Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi Nigeria’s Super Eagles have climbed four places to 41st in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, regaining their position among Africa’s top five teams. The updated rankings, released on Friday, reflect a strong surge for the three-time African champions, who moved up from 45th to 41st, overtaking Ivory Coast, now ranked 42nd globally. Nigeria’s impressive ascent follows their solid performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, highlighted by a 2–1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane and a dominant 4–0 victory against the Benin Republic in Uyo. Those results not only improved their ranking points but…

By Deborah Nnamdi Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports linking him to a possible presidential run in 2027, insisting he remains fully committed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and its “Renewed Hope Agenda” until 2031. Reacting to a viral report by an unnamed online platform claiming that some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders were urging him to contest the presidency, Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, described the story as “another lie from idle minds.” “As far as Wike is concerned, it is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu till 2031,” Olayinka said in a statement issued…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to halt the planned #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, effectively allowing the demonstration to proceed as scheduled on Monday, October 20, 2025. The police, under the instruction of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had approached the court with an ex parte motion seeking to restrain activist and protest convener Omoyele Sowore from proceeding with the march slated to take place near the Aso Rock Villa. However, Justice Umar of the Federal High Court refused to grant the request, ruling that the matter could not be determined…

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 46-year-old man, Abi Baragon, in connection with a viral video showing a woman crying for help after allegedly being assaulted by him. According to the Command, the incident occurred on June 20, 2025, and had been under investigation following public outrage on social media. In a statement issued on Friday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said operatives from the Human Rights Department at the State Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, launched a swift investigation using intelligence-led policing and technical support. She disclosed that the suspect was arrested on October…

The Kano State Government has filed a criminal suit against former Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his two sons, and five others, accusing them of diverting over N4.49 billion of state funds meant for the Dala Inland Dry Port project. In the case marked KN/252/25, the state government levelled a 10-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of public funds, breach of trust, and conflict of interest against the seven defendants before the Kano State High Court. Other defendants named in the suit include the former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello; Umar Abdullahi Umar and Muhammad…

The Arewa Youths for Peaceful Coexistence (AYPC) has accused activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, of plotting to incite unrest in the country through his planned protest demanding the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. The group alleged that the planned demonstration, slated for Monday, is not a genuine democratic expression but a deliberate attempt to discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and destabilise Nigeria. Briefing journalists in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Coordinator of the group, Ogah Okpanachi, said intelligence gathered by the organisation revealed that the protest was not about…

Barely 48 hours after a political shakeup that saw the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Enugu State decamp en masse to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu East Local Government Area, Afam Joseph Ogbene, has resigned from the party along with all ward executives and joined the APC. Ogbene announced at the Umuchigbo Iji-Nike Civic Centre, where he addressed APC leaders and a large crowd of supporters who also switched allegiance to the ruling party. In his speech, Ogbene said his decision was inspired by the foresight and purposeful leadership of…

The Rivers State Judiciary has released 150 inmates from the Port Harcourt Maximum Security Custodial Centre as part of its goal delivery exercise for the 2024/2025 legal year. The initiative, aimed at decongesting correctional facilities across the state, saw 109 inmates discharged by the Magistrates’ Court and 41 others freed by the Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi. Speaking during the exercise at the Port Harcourt facility, Justice Chibuzor-Amadi described the exercise as both constitutional and humanitarian, carried out under the powers vested in him by the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Rivers State. He said the review targeted inmates…

The Rivers State Executive Council has revoked the N134 billion contract awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the renovation, retrofitting, and furnishing of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex. The council also directed the immediate refund of the ₦20 billion mobilisation fee earlier paid to the contractor. The decision was taken at the State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the contract was hastily awarded under the State…

A roadside tailor in Delta State, Mr. Favour Akire, has received over N7 million in donations after he and his wife welcomed quadruplets — two boys and two girls — following more than a decade of waiting for children. The couple, residents of Ugborikoko in Uvwie Local Government Area, were initially overwhelmed by the financial burden of hospital bills and baby expenses. According to reports, the new father nearly fled the hospital in panic before the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ugborikoko Division, CSP Zukumor, intervened to assist the family. CSP Zukumor said she was deeply moved upon learning of…