The programme held on Friday at the House of Chiefs/Western Hall, Parliament Building, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan. Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Government of Oyo State, Professor Musibau Babatunde Adetunji, described the Proof of Address initiative as a cornerstone of effective governance and citizen identification. Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Abiodun Muhammed Fadeyi, said the PoA initiative would significantly enhance security by improving the identification of individuals within communities. Oyo State remains the first state in Nigeria to approve and sign all enabling laws associated with the Proof of Address initiative and to host the maiden statewide sensitisation programme.

Leading the headlines is the unveiling of the terrorist leader behind Tuesday’s massacre in Woro, a remote community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, which reportedly left an estimated 176 residents dead. Abubakar Saidu, popularly known as Sadiku, is a terrorist commander whose violent trail spans more than a decade across northern Nigeria. In politics, the rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, alongside concerns over the ongoing Electoral Amendment Bill, has continued to generate debate between members of the National Assembly and Nigerians. Meanwhile, a United States congressional hearing on global religious freedom has criticised the Federal Government’s reported $9 million lobbying contract in Washington, with lawmakers warning that the deal appeared aimed at downplaying serious human rights and religious freedom violations. US Congress panel slams FG’s $9m lobbying dealA United States congressional hearing on global religious freedom has criticised the Federal Government’s reported $9m lobbying contract in Washington, with lawmakers warning that the deal appeared to be aimed at downplaying serious human rights and religious freedom violations.

Muslims on Friday in Kano attended special prayers for the late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, organised by the Murtala Mohammed Foundation as part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of his death. Gen. Murtala was Nigeria’s Military Head of State from July 1975 until his assassination on Friday, 13 February 1976. The Chief Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Kabiru Dan-Taura, led the prayer session, which featured recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an. Speaking after the prayer session, Sheikh Dan-Taura said the deceased would continue to be remembered for a long time because of what he did for the country. “I thank the Almighty God for witnessing this prayer session.

The National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission has approved an upward review of the uniform allowance for nurses under Federal Government employment from N20,000 to N80,000 per annum. “I hereby convey approval for the implementation of the uniform allowance of N80,000 per annum for nurses in Federal hospitals, medical centres and clinics in MDAs through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System with effect from 1st January 2026. Some of the demands of the nurses include the upward review of shift allowance, adjustment of uniform allowance, a separate salary structure for nurses, increased core duty allowance, mass employment of nurses, and the establishment of a nursing department in the Federal Ministry of Health, among others. However, at the heart of the protest was the Federal Government’s N20,000 yearly budget per nurse, a figure the leadership of the healthcare workers described as insulting. Aside from the yearly N20,000 budget, the nurses also revealed that they had been forced to work with inadequate tools and equipment, including gloves, without complaints for several years.

US President Donald Trump said that Washington had “very good talks” on Iran after the two sides held an indirect dialogue in Oman, pledging another round of negotiations next week. Iran, for its part, said it expected to hold more negotiations with the United States, hailing a “positive atmosphere” during a day of talks in the Gulf sultanate. “We likewise had very good talks on Iran,” Trump told reporters on board Air Force One en route to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Shortly after the talks concluded, the US announced new sanctions against shipping entities and vessels, aimed at curbing Iran’s oil exports. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Friday that Iran should stop being a “destabilising power,” citing its nuclear program and support for “terrorist” groups.

Deputy Governor Gobir captured this ethos succinctly when he reaffirmed the Nine-Point Smart Agenda as the compass guiding the actions of the Aliyu administration. The pragmatic objective is to ensure the Nine-Point Smart Agenda continues to respond robustly and meaningfully to the evolving needs of the people, emerging socio-economic realities, and lessons learned from its implementation over the last two and a half years. In that sense, interrogating the Nine-Point Smart Agenda has direct implications for how resources are deployed and how success is measured. The inclusion of technocrats, including professionals from outside government, reflects recognition of the value of independent expertise and objective analysis in policy review. In a broader sense, the interrogation of the Nine-Point Smart Agenda represents a quiet but meaningful departure from Nigeria’s dominant political tradition.

A university don, Prof. Christian Ezeibe, has called on governments at all levels to declare a ‘national skills emergency’ as a strategic response to Nigeria’s persistent underdevelopment and widespread poverty. Prof. Ezeibe made the call on Friday while delivering the convocation lecture at the 5th Combined Convocation Ceremony of Kogi State Polytechnic, Idah. “Under Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore made Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) the cornerstone of its economic strategy. The Institute of Technical Education is not for academic failures; it is prestigious and highly sought-after. Addressing the graduating students directly, Prof. Ezeibe advised:“Do not go looking for a job where someone else will solve your problems.

The President General of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Iwuka Okoye and one other unidentified person has been shot dead by suspected cultists. The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the killing in a statement in Awka, on Saturday. Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations. The Anambra State Police Command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice. In a similar development, the Chairman of Umueri village- Ogbunike community in Oyi local government area of the State, Hon Lovi Elobisi has escaped assassination by gunmen in the area.

“The angry bandits opened gunshots indiscriminately, killing no fewer than 75 residents of the two communities, while a few managed to escape,” Ali said. In the case of Woro community, the bandits gave notice of their intention to preach, and no one objected. Speaking on the brutality of the attack, the chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, Alhaji Abubakar Danladi, described the incident as disheartening. READ ALSO: Bandits attack Kwara communities, kill villagers, burn housesHe announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved the deployment of a battalion of soldiers under Operation Savannah Shield to flush out bandits in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State and the Borgu National Park in Niger State. Survivors recount ordealsSurvivors of the attack on Woro and Nuku communities have recounted chilling experiences following the invasion by bandits on Tuesday evening.

Former Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr Mustapha Lecky, has explained why Nigeria is not technically ready for real-time electronic transmission of election results. Lecky made this known on Friday while speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, amid the ongoing debate over the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results. When we are doing electronic voting, then it can be instantaneous,” Lecky added. Describing the push for electronic transmission of results under the current system as unnecessary, Lecky concluded that the argument for real-time e-transmission was baseless. “We don’t need electronic transmission of election results,” he said.

He names 10 powerful men, before suggesting “Anne Hathaway (really)”. The lists ends tentatively: “victoria secret models?” Epstein wonders: “Who on the list do you think he would enjoy the most?”The Epstein files reveal a patriarchy in action. There are two groups of people in the Epstein files. Richard.”Some might be tempted to dismiss the Epstein files as just evidence of the extreme behaviour of a prolific sex offender. View image in fullscreen Sarah Ferguson and an unknown person, in an image from the Epstein files.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared 2026 as the “Year of Families and Social Development,” placing the family unit at the centre of Nigeria’s national development strategy. President Tinubu said the initiative aligns Nigeria with countries such as Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which have adopted family-focused governance models to drive long-term development. “Strengthening families forms the foundation for sustainable economic growth, national security and social cohesion,” the President said. I hereby direct that the year 2026 be designated as the Year of Social Development and Families in Nigeria, with coordinated action across all arms and levels of government,” he added. If fully implemented, the Tinubu administration believes the family-centred strategy could help reduce poverty, strengthen social safety nets and tackle some of the root causes of insecurity nationwide.

The National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), has said that judicial corruption remains one of the gravest threats to Nigeria’s democracy. He stated that comprehensive reforms were required to reverse the ugly trend and restore public confidence in the justice system. He warned that judicial corruption remains part of the threats to Nigeria’s democracy, rule of law and social justice, lamenting that citizens are increasingly losing faith in the courts. He said: “Judicial corruption is not merely a legal problem; it is a direct assault on democracy, social justice and the rule of law. He added that NAS remains committed to promoting democratic values, human dignity and social justice through sustained civic engagement and advocacy.

Our purpose here is to congratulate you, and to discuss the benefits of the Deep Blue Project; how to sustain it, expand it, and increase its impact on the Gulf of Guinea. The DG acknowledged the importance of the Deep Blue Project, noting that its impact resonates globally, with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) commending it. “The Deep Blue Project is vital and countries around Africa and some other parts of the world are coming to copy our model. Mobereola also congratulated the Chief of Operations, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Musa Katagum, who is joining the NIMASA governing Board as the Navy’s representative. Abass noted some concerns which include the MoU between NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy which has been in place since 2007 and should be revisited.

The wisest and free advice that the Nigerian Senate, as well as the House of Representatives, can receive from all well-meaning citizens of our country now is to know when to stop playing with fire. Nigerians mostly see the Senate as an ignoble and withering institution that delights in deliberate betrayal of public trust. Real-time electronic transmission from polling units was promised in practice but not enforced in law. Adding salt to injury, the Senate’s statement that “we did not reject electronic transmission” while refusing to make it mandatory is political sleight of hand. I am therefore certain that the Nigerian Senate now knows what it must do immediately.