The Anambra State Police Command has explained that the strong security presence at the Onitsha Main Market is to ensure law and order, following Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive on the market’s closure.

Soludo ordered the shutdown on Monday after an on-the-spot assessment showed that traders and market leaders failed to open for business, despite repeated appeals by the state government to end the Monday sit-at-home and resume normal commercial activities.

The state government said the continued sit-at-home costs Anambra about ₦8 billion every Monday, while the wider South-East region loses an estimated ₦19.6 billion weekly, in addition to disruptions to work and economic life.

Reacting to the situation, Soludo said the government would not tolerate actions that threaten public order and economic stability.

“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy.

“This is plain economic sabotage. We are not going to allow this. The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens,” he said, warning that the market could remain closed for as long as one month if non-compliance persists.

On Tuesday morning, a heavy presence of security operatives was observed in and around the market, with armoured personnel carriers and Hilux vans stationed at key points to restrict movement.

Addressing public concerns, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the deployment was strictly for security purposes.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that the Onitsha Main Market has been re-closed in compliance with the directive of the Anambra State Government, as approved by His Excellency, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, Executive Governor of Anambra State.

“In furtherance of this directive, adequate security has been deployed in and around the market, as well as other strategic locations within Onitsha, by the Police in collaboration with other security agencies, to maintain law and order and prevent any breach of public peace.

“Meanwhile, traders seen gathered around the market on a viral video were addressed and sensitised on the need to cooperate fully with government directives in the interest of public safety, security, and economic stability.

“The Command assures members of the public that the situation in Onitsha and across Anambra State remains calm and under control. Continuous monitoring is ongoing to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Further updates will be communicated as necessary.”

Punch Online had earlier reported that security agencies barricaded the Onitsha Main Market to enforce the one-week closure ordered by the governor, following traders’ defiance of the Monday sit-at-home directive.

No fewer than 20 retired senior public officers in Kaduna State, including former Permanent Secretaries, Secretaries to the State Government and Heads of Service, have died without receiving their retirement entitlements, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has said.

The Secretary of the NUP, Kaduna State chapter, Alhassan Balarabe Musa, disclosed this to PUNCH Online in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Musa said the deaths occurred amid prolonged delays in the payment of pensions and gratuities owed to retirees and disengaged workers by the state government.

According to him, pensioners and affected former workers had entered 2025 with optimism that the government would address the lingering issue of unpaid entitlements.

“We thought 2025 would be a year of hope and celebration for pensioners and those who lost their jobs in Kaduna State. But as the year progresses, that hope is gradually fading,” Musa said.

He alleged that despite court judgments ordering the payment of outstanding benefits, several senior former officials died without accessing their entitlements.

“About 20 people among former Permanent Secretaries, Secretaries to the State Government and Heads of Service passed on without receiving their entitlements, even though there were court orders in their favour,” he said.

Musa further lamented that Kaduna State had yet to implement the N32,000 pension increase for retirees under the Defined Benefits Scheme.

He said the union had expected the state to be among the first to implement the increase, noting that the delay had compounded the hardship faced by pensioners.

“We thought the governor would be among the first three to implement the N32,000 pension increase for those under the Defined Benefits Scheme, but our dream is dying slowly,” he added.

The NUP secretary appealed to Governor Uba Sani to urgently intervene, describing the situation of pensioners as dire and emotionally distressing.

“Our people are dying in silence. They are voiceless, helpless and hopeless. We are appealing to the governor to have mercy on them and act swiftly,” Musa said.

He also drew attention to the plight of retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, many of whom he said were unable to access their benefits.

“Most of our contributory pensioners are also suffering in silence. Their tears are drying up, and the pain is now being borne by the heart because the body can no longer absorb the shock,” he stated.

Musa said many retirees depend solely on their pensions for survival, adding that delays in payment had affected access to food, healthcare and shelter.

Kaduna State has, in recent years, faced repeated complaints from labour unions and pensioners over delays in pension payments and the treatment of disengaged workers.

Although the state government has previously announced reforms aimed at sanitising the pension system and clearing arrears, pensioners insist that many retirees have yet to feel the impact of those measures.

Musa urged the government to treat pension payments as a legal and moral obligation, warning that continued delay would worsen the suffering of elderly citizens.

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo said Tuesday it is “crazy” to compare teenage winger Lamine Yamal to club great Lionel Messi.

Like Barca’s all-time top goalscorer Messi, Yamal came through the club’s feted La Masia youth academy and has often drawn comparisons to the Argentine forward, which he has tried to play down.

Yamal, 18, scored a brilliant acrobatic goal on Sunday as Barcelona beat Real Oviedo 3-0 to move top of La Liga.

“I think Lamine has his path, and he knows it. Comparing any player playing now with Messi is crazy,” Olmo told a news conference ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League match against Copenhagen on Wednesday.

“Lamine is a ‘spectacle’, he is very young, what he’s giving us now is incredible, and in the future it will be a lot more.”

Yamal made his Barcelona debut at the age of 15 and has broken several records in his first season at the club, including becoming the youngest La Liga goalscorer.

The winger lifted the Euro 2024 trophy with Spain and was vital in Barca’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season.

“(Yamal) is calm, he has his path and his idea. We will be there to help him, that’s our job,” added Olmo.

“It’s a collective thing in the end. If Lamine plays well, wins, and scores goals, then the team will win.”

Barcelona host Copenhagen on Wednesday, needing to win and hope other results go their way to seal a top-eight league phase spot to progress directly to the last 16.

The Spanish champions will be without injured midfielder Pedri Gonzalez as well as the suspended Frenkie de Jong, but Ferran Torres may return after injury, said coach Hansi Flick.

“We have to play this match and respect Copenhagen, they have a fantastic team, and play at our top level,” said Flick.

“We have a big chance to finish in the (top) eight; we will do everything we can to reach it.”

AFP

The Federal Government has honoured 12 teachers from across the country with national awards, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the education sector through improved welfare, incentives, and professional development for teachers.

The awards were presented on Tuesday at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026, held in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the government would sustain reforms aimed at empowering teachers and restoring dignity to the profession.

Alausa explained that the selection process was transparent and merit-based, with three teachers nominated from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at both the basic and senior secondary school levels.

From the pool of nominees, 12 teachers; six from basic education and six from senior secondary education, emerged as national award recipients.

Each of the 12 awardees received a cheque of N25m.

The Overall Best Teacher of the Year, Solanke Taiwo from the South-West category, received an additional N25m, bringing his total prize to N50m.

In addition to the cash prize, Taiwo is to receive a brand new car from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, as well as a fully furnished two-bedroom flat from the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

Also, the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, pledged to give each of the award winners an additional N5 million.

The minister described the awardees as exemplifying professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to learners, noting that they represent the best of the teaching profession in the country.

“This is more than a reward. It is a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected, and valued profession in Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking at the summit themed ‘Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,’ the minister said the recognition of the teachers reflected the FG’s broader education reform agenda under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Teachers are the foundation of education, and education is the foundation of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.

“No reform, no matter how well designed, can succeed unless teachers are empowered, motivated, supported, and respected,” Alausa said.

He pledged that the government would continue to invest in teachers through structured training, improved career pathways and fair rewards, noting that education remained central to national development.

Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, “sustainable development, economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion depend on a strong and responsive education system and that system depends on teachers.”

As part of this commitment, the minister announced the launch of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development programme designed to modernise teacher training and improve classroom outcomes.

While the programme is open to teachers in both public and private schools, Alausa said performance-based incentives would be reserved for public school teachers who complete certified training.

“Professional growth must never be restricted. Every teacher deserves access to quality training, modern tools, and updated skills,” he said, adding that incentives would be tied to measurable performance.

He also highlighted complementary initiatives, including the Ignite digital platform to reduce teacher workload, the Diaspora Bridge programme to strengthen STEMM education, and the provision of 60,000 tablets for teachers with zero-data access to approved training platforms.

The minister further announced reforms to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s digital platform, the expansion of Communities of Practice, and progress on the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme aimed at fast-tracking professionalisation for in-service teachers.

To provide long-term stability, he said the government had introduced a National Teacher Policy to guide teacher development, welfare and professional standards nationwide.

Addressing the award recipients and other educators at the summit, Alausa described the government’s message as “professional growth, dignity in service, and renewed hope,” urging stakeholders to focus on tangible outcomes in classrooms across the country.

In her welcoming remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, underscored the central role of teachers in Nigeria’s education reform agenda.

Ahmad said the gathering was both timely and strategic, noting that the quality of any education system is inseparable from the quality, motivation and empowerment of its teachers.

She explained that the theme aligns directly with Nigeria’s current education priorities. According to her, investing in teachers is the bedrock of sustainable reform and national development.

“Empowering teachers is not an isolated intervention; it is the foundation upon which sustainable education reform is built.

“When teachers are supported, trained, motivated, and valued, the entire system is strengthened, learning outcomes improved, equity expands, and national development is accelerated,” she said.

Describing the summit as a strategic national platform, the Don said it was designed to unite key stakeholders to address challenges in the education sector and advance practical reforms.

She noted that the forum brings together teachers, policymakers, education leaders, regulators, unions, development partners and private sector actors to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.

In his goodwill message, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audi Amba, described the summit as a historic milestone in the recognition of teachers’ roles in national development.

Nigeria’s education sector has continued to grapple with longstanding challenges, particularly around teacher welfare, access to regular professional development, classroom capacity and infrastructure.

These issues have raised concerns among stakeholders about the quality of teaching and learning in many public schools. At the same time, industrial actions by education unions in recent years have further highlighted the pressures facing educators nationwide.

Former Senate President, David Mark, has challenged claims by a former Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi.

Mark asserted that it was the Senate, not the Nigeria Governors’ Forum led by former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, that first proposed the Doctrine of Necessity, which paved the way for then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to become Acting President.

Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, clarified this on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation of Abdullahi’s memoir, The Loyalist.

He stated that the Doctrine of Necessity was not influenced by anyone from Kwara State.

Abdullahi claimed that it was the NGF led by Saraki that first advocated the Doctrine of Necessity, paving the way for Jonathan to assume the role of Acting President, not the National Assembly, as widely believed.

After weeks of uncertainty, on February 10, the Senate invoked the Doctrine of Necessity to swear in then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as Acting President, following President Yar’Adua’s prolonged absence due to ill health since November 23, 2009, without transmitting the written declaration required under Section 145 of the Constitution.

The Senate vested Jonathan with full presidential powers pending Yar’Adua’s recovery and return to office.

In his 297-page memoir, the former minister revealed that he first encountered the term “Doctrine of Necessity” when Saraki called him from Abuja and asked him to draft a statement proposing it to the National Assembly.

In the memoir, Abdullahi declared, “The edgy relationship between Saraki and Jonathan roots largely in the Yar’Adua presidency. At the time, Saraki was the all-powerful chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, who also enjoyed a close personal relationship with the president.

“Jonathan, on the other hand, was the largely neglected vice president who lurked in the shadows. It was therefore easy for Jonathan to feel that Saraki and his fellow governors, cavorting with Yar’Adua, looked down on him as that ‘deputy governor,’ even though he was now the number two citizen in the country.

“By whatever means, Yar’Adua himself had been aware of his vice’s unease with Saraki and once asked him to see Jonathan and smooth things over. Saraki did as the president asked, but in such meetings where there were no concrete issues, civility tends to override candour, and everything was generally papered over.

“Then, Yar’Adua died, and the Jonathan era began. Apart from the residual animosity, whatever the basis for it, the belief in the Jonathan circle was that Saraki played a leading role in frustrating Jonathan’s official takeover as acting president and helped Yar’Adua hang onto power even as he lay dying in a Saudi hospital.

“In reality, however, it was Saraki’s NGF that proposed the Doctrine of Necessity, which was adopted by the National Assembly to pave the way for Jonathan’s formal ascendance as acting president.

“I actually heard about the term ‘Doctrine of Necessity’ for the first time when Governor Saraki called from Abuja asking me to draft a statement to propose it to the National Assembly.”

In response, Mark, who was Senate President at the time, stated that the Doctrine of Necessity had no connection to Saraki.

Mark stated, “Mission to rescue Nigeria is collective. He is a straightforward person, and even when I disagreed with him, his advice was always adopted. He is a committed Nigerian, very patriotic. Most Nigerians are interested in personal benefits. He has paid his dues and done his best.

“The Doctrine of Necessity is the sole responsibility of the Senate and has nothing to do with Kwara State or anyone from Kwara State. It was the sole responsibility of the Senators of that time.”

The Defence Headquarters has dismissed claims circulating in a video by content creator, Lucky Udu Studio, alleging neglect and indifference toward Nigerian military personnel wounded in action.

In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the DHQ said the video presents misleading impressions that do not reflect reality.

The denial follows the video circulating on social media, which features interviews with injured soldiers and has sparked widespread discussion on the welfare of Nigeria’s armed forces.

The video shows Udu interacting with a group of soldiers with varying injuries, many wearing t-shirts labelled “Wounded in Action Soldiers” and displaying prosthetic limbs.

Soldiers recounted their injuries from encounters with Boko Haram and bandit groups, with one reportedly shot by an anti-aircraft machine gun.

Speaking in the video, Udu criticised the level of support, stating, “Their welfare is not even taken seriously. They’ve been abandoned and left to care for themselves. And you expect people to join the Nigerian military.”

But the DHQ dismissed the claims, stating that the welfare of wounded personnel remains a “top moral priority” for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The statement read, “The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a video circulating on social media making a number of claims and insinuations regarding the welfare of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) wounded in action.

“While the AFN respects the right of citizens to express concerns, it is important to correct misleading impressions and place verifiable facts on record.”

Uba explained, “The welfare of Nigerian military personnel, especially those wounded in action, remains a top moral priority of the AFN.

“All personnel injured during operations or combat are entitled to comprehensive medical care under established Armed Forces medical policies.

“This care is provided both locally and abroad, depending on the nature and severity of injuries. The AFN routinely facilitates advanced treatment for critically wounded personnel in reputable medical facilities outside Nigeria where such care is required.”

Within Nigeria, he added, wounded personnel receive treatment across military hospitals and medical centres, with referrals to specialised civilian facilities where necessary.

He said medical evacuation, surgery, rehabilitation, prosthetics, and long-term care are integral parts of the support framework.

Uba also highlighted that personnel whose injuries prevent further service are entitled to favourable discharge, pensions, gratuities, and other statutory benefits.

“In addition, families of personnel killed in action are not abandoned. They are supported through death benefits, insurance payouts, pensions, educational support initiatives for dependants and continuous engagement by military authorities,” he said.

He added, “The insinuation that ‘nobody cares’ about injured or fallen soldiers is inaccurate and unfair.

“Beyond medical treatment, wounded personnel benefit from structured welfare support, including rehabilitation programmes, counselling, family support mechanisms and sustained command oversight.”

The Major General cited the participation of injured soldiers in Nigeria’s delegation to the Invictus Games—a global sports recovery and rehabilitation platform—as evidence of the AFN’s commitment to their physical recovery, mental resilience, and social reintegration.

While acknowledging that welfare systems require continuous improvement, the DHQ warned against sweeping generalisations, saying they undermine the work of professionals within the AFN and could discourage young Nigerians considering a military career.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to transparency, accountability, and above all, the welfare and dignity of the men and women who risk their lives in defence of the nation,” the statement concluded.

Former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, has cautioned the All Progressives Congress against overreliance on governors for electoral victories, insisting that elections are ultimately decided by the people, not political officeholders.

Aregbesola, while delivering the caution on Tuesday in Abuja during the public launch of ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi’s memoir, ‘The Loyalist,’ stated that the 2023 election results in the South West and South East regions confirmed this.

In the months leading up to Kano State Governor Yusuf Abba’s defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the APC on Monday, several governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party had already crossed over to the ruling party.

They include Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, and, most recently, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.

Beyond the governors, many prominent political actors—among them members of the National Assembly, state lawmakers, former governors, ex-ministers, and other party leaders—have also defected from the PDP to the APC.

Tinubu and other APC leaders have repeatedly dismissed allegations that these defections signal a move toward a one-party state, insisting that the ruling party remains inclusive and open to all Nigerians.

In response, Aregbesola, who left the APC for the ADC last year, urged the APC leadership to ensure that the 2027 elections are conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner.

The former Minister of Interior stated, “I still want to say something more. Something is going on that is worrisome, especially for those of us who are Democrats or aspire to be general Democrats. The fact that certain governors are defecting to the APC shows that our unity (ADC leaders) is weakened. I laugh because recent statistics in Nigeria, based on the last election, do not support this belief. In the past, to quit the government and the federal social, let them commit to a free and fair electoral process. We will then see if it is true.

“The second point is a scenario where I want to use results from two zones—just two zones—to show that when a party controls a state, it may not necessarily translate to votes. I want to use the results from the Southwest and Southeast. In the Southwest, the APC controlled all but one state. Despite this, the party’s maximum performance in that election was 55%, with the other parties sharing the rest.

“The same applied in Lagos. The APC candidate lost his ward, local government, and state. So please, for goodness’ sake, where is it claimed that governors win elections against the people’s will? That is the Southwest.

“In the Southeast, the result is even more striking. The APC had only 5.8% of the total vote from that zone. I’ll stop at that. The results of these two zones clearly show that governors do not win elections—the people do. What we require from the government overseeing the election is a commitment to a free and fair process. So first, commit yourself to a free and fair election, and let us see what the result will be. That’s what we’re asking.”

Super Eagles captain, Wilfred Ndidi, has lost his father, Sunday Ndidi, who died on Tuesday following a road accident, PUNCH Online reports.

The retired military officer was reportedly involved in an accident in Umunede, Delta State, and was confirmed dead after being rushed to a hospital in Agbor, also in Delta State.

Ndidi’s club, Besiktas, confirmed the incident on Tuesday.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of our footballer Wilfred Ndidi’s esteemed father, Sunday Ndidi, in a fatal traffic accident,” the club said in a statement released via their official X account.

“May Allah grant mercy to the deceased; we extend our condolences to our footballer Wilfred Ndidi, his family, and loved ones.”

Ndidi recently captained Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he also scored his first international goal for the country.

While celebrating his headed goal against Tunisia in Nigeria’s second group match, the midfielder referenced his father and his admiration for former Nigeria captain Kanu Nwankwo.

“The celebration came from my dad because he was always talking about Kanu Nwankwo,” Ndidi told journalists in Morocco.

“So I just thought about my dad. I had seen the video before, but it came to my head, and I said I was going to do it for my dad.”

Ndidi, who often speaks about growing up with his father in the barracks, was born and raised in Lagos.

The Lagos Water Corporation has announced a temporary disruption in water supply to several parts of the Lagos metropolis to allow for critical repair and replacement works at the Adiyan I Water Treatment Plant.

In a statement obtained from its website on Tuesday, the corporation said the disruption will affect areas including Akiode, Ikeja, Magodo, Oregun, Ketu, Ojota, Maryland, Aromire, Ogudu, Gbagada, Shomolu, Ojuelegba, Oyingbo, Ijora Olopa, Agege, and parts of Lagos Island.

According to LWC, the repair works are necessary to fix a leakage on the ND1600mm Adiyan raw water pipeline located at the Akute Intake Station.

“It was observed that the persistent water discharge from the leakage point is saturating the surrounding soil, thereby compromising ground stability and posing safety risks to heavy construction equipment, including cranes and excavators, currently deployed in the affected area,” the statement noted.

LWC said the continuous leakage has reportedly impacted the ongoing construction of the Adiyan Phase II project.

The corporation explained that the persistent water discharge from the leakage has been saturating the surrounding soil, compromising ground stability and posing safety risks to heavy construction equipment, including cranes and excavators, deployed in the area.

To ensure safe and effective execution of the Adiyan II intake construction works, LWC said the Adiyan I Water Treatment Plant will be shut down temporarily until the repair and replacement works are completed.

LWC assured customers that efforts are being intensified to complete the repairs promptly and that water supply restoration is expected soon.

Traders at the Onitsha Market in Anambra State have reportedly launched a protest on Tuesday following the one-week closure of the market ordered by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

In videos circulating on social media, especially X and Facebook, traders flooded the market premises with placards, chanting solidarity songs and expressing support for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

In other videos, they were seen chanting, “Soludo, we no go gree o,” “Say no to Monday,” among others.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that the Onitsha Main Market was barricaded by security agencies enforcing the one-week closure.

Hundreds of security personnel were reportedly seen moving around the area early Tuesday morning, as several security vehicles, including Armoured Personnel Carriers and Hillux vans, were used to block strategic locations across the market.

Recall that Soludo, during an on-site inspection of the market on Monday, ordered the closure after traders and market leadership refused to open for business, ignoring repeated government appeals to resume normal economic activity.

The state government also revealed that the persistent Monday sit-at-home costs Anambra approximately N8 billion weekly, contributing to a regional loss of N19.6 billion in the South-East.

The IPOB has, however, condemned the shutdown of the market, describing it as punitive and intimidating.

Watch videos below:

𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐨’𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐞-𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐎𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭

Traders at the Onitsha Market in Anambra State have reportedly launched a protest on Tuesday following the one-week closure of the market ordered by Governor… pic.twitter.com/HUhMTDFZNt

— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) January 27, 2026

A Consultant Neuropsychiatrist, Dr Maymunah Kadiri, on Tuesday identified psycho-social problems and mental health issues as key causative factors of suicide in Nigeria.

Kadiri, also the Medical Director, Pinnacle Medical Services Ltd., spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

She said that most people who died by suicide or attempted suicide could do that as a result of a mental health problem or a psycho-social problem.

She listed the mental health and psycho-social problems to include: depression, anxiety, mental disorder, social isolation, stressful life events such as a death or loss of a job and substance abuse.

Others, she said, were family history of mental disorder or suicide, previous suicide attempts, bullying, poverty, frustration, financial imbalance and hopelessness, which exist at the individual level, among others.

She also listed the signs of depression to include sustained unhappiness, losing interest in those things that earlier interested one, a feeling of consistent worthlessness, and loss of appetite.

The Neuro-psychiatrist added that one of the causes of suicide was the increase in urban migration, which, according to her, can cause an increase in psycho-social problems.

“Recently, I got the information of a man who jumped into the lagoon; two weeks ago, I got the information of a 14-year-old boy who drank sniper to kill himself, but was rescued. Suicide cases are worrisome.

“Sometimes, when you ask the rescued victim if he wants to die, the answer will be ‘no’. This implies that there are some psycho-social problems that lured the person into the action.

“So, it may be that the person is depressed or having underlying mental health issues, lost a loved one, tired of life due to challenges, financially or emotionally troubled,” she said.

Contributing, a mental health advocate, Dr Babatunde Ojewola, stated that there was no amount of life challenges that justified any human to attempt or die by suicide.

According to him, suicide should not be an option to end one’s life in the face of any kind of life challenge, because challenge is what makes up life.

Ojewola advised that people should learn to take life easy and develop positive coping mechanisms rather than considering negative thoughts of suicide when faced with challenges.

He explained that suicide could be 100 per cent preventable since it was not a diagnosable disease.

He said there were a number of measures that could be taken to prevent suicide, which included government interventions, reducing access to the means of suicide like pesticides, firearms and certain medications.

He added that early identification, followed by proper treatment and care of people with mental and substance use disorders, was another effective measure.

“The Federal and state governments should endeavour to have a programme that will allow people to talk about their health problems and other challenges of life that are confronting them daily, which can serve as an impetus to committing suicide.

“This will provide a means of helping those who might want to attempt suicide, but the best approach to combat suicide is to provide psychiatric help,” he said.

NAN

The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its partnership with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, pledging continued support for the expansion of Computer-Based Test centres in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, made the pledge on Tuesday in Awka when she received the state Coordinator of JAMB, Dr Diana Obiano, in her office.

Chuma-Udeh described JAMB as an integral component of the state’s education system.

“Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration recognised the role of JAMB in the state, especially in the conduct of qualifying examinations and placement of successful candidates into tertiary institutions.

“I commended JAMB for establishing a 450-capacity CBT centre in the state and want to assure you that the government is ready to support the establishment of additional centres to improve access and efficiency for candidates,” she said.

Earlier, Obiano said JAMB regarded Anambra as a major academic hub in the South-East, citing the high number of applicants from the state and their strong performance in examinations.

She attributed the performance to the state government’s emphasis on quality education under Gov. Soludo’s administration.

According to her, JAMB has contributed to educational development in the state through the establishment of a fully equipped 450-capacity CBT centre at its Amawbia office.

Obiano reaffirmed the board’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Ministry of Education to ensure seamless registration and examination processes.

“JAMB carried out extensive sensitisation of secondary school students in rural and urban areas on Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration procedures at CBT centres ahead of the April examinations,” she said.

Obiano appealed to the state government for support in providing official vehicles to enable access to hard-to-reach areas.

She also sought assistance for the renovation of offices and the construction of holding halls at the Amawbia headquarters to accommodate the growing number of candidates during registration and examinations.

(NAN)

More than half a million Americans woke up without power onTuesday, as freezing temperatures gripped swathes of the country in a monster storm that has killed at least 30 people.

A frigid, life-threatening Arctic air mass could delay recovery as municipalities from New Mexico to Maine tried to dig out following the storm, which dropped a vicious cocktail of heavy snow and wind, along with freezing rain and sleet.

Forecasters warned that much of the northern half of the country will see temperatures that are “continuously below freezing through February 1,” the National Weather Service said in an X post.

It added that “record low temperatures” hit southern states, which are unaccustomed to intense winter weather.

While skies began clearing in parts of the country, relentless snowfall in the northeast meant parts of Connecticut saw over 22 inches (56 cm) of snow, with more than 16 inches (40.6 cm) recorded in Boston, Massachusetts.

Deadly plane crash

The storm was linked to at least 30 deaths, according to a compilation of state government and local media reports, with causes including hypothermia as well as accidents related to traffic, sledging, ATVs and snowploughs.

Seven people were killed when the small plane they were travelling in crashed while taking off in a snowstorm in Bangor, Maine, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

One man in New Jersey was found in the snow, unresponsive, with a shovel in his hand.

In New York City, eight more people were found dead amid plummeting temperatures, and an investigation to determine the causes was underway. It was not known if all of these fatalities were storm-related.

Electricity began blinking back on across the south, but as of Tuesday morning, more than 540,000 customers remained without it, according to the tracking site Poweroutage.com.

Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana in the south were especially impacted.

More than 9,000 flights were disrupted, as the storm paralysed transportation across the country.

“We don’t know if we are going to make it or not. We’ve been here since Sunday,” Alan Vazquez told AFP at Dallas–Fort Worth airport in Texas.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell told journalists that trees were continuing to fall under the weight of encrusted ice across the Tennessee capital city, sometimes knocking out power that had already been restored.

Nashville and other municipalities across the country were establishing emergency warming shelters.

NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli told AFP this storm recovery was particularly arduous because so many states were impacted — meaning northern states with more winter supplies were unable to share their resources with less-prepared southern regions.

“A lot of those locations don’t have the means or the resources to clean up after these events,” she said. “We’re particularly concerned about the folks in those areas that are without power right now.”

Polar vortex

The snowfall and biting icy pellets that pummeled cities left impassable roads along with cancelled buses, trains and flights — thousands of departures and arrivals were scrapped over the weekend.

The storm system was the result of a stretched polar vortex, an Arctic region of cold, low-pressure air that normally forms a relatively compact, circular system but sometimes morphs into a more oval shape, sending cold air pouring across North America.

Scientists say the increasing frequency of such disruptions may be linked to climate change, though the debate is not settled, and natural variability plays a role.

Dave Radell, a NWS meteorologist based in New York, told AFP that the character of this storm’s snow was “very dry” and “fluffy,” meaning the wind could lash it around with ease, impeding roadway-clearing efforts and visibility.

“That makes it even more challenging,” he said.

AFP

The Nigerian Army has dismissed allegations of forced labour, unlawful detention and human rights abuses involving civilians at the Mammy Market area of Eburutu Barracks, Calabar.

The Headquarters of 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, described the claims circulating online as “false, misleading, and unsubstantiated.”

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Yemi Sokoya, a Major and Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Headquarters 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, the Brigade said there was “no policy or practice under 13 Brigade or 146 Battalion that authorises forced labour, midnight raids, unlawful detention, or the maltreatment of civilians.”

Reacting to an online publication, the Army explained that routine sanitation activities carried out within the barracks, including the Mammy Market area, were communal and voluntary, involving both soldiers and civilians.

“Routine environmental sanitation activities within the barracks, including the Mammy Market, are communal, non-coercive measures aimed solely at maintaining hygiene and safety,” the statement said, adding that such activities “do not constitute forced labour and are not enforced through intimidation or punishment.”

The Brigade also denied allegations of an illegal ₦1,000 levy allegedly imposed on residents and traders within the barracks.

“The Brigade also disassociates itself from any alleged collection of a ₦1,000 ‘pass’ levy, stating that no such levy is authorised,” it said.

According to the Army, any individual or group found carrying out unauthorised activities in the name of the Nigerian Army would be investigated and sanctioned if formally reported.

“Any unauthorised activity carried out in the name of the Nigerian Army would be investigated and appropriately sanctioned if reported,” the statement added.

The 13 Brigade further stated that it operates under strict command oversight and established Nigerian Army human rights policies, noting that no formal complaint had been received to support the allegations.

“No formal complaint or credible evidence has been received by the Brigade or higher headquarters to substantiate the claims contained in the publication,” it said.

The Army urged members of the public to disregard the report and rely on information from official channels, while also calling on media organisations to verify allegations before publication.

“Members of the public are urged to disregard the report and rely on verified information from official Nigerian Army channels,” the statement said, stressing that the Brigade remains “professional, disciplined, and committed to the protection of lives and property and the maintenance of cordial civil-military relations.”

The national power grid crashed again on Tuesday, the second time in four days.

The PUNCH reports that power generation dropped to just 39 megawatts at 11 a.m., down from 3,825 MW as of 10 a.m.

Our team monitoring the situation reported that power generation had peaked at 4,762 MW as of 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

This is the second grid collapse in January 2026 and the third in less than one month. The national grid previously collapsed on December 29, 2025, and more recently on Friday, January 23, 2026.

As the grid collapsed on Tuesday, load allocation to the distribution companies was 0.00 MW, indicating that no Disco was supplying electricity at the time of the incident.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator has yet to explain the cause of the current grid collapse.

NISO confirmed that the outage occurred at about 12:40 p.m., following the simultaneous tripping of several 330kV transmission lines.

Responding to Friday’s grid collapse, NISO said in a statement that the combined incidents resulted in a total collapse of the interconnected national grid.

“The Nigerian Independent System Operator wishes to inform the public that at approximately 12:40 hours on Friday, 23 January 2026, the national grid experienced a system-wide disturbance, which resulted in a total outage across the interconnected network,” the statement read.

Abia State Government says the time has come to put an industrial policy in place, one that will drive the state’s industrial development.

The state’s Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting held on Monday and chaired by the state governor, Alex Otti.

Kanu informed, “The state government believes that the time has come for an industrial policy to be put in place, an industrial policy that will drive the industrial development of the state as it were. The state government, through its ease of doing business agency, has done quite well to enhance the ease of doing business environment in the state.”

He further explained, “Consequently, a new industrial policy together with a very conducive ease of doing business environment will help attract investors and development to the state. Such an industrial policy will help the state to market its potential while strengthening its comparative advantage in various areas of resource availability and management.

“To bring this policy to fruition, the state government has set up a committee to drive the process of drawing up this policy”, stating that in the coming weeks, when the policy is ready, it will be launched.

The state information boss also disclosed that, in line with the ongoing urban renewal and transformation initiative of the state government, the state government has initiated “an addressing infrastructure program” that is aimed at enhancing street naming, house numbering, and geo-reference addressing that will ensure order and economic growth of the state for easy identification of structures.

He explained, “Our streets are not well named, they are not well numbered, and that creates a lot of confusion. So the state government has come up with an initiative to address this gap”.

Prince Kanu further informed that the state government has concluded plans to execute a long-term development program or plan for 2025 to 2050, stating, “to get the plan going, different aspects of governance in the state must be addressed to drive the plan.

“Planning, security, logistics, and digital services to a larger extent depend on clear locations and addresses. You can imagine where there is a fire somewhere, and you are directing the fire service to come there, and there is no street address.

“You begin to say, if you get to that junction, you cross over there. Many of our urban areas still lack standardized street names and house numbers. Standardized street naming and house numbering create a sense of order that, obviously, incentivizes investors.

“Without street names and addresses, the following problems will arise: emergency services will lose time, planning data will be fragmented, and revenue systems leak. Logistics and commerce are slowed down. Investors face a lot of uncertainty, and obviously, there will be difficulty in the delivery of social services.

“In view of the importance that the state government attaches to this program, the three development areas of the state, GADA (Greater Aba Development Authority), UCDA (Umuahia Capital Development Authority), and GODA  (Greater Ohafia Development Authority), will own this project. The state government will soon appoint a project manager to help manage and drive this very important project.”

Prince Kanu also informed that during the period under review, the state Ministry of Works embarked on direct labor works in 49 locations, and that work is going on very well at different locations in the state, adding that since inception on the 24th of December, about 77774 people have so far enjoyed its green shuttle bus services.