Author: News Room

Nigerian stocks reported a 1.9 per cent gain last week, supported by strong demand for insurance and consumer goods stocks. Investor sentiment continued to improve with all the sector indexes recording gains as investors realigned their portfolios to take advantage of stocks with price growth prospects. Strategic positioning for the New Year is likely to shape activities in the market in the next couple of weeks as investors seek right entry points for reinvestment in fundamentally sound stocks. “Overall, the market tone is expected to remain mildly bullish, supported by targeted buying in quality names,” Meristem Securities stated in a…

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has entered its unforgiving phase. At this stage, there are no reruns, no explanations and no room for recovery. One bad night, one loose pass, one lost duel, and the journey ends. Already, Senegal, Mali, hosts Morocco and Cameroon have punched their tickets to the quarter-finals. Four more will follow after the Round of 16, while the rest will pack their bags. Tonight in Fès, the spotlight swings firmly onto Nigeria. At the Complexe Sportif de Fès, the Super Eagles face the Mambas of Mozambique in a knockout duel heavy with consequence. Nigeria arrive…

The political crisis rocking Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State intensified on Monday as Governor Bassey Otu moved to swear in Hon. Egbung Odama Egbung as the new Executive Chairman of the council. Egbung, who has been acting chairman, is scheduled to take the oath of office today, January 5, 2026, at the Government House in Calabar, following the removal of the elected chairman, Mrs Theresa Akwaji Ushie over a month ago Ushie was initially suspended for three months in early 2025, a decision later extended by another three months by the State House of Assembly. During the…

Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This was contained in a letter dated January 5, 2026, and addressed to the PDP Chairman, Ward 1, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state. According to the letter, Benibo Anabrab’s decision to quit the main opposition party is “personal”. He appreciated the “political leverage gained from the party during the period of my membership”. Although Anabrab failed to state his next political party, it was gathered that he had joined the ruling All Progressives Congress APC. DAILY POST reports that…

More revelations have continued to emerge after the assassination of Mr Igwe Akuma Akwu, the former President-General of National Association of Ohafia Students, NAOS, on January 2, 2026. Akwu, a youth and an indigene of Ndi Uma compound of Okon-Aku, Ohafia LGA of Abia State was shot dead on Friday, 2nd January by unknown gunmen, a development that sparked fury and destruction of many  property in the community. Abia State Police Command in a statement after the incident, also said it arrested some suspects and had sent two tactical teams to restore order in the community. But records from some …

Victoria Plzen striker, Rafiu Durosinmi is on the verge of sealing a move to Serie A strugglers Pisa, DAILY POST reports. According to Sky Sport Italia, Pisa have agreed a deal worth €9m plus a further €2m in performance-related add-ons with Viktoria Plzen for the Nigerian. Durosinmi has been in impressive form for Plzen this season. The 23-year-old has registered 13 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions for Martin Hyský’s side. The forward has also been linked with the likes of West Ham United, Benfica and VfB Stuttgart. He moved to Plzen from another Czech club, Karvina in 2023.

Former Man United striker, Wayne Rooney has backed Liam Rosenior for the Chelsea manager’s job, describing the Strasbourg head coach as one of the best coaches he has ever worked with and insisting he deserves the opportunity to take charge at Stamford Bridge. Rosenior, 41, has emerged as a leading candidate to become Chelsea’s new head coach, with the Premier League club sharing ownership with French side Strasbourg. The Englishman is currently in charge of the Ligue 1 outfit, having joined them in 2024. As reported by BBC Sport on Monday, Rooney and Rosenior worked closely together at Derby County…

The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has commended police operatives and other security agencies for their dedication and professionalism during the Yuletide security operations across the state. In a statement on Monday signed by  Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Commissioner stated that the cooperation between the Police Command, sister security agencies, and other stakeholders was key to the peaceful celebrations witnessed during the festive season. “The synergy among the Police Command, sister security agencies, and other security stakeholders was instrumental to the peaceful celebration during the Yuletide,” he said. The police chief also…

I sat at a table of eight, oddly sitting in the midst of gorgeously looking heavyweight PUNCHers in their different traditional signatures. It was The PUNCH staff party to celebrate old and existing staff on the occasion of PUNCH 50th anniversary round off. At my table, I was the only one in a blue and red striped T-shirt, clouded in a dark grey ambitiously hopeful jacket. Left, right, front and behind me was a sea of tables adorned with beautifully looking men, women, and children. There were merry movements, jumps and sounds – from claps, cries, and clinks to pecks,…

For the first time ever, lovers of combat sports in Abia State were on Saturday night thrilled by intense and entertaining bouts as professional male and female Mixed Martial Arts athletes converged on Umuahia for the maiden Abia State and South East MMA cage fight, tagged Festival of Warriors. Speaking with sports journalists during the event, the President of Akalaka Spirit of the Warrior MMA Promotion, Dr Ebere Bernard, described the show as both nostalgic and symbolic, noting that it was organised “to re-echo the struggles and legacies of our heroes and ancestors during the civil war, in which Umuahia…