Author: Naija Daily News

A residential building was gutted by fire following a suspected gas explosion at Ogunkoya Estate, Egbeda, in the Akowonjo area of Lagos, in the early hours of January 1, 2026. Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred while occupants of the house were away attending a crossover worship service to usher in the New Year, a circumstance that prevented any loss of life. No casualties were recorded, as the building was unoccupied at the time of the explosion. A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said the fire was believed to have been triggered by a gas leak, which resulted in…

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 7 for a ruling on the bail applications filed by former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe. The trial judge adjourned for ruling on Friday after counsel to the defendants, Joseph Daudu, SAN, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, adopted their processes and presented arguments for and against the applications. The EFCC is prosecuting the defendants in a money laundering case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, in which Malami, his…

The Kebbi State Government has directed the reopening of all primary and secondary schools across the state for the second term of the 2025/2026 academic session, effective Monday, January 5, 2026. The directive was contained in separate statements signed by the Public Relations Officer of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Isah Ibrahim, and the Deputy Director (Academics) at the Kebbi State Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education, Aliyu Bagarawa. The government urged school administrators, teachers, parents, students, and education secretaries to take note of the resumption date and ensure strict compliance. School heads were instructed to make adequate…

….Says Borno State Governor protected by immunity, but investigations continue Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday rejected allegations by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed that it was being used by political opponents to target him and his aides. Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had accused the EFCC of being used to hound the opposition. In a statement on its Facebook feed on Friday, the EFCC said claims that it was acting at the behest of the Federal Capital Territory minister, Nyesom Wike, were “baseless” and an attempt to undermine…

…Says Fubara not telling the truth on the state’s political crisis The factional chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Robinson Ewoh, said on Thursday that his group had aligned with Federal Capital Territory minister Nyesom Wike to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. Ewoh accused Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara of misleading the PDP by claiming he could wrest political control of the state from Wike before later abandoning the party. Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, Ewoh said Fubara failed to pursue reconciliation after the lifting of emergency rule in the state, instead boasting…

A renowned Nigerian economist, Pat Utomi, said on Thursday that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi will run for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027, adding that he will withdraw his support if Obi accepts a vice-presidential ticket. Utomi spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, following Obi’s defection from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), announced on Wednesday in Enugu. Obi, who placed third in the 2023 presidential election with about six million votes, said his move to the ADC marked the start of a mission to “rescue our country and set it on the…

Sen. Orji Kalu (APC– Abia North) has vowed to do all within his powers to deliver Abia to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. Kalu made the vow at Ekoli, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi while on annual New Year visit to the Chairman of the APC Ebonyi, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha. The Former Abia Governor said he would deploy all within his arsenal to ensure that APC wrestles power from the ruling Labour Party in Abia. “I will support President Bola Tinubu and the APC gubernatorial candidate in the elections. “I will put my heart…

Nigeria’s Oyo State government has clarified that 30 billion naira released by the federal government as intervention funds for victims of the 2024 Ibadan explosion remains untouched in a state account, as a dispute over the funding continues. The clarification follows a public row between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, who alleged that Makinde failed to disclose receipt of 50 billion naira from the federal government. In a joint statement, Oyo State Commissioner for Information Prince Dotun Oyelade and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Musibau Babatunde said the state requested 50 billion…

Photo: The Future Arc: Joining between Sweden and Finland (one-hour apart, literarily) … How a walk across a bridge gives you a Happy New Year encore By Oghenekevwe Kofi, CEO, Samkook Travels & Tours Ltd At the edge of Europe’s far north, where winter nights stretch endlessly and snow softens every sound, time does something extraordinary. It gives you a second chance. On New Year’s Eve, in two small towns straddling the border of Sweden and Finland, midnight arrives twice. No flights. No visas. Just a short walk across a bridge and, the year begins all over again. Haparanda, on…

Photo: Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori By Didimoko A. Didimoko, Warri A senior traditional titleholder in oil-producing Warri Kingdom, Delta State, has asked the federal environment ministry to disregard protests over the naming and location of the proposed Abigborodo oil field, saying the asset lies within Abigborodo community in Warri North Local Government Area. Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, the Alema of Warri Kingdom, said claims by the Udogun Okpe (Orode-in-Council) challenging the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) public display for the Abigborodo Field in PPL 220 were inaccurate and should not delay the process. In a letter to the Minister of Environment…