Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a stark warning to the nation, stating that many of the systemic triggers that plunged Nigeria into a three-year civil war in 1967 remain unresolved and active within the country today. Speaking at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the former wartime commander declared that Nigeria had already fought "one civil war too many," describing the prospect of another internal conflict as entirely unthinkable. Obasanjo made these assertions while receiving a comprehensive historical archive documenting the 1967 Asaba Massacre. The materials—comprising eyewitness video testimonies, transcripts, and scholarly research—were compiled and presented by Chief Chuck Nduka-Eze, Chairman of the Asaba Memorial Trust and the Asaba Image Branding and Project Committee. Reflecting on conversations with contemporary leaders, the former President recalled a sobering exchange with former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon. "I was with a colleague when Gen. Yakubu Gowon said that we would not survive a second civil war as a country," Obasanjo revealed. "To say that we will have a second civil war, God forbid. Some of the things that led to the Civil War are still with us. How long will this remain so?" He urged citizens to collectively adopt a strict "never again" stance, stressing that confronting historical truths, rather than burying them, is the only humanly possible path to ensuring lasting peace and national unity. The archive presented to the former President shines a fresh light on the Asaba Massacre, a dark chapter of the war where over a thousand unarmed civilian men were reportedly killed by federal troops in the Mid-West Region. Acknowledging his role as a soldier during the conflict, Obasanjo clarified that operations in the Asaba sector were under the direct command of the late General Murtala Mohammed, meaning he could not provide personal, field-level details of the tragedy. However, he emphasized that high-level military leadership never ordered or condoned such atrocities. He recalled that toward the end of the war, he was personally tasked with ensuring that no further massacres occurred, noting that he once intervened directly to stop a soldier from assaulting a civilian to enforce command accountability. "Gen. Gowon publicly acknowledged and apologized for the excesses of the war," Obasanjo added, maintaining that archiving the Asaba tragedy remains critical for ultimate national healing. Presenting the research, Chief Nduka-Eze described the compilation as a heavily cross-referenced, bulletproof body of evidence. According to Nduka-Eze, independent testimonies paint a horrific, repetitive pattern: civilian men were gathered in public squares, forced to chant "One Nigeria" to prove their loyalty, and then separated from women and children before being summarily executed. "Individuals who openly affirmed their identity and loyalty as Nigerians were nonetheless killed by the same Nigerian state to which they had pledged allegiance," Nduka-Eze said, noting that deep-seated ethnic suspicion, unresolved grievances from the 1966 coup, and a total failure of military accountability triggered the slaughter. Warning that these identical fault lines remain wide open today, Nduka-Eze observed that Nigeria’s various ethnic groups still relate to one another with deep-seated mistrust, a sentiment Obasanjo vowed to fight against to ensure the nation never walks down that destructive path again.

The Presidency on Wednesday strongly defended the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, dismissing a massive N27.4 billion appointment-for-cash allegation as the malicious fabrication of a serial con artist. Official state records revealed that the accuser, Adeniyi Matthew (also identified as Adeyemi), who claimed to be the Director General of a purported "Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council", is a fictitious government official currently out on police bail. The controversy erupted after Matthew publicly accused Gbajabiamila of demanding N27.4 billion from a take-off grant. He alleged that he paid N400 million through proxies to secure his executive appointment, leaving an outstanding balance of N200 million. Matthew further alleged that a fallout over the remaining balance resulted in assassination attempts on his life, prompting his call for an independent international probe. However, a scathing rebuttal issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, exposed Matthew as a deeply embedded fraudster who had been under active federal investigation since October 2025. Police investigations subsequently exposed a massive fraudulent infrastructure: The "Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council" does not legally exist.Investigators uncovered 34 separate bank accounts operated by the suspect, including nine under fake agency names. Matthew successfully opened an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria by intentionally misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised alarms after Matthew illegally convened an unauthorized meeting with foreign ambassadors in Abuja. Law enforcement agents confirmed that searches conducted at Matthew`s Abuja office and Suleja residence yielded a trove of forged state documents. "The act of the suspect constitutes criminal forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence," the official police report noted, adding that the scam was deliberately designed to bring the Presidency into public disrepute. Matthew and two suspected accomplices were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on an eight-count charge in November 2025. The criminal trial is formally scheduled to resume on July 27. The Presidency strongly cautioned political actors against weaponising these claims to settle political scores, warning that the matter is heavily sub judice and must be left to the courts.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has announced a minor cabinet reshuffle, relieving the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Toyin Balogun, of her duties with immediate effect. In a swift replacement, the Governor redeployed Faosat Sanni to take over the ministry. Sanni is no stranger to the portfolio, having previously served as the Women Affairs Commissioner between 2019 and 2023, before her subsequent stints at the Ministry of Special Duties and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment, and Cooperative. The announcement was contained in an official statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Sulaimon Olarenwaju. "The governor has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle, which saw the redeployment of Faosat Sanni to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion. Sanni takes over from Toyin Balogun, who has been relieved of her appointment," Olarenwaju stated, adding that the Governor thanked the outgoing commissioner for her service and wished her success in future endeavours. The administrative shakeup extends beyond the sack of Balogun. In a separate letter signed by the Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, Governor Makinde rolled out a wave of new appointments effective July 1, 2026. Key appointments include:Ifeoluwa Akande: Chairman, Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport Upgrade CommitteeIsola Adekunle: Executive Adviser, Intra-Party AffairsOladejo Oladokun: Part-Time Member, Local Government Service Commission. This follows legislative moves on Tuesday, where Governor Makinde forwarded the name of Olabode Ladipo, the Permanent Secretary of General Administration, to the Oyo State House of Assembly for confirmation as a commissioner-nominee. Charging the new appointees, Makinde urged them to discharge their duties with absolute dedication, loyalty, and commitment. This marks the second major administrative realignment by the Makinde government this year. In January 2026, the Governor executed a similar shakeup, removing the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Olanike Adeyemo, and replacing her with Musibau Babatunde. That earlier exercise also saw Temilolu Ashamu moved from Environment to the Budget and Economic Planning ministry, alongside the elevation of public works aide Ademola Aderinto to commissioner-designate. With this latest round of changes, political observers note that Governor Makinde is aggressively tightening his administrative machinery to ensure the optimal delivery of his administration`s agenda.

Former Senator Shehu Sani has kicked against the Federal Government`s plan to appoint a civilian Director-General to lead the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). While generally welcoming the sweeping reforms approved by President Bola Tinubu, Sani argued that the country`s security challenges make strict military orientation for corps members more crucial than ever. The former Kaduna Central lawmaker took to social media to voice his concerns:" Reforming the NYSC is a good idea but we must not discard that element of military training. The DG of the NYSC should remain a soldier. In a nation facing serious security challenges, there is the need for even more rigorous military training at this material time." Sani’s comments follow President Tinubu`s approval of a comprehensive modernization of the youth scheme to align with modern national development and improve participant welfare. Day-to-day administration will transition to civilian management, while the military will continue to secure corps members nationwide. The Minister of Youth Development and the Attorney-General of the Federation have been directed to immediately update the NYSC Act to reflect the new framework. The program will introduce tech-driven mobilization, strict risk-management protocols, and an innovative six-week orientation focused on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and specialized career development.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared that banditry, terrorism, and other violent crimes are completely alien to the teachings of Islam. Speaking at his palace in Sokoto while hosting the 2026 Batch ‘B’ Stream I members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Sultan, who also serves as the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), emphasized that Islam is built on peace, justice, and the sacredness of human life. He maintained that the religion strictly forbids the killing of innocent people and commands its adherents to live in harmony with people of all faiths. The traditional ruler strongly condemned the practice of profiling ethnic or religious groups based on the actions of lawbreakers, insisting that wrongdoers must be identified solely as criminals. “Give them their proper name: criminals. Don’t call them Fulani, Tiv, Yoruba, Muslim, or Christian,” the Sultan stated. “Criminality has no religion or ethnicity. Evil people exist everywhere and should be treated as such. Whether a suspect bears a Christian, Muslim, Yoruba, Fulani, or Hausa name is immaterial. Once you commit a crime, you are simply a criminal.” Addressing the youth corps members, the royal father admonished them to remain security-conscious, respect the cultural values of their host communities, and actively drive national development. He further charged them to disregard negative stereotypes about Sokoto State, assuring them of the safety and hospitality of the people. Warning against the dangers of fake news, he urged the youths to verify any information before sharing it on social media. “If you amplify only negative stories and ignore the good happening around you, you help evil to thrive,” the Sultan added. “But when you tell the truth about what you have seen, you help humanity.”

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened to shut down filling stations nationwide. This follows government attempts to enforce price controls on fuel amid accusations of exploitation. Marketers argue these curbs are unfair in a deregulated sector, especially after suffering massive financial losses. Despite global crude oil prices dropping to roughly $72 per barrel, Nigerian retail prices remain high between text N1210 and text N1300 per liter in Abuja. The Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have warned marketers to drop pump prices to reflect the global oil decline. IPMAN reports that marketers have lost text N10 to text N15billion in recent weeks because they are forced to sell off older, higher-priced stock at lower competitive rates. IPMAN spokesperson Chinedu Ukadike stated that the government cannot dictate retail prices without considering how much marketers paid for their supplies. By attempting to enforce price control measures, Ukadike argues the government is directly violating the Petroleum Industry Act. If authorities push forward with these penalties, IPMAN intends to immediately halt operations across the country.

The Federal Government has announced plans to abolish the "disarticulation policy" that separates Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), following startling data revealing that over 20 million pupils drop out before attaining senior secondary education. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the UBEC Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee. He stated that the policy, which mandates separate principals and facilities for JSS and SSS, has failed to achieve its core objectives. Dr. Alausa highlighted a severe structural imbalance within the public school system, noting that Nigeria currently operates 80,000 public primary schools against just 15,000 junior secondary schools—a stark one-to-eight ratio. "We have 20 million dropouts from primary school to JSS. Where are those students?" the Minister questioned, pointing out that the disparity has led to massive overcrowding in junior schools while leaving senior secondary facilities grossly underutilised, particularly in Kaduna and other northern states. The Minister strongly criticised the policy for creating administrative inflation at the expense of educational quality."This disarticulation policy has failed. We will phase it out. We can’t be creating positions because we want to create a director level for people while we harm our education system. It’s about doing what is best for every Nigerian child."— Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education. The proposal to formally dismantle the policy will be presented at the upcoming meeting of the National Council on Education. Alausa emphasised that the policy reversal aims to expand school access, bridge the transition gap, and drastically improve learning outcomes nationwide. In a parallel development, the Minister inaugurated a special committee, chaired by Prof. Rashid Aderinoye, to oversee the immediate completion and operationalisation of Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools, and Alternative Schools funded by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). Despite heavy federal investments in hundreds of these specialized institutions across the country, many remain incomplete or empty without learners. Dr. Alausa condemned the situation as a massive waste of public resources and directed the committee to ensure these facilities are swiftly handed over to state governments to begin active learning. Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the world`s highest populations of out-of-school children, highly concentrated in rural and conflict-affected regions. Education experts maintain that resolving this persistent crisis requires a dual approach: halting structural policy failures and ensuring all completed school infrastructure is fully staffed and functional.

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore declared that no force on Earth can stop a revolution in Nigeria, moments after a Federal High Court granted him a ₦200 million bail. The human rights activist made the remarks before being returned to the Kuje Correctional Centre, where he will remain until his strict bail conditions are met. Justice Mohammed Umar admitted Sowore to bail under severe terms, requiring:Two sureties, including a recognized traditional ruler from his home community.An Abuja property owner to co-sign the bail bond.The immediate surrender of his international passport to the court. Sowore has been held in custody since June 22, 2026. His arraignment and ongoing prosecution stem from allegations that he publicly referred to President Bola Tinubu as a criminal. Refusing to back down, Sowore addressed reporters directly before his transfer back to prison. "There is no force on earth that can stop this revolution," Sowore said. "We warned them, but they didn’t listen. I was granted ₦200 million bail. They have always been after my passport. When we get to that bridge, we will cross it."

PORT HARCOURT — A Nigerian woman has successfully completed a gruelling 144-hour marathon reading of the Holy Bible in a bid to enter the Guinness World Records. Habibat Salawudeen Ihiovi-Jack, a member of the Summit Bible Church, concluded her six-day continuous reading session on Monday, June 29, at the Novotel Hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The faith-driven initiative, tagged “144 Hours in the Word,” commenced on June 22. Supporters, church members, and well-wishers monitored her progress via live digital timers as she read aloud from a lectern. Under strict Guinness World Records guidelines, Salawudeen was required to read continuously, with only brief, strictly timed breaks permitted for basic human needs. According to her senior pastor, Dr. Andy Osakwe of Summit Bible Churches Worldwide, the initiative was conceived as a spiritual project to exalt the scriptures rather than a mere pursuit of global recognition. Salawudeen reportedly spent four years preparing for the endurance feat, tracing the roots of her preparation back to June 2022. Her attempt follows a major milestone in Nigerian reading records. In 2024, Ibadan-born reader Samson Ajao secured the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon reading aloud after clocking an unprecedented 215 hours, eclipsing the previous 124-hour record held by Kyrgyzstan’s Rysbai Isakov. Salawudeen’s 144-hour performance has been documented and submitted. The achievement now awaits official verification and confirmation from the Guinness World Records management team before it can be formally integrated into the global record books.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a historic, comprehensive overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), marking the first major restructuring of the scheme since its establishment 53 years ago. THENEWSCREDIT reports that,the sweeping reforms, approved during Monday’s FEC meeting in Abuja, will strip the military of its traditional operational leadership over the scheme, replacing them with civilian heads. Under the new framework, the military`s role will be strictly limited to providing security for corps members nationwide. Announcing the decision, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, stated that the reforms aim to reposition the NYSC into a skills-focused, productivity-driven institution. The restructuring aligns the scheme with President Bola Tinubu’s economic vision of building a $1 trillion economy. The Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Youth Development have been directed to amend the NYSC Act to provide immediate legal backing for the implementation. According THENEWSCREDIT the Minister says the approved changes will completely transform the year-long service experience for Nigerian graduates. The core updates include:Operational control shifts to civilian administration.The iconic kit will be redesigned to reflect professionalism. The traditional Passing Out Parade will be replaced by a formal graduation ceremony.Deployment processes will become entirely technology-driven. Camp time extends to six weeks, focusing on digital skills and entrepreneurship. Primary assignments will strictly match academic backgrounds.A national certification system will standardise camp facilities. The reform process began in 2025 through a collaborative review involving the Ministries of Youth, Education, and the Presidency. "This is more than a reform of an institution," Olawande stated. "It is an investment in Nigeria’s greatest asset—our young people." Originally established in 1973 after the Nigerian Civil War to foster national unity, this historic rewrite alters the fabric of the mandatory service scheme to meet contemporary economic demands.