Compilations of top 10 latest things you need to know this Friday morning, 23rd January, 2026
How e-registration is widening fault lines in APC
The ongoing electronic membership registration and re-validation exercise of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has further exposed and widened internal divisions within the ruling party, as allegations of deliberate exclusion and factional manipulation continue to trail the process in several states across the federation.
Although complaints of glitches and access restrictions had earlier surfaced in states such as Benue and Rivers, the controversy deepened this week following claims that APC members loyal to the member representing Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara State in the House of Representatives, Sani Aminu Jaji, were systematically denied participation in the exercise.
Jaji confirmed the development on Wednesday after storming the APC national secretariat in Abuja, where he met with the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and some members of the National Working Committee NWC.
Fayose reveals ‘what truly happened’ during Makinde–Tinubu meeting
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu bluntly rebuffed Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, during his visit to the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
In a statement titled “Untold story of what happened in the Villa during Governor Makinde’s visit to the President today,” released hours after the meeting, Fayose claimed that Makinde was unable to meet the president alone and had to enlist the support of Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.
“Here is the true story of what happened in the Villa when Governor Seyi Makinde visited the President today.
First, Governor Seyi Makinde demonstrated that he now lacked enough courage to face the President alone; he had to enlist the support of the Plateau State Governor,” the statement stated.“
Kaduna abductions: US raises fresh concerns, tasks FG on stronger action
The United States has called on the Nigerian government to intensify efforts to safeguard Christian communities following the abduction of 177 worshippers in Kaduna State. This incident has renewed concerns over religion-motivated violence in the country
The abduction, which occurred on January 18, was initially denied by the Kaduna State Government and the Nigeria Police Force on Monday.
However, the Police later confirmed on Wednesday that the worshippers were indeed kidnapped.
The call by the US was made during a high-level United States-Nigeria Working Group meeting in Abuja yesterday, where the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, said recent incidents showed that Nigeria must do more to guarantee the safety of Christians and their right to freely practice their faith.
Tinubu approves posting of 4 ambassador-designates; Are to US, Oke to France
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has approved the posting of four ambassador-designates, out of the 68 confirmed by the Senate last December.
A statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday night explained that President Tinubu confirmed the postings of Ambassador Ayodele Oke as the ambassador-designate to France, and Colonel Lateef Are as the ambassador-designate to the United States of America.
Also confirmed by the President is the posting of Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, former ambassador to South Korea, as the high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.
Why I declined to constitute panel to probe Fubara — Rivers
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has explained why he declined the request by the Rivers State House of Assembly to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, citing subsisting court orders restraining him from taking such action.
Justice Amadi also urged the House of Assembly and all parties involved in the Rivers political crisis to respect and obey existing court orders, describing constitutionalism and the rule of law as the foundation of democratic governance.
The Chief Judge’s position was contained in a letter dated January 20, 2026, personally signed by him and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule.
The Assembly, led by Amaewhule, had commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy over alleged gross misconduct and, in a letter dated January 16, 2026, formally requested the Chief Judge to constitute a panel in line with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
FG signs concession agreement for Enugu Airport
The Federal Government has formally signed the concession agreement for the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to modernise Nigeria’s aviation infrastructure through public-private partnerships.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Abuja by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday, January 23, by Mr Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister.
Attack scare: Police deploy officers to top Lagos schools
Following threats of attacks on schools in Ikeja by yet-to-be-identified persons, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Olohundare Jimoh, has ordered the deployment of police personnel, on a permanent basis, to the affected Grange School and Greensprings School (Anthony Campus).
The management of the affected schools located in Ikeja had, on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, ordered the temporary closure of the schools after receiving security threats via WhatsApp messages from an unknown number.
Announcing the temporary closure, the Head of Grange School, Richard McMahon, in a letter addressed to parents on Wednesday, said the school would not open on Thursday due to a “security-related concern.”
The letter dated January 21, 2026, read,
“Earlier this evening, the school received a security-related concern.
While there is no immediate danger, we have chosen to act responsibly by taking the matter seriously and putting all necessary safety measures in place.
S’Court closes Kudirat Abiola’s murder case, frees Al-Mustapha
The Supreme Court, on Thursday, finally brought to an end the long-running murder case of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, dismissing the attempt by the Lagos State Government to revive the prosecution of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd).
In a unanimous decision, a five-man panel of the apex court held that Lagos State abandoned its appeal against Al-Mustapha’s acquittal by failing to take any legal steps for nine years.
Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to late military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha, had been standing trial for the murder of Kudirat, wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola.
Kudirat was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996, at the height of the nationwide agitation against the annulment of the June 12 election.
Doctors fault FG’s 4.3% health allocation in 2026 budget
The President of the Paediatricians Association of Nigeria, Dr Ekanem Ekure, has faulted the 4.3 per cent allocation to health in the 2026 national budget, saying it underscores a troubling lack of investment in the well-being and future of the Nigerian child.
Ekure also demanded comprehensive remediation and medical intervention for victims of the Ogijo lead poisoning crisis linked to recycled battery factories, noting that the majority of those affected are children
She said the incident should spur stronger regulatory enforcement and coordinated national action to protect vulnerable children and safeguard their future.
Ekure made the call in Abeokuta on Thursday at the opening ceremony of PAN’s 57th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, themed “Achieving SDG-3 and Child Health Care through Innovative Funding Models and Technology-Driven Solutions.”
Food aid cuts put one million at risk in northeast Nigeria — WFP
No fewer than one million people in northeast Nigeria could lose emergency food and nutrition assistance unless funding is secured “within weeks.”
According to a press release on the World Food Programme’s website on Thursday, Nigeria is facing one of the worst hunger crises in recent times.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
“The United Nations World Food Programme is sounding the alarm as more than one million people in northeast Nigeria risk being cut off from emergency food and nutrition assistance within weeks unless urgent new funding is received.
“Violence is surging across the north, and WFP is being forced to slash food assistance from 1.3 million people down to only 72,000 people,” the statement read.
“If WFP cannot continue supporting the displaced populations in camps, they will leave the sites in a desperate attempt to survive.
