Japa: Over 16,000 Nigerian nurses now practising in UK
At least 16,156 nurses and midwives trained in Nigeria have been licensed to practise in the United Kingdom between 2017 and September 30, 2025, according to data from the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The figure, obtained by The PUNCH, underscores the growing “japa” wave — the steady migration of skilled Nigerian health workers to countries offering better pay,...
NNPC, 12 others fail ICPC integrity assessment
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and 12 other federal ministries, departments, and agencies have scored zero in the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard released by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. According to the ICPC publication on Wednesday, 357 MDAs were assessed — with NNPC ranking last after recording zero across all four assessment pillars. In contrast,...
Soldiers rescue 24 travellers, foil kidnap attempt
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have thwarted a kidnapping attempt along the Otukpo–Enugu expressway in Benue State, rescuing 24 travellers after armed men tried to seize passengers from two commercial buses. Acting Media Information Officer of the operation, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, said in a statement on Wednesday that the incident happened at about 10 p.m. on December 22, 2025, near...
Man hires assassin to kill wife’s lover
An Ebute-Metta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of three defendants over an alleged murder case filed against them by the police. Those remanded are Sunday Sojunu, 35; his wife, Toyin, 31; and an alleged accomplice, Dare Sampson, 32. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the trio are facing a three-count charge in connection with the death of...
NAFDAC uncovers fake, expired drug factory in Lagos
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered a major operation dealing in fake, banned, and expired medicines in the Ojo area of Lagos, leading to the arrest of two suspects. The discovery was made in collaboration with security agencies. Officials said a four-storey building with 15 flats was being used to alter expiry dates and repackage...
ICPC ranks NUPRC under Komolafe most transparent agency in Nigeria
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has ranked the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) under Gbenga Komolafe the most transparent and ethics-compliant agency in Nigeria. This is contained in the 2025 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) report released by the ICPC on Wednesday. The ICPC said contrary to speculations the “commission is not a den...
Stock market transacts 1.75bn shares as investors gain N119bn
The Nigerian stock market traded 1.746 billion shares valued at N30.05 billion in 19,372 deals on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. This is compared with 677.4 million shares worth N20.8 billion recorded on Tuesday across 27,589 transactions. This reflected 158 per cent increase in volume, 40 per cent growth in value, and 30 per cent decline in deals. The activity chart revealed that...
5 killed, 15 injured in Maiduguri bomb blast — Police
The Borno State Police Command has confirmed five persons dead and 35 others injured in the bomb blast at a mosque in Maiduguri, the state capital. The incident was sequel to an improvised explosive device (IED) attack by a suspected suicide bomber in Gamborun area of Maiduguri on Wednesday. Confirmed the incident, the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nahum...
Fire razes 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House in Lagos
A Christmas Eve fire has engulfed the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, destroying goods valued at millions of naira. The incident, which reportedly began around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, sent occupants and nearby residents fleeing to safety. No casualties had been recorded at the time of filing this report. Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue...
