French protesters were on Thursday staging a day of nationwide protests and strikes in a show of anger over President Emmanuel Macron’s austerity policies, causing widespread disruption. Public transport stalled, schools closed down and tens of thousands of people took to the streets for demonstrations marked by sporadic clashes with the police. Prime Minister Sebastien […]

Britain on Thursday returned the first migrant to France under a new “one-in, one-out” deal, both governments confirmed, as London bids to curb highly contentious cross-Channel small boat arrivals. “A man who arrived in the UK by small boat in August was removed on a commercial flight this morning,” the UK interior ministry said. The […]

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), on Thursday handed over power to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, declaring that law and order had been restored in the state. In his farewell address observed by PUNCH Online, Ibas, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu six months ago to stabilise Rivers amid political […]

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged the Senate to allow suspended Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume her duties now that her suspension period has ended. Speaking on Wednesday, NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, emphasised that, despite ongoing legal proceedings, Akpoti-Uduaghan should be reinstated, insisting that the pendency of the suit should not […]

The Rivers State House of Assembly has scheduled 10 a.m. on Thursday to begin its post-emergency plenary. The sitting follows the lifting of the emergency rule by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday and the resumption of democratic governance in the state. Our correspondent gathered that the plenary would be presided over by the Speaker, Martin […]

Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has launched the use of drones to support traffic monitoring and security surveillance across Lagos, marking a shift from manual enforcement to digital intelligence tools. Speaking at the inauguration of the programme, General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the new system would provide real-time aerial coverage of major […]

The Director-General of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Farouk Umar, has declared that the current charge of N11,000 per flight imposed on airline operators is no longer sustainable, given prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of maintaining aviation infrastructure. Umar made this known in Abuja on Tuesday while addressing stakeholders at a summit organised […]

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf, has noted that while Nigeria’s headline inflation rate continued its downward trend for the fifth consecutive month, reaching 20.12 per cent in August 2025, the main contributors to inflation in August remained largely unchanged. In a policy brief made available […]

Ghana and Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to raping two women and sexually assaulting a third woman. The 32-year-old former Arsenal player is accused of five counts of rape as well as one charge of sexual assault. Partey was granted bail and will stand trial at Southwark Crown Court in November […]

THE Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secondary Education Board, on Tuesday, inaugurated a new ‘Chinese Corner’ in Abuja, aimed at strengthening cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries. Stakeholders said the initiative will further equip Nigerian students with linguistic and cultural skills that open doors to opportunities […]

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has warned that the rising cases of internet fraud are worsening visa restrictions for innocent Nigerians abroad. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said fraudulent practices not only destroy the future of those involved but also tarnish Nigeria’s international image, resulting in stricter travel conditions for law-abiding citizens. Olukoyede, who […]

Shell has purchased a cargo of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) produced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in a development that underscores the refinery’s growing footprint in international fuel markets. The deal comes as a third shipment of Nigerian-made gasoline is already on course to the United States, further signalling the Lagos-based facility’s ability to meet […]