1. About N500bn was deducted from the Federation Account Allocation Committee revenue for May 2026 to fund a national security emergency intervention, multiple sources familiar with the development told The PUNCH.
The deduction was made before the monthly revenue sharing exercise among the Federal Government, states and local government councils, according to senior officials privy to the FAAC proceedings
2. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has extinguished a fire outbreak that occurred on the third floor of the Polaris Bank Building on Broad Street, Lagos Island. The incident, which happened at about 11:33 a.m. on Thursday, involved a stationary saloon car parked on the third floor of the 17-storey building, which also serves as a parking facility.
3. The National Economic Council, NEC, has approved the release of N83.21 billion for flood preparedness and climate-related disaster mitigation across Nigeria, as the federal government intensified efforts to move from emergency response to preventive action in managing recurring environmental crises. The approval was granted at the 158th meeting of the Council chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday.
4. The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, expressed concern over the worsening security situation in Oyo State and other parts of the South-West, calling for urgent and coordinated action to stem the rising wave of kidnappings and banditry in the region. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere described the development as disturbing and urged security agencies and relevant authorities to intensify efforts towards rescuing the abducted victims and dismantling criminal hideouts
5. Governors of the 36 states have renewed their call for the establishment of state police, stressing that any new policing system must be firmly rooted in the Constitution, respect citizens’ rights and align with Nigeria’s federal structure. The governors made their position known after the meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF held in Abuja on Wednesday and early Thursday.
6. The Federal Government says it will ensure that no Nigerian who has indicated interest in leaving South Africa is left behind. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the promise in a statement issued by Dr Magnus Eze, her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, on Thursday, in Abuja.
7. The All Progressives Congress has condemned the African Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress and others for endorsing the House of Representatives minority caucus’s “lead or leave” call on President Bola Tinubu over worsening insecurity in the country, describing the position as politically motivated and unfair.
8. A 30-year-old woman, Chisom Chukwukere, who allegedly brutalised a 10-year-old boy in Awada, Obosi, in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been arrested by the police. Her husband, Chukwudi, was also arrested over allegations that the couple used burning plastic to inflict severe burns on the child
9. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced an investigation into a self-acclaimed prophet, Godwin Sunday Ajuluchukwucheya, popularly known as Prophet Sunday Koboko, over allegations that he defrauded members of his ministry of N70.39m. The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X handle on Thursday.
10. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday distributed sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the 16 local government areas for the conduct of tomorrow’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
The exercise was monitored by security agencies, civil society organisations, political party agents and the media
