,000 flights were cancelled Friday and delays hit thousands more due to a storm in the southern United States, airlines and tracking website FlightAware reported. Delta Airlines said a “worse-than-expected mix of winter weather” prompted the shutdown of all five runways at Atlanta International Airport for more than two hours. “Delta cancelled approximately 1,100

NPF cybercrime boss decorates 32 promoted officers, seeks higher commitment

Solomon Odeniyi — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 06:21:24 +0000

The Director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, Commissioner of Police Uche Henry, on Friday, led the decoration of 32 officers recently promoted within the force. A statement on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Liaison Officer for the Centre, DSP Kuru Augustina said the director urged the officers to remain steadfast in

Mexico’s president unveils campaign to get guns off streets

Agency Report — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 06:04:43 +0000

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday officially launched a campaign to crack down on the number of weapons on the country’s violence-wracked streets. The plan, called “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace,” will offer cash to those who anonymously leave weapons at designated drop-off locations, including churches. Gun owners will get 8,700 pesos ($430) for

Gay men can train as priests but don’t flaunt it — Italy Church

Adekunle Sulaimon — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 05:41:29 +0000

Homosexual men can train to become Catholic priests in Italy but not if they “support the so-called gay culture”, according to new guidelines approved by the Vatican. While stressing the need for celibacy, the Italian Bishops’ Conference guidelines — posted online on Thursday — open the door for gay men to attend seminaries, or divinity

Installing Seriki Fulani in Badagry may start crisis, Lagos youths warn

Muhammed Lawal — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 05:35:38 +0000

Some youths in the Badagry area of Lagos State have warned that installing a Seriki Fulani in the community could lead to a crisis. This followed the report that the Aholu of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Sejiro James, installed Alhaji Mohammed Umar as the Seriki Fulani of Badagry, Lagos State. The ceremony drew Fulani socio-cultural leaders

Again, NULGE, ALGON ask Tinubu to enforce LG autonomy

Our Reporters — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 05:32:26 +0000

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and the National Union of Local Government Employees have called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that state governors comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy. On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court granted financial autonomy to the local governments, ordering that their allocations be

US govt returns Diezani’s $52.88m loot

Deborah Musa — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 04:49:37 +0000

The government of the United States of America has repatriated no less than $52.88m linked to a former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke. The funds were said to be from the forfeiture of the Galactica assets linked to Alison-Madueke and her associates. US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills Jnr., led a delegation that signed

Govt to withdraw contentious veterans’ bill

Solomon Odeniyi — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 04:00:39 +0000

The Federal Government is set to withdraw the contentious Veteran Federation of Nigeria Bill following strong objections from military retirees on many of its provisions. The retirees had warned of potential protests if the government proceeded to present the bill to the National Assembly without addressing their concerns. Since conception, the bill, which was sent

N636bn agric vote threatened as bandits continue attacks on farmers

Our Reporters — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 03:59:47 +0000

President Bola Tinubu’s plan to boost food production and combat inflation may face significant setbacks as bandits and terrorists continue to disrupt farming in northern Nigeria. Multiple sources said many farmers in the region had fled their communities and abandoned farmlands in the face of escalating violence, extortion, and constant threats from criminal groups. Reports