• NCDC announces discovery of a new strain of Coronavirus
• ASUU-LASU declares indefinite strike
• Trump plots mass deportation and end to birthright citizenship
• Nigeria, Chad and Niger armies combine forces to combat the Lakurawa group
• Tinubu congratulates Mahama on return to power as President of Ghana

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

NCDC announces discovery of a new strain of Coronavirus

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has shared its discovery of a new variant of Coronavirus and has implored all state governments to ensure that public health is prioritised across the country.

Though the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare stated that there was no evidence of the new strain in Nigeria, the NCDC stated that the JN.1 variant is classified as a variant of interest (VOI) and has been reported since January 2024.

ASUU-LASU declares indefinite strike 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) Ọjọ branch has announced its decision to go on an indefinite strike due to the federal government’s failure to implement its approved salary increment of 25%/35% increase for its members.

According to reports, the federal government had approved the salary increment in January 2023 but instead kept on paying mediocre and unsatisfactory salaries, leading to the protest of the Lagos State University and the declaration of an indefinite strike.

The ASUU-LASU chairman, Prof Ibrahim Bakare, and Secretary, Dr Sylvester Idowu, stated that the salary increment had been implemented in all federal universities and 18 state universities, but LASU was exempted.

Trump plots mass deportation and end to birthright citizenship

The USA’s newly elected president, Donald Trump has revealed his plans to deport all illegal immigrants in the United States of America throughout his four-year administration.

The President-elect made his views and plans known on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ interview, stating that he would crack down on illegal immigration as it would be classified as a national emergency when he takes over power in January 2025.

Trump also revealed that he plans to end birthright citizenship in America. The policy that grants citizenship to any child born in the US regardless of the parents’ nationality may be terminated upon Trump’s arrival in the US power seat.

Nigeria, Chad and Niger armies combine forces to combat the Lakurawa group

Military forces in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and other neighbouring countries have all combined forces to deal with the menace that is the Lakurawa group that is terrorising the countries and its people.

The collaboration is an intentional attempt to restrict the movement and growing power of the terrorist groups around the affected African countries.

The Lakurawa group is suspected to be linked with the Sahel, a terrorist group from Niger, Mali, and they were announced as terrorists after launching their first attack on November 4, 2024.

Tinubu congratulates Mahama on return to power as President of Ghana

President Bola Tinubu congratulated former President John Dramani Mahama on becoming the newly elected President of Ghana, once again ruling his people.

The election, which took place on Saturday and involved two parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the National Patriotic Party (NPP), saw the defeat of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, a candidate of NPP.

Although the votes were yet to be revealed last night, it is believed that John Mahama had a voting score of 56% while Mahamudu had 41%.