NEWS

China's population has fallen for the fourth year in a row despite efforts by the government to persuade couples to have more children. Official figures released on Monday revealed that the world's second-most populous nation shrank in 2025, with the total population to 1.404billion, around three million fewer people than the year before. A decade after ending China’s longtime one-child policy, the country’s authorities have been pushing a range of ideas and policies to try to encourage more births,  tactics that range from cash subsidies to taxing condoms to eliminating a tax on matchmakers and day care centers. 'China's one-child policy will be remembered as one of the costliest lessons of misguided public policymaking,' the Brookings Institution said in a 2016 report short...

Adeniyi Kayode, the 46-year-old driver involved in the f@tal accident that k!lled Anthony Joshua’s friends, appeared today, Jan. 20, at the Sagamu Magistrate Court in Ogun State where his trial is set to begin. Kayode was charged with four counts, including dangerous driving causing de@th, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid national driver’s license.  The court granted Kayode bail in the sum of ₦5,000,000 with two sureties, and the case was adjourned to today, January 20, 2026, for trial. The accident, which occurred on December 29, 2025, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, was reportedly caused by excessive speed and wrongful overtaking Professional boxer Anthony Joshua survived the accident but it claimed t...

A 300-level Computer Science student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, identified as Kelvin Danlami, has died following reported financial difficulties linked to gambling. According to sources, the student allegedly used ₦600,000 meant for house rent to place bets, which resulted in heavy losses. A fellow student confirmed the incident, describing it as a tragic development that has left the campus community in shock. The Niger State Police Command, through its spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the death and said the student was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. He added that police officers visited the scene, contacted the family, and have commenced an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. ...

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has announced Tuesday, January 20, 2026, as the first day of Sha’aban 1447AH. The declaration was made in a statement released on Monday, January 19, 2026, by the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto. The statement noted that Monday corresponds to the 29th day of Rajab 1447AH, the traditional day for sighting the crescent that marks the beginning of Sha’aban. Sha’aban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, precedes the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims are encouraged to prepare spiritually over 29 or 30 days. In a related matter, the Sultan recently reiterated that Sharia la...

The Ogun State Police have arraigned activist Adetoun Onajobi, popularly known as Just Adetoun, on six counts of cyberbullying directed at Governor Dapo Abiodun. The charges were filed at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, following a social media video in which Adetoun accused the state government of neglecting public welfare and failing to provide ambulance services after a December 2025 road accident involving boxer Anthony Joshua. In the posts, the activist also made personal allegations against Governor Abiodun, including claims about his private life, alleged misuse of public funds, and unlawful seizure of properties. These statements led to a formal petition and subsequent police investigation under the Cybercrimes Act, 2015. Police revealed that Adetoun was invited for qu...

The Lagos State Government has announced the commencement of the Year 2026 e-registration and payment for the Basic Education Certificate Examination for public and private junior secondary schools across the state. The exercise, which will run from Monday, January 26 to Friday, March 27, 2026, is being coordinated by the Lagos State Examinations Board and is aimed at ensuring a seamless, technology-driven registration process that eliminates physical contact between school owners and the board, while enhancing transparency, efficiency and accountability in the conduct of the examination. The disclosure was contained in a statement issued by the state government and posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday. “The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State ...

An unidentified man armed with a knife reportedly broke into a female hostel at Gombe State University and attacked a final-year student in the early hours of Monday, January 19, 2026. The intruder is said to have gained access to the hostel through an open window and confronted the student, who was preparing for her project defence. During the struggle, the student sustained serious injuries to her hands while trying to fend off the attacker. Confirming the incident, the university’s Public Relations Officer, H.N. Ligari, said the victim has received medical treatment and is currently in stable condition. According to the statement, university security operatives swiftly responded to the situation, while members of the management, including the Vice-Chancellor, visited the scene ...

Former OPEC president and former Nigerian Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke appeared in a London court on Monday, ahead of her full trial on bribery charges relating to her time as Nigeria's oil minister. Entertainment center Preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, began this week, with Alison-Madueke in attendance, AFP reported.  Alison-Madueke, who was in office from 2010 to 2015, was the first woman oil minister in Nigeria and the first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC.  The 65-year-old has been on bail since she was first arrested in London in October 2015. She has denied six charges against her.  She was formally charged in 2023 by the UK's National Crime Agency with offences of accepting bribes bet...

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has reportedly surrendered to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The development comes about a week after his release on bail was stalled, leading to a security lockdown at the Kuje Correctional Facility. According to SaharaReporters, Malami turned himself in to the DSS a few hours after former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore announced plans to visit Kuje Prison to intervene and facilitate his release. Despite being granted bail and reportedly meeting all bail conditions, Malami remained in custody as DSS operatives maintained a blockade around the prison, effectively preventing his release and turning the situation into a tense standoff. The matter reportedly escalated ...

The Court of Appeal has deployed 40 justices to Lagos for a special sitting aimed at clearing a backlog of appeals, with 360 cases scheduled for hearing before 16 panels constituted for the exercise. The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, who presided over the special session on Monday, said the initiative reflects the court’s deliberate and sustained commitment to improving efficiency in the administration of justice.  She explained that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, carries a heavy appellate workload, making proactive intervention necessary to reduce delays and ease pressure on the justice system.  According to her, 16 panels comprising 40 justices were drawn from different divisions of the Court of Appeal across the country and will sit thr...