The global film community and the Nigerian entertainment industry have been thrown into deep mourning following the passing of legendary veteran actor and film executive, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, universally known as Olu Jacobs, who died on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the age of 84. The death of the cinematic patriarch was officially confirmed by his family on Wednesday morning. His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced his peaceful passing through a statement shared on social media, expressing immense gratitude for a life defined by artistic excellence, discipline, and profound cultural impact. "It is with gratitude to God for a life well lived and fought, that we announce the passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather and uncle. The Lion of Lufodo," the family statement read. Widely revered as one of the foundational pillars of modern African cinema, Jacobs enjoyed an illustrious career spanning more than five decades across theatre, television, and international film. He trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and broke barriers in the 1970s by appearing in several classic British television series and international Hollywood productions before returning home to help pioneer Nollywood. Known for his commanding screen presence, resonant baritone voice, and unparalleled interpretation of royal and patriarchal roles, Jacobs set the gold standard for acting across the continent. His monumental contributions to the nation’s artistic heritage earned him the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011, alongside multiple lifetime achievement awards. In their time of grief, the family has appealed to the public and digital media operators to give them space during their bereavement. "We call on all bloggers and social media influencers to respect our family`s privacy at this time," Olusoji added. Olu Jacobs is survived by his wife of nearly four decades, the equally revered veteran actress Joke Silva, alongside his children and grandchildren. Tributes from political leaders, Nollywood colleagues, and generations of fans have already begun pouring in to celebrate the legacy of an irreplaceable cultural icon.

Workers of the Federal Ministry of Education on Wednesday morning blocked the entrance to the ministry’s headquarters, preventing the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Dr. Folake Olatunji-David, from accessing their offices. A video circulating on X captured the tense moment workers gathered at the main gates just as a motorcade conveying the minister arrived at the premises. The protesting staff stood their ground, blocking access while chanting, “Alausa must go.” The demonstration marks a significant escalation in an ongoing dispute between the ministry’s workforce and the Federal Government. At the heart of the crisis is the controversial proposed 35-year concession of King’s College, Lagos, to its old boys’ association—a move the workers’ unions fiercely oppose. Beyond the concession dispute, the protesters are demanding the immediate removal of the minister, citing unresolved grievances over staff welfare and deep-seated administrative issues within the ministry. This latest shutdown underscores the failure of recent engagements between management and union representatives to broker peace, leaving tensions high at the education headquarters.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, has warned that the price of petrol could soar to N5,000 per litre if President Bola Tinubu secures a second term in office. Adebayo handed down this warning in a statement issued by his campaign’s Chief Communications Adviser, Mark Adebayo, on Wednesday. He insisted that the projected increase is a mathematical certainty based on the economic trajectory of the current administration. The opposition politician attributed the looming price surge to the Federal Government’s aggressive deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. He noted that the policy, combined with the floating of the naira, has left the nation`s energy security at the mercy of volatile market forces. According to him, Nigeria’s continuous dependence on imported petrol—which is priced strictly in US dollars—means that any further weakening of the local currency will automatically inflate pump prices. He cautioned that without local refining capacity, citizens will continue to bear the brunt of currency depreciation. Providing a breakdown of the projection, Adebayo stated that if the exchange rate depreciates to N3,500 to a dollar in the coming years, the landing cost of petrol alone would cross the N4,000 threshold. Additional distribution margins and retail costs would comfortably push the final pump price to N5,000. The SDP candidate strongly criticised the total removal of fuel subsidies, arguing that the policy leaves vulnerable consumers entirely unprotected. He stated that the government failed to establish adequate safety nets before exposing the economy to the vagaries of global crude oil prices. Adebayo further warned that a N5,000 fuel price would trigger an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis across the country. He explained that skyrocketed transportation costs would immediately drive up the prices of food, pharmaceuticals, and other essential commodities. He concluded by identifying high interest rates, port clearing bottlenecks, and severe distribution inefficiencies as compounding factors. He urged the administration to review its fiscal and monetary strategies to save the citizens from impending economic hardship.

Renowned Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has stated that the war against banditry in the North-West would have been largely won if credible Islamic clerics had been heavily deployed to reform the criminals through preaching. Gumi, who made the assertion via his official Facebook page on Wednesday, noted that a non-kinetic approach rooted in religious re-education would drastically reduce the nation`s reliance on military force. He urged Nigerians to look beyond the violence to understand the root causes of the crisis, identifying ignorance, poverty, and social neglect as the primary drivers turning locals into bandits. He noted that an organized, large-scale preaching campaign spanning the last six years could have fundamentally altered the security landscape by teaching the bandits Islamic laws regarding the sanctity of life and property. "The aim is to teach the bandits the sanctity of human life, the inviolability of people’s property, and the Islamic prohibition of killing and oppression. People are the victims of their own prejudice,” Gumi stated.

A former lawmaker who represented Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, has strongly criticized federal and state governments for spending billions of naira annually on religious activities, including marriages and pilgrimages, at the expense of critical infrastructure. Melaye made the remarks during a recent appearance on the KAA Truths podcast, where he heavily faulted administrators at all levels of government for their misplaced priorities. He argued that the continuous allocation of massive public funds to religious events has severely hindered the country`s development. According to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, religion is strictly a personal matter that should not involve state funding. He expressed deep concern that public resources are being diverted into private spiritual affairs while vital sectors suffer. The former senator questioned the current trajectory of governance in Nigeria, stating that it is entirely wrong for the government to take over responsibilities that traditionally belong to religious institutions and wealthy individuals. He challenged the nation’s billionaires and churches to step up and handle such sponsorships. Melaye further argued that there is no scriptural mandate making holy pilgrimages a prerequisite for spiritual salvation. He noted that neither the Quran nor the Bible states that missing a pilgrimage to Mecca or Israel will prevent a believer from making heaven. The outspoken politician lamented the deplorable state of Nigeria`s social amenities, emphasizing that hundreds of billions of naira wasted annually on trips to Jerusalem and Mecca should be aggressively redirected into fixed assets. He stressed that fixing broken road networks and equipping failing hospitals must take precedence. In his final remarks, Melaye urged the government to completely redefine its core functions and exit the business of religion. He maintained that until the country learns to prioritize its spending toward national development, essential infrastructure will continue to decay.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has hit back at governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing them as "politically lazy" for opposing his newly formed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday, Wike clarified that his alliance with President Bola Tinubu does not mean he has abandoned his political independence or conceded that other parties should not contest fiercely. The backlash follows a declaration by APC governors, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, stating they would not support or endorse any political alliance that could undermine the President’s re-election bid or threaten APC candidates across the country. Dismissing their concerns, the former Rivers State governor urged the state executives to face their internal challenges instead of hiding behind the presidency. “They are politically lazy," Wike stated. "When you have your local problems, don’t use Mr President as your excuse.” Wike noted that the friction surrounding his political moves is nothing new, recalling how the same forces opposed him during his tenure as governor and over his appointment as FCT minister. “This thing did not start today. It started at a ministerial position. They were not happy that I was Minister of FCT. Also, they were unhappy when I was governor,” he said. Insisting that he possesses superior political foresight, the minister asserted that his critics lack the depth of information available to him to understand the broader political landscape.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, to ensure the immediate and timely release of all approved funds to Nigeria’s regional development commissions. The directive was delivered on Monday during the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) Summit in Abuja. The event, themed “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic Infrastructure and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region,” saw the President emphasize his administration`s commitment to unlocking the nation’s industrial potential through the Renewed Hope Agenda. Funding Directives and Financial Sustainability Speaking through the SGF, President Tinubu mandated that all statutory funds accruable to the commissions must be disbursed without delay. However, the President cautioned that these bodies must not rely solely on federal allocations. To drive transformative, long-term projects in rail, air transit, industrialization, and healthcare, the President urged the commissions to aggressively pursue alternative funding streams, including: Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) International donor funding Specialized development financing Zero Tolerance for Graft In a stern warning to the boards and management of the commissions, Tinubu declared that his administration would maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, marginalization, and the politicization of development resources. "Such actions will not be tolerated, and government will not hesitate to sanction anyone found culpable," Tinubu warned. He clarified that the regional bodies are designed to complement, rather than duplicate or replace, the statutory functions of state and local governments. He added that the NCDC must prioritize collaborating on security efforts, noting that sustainable infrastructure development is impossible without a stable environment. Regional Leaders Bullish on Local Processing Reiterating the region`s vast economic capacity, the Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum and Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, stated that the zone is fully equipped to drive national growth. Governor Sule insisted on a policy shift from raw material extraction to local value addition. Sule highlighted Nasarawa’s industrial leap, noting that the state has transitioned from holding dormant mining licenses to hosting Nigeria’s two largest lithium processing plants. He also lauded the federal government`s fiscal reforms, stating that increased revenue allocations have enabled states to pay salaries seamlessly without commercial bank loans. A 20-Year Blueprint for Growth Earlier in the summit, NCDC Chief Executive Officer Cyril Tsenyil unveiled the commission`s 20-year strategic master plan. Tsenyil clarified that the NCDC’s mandate is strictly integrative and focused on resource mobilization. The long-term plan will target the creation of regional economic corridors, agricultural processing, and youth employment. Tsenyil stated that the ultimate benchmark for the zone is to transition from being just Nigeria’s food basket to becoming one of Africa’s most competitive agricultural economies.

A routine day at the farm turned into a tragedy for Yakubu Bitrus, a local farmer in the Agingi community of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State, who had his hand severed by a group of Fulani herdsmen after he was unable to immediately assist them in lifting a fallen cow. The violent assault, which left Bitrus hospitalized, was recounted by the victim in a video clip shared widely on social media platforms. According to Bitrus, the incident began while he was working on his farm alongside two women. During a meal break, a young herder approached the group, stating that one of his cows had fallen into a ditch and gotten stuck. He demanded their immediate help to pull the animal out. Bitrus explained that he was the only man present and could not abandon the two women alone on the farm. He advised the herder to gather a larger group of farmers from nearby plots so they could collectively rescue the animal. "The Fulani herder rejected my suggestion and insisted that the three of us should follow him immediately," Bitrus stated from his hospital bed. "He feared that the animal might die and warned me that if the cow dies, there would be a problem." The herder then grew hostile, launching verbal insults before chasing Bitrus with a stick and a cutlass. Spotting another individual hiding nearby, Bitrus and the women fled the scene to avoid an escalation. Hoping to defuse the tension, Bitrus later returned to the spot with a larger group of community members to assist with the cow. However, both the herders and the animal were gone. The herders, it turned out, had allegedly concealed themselves nearby to track Bitrus`s movements. Later in the evening, as Bitrus, his wife, and another woman were walking home, the herders launched an ambush. When Bitrus`s wife stepped off the main path to gather firewood, she was suddenly attacked and struck on the head. Hearing her screams, Bitrus rushed to her defense, using a piece of wood to fight off the assailants. During the struggle, additional herders emerged from the surrounding bush to overwhelm the farmer. One of the attackers drew a machete and completely severed Bitrus`s hand before the group fled into the forest. The local community has expressed deep outrage over the brutal attack, calling on Plateau State security agencies to swiftly apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has raised a fresh alarm over the state`s deteriorating security architecture, declaring a recent bandits` raid on a security base as clear evidence of critical security lapses under Governor Seyi Makinde`s administration. The opposition party`s reaction follows a daring Sunday morning attack where suspected bandits invaded a base belonging to Operation Burst, a joint security outfit, along the Igbeti/Igboho road in Olorunsogo Local Government Area. The attackers reportedly operated for over an hour, carting away properties including a motorcycle and a power generator. In a scathing statement issued on Monday by Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Sadare, the party questioned the functionality of the multi-billion naira surveillance aircraft recently procured by the state government. The APC noted with irony that the attack took place in Igbeti, the very axis where the base station for the highly publicized surveillance aircraft was supposedly located. "Since the day Gov Makinde celebrated the purported delivery of the two aircraft, nothing has either been heard or felt about their deployment to survey the airspace in the state," Sadare stated. "Sadly, the same Igbeti where the base station for the aircraft was reportedly situated came under heavy attacks for more than an hour, and there was no surveillance to track the attackers. Therefore, it is safe to say that the whole story about security surveillance aircraft is another scam." The APC further chastised Governor Makinde, urging him to focus on securing his state rather than focusing on national politics. The party described the governor`s frequent criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms as a distraction that exposes his own poor knowledge of governance and economic management.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has fiercely questioned the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over the utilization of trillions of Naira saved from the petrol subsidy removal. This intervention follows a fresh, record-breaking spike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to a staggering N1,470 per litre across the country. In a strongly-worded statement released by his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku raised the alarm over the continuous, unchecked escalation of fuel prices. He argued that the current pricing regime has completely crushed the purchasing power of regular Nigerians and plunged millions deeper into an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis. The opposition leader stressed that the latest price hike is not an isolated economic metric but an aggressive burden on everyday households. He noted that because Nigeria’s informal economy relies heavily on petrol, the immediate consequence of the hike has already manifested in a drastic surge in transportation costs and food prices. Atiku fundamentally challenged the economic rationale behind the painful removal of the petrol subsidy, demanding to know why the resulting financial windfalls have not been deployed to cushion the economy. He noted that the citizens, who were promised immediate relief and infrastructure development in exchange for their sacrifice, have instead been left completely vulnerable to severe economic hardship. "Petrol at N1,470 per litre is not merely a figure at the filling station," Atiku stated. "It enters the price of transportation, food, school runs, farming, manufacturing, and virtually everything Nigerians buy. After all the pain imposed on Nigerians, they have a legitimate right to ask: where are the subsidy savings, and where is the money?" Drawing a historic economic parallel, the former Vice President highlighted a stark paradox between the current administration`s energy policies and those of past leaderships. He recalled that during the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008, global crude oil prices peaked at a historic high of roughly $147 per barrel, yet domestic petrol was maintained at a heavily stabilized rate of N65 per litre. In contrast, Atiku pointed out that with global crude oil currently trading at a significantly lower rate of around $102.52 per barrel, Nigerians are paradoxically being forced to pay an exorbitant N1,470 per litre. This massive discrepancy, he argued, highlights a severe failure in regulatory oversight and structural economic management by the current government. Atiku concluded his address by asserting that the sharp contrast between 2008 and today proves a fundamental divergence in governance philosophies. He emphasized that the Yar’Adua administration succeeded because it firmly understood that macro-economic policies must ultimately serve as a shield to protect, rather than exploit, the welfare and survival of its citizens.