Former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode has urged the Sultan of Sokoto and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to publicly caution Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir over recent derogatory comments directed at Christians and Christianity. In a strongly worded statement titled “The Gospel According to Sheik Jingir,” Fani-Kayode warned that the cleric`s remarks threaten to worsen religious tensions across Nigeria. He expressed deep concern over Jingir`s unrepentant stance, noting that the cleric publicly stated he had "no regrets" over his controversial assertions. According to the former minister, Jingir’s comments have provoked widespread anger among both Christians and Muslims. He revealed that several Northern Muslim governors and prominent Islamic leaders have already expressed mutual concern over the divisive rhetoric. Fani-Kayode commended the Sultan of Sokoto for his recent "fatherly counsel" at a security conference in Abuja, where the monarch urged adherents of both faiths to desist from insulting one another. "I am a Nigerian Christian and I deserve to be respected for who and what I am, just as every Nigerian Muslim deserves to be respected," Fani-Kayode stated, dismissing any insinuation that his stance was driven by animosity toward Islam. "I have equal contempt for every Christian that seeks to demean, slander, and disrespect Islam as I do for every Muslim that seeks to do same to Christianity." Reflecting on his support for the 2023 APC Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, Fani-Kayode clarified that his backing was based strictly on competence and should not be misconstrued as an admission of Islamic superiority. He strongly condemned narratives suggesting that Christians are second-class citizens or should leave the country if aggrieved by the political arrangement. "Let me make this clear and I speak for millions: with those few words spoken at that public event... Jingir has done more harm to the Muslim/Muslim ticket that he claims to support than anything and anyone else," he declared. The former minister also rejected a controversial attempt to link the notorious Maitatsine extremist sect with Christianity, maintaining that violent extremism should never be attributed to any mainstream religion. He concluded by calling on national leaders and citizens to actively safeguard the peaceful coexistence between Nigeria`s Christian and Muslim communities.

The Presidency has officially announced a strict deadline for the submission of public memoranda regarding the highly anticipated National Policing Bill, marking a major milestone in Nigeria`s legislative push toward decentralised law enforcement. According to an official statement issued from the State House, all public inputs, civil society recommendations, and stakeholder submissions on the proposed legal framework must be submitted before the closing window. The executive declaration emphasizes that the administration remains determined to ensure absolute transparency and inclusivity by allowing citizens to actively shape the foundational laws governing regional security. The National Policing Bill seeks to provide a comprehensive constitutional and operational roadmap for the creation, deployment, and oversight of state police forces across Nigeria`s 36 states. Supporters argue that decentralising the current police force will dramatically lower localized crime rates by integrating community-focused strategies, while critics remain cautious about potential political exploitation by state governors. As the implementation phase of the implementation dialogue intensifies, the Federal Government urges all regional leaders, legal experts, and community unions to utilize this final window to submit structural proposals. Following the expiration of the deadline, a consolidated legislative draft will be formatted for final reading and review before the National Assembly.

The Association of Yoruba Obas and Leaders in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has declared its total support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration while urgently appealing for intensified measures to cushion the impact of economic hardships at the grassroots level. Rising from its quarterly meeting in Abuja on Saturday, the association acknowledged the necessity of ongoing economic reforms but stressed that immediate, practical relief must reach ordinary Nigerians. Addressing journalists after the session, the Chairman of the association, Alhaji Murtala Adeleke, urged the Federal Government to bridge the gap between macroeconomic reforms and the daily realities of citizens. "We understand that economic reforms require endurance, but we plead that the government do more to bring the dividends of democracy closer to people at the grassroots," Adeleke stated. "We wish to encourage the government to do more, particularly in the area of poverty alleviation." The group also expressed concerns over the performance of local government councils. Adeleke noted that despite the recent implementation of financial autonomy, local administrations across the country are yet to fully step up and deliver on their statutory mandates to the people. Despite highlighting the pervasive poverty, the northern-based Yoruba leaders passed a vote of confidence on the President, citing tangible improvements in key sectors including security, education, energy, and the capital market over the past three years. Describing insecurity as a major challenge in the North, the group praised the administration`s quiet successes. Adeleke cited recent successful rescue operations of banditry victims in Kwara, Niger, and Borno states. He also commended the welfare boost for security personnel and the creation of new military formations. The association lauded the government’s student loan and financing initiatives, noting they have opened university doors for low-income families. They also credited the administration with maintaining stable academic calendars by curbing prolonged strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The traditional and community leaders highlighted the elimination of fuel scarcity in the North. Adeleke recalled that residents previously bought black-market fuel for as high as N2,500 per litre. "Since the coming of this government, we in the North have been enjoying steady fuel supply in all our stations. You just drive in, buy, and go," he said. The group highlighted massive growth in the nation`s capital market, pointing out that market capitalization had leaped from roughly N33 trillion in 2023 to a robust N160 trillion–N170 trillion range currently. The association concluded by reaffirming that its backing is firmly rooted in a realistic assessment of the administration`s performance, while remaining an active voice for the welfare of citizens in the North.

Apostle Joshua Aghasedo of Powerline Church has stated that the use of sex toys by married couples is not a sin, describing the devices as technological tools that can enhance marital intimacy. Speaking to his congregation in a video published on the church’s YouTube channel on Tuesday, the clergyman likened sex toys to everyday utilities like cars and phones. He argued that when used within the framework of marriage, they serve as helpful equipment. “Is using a sex toy a sin? Is driving a car a sin? A car to drive you from here to Dallas, is it a sin? Using the phone, is it a sin? So, the phone is an equipment right, and a car is an equipment," Aghasedo said. While clarifying that he has never personally used one, the cleric noted that modern technology offers tools that can assist couples. "It’s an equipment. It can help you do the job to 90%, and you finish the remaining 10%. I’m just being real. It can help you," he added. Aghasedo emphasized that his endorsement applies strictly to married couples. He revealed that he had previously recommended a sex toy to a couple to protect their union from external infidelity. "I have suggested a sex toy to a couple before when I look at all the surrounding circumstances, so that somebody won’t go out and other things would follow," he explained. "It’s an equipment to help the process... We are talking within the framework of marriage, right? Not outside". The pastor drew a sharp line between shared marital use and individual use. He warned that using such devices alone constitutes masturbation, which he classified as a sin equivalent to fornication. "Now, if you engage it on your own, it’s called masturbation and another word for masturbation is fornication," the clergyman stated. "It’s within the marital context. Alright?" The use of intimacy-enhancing tools remains a highly debated topic across cultural and religious landscapes in Nigeria. While some faith leaders condemn the practice entirely, others are shifting focus toward the context of legal marriage rather than the tools themselves.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has strongly admonished Nigerian Christians and Muslims to halt mutual insults and religious rivalry, emphasizing that peace is impossible without mutual respect. Speaking at a public function in Abuja on Tuesday, the revered traditional and Islamic leader cautioned Nigerians against religious superiority complexes, stating that only God can determine who is better. "We must be honest with ourselves that Christians can stop insulting Muslims. Muslims can stop insulting Christians. And that’s how we will live in peace," the Sultan stated. "We are not here to say we are better than anybody. We are not better than anybody. He [God] is the creator of us all. He will determine who is better." The Sultan`s remarks follow a controversial statement by Islamic cleric Yahaya Jingir, who claimed Christians would have claimed superiority over Muslims if not for the country`s current Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. Although the Sultan did not name the cleric, his address directly tackled the underlying friction, reinforcing that no religious group should consider itself superior to another. He challenged citizens to revive the culture of neighborly love, regardless of faith or tribal background. "Allah created your neighbour for you. Whoever is your neighbour, you know what is required of you to do for your neighbour," he added. Shifting his focus to civic responsibility, the apex Islamic leader condemned the rampant spread of misinformation and targeted vitriol on digital platforms. He warned that individuals who deliberately manufacture falsehoods against presidents, governors, lawmakers, and other public officers will ultimately account for their actions before God. Instead of advocating for the disintegration of Nigeria, the Sultan charged citizens to channel their energy into fixing the nation`s foundational challenges. To illustrate his message of interfaith harmony, he cited the heroic legacy of the late Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, who famously saved over 200 Christians by shielding them inside his mosque during a violent crisis in Plateau State. He described the late Imam`s actions as the ultimate standard of humanity that all Nigerians must emulate to preserve national peace.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu over his administration`s silence regarding inflammatory comments made by Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir. In a viral social media video, Sheikh Jingir declared that Nigeria belongs exclusively to Muslims, stating that anyone opposed to a Muslim-Muslim political ticket should leave the country. He further caused public outrage by referring to Nigerian Christians as "infidels." Reacting to the broadcast, Primate Ayodele warned that the safety and future of Christianity in Nigeria are under severe threat if the federal government refuses to clamp down on such divisive rhetoric. He accused the government of practicing selective justice and double standards. "If a Christian religious leader had made a fraction of these statements, security agencies would have arrested him immediately," Ayodele stated. "This inflammatory utterance must not go unpunished. The government needs to act now; this cleric should be in jail to preserve whatever is left of our fragile peace." The prominent Christian leader cautioned that failing to hold religious extremists accountable will severely undermine national unity, disrupt peaceful coexistence, and plunge the country into avoidable sectarian crisis. He urged the Presidency to move beyond silence and issue a stern, decisive warning against hate speech to safeguard the nation.

Leaders and residents across eight communities in the Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of Oyo State have issued a strict two-day ultimatum to a group of unidentified herdsmen to vacate their lands over escalating security threats. The emergency eviction notice follows a surge in criminal activities within the Ogbomoso geopolitical zone. This includes recent cases of kidnapping at Oloka village, alongside the mass abduction of 39 students and seven teachers in the neighbouring Oriire Local Government Area. The decision was finalised during a joint security meeting on Monday, August 10, 2026. The resolution was backed by local traditional rulers, community chairmen, and the resident Fulani leadership. The affected areas, clustered around the Samaday area, include: Ibapon Are Oluwamodupe; Ayedire; Mercy Land; Estate; Irewolede; Ona Igbala; Ifesowapo; Grace Land. Speaking to THENEWSCREDIT on behalf of the communities on Tuesday, the Baale of Ibapon, Ashifat Akanji, emphasised that the order targets transient herders whose identities and origins remain unknown. "We are declaring that they must leave within 48 hours," Akanji stated. "We have Fulanis who have lived peacefully with us for years under their local leader, Seriki Fulani Idowu, and we even issued them identification cards. But we do not know these newcomers. The Commissioner of Police sternly warned us to be wary of strangers. We will not wait for disaster to strike before taking action." THENEWSCREDIT reports that the Chairman of the eight joint communities, Mr. Alagbe Oyebamiji, lamented that the nomadic group had become a severe public nuisance and environmental hazard. "Their livestock destroys our farms, damages residential septic tanks, and defecates all over the roads, posing accident and disease risks," Oyebamiji said. He noted that law enforcement agents had previously driven the herders away, but they returned shortly after, prompting the community to scale up its response. The Chairman of Ogbomoso Parapo (Home Headquarters), Prince Faruq Aderemi Olude, revealed that the herders initially attempted to justify their stay by falsely claiming they had permission from local leadership. "The herders claimed Baale Ibapon permitted them, but the royal father denied it. They then claimed the Seriki Fulani, Alhaji Idowu, authorised them, which was also denied," Olude explained. "We convened a broad-based meeting and gave them 48 hours to vacate. If they refuse, we will take legal steps. This aligns with what security agencies preach: see something, say something, and act before it turns into a full security crisis."

The 18 local government councils in Ondo State have officially commenced a massive social welfare intervention scheme designed to alleviate economic hardship. under which about 5,400 vulnerable elderly residents will receive a monthly stipend of ₦20,000. The initiative marks a coordinated effort by local administrations to directly support aging populations across the state`s grassroots. The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, disclosed the development during a media briefing on Monday in Akure, the state capital. Takuro stated that the welfare programme was introduced as a direct response to the socio-economic challenges facing vulnerable residents, with a specific focus on senior citizens who lack stable incomes. According to the framework of the scheme, each of the 18 local government areas in Ondo State successfully identified at least 300 residents aged 70 years and above to benefit from the initial rollout. The commissioner noted that rigorous selection processes were implemented at the grassroots level to ensure that the cash transfers reach those who need them most. The state government has also hinted at a potential expansion of the scheme in the coming months as financial resources improve. "They are providing a stipend to at least a minimum of 300 aged people between 70 years and above in their respective local governments. They are paying them a minimum of ₦20,000 monthly and they are planning to even increase that number," Takuro explained. Beyond the elderly support programme, the commissioner revealed that the local councils have concurrently launched youth and women empowerment initiatives. These parallel schemes aim to reduce poverty, stimulate local commerce, and improve economic opportunities across all communities. The youth intervention is structured as a monthly program targeting young entrepreneurs capable of utilizing financial aid effectively. Women are also being heavily prioritized under the new welfare drive due to their critical contributions to household stability and community development. The ministry emphasizes that empowering women financially creates a multiplier effect that improves child nutrition, healthcare access, and overall standard of living within the local government areas. Furthermore, the 18 local councils are strengthening grassroot agricultural productivity by scaling up the distribution of vital inputs to farmers. To maximize impact, the state is currently establishing a coordinated system to harmonise the supply of cocoa seedlings, palm seedlings, and high-grade fertilisers across all council areas. The Commissioner concluded by stating that individual councils will still retain the flexibility to determine the specific, unique needs of farmers in their respective domains. He maintained that the various interconnected interventions are part of a holistic agenda by local governments to improve livelihoods, protect vulnerable groups, and promote sustainable economic productivity throughout Ondo State.

Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has defended his counterpart, Sheikh Yahya Jingir, over controversial remarks advocating for a continuous Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections. Reacting via a Facebook post on Monday, Gumi argued that Jingir’s hardline political stance must be understood within the context of the severe religious friction in Plateau State, noting that the cleric operates in the "eye of the storm of excessive bigotry against Islam." Gumi stated that Jingir should be "excused" for his extreme views due to the hostile socio-political environment he faces. Jingir had openly praised President Bola Tinubu`s 2023 joint-Muslim ticket, declaring himself a staunch advocate and urging Muslims to sustain the arrangement for 2027. Gumi pointed out that religious manipulation is not one-sided, citing a recent controversy involving a Muslim Vice-Chancellor in Plateau State, and accused opposition politicians of similarly weaponizing faith to win votes. Gumi cautioned against mixing faith with Nigeria`s "dirty politics," emphasizing that religion has no place in the political quagmire of a multi-religious nation.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter, has issued a strong warning to Christians against political apathy. The body declared that continued silence and non-participation in the electoral process could lead to the total erasure of their rights and deepen marginalisation in the state. The CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, gave this charge during an interactive session with journalists in Minna. He urged the Christian community to actively engage in politics, register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and strategically position themselves for the 2027 general elections. Dr. Yohanna, who also serves as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, expressed deep worry over visible disparities in political appointments, lopsided selections, and the rising tide of insecurity. He challenged Christians to dismiss the old narrative that politics is ungodly, urging them to contest elective positions and participate fully in electioneering. "Our lives begin to end when we become silent over things that matter," Yohanna stated, quoting Martin Luther King Jr. "If Christians do not get involved in politics, politics may soon erase our rights to be Christians." Addressing the tendency of religious groups to rely solely on spiritual interventions during election cycles, the cleric clarified that faith must be backed by civic action. He further argued that staying away from the polls is a defeatist strategy rather than a form of protest. According to him, anyone who deliberately refuses to vote forfeits the moral right to criticise or complain about the performance of the resulting government. To ensure maximum compliance, the Niger State CAN revealed it has deployed structural machinery across its five distinct blocs, spanning all 25 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Local coordinators have already commenced rigorous sensitization seminars and town hall meetings to drive PVC registration and political awareness directly through local churches. Corroborating the Bishop`s stance, an elder statesman and former Chairman of the Niger State Local Government Service Commission, 87-year-old Peterson Kaura, called on Christian youths to inject fresh values into the political landscape. "Politics is not dirty; it is the operators that make it look dirty," Kaura said, challenging the younger generation to contest positions starting from the ward levels up to the federal stage. He noted that clean governance can only be achieved when people of integrity step away from the sidelines and take charge of policy decisions. The leaders concluded by calling on current political office holders to govern equitably and protect the interests of all citizens, regardless of their religious leanings or political affiliations.