Compilations of top 10 key latest updates that you need to know this Monday morning, 12th January, 2026
2026 budget twist: MDAs inject N3.5tn new projects despite FG freeze
There are at least N3.50tn new projects in the proposed 2026 budget, according to an analysis by The PUNCH.
This is despite earlier budget preparation guidelines that directed Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to carry over 70 per cent of their 2025 capital allocation into 2026 and avoid introducing new capital projects.
Figures collated from the 2026 Appropriation Bill show that new project entries amount to N844.49bn across MDAs, while the total rises to N3.50tn when Service Wide Votes are included.
Against the proposed capital budget of N23.21tn for 2026, the combined new project provision of N3.50tn represents 15.09 per cent of total capital expenditure.
Wike ends LG tours, Assembly alleges plot to stall Fubara’s impeachment
Lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly have alleged that they uncovered a plot by certain individuals linked to the executive arm of the state government to obtain a court order preventing the legislature from performing its functions.
This comes as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ended his tour of the 23 local government areas of the state.
A statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints, Dr Enemi George, said the alleged plot involved securing an ex parte order from a Rivers State High Court operating outside Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Last Thursday, the lawmakers, led by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, formally commenced impeachment proceedings against the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
Chimamanda’s lawyers write Lagos hospital, doctor suspended
Solicitors acting for renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie, have written to Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Lagos, over the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi.
This comes as the Lagos State Government confirmed the suspension of the anaesthesiologist at the clinic as probes continue into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, solicitors acting for Chimamanda and her partner, Dr Ivara Esege, alleged that the hospital, its anaesthesiologist, and attending medical personnel breached the duty of care owed to their son, who died in the early hours of Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
The notice was issued on behalf of the parents by PINHEIRO LP and signed by the founding partner, Prof Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).
Price war: Retailers drop petrol below Dangote’s N739/litre
The price war in the petroleum sector has continued to deepen as some retail outlets have dropped the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) below the N739 per litre recommended by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The PUNCH reports that since the Dangote refinery slashed petrol pump prices from about N900 to N739 in December, many importers and depot owners have lamented mounting losses.
To remain competitive, many operators were forced to sell petrol at rates below their costs.
During a survey over the weekend, our correspondent observed that some filling stations now sell PMS cheaper than MRS Oil, the main partner endorsed by the Dangote refinery to champion the price reduction to N739 per litre.
As of Sunday, NIPCO sold PMS at N738 per litre, SAO filling stations sold it at N735, while Akiavic offered the product at N737. An AP filling station beside an MRS outlet in Mowe, Ogun State, dropped its price to N736 per litre.
Awujale: Ruling house slams KWAM1 over protest letter to Abiodun
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House of Ijebu land on Sunday lashed out at popular Fuji musician Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, also known as KWAM1, over his protest letter to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, in which he alleged that he was being deliberately excluded from the ongoing selection process of the next Awujale of Ijebu land.
In his protest letter dated January 8, 2026, written by his lawyer, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), KWAM1 explained that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, next in line to produce the new Awujale, had issued directives that were unknown to the Chieftaincy Declaration and the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State.
He claimed these directives were aimed at disenfranchising him from contesting for the throne.
But responding to the development, the Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, dismissed the protest letter as “arrant nonsense” with no bearing on the selection process.
Speaking on the telephone on Sunday, Yusuf said:
“It is a misguided letter. Either Wahab Shittu is being misled or Wasiu Ayinde is being misled. It is arrant nonsense.
Bandits kill soldier, NSCDC officer in Benue
Bandits, suspected armed herders, have killed a soldier and an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps at Udeku community in the Turan district of the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident, which occurred on Saturday, was confirmed by a community leader from the troubled area, Mr. Lawrence Akerigba, who said the attack had forced scores of residents to flee the community.
Akerigba added that all economic and social activities in the area had been grounded as a result of the attack.
Our correspondent learnt that the deceased security personnel were among officers deployed to the area to help maintain peace amid incessant attacks by suspected armed herders in the local government.
Herder stabs brother to death in Delta
The Delta State Police Command on Sunday said it has arrested a herder who allegedly stabbed his brother to death in Ogwashi-Uku community, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Bright Edafe, disclosed in a statement that the deceased was stabbed while asleep. He added that the assailant is a suspected drug addict.
Edafe stated:
“On January 8, 2025, at about 0731 hours, a report was received at Ogwashi-Uku Division that at approximately 0320 hours of the same date, a 20-year-old male identified as Umaru Haman was stabbed to death while asleep at Poly Road, by Adaigbo Filling Station.“
Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ogwashi-Uku Division, CSP Israel Okoyomon, promptly mobilised detectives to the scene.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, January 12, 2025
The Nigerian Naira began the second week of January 2025 with continued fluctuations as market participants adjusted to early-year liquidity shifts in both the official and informal currency markets.
In the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the local currency maintained a relatively stable position against the greenback. Trading data from the early hours of Monday indicates that the Naira opened at approximately 1,426.69 per dollar.
As the session progressed, the rate saw minor appreciation, settling around 1,423.82 per dollar by midday.
This movement reflects a 0.20 percent gain for the Naira, following efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to maintain transparency in price discovery and ensure a steady supply of foreign exchange to meet legitimate obligations.
Market turnover remains a key indicator for observers, as the volume of dollars traded today will signal the level of corporate demand for the month of January.
Tinubu broke education pact, abandoned students abroad – Atiku alleges
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of abandoning Nigerian students studying overseas under the Bilateral Education Agreement, BEA, warning that the alleged breach has left about 1,600 young Nigerians stranded abroad and stripped of support.
In a statement yesterday, Atiku said the BEA scholarship scheme was quietly discontinued under the Tinubu administration without notice to parents or wards and without consideration for students already midway through their studies overseas.
He explained that the BEA, which began in 1993 and was revitalised in 1999, was designed to allow Nigerian students pursue undergraduate and postgraduate education through agreements between Nigeria and partner countries, describing it as a diplomatic bridge now left broken.
“What was initially described as a temporary five-year suspension soon metamorphosed into outright abandonment,” Atiku said.
We’ll overcome security challenges — Defence Minister
Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa, retd, has said Nigeria was currently facing trial as a result of the myriads of security challenges across multiple fronts but assured that the nation would overcome.
The minister stated this just as a clergyman, Most Rev. Uche Dan Okafor, appealed to members of the armed forces of Nigeria not to think of toppling democratically elected government in Nigeria like their counterparts in other West African countries.
“Yes we have threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal endeavours but we have the armed forces, the police security agencies that are committed, resilient and have sacrificed so much take on these challenges and we shall overcome,” the minister said.
Both spoke at the thanksgiving interdenominational church service held in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day ceremony at the National Christian Centre.
