The US Africa Command (AFRICOM), has confirmed the delivery of critical military supplies to Nigeria to support the ongoing security operations against terrorists and other non-state actors.

“This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership,” said AFRICOM on its official X account yesterday.

AFRICOM, however, did not name the “critical military” tools.

Nigeria’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, visited the U.S. to quicken the process for the supply of 12 AH-1Z fighter jets by Bell Textron of California.AH-1Z, a modern attack helicopter, is equipped with advanced sensors and precision-guided weapons with night-fighting capabilities.

The supply of the critical military tools came after Washington launched deadly strikes on terrorists in the Northwest on December 24.

• Lagos Business District

The World Bank says that people living in Nigerian cities will over the next 25 years reach 264 million from the current 140.3 million people.

The Bank made the projection in its Global Economic Prospects report, released yesterday, also forecasts that the Nigerian economy will grow by 4.4 percent in 2026 and maintain that pace in 2027.

In the report, Nigeria is expected to be the third most populous country in the world, after China and India

According to the report entitled ‘Multi-sector analytical review and pathway to transformation’, Nigeria’s urban population has grown exponentially over the last 65 years – from just under seven million in 1960 to over 128 million in 2024, with nearly half the urban population living in slums.

It is projected that 70 percent of the population will live in urban areas by 2050, with cities at the centre of the country’s economic future.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB) has announced the commencement of the sale of application documents for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session.

“The period of registration for UTME candidates, including those from foreign countries, is from Monday, 26th January, 2026 to Saturday, 28th February, 2026,” said JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

In a statement on the Board’s official X handle last night, Oluyede said ” Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria for the 2026/27 academic session.”

The Board stated that eligibility is tied to age, noting that, “Only candidates who will not be less than 16 years old by 30th September, 2026 are generally eligible to apply/be considered.”

JAMB added that candidates less than 16 years old by 30th September, 2026 will have to undergo an intensive evaluation to determine their eligibility for a waiver. Such must have scored not less than 80% in each of UTME/ALEVEL, PUTME, SSCE and in the exceptional candidate assessment.

“The UTME results of the underage candidates will be released only at the conclusion of the complete evaluation process.”