Anthony Joshua discharged after Lagos crash, pays respects to late associates

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January 1, 2026

2026-01-01 08:00:00

Reporting by The Guardian indicates Anthony Joshua has been discharged from Lagoon Hospital after a crash near Lagos that killed two members of his team.

The report says Joshua suffered minor injuries, was kept under observation, and later visited a funeral home with his mother as arrangements were made.

Associated Press (AP): “discharged … after being declared clinically fit to recover at home”
Reuters: “released from Lagoon Hospital in Lagos”

Echotitbits take: Beyond the tragedy, this story re-spotlights Nigeria’s road-safety gaps and how quickly a celebrity incident can refocus public pressure—expect more scrutiny on enforcement, speed, and heavy-duty truck safety on key highways.

Source: The Guardian — January 1, 2026 — https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/01/anthony-joshua-released-from-hospital-in-nigeria-car-crash-boxing

The Guardian
January 1, 2026
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Kate Beckinsale addresses weight-loss comments, linking her body changes to grief

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Bob Echols’s

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January 1, 2026

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2025-12-31 14:57:00

According to E! Online, Kate Beckinsale addressed comments about being “too thin,” explaining that grief has affected her appetite after the deaths of her mother and stepfather.

Other reporting notes she described her thinness as a visible expression of grief in a video posted online.

E! Online (EOnline.com): “Not hungry.”
The Independent (Independent.co.uk): “physical manifestation of grief.”

Echotitbits take: This is a reminder that celebrity ‘body discourse’ often ignores context. Watch for whether Beckinsale steps back from social media, or uses the moment to push for more responsible commentary norms around grief and health.

Source: E! News— 2025-12-31 — https://www.eonline.com/news/1426762/kate-beckinsale-on-weight-loss-after-moms-death

E! News
2025-12-31
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Oluremi Tinubu’s @65 Education Fund closes at ₦25.52bn for National Library project

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B.O.B Echoload

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January 1, 2026

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2026-01-01 07:50:00
According to The Nation, the Oluremi @65 Education Fund—set up around Nigeria’s First Lady’s 65th birthday—closed after raising ₦25.52bn, tied to education support and the National Library project.

The disclosure puts a hard figure to a fundraising drive that drew attention for both its scale and the stated goal of moving a long-delayed national institution toward completion.

Execution is now the key issue: procurement transparency, governance structure, and clear milestones that show the money translates into measurable progress.

The Guardian Nigeria also reported the fund “has closed after raising” ₦25,520,708,074.35.

BusinessDay similarly stated the appeal “had reached a total of ₦25,520,708,074.35” as of December 31, 2025.

Echotitbits take:

Nigerians will support public-good projects when trust is high. Watch for an auditable dashboard, published milestones, and transparent contracting—otherwise the story risks ending as a headline without delivery.

Source: The Nation — January 1, 2026 (https://thenationonlineng.net/oluremi-65-education-fund-raises-n25-52bn-for-national-library-project/)

The Nation 2026-01-01

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NCDMB launches innovation challenge, promises prizes and incubation for local solutions

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B.O.B Echoload

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January 1, 2026

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2026-01-01 07:45:00
In an update published by Premium Times, the NCDMB kicked off the Nigerian Content Research, Innovation and Technology Challenge (2025/2026), inviting proposals from innovators, academia and suppliers.

The initiative is positioned as a pipeline into NCDMB’s Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TIIC) in Yenagoa, linking innovation to practical industry problems and localisation priorities.

If implemented well, the programme could deepen local content beyond procurement into prototypes, IP development and scalable industrial solutions.

Punch also reported NCDMB said it would “award prizes” to Nigerians pursuing content research and technology solutions.

Energy Focus Report similarly described the programme as an innovation challenge and noted it “promises awards.”

Echotitbits take:

The opportunity is real, but scale is the test. Watch for how many winners move from idea to prototype to pilot—and whether funding and offtake contracts follow quickly enough to prevent ‘event-only innovation.’

Source: Premium Times — December 31, 2025 (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/promoted/846706-ncdmb-kickstarts-nigerian-content-research-innovation-tech-challenge.html)

Premium Times 2025-12-31

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ICRC urges Nigerians to stay hopeful as PPP approvals signal infrastructure momentum

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B.O.B Echoload

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January 1, 2026

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2026-01-01 07:40:00
In a statement reported by GazetteNGR, the ICRC director-general urged Nigerians to enter 2026 with renewed hope, stressing infrastructure delivery and PPP momentum.

The message points to government approvals and structuring work around private-sector-led solutions as evidence of steps to reduce Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.

In practice, the real question is whether projects become bankable and deliverable—where contract design, risk allocation and enforcement decide outcomes.

Punch quoted the ICRC chief pointing to FEC approvals that provide “reassurance” about closing the gap via private-sector-led solutions.

Trust Radio also reported he urged citizens to remain “hopeful and confident” that progress is steady.

Echotitbits take:

PPPs can transform delivery—or become rent channels. Watch for transparent procurement, clear user-fee/tariff logic, and credible dispute resolution to keep projects moving and socially acceptable.

Source: GazetteNGR — January 1, 2026 (https://gazettengr.com/icrc-boss-urges-nigerians-to-embrace-hope-shared-responsibility-in-2026/)

GazetteNGR 2026-01-01

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Tinubu says 2026 begins a “more robust phase” for Nigeria’s economic growth

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B.O.B Echoload

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January 1, 2026

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2026-01-01 07:35:00
According to Vanguard, President Bola Tinubu said 2026 would mark the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth as reforms mature.

The messaging positions recent macro decisions—subsidy removal, FX changes, and fiscal tightening—as a bridge from instability toward higher growth and investor confidence.

Household pressure points—prices, jobs and purchasing power—remain the practical scorecard for whether the optimism resonates.

Punch also framed the outlook as Tinubu pledging a “strong economic rebound.”

The Guardian Nigeria similarly carried the “more robust phase of economic growth” line in its reporting of the New Year message.

Echotitbits take:

The market will judge by outcomes: inflation direction, FX stability, real wages, and whether power/transport constraints ease. Watch Q1 indicators and whether policy consistency holds under social pressure.

Source: Guardian — January 1, 2026 (https://guardian.ng/politics/full-text-2026-marks-start-of-more-robust-economic-growth-says-tinubu-in-new-year-message/)

Guardian 2026-01-01

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Nigerian Air Force claims 2,351 terrorists killed in 2025 air campaign

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B.O.B Echoload

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January 1, 2026

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2026-01-01 07:30:00
Figures cited by Punch show the Nigerian Air Force says it neutralised 2,351 terrorists in 2025 through sustained air interdiction operations across multiple theatres.

The service said repeated sorties were aimed at severing supply chains, disrupting movement corridors, and weakening leadership structures across key conflict zones.

Beyond counter-terror missions, the NAF also highlighted operations targeting oil theft infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

The Whistler quoted the NAF describing the campaign as “Sustained precision strikes” that “disrupted supply chains.”

The Guardian Nigeria also reported targeted strikes led to the destruction of illegal refining reservoirs and related assets.

Echotitbits take:

Headline numbers need verification. Watch whether 2026 sees fewer mass abductions and attacks in high-risk corridors, and whether air gains are matched by ground holding operations and community intelligence.

Source: The Punch — January 1, 2026 (https://punchng.com/2351-terrorists-killed-in-2025-air-raids-naf/)

The Punch 2026-01-01

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DHQ deploys GPS-guided munitions in reported Sokoto counter-terror strikes

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B.O.B Echoload

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January 1, 2026

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2026-01-01 07:25:00
Reporting by Reuters indicates Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters deployed GPS-guided precision munitions in operations targeting militant enclaves in Sokoto State.

The report suggests the strikes were aimed at degrading command structures and limiting mobility routes in forest corridors used by armed groups, amid pressure to show measurable security gains.

The implication is a shift toward more technology-driven targeting that could reduce risk to ground troops while expanding the air campaign footprint.

ThisDay also reported Nigeria’s military used “GPS-guided precision munitions” in the Sokoto operation.

A separate local follow-up likewise described strikes intended to disrupt bandit enclaves and logistics routes.

Echotitbits take:

Tech can improve targeting, but success depends on intelligence quality and post-strike ‘hold’ operations. Watch for independent confirmation, civilian-harm reporting, and whether communities experience fewer raids afterward.

Source: Reuters — December 31, 2025 (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-used-gps-guided-precision-munitions-sokoto-strikes-via-mq-9s-sources-say-2025-12-31/)

Reuters 2025-12-31

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Court warns INEC chair against ignoring Labour Party-related FCT poll orders

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B.O.B Echoload

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January 1, 2026

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2026-01-01 07:20:00
A report carried by The Nation says an FCT High Court warned INEC leadership against disregarding its earlier directives tied to Labour Party candidate processing for the FCT area council elections.

The warning follows interim orders on portal access and candidate publication timelines, signalling possible contempt consequences if compliance is not met.

At the core is a procedural dispute over whether INEC must grant the party digital credentials to submit candidates and publish their details as ordered.

The Nigerian Observer also reported the court warned INEC against disregard of the order on Labour Party candidates.

Punch earlier reported the underlying directive, stating the court ordered INEC to “grant the Labour Party an access code.”

Echotitbits take:

Candidate-list disputes can trigger legitimacy problems long before voting day. Watch for INEC’s documented compliance steps, and whether the matter escalates into contempt proceedings or further interim orders.

Source: The Nation — January 1, 2026 (https://thenationonlineng.net/court-warns-inec-chair-against-disobeying-order-to-recognise-lps-candidates-for-fct-polls/amp/)

The Nation 2026-01-01

Photo Credit: Punch

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Court orders INEC to grant Labour Party access code for FCT area council candidates

By

B.O.B Echoload

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January 1, 2026

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2026-01-01 07:15:00
In an update published by Punch, an FCT High Court ordered INEC to provide the Labour Party an access code to upload candidate details for the February 2026 FCT area council elections.

The interim orders also directed INEC to upload and publish the party’s candidates’ particulars across the six area councils within a short window, pending the hearing of the substantive motion.

The dispute reflects wider tensions around party factions, candidate recognition and administrative access to INEC’s nomination portal.

The Nation similarly reported INEC was ordered to “grant access code” for uploading candidates’ particulars.

TheCable also reported the Abure-led Labour Party faction requested INEC portal access to upload candidates for the council polls.

Echotitbits take:

This is a reminder that election credibility can be undermined by back-end administrative fights. Watch for INEC’s compliance response and whether other parties pursue similar court pathways to compel portal access.

Source: The Punch — December 19, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fct-council-poll-court-orders-inec-to-recognise-lp-candidates/)

The Punch 2025-12-19

Photo Credit: The Nation

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