The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed confidence in its ability to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting, former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, declared that the party is working on a comprehensive grassroots mobilisation strategy that will not only secure victory at the federal level but also reposition the party to take control of Lagos State.
Aregbesola stressed that Nigerians are yearning for a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the ADC is prepared to fill that gap with competent leadership, people-oriented policies, and transparent governance.
He added that the party’s structure across the country is being strengthened to ensure effective participation and dominance in the forthcoming elections.
According to him, “The ADC is not just contesting for relevance; we are contesting to win. By 2027, we will produce Nigeria’s next president and transform Lagos into a model state that truly serves its people.”
A fatal accident occurred on Saturday morning at New Garage, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, claiming the life of one passenger and leaving nine others injured.
The crash, involving a Toyota commercial bus and an Iveco truck, was attributed to speeding and road obstruction. Victims were rushed to Ojota Emergency Centre and Gbagada General Hospital, while the deceased was deposited at a mortuary in Ibafo.
In a separate incident the same day, a 15-year-old girl was killed by a hit-and-run driver while attempting to cross the expressway near Muslim Under Bridge in Ibadan. The driver fled the scene as residents decried the dangers of reckless driving on the busy route.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has urged motorists to exercise caution, especially as travel increases during the ember months.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a court order to detain the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Construction, Sijibomi Ogundele, over an alleged N5.7 billion contract fraud.
The case is linked to the construction of 22 “Smart Green Schools” in Enugu State.
As part of the investigation, EFCC has frozen Ogundele’s personal and company accounts and seized his international passport.
Reports also indicate that he was initially denied legal access and subjected to restricted access to food and water while in custody.
The commission said the detention was necessary to complete ongoing investigations into the matter.
Viral NYSC member, Corper Raye, has revealed the reason she stopped attending church, explaining that many of the struggles faced by Nigerian youth are not spiritual but economic. In a now-trending video, Raye stated that the belief in spiritual causes—such as family curses or “village people”—is misleading.
Instead, she emphasized that the real issue holding back young Nigerians is the harsh economic reality they live in.
“I stopped going to church because I realized my problem wasn’t spiritual—it was economic,” Raye said.
“It’s about the country I grew up in. You’re not cursed. Nothing is wrong with you. Your family isn’t cursed. Your village people aren’t affecting you.”
She described how a change in mindset helped her begin finding real solutions to her challenges:
“The only thing slowing you down as an average youth is growing up in an economy that makes success five times harder. I used to make a lot of naive videos until I woke up one day and realized this is not a spiritual issue—it’s an economic one.”
Raye made it clear that she still believes in God, but she now rejects the idea that her struggles are caused by supernatural forces.
“I love God, honestly. But I truly believe there’s no curse following me. The moment I shifted my mindset and stopped blaming family curses, I began to look for real ways to break out of poverty.”
She encouraged others to stop relying on generational blame and instead think creatively:
“To escape this economic trap, you have to think outside the box. Stop depending on the narrative that your problems come from your father’s or mother’s side. The real ‘curse’ is holding on to that mindset.”
The Minister of Education has lauded Prof. Segun Gbadegesin CON, a long-time associate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for playing a pivotal role in the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO).
Speaking at the inauguration of the institution’s Governing Council and Principal Officers, the Minister revealed that Prof. Gbadegesin, a respected scholar and patriot, set aside his own political and ministerial ambitions to ensure that Oke-Ogun land secured its first full-fledged federal university.
“Prof. Segun Gbadegesin’s friendship with President Tinubu is well-known. But what stands out is how he chose to convert that goodwill into a lasting legacy for his people rather than pursue personal gain. FUNATO is here today because he sacrificed an appointment many thought was already his, so that Oke-Ogun could take its rightful place on Nigeria’s educational map,” the Minister stated.
He further charged the community to honour this sacrifice by safeguarding the institution through fairness, merit, and due process. “This university is not just another federal project; it is the fruit of vision, sacrifice, and love for Oke-Ogun. Let us now build on this foundation with excellence and integrity,” he added.
The Minister also commended the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jacob Olaniyi Babayemi, and his management team, urging them to uphold transparency and professionalism in all their operations.
“This gift must not be squandered. It is a responsibility to future generations,” the Minister concluded.
Goods and property worth millions of naira have been destroyed in a late-night fire outbreak at the popular Saki Garage in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The incident, which occurred overnight, affected four out of eleven shops located inside the garage. While valuable goods were lost, no casualties were recorded.
Confirming the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Hon. Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, said the agency was alerted by a passerby.
According to him: “The fire was reported by a caller, Mr. Lateef, from Amotekun Bodija Division, who informed us about shops on fire at the location. Fire personnel led by ACFS Adedeji (Mrs) swiftly responded and were deployed to the scene. On arrival, we discovered that four out of eleven shops were engulfed in flames. Our officers immediately curtailed the inferno and prevented it from spreading to nearby shops and buildings. The fire was completely extinguished without casualties.”
Investigations revealed that the fire was caused by lighted embers left unattended after the close of business, which ignited nearby combustible materials and triggered the blaze.
What was meant to be a seamless culinary spectacle took a dramatic turn when the giant pot used by celebrity chef Hilda Baci in her attempt to cook the world’s largest jollof rice cracked midway through the process.
The incident, which briefly caused panic among the crowd, drew quick responses from organisers and guests, ensuring the mishap did not derail the event. Spectators, including Nollywood star Funke Akindele and singer Iyanya, were seen cheering Hilda on as her team swiftly transferred the rice into backup pots.
Funke Akindele, who has been a vocal supporter of young Nigerian talents, urged the audience to keep faith with Hilda, describing the setback as “a small bump on the road to greatness.” Iyanya also took to the stage to encourage the chef, leading chants of support that lifted the mood at the venue.
Despite the disruption, Hilda remained composed and determined, insisting that the record attempt must continue. Her resilience drew admiration both online and on-site, with fans flooding social media with messages of encouragement.
Organisers later assured the public that safety standards were intact and that the pot’s structural failure was an unforeseen technical issue.
What could have been a disaster ultimately turned into a show of solidarity, with celebrities and fans rallying to ensure that Hilda’s dream of setting a Guinness World Record for the largest jollof rice remains alive.
The Ogun State Government has appointed 1,200 political assistants to serve as change agents and enhance civic engagement across the state.
Announcing the initiative in a statement, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Hon. Kayode Akinmade described the move as a strategic effort to strengthen democratic governance across all nooks and crannies of the state.
According to him, the assistants — five from each of the 236 wards in Ogun State — will ensure greater local participation in governance, effectively bridging the gap between the grassroots and the state government.
“The newly appointed political assistants are to support the delivery of democratic dividends, articulate the needs of their respective wards, and communicate these needs to the state government. They are also expected to provide accurate feedback from the government to the wards and vice versa,” he stated.
Hon. Akinmade emphasized that this initiative fulfills Governor Abiodun’s electoral promise to carry every ward along in his administration’s development programs and to run an all-inclusive government that values the people’s inputs in shaping policies and initiatives.
The state government further urged the new appointees to contribute significantly to the growth and development of their wards, local governments, and the state at large.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has declined an invitation by the U.S. Consulate in Nigeria for a visa reinterview scheduled for September 11.
“I would like to begin by stressing the fact that, for me, this is not a personal issue. I have no idea how you got to know. By the way, I also have received the letter, which at first I thought was a fake. I thought it was these scammers who sort of prey on those eager to get visas elsewhere, with promise to deliver visas for a certain amount guaranteed.”
“So, at the beginning, I thought it was advance fee fraud because I had never received that kind of letter from that or any other embassy. I thought that maybe AI has been generating generic letters. It was very strange. So, by the time I came to terms with the fact that this letter is genuine, my mind just went to my relationship with individual ambassadors, Consul-Generals and Cultural Attachés. As you know, it’s always been a courteous relationship,” he explained.
“Sincerely, I have more important things to do than chase visas for places I don’t want to go to and where I am not wanted. So the question of going to such an interview is totally out of consideration.”
“In addition, I happen to be a little bit superstitious of being given a significant date, not just for the United States but the rest of the world. I’m talking about 9/11. This is a day which I have always considered very critical for the United States especially. To me, 9/11 should be regarded as a day of national mourning, of atonement by the Consulate of the United States.
“They should close down offices on that day, not to keep inviting people to come and have their visas taken away. It should be a day of reflection, of serious, deep thinking… If they don’t shut down, at least I would shut down my relationship with them on that day. Because I’m very superstitious. I’m not going anywhere near there on 9/11. I will be airborne somewhere,” Soyinka said.
“The United States, for instance, has a ‘white Idi Amin’ at the helm of affairs.”
In a major step towards eradicating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Southern Nigeria, the Oyo State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has called for a strengthened prosecution of Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM) cases across Edo, Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, and Oyo States.
This submission was upheld at a 3-day Multi-sectoral Engagement meeting which brought together law enforcement officials, judicial actors, NGOs, government agencies and religious leaders.
The workshop is focused on improving justice system responses and survivor-centered approaches in addressing FGM held at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Information, Mr Rotimi Babalola,who represented the Commissioner, Prince Dotun Oyelade described the engagement as “apt and timely,” citing the continued prevalence of FGM despite the existence of relevant laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) and the Child Rights Law.
He pointed out that all five states already have legal frameworks in place, such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) and the Child Rights Law, which criminalize the practice. However, low levels of reporting, weak enforcement, inadequate survivor-centered responses and fragmented inter-sectoral collaboration have continued to limit their effectiveness.
Mr. Babalola commended UNICEF for initiating the workshop, noting that it brings together critical stakeholders including law enforcement officers, judicial officials, NGOs, government agencies, and religious institutions. The aim, he said, is to bridge existing gaps in FGM response through enhanced capacity building, timely case documentation, protection of survivors and prosecution of offenders.
“The goal is clear, which is to enhance FGM reporting, ensure survivor protection, and strengthen the justice system through improved multi-sectoral collaboration,” he said.
The workshop is expected to improve participants’ knowledge of FGM laws, survivor-centered responses, and reporting procedures. It also aims to establish and strengthen coordination mechanisms among the law enforcement, health, social welfare, and justice sectors.
He urged participants to propose actionable strategies, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and critically review existing enforcement gaps that hinder progress in ending FGM. He also expressed gratitude to UNICEF and implementing partners for their swift coordination and support for the workshop.
“I am confident that with the calibre of attendees at this workshop, we shall have a successful outing and make significant progress in our collective efforts to eliminate FGM—for the future of the girl-child, who will grow up to become a mother in our society,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Mr. Denis Onoise emphasized the urgency of eliminating the harmful practice, outlining the four types of FGM: clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation, and unclassified forms.
Despite the adoption of laws like the VAPP Act in many states, Onoise noted that prosecutions are rare, and communities are reluctant to report cases. He therefore called for stronger legal enforcement, greater budgetary commitments for anti-FGM programs, and the continued engagement of traditional leaders and men led advocacy groups.
While noting progress through the adoption of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and advocacy campaigns, Onoise said prosecutions are rare and communities still hesitate to report cases.
He urged state House of Assemblies, law enforcement and the justice sectors to take stronger action, including prosecuting offenders and increasing budget allocations for FGM programs. He also commended traditional leaders and men’s advocacy groups who are taking steps to abandon the practice.
“Our goal is clear, we need to increase our steps ten times beyond what we are doing now to eradicate FGM in our States by 2030,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Trailblazer Initiative, Dr Dare Adaramoye called for the establishment of specialized courts to handle gender-based violence cases, including FGM. He highlighted the serious gaps in the reporting and justice chains that allow perpetrators to go unpunished.
He noted that while many states have adopted the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, prosecution of offenders remains weak.
“We’ve identified a serious gap in the chain of reporting and justice. It’s high time the law took its full course and perpetrators are held accountable,” he said.
He called for stronger collaboration between communities, social services, and justice institutions, as well as specialized courts to fast-track cases on violence against women and children.
The workshop is expected to improve knowledge of FGM laws and reporting procedures, Strengthen coordination across law enforcement, health, welfare, and justice sectors, enhance survivor protection and prosecution outcomes, as well promote sustained community engagement against FGM.
This initiative reinforces the shared commitment of government, international partners and civil society to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence, particularly those targeting girls and women, and to uphold their rights, dignity, and future.
“FGM does not prevent promiscuity. It is not culture. Give your girl child education, not mutilation,” he emphasized.
