1. With barely two weeks to the official commencement of presidential campaigns for the 2027 general election, political parties have intensified behind-the-scenes consultations over the composition of their campaign organisations, with former governors emerging as leading contenders to head the campaign structures of the major presidential candidates.
Investigations by The PUNCH revealed that while the ruling All Progressives Congress is weighing the credentials of former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to lead President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign, the African Democratic Congress has settled on former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, as the leading contender to direct former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid.
2. Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Monday, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to play the role of the father of the Nation and ensure that the August 15 governorship election in the state is free, fair and credible. He spoke during his campaign rally at Olorunda Local Government in Osogbo, the state capital.
3. The National Economic Council, NEC, has approved the refinancing of the $3.3 billion Project Gazelle Pre-Export Finance Facility through a new US$4.5 billion facility, named Project Gazelle 2. The approval allows NNPC Limited to refinance the outstanding balance of approximately $1.5 billion under the original 2023 facility, while unlocking an additional $3 billion in liquidity to strengthen the country’s external reserves.
4. The Naira on Monday appreciated to N1,408 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,415 per dollar last weekend. Likewise, the naira appreciated to N1,365 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM.
5. Thirty years after guiding Nigeria to its first and only Olympic football gold medal, former Dream Team coach Johannes “Bonfrère” Jo has expressed disappointment that the Nigerian government is yet to recognise or reward his role in one of the nation’s greatest sporting achievements, The PUNCH reports. Bonfrère led a talented generation featuring Nwankwo Kanu, Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Taribo West, Celestine Babayaro, Garba Lawal and Emmanuel Amuneke to one of football’s greatest Olympic stories
6. Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade have uncovered and exhumed the remains of a body suspected to be that of late Chief Ibe Anyadu of Aggah community in Imo State. The troops operating under Operation UDO KA and through ongoing Operation EASTERN SANITY II, uncovered and exhumed the body on Sunday. This is contained in a statemen by Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian Army in Enugu on Monday.
7. The Police Command in Lagos State says it has intercepted a truckload of suspected counterfeit drugs and apprehended two suspects in connection with the illegal consignment. The Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr Fatai Tijani, disclosed this, while addressing journalists on Monday at the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU office, Ijora Olopa, Lagos.
8. The Presidency has set September 3, 2026, for the proposed state police executive bill to be presented to President Bola Tinubu for review as part of a seven-week timetable for developing the legal framework. Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this on Monday after the inaugural meeting of the committee at the State House.
9. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured that the state is ready to host this year’s CAF Awards after a five-man team from the Confederation of African Football inspected the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre, the designated venue for the ceremony, The PUNCH reports.
The CAF team arrived in Nigeria last Thursday for an inspection of facilities being put forward by the country to host the organisation’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly and annual CAF Awards ceremony
10. Popular TikTok creator, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has alleged that suspected hoodlums stole mobile phones belonging to some guests at his traditional wedding in Lagos, saying he has been refunding victims for their losses. Speaking during a TikTok livestream on Monday, Peller expressed frustration over the incidents, which he said occurred outside the wedding venue while the ceremony was ongoing.
