The General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has strongly criticised the Federal Government’s priorities, urging a decisive shift toward tackling Nigeria`s critical security challenges rather than regulating religious activities in commercial vehicles. The prominent cleric expressed strong reservations over a proposed legislative amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Act, which seeks to penalise individuals found preaching in transit. Oyedepo questioned the rationale behind targeting public religious expressions at a time when communities across the nation are grappling with severe threats to life and property. According to the bishop, the persistent rise of criminal elements across the country demands the absolute and undivided attention of state apparatuses. He emphasised that the primary duty of governance remains the protection of citizens, a duty that must not be overshadowed by administrative crackdowns on commuters` expressions of faith. The Living Faith leader noted that the energy spent drafting and enforcing penalties against bus preachers is a costly distraction from pressing national emergencies. He argued that policy frameworks should focus on empowering security agencies and restoring order to volatile regions rather than micro-managing public transportation behavior. Oyedepo further stated that safe communities and secure borders must take absolute precedence over new transit regulations. He pointed out that millions of Nigerians are currently displaced or living in perpetual fear, making state interference in public preaching look highly out of touch with real-world crises. Lamenting the displacement of families, the cleric stressed that many citizens can no longer sleep peacefully in their own homes due to the threat of violence. For these communities, legislative energy directed at transit preaching offers zero relief from the immediate dangers they face daily. "There are people who cannot sleep in their homes because of insecurity, yet the concern is preaching in buses; that should not be the issue," Oyedepo concluded, demanding immediate national re-prioritisation.

The founder of Solid Rock Kingdom Church, Apostle John Okoriko, has expressed worry over the lifestyle of Nigerians who continue to indulge in lavish feasting and merrymaking despite the country`s gripping economic, political, and security challenges. Speaking in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the prominent tele-evangelist stated that the current realities facing the nation demand deep sober reflection rather than continuous celebrations. He urged citizens to immediately alter their approach to the national crisis by seeking divine intervention. The cleric maintained that it is high time Nigerians entered a season of intensive fasting and prayers to provoke a total turnaround for the country. According to him, the combined spiritual and physical potency of fasting remains a tested remedy that the nation cannot afford to ignore at this critical juncture. Delivering a sermon titled ‘Miracle of Fasting and Prayer’ during the church`s monthly interactive service, Okoriko explained that fasting offers immense benefits that transcend spiritual breakthroughs. He noted that the practice naturally promotes excellent health and facilitates the rapid renewal of body cells. The Apostle, however, expressed great disappointment that many Christians and other citizens have remained insensitive to the environment. He regretted that high-octane partying and eating still thrive in communities where citizens are heavily burdened by economic lack and widespread insecurity. "Unfortunately, Christians and other Nigerians continue in eating, feasting, and making merriment in the face of health, economic, and political challenges facing the nation," Okoriko lamented. "Christians should take advantage of fasting and prayer because the benefits are enormous." The cleric also decried the rising controversies surrounding core biblical doctrines like fasting and tithing in contemporary times. He strongly condemned the growing trend where the sacred exercise of fasting is weaponised to fight perceived human enemies rather than seeking spiritual growth. Apostle Okoriko further reprimanded religious leaders and parents who use fasting as a punitive tool for discipline. He criticized churches that force recalcitrant members to fast as punishment, as well as parents who starve disobedient children under the guise of fasting, declaring the practice totally wrong and unscriptural.

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has declared that Nigeria`s vast natural endowments and annual budgetary allocations will continue to yield zero development unless the country fixes its critical deficit in project execution and asset maintenance. Speaking on Monday at the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit 2026 in Asaba, the capital city, the global economic chief delivered a blunt assessment of her home country`s economic management strategy. She argued that the nation`s habit of abandoning infrastructure and failing to follow through on economic plans remains a primary barrier to sustainable growth. "The fact is that endowments alone do not add value," Okonjo-Iweala told the gathering of policymakers, investors, and state officials. "Budgetary allocations alone do not lead to new roads or good maintenance. We lack a maintenance culture in the country. I have to say that. I’m Nigerian, but we need that." The WTO chief stressed that the true metric of economic governance is not the size of a budget or the wording of a policy, but the efficiency of its implementation. She noted that Nigeria`s path to global competitiveness relies heavily on modernising its trade entry points and slashing bureaucratic red tape. "We need better ports and digital infrastructure, and lower trade costs," she stated. "Execution is what matters, and successful execution requires focus. It requires prioritisation." The summit, organised by the Delta State government, serves as a strategic platform to match institutional investors with emerging business opportunities in the Niger Delta region. Delegates at the event noted that Okonjo-Iweala’s remarks serve as a direct wake-up call to both state and federal governments to transition from political rhetoric to strict project accountability.

The Northern Nigeria Christian Youth Association (NNCYA) has cautioned Christian leaders against making public remarks that could exacerbate political tensions following private audiences with President Bola Tinubu. The admonition was contained in a joint statement issued on Monday by the association’s National Secretary, Bason Sunday, and National Publicity Secretary, Pastor Ruth Wada. The youth group maintained that engagements with the President should strictly serve as platforms for promoting peace, national cohesion, and constructive dialogue, rather than fueling public controversies. The NNCYA’s reaction follows recent media comments trailing a meeting between President Tinubu and members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). While affirming their utmost respect for the spiritual fathers—including His Eminence, Cardinal John Onaiyekan—the group stressed that public pronouncements after high-level state meetings must be measured and guided by national stability. According to the association, access to the seat of power is a "sacred trust" meant for confidential counsel, intercession, and diplomatic dialogue, rather than public confrontation. "As youths living daily with the realities in the 19 Northern states, we believe that when spiritual fathers engage the nation’s leader, the words that follow should strengthen both the Church and the country, not create unnecessary tension," the statement read. "When a father sits with the President, receives direct responses to concerns, and immediately goes to the media with selective personal commentary, it does not promote peace but risks overheating the polity." The NNCYA also warned against narratives that depict President Tinubu as indifferent to Nigeria’s pressing security and economic challenges. The group argued that the Commander-in-Chief acts on exclusive intelligence and security briefings unavailable to the general public. It urged citizens to exercise restraint and avoid premature conclusions regarding ongoing government interventions. Furthermore, the youth body noted that no single individual or organisation holds a monopoly over the nation’s conscience, reminding the public that governance relies on a wide pool of information from local communities, traditional rulers, the media, and security agencies. The association concluded by rallying Christian leaders across all denominations to champion national healing and unity, while urging the faithful to pray for those in authority. It also appealed to Christian youths nationwide to remain calm, steadfast in prayer, and to fiercely resist any attempts to weaponise the church for political division.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has openly declared war against a proposed crackdown on evangelism, with its National President, Bishop Wale Oke, vowing that Christians will actively defy any law banning preaching in commercial vehicles. Speaking during a fiery Sunday sermon, Bishop Oke heavily criticized the National Assembly for pursuing what he termed "evil decrees." He insisted that soul-winning remains an uncompromising divine mandate that overrules human legislation. “Make all the stadiums in Nigeria become prisons; if you want to enforce that law, we are coming. We will break that law," Oke declared. "Our Master told us to go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature. You sit somewhere there, and you are saying we shouldn’t preach in buses. We will preach in buses! We will preach everywhere! We will rather obey God than man.” The cleric berated lawmakers for focusing legislative energy on peaceful religious activities while the country grapples with severe security challenges. “You don’t go after killers; you are not going after those beheading; you are not going after rapists, kidnappers, or bandits unlawfully carrying arms," Oke fired back. "You are going after us who are preaching the message of peace that changes people’s lives. We wouldn’t listen to you. You are not God!” He went further to issue a stern spiritual warning to the sponsors of the restriction, stating that divine consequences and curses would follow them and their families unless they repent. The PFN leader`s outburst follows intense public backlash triggered by the recent passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Amendment Bill, 2026. The bill reportedly proposes a ₦50,000 fine for anyone caught hawking, trading, or preaching inside commercial vehicles. In a swift bid to calm public anxiety, the Senate issued a clarification on Monday through a statement from the Office of the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele. The upper legislative chamber clarified that the restriction is not a new provision but has been part of the existing FRSC Establishment Act and National Road Traffic Regulations since 2007. The statement read: “The Senate has duly noticed public concerns on the purported proscription of preaching and hawking in a commercial vehicle under the ongoing amendment to the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, No. 22, 2007.” Bishop Oke’s defiance mirrors a growing wave of resistance from Nigeria`s most influential Christian leaders. Dr. Paul Enenche (Dunamis International Gospel Centre): Warned against policies restricting peaceful gospel propagation, asserting that evangelism is a core Christian duty. Bishop David Oyedepo (Living Faith Church / Winners Chapel): Maintained that soul-winning is central to Christianity and urged believers never to back down in the face of institutional opposition. Pastor Enoch Adeboye (Redeemed Christian Church of God): Reaffirmed his consistent charge to members to peacefully share their faith in accordance with biblical mandates. As the legislative amendment moves forward, the standoff between church leaders and state authorities signals a brewing constitutional and religious debate over freedom of worship in public spaces.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reduced the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, across its retail outlets. Recent inspections confirm that NNPCL stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and surrounding areas have adjusted their prices downward. The price dropped by N36, moving from the previous rate of N1,335 per litre to a new rate of N1,299 per litre. The new pricing structure is already active at several major NNPCL outlets. Motorists confirmed the reduction at stations along the Kubwa Expressway, in Lugbe, and within Wuse Zone 3. This reduction follows a market shift initiated two days ago when MRS filling stations—backed by product from the Dangote Refinery—cut their petrol price by N40 to N1,265 per litre. The competitive pricing by MRS placed immediate pressure on rival oil marketers, who were previously dispensing fuel between N1,300 and N1,310 per litre, forcing them to review their rates to remain competitive.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to impose strict economic sanctions on South African companies operating in Nigeria. The legal luminary stated that diplomatic protests alone will not compel the South African government to stop recurring xenophobic attacks and the destruction of Nigerian-owned businesses. Speaking with journalists in Ilawe-Ekiti, Falana emphasized that international diplomacy relies heavily on the principle of reciprocity. He argued that Nigeria has a fundamental responsibility to respond appropriately when its citizens are being chased out of South Africa and their livelihoods destroyed. The senior lawyer dismissed the effectiveness of merely lodging a complaint before the African Union (AU) over the targeted violence. He noted that South Africa holds significant influence within the continental body, meaning any AU complaint would likely end in a toothless resolution without concrete enforcement. To send a strong message to Pretoria, Falana urged Nigerians to actively patronize alternative brands and migrate away from South African-owned businesses, including telecommunications giant MTN. He also advocated for the immediate revocation of mining licences granted to South African companies operating within Nigeria. Drawing a historical parallel, Falana recalled how Nigeria successfully nationalised British Petroleum in the 1970s to fight apartheid. He suggested that the federal government should consider similar nationalisation measures against South African investments today if the hostility against Nigerians persists. However, the senior advocate also blamed the Nigerian government for failing to adequately protect its citizens from harassment across Africa. He argued that Abuja has denied its citizens vital legal protection by failing to recognize key international judicial pathways. Specifically, Falana revealed that Nigeria has blocked its nationals from accessing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania. This restriction exists because the federal government has refused to deposit the necessary instruments that allow individual petitions. "If Nigerians could approach the African Court... South Africa would have been dragged before the court by victims of xenophobic attacks," Falana stated. He challenged the federal government to grant citizens immediate access to the continental court so victims of gross human rights violations can seek justice.

Bishop David Oyedepo, the General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners Chapel), has launched a fierce critique against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, demanding immediate intervention to halt Nigeria`s spiraling economic hardship and rampant insecurity. In a video broadcast that has fast gone viral online, the prominent cleric openly accused the federal government of passivity and failing to deploy decisive measures to protect citizens and rescue the crumbling national economy. Expressing deep rage over persistent insurgent attacks and the slaughter of innocent citizens, Oyedepo warned that the endurance of the Nigerian populace has reached its absolute limit. He signaled that citizens, who have long borne the brunt of these systemic failures, may soon break their silence if conditions do not change. The Bishop strictly condemned the perpetrators of these violent acts, while firmly dismissing any notions of forced reconciliation or sympathy toward killers. Delivering a stern, direct message to the Presidency, Oyedepo insisted that the time for political posturing is over. "The president needs to act now and stop pretending," the cleric declared. "You can’t slaughter members of my family and expect me to pray for you. I will pray against you and your household." The fiery remarks add to a growing chorus of high-profile religious and civil leaders calling for an urgent overhaul of Nigeria`s national security strategies and a revitalization of fiscal policies to ease consumer hardship. The presidency has yet to issue an official response to the cleric`s viral address.

Prominent Nigerian businessman and social commentator, Prince Isaac Fayose, has launched a blistering critique against President Bola Tinubu over the country’s escalating economic crisis, declaring that Nigerians are now "too hungry to be angry." Reacting to the recent viral wedding ceremony of popular Nigerian content creators Peller and Jarvis, Fayose revealed that the sheer volume of street youths begging for food completely overshadowed the official guest list. He cited the heartbreaking scene as a direct symptom of severe nationwide deprivation. “Jarvis and Peller, congratulations to you," Fayose stated in a video broadcasted on his official Facebook page. "I saw many good people there, but I saw more of the area boys on the street. The area boys were even more than the guests. That shows that there is a massive hunger in the land. I saw them running after cars, humbling themselves, and accepting their fate that they are born to be hungry.” The outspoken commentator strongly condemned President Tinubu`s lack of a coherent economic roadmap to rescue citizens from poverty. He took particular aim at the President`s previous public remarks downplaying the current crisis by suggesting that inflation and food scarcity have always existed in Nigeria. “Our President came out and said that before he was born, there was hunger. Now the hunger has tripled," Fayose argued. "There is no hunger in the UK and US, but in his own dictionary, Tinubu said hunger has been there. So why did he force himself into power to re-enthrone and reinforce hunger? Tinubu doesn’t have an idea of how to talk to the masses these days. No economic strategy to tackle this hunger in the land.” Fayose concluded with a grim warning regarding the psychological impact of the APC administration`s policies on the electorate as future elections draw near. “Hungry man in Nigeria is no longer angry; we are too hungry to be angry. People are completely enslaved by this APC government. An election is coming and they are forming ‘City Boy’ and ‘Mama’s Boy’, but people that are hungry are not forming anything,” Fayose warned.

The Presidency has strongly criticized the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), accusing them of launching an "uncharitable assault" on President Bola Tinubu by labeling his administration`s economic and security policies a failure. The reaction follows recent comments by John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja. Speaking on Arise Television, Onaiyekan revealed that President Tinubu rejected the bishops` critical assessment of the nation`s security and economic challenges during a meeting at the Presidential Villa on July 28, 2026. According to Onaiyekan, the President insisted his administration remains on the right track. In a sharp response on social media, Sunday Dare, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, hit back at the clerics. He argued that reducing the government`s multi-sectoral reforms to a narrative of failure is intellectually dishonest. Dare defended the President`s track record, stating that Tinubu inherited a "crumbling, bankrupt estate" hovering on the edge of total economic collapse in May 2023. He praised the President`s "rare political courage" in rebuilding the nation from its foundation up and urged critics to consider the deep structural crisis the administration met upon taking office.