Finance ministry confirms release of Super Eagles’ AFCON bonuses
The Federal Government has confirmed that all group-stage bonuses owed to Super Eagles players at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have been released and should reflect in the players’ domiciliary accounts within hours. The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this on Thursday amid reports suggesting that members of the national team were considering boycotting...
FG targets unpaid contractors with N1.7trn allocation in 2026 budget
The Federal Government has earmarked N1.7tn in the 2026 Appropriation Bill to settle outstanding payments owed to contractors for capital projects executed in 2024. Details of the proposed 2026 national budget show that the allocation appears under a line item titled “Provision for 2024 Outstanding Contractor’s Liabilities,” indicating official acknowledgment of delayed payments amid sustained protests by contractors over unpaid...
No pardon for Sean Diddy — Trump
US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will not grant a presidential pardon to music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, despite the rapper’s request for clemency. Combs, who is serving a four‑year federal prison sentence after being convicted in July of transporting people across state lines for prostitution, wrote to Trump seeking a pardon. The president told The New York Times...
NCC, CBN launch framework to end failed airtime, data transaction complaints
In a move aimed at protecting consumers, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have developed a new framework to address complaints arising from failed airtime and data purchases caused by network downtimes, system errors, or human input mistakes. The initiative is the result of several months of collaboration involving mobile network operators (MNOs), value-added...
Nwoko to Regina Daniels: Negative drug test not proof of recovery
Senator Ned Nwoko has dismissed the recent negative drug test result presented by his estranged wife, Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, insisting that it only shows a brief period of abstinence and does not prove genuine recovery. In a statement posted on his official X account and released by his communication team on Thursday, the lawmaker argued that true recovery and...
Court postpones trial of ex-Kwara gov in ₦5.78bn fraud case to Feb 16
The trial of the immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, was on Thursday adjourned to February 16, 2026, following proceedings at the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin. The two defendants are being prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged...
Lagos Assembly passes N4.44trn 2026 budget
The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a N4.44 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, adopting the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget’s report. The chairman of the committee, Sa’ad Olumoh, presented the report during plenary in Lagos on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Olumoh said the framework was guided by macroeconomic indices, including an exchange rate benchmark of...
Ndidi vows to pay Super Eagles’ bonuses if govt fails
Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has pledged to personally pay the team’s outstanding match bonuses at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco if the Federal Government fails to settle the payments before Saturday’s quarter-final clash against Algeria. Ndidi made the commitment amid growing concerns over unpaid bonuses for the team’s three group-stage matches and their round-of-16 fixture. The...
Family of abducted Edo doctor appeals for help as kidnappers demand N100m
The family of Dr. Abu Babatunde, a house officer at the Edo University Teaching Hospital, Iyamho, has appealed to the public for financial assistance following his abduction by gunmen alongside his brother. In a statement released on Thursday, the family disclosed that the kidnappers are demanding a ransom of N100 million for the doctor’s release, a sum they described as...
January 15 now Armed Forces celebration, remembrance day — DHQ
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced that the annual January 15 event to honour Nigeria’s military personnel will now be officially called “Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day”, instead of the former title, “Armed Forces Remembrance Day.” In a statement on Thursday, Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, explained that the Federal Government approved the change to better...
