Author: Press Room

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has expressed his disappointment over the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports. ​The tournament is set to kick off in less than 48 hours, with 48 nations from six continental federations preparing to battle for the title of the world’s best footballing nation. Although Africa is represented by ten teams, Nigeria is conspicuously absent, having failed to progress from a qualification group that included Benin, South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe. Victor Osimhen, Semi Ajayi and William Ekong Troost for Super Eagles (Photo by Nsidibe AkpanxImago) ​Despite a second…

The United States Africa Command has said its military cooperation with Nigeria is firmly grounded in respect for Nigerian sovereignty and mutual interest, stressing that American forces operate in the country strictly by invitation and within an agreed bilateral framework. AFRICOM’s Director of Public Affairs, Colonel Rebecca Heyse, stated this during an X Space discussion on Tuesday titled “Strengthening Security Through Strategic Information Sharing: United States and Nigerian Military Partnership Against Terrorism.” Heyse was unequivocal that the partnership was not an imposition. “Our operations and cooperation with Nigeria are rooted in fundamental respect for Nigerian sovereignty.We operate strictly by invitation…

Uthman Salami The Lagos State Safety Commission has directed owners and operators of hotels, nightclubs, event centres, lounges and other social establishments to strengthen hygiene and safety measures following global health alerts on Ebola virus outbreaks in parts of Central and East Africa. PUNCH Metro reports that the advisory comes amid enhanced biosecurity screening at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, even though no confirmed case has been recorded in Lagos or anywhere in Nigeria. In a statement made available to PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the commission noted that the advisory was prompted by the state’s status as a “major international…

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has disclosed that his side will adopt an experimental approach when they face Nigeria in Wednesday night’s international friendly in Leiria, Soccernet.ng reports. The former Belgium national team boss has described the match against the three-time African champions as an important final test before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The game at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa kicks off at 8:45 PM Nigerian time and represents Portugal’s last outing before departing for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. With their World Cup campaign set to begin against DR Congo on June 17,…

Lionel Messi scored within minutes of making his return from an injury scare as Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 in their final World Cup warm-up in Auburn, Alabama, on Tuesday. Messi started on the bench as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is eased back to fitness after exiting Inter Miami’s 6-4 win over Philadelphia with muscle fatigue on May 24. He was joined on the sidelines at the start by Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister as Lionel Scaloni named an experimental line-up in front of an 88,000-capacity crowd. Messi is set to feature in his sixth World Cup…

Eti-Osa stakeholders urge Tinubu to protect mandate of Noheem Adams Members and aggrieved aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, yesterday, demanded the cancellation of the party’s House of Representatives and House of Assembly primary election results in several constituencies, alleging widespread irregularities, voter intimidation and violations of the party’s electoral guidelines. The development sparked protests at the APC state secretariat in Ogba, where party members, supporters and loyalists of affected aspirants called on the party leadership and various appeal committees to investigate the conduct of the primaries and reverse outcomes they claimed did not reflect the…

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed plans to sponsor a bill seeking to introduce a single six-year tenure for presidents and governors, a move he said would allow elected leaders to focus more on governance and less on re-election politics. Bamidele revealed the proposal during an interview with journalists in his office on Tuesday, saying the legislation would be among the first bills he intends to introduce in the next Senate after the 2027 general elections. Nigeria currently operates a two-term system under which presidents and governors can serve a maximum of two four-year terms. However, the Senate leader argued…

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Political differences notwithstanding, the former Governor of Kano State and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, says he remains willing to forgive and reconcile with Governor Abba Yusuf. He insisted that his affection for his former protégé has not diminished. Their relationship soured after the incumbent governor defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), under which he won the 2023 governorship election, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which drew sharp criticism from members of the Kwankwasiyya movement. In the meantime, the national leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, and other…

By Toheeb Omotayo Residents of Kwara State have decried the sharp increase in the price of cooking gas, with the cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas rising to as much as N2,200 per kilogram in some parts of the state, worsening the hardship faced by households and small businesses. A survey conducted by Arewa PUNCH across Ilorin and other communities in the state revealed that many residents are struggling to cope with the latest hike, forcing some families to cut consumption and consider reverting to charcoal and firewood despite concerns over health and environmental implications. A resident of the Sobi area…

Although no fewer than 15 presidential candidates have emerged for the 2027 election, Nigerians are more interested in what the contenders can offer than in the number of names on the ballot. As the race gathers momentum, attention is focused on the vision, competence and track records of the leading candidates, many of whom have held key public offices, KEHINDE OLATUNJI reports. As Nigeria moves steadily towards the January 16, 2027, presidential election, no fewer than 18 political parties have unveiled their standard-bearers, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most consequential contests in the country’s…