Punch the monkey is being ‘disciplined’ not bullied, insists Japanese zoo
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”.
Source:Punch
March 12, 2026 11:04 UTC
Fubara backs Rivers assembly over commissioners screening, demands excellence
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.
Source:Punch
March 12, 2026 09:19 UTC
Nigeria receives HIV prevention injection
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.
Source:Punch
March 12, 2026 09:05 UTC
Abia intentional about education – Otti
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.
Source:Punch
March 12, 2026 08:33 UTC
Customs to phase out physical cargo checks by December
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.
Source:Punch
March 12, 2026 08:19 UTC
Zoo Responds to Claim That Punch the Monkey Is "Being Bullied"
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.
Source:Punch
March 12, 2026 07:29 UTC
PUNCH deepens partnerships with govt, private sector institutions
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.
Source:Punch
March 12, 2026 01:20 UTC
How Nigerian States Should Manage Increased VAT Gains
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.
Source:Punch
March 12, 2026 00:53 UTC
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SEO_Batch37_Easter-Punch_42604-1-f1d10b360e904af8966a673529a6fab8.jpg)
15 Non-Alcoholic Easter Punch Recipes For Your Spring Menu
No matter your choice, at least one of these non-alcoholic Easter punch recipes deserves to appear at your celebration this year. 01 of 15 Easter Brunch Punch Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Rhubarb syrup adds a sweet-tangy flavor to store-bought strawberry lemonade in this easy-as-can-be pretty pastel and non-alcoholic Easter punch. Get The Recipe Save02 of 15 Party Punch Credit: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey This light and fruity punch recipe is perfect for your Easter table. Get The Recipe Save11 of 15 Strawberry Lemonade Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This punch is like a warm spring breeze. Get The Recipe Save12 of 15 Sparkling Punch Credit: Jennifer Davick Pretty and pink, this punch is simple and customizable.
Source:Punch
March 12, 2026 00:27 UTC
FG nullifies appointments of Benue college provost, registrar, bursar
The Federal Ministry of Education has directed the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education, Odugbo, Benue State, to immediately nullify the appointments of its Provost, Registrar, and Bursar over alleged violations of established regulations. It also asked the council to submit a copy of the revised advertisement to the ministry for documentation and record purposes. The organisation said it was particularly troubling that the appointments were made despite earlier instructions from the ministry to halt the process and re-advertise the positions. CAPE described the development as part of a broader pattern of procedural violations in appointments within some tertiary institutions in the country. “The credibility, stability and integrity of our tertiary education institutions depend on strict adherence to due process in the appointment of their leadership.
Source:Punch
March 11, 2026 23:47 UTC
Tinie Tempah asks King for duchy invite at royal event for Nigerian community
Charles was joined by hundreds of people celebrating Britain’s Nigerian diaspora during an event at St James’s Palace on Wednesday, ahead of the Nigerian president’s state visit next week. “Invite me, invite me,” he joked, as the King spoke to him about the royal lands. The King spoke to designers from Brand63 Africa, a social enterprise launched at London Fashion Week this year, connecting fashion designers of an African heritage to the global luxury market. Charles and Camilla will host them at Windsor Castle in what is set to be the first UK state visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years. They told him they had last played at a similar event nine years ago, to which the King joked “none of you look a day older”.
Source:The Guardian
March 11, 2026 21:35 UTC
Quadri Aruna suffers eighth straight WTT series defeat
Nigeria’s table tennis star Quadri Aruna is still searching for his first win in the WTT series this year and remains winless in eight consecutive WTT matches after a 3–0 defeat to France’s Félix Lebrun at the WTT Champions Chongqing on Tuesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Aruna faced Lebrun in the round of 32 at the Bloomage Biotech Biohyalux E·C·M Arena in China Vbut succumbed to the 19-year-old’s firepower in straight sets, losing 11–5, 11–6, 11–3. The defeat means Aruna will continue to wait for his first win in the WTT series, with his last victory dating back to September 2025, when he beat China’s Huang Youzheng in the round of 16. His only victory over the Frenchman was a hard-fought 3–2 win at the WTT Contender Durban in South Africa in January 2023. They met twice in 2024 at the WTT Star Contender Goa and the WTT Champions Chongqing, where the teenager recorded 3–0 and 3–2 victories, respectively.
Source:Punch
March 11, 2026 18:20 UTC
‘BRT staff harassed me for exposing bus shortage’, says Lagos TikToker
The Lagos Bus Rapid Transit system is regulated by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, which oversees policy, infrastructure and system regulation. Many residents rely on the BRT system because it runs on a dedicated lane, making it faster and often cheaper than commercial transport options. The situation escalated on Tuesday when she posted footage of a confrontation with a woman who told her to stop recording in the BRT bus. She also alleged that she later learned that several BRT buses had been chartered for an event, which she said contributed to the shortage that morning. “I was shocked when I found out that almost all the BRT buses got chartered for an event.
Source:Punch
March 11, 2026 18:19 UTC
India Rejects Tinubu’s Envoys Over Short Tenure Policy
The source continued, “Some countries are reluctant to accept some people, not because of the individuals but because of time. “So their concern is that he has just one year left, so what if he doesn’t win the election? Any ambassador from an administration that has less than a year or two in office will not get accepted. If you are less than two years to the end of the tenure, there will be difficulties accepting an ambassador. The source emphasised that while India is the only country with a confirmed policy against short-tenure ambassadors, other nations may follow similar conventions.
Source:Punch
March 11, 2026 17:51 UTC