Good morning, world. Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers. Things you need to know
1. Rivers State Executive Council has approved a N1.8 trillion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year. The approval was made at the State Executive Council meeting held on Friday evening. The newly sworn-in Special Adviser to Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Economic Matters and Social Development, Prof. Peter Medee, said the budget was designed to enable the state to complete and advance key projects in critical sectors.
2. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has insisted that there would be no second chance for Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of failing to provide effective leadership. Wike said any leader who is unable to maintain a working relationship with local government chairmen, members of the state House of Assembly, and other critical stakeholders lacks the capacity to govern effectively.
3. Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The governor was formally received into the APC on Friday in Jos, where the state chairman of the party, Mr. Rufus Bature, presented him with his membership card.
4. The driver of the ill-fated Lexus SUV in the boxing champion Anthony Joshua accident case has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Sagamu, Ogun State, on Friday. The driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, aged 46, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate O. M. Somefun on four count charges, including reckless driving and lack of a valid national driver’s licence.
5. A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to the Bauchi State Commissioner of Finance, Yakubu Adamu and three others, who are facing charges bordering on terrorism financing. Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500 million and two sureties in like sum.
6. The immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will remain in prison custody till Wednesday when his request for bail will be considered by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Nwite fixed the date for ruling after Counsels in the matter argued for and against the bail application.
7. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed reports circulating in some quarters claiming that it has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election, describing the information as false and misleading. The dismissal effectively rubbishes INEC’s initial projections detailed in a document entitled “Election Management in Nigeria, 2015-2025”.
8. The Nigerian Air Force on Friday said it has successfully coordinated response and recovery actions after one of its unmanned aerial vehicles experienced a loss of link during a routine mission under Operation FASAN YAMMA. The Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
9. The Naira on Friday, opened the year 2026 positively, appreciating against the U.S. dollar at the official market trading at N1,430.84. According to data released on the official website of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Naira gained N4.90. This represents a 0.34 per cent gain when compared to Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, when it traded at N1,435.75 to a dollar.
10. A Kano State High Court, on Friday, issued an interim order, suspending Hashimu Suleiman-Dungurawa, as the State chairman of the New Nigerian People’s Party, pending determination of the suit. Suleiman-Dungurawa is from the Gargari ward, in Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area area of Kano State. Justice Zuwaira Yusuf issued the interim order, following a motion exparte by one Mr Shuaibu Hassan and nine other applicants, all members of Gargari Ward in Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area.
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