Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has disclosed that outpatient patronage in the state’s public hospitals has doubled in the last six months, with some facilities now attending to thousands of patients daily. He said the surge was putting significant pressure on doctors and other healthcare professionals.

Abayomi attributed the increase partly to the rising cost of healthcare, which has made private medical services increasingly unaffordable for many residents. He explained that while the cost of healthcare continues to rise, residents’ purchasing power has remained relatively stagnant, forcing many people to move from private hospitals to government facilities.

The commissioner, however, expressed concern that some residents were also turning to informal healthcare providers, including pharmacists and roadside drug sellers, instead of seeking treatment through the orthodox healthcare system. He warned that this trend could encourage self-medication and expose people to avoidable health risks.

He also linked the pressure on public hospitals to the migration of healthcare professionals from Nigeria. According to him, the combination of increasing patient numbers and the loss of medical personnel is placing doctors and other healthcare workers under considerable stress.

Abayomi further disclosed that Lagos State plans to enforce compulsory health insurance for residents as part of efforts to improve healthcare financing and reduce the burden on public hospitals. He said the government is restructuring its health insurance system to ensure that residents have access to affordable basic healthcare while improving the sustainability of the state’s health sector.

The Oyo State Police Command has launched measures to strengthen security around schools across the state as part of efforts to protect pupils, students, teachers and other members of school communities.

The initiative, reported by Voice of Nigeria, is aimed at creating a safer environment for learning and preventing criminal activities around educational institutions.

According to the report, the police are increasing security attention around schools as students return to academic activities. The move is expected to improve surveillance and security response around educational facilities across Oyo State.

The initiative is also coming amid concerns about the safety of schools in parts of the country, particularly following incidents of criminal activities and attacks that have affected educational institutions.

The Oyo Police Command’s Safe School Initiative is therefore expected to strengthen collaboration between security personnel and school communities, while improving the ability of authorities to respond quickly to potential threats.

The development is significant for parents and guardians, who have continued to demand adequate protection for their children while in school.

Security around schools has become an increasingly important issue in Nigeria, with state authorities and security agencies under pressure to ensure that pupils and students can attend classes without fear of abduction, violence or other criminal activities.

The Oyo initiative also comes against the backdrop of previous calls for stronger security in schools. In June 2026, the Oyo State House of Assembly similarly called for improved security in public and private schools following concerns over student safety.

With the latest measures, the police are expected to maintain closer attention around school premises and work with relevant stakeholders to identify and address security threats.

The command has also reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property, while urging school authorities, parents and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.

The police initiative is expected to contribute to a safer learning environment across Oyo State and strengthen public confidence in the security of educational institutions.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed ₦148.34 million in student loans to 301 students of the Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery, providing financial support to beneficiaries pursuing nursing education in the state.

The disbursement forms part of the Federal Government’s student loan initiative designed to expand access to tertiary education by providing financial assistance to eligible Nigerian students who may face difficulties meeting the cost of their education.

According to reports on the development, the funds were disbursed to 301 verified students of the Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery under the NELFUND scheme.

The intervention is expected to ease the financial burden on the beneficiaries and their families, particularly as the cost of professional education and other associated expenses continues to place pressure on households.

The development is also significant for the health sector, as nursing students constitute an important part of the pipeline for producing trained healthcare professionals needed to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.

NELFUND’s student loan programme provides financial assistance to eligible students in approved tertiary institutions, with the broader objective of ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent qualified Nigerians from pursuing higher education and skills development.

The latest disbursement to the Oyo nursing students adds to previous efforts to extend the student loan scheme to institutions across the country.

The Oyo State Government has also previously reported beneficiaries of NELFUND support at the Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery, reflecting the growing reach of the Federal Government’s education financing intervention in the state.

For the 301 beneficiaries, the latest intervention is expected to provide some relief as they continue their professional training and prepare to join Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.

NELFUND’s intervention comes at a time when access to affordable education remains a major concern for many Nigerian families, making student financing an increasingly important component of the country’s higher education system.

Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress NDC for the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, has revealed the Tinubu administration’s policy he would retain if elected president.

Obi said he would maintain the floating of the naira but focus on boosting productivity to strengthen the currency and improve its value to Nigerians.

The former Anambra State governor disclosed this during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday.

Asked to name one policy of President Bola Tinubu’s administration he would retain, Obi said, “There’s one the floating of the Naira. I’m not going to defend it. But I’m going to put productivity to make it more valuable to the people.”

Obi also cautioned Nigerians against allowing tribal sentiments to influence the 2027 presidential election.

He said, “Our election should not be driven by tribalism.”

The Tinubu administration introduced the naira float in June 2023 as part of its economic reforms aimed at unifying the foreign exchange market and allowing market forces to determine the currency’s value.

The policy led to a significant depreciation of the naira, with the currency moving from below N500/$ at the time to above N1,000 per dollar and later crossing N1,500 per dollar at various points.

The Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, has presented the traditional beaded crown to the newly installed Olomoni of Okuu-Omoni-Ife Land, Oba Adewale Aderoju.

The presentation took place on Thursday evening at the Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Ooni Ogunwusi, who serves as the Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide and Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), offered ancestral blessings and royal prayers for the new monarch.

The Ooni charged Oba Aderoju to uphold the dignity, customs and traditions of his people while using his position to promote peace, unity and development across his domain.

He described the ascension of the monarch as a sacred responsibility, urging him to serve his people with wisdom, humility and courage.

Ooni Ogunwusi further emphasised the important role of traditional rulers as custodians of culture and drivers of community development.

He encouraged the Olomoni to work closely with other traditional rulers and community leaders, particularly towards strengthening unity among communities whose ancestral heritage can be traced to Ile-Ife.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Joseph Olubiyi Toriola, offered royal prayers for the new monarch, seeking wisdom, good health, longevity and strength for him to successfully lead his people.

Oba Toriola urged the Olomoni to make the welfare of his subjects a priority and ensure that peace, unity and progress remain the foundation of his reign.

Responding, Oba Adewale Aderoju expressed appreciation to the Ooni of Ife for the honour and recognition accorded him.

He described the presentation of the beaded crown as a significant moment in his reign and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in him by the Ooni and his people.

The Olomoni promised to preserve the traditions and cultural heritage of his forebears while pursuing peace, unity and socio-economic development in Okuu-Omoni-Ife Land.

He also expressed his readiness to collaborate with the Ooni, neighbouring traditional institutions and other stakeholders to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Ile-Ife and advance the interests of his people.

Nigerian singer, Adekunle Gold, has called for increased public awareness about sickle cell disorder and the importance of genotype compatibility before marriage and having children.

The singer made the remarks while speaking on the One54 Africa Podcast, where he discussed the need for couples to know their genotypes before committing to marriage. He stressed that understanding genotype status could help prospective couples make informed reproductive decisions.

Adekunle Gold, who is married to fellow singer Simi, said genotype compatibility was one of the first things they established when they met. According to him, he would not have proceeded with the marriage if Simi had an incompatible genotype.

“I wouldn’t have married my wife if she was SS. When we met, the first thing we did was know our genotype and we match. So she is AA,” the singer said.

He further expressed strong concern about people living with sickle cell disorder having children, arguing that prospective parents should carefully consider the possibility of passing the condition to their offspring.

“There is so much awareness that needs to be done. If you have sickle cell, forget about love, you can’t do it because it makes no sense. You are about to bring a child into the world and they are about to be sickly, it makes no sense,” he said.

His comments have sparked conversations online about genotype compatibility, sickle cell awareness and the decisions couples should make before marriage. While his remarks reflect his personal views and experience, medical professionals generally encourage couples to undergo genotype counselling and testing before marriage so they can understand the possible genetic risks and available reproductive options.

The singer’s intervention has therefore renewed attention on the importance of early genotype testing and counselling, particularly among young Nigerians preparing for marriage. Health advocates have consistently encouraged people to know their genotype early rather than waiting until they are already in a relationship or preparing to have children.

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Abayomi Semako Hunye, has declared that the party does not yet have a definite candidate for the 2027 governorship election, despite the emergence of Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the preferred candidate in the ongoing political contest.

Hunye made the assertion while speaking on the controversy surrounding the APC governorship ticket in Ogun State. He argued that, from a legal standpoint, the process for producing the party’s candidate has not been validly concluded. His comments come amid growing political activity within the Ogun APC ahead of the 2027 election.

According to Hunye, the party’s leadership cannot simply impose a candidate without following the procedures recognised by law and the APC’s electoral guidelines. He maintained that the nomination process provides for different methods, including consensus and direct/open ballot, and that the appropriate procedure must be followed before a candidate can be regarded as the party’s legitimate flag bearer.

He specifically argued that under a consensus arrangement, only individuals who purchased the party’s nomination forms qualify as aspirants, and those aspirants must reach an agreement in writing before the consensus process can be considered concluded. He therefore questioned the legal basis for treating one aspirant as the final APC candidate while other contenders are still challenging the process.

Hunye’s position adds another layer to the political tension within the Ogun APC, where the contest for the 2027 governorship ticket has increasingly become a subject of debate among party members and aspirants. Reports have identified Hunye as challenging Senator Solomon Adeola in the battle for the APC ticket.

The aspirant urged APC members and residents of Ogun State to distinguish between political announcements and the legally completed nomination process. He maintained that until all prescribed procedures are followed and the relevant legal requirements are satisfied, no aspirant should be presented as the final governorship candidate of the party.

The development is expected to further intensify the political contest within the Ogun APC as the 2027 elections approach. With competing interests already emerging around the party’s governorship ticket, the nomination process could become a major issue in determining whether the party enters the election united or faces further internal disagreements.

The centuries-old Osun-Osogbo Festival is facing growing environmental and health concerns as pollution linked to gold-mining activities upstream continues to affect the sacred Osun River in Osun State.

The river, which runs through the 75-hectare Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was reportedly visibly discoloured during this year’s festival. The river is central to the annual celebration dedicated to Osun, the Yoruba river goddess, and attracts worshippers, tourists and visitors from Nigeria and the Yoruba diaspora.

The pollution is reportedly linked to mining activities that intensified upstream around 2018. Campaigners say runoff from artisanal and other mining operations carries sediments and potentially toxic substances into the river. Independent testing commissioned by environmental advocacy group Urban Alert in 2021 reportedly detected unsafe levels of lead, mercury and cyanide in samples collected from different locations along the river.

The development has raised particular concern because some devotees traditionally drink or bathe with water from the Osun River as part of their spiritual practices. Despite warnings about the water’s safety, some worshippers continued to use it during the festival, reflecting the deep religious and cultural significance attached to the river.

Environmental advocates have accused authorities of taking insufficient action to address the problem. Although some mining sites have reportedly been shut and miners arrested, campaigners say there has been no comprehensive remediation programme or independent confirmation that the river has returned to safe conditions. They are calling for authorities to identify and map the full extent of the contamination and immediately stop mining activities responsible for further pollution.

Experts have also warned that the consequences extend beyond human health. Heavy metals can remain in river sediments, accumulate in fish and aquatic vegetation and move through the food chain, potentially damaging biodiversity and affecting communities that depend on the river ecosystem for their livelihoods.

The situation has therefore become both an environmental and cultural heritage crisis. Campaigners are urging the Federal Government, Osun State Government and relevant regulatory agencies to strengthen enforcement against illegal mining, conduct comprehensive water-quality assessments and implement a properly funded clean-up programme. They warn that while gold deposits can continue to be exploited, the ecological and spiritual character of a cultural landscape that has existed for centuries may be extremely difficult to restore once permanently damaged.

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has questioned what it describes as a 20-year pattern of the United States repeatedly opposing African positions at the United Nations, asking whether Washington’s relationship with Africa truly reflects strategic partnership.

PeacePro’s concern follows the September 4 UN General Assembly vote on an African Union backed resolution, where 164 countries voted in favour, six abstained and the United States stood alone in opposition.

In a statement by its Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, PeacePro said the latest vote should prompt a broader examination of US voting behaviour towards Africa over the past two decades.

“The map is not the story. The vote is. Why does the United States so frequently find itself on the opposite side when Africa speaks collectively at the United Nations?”

PeacePro said its review of UN voting records indicates that the US has opposed almost all Africa led proposals subjected to voting during the period under review.

The organisation stressed that its question is not anti-American, but diplomatic.

“One vote can be explained as disagreement. A recurring pattern over two decades requires examination and explanation.”

PeacePro therefore asked, “If Africa is genuinely a strategic partner of the United States, why do African collective positions so often collide with Washington’s diplomatic preferences at the UN?”

PeacePro said it is examining the voting record to determine how often the US has supported, opposed or abstained from African sponsored and Africa related resolutions, and whether the pattern has remained consistent across successive US administrations.

“We are not seeking to manufacture an anti-American narrative. We are asking an uncomfortable but legitimate diplomatic question, which is that, when Africa stands together at the UN, how often does the United States stand with Africa and how often does it stand against it?”