Weak Borders Fuel Nigeria's Insecurity, Ex-CDS Says
A former Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim (retd. Speaking at the reunion of the 42nd Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy on Saturday night in Abuja, the former defence chief said Nigeria’s economic potential attracts external threats, while internal divisions further compound the situation. The former defence chief urged senior officers to maintain strong bonds with their colleagues, stressing that national security cannot be handled by individuals acting alone. In his welcome remarks, President of the 42nd Regular Course, Maj.-Gen. Folusho Oyinlola, described the reunion as a moment of reflection, celebration and renewed commitment among course members. While such predictions did not materialise, the former defence chief is warning that the forces and interests behind them remain active.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 13:48 UTC
Why godfatherism in Nigerian politics must end
A federal commissioner representing Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Henry Idahagbon, has described godfatherism as a Nigerian invention that must be consciously dismantled. According to him, “I believe that the concept of godfatherism is a uniquely Nigerian invention. “But there is nothing that can be compared with the Nigerian concept of godfatherism. That is why I said it’s a unique Nigerian creation, a Nigerian invention. “So it’s something that the Nigerian political class has to consciously dismantle,” he said.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 12:52 UTC
Lagos restricts traffic for 'Asiwaju' mini-marathon Sunday
FILE PHOTO: An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has issued a traffic advisory ahead of a mini-marathon organised in support of President Bola Tinubu and scheduled to hold on Sunday in parts of Agege, Lagos. The route will further connect Babajide Sanwo-Olu Road to Agbotikuyo, linking Old Ipaja Motor Road before terminating at Orile Agege Orile Agege Local Council Development Area. “Vehicles coming from Wemco Road can go through Ogba to Excellent Hotel, linking College Road to Iju Road, and continue their journey. Tagged ‘Run for Asiwaju 2027,’ the mini-marathon was organised by the Orile-Agege LCDA under its chairman, Mr Dipo Liadi.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 11:02 UTC
Illegal Goya factory: Churches can’t detect fake ‘anointing’ oil, bishops tell NAFDAC
The clerics spoke in reaction to the recent discovery of an illegal Goya oil production facility in Lagos by NAFDAC officials. Goya oil is widely used in churches as anointing oil for prayers, healing and spiritual protection. He disclosed that the agency uncovered a large-scale illegal factory producing fake Goya oil at Oke-Arin market in Idumota, Lagos. According to him, burnt palm oil was mixed with colouring agents and repackaged as Goya oil for unsuspecting consumers. “We discovered a factory producing fake Goya oil.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 10:38 UTC
Beer Consumption in Nigeria Rises Amid Economic Stress
The figure underscores the scale of beer and other alcohol beverages consumption among Nigerians despite prevailing economic pressures. While Champion Breweries Plc recorded revenue of ₦21.44bn for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, up from ₦14.02bn in the same period of 2024. Overall, the combined revenue of the three companies amounted to ₦1.54tn, with Nigerian Breweries Plc accounting for the bulk of sales. The findings were in sharp contrast to the announced price increase by Nigerian Breweries Plc in February 2024, which saw beer drinkers in Nigeria paying as much as ₦1,300 for a bottle. But for several Nigerians who spoke with PUNCH Healthwise, consuming beer is one of the few affordable comforts left in Nigeria with the prevailing economic reality.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 07:46 UTC
Lagos under fire for abandoning Kudirat Abiola murder case
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Uwani Aba-Aji described the failure of the Lagos State Government to act as “inexcusable”. The ruling effectively brought to an end all legal efforts to reopen the prosecution of Al-Mustapha over the murder of Kudirat Abiola. “Lagos had been the centre of the struggle for a better nation, and Mrs Kudirat Abiola was at the centre of that struggle. Falana told Sunday PUNCH, “On June 4, 1986, Mrs Kudirat Abiola was brutally killed in Lagos by gunmen. “Major Al-Mustapha was tried, found guilty of the cold-blooded murder of Mrs Abiola and sentenced to death by the Lagos State High Court.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 07:35 UTC
Chukwueze Inspires Fulham Comeback Win Over Brighton
Samuel Chukwueze made a strong return from international duty as he came off the bench to score in Fulham’s 2-1 comeback win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday. The Super Eagles winger was introduced in the 59th minute with Fulham trailing and made an immediate impact. Former Arsenal forward Paul Merson heaped praise on Chukwueze after the stunning goal, likening it to Thierry Henry’s trademark strikes. Of the three Fulham players who featured for Nigeria at the recently concluded AFCON, two were involved in the match. Fulham manager Silva expressed his delight at the return of the Super Eagles stars following the conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 07:03 UTC
Vehicle Imports Nigeria from US Surge to $985m in 2025
A breakdown of the data shows that passenger cars accounted for the bulk of the inflow, with Nigeria importing vehicles worth $727m year-to-date in 2025, compared with $411m in the same period of 2024. Imports of trucks, buses, and special-purpose vehicles more than doubled within the period under review, rising from $30m in the first 10 months of 2024 to $63m in 2025. Vehicle parts also recorded a strong increase, climbing from $103m year-to-date in 2024 to $195m in 2025. Passenger cars accounted for $102m of the October total, while trucks and buses stood at $8m and parts at $26m. In contrast, October 2024 imports from the US stood at $83m, against $59m in September of that year, with passenger cars alone accounting for $65m.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 06:33 UTC
Advantage China: Trump’s tantrums push US allies closer to Beijing
But in the search for stability, US allies are turning to the country that many in Washington see as an existential threat: China. “Canada is forging a new strategic partnership with China,” Carney said. The global order, he said, was at a point of “rupture … not a transition”. View image in fullscreen Canada’s Mark Carney visits Ritan Park, Beijing, during his visit to China this month. Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, arrives in China next week with a slightly different set of circumstances.
Source:The Guardian
January 25, 2026 06:14 UTC
Mbappe's brace sends Real Madrid top of La Liga
Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his team's second goal from the penalty spot during the Spanish league football match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid CF at La Ceramica Stadium in Vila-Real on January 24, 2026. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP)Kylian Mbappe netted twice to give Real Madrid a 2-0 win for Real Madrid at Villarreal on Saturday and take his side top of La Liga. Alvaro Arbeloa’s team moved two points clear of rivals Barcelona, who host Real Oviedo on Sunday. La Liga’s top scorer Mbappe reached 21 goals for the season in the competition to help Madrid see off a spirited Villarreal side, now fourth in the table. The 25-year-old Brazil forward went a 13th straight La Liga match without scoring, but was involved as Mbappe opened the scoring two minutes into the second half.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 05:43 UTC
Why everyone on TikTok is using punch cards to hit their goals
In an era of digital burnout, creators are turning goals into punchable milestones. For millennials and Gen Z —generations raised on sticker charts, gold stars, and achievement tracking — the punch card offers a familiar feedback loop. You May Also Like"Making punch cards is such a fun way to make goals feel like a game," creator @caro.fields wrote in the caption of her TikTok. These punch cards run on a kind of retail psychology. And like many productivity trends on TikTok, punch cards often double as aesthetic objects.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 01:27 UTC
NELFUND Loan Repayment Not Yet Due for Any Applicant
Dada also shared a video of NELFUND Managing Director, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, who described the repayment process as “seamless, transparent, and fair.”Sawyerr noted that the repayment obligation primarily falls on the employers of graduates who benefited from the loan scheme. “We have a global standing instruction system in place to recover funds from defaulters attempting to evade repayment,” he added. “We do not have any intention of forcing people to pay NELFUND back, other than the employer. If the employer doesn’t pay us… we can go after the employer, not the people who are applying for this loan today, unless they are self-employed,” he said. The NELFUND scheme is part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to expand access to education and ensure sustainable support for future students.
Source:Punch
January 25, 2026 00:39 UTC
Osimhen becomes fastest Galatasaray player to score 50 goals
Victor Osimhen has cemented his hero status among Galatasaray supporters after scoring his 50th goal for the Turkish giants, a milestone achieved in record time. The 27-year-old reached the 50-goal milestone in just 59 games, making him the fastest player to reach 50 goals for Galatasaray since 2000, according to Transfermarkt’s database report on Saturday. Osimhen enjoyed a remarkable debut campaign at Galatasaray, scoring 37 goals in 41 games, and he has continued his impressive form this season. Icardi, the current club captain, took 69 games to score 50 goals after joining Galatasaray in 2022. French striker Bafétimbi Gomis completes the top three, reaching 50 goals in 74 games following his arrival from Swansea in 2017.
Source:Punch
January 24, 2026 22:13 UTC
Germany considers 2026 World Cup boycott over Trump's action
A senior German Football Association (DFB) official has said it is time to begin serious discussions about a possible boycott of the 2026 World Cup following recent actions by United States President Donald Trump. Tensions between the US and several European countries have risen after President Trump threatened to acquire Greenland, which Denmark controls. He also warned of imposing tariffs on eight European nations, including Germany, that opposed the move. We need to have this discussion.”Germany has previously been involved in disputes with FIFA over political expression at major tournaments. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA warned players they could be booked for wearing the OneLove armband, which was intended to promote diversity and inclusion.
Source:Punch
January 24, 2026 19:26 UTC
Trump Hails UK Troops Amid NATO Afghanistan Controversy
But other European countries have also reacted sharply to his comments discounting what NATO troops did in Afghanistan, with French President Emmanuel Macron the latest to comment Saturday. Trump had claimed NATO sent “some troops” but “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines”, in an interview with Fox News aired on Thursday. He also repeated his suggestion that the alliance would not come to the aid of the United States if asked to do so. “The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “Denmark has always stood by the United States, and we have shown up in crisis zones around the world when the United States asked us to,” said a statement from the association.
Source:Punch
January 24, 2026 18:26 UTC