Tinubu sacks UNIABUJA VC, makes key changes across federal varsities (DailyTrust)
President Bola Tinubu has sacked Aisha Maikudi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, now known as Yakubu Gowon University.
Maikudiโs sack was announced hours after she presided over a matriculation ceremony in the school.
Her appointment has been fraught with controversy, with some lecturers saying she occupied the position illegally. Read more
Kidnapped Anambra lawmaker found dead near Niger Bridge (Punch)
The lifeless body of Justice Azuka, the member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, has been found by security operatives near the Second Niger Bridge.
Azuka was reportedly kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas.
He was abducted at gunpoint in a swift operation that lasted less than five minutes. Read more
Applicants of British citizenship will wait for 15 years โ Kemi Badenoch (Sun)
British Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch has proposed a 15-year wait for those applying for British citizenship.
Badenoch, who has been the subject of controversy over her consistent criticism of Nigeria, disclosed plans to put in place stricter immigration measures.
Speaking in a recent video, she stated that her plans included an extension of the waiting period for migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to ten years. Read more
Reps committee proposes creation of 31 more states (Channels)
The House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of 31 additional states in the country.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu who presided over plenary on Thursday read a letter from the committee containing the proposed states.
If approved, this will increase the number of states in Nigeria to 67. Read more
Retirement: Ignore PSC directive, remain in office, IGP tells police officers (Vanguard)
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has instructed all police officers affected by the recent directive from the Police Service Commission (PSC) to disregard the order.
The PSC had directed officers who have served 35 years or reached 60 years of age to retire immediately.
A wireless message from the office of the Force Secretary, dated February 11, 2025, stated that the IGP โstrongly directs all officers affected by the PSCโs directive to stay action, pending further instruction.โ Officers were told to comply strictly with this order. Read more
NPA raises port tariff by 15% after 32 years to fund infrastructure deficits (Guardian)
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has increased all port rates and dues from seven per cent to 15 per cent as its first tariff adjustment in 32 years.
Speaking yesterday at a stakeholdersโ engagement on the approved 15 per cent tariff increment held in Lagos, the Managing Director of NPA, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, explained that the upward adjustment was necessitated by the urgent need to address the deteriorating state of port infrastructure, obsolete equipment, and slow capacity expansion, all of which have diminished the performance and competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
He stressed that, globally, port authorities rely on revenue from operations to fulfil their responsibilities, including the construction and maintenance of port infrastructure, dredging of channels, and provision of aids for safe navigation. Read more
FG yet to answer us โ ASUU (Tribune)
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed deep disappointment at Federal Government for not โmeetingโ any of its demands after several months they have both resolved to a peaceful path in resolving their age-long differences.
The president of the union, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed the disappointment in an interview with Nigerian Tribune when asked about the update concerning their pending issues with the Federal Government.
ASUU in the recent past had consistently threatened to embark on nationwide strike if government continued not to honour their agreements while the government on the other hand had been coming forward in a way to douse the tension. Read more
First Lady seeks end to genital mutilation (VON)
Nigeriaโs First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has called for the protection of the rights of the girl child in commemoration of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
In a special message, the First Lady reminded parents and stakeholders of their responsibilities of upholding the dignity of their children especially girls.
She said: โAs we commemorate the 2025 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), with the theme, Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM, we are reminded of our shared responsibility to protect the rights and dignity of girls and women.โ Read more
Wendy Williamsโ guardian requests new medical exam after talk show host slams โdisgustingโ dementia diagnosis (PageSix)
Wendy Williams insists sheโs not โcognitively impaired,โ feels like sheโs โin prisonโ in bombshell โBreakfast Clubโ interviewWendy Williams insists sheโs not โcognitively impaired,โ feels like sheโs โin prisonโ in bombshell โBreakfast Clubโ interview
Wendy Williams is doubling down on her claims that she doesnโt have frontotemporal dementia.
The former talk show host slammed her diagnosis as โdisgustingโ and โfakeโ when she called into โThe Breakfast Clubโ Wednesday.
โThatโs a very rare thing for anybody to have,โ she continued, adding, โIโm not incapacitated. I am not a baby.โ Read more
Tunisia jails opposition politicians and journalist as crackdown on political dissent resumes (AfricaNews)
A judge in Tunisia handed down lengthy sentences to prominent politicians and at least one leading journalist in a move criticized by a media union and leading opposition parties as the latest move targeting critics of President Kais Saied.
Among those sentenced Wednesday include 83-year-old Rached Ghannouchi, the countryโs most prominent opposition leader, who has been behind bars for nearly two years.
Ghannouchi, the co-founder of the Islamist movement Ennahda and Tunisiaโs former Assembly Speaker, was sentenced to an additional 22 years in prison for undermining state security. He boycotted the proceedings against him. Read more
Suitcase with human remains inside discovered in New York City’s East River (NBC)
Human remains have been found in a suitcase that was drifting in the East River in New York City, police said.
The discovery was made on Wednesday at approximately 5:30 p.m. when authorities from the NYPD Harbor Unit were called to the East River close to Governors Island and retrieved the suitcase with the human remains inside, according to New York ABC station WABC.
The suitcase was subsequently taken to Pier 16 where an initial investigation was launched and authorities confirmed the existence of human remains in the suitcase. Read more
Israel minister tells army to plan for Palestinians leaving Gaza (BBC)
Israel’s defence minister has told its military to prepare a plan to “allow any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave to do so”, in line with President Donald Trump’s proposal for the US to take over the territory and resettle its 2.1 million Palestinians elsewhere.
Israel Katz said Gazans should have “freedom of movement and migration” and countries critical of Israel’s war with Hamas were “obligated” to take them in.
Trump meanwhile said Gaza would be “turned over” to the US by Israel “at the conclusion of fighting”. Read more
US officials walk back elements of Trumpโs Gaza โtakeoverโ plan (AlJazeera)
Top US government officials have walked back on some of President Donald Trumpโs proposals about taking over Gaza and resettling Palestinians permanently to neighbouring countries, after global condemnation and pushback from Middle East nations.
Trump on Tuesday said the US would โtake overโ and โownโ Gaza after resettling Palestinians elsewhere under an extraordinary redevelopment plan that he claimed could turn the enclave into โthe Riviera of the Middle Eastโ.
โThe US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. Weโll own it,โ Trump said at the White House after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, upending decades of US policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Read more
โSmurfsโ Trailer: First footage of Rihannaโs Smurfette (Deadline)
Rihanna introduces the first trailer for Paramount Animationโs upcoming musical film Smurfs, only fitting since her character Smurfette is front and centre in the trailer released today by Paramount.
Based on the characters and works of Peyo, written by Pam Brady and directed by Chris Miller, Smurfs hits theaters July 18.
Along with Rihanna the voice cast includes James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueรฑa with Kurt Russell and John Goodman. Read more
India opposition chides Modi over ‘humiliating’ deportations (DW)
India’s opposition has lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over an alleged ill-treatment ofIndian immigrants deported by the United States and are demanding a discussion in the parliament on Thursday.
A US military plane carrying 104 Indian migrants โ deported as part of US President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda โ landed in northern India’s Punjab State on Wednesday.
Several Indian newspapers published accounts of some migrants claiming that they were handcuffed and their legs were chained on the US plane, and were later opened when they reached the Amritsar airport. Read more
Boniface nets winner as Leverkusen reach German Cup semi-finals (Channels)
Victor Boniface scored an extra-time winner as defending champions Bayer Leverkusen came back from two goals down to win 3-2 against derby rivals Cologne in the German Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Leverkusen were expected to cruise against their second-division opponents, but found themselves two down early in the second half as Damion Downs and Linton Maina scored either side of half-time.
Staring at a first loss in the competition since July 2022, Florian Wirtz assisted Patrik Schick to kick start a comeback effort with 30 minutes remaining. Read more
2026 WCQ: Play as a team against Rwanda โOparaku advises Super Eagles (CompleteSports)
Former Nigerian international Mobi Oparaku has urged the Super Eagles to play as a team when the 2026 World Cup qualifiers resume in March.
Recall that Nigeria will face Rwanda in Kigali, in a must win encounter before hosting Zimbabwe few days later at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
Speaking with Brila FM, Oparaku stated that the Super Eagles manager must pull the team together and make them play like a gang for the World Cup qualifiers. Read more
Marcelo, ex-Real Madrid and Brazil captain, retires from football (AlJazeera)
Former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Marcelo has announced his retirement from football, bringing the curtain down on a trophy-laden career that included five UEFA Champions League triumphs.
Marcelo, 36, played for Real from 2007-2022 and left the Spanish club with 25 trophies in 546 games, including six LaLiga titles.
The defender scored in the 2014 Champions League final which gave Real โLa Decimaโ, their long-awaited 10th European crown, kick-starting a decade of dominance where the club went on to win five more. Read more
My decision not to make more signings – Amorim (BBC)
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says it was his decision to take the “risk” of not signing more players in the January transfer window.
The Red Devils completed two signings in the window, with left-back Patrick Dorgu, 20, arriving from Italian side Lecce and centre-back Ayden Heaven, 18, signing from Premier League rivals Arsenal.
However, having allowed Marcus Rashford and Antony to leave on loan to Aston Villa and Real Betis respectively, many expected United to bring in at least one player in attack. Read more
Tennis player Goncalo Oliveira issues statement over suspension for positive meth test (Metro)
Tennis player Gonzalo Oliveira has issued a statement after he was suspended over testing positive for methamphetamine.
The 29-year-old, who achieved a career-high ranking of world No.77 in doubles in 2020, tested positive for the illegal drug on November 25 while playing an ATP Challenger event in Manzanillo, Mexico.The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially claimed Oliveira, a Portuguese-born player who represents Venezuela, had decided not to appeal, with his mandatory suspension having taken effect on January 17. Read more