1. President Bola Tinubu has declared that 2026 marks the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth for Nigeria, pledging to drive down inflation further, strengthen foreign reserves and sustain the country’s GDP growth trajectory.
In his New Year message to Nigerians on Thursday, the President expressed confidence in the nation’s collective resolve, saying the new year would be a more prosperous one for the country, its citizens, and all who call Nigeria home
2. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Wednesday commended President Bola Tinubu for keeping to promises he made to the people of Rivers State while campaigning before the 2023 presidential election. Wike compared Tinubu to Rivers State Governor, Similalaye Fubara whom he said has not kept to agreement made to his people.
3. Nigeria will face Mozambique in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, organisers have confirmed. This confirmation followed the conclusion of match day three on Wednesday night. The knockout fixture is scheduled to take place in Fez, setting up a decisive clash as the Super Eagles continue their push for continental glory at #AFCON2025.
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4. Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress. Obi, who is also a former Governor of Anambra State, urged Nigerians and opposition forces to unite under a broad national coalition to “rescue Nigeria from poverty, disunity and democratic decline.”
5. The Police Command in Ondo State says gunmen have attacked the Ipele community in the Owo Local Government Area of the state State and set a Police Station on fire. DSP Jimoh Kazeem, the command’s Spokesperson, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Wednesday night in Akure, said personnel and officers had been deployed to the community.
6. British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua, has been discharged from Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos. Joshua, who survived an accident that led to the loss of the lives of two of his lives, was involved in the accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
7. The National Working Committee of the New Nigeria Peoples Party on Wednesday nullified the purported suspension of its Kano State chairman, Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa, describing the action as illegal, undemocratic and of no effect. In a statement issued from the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the NNPP said the move violated the provisions of the party’s constitution.
8. The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party has described the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress as a “liberation” for the party, declaring that it regrets fielding him as its flagbearer in the last general election. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stated this in a statement issued hours after Obi formally announced his defection in Enugu.
9. The National Working Committee of the New Nigeria Peoples Party on Wednesday nullified the purported suspension of its Kano State chairman, Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa, describing the action as illegal, undemocratic and of no effect. In a statement issued from the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, the NNPP said the move violated the provisions of the party’s constitution.
10. The naira on Wednesday closed 2025 stronger against the US dollar, trading at N1,435.75 at the official foreign exchange market. Central Bank of Nigeria data showed that the currency gained N9.93, marking continued firmness at the year end
