Latest News from Monday, January 19th, 2026

President Bola Tinubu has conferred Nigeria’s second-highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on Lebanese Nigerian billionaire businessman Gilbert Chagoury, a move that has drawn public attention due to Chagoury’s controversial past.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday inaugurated the Governing Board of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), charging members to uphold accountability and drive reforms aimed at improving efficiency in Nigeria’s ports.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has expressed displeasure with the latest industrial action by the staff of the Federal Capital Territory FeAdministration, describing it as unnecessary and ill-motivated.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has announced plans to seek intervention from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) following Senegal’s controversial walk‑off during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 final. 

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled Thursday, January 22, for the start of the trial of former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore over alleged cyberstalking and criminal defamation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The federal government has opened applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme, offering Nigerian postgraduate students opportunities to study abroad.

The University of Lagos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it is taking a cautious stance on the federal government’s latest agreement, citing years of unfulfilled promises.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed the ₦4.4 trillion 2026 budget into law, formally setting the state’s fiscal framework for the year.

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s Operation Hadin Kai have repelled a coordinated drone attack by Boko Haram insurgents while conducting clearance operations in the volatile Timbuktu Triangle region of Borno State.

The Nigerian Army on Sunday denied online reports that soldiers were threatening mutiny over pay, calling the stories “false, misleading and deliberately sensational.”

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has launched an investigation into "unacceptable behaviour" by players and officials following the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

A recent photo of top officials lining up to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Abuja airport has sparked a debate about Nigeria's political culture.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has officially released the deployment details for the latest group of graduates, known as the "Batch A" prospective corps members.

Thousands of workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) began an indefinite strike today, Monday, locking the gates to major government offices and stopping work across the city.

Senegal's Sadio Mané was named Player of the Tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations awards ceremony after the Teranga Lions' dramatic triumph, while Morocco’s Brahim Díaz won the Golden Boot as top scorer and Yassine Bounou took the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper.

Palm oil producers say they are educating members and small farmers about fake palm oil, but they cannot fight market adulteration alone and want the Ministry of Health and consumer agencies to join the effort.

The National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) has raised an alarm over the prevalence of adulterated palm oil in Nigerian markets, and warned that the problem needs urgent, co-ordinated government action to protect public health and the industry.