The Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State has dismissed reports alleging that the name of its governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, was missing from the list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The party described the reports as false and misleading, accusing those behind them of attempting to create confusion within its ranks ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, and signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, the PDP said there was no official publication or update on INEC’s website confirming Adebutu’s purported exclusion.
The party also stated that INEC had not issued any official statement or held a press briefing announcing the alleged exclusion of Adebutu or the publication of a list containing the name of another individual identified as Patanmi from Gombe State.
The statement, titled “Re: Purported Exclusion of Hon. (Dr.) Oladipupo Adebutu from INEC List — A Fabrication by Political Jobbers,” described the report as an attempt by political opponents to undermine the PDP candidate.
“The said report is false, unfounded, unverified and a figment of the imagination of its mischievous authors,” the party said.
The PDP maintained that Adebutu remained its authentic candidate for the Ogun State governorship election, expressing confidence that his name would appear on the ballot in line with the relevant constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
The party urged its supporters, members and the general public to disregard the reports and remain focused on its political activities.
It added that the party remained united and committed to its preparations for the forthcoming election, insisting that the alleged controversy would not distract its members.
As of the time of the statement, the PDP said it had not seen any official INEC publication confirming the reported exclusion.
The National Convener of The Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has called for greater unity among political leaders and communities in Benue State, saying this would strengthen the state’s influence in national affairs.
Showunmi, who made the call in Makurdi, said Benue’s approximately 3.05 million registered voters represented significant electoral strength that could enhance the state’s voice in national political decisions if effectively mobilised through unity, responsible political participation and collective engagement.
He urged political leaders and communities across the Tiv, Idoma and Igede groups to foster cooperation and rise above political differences, noting that a united approach could strengthen efforts to address insecurity, promote development and advance the state’s interests.
Showunmi, who is also a member of the media and communications team of the APC 2027 presidential campaign, spoke during a visit to the state to assess public opinion on the administrations of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia ahead of the next general elections.
He said interactions with political stakeholders, women, youths and members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council indicated encouraging responses to the two administrations.
According to him, ongoing infrastructure projects, efforts to revive industries and initiatives to promote local production are among the developments that could stimulate economic activities in the state.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of The Alternative Movement, Adai Edwin Adai, urged the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and Governor Hyacinth Alia to embrace dialogue and reconciliation in the interest of peace and development in Benue State.
Adai expressed concern that prolonged political disagreements could heighten tensions and undermine peaceful political participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He called on the two leaders to prioritise the welfare of Benue residents and work together to address insecurity, unemployment and challenges affecting education, agriculture and economic development.
Adai cited former Senate Presidents David Mark and Iyorchia Ayu, alongside Akume, as examples of politicians who had maintained relationships and resolved differences through dialogue despite political disagreements.
He urged political leaders in the state to adopt a similar approach by putting aside their differences and prioritising the collective interests of Benue residents.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a Nigerian woman, Emuobosan Emmanuella Hall, who allegedly failed to report to prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence for her involvement in a romance fraud scheme in the United States.
The US Department of Justice announced the reward on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, following a federal grand jury indictment accusing Hall of failing to report to the Bureau of Prisons as directed by the court.
Hall, 46, is a Nigerian citizen and permanent resident of the United States who previously lived in Atlanta, Georgia. She is currently wanted by US authorities, and an arrest warrant has been issued against her.
According to the Department of Justice, Hall was sentenced to 96 months in prison in January 2026 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering.
She was ordered to report to her designated correctional facility on or before March 25, 2026, but failed to comply with the court’s directive.
Investigators said information retrieved from Hall’s electronic monitoring device showed that her last known location was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24, 2026. The device reportedly stopped transmitting data at the airport.
Hall had earlier informed her probation officer that she intended to travel to Minnesota, where she was expected to serve her prison sentence. However, airline records reportedly showed that she did not board the flight.
The FBI is appealing to members of the public to provide any information that could help investigators locate and arrest her. The agency is offering $5,000 for information that leads to her arrest.
Anyone with relevant information has been advised to contact the FBI through its telephone line, 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit a tip through the agency’s official online reporting platform.
How The Romance Fraud Scheme Operated Court records showed that Hall previously admitted to participating in a romance fraud scheme that targeted victims, mostly older women, across different parts of the United States.
Members of the criminal network allegedly created fake identities and presented themselves as military generals, philanthropists or successful entrepreneurs living abroad.
They reportedly established relationships with victims through social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, before persuading them to send money under false pretences.
The victims were allegedly told that the money was needed for charitable projects, medical expenses for sick relatives or other purported emergencies.
Investigators said Hall and her co-defendant, Kenneth G. Akpieyi, used a company known as Le Beau Monde LLC to facilitate the scheme.
Hall allegedly deposited money obtained from victims into bank accounts operated in the company’s name before transferring the funds to other financial institutions, including banks outside the United States.
The court held Hall responsible for losses totalling $851,207 suffered by victims of the scheme.
Her co-defendant, Akpieyi, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in January 2026 for his role in the criminal operation.
Hall Faces Additional Prison Sentence Beyond the eight-year sentence imposed for the romance fraud and money laundering offences, Hall could face up to 10 additional years in prison if convicted of the new charge of failing to report to serve her sentence.
The latest charge is separate from the offences for which she had already been sentenced.
The US Department of Justice, however, emphasised that the allegations contained in the new indictment remain accusations that must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The FBI’s reward offer is part of efforts by US law enforcement authorities to locate Hall and bring her before the court to answer the latest charge.
Business owners in Enugu State have appealed to MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) to address the poor electricity supply, saying it is hurting their operations. operators of electricity-dependent businesses said the irregular supply had forced them to rely on generators, which they described as too costly to run profitably.
Osita Ogbodo, a welder at New Market, Enugu, said the cost of gas for his large generator was too high, leaving him to work only when there was power.
“Recently, we started having irregular power supply. If I use my generator, I make no profit. Customers don’t agree to pay,” he said, urging the company to fix the problem.
A pub operator, Osita Omeke, said that even when power is supplied, it can hardly sustain his refrigerators. He said he sells perishable goods and has recorded heavy losses as a result.
“The cost of running businesses is too high, yet unconsumed electricity bills continue to be imposed on us,” he said.
Sheddy Ozomba, a resident of Trans-Ekuku, accused the distribution company of insensitivity to customers’ plight. He said bills were recently distributed and some lines disconnected despite the poor service.
“If customers pay them from what they generate from their electricity-dependent businesses, how feasible is it?” he asked, insisting that prepaid meters should be made readily available to end what he called cheating
Otunba Segun Showunmi, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ogun State, has joined the Media and Strategic Communication Directorate of President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Showunmi’s name appeared on a revised membership list released on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
The development comes despite his association with the PDP and his previous role as chairman of The Alternative Movement, a national opposition group seeking to provide an alternative voice in Nigeria’s political space.
Showunmi also served as spokesperson for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who contested against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
His reported inclusion in the APC campaign structure places him in the directorate responsible for coordinating campaign messaging, managing media engagements, and communicating the party’s positions and activities to the public. Tinubu had earlier approved the campaign council, appointing former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as secretary.
Under the original list released on August 22, 2026, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris was named Coordinating Director for Media and Strategic Communication, alongside Dele Alake, Bayo Onanuga and Lanre Issa-Onilu.
Other officials named as coordinating deputy directors included Tunde Rahman, Sunday Dare, Daniel Bwala and Felix Morka.
Segun Dada was also named Director of New Media, a position he held during the 2022/2023 presidential campaign.
Showunmi’s reported inclusion comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 presidential election and intensify efforts to communicate their records, policies, and campaign messages to Nigerians.
The Federal Government has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect who allegedly stabbed a Medical Laboratory Scientist, Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the demand while condemning the attack on the health worker, describing the incident as an unacceptable act of violence against medical personnel.
The minister’s position was contained in a statement issued by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako.
Salako stressed that disagreements over medical treatment or hospital services should never result in physical attacks on healthcare workers, who must be able to perform their duties in a safe environment.
He urged patients and their relatives who are dissatisfied with hospital services to channel their complaints through the appropriate procedures rather than resorting to violence.
The minister called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that the suspect is arrested without delay and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He also assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would closely monitor the case to ensure that justice is served.
According to Salako, the incident has once again highlighted the urgent need to strengthen measures to protect healthcare workers across federal tertiary hospitals in the country.
He recalled that the ministry introduced safety measures on August 5, 2026, to improve security in healthcare facilities and prevent attacks on medical personnel.
The measures include strengthening security arrangements within hospitals, establishing teams to prevent violence, improving systems for reporting attacks and enhancing cooperation between hospital management and law enforcement agencies.
Other provisions include improving the channels through which patients and their relatives can submit complaints and seek redress over issues encountered during treatment.
Salako urged hospital administrators to ensure the full implementation of the safety measures, noting that the guidelines must provide practical protection for healthcare workers rather than remain mere policy documents.
The minister maintained that medical personnel should not have to work under the threat of violence while providing essential services to patients.
He also appealed to health workers who had embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta following the stabbing incident to return to their duties immediately.
Salako said resuming work would help prevent further disruption of medical services and protect the interests of patients and members of the public who depend on the hospital for healthcare.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of health workers and called for stronger cooperation among hospital authorities, security agencies, patients and their relatives to prevent similar incidents in the future.
That arrest resulted in the discovery of a suspected industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory - the third such find allegedly linked to Mexicans in four months.
When Arturo Carrera Loaiza, 40, was detained at Lagos international airport, officials allegedly found digital images of him wearing what they believed to be a laboratory coat alongside equipment consistent with meth production.
The pictures' location data led officers to a property in Ebonyi state, where they said chemicals and drug-making equipment were found.
Loaiza has denied involvement in methamphetamine production and said he had been invited to Nigeria by a local contact for a restaurant business venture, according to a statement from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The agency's investigators found a CCTV memory card at the suspected laboratory in Ebonyi with footage from the property showing someone who looked like Loaiza wearing a blue laboratory coat. A Nigerian man was also identified directing people as they removed chemicals and equipment from the site.
NDLEA chairman Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa said further intelligence led officers to an isolated house in a neighbouring community, where they recovered chemicals, dehydrators, condensers, a reaction pot, weighing scales, mixers, drums, gas burners and a sieve containing traces of methamphetamine.
No estimate has yet been given for how much methamphetamine the alleged laboratory was capable of producing.
Investigators have alleged that Loaiza had recruited and brought a fellow Mexican to work at another suspected methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forest in Oyo state, which was raided in June. Four Nigerians were also arrested after the raid.
A month earlier, NDLEA officers arrested three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians at what the agency described as an industrial-scale methamphetamine laboratory hidden in a forest in another part of the country.
Marwa said the operations showed international criminal groups were attempting to establish drug-production facilities in Nigeria's forests and rural communities.
"Nigeria will not be allowed to become a haven for transnational drug cartels seeking to relocate their laboratories from other jurisdictions into our forests and rural communities", he said.
The NDLEA said its investigation into the network is ongoing, including into those it believes financed or helped facilitate the operations in Nigeria.
Unlike plant-based drugs, such as cocaine or heroin, which can only be grown and processed in certain places, a synthetic drug like meth can be produced anywhere with the right chemicals and expertise, making it easier for organised crime groups to quickly scale up production.
West Africa poses numerous attractive benefits to Mexican syndicates, starting with swathes of forested land which serves well for secluded production sites.
Igbo traders in Lagos staged a protest today in the market to stop Chinese people from selling their products as retailers just like them in market!!!!
Igbos continue to protest at the trade fair market demanding that Chinese people leave.
They claim Chinese people sell their products much cheaper than they do and this is making them poor. Igbos want to continue exploiting Nigerians by selling their goods at higher prices. https://t.co/7RHcQwrBB5pic.twitter.com/hi0goSknfP
Igbo traders in Lagos staged a protest today in the market to stop Chinese people from selling their products as retailers just like them in market!!!! pic.twitter.com/e9C5oXqb1r
BREAKING NEWS: Igbo traders are protesting against Chinese vendors, demanding that they leave Nigerian markets because they sell goods at lower prices.
For years, Igbo traders have been selling their products at inflated, unreasonable prices, contributing to rising inflation. pic.twitter.com/bm24ue1gZq
Today, the rewards I promised our D’Tigress have been fully redeemed.
Each player has received the naira equivalent of $100,000, while each official has received the equivalent of $50,000, completing their package of cash rewards, national honours and three-bedroom homes in Abuja.
For the first time, a Federal Government has fulfilled this scale of presidential sporting rewards in full within one year. We had to follow the processes required by law and ensure that every commitment was properly implemented. That took time, but a promise made must be a promise kept.
We are also concluding the outstanding cash rewards for our Super Falcons.
The Super Falcons players and officials have already received the title documents to their house allocations and National Honours certificates. Likewise, the promise of houses and national honours I made to Super Eagles players has since been redeemed.
Our athletes who bring honour to Nigeria deserve more than applause. They deserve a country that keeps its word.
My promise to every Nigerian Athelete is make NIGERIA proud, and come back to a grateful Nation.
Congratulations once again, our athletes. Nigeria is proud of you.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR President
Today, the rewards I promised our D’Tigress have been fully redeemed.
Each player has received the naira equivalent of $100,000, while each official has received the equivalent of $50,000, completing their package of cash rewards, national honours and three-bedroom homes in… pic.twitter.com/T6a76z0fsy
President Bola Tinubu on Friday received the outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson Jack, and her successor, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, at the State House in Abuja.
The meeting came shortly after Tinubu appointed Enitan as the next Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. His appointment takes effect on August 27, 2026.
The[b] appointment was announced in a statement issued on August 19 by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Enitan is expected to succeed Walson Jack, who will leave office after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.[/b]
A native of Osun State, Enitan currently serves as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education. He is also the longest-serving Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, having held the position for seven years and seven months.
Over the course of his career, Enitan has served in several key government institutions, including the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President.
His extensive experience across various arms of the Federal Government is expected to support his new responsibilities as Head of the Civil Service.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the President to receive both the outgoing and incoming heads of the Federal Civil Service ahead of the leadership transition.President Bola Tinubu on Friday received the outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson Jack, and her successor, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, at the State House in Abuja.
The meeting came shortly after Tinubu appointed Enitan as the next Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. His appointment takes effect on August 27, 2026.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on August 19 by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Enitan is expected to succeed Walson Jack, who will leave office after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.
A native of Osun State, Enitan currently serves as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education. He is also the longest-serving Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, having held the position for seven years and seven months.
Over the course of his career, Enitan has served in several key government institutions, including the Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the Vice President.
His extensive experience across various arms of the Federal Government is expected to support his new responsibilities as Head of the Civil Service.
For half a century, the story of African oil followed a script written elsewhere. Crude left the Niger Delta, the Angolan coast and the fields of Sudan in tankers bound for refineries in Rotterdam, Antwerp and the Gulf Coast of Texas, only to return months later as premium motor spirit, diesel and jet fuel, priced in dollars the continent did not control and sold back to the very people who owned the crude in the first place.
Shell, BP, Total and Chevron built empires on that arrangement. Nobody in Washington or Brussels called it a monopoly. Nobody convened a policy panel to warn that a handful of European super majors controlling the refining of an entire continent’s fuel supply was a danger to competition. It was simply called business, and Africa was expected to be grateful for the privilege of being a customer in its own backyard.
That silence is the context in which the current uproar over Aliko Dangote’s refining ambitions must be read. When the Dangote Refinery came fully on stream in Lagos, it did what half a century of foreign-owned refining never managed: it began weaning Nigeria off imported fuel, cutting the country’s exposure to forex-driven pump price shocks, and creating the first credible African-owned link in a value chain that had always ended offshore.
Almost immediately, the World Bank published, and then quietly deleted after public fury, a policy note urging Nigeria to reopen its doors to fuel importers in the name of “competition.” African business leaders were not slow to notice the irony. For decades, competition was never the standard applied to Shell’s dominance of the downstream sector. It only became an urgent concern once an African company built something Africans themselves controlled.
Now Dangote is doing it again, this time on the other side of the continent. A $15 to $17 billion, 650,000-to-700,000-barrels-per-day refinery is planned for the Kenyan coast, at Lamu or Mombasa, with groundbreaking targeted for late 2026 and construction expected to run under four years. Financed on a roughly 70-30 split between debt and equity, the East African plant would push Dangote’s combined refining capacity, alongside the Lagos facility, past two million barrels a day, positioning a single African-owned conglomerate as a serious counterweight to the international trading houses that have long profited from moving refined product into the continent rather than helping the continent refine its own.
This is the deeper story behind the headlines: a slow, deliberate assertion of economic sovereignty by a continent that has spent a century exporting raw wealth and importing back the finished, value-added version of that same wealth at a markup. Every barrel refined on African soil, by an African company, employing African engineers and technicians, is a small act of reclamation. It is Nigeria and Kenya deciding, in their own time and on their own terms, that the era of shipping crude out and buying diesel back is not a law of nature but a colonial-era arrangement that has simply outlived its usefulness.
It is entirely fair to ask hard questions about concentration, about what it means for so much refining capacity to sit under one man’s control, about pricing power and about the governance of a private empire this large.
Those are legitimate conversations, and a nobler Africa is one confident enough to have them openly rather than defensively. But there is a difference between scrutiny applied evenly and scrutiny that only switches on when the ownership changes color. For decades the continent absorbed the pricing decisions of foreign refiners without a single multilateral institution suggesting the arrangement needed correcting in the name of competition. That the alarm was raised the moment an African company began to displace that arrangement is, at the very least, a coincidence worth sitting with.
Nigerian businessman and internet personality, Isaac Fayose, has taken a swipe at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his comments on the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.
Wike had claimed that Governor Ademola Adeleke won the election because the Federal Government chose not to deploy its influence, insisting that President Bola Tinubu allowed Osun people to freely elect their leader.
Reacting to this in a post on his Facebook page, Fayose cautioned Wike against comparing Osun State to Rivers State, where Wike once served as governor, maintaining that Osun people had already made up their minds on who to vote for long before the election took place.
He said: “When I listen to Wike, my stomach rumbles. Look at the confidence with which he said if the President had wanted Osun, he would have been there.
“May God continue to save Nigeria from these kinds of people. God will shock him.
“Osun people are not Rivers. Osun people made up their minds, and one thousand of you cannot change it. You are dreaming.
“Thank God Atiku did not choose you as his vice president; this country would have been destroyed more than it is now.
“So, you wanted to change the will of Osun people as you usually do in Rivers? I feel sorry for Nigerians. How come people are still campaigning for this man?”
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has recalled an alleged conversation with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in which the latter reportedly promised not to work against President Bola Tinubu.
Fayose made the disclosure while appearing on TVC’s Politics Tonight, where he also discussed the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Fayose, Makinde had told him that he would not allow himself to be used by anyone to oppose Tinubu, whom he described as a fellow Yoruba man.
Fayose said the conversation took place after he came across a television flyer promoting Makinde as a potential presidential candidate. He claimed he forwarded the flyer to Makinde, who subsequently called him.
“Governor Makinde called me when I saw a flyer on TV where they were promoting him as Makinde for President. I forwarded that to him and he called me back immediately.
“He told me that I should not mind those boys because they were looking for money. He said they were jobbers looking for money.
“He told me that if he wanted to contest, he would say it himself and he would not be the Yoruba man who would be used against another Yoruba man like Asiwaju. God is my witness, and let him deny it,” Fayose said.
The former governor also accused Makinde of contributing significantly to the PDP’s internal crisis, attributing the party’s difficulties to what he described as political ambition.
Fayose recalled the role of the G-5 governors ahead of the 2023 presidential election and questioned why members of the group, including Makinde and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, remain central to the ongoing political developments.
“Makinde caused these problems, even losing out in the PDP, he caused it. We all failed under the G-5 to contest the 2023 election. The question Nigerians should ask us is: what went wrong under the G-5?
“Why is Makinde here? Why is Wike here? It’s very obvious that when you have inordinate ambition, you will have problems,” he stated.
Fayose further alleged that Makinde took control of the PDP structure in Ekiti State from him and handed it over to other individuals.
He said this was why he eventually withdrew from the party’s internal affairs, describing what remained of the PDP structure as a “carcass” that he left for Makinde.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria are expected to have a new technical crew in place before the start of their 2028 Women’s Olympic qualifying campaign in October, according to National Sports Commission (NSC) Director-General Bukola Olopade.
The development comes after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) directed Justine Madugu and his backroom staff to step aside following the team’s disappointing performance at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Nigeria suffered an early exit from the tournament after a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon. The result also contributed to the team missing out on automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after a 2-1 loss to South Africa in the CAF play-off.
Following the NFF’s decision, several members of Madugu’s technical team also departed, including former Super Falcons goalkeeper Ann Chiejine, goalkeeper coach Auwal Makwalla, video analyst Igor Krulj and fitness coach Per Karlsson.
With the Olympic qualifiers approaching, the NSC and NFF are now working towards restructuring the team and appointing a new technical leadership.
Olopade said the authorities are determined to ensure Nigeria secures qualification for the Olympics.
“The Olympics are around the corner, we will see how we can tweak the technical team of the Falcons like we did for the U-23, which coach Eric Chelle will handle. This is because we are desirous of qualifying for the Olympics,” he said.
The Super Falcons returned to the women’s football event at the Paris 2024 Olympics after a 16-year absence but were eliminated at the group stage.
Nigeria’s next challenge comes in October when they take on Comoros in the Olympic qualifying campaign.
Comoros advanced to the second round after recording a 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan. They won the first leg 17-0 on June 3 before completing the rout with a 13-0 victory in the return fixture five days later.
The NFF will now be under pressure to appoint a new coach and technical team capable of guiding the 10-time African champions through the Olympic qualifiers.
Access Bank has approached the Federal High Court in Lagos to recover ₦1.34 billion allegedly transferred from the accounts of four customers through an unauthorised transaction on its Access SME internet banking platform.
The incident, according to court documents, was discovered on August 12, 2026, after the bank noticed suspicious transactions involving MIB TXN Bullion, Aba Branch; AIICO General Insurance Company Limited; Apogee Engineering Limited; and SIMS Nigeria Limited.
A total of ₦1,340,425,393 was reportedly moved from the four accounts and subsequently transferred to several accounts held with Access Bank and 71 other banks.
The amounts allegedly taken from the affected accounts were ₦590,975,889 from MIB TXN Bullion, ₦420,449,504 from AIICO General Insurance Company Limited, ₦136 million from Apogee Engineering Limited and ₦193 million from SIMS Nigeria Limited.
In an ex-parte application marked FHC/LAG/MISC/1168/2026, Access Bank asked the court to preserve the funds and prevent further movement of the money pending the determination of its substantive application.
The bank listed 71 financial institutions as respondents and requested orders directing them to place post-no-debit restrictions on accounts and BVNs linked to the allegedly unauthorised transfers.
It also asked the court to compel the banks to disclose the amounts still available in the beneficiary accounts and to watchlist the BVNs associated with the accounts that received the funds.
Access Bank further sought an order directing the reversal of any recovered funds into its account, but the court declined to grant that particular request at the preliminary stage.
In its affidavit, the bank said its internal investigation showed that the funds had been transferred without the customers’ authorisation and distributed among several accounts.
The bank said it immediately contacted the affected financial institutions, notified them of the suspected fraud and requested that the funds be preserved while investigations continued.
Access Bank argued that urgent court intervention was necessary to prevent the suspected proceeds from being withdrawn, transferred or otherwise dissipated.
The bank also maintained that preserving the funds was necessary to protect its customers and prevent cybercrime capable of causing significant financial and economic damage.
Justice Akintayo Aluko, after considering the submissions of Access Bank’s counsel, Ifeoma E. Enyinnaya, granted three of the reliefs sought by the bank.
The judge held that the essence of the application was to preserve the funds from further dissipation and that the court had a duty to protect the subject matter of the case.
However, Justice Aluko declined to grant the fourth relief, which sought immediate reversal of the recovered funds, on the grounds that such an order would amount to a final determination of part of the case at that stage.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until August 31, 2026, for further proceedings.
Justice Aluko also directed Access Bank’s counsel to file an undertaking as to damages in the event that the orders granted by the court are later found to have been uunwarranted
An aerial view of the work going on at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).
According to the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, this is not a refurbishment but a total redesign and rebuild of MMIA. The project will take 22 months and is expected to be… pic.twitter.com/wYalXT4378
Finally, and I mean Finallly, this decades-old disgraceful and decrepit #MMIA in #Lagos is being stripped down almost 100% for a total makeover. Put some smiles on the face of the Late Gen. #Murtala Mohammed and restore the dignity of #Nigeria's iconic #airport. The $500mn rehab project is on.
Well done @NGRPresident @officialABAT @fkeyamo @FAAN_Official Lets get this ready for the 2027 @iatf2027 hosting.
A company SHAKE N GO is under fire for Trademarking “ YORUBA “
There's a current trend going on amongst non-Yorubas that if you advertise in Yoruba, sing or talk about Yorubas your product sells out, your video trends and your music sells
Other non-Africans have now joined in
A company SHAKE N GO is under fire for Trademarking “ YORUBA “
There's a current trend going on amongst non-Yorubas that if you advertise in Yoruba, sing or talk about Yorubas your product sells out, your video trends and your music sells
Nigerian singer and entertainer Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, has expressed appreciation to his fans after a red cap featured prominently in his recent tell-all series recorded a major sales milestone. The distinctive Red ZR cap, produced by fashion brand Zipp Republic, reportedly sold close to 3,000 units within just seven days, reflecting the growing public interest surrounding the item.
The cap gained widespread attention after appearing in Mr P’s tell-all series, where the singer used it as part of his signature look. Its appearance quickly generated conversations among fans and followers, with many showing interest in owning the same piece.
The surge in demand has now translated into impressive sales for the brand, with almost 3,000 caps reportedly purchased within a week.
The development has also highlighted the influence of celebrity appearances on fashion trends, particularly when a product becomes closely associated with a popular entertainer or a widely discussed media appearance.
Zipp Republic, the brand behind the Red ZR cap, has benefited from the attention generated by Mr P’s appearance, as fans moved from simply discussing the cap online to purchasing it.
Mr P, who has continued to maintain a strong relationship with his fan base, acknowledged the overwhelming response and thanked his supporters for their interest and patronage.
The singer’s endorsement and the visibility of the cap in his tell-all series appear to have contributed significantly to the product’s rapid rise in popularity.
The sales figure comes at a time when celebrity-driven fashion continues to play a major role in determining consumer trends, with fans often seeking products associated with their favourite musicians, actors and public figures.
For Zipp Republic, the near-3,000-unit sales figure in seven days represents a significant boost for the Red ZR cap and demonstrates the commercial impact that cultural visibility and celebrity association can have on fashion products.
The growing demand has also sparked curiosity about the cap and the story behind its appearance in Mr P’s tell-all series, making the Red ZR cap one of the latest fashion items to attract significant attention from Nigerian entertainment followers.
With interest continuing to build, fans and fashion enthusiasts will be watching to see whether sales of the Zipp Republic cap will continue to rise in the coming days.
A radio station in the United Kingdom has been found to have breached broadcasting rules after mistakenly announcing the death of King Charles III, according to an official ruling by the country’s broadcasting regulator.
The incident occurred when the station aired an incorrect report stating that the British monarch had died. The announcement was later identified as an error, with the station acknowledging that the report should not have been broadcast.
The regulator said the incident violated broadcasting requirements governing accuracy and the handling of significant and sensitive news. Reports concerning the death of a reigning monarch are considered matters of exceptional national importance and therefore require the highest level of editorial care and verification.
According to the official finding, the station failed to meet the required standards before putting the information on air. The regulator stressed that broadcasters have a responsibility to ensure that serious claims, particularly those involving prominent public figures and matters of national significance, are properly checked before being broadcast.
The erroneous announcement caused confusion among listeners and highlighted the potential consequences of insufficient verification in live broadcasting. News organisations are generally expected to confirm sensitive information through reliable and authoritative sources before making such announcements public.
King Charles III remains the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, and the radio report was subsequently recognised as false.
The regulator’s decision serves as a reminder to broadcasters of the importance of accuracy, particularly when reporting major events that could have widespread public and international consequences.
It also underscores the need for robust editorial procedures, including multiple levels of verification, when handling breaking news involving the royal family, senior public officials or other nationally significant figures.
The station’s breach was therefore linked not simply to the inaccurate report itself, but to the failure of its editorial processes to prevent the unverified claim from reaching the public.
The incident has renewed attention on the responsibility of broadcasters to balance the speed of breaking-news coverage with the need for accuracy and careful confirmation.
Popular Nigerian comedian Anita Asuoha, widely known as Real Warri Pikin, has cancelled her planned comedy show in Warri, Delta State, citing growing ethnic tensions and divisions surrounding the event. The comedian announced the cancellation in a statement shared on her Instagram page, expressing disappointment over what she described as persistent disunity among ethnic groups in the state.
In a video accompanying the announcement, Real Warri Pikin said being an entertainer from Delta State had become increasingly difficult because of the tensions involving different communities.
She specifically referenced divisions among the Ijaw, Urhobo and Itsekiri people, while appealing against violence, oppression and bullying.
According to the comedian, she has personally experienced bullying and oppression in Delta State over the past eight years.
She said, “The disunity in my state is very tiring, especially amongst the Ijaws, the Urhobos and the Itsekiris. I am not saying don’t fight for what is right, but does it have to always be violent? Does it have to be oppression?”
Real Warri Pikin explained that the immediate controversy surrounding her show began after an indigene of the venue where the event was scheduled to hold objected to the event being advertised as taking place in Warri.
She said the organisers were asked to change the description of the event to “Real Warri Pikin Live in Uvwie”, with the argument that Uvwie is a distinct area from Warri.
According to her, those opposed to the event demanded the removal of billboards, social media advertisements, radio jingles and other promotional materials that referred to the show as being in Warri.
She further alleged that a petition was written against the event and that she was warned the show would be disrupted if it went ahead.
“They said I should take down the billboards, social media posts, the radio jingles and roll-up banners. They wrote a petition and said the show would never hold and that on the day of the show they would come and scatter everything,” she said.
The comedian also disclosed that some people demanded that she remove “Warri” from her stage name.
She said the controversy had become overwhelming and emotionally exhausting, prompting her decision to cancel the show.
Real Warri Pikin expressed regret that disagreements over geographical and ethnic identity had overshadowed what was intended to be an entertainment event, stressing the need for greater unity and peaceful coexistence among the different communities in Delta State.
Nigerians are increasingly turning to bank loans to finance home purchases, with household credit for house acquisition recording a notable increase in the second quarter of 2026.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed this in its Credit Conditions Survey Report for the second quarter of 2026, which showed stronger demand for several categories of credit during the period.
According to the apex bank, demand for credit to purchase houses by households rose to 9.6 index points in Q2 2026, reflecting increased borrowing by Nigerians to acquire residential properties.
The CBN also reported that demand for secured lending rose to 15.1 index points, while corporate lending increased to 15.2 index points during the quarter. However, demand for unsecured lending remained weak, standing at -1.2 index points.
The report stated that consumer loans to households increased by 11.2 index points, while lending for small businesses owned by households recorded a stronger increase of 26.4 index points.
Mortgage and re-mortgage lending to households also expanded, rising to 13.3 index points during the review period.
On unsecured credit, the CBN said demand for overdrafts and personal loans among households increased to 7.9 index points. In contrast, credit card lending declined to -2.0 index points.
The survey further showed stronger demand for credit among businesses. Lending to small businesses increased to 26.5 index points, while credit to medium-sized private non-financial corporations rose to 25.5 index points.
Loans to large private non-financial corporations also increased, reaching 8.9 index points.
However, lending to other financial corporations remained unchanged at 0.0 index points during the quarter.
The CBN said the increase in borrowing was accompanied by an improvement in loan repayment performance, as lenders reported lower default rates across several categories.
“Lenders reported a decline in default rates across secured and unsecured lending, as well as across all corporate lending categories, including small businesses, Medium PNFCs, Large PNFCs and OFCs,” the report stated.
The latest figures suggest that despite persistent economic pressures, households and businesses are increasingly relying on formal credit to finance housing, personal needs and business activities.
The rise in mortgage-related borrowing also points to growing demand for housing finance as more Nigerians seek access to credit to acquire or refinance residential properties.
Only six of Nigeria’s major listed banks paid dividends totalling about N1.27 trillion to shareholders for the 2025 financial year, while five other profitable lenders were unable to make distributions after failing to satisfy the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) prudential requirements.
The banks that paid dividends were Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Wema Bank and FCMB.
Financial Vanguard’s review of the banks’ audited financial statements showed that the dividend payments were largely concentrated among the major Tier-1 lenders, with GTCO and Zenith Bank alone accounting for about 81.9 per cent of the total distribution.
GTCO paid approximately N429.83 billion, representing N12.76 per share, while Zenith Bank distributed N410.70 billion at N10 per share.
Stanbic IBTC paid N63.61 billion, equivalent to N4 per share. Ecobank Transnational Incorporated declared a $40 million dividend, while FCMB paid about N14.97 billion, representing 35 kobo per share.
The five other listed banks, despite recording profits during the year, did not distribute dividends. Analysts attributed the development to regulatory restrictions, capital requirements, loan-loss provisions and the need for some lenders to strengthen their balance sheets.
Banks’ profit declines
The 11 major banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange reported a combined profit before tax of approximately N6.4 trillion in 2025, compared with N6.7 trillion recorded in 2024. This represents a decline of about 3.8 per cent.
Tier-1 banks accounted for N4.15 trillion of the 2025 figure, down from N5.06 trillion in 2024.
However, Tier-2 banks recorded significant improvement, with their combined profit before tax rising to N2.26 trillion from N1.60 trillion in the previous year.
Despite the decline in aggregate profit, the banks recorded substantial growth in gross earnings.
Combined gross earnings rose to N26.4 trillion in 2025 from N23.2 trillion in 2024.
Gross earnings among Tier-1 banks increased to N18.2 trillion from N16.9 trillion, while Tier-2 banks recorded N9.5 trillion, compared with N7.6 trillion in 2024.
Access Holdings led the Tier-1 group in gross earnings growth, recording N5.5 trillion in 2025 against N4.9 trillion in 2024.
Zenith Bank followed with N4.1 trillion, compared with N3.8 trillion a year earlier, while GTCO’s gross earnings increased slightly from N2.11 trillion to N2.15 trillion.
First HoldCo also recorded an increase, with gross earnings rising to N3.4 trillion from N3.2 trillion.
UBA, however, recorded a marginal decline, with gross earnings falling to N2.97 trillion from N3.1 trillion.
CIS: Dividend differences reflect capital strength President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Fiona Ahimie, said the difference between banks that paid dividends and those that did not was not necessarily a reflection of profitability.
According to her, dividend decisions were influenced by capital strength, regulatory compliance, earnings quality and the strategic priorities of individual banks.
She explained that banks that paid dividends generally had sufficient capital buffers, strong earnings and the ability to meet regulatory requirements while retaining enough funds to support future expansion.
For the banks that withheld dividends, Ahimie said preserving capital had become a priority.
She linked this to the banking sector’s recapitalisation programme, the need to strengthen balance sheets, increased provisioning for risk assets and regulatory restrictions on dividend payments where prudential requirements had not been fully satisfied.
Dividend suspension may affect investors
Ahimie noted that the immediate impact of the dividend suspension would be felt by income-focused investors who depend on regular dividend payments.
She said such investors could shift their preference towards banks with stronger capital positions and a history of consistent dividend payments.
Banks that suspended dividends could also experience short-term pressure on their share prices as investors reassessed their valuations and future income prospects.
However, she pointed out that retaining profits could ultimately benefit shareholders if the funds were effectively deployed to strengthen capital and support future earnings.
On the impact on customers, Ahimie said the absence of dividends should not automatically be interpreted as a sign of financial weakness.
She explained that retaining earnings could help banks improve their resilience, expand lending, invest in digital infrastructure and strengthen their capacity for future growth.
She added that stronger capital positions could increase confidence in the banking sector.
Looking ahead, Ahimie said the banking industry had a positive outlook, noting that banks that had completed their recapitalisation and met other regulatory requirements were likely to have more stable and predictable dividend policies.
Adonri: CBN blocked dividends to protect depositors
Investment analyst and Highcap Securities Limited executive, David Adonri, said the CBN prevented some banks from paying dividends because the regulator was not satisfied with their financial strength after reviewing their accounts.
He described the decision as a stringent regulatory measure designed to protect depositors, even though it could disappoint shareholders expecting dividend income.
Adonri explained that some banks had previously benefited from regulatory forbearance on the provisioning of doubtful loans.
When the forbearance expired, he said, some lenders were required to make full provisions, leaving them without sufficient retained profits to support dividend payments.
He also noted that some banks needed to preserve funds to meet outstanding foreign debt obligations, which could have been affected if substantial amounts of cash were distributed as dividends.
According to him, the CBN’s decision should encourage shareholders to pay closer attention to the financial condition and management practices of their banks.
He added that banking required strict oversight by regulators and shareholders to prevent abuses and protect the stability of the financial system.
Olayinka: CBN imposed regulatory discipline Investment banker and chartered stockbroker Tajudeen Olayinka described the restrictions as a regulatory push-back aimed at forcing greater prudence among banks.
He said some of the affected lenders had significant write-offs arising from the expiration of regulatory forbearance, which could have weakened their balance sheets if dividends had been paid.
According to Olayinka, the CBN exercised its regulatory authority by withholding approval for dividend payments by banks whose financial positions did not justify such distributions.
He nevertheless expressed optimism about the future of the banking industry.
Olayinka said some of the affected banks had initially proposed dividend payments despite the outstanding provisioning requirements.
He explained that the issue was therefore not necessarily a lack of profit, but the CBN’s concern that paying dividends alongside substantial provisions and write-offs could be financially imprudent.
He also pointed to the exposure of some banks to the syndicated loan default involving Nestoil, saying the affected institutions had now made full provisions for the exposure.
Olayinka said the current regulatory approach would impose greater discipline and prudence on banks, which he considered positive for the industry and its stakeholders.
Kurfi explains why CBN stopped some banks Financial analyst Mallam Kasimu Kurfi also attributed the dividend restrictions to the inability of some banks to adequately clean up their loan impairments.
He said the CBN governor had indicated that banks that failed to resolve their impairment issues were not permitted to pay dividends.
Kurfi further disclosed that one of the Tier-1 banks was restricted because of its exposure to a foreign banking subsidiary.
According to him, the exposure was about 20 per cent of the bank’s shareholders’ funds, exceeding the 10 per cent limit stipulated under CBN prudential guidelines.
He said the affected bank would need to either increase its shareholders’ funds or reduce its holdings in the subsidiary to bring the exposure within the regulatory limit before it could resume dividend payments.
The developments underline the growing importance of capital adequacy, loan-loss provisioning and regulatory compliance in determining how much Nigerian banks can distribute to shareholders, regardless of the profits they report.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has provided N550 billion in financing to the Bank of Agriculture for the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Programme as well as to provide a Guaranteed Minimum Price for farmers’ produce.
A breakdown shows that N250 billion was provided to the bank to finance smallholder farmers using technology and proper controls, while another N300 billion was given to the bank to stabilise food prices.
The Managing Director of BoA, Ayotunde Sotinrin, who disclosed this yesterday during an interactive session with agricultural correspondents, said the bank does not work directly with farmers, saying it finances them through farmer aggregation companies like AFEX, ThriveAgric, Arziki Noma, among others. The model, according to him, is more efficient and reduces recovery risk.
On the issue of the Guaranteed Minimum Price, he said the bank was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that food prices do not go above a certain limit, saying with the financing provided by the President, the bank is able to buy produce from farmers during harvest and then release it to the market to stabilise prices.
He revealed that under the pilot phase, about 500,000 farmers have so far been supported, adding that the bank used 4 per cent of the entire financing to insure the programme to ensure the bank does not incur losses in the event of weather-related eventualities.
Speaking on how the bank is financing smallholder farmers, he said they have fully digitised the entire process with the introduction of a new bank card for the farmers, adding that with the wallet system, government can load fertiliser, seeds and other farm inputs onto the farmers’ wallets, with which farmers can redeem the inputs at collection centres using a POS.
The MD also revealed that the bank has introduced Know Your Farmer (KYF), saying they now use AI to automate payments and track transactions to aggregation companies, removing the manual checking of millions of farmers’ accounts.
Speaking on the need for the reforms, Sotinrin revealed that when he took over about a year ago, the bank was operating like a government department with obsolete facilities, and there was a need to restructure, recapitalise and refocus on its mission.
He stated that the key challenge was financing 70 million smallholder farmers, saying there is nowhere in the world where such numbers of farmers are financed, which was why they decided to finance through farmer aggregators.
Speaking on the Ginger Revitalisation Programme, Sotinrin revealed that about 4,000 farmers affected by ginger blight disease were provided with disease-free ginger rhizomes, saying for every one bag given, farmers return three bags, which are taken to tissue culture labs to produce millions of disease-free seedlings.
He said the bank’s goal was to move ginger production from 500,000 tonnes to 5 million tonnes, and revenue from $200 million to $2 billion, adding that they also plan to expand ginger farming to other states and not just the traditional Kaduna, Nasarawa and Plateau states.
On the issue of mechanisation, he said the bank was not distributing tractors to farmers but to service providers who are expected to repay the loans through their income. He said their target is to deploy 2,000 tractors to provide mechanisation services to 1.2 million farmers.
To reduce post-harvest losses, he said the bank was introducing cargo e-tricycles that can carry 2,000–3,000kg, powered by batteries, to move produce from farm gates to warehouses.
He also revealed that the bank was creating “one-stop-shop” hubs in farming communities to provide services such as tractor booking, input sales by OEMs, produce aggregation and banking, to make all services accessible to farmers in one location and help build credit profiles for them.
He said, “BOA is moving from the old BOA to ‘Bank of Agriculture 2.0’, “Our focus is financing, technology, and solving foundational problems. We are not a charity. We create impact through profitable and sustainable financing.”
Olubadan Commends President Tinubu Concrete Technology: "You Have Solved Our Problems with the Concrete Work on the Ibadan-Ite Expressway, llesa, and Akure"
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is delivering these projects through the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi, CON.
Oba Adewolu Ladoja is the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan.
Olubadan Commends President Tinubu Concrete Technology: "You Have Solved Our Problems with the Concrete Work on the Ibadan-Ite Expressway, llesa, and Akure"
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is delivering these projects through the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi,… pic.twitter.com/g4157yNzqQ
The Federal Government has begun a nationwide Artificial Intelligence training programme for teachers in federal unity colleges, targeting about 11,700 educators across the country.
The Federal Ministry of Education signed a Terms of Reference with ICEDT Consult Limited on Thursday in Abuja, formally launching the rollout of the AI Teacher Capacity Development Programme.
The Ministry’s Education Support Services Department will implement the programme as part of a broader push to modernise Nigeria’s education sector and prepare students for a technology-driven economy, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Director of the department, Gabriel Amudipe, said the expansion followed a successful pilot phase and praised ICEDT Consult for building a coordinated implementation model spanning Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. He said the standards set during the pilot must be sustained nationwide, and directed ministry officials to monitor the programme professionally and enforce compliance with the agreement.
“The Ministry remains committed to supporting innovative initiatives that strengthen teacher professionalism, improve learning outcomes and promote the responsible integration of emerging technologies into education,” Amudipe said.
Deputy Director Oladele Fapohunda called the programme a strategic intervention to deepen digital innovation in federal unity colleges, stressing that stakeholder collaboration would be key to its success.
ICEDT Consult’s Head of Strategic Partnerships, Dr Abdulrahman Orosanya, said the project earned national approval after a pilot in six federal unity colleges representing each geopolitical zone. The pilot showed AI could improve lesson planning, classroom instruction, assessment, and teacher productivity, he said, adding that the full rollout would sharpen teachers’ digital skills and support a technology-driven education system producing globally competitive students.
The ceremony closed with both parties signing the Terms of Reference, setting the stage for full implementation across all federal unity colleges. Beyond training the 11,700 teachers, officials expect the programme to benefit thousands of students through better classroom practice and wider adoption of AI in teaching and learning.
Construction is ongoing at the 17.5-kilometre Second Niger Bridge Access Road (Phase 2B), with the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, driving the strategic project under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda to improve connectivity in the South-East and decongest the Onitsha corridor.
The project will link the Umunya/Ogbunike axis of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway to the Asaba–Igbuzor Road Interchange and includes seven bridges, solar-powered street lighting, and security cameras to enhance safety, ease traffic congestion, and reduce travel time.
Construction is ongoing at the 17.5-kilometre Second Niger Bridge Access Road (Phase 2B), with the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, driving the strategic project under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda to improve connectivity in the South-East and decongest… pic.twitter.com/vl6X0lENNA
"I have nothing but positive words for what the Central Bank @cenbank has done ~~~~~ This is the first time that this economy will be growing faster than the population "
~ HRH Muhammad Sanusi, Emir of Kano
Ex CBN Gov gives current CBN governor @DrYemiCardoso and President @officialABAT their 🌹🌹🌹
#KemKem
📌"I have nothing but positive words for what the Central Bank @cenbank has done ~~~~~ This is the first time that this economy will be growing faster than the population "
Let's be honest, how many times have you felt a nagging ache in your back, neck, or shoulder and simply waved it off? "It will go on its own," you tell yourself, and then you go back to your errands, your desk, your market stall, or your commercial bus ride. Sound familiar? You are not alone. Millions of people live with everyday body pain and treat it as something to endure rather than something to address. But here's the truth: pain is your body's way of sending you a message, and ignoring that message for too long can cost you all you have been working for.
Why Does Your Body Hurt in the First Place?
Body pain doesn't just appear from nowhere. Most of the aches people feel daily can be traced back to everyday activities that put strain on muscles and joints. Common culprits include: ● Stress, which tightens muscles and often shows up as neck and shoulder pain. ● Long hours of standing, sitting, or bending; let's think tailors, traders, drivers, and office workers hunched over laptops. ● Heavy lifting, whether it's market goods, luggage, or your toddler who insists on being carried everywhere. ● Poor posture, especially from long phone or laptop use. ● Physical exertion without proper warm-up, which can strain muscles and joints. ● Minor sprains and knocks from daily hustle and bustle.
On their own, these causes seem harmless. But when the resulting pain is left unmanaged, it can lead to complications that may take longer to recover from.
The Real Risk of Ignoring Persistent Pain Many people treat pain as normal. They say it’s a badge for hard work, something to push through rather than paying attention to it. But persistent, untreated pain can quietly compound into bigger problems:
• It can affect your quality of life, making the simplest activities feel exhausting, reducing your productivity at work or business, and limiting your overall enjoyment of life.
• It can limit your movement, making everyday tasks like climbing stairs or lifting an object more difficult.
• It can affect your sleep, since discomfort makes it difficult to rest properly at night.
It can worsen over time, turning what started as a mild ache into a chronic pain that is more difficult to treat.
• It can affect your mood, leaving you irritable, anxious, or constantly restless. The bottom line is, the pain you ignore today doesn't just disappear, it often waits to resurface, usually at a more inconvenient time and with greater severity.
Practical Ways to Manage Muscle and Joint Pain
The good news is that you don't have to let body pain control your life. Small, consistent habits can make a real difference:
• Stretch regularly, especially if your job keeps you in one position for periods. • Take short breaks to move around if you sit or stand for extended periods. • Stay hydrated. Drinking enough water makes your muscles functioning properly. Dehydration can contribute to muscle stiffness and cramps. • Maintain good posture when working, especially with phones, laptops and other gadgets. • Apply topical relief to sore areas as soon as discomfort sets in, rather than waiting for it to worsen.
This is where a roll-on comes in handy. Something like the Lofnac Roll-On, easy to keep in your bag or on your desk, so when that familiar stiffness creeps into your neck after hours at your desk, or your shoulders start protesting from carrying market bags, you can deal with it on the spot, no need to wait until you get home, or until it returns into something worse. It is a simple addition to your daily routine whenever pain shows up.
Building a Healthier Relationship with Pain It's worth remembering that managing pain isn't about being "soft" or overreacting. It's about respecting your body enough to respond immediately when it speaks to you. Nigerians are known for resilience and hard work, but resilience shouldn't mean silently suffering through preventable discomfort. Taking a few minutes to stretch, rest, or apply relief is not a sign of weakness, it's a sign of wisdom.
When to See a Doctor
While everyday aches can often be managed at home, persistent or worsening pain deserves proper medical attention. If your pain lasts longer than a few weeks, becomes severe, is accompanied by swelling, numbness, or fever, or interferes significantly with your daily activities, it's important to consult a healthcare professional. Self-care measures, including topical products like Lofnac Roll-On, work best as part of a broader approach to your wellbeing not as a replacement for medical advice when pain persists or worsens.
Your body works hard for you every single day. The least you can do is listen when it asks you for a little care. Don't wait until the ache becomes a bigger problem. Pay attention, take practical steps, and give your muscles and joints the relief they deserve.
Construction Progress Report – Tangaza Local Government, Gidan Madi Axis (CH+78 to CH+84)
Construction activities are progressing steadily along the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway at the Gidan Madi Axis, Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State, covering Chainage (CH) 78 to CH 84.
Current site operations include earthworks, road formation, grading, compaction, and other preparatory activities in line with the project schedule. Construction personnel and heavy equipment remain actively engaged to ensure quality delivery while maintaining safety and engineering standards.
The Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway is a strategic Federal Government infrastructure project designed to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, enhance transportation, and stimulate economic growth across Nigeria. The project is expected to provide lasting benefits to communities along the corridor through improved access, increased commercial activities, and employment opportunities.
Location: Gidan Madi Axis, Tangaza Local Government Area, Sokoto State Section: CH+78 – CH+84 Project Status: Ongoing construction works with steady progress.
SOKOTO–BADAGRY SUPERHIGHWAY PROJECT UPDATE
Construction Progress Report – Tangaza Local Government, Gidan Madi Axis (CH+78 to CH+84)
Construction activities are progressing steadily along the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway at the Gidan Madi Axis, Tangaza Local Government Area,… pic.twitter.com/JFplUvelzA
Politics › PDP Dismisses Rumours Of Adebutu’s Exclusion From INEC List by Estello(op): 3:08pm On Oct 30
