NEWS

The Federal Ministry of Works has banned commercial motorcycles and tricycles from plying the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The restriction was announced in a statement on Sunday, June 28, by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Olufemi Dare. The ban takes effect this week. Dare said the decision was introduced “to protect the newly constructed superhighway from misuse and deterioration.” He explained that the measures were necessary to preserve the road and ensure its long-term sustainability. The Federal Controller also warned that indiscriminate parking of trucks and articulated vehicles would no longer be permitted. He said, “The restriction applies to the coastal highway and all bridges across Lagos State.” The ministry also prohibited the “indi...

Nigeria has received 23 looted Benin Kingdom artefacts from Switzerland, marking another milestone in the country's efforts to recover its stolen cultural heritage. The collection includes 18 Benin artefacts returned by three Swiss museums, alongside five additional cultural objects that were previously seized by Swiss authorities. The artefacts, commonly known as the Benin Bronzes, were looted during the 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom. They include metal and ivory objects created at the royal court of Benin. The handover took place at the National Museum in Lagos, where the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) formally received the artefacts on behalf of the Federal Government. During the ceremony, Switzerland's Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schne...

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a wide-ranging reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing a new uniform and several structural changes aimed at modernising the scheme for the first time since its establishment 53 years ago. The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the development on Monday via his official X account, describing the decision as a significant milestone in repositioning the NYSC to better serve the needs of young Nigerians while preserving its core objective of promoting national unity. According to the minister, the reforms are designed to transform the NYSC into a more skills-oriented, productivity-driven and youth-focused institution in line with President Bola Tinubu's vision of building a $1 trillion econom...

The Lagos State Government has commenced the removal of illegal squatters, shanties, makeshift structures and unauthorized traders occupying the median of the Orile–Okokomaiko section of the Badagry Expressway. The enforcement exercise, directed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is being executed by the Lagos State Environmental Task Force, the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). According to the state government, the operation is aimed at reclaiming the road's right-of-way, restoring order along the corridor and preventing the illegal occupation of public spaces. The Lagos State Government has commenced clearance operations along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway to remove illegal structures and restor...

Former military governor of the old Kano State, Colonel Sani Bello (retd.), has claimed that the Federal Government is aware of the locations of notorious bandit leaders and has the intelligence and military capability to eliminate them if it chooses to do so. Speaking during an interview with Premier Radio Kano over the weekend, Bello argued that Nigeria possesses the personnel, equipment and surveillance technology required to effectively combat banditry and insurgency. According to the retired army officer, security agencies know where armed groups are operating and have the means to track them. He questioned why notorious bandit leaders continue to issue public threats despite what he described as the government's knowledge of their whereabouts. Bello maintained that with m...

The Police Command in Borno state has deployed its operatives to Lassa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, following the abduction of students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations by suspected terrorists. The attackers invaded the school at about 9am on Monday, shooting sporadically before abducting students and women selling food items within the school premises. Confirming the deployment to PUNCH Online, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, said security operatives confronted the attackers, preventing a larger-scale abduction. “Around 9 a.m. in the morning, ISWAP attacked Lassa Day Secondary School. They shot sporadically. An unspecified number of students have been abducted. “Security forces confronted them. For...

The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has trained government officials and key stakeholders on strategies to improve support for vulnerable residents during emergencies and periods of hardship. The training, organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, was held at The Patron Hotels, Sangotedo, Lagos, and brought together members of the Social Protection Implementation Technical Working Group, social protection focal persons from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as other relevant stakeholders. The workshop focused on developing stronger approaches for responding to economic challenges, climate-related emergencies, public health crises and other situations that affect vulnerable household...

Nigerian journalist Rufai Oseni has alleged that the legal challenge seeking to invalidate the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was deliberately initiated shortly after former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi joined the party. Speaking during ARISE Television’s “The Morning Show” on Monday, Oseni claimed that the timing of the court action raised concerns, noting that Obi officially joined the NDC on May 3, while the lawsuit challenging the party’s registration was filed two days later, on May 5. The broadcaster suggested that the development was part of a wider attempt to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election. According to Oseni, the situation follows a similar pattern to previous legal battles involving opposition groups, including the...

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to focus on rehabilitating and maintaining existing roads instead of starting new road construction projects. Obi argued that Nigeria’s limited resources should be directed toward restoring major highways that are currently in poor condition rather than investing in new projects that may not provide immediate relief to citizens. The former Anambra State governor made the remarks in a statement titled “My Stance on Road Development”, shared on his official X account on Monday. He identified the Asaba-Benin Road as one of the country’s most important highways requiring urgent attention, describing it as a major transport route connecting several parts of the Sout...

A teacher has been confirmed dead and dozens of students abducted from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, a border community with Adamawa State. The Special Adviser to Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, on Media and Strategy, Mr Solomon Kwamagar, a resident of Lassa, confirmed the incident to PUNCH Online on Monday morning. He disclosed that the attackers arrived on motorcycles and invaded the school. “Today is Lassa market day. I was informed that they came through the market on motorcycles and went to Government Day Secondary School, Lassa. They shot and killed one teacher and took away all the students who were in their classrooms,” he said. Kwamagar added, “Lassa in Borno State is predominantly inhabited by my pe...