The Nigerian Association of Dermatologists has raised the alarm over a critical two-year shortage of multidrug therapy for leprosy patients across the country, warning that the absence of treatment is making a cure impossible for affected individuals. Leprosy is a fully curable disease when treated with the WHO-recommended multidrug therapy. They stated, “Regulatory and administrative delays have prevented clearance and distribution, leaving patients in multiple states without access to life-saving treatment. Without timely treatment, disease progression leads to visible disability, which fuels discrimination and social marginalisation. The statement concluded, “Leprosy elimination cannot be achieved without treatment.

A former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Chief Uchechukwu Ogah, has said Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, deserves a second term in office. “I think he deserves a second term. Otti) should have the opportunity to govern us a second time, so that he can put out there all that he has planned for Abia people. “I think it is something that everybody should support him to complete his second term”, Ogah said. “The ambition I have is to support the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the presidency and support Governor Alex Otti for the governorship.

The Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2025 Anambra State governorship election, Dr George Moghalu, has formally resigned his membership of the party. In the letter obtained by our correspondent, Moghalu expressed appreciation to the Labour Party at the ward, state and national levels for providing him with the platform to contest the November 2025 off-cycle governorship election in Anambra State. The letter read in part, “I bring you the good wishes of my family and write to formally inform you of my resignation from the Labour Party, effective January 26, 2026. Let me also thank the party, through you, for providing me the opportunity to use the Labour Party platform to contest the last governorship election of our state. “Please accept, as always, the assurance of my sincere regards and kindly convey same to the members.”Punch Online had reported on November 9, 2025 that the Labour Party candidate in the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election, George Moghalu, rejected the result of the poll.

In the interim investigation report, the indicted Colonel was described as the alleged coordinator of the plot. The 16 officers reported to be in custody were Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A.A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M.A. A detailed financial trail, according to the report, was being analysed with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. One of the suspects, Lt Col Bappah, emerged as a critical witness, the report stated. Security sources told The PUNCH that the probe had expanded beyond serving military officers to include civilian contacts, financiers, and political associates who may have had direct or indirect interactions with key suspects.

The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed shock and sadness over the death of Mr Sunday Ndidi, father of Wilfred Ndidi, captain of the senior men’s national football team, the Super Eagles, in an automobile accident. NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in a statement on Tuesday, said, “This is very sad. The player just gave his very best to the nation at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, where we finished with the bronze medals. Ndidi’s club, Besiktas, confirmed the incident on Tuesday. “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of our footballer Wilfred Ndidi’s esteemed father, Sunday Ndidi, in a fatal traffic accident,” the club said in a statement released via their official X account.

Peller made the disclosure in a voice note shared on his channel on Tuesday, where he complained that attending school was affecting his ability to make money. “Guys, I swear to God, I remember I said I am going to school… I am not going again. The content creator explained that spending hours in class without earning income made the experience unacceptable to him. Peller also claimed he felt out of place among other students, describing himself as the youngest person in the class. In the video, Peller expressed excitement over the admission and appeared to respond to critics who had mocked his educational background.

Recall that PUNCH Online reported that the power grid crashed again on Tuesday, the second time in four days. Also, EkoDisCo, in a statement on Tuesday, informed its customers of a system collapse that resulted in power loss. This is the second grid collapse in January 2026 and the third in less than one month. The national grid previously collapsed on December 29, 2025, and more recently on Friday, January 23, 2026. The event was accompanied by the tripping of some transmission lines and generating units, resulting in a partial system collapse.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has officially upgraded the operating licences of several leading financial technology firms and microfinance banks (MFBs) to national status. The announcement was made by Yemi Solaja, director of the other financial institutions supervision department at the CBN, during the annual committee of Heads of Banks’ Operations (CHBOs) conference in Lagos. Under the changes, major players including Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, OPay, Kuda Bank and others now hold national licences giving them formal approval to operate in all states of the federation rather than within limited regions. The updated licences aim to ensure stronger regulatory oversight over institutions operating across Nigeria. The new regulatory standards include increased capital requirements for national MFBs which is now set at around N5 billion, up from N2 billion under prior rules.

Teen accused of killing woman in 'one-punch attack' near North Shields bar appears in courtLiam Moor allegedly killed Lisa Denton following a suspected one-punch attack outside Charlie's Bar in North ShieldsView 3 Images Liam Moor leaving South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)A teenage labourer has appeared in court accused of manslaughter after the death of a woman outside a North Tyneside bar. Liam Moor allegedly killed Lisa Denton following a suspected one-punch attack near Charlie's Bar, in North Shields, at around 10pm on Saturday, January 24. Moor, of Telford Street, in East Howdon, but now living outside the North Tyneside area, was arrested and charged with manslaughter. We can't deal with this offence at the magistrates' court, so you will be dealt with at Newcastle Crown Court. View 3 Images A police cordon is surrounding Charlie's Bar in North Shields following an incident (Image: ChronicleLive)As previously reported following the incident, a woman, aged in her 50s, was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has renewed calls for innovative aircraft leasing solutions, flexible financing structures and practical pathways for fleet renewal to enable Nigerian airlines access modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. The statement hinted that a major highlight of Nigeria’s participation was a high-level meeting with Aercap, aircraft leasing company, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Angus Kelly. The statement said that discussions focused on long-term collaboration to support Nigerian airlines with tailored leasing models, flexible financing options, and structured pathways for fleet replacement. Keyamo noted that access to modern aircraft would not only enhance safety standards but also reduce operating costs and position Nigerian airlines to compete more effectively on regional and international routes. “Talks centred on leveraging structured finance, risk-mitigation tools and trade-enhancing instruments to support fleet development and airline sustainability,” the statement said.

It is on that basis that we gather here today,” the Vice President said. Commending Governor Mutfwang, Shettima described him as a unifying leader whose administration has begun repositioning Plateau State from conflict and stagnation towards peace and transformation. Earlier, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, for leading Plateau State into the APC fold. He assured Governor Mutfwang of victory in 2027, describing his defection as completing APC’s political map in the North Central. APC National Chairman, Prof. Yilwatda, said Governor Mutfwang’s entry reflected a growing national realignment, disclosing that candidates of several other parties had also joined the APC.

“When a child consumes alcohol or starts consuming alcohol early, their systems are exposed to alcohol early. Their physiological systems are exposed to alcohol early and there is always damage.”Adeyeye emphasised that the concentration of alcohol in sachets can be dangerously high. But some of the sachets of alcohol contain up to 43% alcohol,” she explained. So that at the end of five years, there will not be sachet of alcohol, or alcohol in PET less than 200ml. The NAFDAC DG emphasised that,“Children cannot handle alcohol the way adults can.

Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America speaks on the third day of Davos 2026. The United States has picked up the pace of its air strikes against Al-Shabaab and Islamic State in Somalia this year, according to US Africa Command data. Since January 1, the United States has conducted 23 strikes in Somalia, Africom spokeswoman Major Mahalia Frost told AFP. Following the Nigeria strikes on what Washington and Abuja said were targets linked to Islamic State Sahel Province, the Pentagon has pledged increased intelligence sharing with its Nigerian counterparts. Somalia, too, has come under fire diplomatically, with the United States recently pausing humanitarian aid there.

The Senate on Tuesday received the transmission of 24 health sector bills from President Bola Tinubu for legislative consideration, in line with Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The bills were conveyed in a letter addressed to the Senate and read during plenary by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio. He noted that the proposed legislations cover a wide range of health institutions and regulatory bodies, including tertiary and teaching hospitals, speciality hospitals, professional councils, and regulatory agencies. Tinubu expressed confidence that the Senate would give the bills careful and judicious consideration in the interest of strengthening Nigeria’s health sector. After the bills were read at plenary, the Senate President referred all 24 bills to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.

Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has lost his father, Sunday Ndidi, who died on Tuesday following a road accident, PUNCH Online reports. The retired military officer was reportedly involved in an accident in Umunede, Delta State, and was confirmed dead after being rushed to a hospital in Agbor, also in Delta State. “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of our footballer Wilfred Ndidi’s esteemed father, Sunday Ndidi, in a fatal traffic accident,” the club said in a statement released via their official X account. While celebrating his headed goal against Tunisia in Nigeria’s second group match, the midfielder referenced his father and his admiration for former Nigeria captain Kanu Nwankwo. “The celebration came from my dad because he was always talking about Kanu Nwankwo,” Ndidi told journalists in Morocco.