No fewer than nine senators from different political parties formally announced their defection to the African Democratic Congress on Thursday, further reshaping the political configuration of the Senate. In his letter, Nwoye attributed his decision to internal crises within the Labour Party. “I wish to tender my resignation amid the ongoing multiple litigations within the Labour Party, which have significantly affected the cohesion and stability of the party. As of Thursday, the APC retains a dominant majority with 87 senators, while the Peoples Democratic Party has dwindled to seven members. The Labour Party and Social Democratic Party currently have no representation in the upper chamber following the latest defections.

A faction of the African Democratic Congress in Sokoto State has distanced itself from claims that former governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal, has joined the party, insisting that he did not follow the constitutional procedure required for membership. According to the statement, the party contacted the ADC chairman in Tambuwal Ward and the party chairman in Tambuwal Local Government Area, Aminu Tambari, who both denied having knowledge of such a development. The party also warned its 2023 governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Belo Isiyaku, popularly known as Keegan, to stop presenting himself as having the authority to admit individuals into the party. The ADC leadership stressed that party membership cannot be conducted privately and must be processed at the ward level under the supervision of the ward chairman. The party further cautioned Tambuwal against interfering in its affairs in Sokoto State, warning that any attempt to do so could lead to legal action.

(Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)Eight Islamic and Arab countries on Thursday condemned Israel for keeping Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem closed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israel has shut all holy sites in east Jerusalem’s Old City for security reasons after it began airstrikes with the United States against Iran that have sparked a regional war. The closure coincides with Ramadan, when tens of thousands of Palestinian Muslims would normally pray every Friday at the mosque — the third holiest site in Islam. Since the start of the war, the Israeli authorities have, for security reasons, barred access to the Old City for anyone other than residents or shopowners. The eight foreign ministers said that “Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites” and urged the government to lift the ban on access.

The Labour Party was also hit by the gale of defections, losing five members as political realignments intensified ahead of the next electoral cycle. The Labour Party lost Afam Ogene, Lilian Orogbu and Peter Aniekwe from Anambra State to the African Democratic Congress. Two other LP lawmakers — Jessy Onuakalusi from Lagos State and Osaro Omoruyi from Edo State — also defected to the ADC. In addition, Peter Uzokwe, an Anambra lawmaker elected on the platform of the Young Progressives Party, joined the ADC. Analysts say the growing uncertainty within the opposition parties — particularly the prolonged leadership disputes in the PDP and factional struggles within the Labour Party — has created an environment that encourages defections.

“Our offices across Nigeria, including Lagos and Abuja, remain open and fully operational, and we continue to serve our customers, partners, and merchants without disruption. “As a responsible financial technology company operating in Nigeria, we are compliant with all applicable tax obligations and regulatory requirements. “This administrative clarification affects multiple operators across the industry, not OPay alone. Equally troubling is the selective and deliberate singling out of OPay in a matter that concerns the wider industry. “OPay remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s digital economy by providing secure, reliable, and inclusive financial services to millions of users nationwide,” the statement concluded.

Britain will impose airspace restrictions and deploy armed police officers in Windsor next week as President Bola Tinubu arrives for a state visit hosted by King Charles III. Tinubu is expected to begin the visit in the company of his wife Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday, March 18, with a reception at Windsor Castle. Chief Superintendent Adrian Hall of Thames Valley Police’s Joint Operations Unit said the air restrictions formed part of a broader security operation for the visit. Road closures and parking restrictions will take effect from Tuesday, March 17, with possible temporary disruption to roads in and around Windsor during the visit. Thames Valley Police said it was being supported by the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services to enforce the flight restrictions.

An Indian court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Christian Arinze, to 20 years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of trafficking illicit drugs into the country. PUNCH Metro gathered from India’s Narcotics Control Bureau on Wednesday that Arinze was convicted alongside his Zambian accomplice, Hanchabila John, by a court in Ahmedabad. The suspect was reportedly intercepted by operatives of the Narcotics Control Bureau, who discovered the drugs during a search at the airport. Following investigations and trial, the Special Court for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances cases in Ahmedabad sentenced the two foreigners to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 200,000 each. Arinze’s conviction comes less than 72 hours after 93 Nigerians were arrested in Ghana over alleged involvement in fraud and human trafficking.

Read our Privacy noticeThe Japanese zoo housing Punch, the baby monkey turned viral internet sensation, insists that he is not being bullied after concerns were raised online. Afterwards, in February, the zoo said that Punch “had been scolded many times by other monkeys” but none had “shown serious aggression towards him”. The zoo added that Punch was spending “most of the day peacefully” and the “disciplining actions” against him did not occur incessantly. “At this time, there has been no evidence that Punch has been attacked in a way that would threaten his survival. Animal rights group PETA previously criticised the treatment of Punch, arguing that it was evidence of “the cruelty of zoos”.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has charged his newly appointed commissioners to be prepared to give their best in service to the state, describing their screening by the state House of Assembly as rigorous. He added that during the screening, lawmakers had outlined the commissioners’ duties and responsibilities, and he expected nothing less than excellence from them. The oath of allegiance and oath of office were administered to them by the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Rivers State, David D. Ihua-Maduenyi, according to the statement. Our correspondent reports that Fubara is expected to submit a fresh list of commissioner-nominees to the legislature, as Rivers State has 23 local government areas. So far, none of the eight commissioners dismissed by the governor over the past fortnight has been re-nominated for screening.

The Federal Government on Wednesday confirmed the receipt of the HIV prevention injection known as Lenacapavir. Bashorun said, “NASCP, in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, will work to ensure the safe introduction, strategic deployment, and effective integration of Lenacapavir into the national HIV prevention options. “The rollout will support ongoing efforts to increase access to prevention services while reinforcing Nigeria’s broader HIV response. “NASCP remains committed to advancing equitable access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care services. “As a long-acting injectable option, LEN PrEP has the potential to improve adherence and expand access to effective HIV prevention services for populations that may face challenges with daily oral prevention options.

File: Alex Otti during visit of the Regional Chairman/Enugu State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT East Regional Working CommitteeAbia State Governor, Alex Otti, says his government is intentional about education in the state, hence his commitment to reforming the education sector. Otti stated this on Wednesday in his office when he received the Regional Chairman/Enugu State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT East Regional Working Committee. He noted that his government takes education seriously and has consistently funded the education sector with 20 percent of the state’s annual budget for three consecutive years. He said, “We are also very intentional because we know the outcomes we expect. The State Chief Executive expressed happiness that the state government is seeing positive results in the investments made in the education sector.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, announced on Tuesday that physical examinations of cargo will be completely phased out by December 2026, as the Service will then focus on scanning machines and data analytics. He also inaugurated a facility that boosts the tech shift in Apapa and emphasised that data analytics is the backbone for reducing manual checks. “Physical examinations will be completely phased out by December 2026, as the Service would then focus on scanning machines and data analytics,” he said. He urged traders to declare cargo honestly and join the Authorised Economic Operator programme for trusted status, noting that higher compliance will minimise intrusive checks on legitimate trade. The Controller tied the project to reducing physical examinations, citing Apapa data: 21,373 Red channel (physical) versus 3,236 Orange (scanning), urging scanner expansion to target only high-risk cargo, reduce congestion, and boost clearance nationwide by year-end with improved trader compliance.

Watch : Moo Deng's Zoo Responds to Concerns Over Pygmy Hippo's "Sad" Living ConditionsDon't let the viral videos about Punch drive you bananas. The Japanese zoo housing the beloved macaque monkey—which was abandoned by his mother shortly after his birth in July—addressed public concerns he is “being bullied" by his fellow primates. "We have received many voices of concern from people both in Japan and overseas," the Ichikawa City Zoo wrote on X (formerly Twitter) March 10. Instead, the park clarified that Japanese macaque groups "follow a strict hierarchical society" in which "dominant individuals show 'disciplining actions' toward their subordinates." "These 'disciplining actions' do not occur incessantly, and Punch spends most of the day peacefully.

Executive Director, Business Development and Innovation, PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Omowunmi Tunde-Obe; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Manager and Head of Advertisement, Kemi Ogungbemi; and Editor, PUNCH Digital, Olalekan Adetayo, during one of the visits in Abuja on Tuesday. The delegation from Punch Nigeria Limited was led by the company’s Executive Director, Business Development and Innovation, Omowunmi Tunde-Obe. These are the kinds of partnerships we believe can make a difference.”Also speaking, the Head of Advertisement at Punch Nigeria Limited, expressed appreciation to the commission for its continued patronage and support. Similarly, the Editor of PUNCH Digital, said the organisation’s strong online presence and multimedia capabilities would provide additional visibility for the commission’s activities. Established in 1973, Punch Nigeria Limited remains one of Nigeria’s most influential media organisations, publishing widely read titles including The PUNCH, Sunday PUNCH, and PUNCH Digital.

January marked the first full month under the revised VAT sharing formula. Previously, the Federal Government received 15 per cent, the states 50 per cent, and LGAs 35 per cent. The state’s gross VAT allocation for January stood at N111.22 billion. After a deduction of N9.89 billion, Lagos retained N101.34 billion as state net VAT. Oyo ranked second with N24.04 billion in gross VAT allocation, while Rivers followed with N23.57 billion.