Africa Magic has officially opened submissions for the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, inviting filmmakers and television content creators across the continent to showcase their work. Submissions for the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards are officially open. A detailed statement on the Africa Magic website dated January 10, 2026, further outlined the awards’ objectives and submission requirements. The 12th AMVCA will include 32 award categories, comprising 18 jury-decided categories, 11 audience-voted awards, and two special recognition awards for Lifetime Achievement and one Trailblazer Award. The edition will also introduce new Indigenous Language categories: Best Indigenous Language – North Africa and Best Indigenous Language – Central Africa.

Isack Hadjar has stated his formation lap crash at his F1 debut in Australia was a “punch in the face”. However, the Frenchman highlighted his resilience after bouncing back from the difficult moment, having enjoyed a positive rookie season. Hadjar was promoted to Racing Bulls last year after narrowly missing out on a Formula 2 title. Despite the highly challenging moment, Hadjar went on to have a successful season which peaked with a podium result at the Dutch Grand Prix. “But it shows another big punch in the face and I handled it very well.

The Kogi State Police Command has said that scores of bandits were neutralised and their networks dismantled during a fresh security operation, although the exact location of the exercise was not disclosed. “The ongoing onslaught against bandit operations in Kogi State by the joint police and military has yielded fruitful results. “The operation, which is being carried out with vigour, commitment, and utmost professionalism, and supported by the Nigeria Police Force Air Wing components through precision air strikes, led to these successes,” Aya stated. The statement further appealed to residents to support the ongoing operations by providing credible information about criminal elements within their neighbourhoods. PUNCH Online reports that suspected bandits have intensified criminal activities in several parts of Kogi State in recent months.

Domestic debt made up 68.66 percent of the total, while external obligations accounted for 31.34 percent, the agency said. Domestic debt rose to PHP 12.12 trillion at the end of November 2025, up PHP 71.73 billion or 0.60 percent from PHP 12.05 trillion in October. From the start of 2025, domestic debt climbed 10.86 percent or PHP 1.19 trillion, with PHP 1.18 trillion coming from new debt issued to meet financing requirements. External debt edged up to PHP 5.53 trillion, an increase of 0.26 percent or PHP 14.11 billion from PHP 5.52 trillion in October. National Government guaranteed obligations rose 3.38 percent or PHP 11.63 billion to PHP 356.04 billion at the end of November 2025 from PHP 344.41 billion a month earlier.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has re-emphasised that safety and security remain the top priority of his administration. Otti stated this on Sunday at the Mater Dei Catholic Cathedral, Umuahia, during the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service organised by the Abia State Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Legion, Abia State chapter, to honour fallen heroes. The governor extended condolences to families of deceased members of the Armed Forces and encouraged them to remain strong. “I want to thank the service commanders for their labour of love, which we do not take for granted. “The Armed Forces are working with other security agencies, the government, and our people—who are the chief security officers of their communities—to ensure peace in the state.

The 2023 candidates in Gombe State under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have accused the ‘new entrants’ of the party of hijacking the party structure and sidelining old members “who built the party”. They insisted that they invested immensely in the party when it was not big and should be carried along in the scheme of things. “We are deeply concerned by recent developments in which some individuals who only recently joined the party are attempting to undermine the contributions of the 2023 candidates, hijack party structures, create internal division, and act in violation of the party’s constitution. “Those who met the party rising must respect those who lifted it from the ground,” the forum posited. “While we remain open to collaboration, teamwork, and collective bargaining, we will not accept exclusion, imposition, or actions that threaten party unity.

Their service places a responsibility on us to care for the soldiers still in uniform and the families they have left behind”, he stated. He assured that the Federal Government and the Army High Command are committed to improving living conditions, logistics, healthcare, training opportunities, and post-service benefits for military personnel. The Army chief also praised widows and families of deceased soldiers for their resilience, describing them as “silent defenders of national security” whose sacrifices often go unnoticed. PUNCH Online reports that Armed Forces Remembrance Day is observed annually in Nigeria on January 15 to honour military personnel who died during the civil war, internal security operations, and peacekeeping missions abroad. The division also oversees welfare interventions for families of deceased and wounded soldiers within its area of responsibility.

The Speaker of 10th House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has congratulated the Super Eagles for securing a place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following their 2-0 victory over Algeria. The match, played on Saturday in Morocco, saw Nigeria dominate with second-half goals from star striker Victor Osimhen and forward Akor Adams. The Speaker extended his full support and prayers to the national team as they prepare to face Morocco in the semi-finals. Congratulations on qualifying for the AFCON semi-finals after the brilliant win over Algeria. Saturday’s victory propels the three-time AFCON champions into their 17th semifinal appearance in the competition’s history.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the killing of a legal practitioner, Chigbo Princess, allegedly linked to “one-chance” armed robbery operations in Abuja. Adeh identified the suspects as Saifullahi Yusuf, 22; Ishau Yusuf, 24; and Minka’ilu Jibril, also known as Dan-Hajia. She said Saifullahi and Ishau are brothers and residents of Dan-Tata Community, Dei-Dei, Abuja. Adeh added that the suspects dispossessed the victim of her Android mobile phone, which was later sold in Dei-Dei for ₦120,000. The development comes shortly after the killing of a nurse with the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, identified as Chinemerem Chuwumeziem.

Lagos State authorities have announced traffic diversion plans for the Lagos Gran Fondo “Eko 170” Cycling Race, scheduled for Sunday, January 11, from 5 am to 2 pm. “The 70km route starts at Eko Atlantic, passes through Ahmadu Bello Way, Coastal Road, Okun-Ajah Community Road, Ogombo Road, Abraham Adesanya Junction, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Sangotedo, and returns to Eko Atlantic,” Osiyemi said. “For traffic management, all adjoining roads, junctions, and intersections on the race routes will be regulated by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and other security agencies to prevent unauthorised access,” Osiyemi said. The Lagos Gran Fondo “Eko 170” is a 170-kilometre mass participation cycling event intended to promote sports tourism, healthy living, and sustainable mobility in the city. The state government said the race will also highlight Lagos’s infrastructure, coastal areas, and cultural attractions.

This call was made at the NASFAT Business Breakfast Summit 2.0, held on Friday, January 10, 2026, at Four Points by Sheraton, in Victoria Island, Lagos. “The new tax law is really about clarity, fairness and sustainability,” he said. This law eliminates such practices and creates a more transparent system.”He explained that the reforms are built around four major legislations: the Nigerian Tax Act, the Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Act, the Nigerian Tax Administration Act and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act. According to him, these laws bring all tax collection and administration under a single coordinated framework, replacing the former Federal Inland Revenue Service with the Nigerian Revenue Service, which now oversees federally collectible revenues. In his welcome address, NASFAT President, Alhaji Ayodeji Abdulwahid Abdulrauf, said the summit was designed to bridge faith, policy and economic reality at a critical time for Nigeria.

Credit: Nigerian StoriesA massive fire erupted on Sunday morning at the Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Igbesa, Ogun State, rapidly spreading from an industrial facility to adjacent residential areas. Eyewitness videos circulating online showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky, with intense flames engulfing factory structures. The fire quickly escalated, damaging several nearby homes before firefighters could intervene. Director of the Ogun State Fire Service, Fatai Adefala, confirmed the incident to PUNCH Online, stating that emergency teams were on the ground to quell the fire. “The state firefighters’ team from Agbara and Ota have been on the ground doing the needful for over three hours,” Adefala said in a brief telephone response to our correspondent.

Nigeria recorded a triple success at the just concluded Confederation of African Sports Supporters (CASS) meeting held in Casablanca, Morocco. President-general of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), Rafiu Ladipo, was appointed patron of the continental supporters’ body. The meeting also selected Nigeria to host the maiden African Supporters Awards scheduled for March in Lagos. “This honour reflects the hard work and consistency of Nigerian football supporters,” he said. “We reached a unanimous decision to stage the maiden awards in Lagos,” he said.

Nigeria’s health sector has been allocated N2.1 trillion in the 2026 Federal Budget, yet the level of funding remains significantly below the target set by African leaders under the 2001 Abuja Declaration. The health allocation, though higher in absolute terms than budgets in previous years, still accounts for a small proportion of the total federal expenditure. In the proposed 2026 budget, the sector’s share is estimated at around 4.2 to 4.3 per cent of total spending, far below the agreed benchmark. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, acknowledged efforts to increase the share of health funding. Health financing advocates have argued that sustained underfunding undermines the capacity of the health system to meet rising demands.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Romans, and recovered large quantities of tramadol concealed inside mannequins he was transporting for his clothing business. In a statement on Sunday, the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said a search of the items revealed that the mannequins were stuffed with tramadol pills weighing a total of 5.3kg. “In Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Oron–Ibaka Road in Oron LGA on Friday, January 9, intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Onyebuchi Romans, while travelling with full-body mannequins for his clothing business in Cameroon. A search of the mannequins revealed that they were stuffed with tramadol pills weighing 5.3 kilograms. Other arrests were recorded in Edo, Niger, Taraba, and Adamawa states, where quantities of cannabis and tramadol were seized from different suspects.