Former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has reportedly passed away at the age of 71. Uduaghan, who led Delta State for two terms between 2007 and 2015, reportedly d+ed on the morning of Monday, October 19, 2026. His de@th was announced in a statement issued by the family and signed by Toju Anire Uduaghan on their behalf. The family described his passing as a painful loss, noting that his contributions and years of service left a lasting impact on individuals and communities across Delta State and Nigeria. “He was a source of strength, a father figure, a beloved brother and uncle, and a respected elder. We will deeply miss his presence and forever cherish the memories and legacy he leaves behind,” the statement read. Before becoming governor, Uduaghan served as Delta State Commissioner for Health from 1999 to 2003 and later held the position of Secretary to the State Government from 2003 to 2007. He assumed office as governor in 2007 and spent eight years le...

The Federal Government has reportedly paid ₦658.9bn in direct cash transfers to 10.46 million poor and vulnerable households as of September 2026, but the World Bank has called for improvements to ensure the programme provides more effective and sustained relief. The recommendation was contained in the bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update, titled ‘Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Shaped State Priorities’, which examined economic conditions and measures to cushion Nigerians against financial hardship. According to the report, the government deployed biometric and digital verification systems to identify eligible beneficiaries and facilitate payments under the cash transfer programme. While acknowledging the reported disbursement, the World Bank stressed that the programme’s impact would depend on reaching more households, providing sufficient financial assistance and ensuring payments are made consistently. “Social protection and service delivery can help cu...

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic   Congress (NDC), has firmly rejected claims that the party’s Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) ticket will withdraw from the 2027 presidential race in favour of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar. In a strongly worded statement, Kwankwaso expressed deep concern over the conduct of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council. He accused it of launching unnecessary attacks on him, the NDC’s presidential candidate Peter Obi, and the party itself. He said the ADC campaign team was creating mischief by suggesting that the OK ticket was working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or that it might step down at the last minute for the ADC candidate. Kwankwaso described such claims as unfounded and unhelpful. “Let me state clearly and unequivocally: we will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party,” he declared. “We remain confident in our capacity, com...

The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, has said Nigeria probably has the world’s highest number of people living below the poverty threshold. “Today, Nigeria is probably the country in the world with the highest number of people living under the poverty threshold,” Mignot said in Abuja during the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. He cited figures showing that 133 million Nigerians lived in multidimensional poverty in 2022, adding that estimates from different sources suggested the situation had worsened. The ambassador disclosed that the EU had committed nearly €45 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria in 2026, particularly to support conflict-affected and crisis-prone communities. He said the EU was working with the Nigerian government, humanitarian organisations and local communities to connect emergency relief with long-term development solutions. Mignot acknowledged government social protection initiatives,...

Media personality Chude Jideonwo has opened up about setting boundaries, protecting his peace and learning to separate himself emotionally from people he loves. Speaking on Beyond With Ezinne, Chude revealed that he has been intentional about the people and opportunities he allows into his life since 2016. “For at least since 2016, I’ve been clear who I am. I don’t do anything I don’t enjoy doing. I don’t do any business I don’t enjoy doing. I don’t do any speaking engagement. I don’t like doing panels, for instance, unless it’s Bill Gates that’s inviting me or Joe Biden. I’m not doing it,” he said. He disclosed that he had fired clients because he did not like their energy, adding that he had turned down a million dollars because he anticipated the stress of working with the person. “It’s not that, oh, it was a potential million dollars, because I’m like, this person, I’m going to suffer. I’m going to have to navigate,” he explained. According to Chude, while he had learne...

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has said domestic and international markets have largely dismissed Nigeria’s opposition parties as unserious, with investors expecting President Bola Tinubu to secure a second term and sustain his economic reforms. Speaking at the closing briefing of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, Oyedele said investors had repeatedly questioned whether the government would reverse its policies ahead of the next election. “In all the meetings I have had, I came to a conclusion that the markets, including the domestic market and the international market, have largely written off the opposition in Nigeria as being unserious,” he said. He ruled out a return to fuel subsidies and multiple exchange rates, warning that reversing the reforms could trigger capital flight and weaken the naira. “Let me be clear: there will be no return to fuel subsidies or multiple exchange rates,” he stated. Oy...

Psychiatrists have warned Nigerians against taking loans they cannot repay, cautioning that mounting debts and pressure from creditors could trigger anxiety, emotional distress and other mental health problems. The warning follows a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report showing that personal loans reached N2.06tn in May 2026, accounting for 64.78 per cent of the N3.18tn in outstanding consumer credit. Total consumer credit rose by N50bn from N3.13tn in April. Professor Taiwo Obindo, a University of Jos psychiatry professor and immediate past president of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, said unpaid debts could disrupt sleep and appetite, cause persistent low moods and potentially develop into mental health conditions. He warned against loan sharks, citing abusive debt recovery practices, including the misuse of borrowers’ personal information and physical abuse of defaulters. He urged those struggling with debt to seek professional help, confide in trusted relati...

A 49-year-old Brazilian bricklayer, Edimar Rocha Martins, travelled more than 1,200 miles to meet a woman he believed was his girlfriend, only to discover that she was an AI-generated persona. Martins said he first came across a social media account belonging to a woman named Jéssica Oliveira, also known as Jessica Fazendeira, in 2020. Believing she was real, he decided to travel from Imperatriz in Maranhão to Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais to meet her. On October 9, Martins sold all his belongings to fund the bus trip. “I sold all my things, I got rid of everything,” he said. When he arrived in Belo Horizonte on October 11, he searched for the woman but was told at a radio station that she did not exist. “I went to the radio station there, and they said no, that’s fake news, that woman doesn’t exist,” he said. Martins eventually ran out of money and sought help at Belo Horizonte City Hall, where he told a social worker that he had travelled because he was tired of being lo...

Precious, popularly known as Beauty Goddess, a hair vendor who operates a shop in Delta State, has reportedly been found de@d alongside two other girls inside a house in Jeddo this morning.  According to our Edjeba reporter, Precious’ friends had been searching for her for three days after they were unable to reach her. They reportedly shared her pictures on social media in an attempt to locate her. This morning, her friends visited her residence and discovered that the door was locked from the inside. They reportedly forced the door open, only to find three people d+ad inside the house. The circumstances surrounding their d+aths remain unclear.

The Nollywood industry has been thrown into mourning following the d+ath of actress Tenia Abraham Omenogor, who passed away at the age of 32. Tenia’s family confirmed her d+ath in an announcement released on Thursday, October 15, 2026, revealing that the actress d+ed on October 13, 2026. The family identified a kidney infection as the cause of her d+ath. In their statement, her family described her as “a vibrant talent, a loving daughter, sister and friend,” expressing deep sorrow over her passing. Tenia was known for her appearances in several Nollywood productions and was appreciated for her dedication to her craft and warm personality. Her d+ath has left loved ones, colleagues and admirers mourning the loss of a promising actress whose life was cut short at just 32.

The Presidency has accused media organisations of promoting opposition narratives about Nigeria’s economy, insisting that food prices have dropped significantly under President Bola Tinubu. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, made the remarks in a post on his official X handle, on Friday. Onanuga urged television presenters to visit markets, claiming that the prices of staple foods, particularly rice, had crashed. His words: “TV anchors keep pushing the opposition’s narrative that nothing has changed, positively, indeed, massively, since 2023. Their position has become so ridiculous that they keep parroting the old narrative, and now they question the NBS data on receding inflation. I will advise them to revisit the markets. Food prices are crashing. “The favourite rice that at a time was selling for N120k a bag has crashed below N50k. In my hometown, a bag now sells for N45K.” The presidential aide also highlighted other economic dev...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi over their political ambitions. Wike made the remarks during his induction into the Idoma Hall of Fame, on Thursday in Abuja where he criticised politicians who, according to him, portray themselves as humble and identify with ordinary Nigerians for political gain. “You know politicians can tell lies. Yes! A man who, as a governor, never celebrated his birthday in IDP camps, now wants to do it there because he wants to be president. And you’ll say he’s humble. Which humility is that?” he said. He also questioned politicians who buy roadside corn and groundnuts to portray themselves as people who relate with the poor. “You see a man who has never eaten corn by the roadside. He goes, buys corn and groundnuts, and says he relates with poor people. Who ar...

A Nigerian baddie has sparked reactions online after declaring that she would block and break up with a man who gives her less than ₦100,000 to make her hair. In the video, she also urged men to date women within their financial means, highlighting her expectations regarding money and personal grooming in a relationship.

A 15-year-old girl in Florida has been charged after allegedly using an AI-altered image to frame her ex-boyfriend for threatening a school sh%oting. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to Riverview High School on Wednesday, Oct 14, after school administrators received an email containing a screenshot of an Instagram post threatening a sho%ting at the campus. The post appeared to have been made by a male student at the school. However, after interviewing him, detectives determined that he had not published the threat. Further investigations linked the incident to his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend, who was a former student of the school. Authorities said the teenager later admitted to sending the email containing the image that had been altered using artificial intelligence (AI). She was charged with making a written or electronic threat to conduct a mass sh%oting, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and disrupting a school camp...

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Faisal Abdulrasheed Maina, son of former Pension Reform Task Team chairman Abdulrasheed Maina, and transferred him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Security sources disclosed that Faisal, who had been on the run since 2020, was apprehended by DSS operatives in the Karsana area of Abuja following intelligence reports that he had secretly returned to Nigeria. Faisal was previously prosecuted by the EFCC on a three-count charge involving money laundering and conspiracy. However, he violated his bail conditions and fled the country. His trial proceeded in his absence, leading to his conviction in 2021 by Justice Okon Abang, who sentenced him to 14 years in prison. The court had ordered his arrest anywhere in Nigeria and directed that he be remanded in a correctional facility to serve his sentence. It also instructed the Federal Government to take lawful steps to secure his extradition if he was found out...

The Ogoni Oil and Gas Host Communities Youth Association has called for an urgent assessment of damage, adequate compensation for affected persons and prompt medical care for victims following a reported pipeline explosion in Aleto, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Association made the call during a visit to the affected site to assess the situation and express concern over the potential impact of the incident on residents, property and the surrounding environment. The Association urged relevant government agencies, pipeline operators and other responsible authorities to conduct a comprehensive assessment to establish the extent of the damage and identify individuals and communities affected by the explosion. It stressed that persons who suffered losses or injuries should receive appropriate compensation and support in line with applicable laws and established procedures. It also called for prompt medical attention for anyone injured or otherwise affected by...

A man identified as Sunday has been caught after allegedly breaking into someone’s house in Auchi, Edo State, and living there for about four days while the owner was away. In a video showing his confrontation with the landlord, the man admitted to breaking the back window to gain access to the property. When the landlord questioned how long he had been staying in the house, the man replied, “I’ve stayed for like four days.” The landlord expressed shock that the man had allegedly been living in the property, cooking and using the facilities without permission. “Four days? You dey cook, dey baff, dey shit. Okay, why you come break this back window?” the landlord asked before calling attention to the damage done to the property. When asked who broke the window, the man admitted, “I’m the one that did it.” However, when the landlord pointed out the damaged security bars, the man explained that he had broken the window to create an escape route in case someone arrived. “It is s...

Veteran Nigerian rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has explained why he remains unmarried at 52, attributing his single status to the demands of his music career and the collapse of a five-year relationship. The rapper, who spoke during a recent radio interview, said he had always wanted to get married and have children but was determined not to have a child outside wedlock. Ruggedman explained that he entered the Nigerian music industry when artists had to depend largely on their hustle, a journey that consumed much of his time. “I am one of those who got into the industry back in the day where all we had was our hustle and we faced it and before you know it, time was gone,” he said. He noted that some of his contemporaries were fortunate to find partners willing to support them through their careers, unlike him. “2baba was lucky to have found partners who were ready to walk that road with him, I wasn’t that lucky,” he said. The rapper furthe...

Pastor Kingsley Okonkwo has advised men to stop chasing women who constantly demand money, gifts and phones, urging them to seek partners who can support their growth and build a future with them. Speaking on relationships and marriage, the pastor said some men complain that women are only interested in what they can get from them, without considering the kind of women they pursue. “You’re always looking for girls that are taking from you. You see the ones that can support you and help you, you don’t want that one,” he said. Okonkwo urged men to stop generalising about the opposite s+x, insisting that there are still good, godly women willing to build a life with their partners. “Don’t join all this gender war: men are sc¥m, women are sc¥m. It’s a lie. It’s the type you are chasing,” he added. The pastor also challenged men who delay marriage until they become wealthy, arguing that a supportive wife can help them achieve their goals faster. “When you marry a good woman, she...

The Rivers State Police Command has relieved the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Abuloma Division and the officer overseeing the affected police outpost of their duties following a viral video showing the renovation of the facility, allegedly carried out by members of De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), popularly known as the Norsemen Club in Nigeria. The video, which circulated online and was shared by platforms including Naija Confra, Ogoni  Rant  Media and other blogs, reportedly showed the renovated Abuloma Police Outpost and a celebration marking the completion of the project on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The development has sparked public attention, prompting the Police Command to order a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the renovation and the extent of any police involvement. In a press release issued on Friday, October 16, the Command said the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, had ordered the removal of ...

Dr Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, has predicted a landslide victory for President Bola Tinubu in 2027, citing growing support from politicians across party lines. Kwankwaso, Director of Finance at the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, made the prediction in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday. He said politicians from APGA, Labour Party, PDP and Accord Party joining Tinubu’s re-election campaign demonstrated growing confidence in his leadership and economic reforms. “To me, the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council is like a congregation celebrating the re-election of President Tinubu back to office. What else remains when the same Nigerians we are supposed to campaign for have collectively come forward in unison for one person Tinubu?” he said. Describing the cross-party support as unprecedented, he added: “It has never happened in Nigeria’s political history that one man could attract nearly al...

Dr. Rachna Shroff, a University of Arizona cancer researcher who specialised in pancreatic and bile duct cancers, has d+ed at 47 after battling the disease she spent her career trying to eradicate. The American Society of Clinical Oncology announced that she “passed away following a battle with an aggressive cancer.” Shroff, a mother of two, was diagnosed with terminal adenocarcinoma earlier this year after doctors examined a swollen lymph node in May and discovered that the cancer had spread. Despite her diagnosis, she continued to reflect on her lifelong mission to help patients. Speaking to NBC News, she said, “I’ve spent my entire life trying to eradicate cancer, primarily pancreatic cancer but also liver cancers.” The researcher, who authored more than 80 publications, also launched a Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award in her name. More than $1.35 million has reportedly been raised for cancer research, which the University of Arizona described as “one of her final...

PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE — The Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol, Esq., has urged the leadership of the Ogoni Oil and Gas Host Communities Youth Association to embrace transparency, accountability and purposeful leadership in advancing the interests of oil-producing communities in Rivers State. Maol gave the charge when the leadership of the association, led by its President, Comrade Teddy Gianen, paid him a courtesy visit to introduce the organisation, explain its mandate and discuss the need for increased youth participation in issues affecting Ogoni host communities. The Deputy Speaker commended the association for bringing young people together under a common platform but emphasised the need for its leadership to demonstrate a clear vision and pursue initiatives capable of delivering tangible benefits to the communities it represents. He encouraged the association to establish practical priorities guided by its constitution and...

A 37-year-old woman, Fatima Sanda, has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for procuring a 16-year-old girl for s+xual expl%itation in Borno State. The conviction was secured by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Tr@fficking in Persons (NAPTIP) at a Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri on Monday. According to NAPTIP, the court, presided over by Justice Aisha M. Ndume, also ordered Sanda to pay N500,000 in compensation to the victim. The agency said Sanda was convicted under Section 16(1) of the Tr@fficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, as amended, for procuring the minor and subjecting her to s+xual expl%itation by other persons. The conviction came about a month after a Niger State High Court in Minna sentenced 27-year-old Hussaini Suleiman to seven years’ imprisonment for r+ping an eight-year-old girl at his residence. NAPTIP said Suleiman pleaded guilty to the offence after the case was referred to its Niger State...

U.S. President Donald Trump has said Canada will “end up being the 51st state,” renewing complaints about trade tariffs and accusing the neighbouring country of treating the United States unfairly. Speaking at a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday, October 14, Trump said, “Canada treats us very badly. They always have. Not anymore. It’s a whole different ball game now that Trump is in town.” He criticised Canadian tariffs on milk and other goods, as well as companies moving their factories to the U.S. “They’ll end up being the 51st state, because that’s the only way it works,” Trump said. “We don’t need them, but they need us.” He also questioned why the U.S. should lose billions of dollars supporting Canada, adding that the country’s territory “just adds to our beautiful plate,” in an apparent reference to his remarks about Greenland. The comments came amid renewed trade tensions. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra had suggested that remarks by Cana...

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has predicted that Nigeria could face widespread vi%lence, political unrest and ethnic tensions if President Bola Tinubu loses the 2027 presidential election. In a statement issued by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric warned that the consequences of Tinubu’s defeat could be severe and take a long time for the country to recover from. According to Ayodele, Tinubu and his supporters are already convinced that he will secure a second term, making an unexpected defeat potentially difficult for them to accept. He said, “If Tinubu loses this election, there will be so many crises, and it will take a long time to settle down; it will be an unimaginable manifestation because he believes he will win already. If he loses the election, it will be bl%%dy because a lot of politicians will go into oblivion.” The prophet further claimed that a defeat could trigger attempts to prevent the announcement of ele...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to ensure massive votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State and the FCT ahead of the 2027 general elections. Wike made the declaration while speaking about his assignment to coordinate political activities in the two areas, expressing confidence that they would deliver votes for Tinubu. “For me as an opposition party member, as the leader of the People’s Democratic Party. There are not two leaders of the PDP. I am the leader of the PDP. So I speak on behalf of the People’s Democratic Party,” he said. The minister disclosed that he had seen his name listed for the coordination of Rivers State and the FCT, describing the task as straightforward. “Your excellency, the assignment is simple. I opened Leadership today, and I saw my name, and I was told that I’m going to coordinate FCT and Rivers. Simple. Not too much work for me. It’s Rivers and FCT,” Wike stated. He subsequently pledged to ...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has received a fresh petition seeking renewed action against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over alleged financial crimes dating back to 2006. The petition was submitted by former House of Representatives member, Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, who urged the anti-graft agency to revisit its previous investigation into the allegations and consider prosecution. Agbonayinma said the petition, dated August 27, 2026, was received by the commission on September 1. He appeared at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, where he adopted the petition and answered questions from investigators. He called on the commission to act on its September 2006 report on Atiku and a February 4, 2010, report by the United States Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. “I want to thank Nigerians, the EFCC, and those praying for me in this struggle. The laws are meant for both the rich and the poor. After the EFCC has done a fantas...

An Iranian accounting student, Najmeh Amini, 23, has reportedly been sentenced to d+ath for blasphemy after allegedly ins¥lting the Prophet in a social media post. According to reports, Amini was sentenced last month after spending eight months in Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. She was also handed a 12-year, six-month and one-day prison sentence for allegedly acting against national security and spreading anti-government propaganda. Amini was arrested on January 31 following nationwide anti-government protests, during which security forces reportedly k+lled thousands and arrested tens of thousands, according to human rights groups. Following her sentencing, a leaked voice recording reportedly made inside prison emerged, in which she appealed for help. “I am an innocent girl, a young person with so many hopes and dreams. I have parents who are waiting for me,” she said, urging lawyers, human rights activists and international organisations to review her case. “Remember my name...

The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah, has raised concerns over what he described as restrictions targeting Nigerians in Italy, claiming that being born in Nigeria can complicate access to banking services. Speaking about his experience, Onah said he recently visited the Vatican Bank to withdraw money from his account but was told he needed authorisation from the administration because he had exceeded the cash withdrawal limit. “I was amused. And also a little irritated. It wasn’t that way before,” the bishop said, recounting the incident. He explained that when he asked whether the restriction applied to everyone or only bishops, the response surprised him. “It depends on where you were born,” he quoted the response, alleging that the rule specifically targets Nigerians. Onah also claimed that Nigerians in Italy seeking to open accounts with a certain bank could face difficulties, saying the restriction applied specifically to Nigerians. The bishop ...

Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters Church has advised people to work on their selfishness before entering relationships, warning that a partner’s attitude towards others can reveal their true character. Preaching in a sermon titled “Fixing and Restoring A Broken Relationship And Marriage,” the cleric said, “Leave dating alone, go and fix your selfishness first,” cautioning against relationships with people who make everything about themselves. Citing Proverbs 23:6, Idowu illustrated his point with the example of a woman who insists on receiving an iPhone 18 for her birthday despite her partner explaining that he cannot afford it. “If you cannot get it, forget it. Don’t get me anything,” he quoted the woman as saying, adding, “You will know you did not find a wife. You found a knife.” He also described a scenario where a man buys an expensive phone for himself but fails to consider upgrading his partner’s phone, saying such behaviour could reveal a lack of thoughtfulness. “Lo...

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu has fulfilled 90 per cent of his campaign promises, arguing that his administration deserves another four years to consolidate its achievements ahead of the 2027 general election. Alausa stated this during the unveiling of a new agreement for non-academic staff in tertiary institutions, where he defended the President’s record and accused opposition figures of spreading misinformation about the government’s performance. He cited the resolution of longstanding disputes with tertiary institution unions as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to education, noting that the Federal Government had negotiated agreements with academic and non-academic unions after years of disagreements that disrupted academic activities. “You have a President who has your back. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has your back,” Alausa told union leaders, urging them to engage the government through established channels instead ...

Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has opposed efforts to decriminalise attempted suicide, insisting that survivors should face imprisonment, even as the Senate advances a bill proposing medical treatment and rehabilitation instead of criminal punishment. Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the remarks on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during plenary deliberations on a bill seeking to establish a national framework for suicide prevention, decriminalise attempted suicide and provide support for survivors. According to reports by Channels Television, Premium Times and Punch Newspapers, Akpabio maintained that attempted suicide should remain a criminal offence, arguing that removing the existing penalties could encourage the act. “As far as we are concerned, we are saying that suicide is a crime for now. Therefore, if you attempt it, you better succeed. If you don’t succeed, we will send you to prison,” Akpabio said. He further declared, “If you attempt it and don’t ...

Nigeria recorded the world’s largest increase in multidimensional poverty, with 17.9 million additional people falling into poverty between 2021 and 2024, according to the 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index. The report, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, showed a reversal of Nigeria’s progress in poverty reduction between 2018 and 2021. Nigeria recorded a higher increase than Afghanistan, where 5.3 million additional people became multidimensionally poor during its latest assessment period. “In absolute terms, the largest increase in the number of poor people is seen in Nigeria… 17.9 million people became multidimensionally poor,” the report stated. The index measures deprivation beyond income, including access to healthcare, education, electricity, clean water, sanitation, adequate housing and nutrition. According to the report’s harmonised comparison, Nigeria’s multidimensional pove...

Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has acknowledged the hardship Nigerians have faced following the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms and changes to the tax system, while defending the policies as necessary for the country’s future. He made the remarks on Monday, October 12, at the maiden edition of the Seyi Tinubu Colloquium, themed “Shaping the Future Together,” held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. Speaking at the event, Seyi said President Tinubu inherited existing national challenges but chose to confront them for the benefit of younger Nigerians and future generations. “President Bola Tinubu didn’t choose the Nigeria he inherited from his predecessors, yet his administration chose to confront the challenges of our nation. Not for itself alone, but for the benefit of those who come next. For us, the young generation,” he said. He acknowledged that the reforms had placed pressure on families, adding that the immediate pain was more noticeable th...

Former Super Eagles coach Jo Bonfrere has claimed that he has yet to receive his Olympic gold medal or reward for helping Nigeria win the men’s football event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Bonfrere made the claim during an interview with CreativeLordTV in Ebonyi State, where he visited for the opening of Chief Agueze’s country home on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Asked whether the promises made to him after Nigeria won gold had been fulfilled, the 80-year-old Dutch coach, through an interpreter, said he had never received the medal. “I have never seen the gold. That’s the problem, so I don’t know how it looks. I don’t know how the gold medal looks because I have never received it,” he said. The interpreter further explained that Bonfrere had gone three decades without receiving his reward, despite claims that the players and other officials had been rewarded. “Every player has received, even the reward, every player and official. So after 30 years, I have never received my r...

A prosecution witness, Dr. Onuoha Okeiqwe, has told the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, that he paid ₦69.15m for a five-year lease of a property allegedly presented to him as belonging to Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO. Okeiqwe gave the testimony on Monday, October 12, 2026, before Justice R. A. Oshodi during the continuation of Blessing CEO’s trial. Blessing CEO was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on June 9, 2026, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing involving ₦69.15m. She pleaded not guilty. The witness said the transaction involved a property at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos, which was allegedly leased to Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited for five years. He told the court that he contacted Blessing CEO after concerns arose over the property’s ownership, alleging that she dismissed his concerns and maintained that she owned the building. Okeiqwe...