Opobo Kingdom has witnessed another historic moment as Charles Douglas Macpepple Jaja, Jeki VI, was reportedly crowned the new King of Opobo. The grand coronation ceremony, held in Opobo Kingdom, Rivers State, attracted dignitaries and prominent personalities from across Nigeria and beyond. Among those in attendance were former President Goodluck Jonathan, former First Lady Patience Jonathan, Asari Dokubo, former Rivers State Commissioner Dakuku Peterside, the King of Bonny Kingdom, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, and several other distinguished guests. The colourful ceremony marked a significant moment in the history and traditional institution of Opobo Kingdom. Below are highlights from the historic event.

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country is on the right path, saying the nation has finished making sacrifices and that peace and development will return. Tinubu made the statement in a message delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at a special prayer session marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary at the National Mosque, Abuja, on Friday. The President acknowledged the challenges Nigerians have faced over the years but said the country had matured through its journey since independence. “This anniversary the 66th by all accounts signifies Nigeria has come of age. The person of 66 years cannot be called a child anymore. Nigeria has become mature, even though when we reflect on the journey from independence to date, we may say it was a mixed journey. “Nigeria was bedevilled with a lot of issues in the past and opportunities as well. But we thank Almighty Allah for granting us the life and peace for us to witnes...

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has told the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to either join the All Progressives Congress or quit the Rainbow Coalition. Governor Lawal stated this in an interview on Friday.  The Zamfara State Governor insisted that Wike cannot support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election while backing candidates of other parties in the 2027 elections.  The governor said the position of APC governors on Wike’s cross-party political platform remained unchanged, despite the minister’s repeated defence of the coalition. He said Wike should make his political allegiance clear ahead of the 2027 elections.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence could become powerful enough to cause catastrophic loss of life if it falls into the hands of people with h@rmful intentions. Speaking in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Gates said AI could potentially contribute to events resulting in up to a billion de@ths. He argued that the combination of advanced AI tools and people with malicious intentions could create d@ngers unlike those posed by previous technologies. Gates also said AI companies should not be left to regulate themselves. He called for governments, politicians and law enforcement agencies to establish mandatory safeguards and monitoring systems for the technology. His concerns come amid growing debate within the technology industry over the potential dangers of increasingly powerful AI. Some researchers and employees at leading AI companies have raised concerns that the race to develop more advanced systems could expose humanity to ser...

The Rivers State House of Assembly has resolved to issue a warrant of arrest against the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences over his repeated failure to appear before the House Ad-hoc Committee investigating funds released to the institution under the state government’s scholarship scheme. The resolution was reached on Friday, September 25, 2026, during the 53rd Legislative Sitting of the House, following consideration of the report of the Ad-hoc Committee, presented by its Chairman and Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol  The House also called on the Rivers State Government to establish a committee to recover all funds found to be unaccounted for by PAMO University and return such funds to the Consolidated Revenue Account of the State. The Assembly had constituted the Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the disbursement and utilisation of funds released to PAMO University and establish the number of students covered under the scholarship arrangement. In...

Ogoni leader and political stakeholder, Victor Tombari Pidomson, has responded to growing calls for the creation of Ogoni State, describing the demand as a brilliant idea but noting that achieving state creation through Nigeria’s democratic system may be a difficult and lengthy process. Speaking with RwGBlog News, Pidomson commended Ogonis for advocating for the creation of an Ogoni State but urged them to first channel their efforts towards producing an Ogoni governor. According to him, securing the governorship would be a more immediate political objective, after which the agitation for state creation could be pursued more vigorously. He stressed that Ogonis should focus on what he described as an achievable political goal before pursuing the longer-term demand for state creation. “A bird at hand is worth more than one million in the bush. The Ogoni should demand for a governor for now,” he said.

The Ogoni Peoples' Assembly (OPA) has called on the Federal Government to halt any planned signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the resumption of oil production in Ogoniland until the Ogoni people have been given the opportunity to review and ratify the agreement. In a press statement issued in Port Harcourt and Bori on September 24, 2026, and signed by the Leader of OPA, Rev. Comr. Probel Williams, the group said any agreement concerning Ogoni land and resources must be subjected to broad consultation and approval through an Ogoni Congress. The Assembly also made the creation of Bori State a major condition for the resumption of oil production, urging the Federal Government to sponsor an Executive Bill to facilitate the creation of the proposed state. OPA said it supports the responsible and lawful resumption of oil production in Ogoniland but insisted that such resumption must be based on transparency, environmental safety, due process and meaningful part...

Minister of Works Dave Umahi has challenged those who claim that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is superior to him, asking them to point out what Obi has done better than him. Umahi made the statement on Thursday in Benin City during the ‘Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road’ event, while responding to comments that Obi was not his “match.” He said he took time to consider whether Obi could be regarded as superior to him based on their family backgrounds, intellectual capacity and contributions to the South-East. “And when that guy says that Peter Obi is not my match, it took me ten minutes to think about it; is it in my larger family background that his is better than my own? Is it in intellectual capacity? Is it in what we have done for the people of South-East? Is it what we did when we were governors? “So, when you say he is not a match, put it side by side and tell me what Peter Obi is better than this Dave Umahi. You can’t be tackling counsel without knowledge,”...

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said the ₦70,000 national minimum wage is inadequate for Nigerian workers to cope with the current economic pressures. Keyamo spoke at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit organised by XEM Consultants Limited, where he said the rising cost of living had eroded workers’ purchasing power and made an upward review of wages necessary. The minister urged the Federal Government to meet organised labour halfway in the ongoing wage discussions, noting that unions were demanding as much as ₦500,000. He recalled the negotiations that preceded the increase in the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 in 2024, but said the current wage was still insufficient to absorb the economic shocks confronting workers. Keyamo also criticised the treatment of workers by some government agencies, particularly situations where employees are denied basic allowances while senior officials allegedly approve large sums for int...

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has compared the cost of petrol in Nigeria and England, saying a litre of fuel costs “about three thousand something” after conversion to naira. Speaking while addressing concerns about the cost of petrol, Okpebholo said he was in London the previous week when he told his friend, “let’s go and buy fuel,” so they could compare the cost of petrol between Nigeria and England. He said, “Let me tell you, after conversion, it’s about three thousand something for one liter of fuel.” The governor added, “We are doing very well here. The president is stabilizing the economy. He’s an economist.” Okpebholo also said, “I want to let them know that Edo is in a safe hand, Nigeria is also in a safe hand.” He further described President Tinubu as not being “a supermarket man,” adding, “The supermarket people, let them wait. When it is time for supermarket people to rule Nigeria, if technocrats is not here again, then they will come.” He made the remarks ...

The Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2027 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called for the impeachment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his alleged failure to formally transfer power to Vice-President Kashim Shettima during his prolonged absence from Nigeria. Adebayo, through his campaign council, accused the President of violating the 1999 Constitution by remaining outside the country without transmitting a written declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. The council, in a statement signed by its Director of Communications, Comrade Mark Adebayo, cited Section 145(1) of the Constitution, which provides that when the President is on vacation or otherwise unable to perform his duties, he should formally transmit a declaration to the National Assembly. According to the council, such a declaration allows the Vice-President to perform the functions of President as Acting President until the P...

Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh has said another term for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would give the administration an opportunity to deepen its programmes and further transform the country. Momoh spoke at Nomeh Unateze, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, during the flag-off of a 200-hectare integrated agricultural development project by the South East Development Commission (SEDC), in partnership with the Enugu State Government. He said the project reflects the Tinubu administration’s focus on food security, regional development and economic transformation, adding that the Federal Government had introduced measures to improve Nigeria’s development prospects. “Another opportunity for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means transformation. Another opportunity means complete transformation of all the things that have been happening,” Momoh said. He said the SEDC project aligns with Federal Government policies, particularly the priority on food security...

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has cautioned politicians and public office holders against using st%len or c+rrupt public funds to sponsor religious pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem. The Sultan made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening ceremony of a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), themed Shared Sacred Flourishing in Nigeria. He said the spiritual purpose of a religious activity could not justify the use of c+rrupt funds to finance it, stressing that such acts would not be acceptable to God. “You cannot steal money and send people to Jerusalem or Mecca with c+rrupt funds and think God will accept your deeds. “God is not c+rrupt, so you cannot use c+rrupt money for Hajj or anything else,” he said. The Sultan also urged religious leaders to collaborate with anti c+rruption agencies in the fight against c+rruption and in promoting accountability across the country. He called on the Economic and Fina...

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has embraced Islam after reciting the Shahadah in Doha, Qatar, where he currently plays for Qatar Stars League club Al-Ahli. Qatari newspaper Al-Arab reported the development on Wednesday, September 23, saying the 33-year-old Nigerian defender “announced his Islam” after pronouncing the two testimonies of faith. A video of the footballer reciting the Shahadah has also surfaced online. Islamic cleric Dr Muhammad Salah shared footage of the former Nigeria captain reciting the testimonies on his verified Facebook account. Another report by Al Jazeera said Troost-Ekong expressed a desire to read more and learn about Islam.  Troost-Ekong joined the Arab region in 2024 when he moved to Saudi Arabia before switching to Al-Ahli in Qatar in January 2026 on a one-and-a-half-year contract.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Masari, has praised President Bola Tinubu, saying that in his almost 40 years of political involvement, he has never seen a Nigerian president with better plans for the country. Masari made the statement while addressing a group of women at a recent public function in Kaduna. His remarks were contained in a video shared by Hausa-language media outfit HM Arewa on Facebook on Tuesday. “Even if I were asked to swear, on my age and my political involvement for almost 40 years, I can confidently say I have never seen a president with better plans to make Nigeria great than Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have simply never seen anyone like him,” Masari said. He also dismissed claims that Tinubu’s administration has achieved little, saying such criticism is similar to attacks faced by previous presidents. Masari cited former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who he said was accused of tribalism and sectionalism after his first term ended in 19...

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has defended Nigeria’s petrol pricing, saying Nigerians are already benefiting from local refining despite the product being sold at a price linked to the global market. Speaking during an interview with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, Lokpobiri said Nigeria could not arbitrarily reduce petrol prices because the downstream sector is fully deregulated. According to him, the fact that crude oil is produced and refined locally does not mean Nigerians can be insulated from international crude prices. “Seun, we are already benefiting. That is why our price is lower than that of the US,” he said. Lokpobiri pointed to the United States, which he described as one of the world’s highest producers of crude oil and one of the countries with the highest refining capacity, arguing that petrol is still more expensive there than in Nigeria. “Today the price in the USA is higher than that of Nigeria,” he said. When asked whet...

Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), has said public universities across Nigeria may need to charge at least ₦1 million in tuition per student to achieve financial self-sustainability. Olatunji-Bello made the remarks in a recent interview while reflecting on her five-year tenure, which ended on Saturday. She said LASU currently spends over ₦1 billion monthly on its payroll, while its ₦13 billion internally generated revenue (IGR) is insufficient to cover salaries. “Universities can achieve financial self-sustainability. If they can innovate and ensure improvements in the institution, money will come in,” she said. “But then, if the money comes in, how do you spend it? Right now, LASU does not have financial self-sustainability. We may have increased our dedicated revenue, but we cannot survive. Our payroll right now is over N1bn per month. All the N13bn IGR does not cover our salaries.” She added, “So, universities that wa...

The United Kingdom has removed Nigeria and Ghana from the list of countries whose teacher-trained professionals are eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), a requirement for teaching in many schools across England. The change took effect on September 9, according to the UK Department for Education (DfE). The department said overseas teaching qualifications and experience are assessed against strict requirements to ensure teachers awarded QTS meet its standards. For countries to remain eligible, they must have a national regulator capable of confirming a teacher’s professional standing and provide authenticated references. However, the DfE said Nigeria and Ghana failed to meet the reference requirement. “Our data shows that more than 70% of applications from teachers in Ghana and Nigeria include work history references that use public email addresses, such as Gmail or Hotmail, rather than a school’s official email domain,” the department said. India was also re...

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has issued a red alert over the rising presence of sophisticated adulterated palm oil in markets across the state. The warning followed a technical presentation at the Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition by Dr. Nurah Oseni, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Food Technology, Auchi Polytechnic. LASCOPA General Manager, Afolabi Solebo, urged residents to shine their eyes and report suspected adulterated palm oil and unscrupulous traders through the agency’s official channels. Solebo reaffirmed LASCOPA’s commitment to protecting consumers from unsafe and substandard products, adding that market surveillance had been intensified across the state. He also vowed that suspects caught would be arrested and prosecuted under relevant laws. In her paper titled Palm oil adulteration,Emerging risks, detection strategies and regulatory control,Oseni explained that palm oil is particularly vulnerable to adulteration be...

A Bayelsa man has reunited with his biological father 35 years after he was given to another man. A family member, Ibuomozi Bigi, shared the emotional story in a FB post on Sunday, September 20, 2026. According to him, the young man was brought back to their family on Saturday, September 19 and formally presented to the Mozi Dynasty in Olobiri Community the next day. “A family’s celebration of the Return of a lost Son. My older brother’s son who was given to another man 35 years ago has been brought back to the  Bigi family yesterday being 19 September 2026, a replica of his father; and today the young man was presented to the Mozi Dynasty in Olobiri Community today being 20th September, 2026 just minutes ago,” he wrote. “I’m overwhelmed with joy over this particular event, and just returning from the village. Na God run this one.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed demands by civil servants for the Federal Government to reduce petrol to N500 per litre and raise the minimum wage to N500,000 amid worsening economic hardship. The demands were contained in a letter to President Bola Tinubu by the Trade Union Side of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC). The workers also demanded an immediate wage award for federal, state and local government workers, as well as the constitution of a committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage ahead of January 2027. They said the recent increase in petrol prices to N1,430 per litre and above in some locations had further worsened the cost-of-living crisis. The workers gave the government until September 30, 2026, to act on their demands. The council rejected food palliatives as a sustainable solution, saying: “It has dawned on Nigerian workers that the provision of palliatives, such as bags of rice, Indomie, vegetable oil, garri,...

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have raided an alleged illegal juice factory in Aradagun, Badagry area of Lagos State, arresting two women in connection with the operation. The factory, located on Talabi Onilegbale Street, Aradagun, Olorunda LCDA, was uncovered around 9 p.m. on September 19, 2026, following five days of surveillance after the corps received intelligence about activities at the premises. According to the NSCDC, the factory was producing a drink branded Barkas Juice under Titi Alubarika Trading Stores Ltd. The corps claimed the product was unregistered and carried a purportedly fake NAFDAC registration number, 01-2166L. A truck loaded with the drinks was found at the premises, alongside cartons of the products and rolls of product labels. The NSCDC also stated that water used for production was sourced from a dirty well within the premises, while an unclean industrial storage tank was also found. The corps claimed the produc...

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said Peter Obi does not have what it takes to win the upcoming election, urging him to leave the election for President Bola Tinubu and prepare for 2031. Wike made the statement during an interview on Journalist Hangout, where he questioned how Obi would secure victory in states such as Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta. “In Cross River, how will Obi win? In Akwa Ibom, how will he win? In Delta, how will he win? Wike said. He further dismissed the idea that Obi currently has the support needed to win, saying the situation had changed from what it was previously. “No, Because it’s good for you people to hear this. You people carry propaganda. At that time, I agree with you. No longer now. What people want to know now, Obi does not have it and he won’t have it. And that’s the truth of the matter,” he said. Wike added, “It does not matter how you abuse me. But the truth of the matter is that for this election, le...

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has promised to return Nigerian youths to farming and small-scale businesses if elected president in 2027. Obi made the promise on Saturday in Kaduna during an NDC political gathering, where he and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, spoke about their plans for job creation and economic development. He said his administration would focus on moving Nigeria from consumption to production while creating jobs and running an inclusive government anchored on unity and investment. “If you elect us to serve, we will only borrow money for investment,” Obi said. “We’re no longer going to borrow money for consumption. We want to move Nigeria from consumption to production. By that, we will create jobs.” Comparing Nigeria with Indonesia, Obi said the Asian country is performing better despite having a larger population because more of its youths are employed. “Our population is about 230 million. Indonesia is 28...

Sleeping for nine hours or more every night could be linked to a higher risk of early de@th, according to a new study. Researchers tracked the sleeping habits of more than 3,000 people over 30 years and found that those who slept seven to eight hours nightly had the lowest mortality rate. The study recorded 10.57 de@ths per 1,000 people among those sleeping seven to eight hours. The figure rose slightly to 10.97 among those getting fewer than six hours of sleep, while people sleeping more than nine hours recorded the highest rate at 11.27 deaths per 1,000. The researchers said sleeping for longer was associated with a 17 per cent higher risk of dying from any cause, although the precise reasons remain unclear. They noted that people who sleep for longer may be more likely to have high blood pressure and increased inflammation, while excessive sleep could also affect the body’s internal clock, hormonal regulation and immune system. The Taiwanese researchers said sleep durati...

Blessing Fubara has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Young Peoples Party (YPP) ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Rivers State. Fubara, who previously sought the governorship ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), contested the party’s governorship primaries alongside Dumo Lulu-Briggs before later resigning his membership of the party. He has now joined the YPP race, where he will represent the party in the governorship election.

Italy is preparing to introduce new school rules that would ban face veils such as burqas and niqabs and limit the number of foreign students in each classroom, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Sunday.  Speaking at an annual youth event organised by her Brothers of Italy party, Meloni said a measure would soon be presented to the Cabinet. The proposed rules would also require parents of foreign students facing serious difficulties integrating into the Italian school system to learn Italian.  “If there is only one child in a class who doesn’t understand Italian, that child will likely be able to learn the language and integrate quickly with the help of classmates and teachers. However, if the number of children who don’t understand the language becomes large – or even the majority – that is no longer integration; it is neglect,” Meloni said.  She did not specify the maximum number of foreign students that would be allowed in a class. According to rese...

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and the party have dragged Abia State Governor Alex Otti and other state authorities before the Abia State High Court over an alleged N200 million mandatory fee imposed on presidential candidates seeking to display campaign materials in the state.  The suit, marked HC/214/2026 and filed through their lawyer, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, also lists the Abia State Attorney-General, Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ASAA), and the State House of Assembly as defendants.  Makinde and the APM are challenging the fee as unconstitutional and contrary to the Electoral Act 2026. They are asking the court to set aside ASAA’s regulations imposing the N200 million charge and stop the defendants from enforcing the fee or removing, defacing, destroying or obstructing their campaign billboards and outdoor advertisements.  The plaintiffs argue that Section 99(2) of the Elector...

The Ogoni Youth Stakeholders Forum has welcomed reported developments in the ongoing Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) process, saying concerns previously raised by Ogoni youths and other stakeholders are beginning to receive attention. The forum, in a statement signed by its leader, Comr. (Dr.) Nwisabari Bani Samuel, said the reported outcomes of a meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, September 17, 2026, could represent a significant step towards restoring transparency, confidence and inclusiveness in the dialogue process. According to the forum, the reported decision to review the approach to the dialogue process, reconstitute the harmonisation committee, improve access to information, disclose the names of the 40 Ogoni youths associated with NNPCL employment opportunities and publish the contractors handling the Confidence Building Projects are developments that could help address some of the concerns raised by stakeholders. The group also congratulated Distinguished Senator ...

Ogoni leader and political stakeholder, Victor Tombari  Pidomson, has called on Ogoni youths to channel the same energy and determination being demonstrated in discussions around oil resumption towards achieving greater political representation and liberation for the Ogoni people. Sir Tombari made the call following his recent comments concerning the KAGOTE body, which attracted significant attention across Ogoni. He had urged KAGOTE to support the emergence of an Ogoni governor, arguing that such a position would demonstrate its commitment to the political and economic interests of the Ogoni people. “Ogoni youths should funnel the same vitality and grit we are exhibiting on oil resumption towards political liberation,” he said. According to Victor, securing greater political power is essential to achieving sustainable economic development in Ogoniland. He further stressed that having an Ogoni person occupy the governorship would provide the people with greater access t...

A fierce political storm is brewing in Rivers State as Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo, a prominent loyalist of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has launched a blistering attack on Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, declaring him a persona non grata among his own people. Speaking forcefully on the ongoing power struggle, Ihunwo accused Wike—along with House of Representatives member O.K. Chinda and their allies—of acting as "enemies of Rivers State" whom the populace has outrightly rejected. "Wike has disgraced my people, for God's sake," Ihunwo stated, asserting that the former governor's actions bring embarrassment to both the Ikwerre ethnic nationality and the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. In an emotional appeal, he urged Wike’s father to "call him to order." Firmly rejecting any attempt by the FCT Minister to control the state's governance, Ihunwo insisted that "Wike cannot be governor by proxy" and argu...

Prince Divine Manson Barifodum has called on the Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Obarilomate Ollor, to address allegations concerning the presence of armed men and suspected bandits around Agbalor/Ebubu, amid growing security concerns in communities along the Eleme–Tai axis. Barifodum, in a statement on the security situation, alleged that armed groups operating around Agbalor/Ebubu may have been involved in attacks on neighbouring Ogoni communities. He called for an immediate investigation into the allegations, stressing that the claims should not be ignored or treated as established facts without proper investigation by the relevant authorities. According to him, communities around the Eleme–Tai axis have continued to face concerns over alleged armed attacks, killings and displacement, with community accounts claiming that more than 30 Ogoni people may have lost their lives in incidents allegedly linked to armed herders or bandits. Barifodum said the report...

The Ogoni National Youth Congress calls on the public to remain calm and vigilant as misguided claims gain traction on social media, specifically allegations that Professor Don Baridam has been removed as Chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) and replaced by Senator Olaka Nwogu. Rather than relying on the reports making the rounds online, the Congress undertook checks and consultations with relevant stakeholders, participants in the Abuja engagement and individuals familiar with the dialogue process to establish what actually transpired. Our findings indicate that Professor Don Baridam remains Chairman of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee and that no official decision has been communicated removing or replacing him. The investigation further established that the Abuja meeting was part of the ongoing engagement between the Federal Government and the ODC. The meeting focused on harmonising areas of agreement and discussing the implementation of accepted demands contained ...