NEWS
Ekweremadu’s Wife Freed From UK Prison, Returns To Nigeria
The wife of former Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, has made her way back to Nigeria. A reliable source on Wednesday confirmed her return to VANGUARD. It will be recalled that Senator Ekweremadu, his wife, and Dr. Obinna Obeta were sentenced by a UK court over charges related to organ harvesting The former Deputy Senate President received a 10-year prison...
FCT Doctors Launch Three-Day Strike Over Unpaid Salaries, Unmet Demands
On Wednesday, the Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory Administration launched a three-day warning strike in protest of unpaid salaries, allowances, and other unmet demands. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the President of ARD FCTA, Dr George Ebong, said the strike followed the expiration of the three-week ultimatum issued last year. Recall that the association issued...
Medical Doctor Abducted By Gunmen In Anambra
Dr. Cornelius Onuigbo, a urologist in the Department of Surgery at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Anambra State, was abducted by gunmen on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred at the gate of Onuigbo’s residence in Nnewi as he returned home from work. Witnesses reported that the armed men intercepted him with their vehicle, forced him into it, and drove...
NYSC 2024 Batch C Stream 2 Orientation Camp Opens Wednesday
The National Youth Service Corps officially opens the 2024 Batch C Stream 2 Orientation Camp on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, across all states. This announcement was shared via messages on the NYSC’s official X handle, #officialnyscng, on Tuesday. “Prospective corps members (PCMs) are to report to their various camps on the date slated on their call-up letters, with their required documents...
NNPCL Raises Petrol Price To N990 In FCT, N960 In Lagos
Retail outlets owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have raised petrol prices from N965 to N990 per litre in FCT. They also increased their price in Lagos from N925 to N960 per litre. This is even as the price of crude oil showed a marginal decline on Tuesday. Checks by our correspondents at some of the filling stations indicated that...
Nigeria’s Public Debt Hits N142tn As Borrowing Rises
Nigeria's total public debt increased by 5.97 percent (to N8.02 trillion) from N134.3 trillion in June 2024 to N142.3 trillion as of September 30, 2024. The debt, comprising external and domestic obligations, reflects the significant impact of exchange rate depreciation on external borrowings when converted to naira terms. Data from the Debt Management Office showed that external debt in dollar terms...
Polytechnic Workers Suspend Planned Strike After Government Intervention
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics has decided to postpone its three-day warning strike scheduled for January 22, 2025. In a statement signed by the National Secretary of SSANIP, Nura Gaya, and made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday, the suspension followed a meeting mediated by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. The meeting, chaired by the Minister of...
Rural Areas Suffer Blackout Despite N14bn Power Spending
The Federal Government proposed to spend N1.3 trillion to deepen its efforts to provide electricity for rural areas across the federation in 2025. The Rural Electrification Agency will handle the projects under the Ministry of Power. This is as the REA, which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is probing for N12.7 billion fraud, has failed to connect hundreds of communities...
Amotekun Mobilises 2,000 Men To Comb S’West Forests
Over 2,000 Amotekun Corps members have been mobilized to combat bandits and other criminals who operate in the South-West region's forests. Ogun and Osun states top the list with targeted 1,000 recruits each, while Oyo recruited 480 men last October as part of efforts to curtail the influx of bandits. The state commanders of the corps confirmed to The PUNCH on...
Nigerian Business Owners Allege Illegal Raid By S’Africa Officials
NUSA expresses concern over alleged systematic property damage and seizures during a by-law enforcement operation at the Navy House. The alarm was raised in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the union, Akindele Olunloyo, on Tuesday. According to the statement, NUSA President Smart Nwobi was on January 17, 2025, notified by several Nigerian business owners operating in the...
