Month: October 2026

James Strikes At The Death As Bendel Insurance Halt Rivers United’s Unbeaten Run In Benin

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Bendel Insurance ended Rivers United’s unbeaten run in the 2026/27 Nigeria Professional Football League with a deserved victory in the Matchday 10 encounter at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Sunday. Bendel Insurance 2-1 Rivers United Freeman Wuchirwe put the hosts ahead early in the second half, Chijioke Oboama equalised for the visitors in the 82nd minute, and substitute Jonathan James snatched the winner right on 90 minutes to send the home fans into celebration. The first half was lively but goalless, with both sides cautious. Lekan Gabriel made a timely clearance in the 25th minute, and two minutes later Alex Oweilayefa forced a save from Rivers United goalkeeper Clinton Andy, before sending another effort wide in the 32nd minute. Andy was again the visitors’ saviour in the 37th minute, parrying Fatai Abdullahi’s close range shot onto the post. Insurance broke the deadlock three minutes after the restart when midfielder Wuchirwe unleashed a long range effort that Andy failed to hold, with the ball crossing the line. Kayode Oke almost doubled the lead in the 54th minute with another long range strike. Coach Kennedy Boboye made his first changes in the 66th minute, replacing Emmanuel Dung and Oke with James and Suraju Lawal, and the impact was immediate, as Lawal’s powerful shot, set up by James, hit the woodwork three minutes later. Rivers United levelled in the 82nd minute when Oboama capitalised on a defensive error to beat goalkeeper Joseph Oryia, but Insurance refused to settle for a draw, as was the case in last season’s fixture. Right on 90 minutes, James converted from Oweilayefa’s assist to seal the win. Speaking after the match, Rivers United coach Finidi George praised the hosts, admitting he knew the unbeaten run would end somewhere and that it had finally ended in Benin, commending Insurance players for their fighting spirit. Boboye commended his players and said the away wins would come, insisting the league is still fresh and that his team is getting better as they prepare for a trip to Kwara the following weekend. The result lifts Insurance to 15 points from nine games, with an outstanding fixture still to be played against Rangers International of Enugu, before they travel to Ilorin to face Kwara United next weekend. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Shettima Opens Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Says Tinubu’s Reforms Are Built To Last

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms are designed to improve the quality of life of Nigerians through sustainable investments in healthcare, education and human capital development. Shettima spoke on Friday during the commissioning of the Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital and two schools in Maiduguri, Borno State, commending Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for prioritising healthcare and education in a state recovering from insurgency. The Vice President said the teaching hospital would bring specialised medical services closer to residents, reduce the need for patients to travel outside the state for treatment, and strengthen medical education and research. He also stressed the importance of rebuilding schools in communities affected by insecurity, noting that education provides opportunities for children and supports long term development, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting Borno’s reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts. Shettima, however, cautioned that the success of the newly commissioned facilities would depend on their ability to deliver quality healthcare and education to the people. Governor Zulum described the hospital as a major milestone in efforts to improve healthcare delivery in Borno and the wider North East, saying it would serve as a clinical training centre for medical students and other health professionals at Kashim Ibrahim University, and pledging continued investment in personnel, equipment and infrastructure. The Pro Chancellor of the university, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, and the hospital’s Governing Board Chairman, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo, welcomed the project, while Chief Medical Director Professor Ibrahim Musa Kida said the hospital’s success would depend on the quality and dedication of its personnel. The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Professor Fatima Kyari, pledged support for the accreditation of relevant medical courses at the new facility. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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APC Accuses Atiku And ADC Of Plot To Sabotage Kaduna Flag Off, ADC Demands Proof

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The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress of planning to discredit the party’s presidential campaign flag off in Kaduna on Saturday, October 24, 2026, through fake news, artificial intelligence generated content and counterfeit documents. In a statement by the Council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, the APC alleged a coordinated plot that began with a photograph of a security vehicle on routine patrol near a campaign billboard, which it said was twisted into a claim that security agents were protecting APC billboards, and then shared by Atiku on his official social media handles. The APC also pointed to a purported letter, allegedly written by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to the Director General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, claiming that the state government had released N2.3 trillion to host the rally, a claim the party described as senseless and baseless. To make its case, the party noted that Kaduna State’s combined budgets for 2024, 2025 and 2026, put at N458.271 billion, N790.439 billion and N985.9 billion respectively, still fall short of N2.3 trillion. The Kaduna State Government separately disowned the letter, with Commissioner for Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, saying that the Governor neither authored nor authorised the document, that no N2.3 trillion was budgeted, approved or released, and that the state was taking steps to trace the letter’s origin. The APC further alleged that old, doctored and deepfake videos would be circulated as the rally got underway to suggest public resentment, urging Nigerians to be vigilant and reject the alleged machinations. The ADC Presidential Campaign Council rejected the allegations, describing the APC statement as an attempt to divert attention from the Tinubu administration’s performance, with its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, challenging the APC to provide evidence linking Atiku or the party to the alleged fake letter and videos. The exchange offers an early preview of how combative the 2027 campaign season is likely to be, with both camps already trading accusations on the very day the ruling party opened its campaign. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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New Commandant Takes The Wheel At Army War College As Alkali Bows Out

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The Army War College Nigeria has witnessed a formal change of command, with the outgoing Commandant, Major General Umar Alkali, handing over leadership to his successor, Major General Aminu Mohammed Umar, at a ceremony held at the College Faculty Building in Asokoro, Abuja, on October 23, 2026. In his farewell remarks, Major General Alkali thanked God for a successful tour of duty and expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for the opportunity to serve, acknowledging the contributions of his predecessors, whose foundation he said made his achievements possible. He commended the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Brigadier General MC Akin Ojo, the faculty and the entire College community for their support, urging them to extend the same cooperation to the new Commandant, and expressing confidence in his successor’s capacity to take the institution to greater heights. The incoming Commandant, the eighth to lead the College, thanked the Chief of Army Staff for finding him worthy of leading the Nigerian Army’s apex institution for professional military education, pledging to build on the achievements of his predecessor and to foster a cordial and productive working relationship with the College community. Before his appointment, Major General Umar served as Deputy Chief of Civil Military Affairs at Army Headquarters, with extensive instructional experience at institutions including the Depot Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Defence Academy and the Warrant Officers Academy, where he served as Commandant, and previous roles as Chief of Staff to the Chief of Army Staff and Commander of the Guards Brigade in Abuja. Highlights of the ceremony included the decoration of the new Commandant with the College insignia and lanyard, the signing of handing and taking over notes, the lowering of the outgoing Commandant’s flag and the hoisting of the new Commandant’s flag. The change of command marks another milestone for the institution, reaffirming its commitment to continuity in professional military education and the development of strategic level leadership within the Nigerian Army. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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FG Ends Edo NLC Standoff, Governor Agrees To Recognise Caretaker Committee

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The long running dispute between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Edo State Government over the non recognition of the NLC’s caretaker committee in the state has finally been brought to an end. The breakthrough came at a meeting brokered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, between the Edo State Government, represented by the Governor, and the NLC, represented by its President, Joe Ajaero, with Senator Adams Oshiomhole and the Minister of Labour and Employment also in attendance. In a statement by the NLC Head of Information and Publicity, Benson Upah, the Governor agreed to recognise and work with the caretaker committee as the lawful representative of the NLC in Edo State, and to ensure that check off dues are remitted through appropriate channels to the Congress. The NLC Secretariat in Edo State, which had been locked up by persons who presented themselves as acting on behalf of the Governor, even as the Governor denied knowledge of or acquiescence in their actions, is to be reopened immediately. The regular statutory relationship between the state government and the NLC is to resume with immediate effect. The dispute had earlier travelled beyond Nigeria’s borders, with the NLC lodging a complaint against the Edo State Government at the 2026 International Labour Organisation conference, alleging interference, intimidation and bullying, a matter the Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, promised to resolve. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Ebola In Abuja: Genetic Clue Links Nigeria’s Case To Kenya, But Pate Says Questions Remain

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The Federal Government has provided an update on the confirmed Ebola Virus Disease case in the Federal Capital Territory, reporting that genomic analysis shows the virus identified in Nigeria is genetically related to the virus found in a case in Kenya. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, said the findings provide important scientific information, but stressed that further investigation is required to establish whether the two cases are epidemiologically linked, noting that there is no evidence so far that the Kenyan index case travelled to Nigeria. The genomic analysis was carried out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the Institute of Genomics and Global Health at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, led by Professor Christian Happi, with Pate commending both institutions for their speed and scientific rigour. Pate reiterated that Nigeria still has only one confirmed case, adding that the patient is showing signs of recovery, while identified contacts remain under active monitoring, with some having tested negative and results for others still pending. He said the government is strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, case management, risk communication and infection prevention and control, while healthcare facilities have been reminded to promptly identify and report suspected cases to public health authorities. The Director General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, announced that the agency will begin issuing short daily updates to the public from October 24, 2026, to keep Nigerians informed as the situation evolves. Pate urged Nigerians to remain calm and vigilant, follow recommended safety precautions and avoid spreading unverified reports, explaining that Ebola is not transmitted through the air but through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person. He advised the public to get updates only from recognised health authorities, including the NCDC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to containing the outbreak, protecting healthcare workers and preventing further transmission, while calling for continued cooperation from the public and all stakeholders. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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NNPC Opens Doors To China’s NORINCO For Talks On Oil, Gas And Energy Infrastructure

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NNPC Limited on Friday hosted a delegation from China North Industries Group Corporation, known as NORINCO Group, for talks on cooperation in energy infrastructure, crude oil production, gas commercialisation and trading, technology and investment. The delegation, led by Mr Zuxi Huang, Vice President of China Zhenhua Oil Company Limited, a subsidiary of NORINCO Group, was received by the Group Chief Financial Officer of NNPC Limited, Mr Dapo Segun, and the Executive Vice President for Gas, Power and New Energy, Mr Olalekan Ogunleye, with other members of the company’s leadership joining virtually. Both parties exchanged views on their respective business interests and explored how a prospective partnership could add value to NNPC Limited’s operations, drive growth in crude oil and gas production and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security. The engagement comes at a time when international investor interest is turning to Africa’s energy sector, as countries across the continent seek to expand gas utilisation, close electricity gaps and meet rising energy demand. With Africa’s largest proven natural gas reserves, Nigeria remains a major destination for energy investment, and NNPC Limited continues to engage international partners with the technical expertise and capital needed to expand the country’s energy infrastructure. The company has previously worked with Chinese firms in this space, including the Abuja Independent Power Plant project, which involved China Machinery Engineering Corporation and GE Vernova. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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High Chief Godfrey Ogbeide Appointed South-South Deputy Coordinator for Tinubu 2027 Campaign

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Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, High Chief Godfrey Omoarebu Ogbeide, MBA, MSBA, has been appointed Deputy Zonal Coordinator for Grassroots Engagement and Mobilisation, South-South I, in the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council. The strategic assignment expands Ogbeide’s leadership responsibilities across key regional political structures. Prior to this latest appointment, Ogbeide served as the Secretariat Director of Youth Structure 4 Asiwaju (YS4A) — Asiwaju Boys and Girls — while concurrently holding the position of Zonal Coordinator of Policy and Strategy for the South-South region within the City Boy Movement. His deployment reinforces the campaign council’s strategy to consolidate grassroots structures across the Niger Delta corridor. High Chief Ogbeide is the Founder and Chairman of The Omoarebu Ogbeide Foundation (TOOF®) and holds the traditional title of Aigbugbakheini I of Ozalla Kingdom in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State. His community development work through TOOF® has focused on improving living standards and supporting socio-economic advancement across grassroots communities. The core mandate of Ogbeide’s new role centers on driving grassroots engagement, facilitating stakeholder collaboration, and coordinating community-level participation. His office will lead local mobilization initiatives designed to align regional voters with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign objectives. In his operational capacity, Ogbeide is expected to work closely with national campaign officials, APC state leaderships, and local volunteer networks. The coordination framework aims to deliver cohesive engagement strategies across communities in the South-South geopolitical zone. The campaign council noted that Ogbeide’s appointment leverages his established track record in youth organization, policy planning, and regional strategic coordination. His combined roles within YS4A, the City Boy Movement, and the campaign council position him as a central figure in the party’s regional mobilization structure. Political analysts view the expansion of Ogbeide’s campaign responsibilities as a direct move to bridge top-tier campaign strategies with grassroots networks. By integrating policy coordination with direct voter outreach, the APC aims to fortify its operational presence ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. By: Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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Federal Government Mandates Business Friendly Regulatory Framework for MDAs

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The Federal Government has launched a new phase of institutional reforms aimed at making Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) more efficient, predictable, and responsive to commercial investors. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed the policy direction in Abuja during a strategic engagement with agency heads at the ministry headquarters. Addressing senior government officials, Oyedele stated that Nigeria’s economic reforms must move beyond macroeconomic stabilization to improve the daily operational experience of private businesses. He directed all regulatory bodies to operate strictly within their statutory mandates while immediately eliminating overlapping application fees, redundant documentation, and conflicting regulatory requirements. Under the emerging framework, public institutions are required to adopt a “One Government” operational strategy, coordinating directly among themselves rather than shifting administrative burdens onto business applicants. Where regulatory mandates overlap across multiple agencies, the government will enforce a single lead agency, one streamlined application process, and a unified fee structure. The minister instructed agencies to conduct thorough economic impact assessments before introducing new regulations or policy shifts, while ensuring adequate public consultation with affected private sector stakeholders. He emphasized that reasonable notice periods must precede the implementation of major regulatory changes to maintain market predictability and investor confidence. On public finance management, Oyedele stressed that all legally due revenues must be remitted fully and promptly into the Consolidated Revenue Fund in strict compliance with statutory guidelines. He added that operating surpluses and audited financial accounts must be submitted regularly, warning that default will attract administrative sanctions. Going forward, public agency performance will be measured by service delivery speed, strict adherence to published processing timelines, and measurable reductions in the cost of doing business. The Ministry of Finance will review agency submissions within four to six weeks, providing specific feedback before finalizing binding, measurable commitments for periodic progress reviews. Oyedele confirmed that the reform framework applies equally to the Federal Ministry of Finance, pledging to dismantle internal bottlenecks including delayed fund releases, slow approval cycles, and outdated administrative rules. He noted that eliminating institutional bureaucracy remains essential for attracting private investment, expanding industrial capacity, and generating sustainable employment nationwide. By: Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Advocates Complete End to Child Marriage

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on families, community leaders, and policymakers to intensify efforts toward protecting girl child rights, ending child marriage, and expanding educational investments. The First Lady issued the appeal in a formal message commemorating the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed under the theme End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights. Senator Tinubu emphasized that every girl deserves the fundamental right to learn, grow, and pursue her ambitions free from discrimination, violence, or harmful traditional practices. She stressed that when girls are empowered through quality education and healthcare, entire families prosper, communities strengthen, and the nation advances socially and economically. The First Lady celebrated the resilience and leadership potential of young girls across Nigeria, urging all tiers of government to enforce child protection frameworks. She reaffirmed her commitment through the Renewed Hope Initiative to advocate for policy frameworks that guarantee equal opportunities for every Nigerian child. By: Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed

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