Punch Newspapers - Latest News
A’Ibom CP orders probe into alleged police brutality, extortion at polytechnic
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:27:54 +0000
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, has ordered a full-scale investigation into allegations of police brutality and extortion levelled by students of the State Polytechnic, Ikot-Osura, in Ikot-Ekpene Local Government Area. A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, on Tuesday, said the directive followed a meeting between the
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Two PDP Reps defect to APC
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:25:59 +0000
The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday lost two of its members in the House of Representatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Husseini Jallo, representing Igabi Federal Constituency, Kaduna State and Adamu Tanko, representing Suleja/Tara/Gurara Federal Constituency, Niger State identified what they called the perennial crisis in the PDP as the reason for their defection.
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Galadima slams Jandor’s return, says SDP is APC’s branch
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:07:35 +0000
A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Buba Galadima, has described the Social Democratic Party as a faction of the ruling All Progressives Congress. Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Tuesday, Galadima claimed that the SDP was merely an extension of the APC, questioning the party’s independence. “The SDP is a
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Anambra 2025: Soludo confident of re-election, says no strong opponent
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 11:26:23 +0000
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed any serious competition ahead of the November 8, 2025, governorship election in the state. Soludo declared that he had not seen any worthy challenger. He said there is a general agreement among Anambra people that his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, has delivered good governance and deserves
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China, Cambodia hail Trump’s decision to defund US-funded media
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 11:15:10 +0000
Beijing on Tuesday said media outlets facing the axe by US President Donald Trump had a “notorious” history of reporting on China, as Cambodia’s autocratic former leader hailed the move for “combating fake news”. Trump signed an order last week freezing Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe and other outlets as part
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2025 Hajj: Bauchi pilgrims must get polio vaccine – Board
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 11:03:23 +0000
Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has announced compulsory polio vaccination for all intending pilgrims for the year 2025. The Executive Secretary of the Board, Abdulrahman Idris, made the announcement on Tuesday during a press briefing at the board’s headquarters in Bauchi. He stated that all the 2,200 intending pilgrims who registered with the board
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Northern CAN vows to ignore critics over tenure elongation
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:45:30 +0000
The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern states and Abuja has vowed to focus on its mandate rather than engaging in unnecessary exchanges with critics. The PUNCH online reports that only recently, a crisis engulfed the association over tenure elongation. At the center of the crisis is the tenure of Rev. Yakubu Pam,
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UNICAL unveils 25-year plan to strengthen workforce, curriculum
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:39:57 +0000
The University of Calabar says it has developed a 25-year plan to strengthen its workforce and curriculum. Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Florence Obi, disclosed this on Tuesday in Calabar, during an interaction with media. The media interaction is part of activities lined up for the 50th anniversary of the institution and the 37th
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Call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release not about South East insecurity – Soludo
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:30:00 +0000
The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has said the call for the release of the Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has no connection to insecurity in the South-East. Speaking on Monday during a media chat to mark his third year in office, Soludo, who has been advocating for Kanu’s release, stated that
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Russian drone attack cuts power in Ukraine
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:21:20 +0000
Thousands of people in central Ukraine were left without electricity on Tuesday following a countrywide Russian attack involving more than 130 drones that damaged critical infrastructure. Kyiv and Moscow have recently escalated cross-border drone and missile attacks despite a US-led proposal for a 30-day ceasefire to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The governor of the Zaporizhzhia
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NAF airstrikes destroy Boko Haram hideouts in Borno
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:44:58 +0000
The Nigerian Air Force has said a precision airstrike against Boko Haram enclaves in Chikide and Degbewa in Borno State has inflicted heavy losses on the terrorist group. Acting on credible intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance reports, the NAF said it targeted key insurgent hideouts within the rugged Mandara Mountains, where notorious terrorist leader Ali Ngulde
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PariPesa Crowned Best Sportsbook Operator at the 2025 SiGMA Africa Awards
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:39:44 +0000
PariPesa, one of Africa’s fastest-growing and most innovative sportsbook operators, has achieved a monumental milestone by winning the Best Sportsbook Operator 2025 award at the prestigious SiGMA Africa Awards. This recognition cements PariPesa’s position as a leader in the African gaming industry, showcasing its commitment to excellence, innovation, and player satisfaction. A Landmark Achievement in
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Asian markets climb as US data eases recession fears
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:15:03 +0000
Asian markets rallied on Tuesday following another positive day on Wall Street stoked by US data that eased recession fears, while Chinese tech firms helped propel another surge in Hong Kong. Traders have kicked off the week on a positive note after Beijing at the weekend unveiled a range of measures aimed at reigniting activity
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Criticism of Seyi Tinubu’s Ramadan outreach driven by political mischief – APC chieftain
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:11:10 +0000
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and youth advocate, Isaac Balami, has dismissed claims that Seyi Tinubu’s recent tour of the North was politically motivated, describing the backlash as nothing more than political mischief. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Balami said attempts to paint the visit as a political maneuver were baseless and
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Explosion rocks Trans Niger pipeline in Rivers
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:08:49 +0000
An explosion has rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community in Gonna Local Government Area of Rivers State. The explosion occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction. Thick black smoke was seen billowing into the atmosphere, with a raging fire spreading fast into the mangrove from a
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Shettima urges N’Assembly to shun division, partisanship
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:42:46 +0000
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has charged the National Assembly to uphold the sacred responsibility of leadership, prioritise unity and national development over political divisions and partisan interests. He made the call on Monday when President Bola Tinubu hosted the leadership and members of the House of Representatives to Iftar (breaking of Ramadan fast) at the Presidential
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Lagos PDP attacks Jandor over return to APC
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:24:57 +0000
The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has lampooned Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, following his return to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Adediran, who was the Lagos PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, announced his return to APC at a news conference on Monday in Lagos. Adediran, leader
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Wike promises FCT land allocation for Port Harcourt varsity
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:24:19 +0000
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has promised to allocate land in the FCT to the University of Port Harcourt for the establishment of its Centre for Leadership and Political Studies. Wike made the promise when the university’s Governing Council, led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Sen. Mao
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‘I am sorry,’ Corps member apologises after calling Lagos ‘smelling state’ in viral video
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:22:16 +0000
A Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps member, Ushie Uguamaye also known as Raye, who went viral last week for her criticism of the government, has apologised for “talking down” on Lagos. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Raye acknowledged that her words may have offended Lagos residents and expressed regret over her choice of language. She
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Diezani asks court to retrieve seized assets from buyers
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:20:54 +0000
The former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Monday, urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to retrieve her seized assets from their buyers. The former minister specifically requested that the court direct the anti-graft agency to recover the seized properties from the individuals or entities to
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Greek woman gets three life terms for killing three daughters
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:51:02 +0000
A Greek woman sentenced to life last year for murdering her nine-year-old daughter received two additional life terms on Tuesday for killing her two other children. The court in Athens found that Roula Pispirigou suffocated her infant daughters Malena and Irida in 2019 and 2021, in what were ultimately unsuccessful attempts to prevent her husband
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Impeachment move: Tension in Rivers as Assembly serves Fubara misconduct notice
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:48:00 +0000
Tension and apprehension gripped Rivers State on Monday following the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Prof Ngozi Odu by the state House of Assembly. The Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly loyal to the former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, served Fubara and Prof Odu with a
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Nigerian artists shine at Spanish embassy exhibition
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:59:49 +0000
The second and third place winners of the 2024 Spain-Nigeria Visual Art Contest were celebrated at an exhibition held in Abuja on Monday, under the theme “Translating Arts into a Common Language.” The exhibition showcased the impressive works of two standout artists; Hezekiah Obidare, the second-place winner, and Kenan Peter, the third-place winner. The event,
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Corper who criticised Tinubu under pressure to apologise – Activists
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:45:29 +0000
Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, said on Monday that the youth corps member Ushie Uguamaye who criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over hardship is under tremendous pressure to apologise. Sowore, who accompanied the corps member to the NYSC Local Government Inspector’s office in Lagos alongside a team of lawyers, said
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Alia denies sponsoring protest against Benue CJ
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:43:34 +0000
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has distanced himself from the protest held against the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpembese, for relocating the Benue Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal from Benue to Abuja. Hundreds of demonstrators from Benue State took to the streets of Abuja on Monday, for a peaceful protest from the National Assembly
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LASG to prosecute woman for improper waste disposal
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:39:31 +0000
The Lagos State Government has said it will prosecute a woman, identified as Nwakwo Patient, for allegedly dumping refuse at an undesignated point. The state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said on Monday that the suspect was arrested on March 13 2025, at approximately 7:47 a.m in the Alimosho area of Lagos.
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Tinubu appoints Kukah Kaduna varsity pro-chancellor, names VC
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:35:00 +0000
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State. Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Monday titled ‘President Tinubu Appoints Bishop Kukah
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Reps break fast with Tinubu, donate N705m to FG
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 06:30:31 +0000
The leadership of the House of Representatives, on Monday, joined President Bola Tinubu to break fast at Aso Rock, pledging their support to the President and donating N705m, being half of their salaries, to government’s humanitarian efforts. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, thanked President Tinubu for the invitation to break fast
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FAAN urges Bauchi to boost domestic flights through tourism
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:10:25 +0000
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has urged the Bauchi State Government to improve the state’s tourism reserves in order to attract more domestic flights into the state. FAAN made the call through its representative, Lawan Bako, at the launch of the Rano Air flight from Bauchi to Abuja on Friday. Bako noted that “Bauchi
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Barau woos sacked Kano SSG, aggrieved NNPP officials to APC
Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:05:12 +0000
In what has been widely described as a deft move aimed at wooing aggrieved chieftains of the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin has confirmed that a strategic meeting with the former Secretary to the Kano State Government, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi and
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