President Bola Tinubu will deliver a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, October 1, 2026, to anchor a heavily scaled-back, low-key line-up of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary. The Federal Government formalized the arrangement following the inauguration of the Inter-Ministerial Committee tasked with planning the anniversary. Chris Ugwuegbulam, Head of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), confirmed the development in a statement released in Abuja on Friday. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, chaired the committee`s inaugural meeting on Thursday. Akume, who was represented by Mrs. Bekearedebo Augusta Warrens, the Permanent Secretary of the Political and Economic Affairs Office (PEAO), noted that the milestone offers Nigerians a vital moment to honor the sacrifices of the nation`s founding fathers. The SGF stated that the hard-won achievements recorded since Nigeria gained independence from colonial rule were built on the enduring foundation laid by the country’s early nationalists. He urged citizens to use the period to reflect deeply on the contributions and legacies of those who worked for the country`s freedom. According to the statement, the 2026 celebration will also serve as a platform for the Tinubu administration to showcase its achievements. The government intends to use the state events to highlight its policy initiatives aimed at repositioning the country’s infrastructure and institutions. However, acknowledging the severe socio-economic headwinds currently confronting the nation, Akume explicitly directed that this year’s celebrations remain strictly conservative. He emphasized the necessity of a low-key event to reflect national realities and urged committee members to work with utmost urgency given the short window before the October 1 deadline. The approved schedule of activities will span one week, officially commencing with a World Press Conference on Thursday, September 24, 2026. This will be followed by a Special Juma’at Service on Friday, September 25, and an Interdenominational Church Service on Sunday, September 27. The final leg of the program will feature an Independence Day Public Lecture on Wednesday, September 30. The entire celebration will culminate in the highly anticipated nationwide morning broadcast by President Tinubu on Thursday, October 1. To ensure seamless execution, a high-powered committee has been formed, bringing together key cabinet members, security chiefs, and presidential aides. The team includes Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele, Information Minister Mohammed Idris, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, who are mandated to deliver a successful and cost-efficient program.

The Senior Pastor of True Worshippers Church, Oke-Anu Area, Ogbomoso, Reverend Niyi Adebayo, has officially broken his five-month public and digital silence to debunk widespread speculations surrounding his sudden disappearance. In a personal statement released on his official Facebook handle today, September 18, 2026, Rev. Adebayo addressed the growing anxiety among his parishioners, friends, and the general public. He clarified that his absence from social circles and the digital space was neither due to ill health, an accident, nor a secret relocation abroad. For nearly half a year, the prominent cleric—who also serves as the proprietor of the Zoe Group of Schools and the JAARC Jacob Adebayo Afolayanka Resource ICT/CBT Centre in Ogbomoso, Oyo State—had been completely unreachable via phone calls and text messages. His prolonged absence from major social, community, and religious gatherings, combined with the sudden deactivation of his social media accounts, triggered intense panic and birthed various unverified stories. Reacting to the concerns, Rev. Adebayo offered a heartfelt apology to those who were distressed by his sudden unavailability. "I truly apologize to those who felt so worried and disturbed. Stories have been made out of the situation," Adebayo stated. "I`m here to say that I have not been sick or flown abroad for any treatment. I haven`t relocated out of the country. I wasn`t involved in any accident. Physically and spiritually, my wife, children and I have been fine, to the glory of God." While the cleric did not explicitly detail the exact cause of his prolonged isolation, he candidly acknowledged that he has been navigating a difficult period, hinting at trials cutting across his personal life, business, and ministry. "While I cannot deny that I have been going through some precarious challenges, I still thank God for His grace," he revealed. "Challenges in life, business and ministry are inevitable, but the Power behind us is greater than the forces before us." Expressing deep gratitude to his congregation and the Ogbomoso community for their unwavering support, the educationist and minister thanked everyone who kept him and his family in their prayers during the period of uncertainty. Local community members and church parishioners have expressed immense relief following the statement, bringing an end to months of speculation surrounding one of Ogbomoso’s notable religious and educational leaders.

A heavy wave of financial strain has hit Federal Capital Territory (FCT) workers as the recent petrol price hike forces many civil servants to abandon their personal vehicles for public transport, staff buses, and carpooling. The pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in Abuja has skyrocketed from its previous range of N1,180 – N1,350 per litre to a new high of N1,388 – N1,450 per litre. An investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the sudden spike has triggered a corresponding surge in transport fares, eating deeply into workers` stagnant monthly salaries and threatening workforce productivity. From Car Owners to Public Commuters For many car-owning federal workers, driving to the office has officially become a luxury they can no longer afford. Mr. Olamide Ibrahim, a civil servant who used to augment his fuel costs by picking up commercial passengers, revealed that the math no longer adds up. "I normally buy fuel of N24,000 daily to commute to and from work, but since this recent hike, I need N33,500 daily for the same quantity," Ibrahim lamented. "Everybody is looking for cheaper ways to survive. I have decided to stop driving to work entirely." Feeding Budgets Diverted to Transport Fares The reality is equally bleak for workers reliant on public transport. Mrs. Comfort Abegunde told NAN that the hike has forced her to reallocate critical household funds just to get to the office. "Higher fuel costs have pushed up food prices. I am now forced to divert money meant for food and other household needs into transport fares," Abegunde said. She warned that the situation is actively damaging civil service efficiency: "I presently struggle to secure affordable transportation to work, and this is heavily affecting my attendance and productivity." Another worker, Mrs. Falmata Musa, noted that her daily commuting cost jumped from N,2500 to N3,500 almost overnight, throwing her entire household budget into disarray. Stagnant Salaries vs. Skyrocketing Inflation Civil servants Muhammad Lawal and Shim Felix both re-echoed the grim sentiment that disposable incomes have practically vanished. "My salary has remained the same while the cost of transportation and other essential items continue to rise," Lawal said, noting that school fees, utility bills, and food security are being heavily compromised. Felix added that because reporting to work is mandatory, transportation is an unavoidable expense consuming an unsustainable percentage of a worker`s income. Workers Cry Out for Intervention To survive the economic crunch, FCT civil servants have resorted to extreme coping mechanisms, including relying strictly on the Abuja metro rail network, crowding into available staff buses, and forming strict carpooling clusters. Organised labor and workers have urgently appealed to the Federal Government to roll out immediate palliative measures. Their core demands include the rapid deployment of a robust, subsidized public transportation system and policy interventions to crash the soaring cost of living before the civil service fractures under the pressure. (NAN)

A chilling first-hand account of the May 15, 2026, mass abduction in Oyo State emerged at the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, as a survivor detailed the horrific 56-day ordeal suffered by 46 schoolchildren and teachers at the hands of the proscribed Ansaru terrorist group. The witness, shielded under the pseudonym “AAA,” testified that the captives—including toddlers as young as 18 months old—were marched barefoot through six different wilderness camps, starved, flogged, and forced to drink water so filthy they had to close their eyes to swallow it. In a courtroom gripped by heavy emotion, the survivor also recounted the brutal beheading of two teachers, Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun, executed by the terrorists to punish the Federal Government for failing to meet their demands. Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the witness explained how heavily armed terrorists on 12 motorcycles stormed three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, shooting sporadically before carting victims into the bush. The witness revealed that the captors openly stated they were not seeking monetary ransom. Instead, they were using the schoolchildren and educators as human shields to blackmail the government into releasing detained Ansaru leaders. "They served us food in a dirty rubber bucket like chickens," the witness testified. "Initially, it was rice mixed with salt and palm oil. When the salt and oil finished, they gave us only raw white rice. Water was so scarce that four people would share a single cup. The little children were flogged whenever they cried or struggled for food." Throughout the 56 days of exposure to torrential rains and scorching heat, none of the victims was allowed to bathe or wash their clothes. The nightmare only ended when Nigerian security forces tracked the sixth camp, engaging the terrorists in a fierce gun battle to rescue the surviving captives. Terror Suspects Plead Not Guilty The harrowing testimony was delivered at the re-arraignment of five suspected Ansaru members: Mahmud Muhammad (alias Abu Bara’a) Abubakar Abbas (alias Isah Adam) Abdulrazak Umar (alias Abu Khalifa) Yunusa Musa Shamsu Adamu Sani. The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting the defendants on a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, conspiracy, aiding terrorism, and the murder of the two teachers. The prosecution alleges that Muhammad and Abbas ordered their "foot soldiers" to launch the strikes and execute citizens to compel the government to bow to their demands. All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Federal prosecutors have arraigned five suspected Ansaru militants in a high-stakes counter-terrorism trial in Nigeria. M. Muhammad and A. Abbas are accused of serving as core commanders who ordered mass abductions and executions, facing the death penalty under the Terrorism Prevention Act, while A. Umar, Y. Musa, and S. Sani are alleged to be operational foot soldiers who executed the kidnappings. For more details on this case, visit the relevant legal reporting channels. Masked Witnesses and Remand Following the reading of the charges, the DSS legal team successfully applied for accelerated trial proceedings. Citing extreme safety risks, the prosecution requested that all subsequent witnesses be permitted to testify wearing masks and behind protective screens. The defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the application. Presiding Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the protective measures and ordered that all five defendants remain remanded in DSS custody for the duration of the trial. The case resumes today, September 18, 2026, for the cross-examination of the first survivor.

The ancient Oyo Kingdom is in mourning following the death of its oldest and most revered non-human resident, Baba, a legendary tortoise believed to be 420 years old. The iconic reptile, considered a living link to the kingdom`s imperial past, passed away quietly on Monday after a brief illness and has since been laid to rest within the palace grounds. The Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, officially broke the news to the public in a formal statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday. The announcement has triggered a wave of nostalgia and grief across the nation, as citizens and cultural enthusiasts react to the departure of a creature that outlived generations of historical figures. According to palace archives and oral tradition, Baba’s origin dates back to Oyo-Ile, the capital of the historic Old Oyo Empire. He was later transported to the modern palace in Oyo town, where he remained for centuries, witnessing the rise and fall of eras and surviving as a permanent fixture of the royal court. Over the centuries, Baba became the ultimate royal heirloom, meticulously cared for by successive Alaafins who inherited him as part of the sacred relics of their ancestors. "Baba was more than a turtle in status; he represented a part of the oral history of the Yoruba race," Durojaiye stated, adding that the reigning monarch has lost an irreplaceable, ageless companion. In recognition of his unprecedented longevity and imposing size, the tortoise was affectionately regarded as Oyo’s "oldest indigene." Out of deep cultural reverence, palace staff and locals refrained from using a common name, instead adopting "Baba" (meaning Father) to denote his senior status and masculine presence. The legendary reptile lived a structured and pampered life inside the palace, where two dedicated officials were assigned exclusively to cater to his daily needs. His specialized royal diet consisted primarily of fresh watermelons, selected grasses, and corn pap meticulously wrapped in leaves. Beyond his status as a royal pet, Baba was a massive economic and cultural asset, transforming his palace abode into a bustling tourist hotspot that drew thousands of curious visitors globally. The palace administration also linked his enduring existence to the core Yoruba philosophy regarding the cosmic connection between the living, the dead, and the unborn—a theme famously dramatized in Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman. The palace revealed that Baba`s final moments came abruptly after he showed signs of physical weakness early in the week. "Baba fell ill on Monday, just a little sickness, and couldn’t eat anymore; then he died, just like that," the statement concluded, marking the definitive end of a 4-century-old eyewitness to Yoruba history.

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has cautioned prospective investors against selling their primary residences or utilizing critical family funds, such as children’s school fees, to purchase shares in the ongoing Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO). The monarch delivered this warning on Thursday during the Dangote Refinery IPO investor roadshow held in Kano, where he emphasized the need for strict financial discipline and risk management when entering the capital markets. While strongly backing the investment opportunity, the traditional ruler urged citizens to approach the stock market with disposable income rather than essential living capital. He advised residents to invest only amounts they could comfortably afford to leave untouched for an extended period, suggesting accessible entry thresholds such as N10,000, N20,000, or N30,000 to ensure that everyday household stability is not compromised. The Emir explicitly countered the expectation of quick, speculative returns, advising the public to adopt a patient, long-term investment horizon. "I’m not talking about someone who will buy N5,000 shares and want to sell tomorrow and believe he will get N10,000," Sanusi stated. He noted that based on solid economic fundamentals, modest sums left to grow over a five-year period would surprise investors with their substantial appreciation. Emir Sanusi framed participation in the IPO as a crucial step toward regional financial inclusion, urging Kano residents and northern citizens not to be left behind in modern wealth-creation platforms. He mobilized local union leaders and community representatives to actively educate their members about the capital markets, stressing that broad-based share ownership is key to long-term economic empowerment. Addressing potential geographic biases, the monarch explained that the physical location of an enterprise does not limit its economic rewards to a single region. He noted that the refinery could be located in Lagos, Ibadan, or even "on the moon," but the ultimate ownership, returns, and profits belong strictly to the shareholders who hold a stake in the company. The Emir also celebrated the refinery’s founder, Aliko Dangote, describing him as a proud son of Kano whose global achievements remain rooted in his homeland. He humorously observed that while Lagos, America, and even Egypt might try to claim Dangote due to his international prominence, his true origins remain indisputably tied to Kano, making the IPO a point of regional pride. Highlighting the operational strength of the asset, Sanusi pointed out that the refinery represents a tangible, high-performing economic powerhouse. He noted that prospective shareholders are investing in an active facility backed by robust infrastructure, including secured gas supplies, dedicated ports, extensive market access, and integrated operations spanning refined petroleum products and large-scale fertilizer production. The Dangote Refinery IPO officially opened to the public on September 14, with investor outreach and sensitization activities currently moving across various states in the country. The public offering marks a historic milestone for Nigeria`s capital market, aiming to decentralize corporate ownership while driving domestic industrial growth and massive employment opportunities.

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday re-arraigned five suspected members of the notorious Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group over their alleged involvement in the violent abduction of school pupils and teachers in Oyo State. The defendants, who are facing heavy terrorism charges, were brought before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The security agency is prosecuting the suspects on behalf of the Federal Government following months of intensive intelligence-driven investigations into the high-profile criminal operation. The suspects were identified by the prosecution as Mahmud Muhammad (also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar), Abubakar Abbas (alias Isah Adam or Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri), Abdulrazak Umar (alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (alias Abu Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (alias Abu Itisar). They are being prosecuted on a seven-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026. The federal prosecution linked the five men directly to the tragic May 15 ambush, abduction, and subsequent trauma inflicted upon educators and school children within the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Beyond the mass abduction of the vulnerable citizens, the prosecution’s updated charge sheet also pinned the gruesome killing of two of the hostages on the five defendants. Despite the gravity of the accusations laid against them, all five men firmly maintained their innocence and pleaded not guilty as the court registrar read out the counts. Leading the federal government`s legal team, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, immediately pushed for an accelerated hearing. He applied for an immediate trial of the suspects, citing the urgent security provisions and mandates of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. To ensure the safety of those tracking the terrorist network, Oyedepo further applied for strict witness protection measures. The senior advocate requested that the identities of all prosecution witnesses lined up for the trial be shielded from the public and that they be permitted to wear facial masks while testifying. The defense counsel, Bala Dakum, raised no objections to the prosecution`s strict requests for expedited trials and protective custody for witnesses. Consequently, Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the DSS applications in full, as judicial administrative staff began putting structures in place for a continuous, full-scale trial.

In a dramatic twist to Nigeria’s perennial energy crisis, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has revealed that some citizens are jokingly begging him to "slow down" the electricity supply because their freezers are now working continuously. Speaking during the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at the University of Abuja, Tegbe highlighted a significant turnaround in electricity distribution across parts of the country. Areas previously cast in darkness for months are now experiencing up to 18 hours of uninterrupted power supply. "Places that didn’t have light at all for three months are now having 18 hours light," the Minister shared. "Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing. That is what a freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen". Aging Infrastructure and Vandalism Threaten Gains. Tegbe recalled his Senate screening promise to deliver noticeable improvements within three to six months. While celebrating the early milestones, he urged caution, reminding stakeholders that the country’s power infrastructure remains fragile, with some critical assets being over 40 years old. The Minister raised an alarm over deliberate economic sabotage, disclosing that three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi were recently brought down by vandals. The targeted towers, which supply electricity to Kebbi State and parts of Niger Republic, had their foundations critically damaged before parts were cut away for sale in the scrap market. To protect these national assets, the Federal Government has established a joint working committee comprising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to monitor infrastructure and actively prosecute economic saboteurs.

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.