According to the officials, although the two political rivals arrived separately, Fubara rode away with Wike after the President’s intervention. The meeting marks a potential turning point in the Rivers’ political crisis, which has paralysed governance in the oil-rich state for over nearly two years. Tensions flared in October when members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara. In December 2023, President Tinubu intervened, facilitating a fragile truce that led to a peace deal in which Fubara conceded several political appointments to Wike’s loyalists. However, the arrangement broke down, and the conflict resurfaced, culminating in President Tinubu declaring a state of emergency on March 18, 2025.

United States flagged ships have been advised to avoid Iranian waters in the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran. The advisory was issued Monday by the U.S. Maritime Administration, part of the Department of Transportation, urging ship captains to stay “as far as possible” from Iranian waters and decline permission for Iranian forces to board U.S. vessels. The notice comes after boarding attempts, including efforts to force commercial vessels into Iranian waters using small boats and helicopters, were reported as recently as February 3. It was the first engagement between the two countries since U.S. bombers struck three Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day conflict last June. Israel has urged the U.S. to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, limit its ballistic missile program, and end support for regional militant groups.

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has explained why he supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, saying it was a political decision and not based on friendship. El-Rufai, who spoke during an interview with Trust TV on Monday, said he never had a close personal relationship with Tinubu and described claims of friendship as incorrect. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari,” El-Rufai said. He explained that his involvement in the process began after he was contacted by Islamic stakeholders from the South-West who wanted a Muslim presidential candidate from the region. “I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the southwest to support the emergence of a Southwest Muslim presidential candidate.

If you cannot secure the people, you have failed,” the SAN insisted. He warned that the insurgency, once confined to the Sambisa Forest and parts of the North, is now moving southward. “Anyone who thinks the 1999 Constitution will fix Nigeria is living in La-La Land,” Ubimago remarked. Ubimago pointed to the 2014 National Conference (Confab) Report as the starting point for any meaningful solution. You cannot have terrorists running roughshod over everyone because you have over-centralised internal security,” he said.

At least 14 passengers who were traveling from Oju and Obi Local Government Areas of Benue State were whisked away by suspected kidnappers. According to the report, two passengers were reported to have been shot dead when the driver of the vehicle refused to stop. “I have been trying to reach my colleague in Okpokwu LGA but not yet connected, but I have contacted the personnel of Directorate of State Security Service in the area. “I learnt that two of the passengers were killed and the bandits whisked away the remaining passengers. When contacted, the state command spokesperson, DSP Udeme Edet, did not confirm or deny the report.

Security experts and stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to criminalise ransom payments to terrorists, describing it as the biggest betrayal in the war against insurgency in Nigeria. Experts who condemned the menace, especially when the government secretly paid terrorists’ ransom, said that such practice only further encouraged and deepened insecurity in the country. Ogunsanya, who supported the creation of state police in Nigeria, cautioned the FG against blindly adopting the American state policing system, citing the complexity of crimes and societal differences. He said, “Government ransom payment is what is empowering the terrorists and further deepening insecurity. DIG Oyebade traced the challenges of the Nigerian policing system to a faulty foundation, tribalism, inadequate manpower and training, and the dynamism of crime in the face of evolving technology.

History is being made as Senator Nenadi Usman, Nigeria’s first female national chairman of a political party, formally took over the Labour Party‘s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, amid heavy security presence. Armed police officers were stationed within and around the party headquarters as Usman, the acting National Chairman, assumed control from the Julius Abure-led faction. All Labour Party banners and billboards featuring Abure and his executives had been removed and replaced with those of Usman. It was gathered that the new leadership had directed members to begin preparations to take over Labour Party state secretariats nationwide. INEC subsequently updated its records, replacing Abure’s name with Usman’s as acting National Chairman, alongside other newly recognised national officers.

The Federal Government on Monday flagged off the distribution of food and nutrition support to 20,000 vulnerable households in Sokoto State in a bid to tackle hunger, malnutrition and poverty across northern Nigeria. The intervention, launched in Sokoto by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, is being implemented in collaboration with the Sokoto State Government and development partners. “This intervention is about protecting dignity, improving nutrition and building resilience among the most vulnerable,” the minister said. The minister acknowledged the support of international partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP), while reaffirming the Federal Government’s resolve to localise and institutionalise humanitarian interventions. “These programmes show genuine commitment to the welfare of the most vulnerable members of our society,” he said.

A former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has endorsed First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s recent support for the United States’ airstrikes against terrorist groups in Sokoto State, calling her stance justified. Sani, who questioned ongoing public criticism against Mrs Tinubu, described the December 2025 US airstrikes in the northwestern state as a “welcome development.”Speaking on Tuesday via his X handle, he called for more air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force. “The December air strikes against bandits and terrorists in the North was a welcome development. I don’t know why some people are attacking her in view of the heinous atrocities of those terrorists,” he added. “Nigeria looks forward to greater collaboration with the United States on security issues, and we expect there will be more,” she said.

When our correspondent visited the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, gun-toting and stern-looking policemen were stationed within and around the premises. When contacted to confirm whether the Otti-backed faction had fully taken over the national secretariat, Usman said the move was long overdue. So, the police are there for us.”Asked if her camp was prepared for possible resistance from the Abure faction, Usman ruled out any confrontation. “Since we started the agitation to take over the party secretariat, our name has not been on the INEC portal. Other officials listed include Senator Darlington Nwokocha as National Secretary; Hamisu Santuraki, National Treasurer; Aisha Madije, National Financial Secretary; and Eric Ifere, National Legal Adviser.

The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to deport an additional 18 Nigerians listed on its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register, bringing the total number of Nigerians scheduled for removal to 97. The development comes barely one week after PUNCH Metro exclusively reported that 79 Nigerians convicted of various offences had been marked for deportation. A follow-up check of the DHS website on Monday showed that 18 more names had been added to the list, indicating an expansion of the enforcement exercise. It 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. The updated figures underscore the Trump administration’s continued tough stance on illegal and criminal immigrants across the United States, with several foreign nationals affected, including Nigerians.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the immediate deployment of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion of special forces to Plateau State. The troops, already in the state, are tasked to aggressively and decisively address the recent resurgence of terrorist attacks. The statement read, “The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has approved the immediate deployment of the Chief of Army Staff Intervention Battalion of special forces to Plateau State. The deployment comes against a backdrop of renewed violence in the north-central region in 2026. Meanwhile, Major General Oyinlola appealed to residents of Plateau State not to panic at the sight of large troop movements and heavy military equipment.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has been summoned to appear in person or through legal representation in a suit instituted against him by some princes of Oyo at the Oyo State High Court sitting in Oyo town. The legal action against the Alaafin is rooted in a longstanding dispute over hierarchy and authority within the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, a body established to advise the state government on traditional matters. Tensions escalated in recent years following the reconstitution and grading of traditional rulers by successive Oyo State governments, particularly the elevation of some monarchs and the creation of parallel traditional structures. Central to the controversy is the recognition of Alaafin, Olubadan of Ibadanland and Soun of Ogbomoso as co-chairmen of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. Oba Owoade has also been at odds with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, over supremacy claims.

On February 10, 1971, the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria formally established diplomatic relations. Over more than half a century, China-Nigeria relations have braved the shifting tides of the international landscape. These striking figures vividly demonstrate the strong resilience and vigorous vitality of China-Nigeria cooperation. Now, standing at a new historical starting point, China-Nigeria relations and our practical cooperation are embracing truly broad and unprecedented prospects. As we reflect on the journey behind us, China-Nigeria cooperation has achieved fruitful outcomes.

The Senate was thrown into confusion on Tuesday as lawmakers reconvened to revisit their earlier decision on the electronic transmission of election results contained in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026. Monguno anchored his request on Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended), and was seconded by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central). The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, then asked Abaribe whether he was proceeding with his request for a vote. Tuesday’s extraordinary sitting came less than one week after the Senate passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, amid growing pressure from civil society organisations, opposition leaders, labour unions, professional bodies, regional leaders and youth groups. The emergency sitting was formally announced on Sunday in a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo.