Troops destroy bandits’ camps in Zamfara, kill 44 (Nation)
Many suspected terrorists hibernating in Zamfara State have been killed and their enclaves destroyed by troops.
This is part of the ongoing clearance operations in the Northwest region.
The troops also captured Tungan Fulani hills, a notorious haven for terrorists in the Northwest state, Security analyst Zagazola Makama, posted on his verified X handle. Read more
‘Nigeria lost a shining star,’ Tinubu leads tribute for Wigwe 1 year after (Channels)
President Bola Tinubu has again paid tribute to late banking tycoon Herbert Wigwe one year after his death. He said Nigeria lost “a shining star”.
The banker, his wife Chizoba; his son Chizi, and a former President of the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Abimbola Ogunbajo died in an air crash exactly one year ago in the US.
During the one-year remembrance service for Wigwe which was held in Lagos on Sunday, Tinubu said the late business sage built institutions. Read more
Budget: Snakes, monkeys must not swallow $1.07b for health, Atiku warns FG (DailyTrust)
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has warned the federal government that the $1.07 billion allocated to the health sector in the 2025 budget should not be misused.
Atiku in a statement in Abuja asked that mechanisms must be put in place to ensure the funds are used to improve healthcare services rather than vanish under suspicious circumstances.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last election noted that claims that animals such as snakes, termites, and monkeys were responsible for the disappearance of public funds should not befall the allocation to the health sector. Read more
NECA warns 4% Customs charge will hike duty by 80%, impoverish Nigerians (Guardian)
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has raised concerns over the recent introduction of a 4 per cent Customs Administration Charge on the Free on Board (FOB) value for imports, warning that it will drive duty payments up by 80 per cent for industries reliant on imported raw materials.
The association cautioned that the policy would significantly inflate production costs and erode competitiveness.
NECA further stated that the levy, as stipulated in the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, would impose an additional N2.84 trillion in costs on Nigeria’s yearly imports, which are estimated at N71 trillion.
The Director-General of NECA, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, warned that the ripple effects would be severe, leading to higher inflation, deeper poverty, and a weakened investment climate. Read more
I swear to God Binani won 2023 Adamawa Guber poll’, dismissed REC Ari insists (Leadership)
Dismissed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Ari, has reaffirmed his claim that Senator Aisha Binani, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 gubernatorial election, was the rightful winner of the poll.
He defended his stance by swearing with the name of God, insisting that his actions during the exercise were based on truth and evidence.
Addressing journalists at his private residence in Bauchi State on Saturday, Barrister Ari insisted that he possessed documentary evidence proving that Binani defeated the incumbent governor, Umaru Ahmadu Fintiri, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Read more
N70,000 minimum wage: States’ salaries rise by 90% to N3.8t (Punch)
The amount budgeted for personnel costs, including salaries and allowances to state civil servants, has increased from N2.036tn spent in 2024 to N3.87tn in the approved 2025 budget.
Although the 36 sub-national allocated a total sum of N2.8tn as salaries costs, it only paid out a total of N2.036tn within the 12 months of 2024, a reduction of N764bn, according to its budget implementation report.
According to data obtained from the 2025 approved budget of the 36 state governments, the increase occasioned by the implementation of the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage and spiralling political appointments reflects an increase of nearly 90.23 per cent. Read more
In landmark ruling, court affirms FCCPC’s regulatory authority in all sectors of economy (ThisDay)
In a major boost to its regulatory authority, the Federal High Court in Lagos, on February 7, affirmed the statutory mandate of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to regulate competition and consumer protection across all sectors of the economy, including telecommunications.
The judgement consolidated the commission’s mandate as the primary authority responsible for preventing anti-competition practices and protecting consumers in the country, in line with Sections 17 and 18 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018.
The case brought before Justice F.N. Ogazi, was instituted by Emeka Nnubia, a shareholder of MTN and a legal practitioner, who sought to halt the FCCPC’s investigation into MTN Nigeria. Read more
SZA receives 28 new gold & platinum plaques from RIAA (HipHopDx)
SZA, just one day before she’s set to drop new material, has been awarded more than two dozen new Gold and Platinum plaques by the RIAA.
The 28 awards, given on Saturday (February 8), are for songs and albums spanning her whole career, including 2017’s CTRL and 2022’s SOS.
The former was certified five times platinum (5,000,000 units in the U.S.), while the latter, which had already been certified three times platinum in 2023, jumped all the way to six times platinum. Read more
Namibia’s founding father Sam Nujoma dies at 95 (AfricaNews)
Sam Nujoma, the fiery white-bearded freedom fighter who led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990 and served as its first president for 15 years, and became known as the father of his nation, has died. He was 95.
Nujoma’s death was announced Sunday by current Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, who said Nujoma died on Saturday night after being hospitalised in the capital, Windhoek.
“The foundations of the Republic of Namibia have been shaken,” Mbumba said in a statement. “Over the past three weeks, the Founding President of the Republic of Namibia and Founding Father of the Namibian Nation was hospitalized for medical treatment and medical observation due to ill health.” Read more
2 charged in death of 23-year-old Army soldier in Tennessee (NBC)
Two people have been charged in connection to the death of 23-year-old Army soldier Katia Dueñas Aguilar, police said Saturday.
Aguilar — a private first class who had been stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky — was found dead at a residence in Clarksville, Tennessee, on May 18, 2024, according to the Clarksville Police Department.
She was found with 68 stab wounds, mostly to the neck, according to an autopsy report obtained by Nashville ABC affiliate WKRN. Read more
US committed to ‘buying and owning’ Gaza, Trump says (AlJazeera)
United States President Donald Trump has reiterated his controversial proposal to take control of Gaza, saying he is committed to “buying and owning” the war-ravaged enclave.
Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said Gaza should be thought of as a “big real estate site” and other countries in the Middle East could be tasked with handling its redevelopment.
“As far as us rebuilding it, we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it; other people may do it, through our auspices,” Trump said while en route to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl. Read more
Israel troops withdraw from corridor that split Gaza in 2 (BBC)
Israeli troops have withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor – a military zone cutting off the north of the Gaza Strip from the south.
Hundreds of Palestinians in cars and on carts laden with mattresses and other goods began returning to northern Gaza following the pull-out – often to scenes of utter destruction.
The Israeli withdrawal is in line with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement of 19 January under which 16 Israeli hostages and 566 Palestinian prisoners have so far been freed. Read more
Dozens of suspected Maoist rebels killed by security forces in central India (CNN)
At least 31 suspected Maoist rebels and two police officials were killed on Sunday in the deadliest combat so far this year in central India, police said.
Hundreds of police and paramilitary soldiers launched an operation in the forests of the Indravati area of Chhattisgarh state based on intelligence that large number of rebels had gathered there, said state police Inspector General Pattilingam Sundarraj.
Sundarraj said as the troops conducted a search operation fighting erupted in the forest, killing at least 31 insurgents and two police officials. Two other police were injured. He said search operations were continuing in the area and the troops had recovered some arms and ammunition, including automatic rifles. Read more
Oasis fans worry they’re ‘in danger of being reported to law enforcement’ as tickets are cancelled (Metro)
Oasis fans are infuriated as Ticketmaster has cancelled numerous fan tickets because of ‘bot activity.’
The email many of the fans received even mentioned possible reports to law enforcement, adding to fan concerns.
Many tickets to the Oasis reunion tour have been refunded after it was announced in October 2024 that this exact situation might affect thousands of fans. Read more
Rivers United sink hard-fighting Lobi Stars; Abia Warriors thrash Sunshine Stars (DailyTrust)
Lobi Stars put up a spirited fight against Rivers United but surrendered all three points at the death in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) week 23 match played yesterday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port-Harcourt.
After a barren first half, the Rivers United had to labour till the 88th minute when Timothy Zachariah rose highest to head past Lobi Stars’ goalkeeper, Japheth Opubo, for the only goal of the match.
However, Lobi Stars gave a good account of themselves as they didn’t hand over the maximum points to Rivers United on a platter. Read more
Chelsea Crash Out Of FA Cup At Brighton (Channels)
Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma sent Chelsea crashing out of the FA Cup as the Japan star sealed a 2-1 win in the fourth round, while Kevin De Bruyne spared Manchester City’s blushes in their 2-1 victory at third-tier Leyton Orient on Saturday.
Chelsea haven’t won a domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2018 and their wait will go on for another season after they blew the lead at the Amex Stadium.
Enzo Maresca’s side were gifted the lead in the fifth minute when Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen fumbled Cole Palmer’s cross into his own net. Read more
Eagles demolish Chiefs to deny them Super Bowl 3-peat (BBC)
The Philadelphia Eagles demolished the Kansas City Chiefs to win 40-22 and deny them an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl win.
The Chiefs were playing in their fifth Super Bowl in six years and much of the pre-game hype focused on a potential three-peat.
But the Eagles utterly dominated in New Orleans, in particular their defence, to avenge their Super Bowl defeat by the Chiefs two years ago. Read more
Dricus du Plessis beats Sean Strickland, defends title at UFC 312 (AlJazeera)
Dricus du Plessis defended his UFC middleweight belt with a unanimous win over bitter rival Sean Strickland, destroying his opponent’s nose in a bloody title fight in Sydney.
The 31-year-old won 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 on Sunday to boost his win-loss record to 23-2 and cement his status as mixed martial arts’ top fighter in the 185-pound (84kg) category.
Du Plessis first claimed the belt when he beat Strickland via a close split decision in Toronto in January last year, a bout the polarising American repeatedly insisted he had won. Read more
No Sinner, no sweat, says Rotterdam Open winner Alcaraz (JapanToday)
Carlos Alcaraz said Sunday that he had not missed Jannik Sinner at this week’s Rotterdam Open, seizing on the world number one’s absence to clinch his first indoor title.
Sinner pulled out at the last moment from the Rotterdam draw after triumphing at last month’s Australian Open.
Asked if he had missed his Italian rival after overpowering Australia’s Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in Sunday’s final, Alcaraz quipped: “Not really!” Read more
Liverpool out of FA Cup as Plymouth pull off stunning upset to end quadruple talk (Metro)
Plymouth Argyle have pulled off a sensational FA Cup upset after dumping Liverpool out of the competition in the fourth round.
The Pilgrims, sat bottom of the Championship with just one league win in three months, outfought the Premier League leaders at Home Park to seal a memorable 1-0 victory over the side sat 44 places above them.Ryan Hardie was the hero for the hosts, stepping up to slam home a penalty after 53 minutes after Harvey Elliot was penalised for handball. Read more