Author: Press Room

Sunday Nwakanma The Wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs Priscilla Otti, on Thursday, welcomed the first baby of 2026 at the Akirika Ukwu Primary Healthcare Centre, Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State. The baby of the year, Oluebubechi Nwatuobi Excessgrace, was born at exactly 12:43 a.m. on January 1, 2026, weighing 3kg at birth. To commemorate the historic birth, Mrs Otti presented the newborn and her mother with essential gifts, including bags of rice, milk, groundnut oil, sanitary items, as well as a cash donation of N1m, explaining that the gesture was aimed at supporting the…

Mikel Arteta has urged Arsenal to break their New Year jinx as the Gunners battle for their first Premier League title in more than two decades. Arsenal are four points clear of second-placed Manchester City at the halfway point of the season and remain favourites to claim a 14th English league crown. However, on the previous five occasions across the past 23 years when they have ended the calendar year on top of the table, they have failed to win the title. The most recent occasion was three seasons ago when Arteta’s men finished the campaign five points behind Pep…

Prince Paul Ikonne, an APC chieftain in Abia State Prince Paul Ikonne, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, has renewed calls for full autonomy for the state’s local government councils, urging residents to hold Governor Alex Otti’s administration accountable in 2026. In a New Year message, the former Executive Secretary and CEO of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) stressed that local governments are the closest tier of government to the people and must be allowed to operate freely to ensure effective grassroots development. “Let our councils breathe again, let democracy flourish at the…

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) The Zamfara State Police Command has claimed that its operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit have repelled a planned attack by armed bandits, saying that they rescued five abducted women and children along the Dansadau–Gusau highway. According to a statement issued by the State Police Spokesman, DSP Yazid Abubakar, the operatives were said to be on a confidence-building patrol along the Gusau–Dansadau Road when they encountered distressed motorists and commuters who had been blocked by armed bandits.The statement added that upon sighting the bandits, the police operatives swiftly engaged them in a gun duel, forcing the…

The Flow Foundation has moved its recovery efforts into a second phase following a $3.9 million exploit that disrupted the network late last month, while also raising fresh concerns about how a centralized exchange handled large token movements tied to the incident.In an update posted Thursday, Flow said it had made “significant progress” on its remediation plan and had begun phase two of the recovery, which is expected to take several days. UPDATE: EVM RESTORATION ACCELERATED & PHASE 2 PROGRESS Remediation of the Flow network continues in Phase 2 with significant progress. The Flow core developer team has identified a…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu The African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Zacch Adedeji, for the successful implementation of Nigeria’s new tax reform bills, describing the initiative as one of the country’s most significant economic achievements in recent history. In a statement issued by ACJHR Director of Policy and Strategy, Iloabuchi Mirabel Chinenye, the Centre said the reforms reflect “bold leadership, strategic thinking, and a genuine commitment to addressing Nigeria’s long-standing fiscal challenges.” It added that the measures mark a decisive move…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the appointment of five special advisers, including two former commissioners who served under his administration. This comes barely 72 hours after the governor carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle with the redeployment of the Commissioner for Sports, Christopher Green, to the Ministry of Justice as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.However, a statement released by the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honour Sirawoo, said Green would continue to coordinate the activities of the Ministry of Sports pending the appointment of a substantive Commissioner for Sports.The latest…

The AFCON 2025 is getting into its business end with the group stage now concluded, and the round of sixteen is set to kick off tomorrow, Soccernet.ng reports. Senegal will lock horns with Sudan by 5:00 PM WAT, while Mali play against Tunisia by 8:00 PM. CAF have now released the best performers per position from the Group stage games, involving big names like Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez and Ademola Lookman. Francis Uzoho, Paul Onuachu, Ryan Alebiosu, Calvin Bassey, Raphael Onyedika, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Igoh Ogbu, Samuel Chukwueze, and Bruno Onyemaechi during the Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match…

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has urged players of Abakaliki Football Club to remain focused, committed and determined to succeed. Nwifuru gave the advice when players and management of the club paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday at his country home in Oferekpe, Izzi Local Government Area. The governor urged sports officials and administrators to uphold professionalism and ethical behaviour both on and off the field. He promised continued support for the club, adding that he would be more involved in its affairs. Nwifuru admonished the team to re-strategise for the new football season in order to improve…

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Tanko Yunusa, has said the movement will remain within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and abide by the outcome of the party’s presidential primary, even if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as the candidate. Yunusa made this known on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he insisted that the Obidient Movement was committed to democratic principles and will take its decisions “democratically” within the ADC.Live TV streaming He said the movement, which supports a former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, would compete fairly alongside other aspirants, including…