Governor Seyi Makinde has presented a ₦891.9 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the Oyo State House of Assembly. During the presentation, the governor said the 2026 budget is aimed at consolidating the state’s accelerated development agenda. This marks the seventh budget he has submitted to the Assembly. According to the breakdown, recurrent expenditure is projected at ₦389.3 billion, while capital expenditure stands at ₦502.64 billion. Governor Makinde disclosed that ₦210 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure, ₦70.84 billion for health, and ₦19.9 billion for agriculture. The remaining ₦435.91 billion will fund other priority sectors, including security, education, and other critical areas. In his remarks, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, pledged continuous cooperation with the executive arm to ensure the effective implementation of the budget. He also commended the governor for maintaining a harmonious relationship with the legislature in driving meaningful development across the state. The total budget estimate for 2026 stands at ₦891,985,074,480.79, eight hundred and ninety-one billion, nine hundred and eighty-five million, seventy-four thousand, four hundred and eighty naira, seventy-nine kobo.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has issued a strong warning to politicians planning to manipulate the 2027 governorship election in the state. The governor also declared that anyone attempting to rig the polls “will be met with madness.” In a viral video circulating on social media on Monday, the governor cautioned political actors against plotting to undermine the electoral process, stressing that Oyo voters are now more politically aware and will resist any form of manipulation. Makinde said, “In a few months, I will be out of here. I have already started preparations for the transition. “In 2027, other players will be there. If they think attacking Seyi Makinde and politicising this issue will make the people vote for them, maybe they should think again. Oyo State people are wiser.” Speaking further, he warned those contemplating election malpractice to rethink their plans. “The next set of leaders will be the ultimate deciders. If you think you can rig the gubernatorial elections in Oyo State in 2027, think again. ‘Were, la n fi wo were’ (We will use madness to cure madness),” he said. The governor’s latest remarks come months after he declared that the choice of who succeeds him in 2027 lies strictly with the people of Oyo State, not political godfathers or those claiming entitlement.

A survivor of the November 18 attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, Kwara State, has described the conditions he and other abducted worshippers faced while held by their captors. He was one of the 38 victims rescued by security operatives, a development President Bola Tinubu confirmed on Sunday. Speaking in an interview with TVC, the victim said the attackers stormed the church shortly after the evening service began, firing shots around the premises before herding the worshippers into the bush. “It was a sudden act, a terrifying act. Because that evening, after 30 minutes of the programme, we just heard gunshots,” he said. “Even to my own perspective, I didn’t know it was gunshots. I thought it was just sparking of some wire. “By the time we got up, they surrounded the whole church. Even some people there began to narrate that they were seeing drops of blood everywhere.” He said the captives were taken deep into a forested area controlled by the group. According to him, the abductors openly identified themselves as bandits and boasted about their dominance in the region, claiming that “no one can slip away” from their territory. “It was unimaginable because when we got there, we didn’t know that it was a dominated area. “They even had the courage to tell themselves that they are bandits. They made us know that there is no one who can slip away without being caught. And with what we saw, nobody can escape,” he said. “From that place, they have dominated. They knew all the routes surrounding all those bushes within Kwara and other cities. They knew it,” he added.

The founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide and Senior Pastor of the Faith Tabernacle, Bishop David Oyedepo, has stated that Nigeria will never become an Islamic state, condemning the surge in killings and insecurity across the country. Oyedepo, while addressing the congregation during the 4th Pre-Shiloh Encounter Service on Sunday, expressed concern over continued attacks on worshippers and communities, describing the growing violence as “unacceptable” and “a direct assault on innocent lives.” He said, “The Church of Christ in Nigeria is indestructible. The gates of hell cannot prevail against it. Nigeria will never become an Islamic state. Never, never, never. The battle is raging. The Islamic jihadists are running. But we belong to a higher realm of authority.” He condemned the attackers and those he accused of sponsoring them, placing a curse on them. “Five people were shot dead in a church last week. Thirty-five abductees can’t tell where they are. And they are demanding a hundred million from a village setting. “Every perpetrator of these killings and their sponsors come under a curse today,” he said. Oyedepo urged members of the church and Christians nationwide to engage in seven days of intensive prayer beginning at midnight, describing it as a spiritual response to worsening insecurity. “When this church prays, God hears. All who are baptised in the Holy Ghost will join me in praying extensively in the spirit. By so doing, we are sending angels on a run. There will be catastrophes. “There will be catastrophes. There shall be catastrophes. In the camp of the wicked, there shall be catastrophes,” he said. He directed congregants to anoint their homes and workplaces as “no-go areas” and to take spiritual responsibility for the protection of their families and communities. He added that attacks on church members would no longer go unanswered, announcing that a spiritual operation would begin at midnight. “I’m asking every living winner, no matter how much anointing you have for sleep, that anointing is broken. Amen. Amen. Amen. As the Lord lives, who sent me as one of the watchmen over this nation. This shall not continue. “12 midnight tonight, the operation begins. Satan is in trouble.Its agents and it is arrayed, in the name of Jesus. Any member of this church touched, equals fire and brimstone, in the camp of the enemy. I’m saying so by the Holy Ghost. Go and try it.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially registered as a member of the African Democratic Congress in Adamawa State, signalling a major development in Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. The registration took place on Monday, following Atiku’s announcement to ADC supporters and stakeholders in Adamawa over the weekend. Abdul Rasheeth, an aide to the former vice president, had confirmed the development in a statement obtained by THENEWSCREDIT Videos and photos from the event showed Atiku’s convoy arriving in the town to the cheers of supporters, who beat drums, sang, and carried placards with his image. Atiku waved and greeted well-wishers from his vehicle as he received his ADC membership card. In a brief X (Formerly Twitter) post on his handle shorty after his registration, Atiku wrote,” It’s official. -AA” This move formalises Atiku’s association with the coalition party, which he had previously endorsed in July as a platform for opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Babachir Lawal, to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Until now, Atiku and other opposition leaders had delayed their formal registration with the ADC. The former vice president’s registration is expected to strengthen the party’s profile and consolidate the opposition ahead of the next general election.

In recent times, Nigeria has gone through turbulent periods of different kinds. THENEWSCREDIT examines 10 tragic events that occurred in the last 10 days as the security of the country continues to deteriorate. 11/11/25 – Six Senior Directors from the Ministry of Defence were kidnapped along the Kogi axis, reminding us that even those tasked with securing our nation are no longer safe. 15/11/25 – A senior military officer, a Brigadier General, was brutally executed, a grave signal of the danger engulfing both civilians and security personnel. 16/11/25 – Sixty-four civilians, including women and children, were abducted in Zamfara, with innocent lives also lost in the attack. 17/11/25 – Twenty-five schoolgirls, young children with dreams and innocence, were abducted in Kebbi, and their Vice Principal was killed, adding to the heartbreaking list of attacks on our nation’s future. 18/11/25 – Worshippers praying peacefully in a church in Kwara State were violently attacked, with some killed and about 38 abducted. A place of worship, meant to be a sanctuary, became a scene of fear. The kidnapped victims were reportedly released on Sunday. 18/11/25 – A disturbing crisis unfolded at the PDP Wadata Plaza headquarters. Instead of de-escalation, elements within the security agencies worsened the situation and further instigated it. Rather than focusing on protecting citizens, the government appeared to watch with amusement, encouraging the destruction of political parties and the weakening of our democracy. Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Monday morning 18/11/25 – During the All Nigeria Judges’ Conference, judges who should embody neutrality and integrity were seen standing as the APC partisan song “On Your Mandate We Shall Stand” played ahead of the President’s address. This troubling moment further eroded public trust in institutions expected to protect the rule of law. The judiciary, however, denied the allegation. 19/11/25 – Soldiers heading to rescue the Kebbi State abducted schoolgirls were ambushed, showing once again how undersupported our security forces have become. 21/11/25 – Nigerians awoke to the devastating news that over 300 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State. Fifty of them reportedly escaped on Sunday and reunited with their families. 22/11/25 – Bandits opened fire on farmers in Kaduna, killing one. Terrorists also ambushed and gunned down five police officers and injured two in Sabon Sara, Darazo LGA, Bauchi State.

Fifty of the abducted school pupils of St. Mary Private Primary and Secondary Schools, Niger State, have reportedly escaped from their captors and have reunited with their parents. The Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria and Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, made this known on Sunday in a statement issued by his media aide, Daniel Atori. He stated that they discovered the development after visiting the parents of the children. The chairman explained that the school currently has 236 pupils in captivity, including three children belonging to staff members and 14 secondary students, making a total of 253 children and 12 staff members still held by the abductors. “This is to notify the public that as of Sunday, 23rd November 2025, we received some good news as fifty (50) pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents. “This comes just a few days after suspected terrorists attacked and abducted 303 pupils and students. “The pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday and have reunited with their parents, as they could not return to the school after escaping. We were able to ascertain this when we contacted and visited some parents,” the statement read. Yohanna added that in the primary section, out of the total number of 430 pupils enrolled, 377 are boarders while the remaining 53 are day students. “Currently, aside from the 50 pupils who escaped and returned home, we have 141 pupils who were not abducted. “As it stands now, we have 236 pupils, another three children belonging to staff, and 14 secondary school students — making a total of 253 children — in addition to 12 members of staff with the abductors,” he said. While expressing relief at the return of the 50 children, the CAN chairman appealed for continued prayers for those still held. “As much as we receive the return of these 50 children with some sigh of relief, I urge everyone to continue in prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims. “I call on everyone to remain calm and prayerful. We will continue to actively collaborate with security operatives, community leaders, government, and relevant authorities for the safe and quick return of all abductees. “May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect His people from all dangers,” Yohanna said. The state police command is yet to speak on the development. THENEWSCREDIT reports that a total of 315 persons — including pupils, students and teachers — were abducted from St. Mary Private Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area on Friday. The incident prompted the state governor, Mohammed Bago, to order the closure of schools across the state on Saturday

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons across the country, directing that they be redeployed to core policing duties. The directive was issued during a security meeting the president held on Sunday in Abuja with service chiefs and the director-general of the Department of State Services. According to a statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, VIPs requiring protection will now be assigned armed operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps instead of the police. “Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult. “In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” the statement read. Onanuga also disclosed that the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel and that the Federal Government is working with states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide. Those in attendance at Sunday’s meeting included the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi. The withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs comes amid long-standing concerns over the overstretching of Nigeria’s police force. Several reports have highlighted that more than 100,000 police officers are assigned to politicians, businessmen, and other VIPs.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has attributed the wave of insecurity and systemic decay in the country to the longstanding neglect of the education sector. Atiku made the remarks on Saturday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, during the 17th Annual Founder’s Day of the American University of Nigeria. “The crass disregard for education inflicted upon us by the current and successive governments since 2007 has transformed what could have been a vibrant future into a bleak landscape,” he said. According to him, as daunting as the country’s divisive challenges may appear, the most insidious threat does not stem from the visible chaos unleashed by armed groups but from the far deeper neglect of education, health, and human development services The former vice president cautioned that while the nation grapples with violence and turmoil from armed groups, the consequences of overlooking human development sectors do not merely endanger the present but also cast a long shadow over the future. He urged individuals and the private sector to pay closer attention to the condition of Nigeria’s education system, stressing that idle youths have become fertile ground for criminal recruitment. He added, “Our beloved country, endowed with a youth population of enormous promise, faces staggering challenges that threaten to undermine our most precious asset—our children. “Currently, millions of children remain out of school, and among those who do enrol, many find themselves disillusioned and trapped in an outdated system that fails to prepare them for the demands of an increasingly complex and competitive world.” Atiku described Nigeria’s education statistics as sobering, lamenting that the nation now bears the regrettable distinction of having the highest number of out-of-school children globally.

President Bola Tinubu has thanked security forces, after Catholic School students in Niger State and worshippers in Kwara State, regained their freedom. In a statement on Sunday, he promised that every Nigerian would be safe under his watch. His statement read: “You will recall that I cancelled my trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to enable me to coordinate the security efforts at home. “Thanks to the efforts of our security forces over the last few days, all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State have been rescued. “I am equally happy that 51 out of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger State, have been recovered. “I am closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the frontline. “Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people.”