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Gov Idris’ Aide Warns Malami Against Entering Kebbi Amid Billboard Dispute

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An aide to Kebbi State governor, Nasir Idris on cemetery affairs, ATM Jega, has threatened to prevent former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami from entering the state over the alleged destruction of political billboards.

Jega issued the threat while reacting to allegations that some individuals were removing billboards in different parts of Kebbi State.

He urged Malami, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, governorship candidate in Kebbi, to caution those he described as his supporters against the alleged vandalism.

“We will prevent Abubakar Malami from entering Kebbi State if he does not stop his boys from tearing down our billboards,” Jega was quoted as saying.

Jega warned that he would take action if the alleged destruction continued.

The development comes as political activities gather momentum in Kebbi ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Petrol Price Relief: Oyedele Explains Funding for Tinubu’s 30-Day Scheme

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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has dismissed suggestions that the 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Retail stations amounts to a restoration of fuel subsidy.

Oyedele said the temporary price reduction was being financed exclusively through NNPC Retail’s profit margin, without any contribution from public funds.

The clarification followed his earlier announcement that motorists and other petrol consumers would purchase fuel at reduced prices at NNPC filling stations during the 30-day period.

In a statement issued on Friday, the minister said the programme was designed to ease the financial pressure on households, commuters and transporters while maintaining the market-based pricing system.

He explained that the difference between a commercial discount and a fuel subsidy lies in who bears the cost.

According to him, a retailer can voluntarily reduce its profit margin to attract customers or provide temporary relief. A subsidy, however, occurs when the government pays part of the cost of a product using public revenue.

Oyedele stated that NNPC Retail obtains petrol from Dangote Refinery and other suppliers at prevailing market prices before adding its margin to determine the final pump price.

He said the current discount was absorbed by the company itself and did not involve the government paying the difference between the market price and the discounted price.

Read Also: I Lost 2023 Election, It Broke My Heart – Banky W Opens Up On Painful Experience

The minister also warned against confusing the initiative with arrangements involving the sale of Federation-owned crude oil below market value, which could create a financial loss borne by public revenue.

He defended NNPC Retail’s decision to reduce its margin, noting that the company had operated as a petroleum marketing and retail business for more than two decades.

According to him, the company’s mandate includes ensuring the availability, distribution and affordability of refined petroleum products across Nigeria.

Oyedele also addressed concerns that reducing earnings per litre could affect NNPC Limited’s profits and dividends payable to the Federation.

He argued that lower prices could attract more customers, increase sales volumes and strengthen customer loyalty, potentially offsetting the reduced margin.

The minister said the approach could benefit both consumers and the government if higher sales translate into improved overall profitability.

He maintained that the 30-day initiative was a commercial decision and should not be interpreted as a return to the fuel subsidy regime discontinued in 2023.

I Lost 2023 Election, It Broke My Heart – Banky W Opens Up On Painful Experience

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Popular Nigerian entertainer Bankole Wellington, better known as Banky W, has revealed how his unsuccessful political ambition in 2023 contributed to a renewed understanding of his purpose and eventual entry into pastoral ministry.

The singer, actor and entrepreneur shared the reflection while marking one year as a pastor, explaining that losing the election was an emotionally difficult experience that forced him to reconsider his future.

Banky W had contested for the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives under the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2023 general election.

He said the defeat broke his heart and left him searching for direction after the election had ended.

According to the entertainer, he was uncertain whether to focus on leadership and politics, continue developing his entertainment career, expand his business interests or dedicate himself to ministry.

He explained that he sought God’s guidance, asking what path he should follow and what role he was expected to play in the years ahead.

However, Banky W said he eventually came to understand that his different interests did not necessarily require him to abandon one for another.

He noted that he had mistakenly viewed ministry and his professional pursuits as separate paths when they could instead complement one another.

The singer described his experience as a realisation that his responsibilities were expanding, allowing him to combine his work in entertainment and business with pastoral service.

He said he remained committed to music, filmmaking and entrepreneurship while embracing his responsibilities as a pastor and professor.

Looking back on the past year, Banky W said the election did not produce the result he had hoped for, but the experience helped him appreciate that his future could unfold differently from his original plans.

He reflected that setbacks could become opportunities for personal growth and a fresh understanding of one’s calling.

The entertainer marked the anniversary with gratitude, asking his followers to celebrate the milestone with him.

His testimony offers a glimpse into how he navigated disappointment after the 2023 election and subsequently embraced pastoral ministry without giving up his established professional interests.

Tacha Says She Has Someone She Likes, Reveals Her Ideal Partner

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coic
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Popular Nigerian reality star Tacha has disclosed that there is currently someone special in her life, while revealing some of the qualities she looks for in a romantic partner.

Tacha spoke about her relationship status during a conversation with media personality Morayo.

The discussion centred on her dating life and whether her demanding schedule allows her to maintain a relationship.

The reality star said she does make time for relationships and confirmed that she currently likes someone.

However, Tacha said she prefers to keep the relationship away from public scrutiny because circumstances can change.

She explained that a relationship in the entertainment industry could end publicly and later be rekindled.

“For now I’m in a relationship,” she said, while acknowledging that the situation could change in the future.

Tacha said she believes having a partner is particularly important for people who have achieved significant success in the entertainment industry.

“In this industry, you need that one person because it’s always lonely at the top,” she explained.

The reality star went on to describe the type of man she would like to have.

She said she prefers a quiet man who is expressive and outspoken around her but maintains a reserved personality in public.

Tacha also listed hard work and strong faith among the qualities she considers important.

She said her ideal partner should love God as much as she does.

Interestingly, the reality star revealed that she is not attracted to men simply because they are physically handsome.

She jokingly said she would rather be the attractive one in the relationship.

Tacha also mentioned financial stability as an important consideration, saying she does not want to manage the emotional challenges that could come with financial instability.

Her comments suggest that while she is open to love, she remains careful about exposing her personal life to the public.

For now, Tacha has chosen not to reveal the identity of the person she is dating, leaving fans to respect her privacy as she continues her career.

Jarvis Announces Pregnancy as She and Peller Prepare for Parenthood

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coic
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Popular Nigerian social media personalities Jarvis and Peller are set to become parents as they announce that they are expecting their first child.

Jarvis shared the pregnancy news on Instagram, expressing excitement and gratitude for what she described as one of the greatest blessings in their lives.

Reflecting on their relationship, she said their journey had taken them from uncertainty about the future to marriage and now parenthood.

“From two people who once had no idea where this journey would take us… to husband and wife, and now soon to be parents,” she wrote.

Jarvis said the couple had experienced different moments together, including laughter, tears, prayers and personal growth, adding that God had continued to guide their story.

She described their unborn baby as “our greatest blessing” and “our answered prayer.”

The announcement comes about two months after the couple got married and follows a year filled with major developments in their relationship.

Read Also: How I Emerged as Rivers Governor Despite the Odds – Wike

Peller proposed to Jarvis during a romantic moment in Ghana in June. The proposal was followed by a series of marriage ceremonies.

The couple first held their traditional marriage rites in Edo State and later completed their civil wedding in Lagos.

They subsequently hosted a white wedding attended by relatives, friends, colleagues and several public figures.

Peller and Jarvis gained widespread popularity through their joint social media content and livestreams, where their relationship became a regular subject of public interest.

Their transition from online collaborators to a married couple has attracted considerable attention from fans.

With the latest announcement, the couple are now preparing for another major milestone as they await the arrival of their first child.

Jarvis concluded her message with a prayer of gratitude to God for the new addition to their family.

How I Emerged as Rivers Governor Despite the Odds – Wike

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The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, has revealed how late Chief Daniel Orbih played a key role in his emergence as Rivers State governor in 2015.

Wike spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at a night of tributes organised in honour of Orbih, who was the National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the South-South.

It was reported that Orbih, who hailed from Etsako in Edo State, died on August 31 at the age of 64.

The minister said Orbih stood his ground despite serious political pressure and huge financial offers from opponents who wanted him to withdraw his support for Wike’s governorship bid.
He said their friendship grew stronger between 2013 and 2014, a difficult period when some political rivals, including the then Rivers State governor, tried everything to stop his ambition, but Orbih refused to back down.

“Today, I am a Minister of the FCT; yesterday, I was a governor. Who did God use for me to become governor? It was Dan.

“There was nothing in this world that was not done to induce him.

“My governor then sent people to Dan, offered him everything in this world, but Dan stood firm and said, ‘No, I will not accept. I will not agree,’” Wike said.

2027 Exams: FG, Stakeholders Consider New Examination Dates

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coic
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The Federal Government has proposed new dates for major national examinations in 2027, following a meeting between the Minister of State for Education and representatives of examination bodies and private schools.

The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting held on September 30, 2026, signed by Dr Bukola Dosunmu, Coordinator, FME-Government Private Sector Working Group.

Under the proposed timetable, the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, is scheduled to hold from March 15 to 25, 2027, with results expected to be released in March.

The National Examinations Council, NECO, Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, is proposed to hold from April 1 to May 14, 2027, while the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, is scheduled for May 11 to June 18, 2027.

Both NECO and WAEC results are expected to be released in August 2027.

The National Business and Technical Examinations Board, NABTEB, and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies, NBAIS, examinations are proposed to take place between June and July 2027, with their result release dates yet to be communicated.

The Federal Ministry of Education, however, stated that the proposed dates remain subject to confirmation by the respective examination bodies.

“Schools accredited as examination centres are required to ensure that at least 75% of their teachers are TRN-licensed by 11 December 2026.

“Compliance will be verified, and the details of schools that meet the requirement will be uploaded to the designated registration portal.

“Schools that fail to meet this requirement will not be approved to serve as examination centres for any of the examinations.

“Further details and updates on the implementation of these resolutions will be communicated in due course,” parts of the statement read.

Tonto Dikeh Recalls Struggle With Addiction During Drug Abuse Campaign

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coic
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Tonto Dikeh Advocates Compassion for People Battling Drug Addiction

Actress Tonto Dikeh has called for greater compassion towards people struggling with drug addiction while revealing that she once battled substance abuse herself.

The actress made the disclosure in a lengthy message shared with her followers on social media as she advocated against drug abuse.

Dikeh said she had personally experienced the destructive effects of addiction and wanted people to understand that substance abuse often has deeper emotional roots.

She warned that drugs do not take away pain, arguing that they only provide temporary relief while gradually taking control of an individual’s life.

“Say no to drugs. I’ve been down this dark road, and I can tell you firsthand: substances don’t make the pain go away,” she wrote.

The actress recalled how she was once perceived by others during her difficult period.

According to Dikeh, people saw the anger, chaos and self-destructive behaviour but often failed to understand the emotional suffering behind them.

She said the person struggling with addiction may need help rather than condemnation.

“I was once the chaos people judged. The noise. The mess. The broken decisions,” she recalled.

Dikeh said her addiction was connected to pain she could not properly articulate at the time.

She explained that drugs were not the root cause of her struggles but a symptom of deeper problems.

“Drugs weren’t the problem, they were the symptom,” she stated, adding that addiction became her way of escaping pain she did not know how to name.

Read Also: DHQ Seeks Strategic Repositioning of MNJTF Against Evolving Threats

The actress also highlighted the role of her Christian faith in her recovery.

She said God saw beyond the circumstances that led to her struggles and helped restore her life.

Dikeh therefore urged the public to avoid defining people permanently by their mistakes or addiction.

She appealed to Nigerians to reject stigmatisation and instead offer support and prayers to those struggling to break free from substance abuse.

“Hate the drugs. Hate the addiction. But never stop praying for the person trapped inside it,” she said.

According to Dikeh, people battling addiction should not be regarded as weak, worthless or beyond redemption.

She described herself as living proof that recovery and restoration are possible.

The actress ended her message by encouraging continued prayers and support for people facing addiction, stressing that timely compassion could help save lives.

DHQ Seeks Strategic Repositioning of MNJTF Against Evolving Threats

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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has called for the repositioning of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to strengthen its response to evolving security threats in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), made the call on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the opening of a two-day international forum at the National Defence College, Abuja.

The forum, organised by the DHQ in collaboration with the Irregular Warfare Centre of the National Defence College, is themed: “Repositioning the Multinational Joint Task Force to Effectively Combat Evolving Threat Dynamics in the Lake Chad Region.”
Musa said that 11 years after its establishment, the MNJTF remained critical to the fight against terrorism, transnational crime and other forms of insecurity across the Lake Chad Basin.

He, however, noted that the regional security environment had changed significantly, making it necessary to reassess the Task Force’s structure, capabilities, intelligence, command and control, logistics and financing.

The Minister urged participants to move beyond routine assessments and develop practical and sustainable measures to strengthen the MNJTF, particularly against the backdrop of evolving threats in the Sahel and changing patterns of international support.
He commended the sacrifices of troops and the contributions of regional and international partners to the fight against insecurity.

Musa expressed optimism that the participation of the African Union, European Union, Lake Chad Basin Commission, troop-contributing countries, former and serving Force Commanders and other strategic stakeholders would produce actionable recommendations.

He assured participants that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria would give due attention to the outcome of the forum, stressing that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu considers the MNJTF an important instrument of regional security and collective African action.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, described the forum as a timely platform for military practitioners, policymakers, academics and strategic partners to assess the MNJTF’s experience, continuing relevance and future employment.

Oluyede stressed that the transnational nature of contemporary security threats required sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing, interoperability, mutual trust and the capacity to adapt collective responses to emerging realities.

He called for candid and forward-looking deliberations that would produce practical recommendations for strengthening the MNJTF and enhancing security across the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel.

The CDS further emphasised that security in the Lake Chad Basin remained a shared responsibility, requiring sustained commitment and stronger partnerships among regional and international stakeholders.

The forum brings together senior military and security officials, policymakers, academics, practitioners and strategic partners to examine the future of the MNJTF and identify practical pathways for strengthening collective security in the region.

NAF Aircraft Accident Forces Senate to Reschedule National Security Summit

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coic
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The Senate has postponed its two-day National Security Summit, earlier scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, following the fatal crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The crash, which occurred on Monday, claimed the lives of 25 officers and seven crew members of the Nigerian Air Force.

The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the postponement in a statement personally signed and issued on Tuesday.

Bamidele explained that the decision was taken to honour the victims of the crash and in view of the three-day national mourning declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

President Tinubu had directed that national flags be flown at half-mast nationwide in honour of the deceased officers and crew members.

The Senate had convened the summit to examine Nigeria’s persistent security challenges and develop pragmatic solutions aimed at protecting lives and property across the country.

According to Bamidele, the ad-hoc committee had concluded preparations for the summit following the completion of zonal public hearings across the country.

Read Also: Edo: AAU Lecturer Found Dead in Hotel After Alleged Encounter With Sex Worker

However, the fatal NAF aircraft crash necessitated the decision to defer the summit until further notice.

“Given the declaration of national mourning by the President, the Senate has resolved that the National Security Summit be deferred until further notice in honour of the victims of the crash,” Bamidele stated.

The Senate expressed condolences to President Tinubu, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the officers and crew members who lost their lives in active service to the nation.

It described the deceased personnel as gallant officers and crew members who paid the supreme price in service to the fatherland.

Bamidele disclosed that a new date for the National Security Summit would be announced in due course.

He appealed to all stakeholders to take note of the national tragedy and bear with the Senate during the period of mourning.

The postponed summit is expected to bring together key stakeholders to deliberate on Nigeria’s security challenges and consider practical measures for strengthening national security and safeguarding citizens across the federation.

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