Author: News Room

With the completion of the African Cup of Nations in Morocco this past weekend, I predict that Nigeria will win the next edition in 2027. That sounds like the kind of statement that attracts laughter and argument, because of many instances when Nigeria had looked strong on paper but ended up disappointing everyone. Nigerian football has taught us to be cautious with bold predictions. Yet this is a conclusion drawn from the past and the present. The first evidence is the quality of Nigeria’s current crop of players. Nothing shows this better than Nigeria winning the CAF Footballer of the…

Confusion continues to surround the construction of the second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with uncertainty over the actualisation of the project. Discussions around the project peaked in 2025 when its estimated cost reached N532bn. However, the seriousness of the government’s commitment came under scrutiny after the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, under Minister Festus Keyamo, allocated just N10m for the project in the 2026 budget proposal presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu. The second runway project was first unveiled in April 2009 at an estimated cost of N64bn under the then Minister…

After spending three months on the sidelines, Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has returned to the starting line-up for the Tricky Trees, but the Nigerian says what is left of his season is about fuelling the team’s ambition rather than chasing personal glory, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Aina recovered and joined Forest’s first-team training in December 2025 and made his return against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday, January 3. He was injured while on international duty for Nigeria in September 2025. Since his return to fitness, he has played in three matches, taking his season’s appearances to…

The University of Lagos has warned that about 800 hostel bed spaces allocated to students who have registered but failed to move in will be revoked by the end of January. The Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Musa Obalola, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH, explaining that several students who completed hostel registration about three weeks ago were yet to occupy their allocated spaces. Obalola said, “There are students who have paid and registered but have not moved in. Sometimes, people say there are empty spaces in hostels. These are the category of students we are talking about.…

Memecoin launchpad Pump.fun is spinning up a new investment arm aimed at backing promising startups, in its first significant pivot away from its memecoin roots. Pump.fun said on Monday it was launching Pump Fund alongside a $3 million hackathon, which would fund 12 projects with $250,000 each at a $10 million valuation.It added that the investment arm would be “aligning itself with projects long-term,” which do not need to be crypto-related, and that it would provide mentorship from Pump.fun founders.The project comes as trading volumes on the Pump.fun have fallen from highs in early 2025, which was spurred by a…

David and Victoria Beckham’s family has had its fair share of good times and low points. The couple tied the knot in 1999, the same year they welcomed their first son, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham. David and Victoria expanded their family with sons Romeo and Cruz and daughter Harper in 2002, 2005 and 2011, respectively. In 2022, David and Victoria’s family gained a daughter-in-law when Brooklyn tied the knot with Nicola Peltz Beckham. While David and Victoria have appeared to have a picture-perfect relationship and family, they’ve navigated a series of ups and downs, including rumors of an affair and feuds…

The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has awarded N100 million damages against the Nigerian Army, and 2 Division, Ibadan, for illegally acquiring part of the Ajigbotosho family land at Alagbade village. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in suit No: I/642/2018, the claimants, representatives of all who purchased parcels of land from the Ajigbotosho family, instituted action against the Chief of Army Staff, and General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Ibadan. Other defendants are: Garrison Commander, Nigeria Army Garrison, Odogbo, Ibadan, Commandant 42 Mechanised Engineers; Col. Yunusa Yusuf and other unknown trespassers. The claimants had also sought an…

Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu, has described the reported  Kadnap of over 100 worshippers at Kajuru,  as mere falsehood which is being peddled by conflict entrepreneurs who want to cause chaos in Kaduna State. Addressing reporters after the Sate Security Council meeting at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Monday, the police Commissioner challenged anyone to list the names of the kidnapped victims and other particulars. Alhaji Muhammad Rabiu warned rumour mongers to desist from trying to derail the prevailing peace in Kaduna State, threatening that full wrath of the law will be visited on such merchants of falsehood.…

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, has formally flagged off the party’s electronic registration (e-registration) exercise. The flag-off ceremony, held at the APC Rivers State Secretariat, drew a large turnout, including members of the State Working Committee, trained coordinators, and registration trainees from all 23 Local Government Areas of the state. This was contained in a statement by Jacobs Chimezie Happiness, the Special Assistant of Media & Communication to the chairman. Speaking at the event, Okocha highlighted the importance of leveraging technology for party administration. He stated that the e-registration process would guarantee…

Nigerian forward, Ademola Lookman, has said that the Super Eagles had a clear goal of winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. However, he said the team has accepted the bronze medal won at the tournament, adding that it is enough. Nigeria achieved a podium finish by narrowly beating Egypt 4–2 on penalties on Saturday night, with the Atalanta player staying calm to successfully convert the final penalty kick. Before the semifinals, the three-time African champions were the only team that had not lost any game, having won five matches in a row. The Super Eagles’ perfect run ended sadly…