Governor Seyi Makinde has issued a heartfelt message of gratitude to the citizens of Oyo State, praising their resilience and unwavering support for his administration. The Governor reassured the public that his team remains completely focused on delivering impactful governance that directly improves the lives of everyday residents. "To the good people of Oyo State, thank you for your patience and support," Governor Makinde stated. "As I have always said, we are here to serve you and we will always act in your best interests." The administration is currently accelerating several key developmental projects across the state`s geopolitical zones. These initiatives span critical sectors, including infrastructural expansion, healthcare upgrades, and agricultural incentives designed to boost local food production. Government house sources indicate that new social welfare packages are being finalized to cushion current economic pressures. The upcoming programs will focus on small business grants and enhanced support for vulnerable groups across the 33 local government areas. State officials emphasize that public feedback remains central to shaping government policies. Citizens are encouraged to maintain an open, constructive dialogue with leadership to ensure community needs are met accurately and efficiently.

The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has launched a 10-year strategic roadmap to scale up the country`s raw cashew nut production from 300,000 tonnes to one million tonnes, with a mandate to process 50 per cent of the total yield domestically. The initiative was announced during the inauguration of the association’s national and state chapter executives in Abuja. The strategy aims to accelerate industrialisation, increase non-oil export earnings, attract foreign direct investments, and create thousands of jobs across cashew-producing states. Speaking at the event, THENEWSCREDIT gathered NCAN National President, Ademola Adesokan, emphasized that the target is a practical roadmap with measurable milestones rather than a mere aspiration. He stated that while policies originate at the federal level, the core drivers of the value chain—production, aggregation, storage, and quality assurance—rest within the farming communities. Adesokan explained that the newly formed state chapters will serve as the operational backbone of the strategy, ensuring strict quality control and enhanced supply chain traceability. This grassroots coordination is expected to build confidence among processors and exporters, making Nigerian cashew highly competitive on the global stage. THENEWSCREDIT reports that the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) pledged its full policy backing for the initiative, describing the inauguration as the official transition from policy formulation to direct execution. Delivering the ministry’s goodwill message on behalf of the Director of the Industrial Development Department, Olumuyiwa Jayi-Ade, Assistant Director Popoola Abimbola commended NCAN’s collaborative role in validating the Nigeria Cashew Roadmap. To ensure seamless execution, Abimbola revealed that the ministry, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, NCAN, and development partners, will establish the Nigerian Cashew Project Office (NCPO). The new office will handle stakeholder collaboration, monitor execution frameworks, and drive reforms across the value chain. FMITI also encouraged NCAN members to ensure the financial sustainability of the association through the prompt payment of dues to strengthen its capacity for policy advocacy. Highlighting the economic importance of the sector, the Director of the Commodities and Export Department, Obasi Edozie, described the expansion of state chapters as a major institutional milestone for industry governance. Edozie reaffirmed that cashew remains one of Nigeria’s most strategic non-oil commodities capable of generating vital foreign exchange, driving rural development, and stimulating industrial growth. He urged all value chain stakeholders to stay united in enforcing global quality standards, improving traceability, and expanding local processing capacities to capture maximum value from the sector.

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has strongly backed the creation of state police but demanded full constitutional powers for governors to appoint and dismiss state Commissioners of Police. The regional leaders warned that any arrangement short of this authority would merely create a "Federal State Police" rather than a genuinely decentralised system rooted in true federalism. The position was part of the resolutions reached at a stakeholders` meeting held at the PANDEF liaison office in Abuja. The high-level political gathering was attended by prominent elder statesmen, including former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah, former Enugu State Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, PANDEF National Chairman Dr Godknows Igali, and Middle Belt Forum President Dr Bitrus Pogu. Reading the communiqué, SMBLF Chairman and Afenifere leader, Chief Oladipo Olaitan, argued that governors must hold the same executive authority over their state commissioners as the President holds over the Inspector-General of Police. The forum, which comprises Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PANDEF, and the Middle Belt Forum, insisted that meaningful state policing can only succeed if backed by genuine constitutional autonomy. Beyond restructuring the security architecture, the forum renewed its demand for a brand-new constitution that would devolve more powers to the federating units and better reflect Nigeria’s federal character. Olaitan stated that the group is prepared to mobilise citizens nationwide to vote exclusively for presidential candidates who are fully committed to delivering a new constitution to the people. Turning their attention to the upcoming 2027 general elections, the regional leaders reaffirmed their earlier stance that the presidency must remain in the Southern region after President Bola Tinubu’s first term. The leaders argued that maintaining this rotational arrangement is absolutely necessary for national cohesion, equity, and political stability across the country. The SMBLF also expressed deep concern over the erosion of internal democracy across major political parties, strongly condemning the alleged dominance of party structures by a few individuals during ongoing primary elections. They criticised the situation where an oligarchy handpicks candidates, noting that excluding independent candidates is antithetical to democracy and sustainable national development. On national security, the forum praised the armed forces for recent successes against criminal elements in parts of the country, specifically highlighting operational gains in Oyo, Zamfara, and Borno states. However, they urged the Federal Government to sustain the momentum and intensify actions in violence-prone states across the Middle Belt, including Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara, and Kogi. This intervention comes amid growing national debate over the operational framework for state police as the National Assembly considers crucial constitutional amendments. While proponents argue that decentralised policing will improve local intelligence gathering, critics continue to warn against potential abuse by state governors, leaving the nation divided on the execution strategy.

The Benue State Police Command has apprehended a man identified as Terfa Nyikwagh for allegedly killing his biological father. The incident happened in the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State following a severe family dispute. According to reports, the tragic event originally occurred on Friday, July 24, 2026. Security analyst Zagazola Makama brought the matter to public attention through an official update posted on Monday night via X (formerly Twitter). The underlying conflict reportedly stemmed from an intensely heated argument between the suspect and his father, Mr. Nyikwagh Abor. The dispute centered on the circumstances surrounding the recent death of Terfa’s brother, Ternenge Uwuh. As the confrontation escalated, the suspect reportedly engaged in a physical assault against his father. The elderly man suffered fatal injuries and passed away as a result of the encounter. The local community was thrown into a state of shock until the Clan Head of Turan-Tse Twar, Injorov Tongov, Zaki Akor Kpan, intervened. The traditional ruler formally lodged a criminal complaint at the nearest police division on Saturday, July 25, 2026. In a swift response, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Katsina-Ala mobilized a tactical team to the community. Law enforcement operatives successfully arrested the suspect at the scene without facing any physical resistance. The victim’s body has since been recovered and deposited at a local hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination. Detectives are currently interrogating the suspect to uncover additional details before officially charging him in court.

Controversial Nigerian relationship commentator and digital content creator, Emmanuel Obruste, widely known as GehGeh, has broken his silence following intense public backlash over his recent secret wedding. The self-proclaimed founder of the "GehGeh School of Marriage" found himself at the center of a massive social media storm after videos of his traditional marriage ceremony surfaced online over the weekend, contradicting what many followers perceived as his core teachings. The private ceremony, where GehGeh tied the knot with his partner, Mary, took place on Saturday away from the public eye. As snippets of the event began circulating across various digital platforms, fans and critics alike expressed shock, rapidly pushing the content creator`s name to the top of trending topics across Nigeria. For months, the content creator built a massive following by delivering aggressive, highly opinionated lectures advising men against modern relationships. His sudden transition from an unyielding critic of marital institutions to a married man caught his audience off guard, triggering widespread accusations of hypocrisy and deceit from a disappointed fanbase. The fallout quickly extended beyond everyday social media users, drawing sharp criticisms from several high-profile Nigerian celebrities and top influencers. While some public figures mocked the irony of the situation, a segment of his followers reacted with genuine anger, claiming that his rigid digital sermons had previously influenced them to terminate their own long-term romantic relationships. Responding directly to the mounting criticism, GehGeh took to his official handle on X (formerly Twitter) to defend his actions and challenge his detractors. In a terse statement, he demanded that his followers review his extensive catalog of content, questioning whether he had ever explicitly ordered anyone to boycott the institution of marriage. "I never for once told y’all not to get married. Did I?" GehGeh wrote in his social media defense, defiantly adding, "If yes, show me a video of me telling you not to marry." [1, 2] The defensive strategy appeared designed to shift the burden of proof back onto his audience while distancing himself from the extreme interpretations of his online lectures. However, the defense backfired almost immediately as internet users swiftly weaponized his own media archive against him. Within hours of his post, followers flooded comment sections with old video clips where GehGeh explicitly labeled marriage a "financial mistake" and a "scam," effectively trapping the commentator in a web of his own past pronouncements.

The Emir of Bade, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Suleiman, on Sunday led thousands of Muslims in a special prayer for rain (Salat al-Istisqa) to save communities from a devastating, prolonged dry spell threatening livelihoods across Yobe State. The critical prayer session drew a massive crowd to the Gashu`a prayer ground, bringing together prominent Islamic scholars, district heads, community leaders, and desperate local farmers. Together, they offered special supplications, pleading for urgent divine intervention to bring abundant rainfall, secure a bountiful harvest, and shield the region from the looming threat of famine. Addressing the congregation after the prayers, Emir Suleiman admonished the public to look inward. He strongly urged residents to intensify their worship, seek forgiveness through repentance, and foster communal unity and good conduct, emphasizing that true righteousness attracts the mercy and blessings of the Almighty. The spiritual intervention comes at a time of growing panic, as a severe lack of consistent rainfall over recent weeks has halted the growth of essential staple crops across Yobe State. Major food crops like millet, sorghum, and maize are already drying up in the fields, leaving local farming populations terrified of total crop failure. Agricultural experts have issued stark warnings over the unfolding crisis, noting that if the dry spell persists any longer, it will trigger acute food insecurity. This could plunge thousands of rural households, who depend entirely on subsistence farming, into deep economic hardship and inflation. The session concluded with emotional community prayers for peace, national prosperity, and immediate relief, with residents hoping the heavens will open up in the coming days to restore the land and protect their survival.

Professor Wole Alamu, husband of the recently rescued Oyo State school principal, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has opened up about the harrowing 50 days his wife spent in captivity, revealing why he took the drastic step of blocking the kidnappers` phone numbers during negotiations . Speaking during a thanksgiving testimony following her release, Professor Alamu disclosed that constant threats from the abductors caused his blood pressure to skyrocket, posing an immediate danger to his life . Mrs. Alamu, the principal of Ahoro Esinle School in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, was abducted alongside some pupils and teachers by gunmen on May 15, 2026. For three weeks, her husband handled direct communications with the criminals, an ordeal he described as emotionally draining and physically destabilising. "There was a day I went for a medical check-up. They sent me a text message and I became destabilised," Professor Alamu recounted []. "By the time I got to the clinic, my blood pressure had increased so much that I could not even do the check-up." Realising the conversations were killing him, the academic made a bold resolution []. "That day I decided I would block these people. You cannot kill me here and kill her there. Choose one. If you want to take her, she is going to be with Christ. You cannot kill the two of us at the same time." The decision to cut off contact triggered a swift, psychological backlash from the kidnappers against the principal "They went to her and said, ‘Madam, your husband has blocked us. We are going to kill you,’" the professor revealed. "She replied, ‘You will not kill me in Jesus’ name.’" According to the testimony, the abductors left a cutlass beside Mrs. Alamu, apparently trying to pressure her into taking her own life. However, she remained resilient, boldly telling them she would not harm herself. Despite the trauma, Professor Alamu praised the swift mobilization of security forces immediately after the abduction. He noted that within 45 minutes of his arrival at Osiele, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Mechanised Division and the State Commissioner of Police were already on the ground, with two helicopters already combing the forest . The incident drew widespread solidarity across religious boundaries and international borders. The professor noted that the first two groups to visit and support him were the Muslim communities of Oyo State and the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). He also received tactical support proposals and calls from non-governmental organizations and individuals as far as California and Los Angeles in the United States. Reflecting on the crisis, which he described as the greatest challenge his family has faced since he became a Christian in 1990, Professor Alamu urged believers to take their faith seriously before adversity strikes. "We are a very quiet family. If you searched my name on Google before now, what you would mostly see was academics," he said []. "But difficult situations expose your spiritual foundation. If you want to be a Christian, please be a Christian, so that when challenges come, people won`t be praying in vain." Mrs. Alamu and the other victims finally regained their freedom after a coordinated rescue operation announced by the Federal Government, bringing a joyful end to a 50-day nightmare .

The Federal Government has officially prohibited manual lobbying for strategic deployments and "juicy" postings within the federal civil service following the launch of the newly automated Human Resource Modules under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). The upgraded system introduces a fully digital infrastructure designed to automate staff promotions, transfers, leave applications, and total personnel lifecycles. This comprehensive digital shift aims to completely eliminate human interference, favoritism, and manual manipulation across all government sectors. Speaking at the official IPPIS Go-Live Ceremony in Abuja, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, declared that the transition effectively shuts the door on external influence in civil service postings. "‘Post me here, post me there. I want a juicy posting’—no more. It is now digitalised," Walson-Jack stated, emphasizing that the cloud-based system will institutionalise a transparent, merit-based framework for managing the nation`s public workforce. The digital overhaul, developed entirely by local tech firm SoftAlliance and Resources Limited, marks a significant shift from the foreign Oracle Electronic Business Suite previously in use. By keeping the software development entirely indigenous, the government successfully shields public spending from foreign exchange volatility while keeping sensitive national personnel data under local control. The Head of Service described the development as a practical expression of the "Nigeria First" policy. The newly deployed platform handles biometric enrolment, onboarding, payroll administration, employee mobility, and advanced data analytics. Through the newly introduced employee self-service module, civil servants can now securely access their personal dashboards, update records, and track their career progression online. This automation is projected to drastically reduce paperwork, eliminate administrative bottlenecks, and accelerate approval times for routine requests. Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, disclosed that the IPPIS infrastructure has grown exponentially from serving just seven pilot agencies at its inception in 2007 to managing over 1,008,800 employee records today. He explained that integrating human resource management directly with payroll administration provides a stronger safety net against financial leakages. This linkage will enhance workforce planning and strengthen fiscal discipline in public financial management. Lauding the initiative, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, described the IPPIS framework as one of Nigeria’s most successful public sector reforms due to its historical success in eliminating ghost workers. He noted that the new HR capabilities will provide data-driven insights for national workforce planning, making it easier for the government to identify staffing gaps and surpluses across different sectors. However, top government officials have warned that the technology will only be as effective as its execution. The Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Nkiruka Jones-Nebo, urged permanent secretaries, HR directors, and IT desk officers to act as change champions, stressing that the success of the system relies heavily on institutional commitment across all 508 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) currently onboarded. The Head of Service further cautioned public servants against resisting the change or trying to replicate old bureaucratic loops on the digital platform. She maintained that the ultimate goal of the digital transformation is to make the work of public servants easier while significantly strengthening the capacity of the government to deliver faster, highly accountable services to all Nigerians.

The Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has issued a stern warning to young Nigerians to abandon sports betting, declaring it a destructive path that ruins futures. Delivering a powerful sermon on Sunday, the prominent cleric emphasized that gambling is not a viable route to financial freedom or enduring success. He stressed that authentic prosperity requires discipline, patience, and diligent labor. "Young people, betting is not the way to financial fortune," Oyedepo admonished the congregation. "Stop wasting your destiny, stop wasting your destiny, stop wasting your destiny! I have never been once deceived. Stop!" The Bishop urged the youth to remain resilient through humble beginnings, noting that wealth built on biblical foundations guarantees longevity. "Things may be slow, but it is sure," he added. Illustrating the power of long-term faithfulness and gratitude, Oyedepo shared that he recently gifted a car in the United States to the woman who led him to Christ when he was 15 years old. "When I turned 60, I got her a car... she wept. You had better wake up," he urged. The cleric`s warning comes amid growing national concern from financial experts and social commentators over the explosive rise of sports betting in Nigeria, which has left millions of youth vulnerable to addiction and financial ruin.

Akin Osuntokun, a former political adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed that his former principal is the main driving force behind a proposed Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso joint ticket for the 2027 presidential election. Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Osuntokun dismissed swirling speculations that Obasanjo’s recent political posturing was designed to favor President Bola Tinubu. Instead, he insisted that the former president remains deeply critical of the current administration and is actively backing an opposition alliance. Osuntokun described the potential pairing of Obi and Kwankwaso as a highly realistic and compelling force that stands a far better chance of success than the Labour Party`s 2023 structure. According to him, Obasanjo personally stepped in to broker the relationship between the two political heavyweights. "Look, Obasanjo is critical of Tinubu. If you can say that Obasanjo is supporting any ticket, it is Peter Obi and Kwankwaso. As a matter of fact, he is the main sponsor of that ticket," Osuntokun stated, adding that Kwankwaso’s massive political base in Kano State would provide a "big bonus" for the ticket`s national impact. He further disclosed that Obasanjo had attempted to seal this exact deal before the 2023 general elections, reminding Kwankwaso at the time that a standard one-term agreement would have eventually positioned the former Kano governor as the ultimate beneficiary. The remarks come on the heels of intense public debate over an open letter written by Obasanjo in response to allegations made by the former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba. Osoba had accused Obasanjo of deceiving the Alliance for Democracy (AD) leaders in 2003, leading to the collapse of AD`s dominance in the South-West. Osuntokun strongly rejected the narrative that Obasanjo’s recent statements or past meetings with Tinubu meant they were working together. "How do you reconcile Obasanjo being the major sponsor of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket with the theory that he is working for Tinubu because Tinubu visited him?" he questioned. He also defended Obasanjo against the 2003 electoral manipulation claims, attributing the AD losses to shifting local political realities rather than a presidency-led conspiracy. While Osuntokun acknowledged that President Tinubu would hold a significant advantage in 2027 due to the traditional power of incumbency, he remained highly optimistic about the opposition`s prospects. He concluded by noting that an Obi-led ticket captures the popular imagination of the Nigerian electorate far better than any alternative configuration, including a ticket led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.