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Netanyahu links Flydubai attacker to Islamist radicalisation

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, said investigations suggest the Omani national accused of attacking the pilot of a Flydubai flight and attempting to take control of the aircraft had undergone Islamist radicalisation.

The plane plunged more than 17,000 feet during the incident on Wednesday before passengers and crew overpowered the co-pilot, allowing other pilots on board to land the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu said it appeared likely that the attacker intended to bring down the plane, but stressed that investigators had not reached a firm conclusion on his motive. UAE authorities have begun investigating whether the incident was linked to terrorism.

The incident has also drawn attention to aviation security, with Netanyahu saying Israel had identified a loophole that allowed a pilot from a country without diplomatic relations with Israel to operate the flight. The UAE has said it is cooperating with Israel on the investigation.

Putin warns Russia will use any weapon to defend Kaliningrad

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow is prepared to use all weapons at its disposal if its Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad comes under direct attack.

Putin said Russia was responding to Western statements that Moscow could be preparing for a wider war by 2029 or 2030. Russia has repeatedly accused NATO of considering a blockade of Kaliningrad, which borders Lithuania and Poland. NNATOhas rejected the claims and urged Moscow to stop making nuclear threats. The warnings come amid increased tensions in the Baltic region and a series of incidents that Western governments have blamed on Russia.

Putin also used a speech at the Valdai foreign policy forum to argue that global conflicts would continue as Western influence weakened, while again blaming the West for provoking Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

UK Iranian national arrested over RAF Fairford incident

British counter terrorism police have arrested aa 25-year-olddual national in connection with the incident at RAF Fairford, adding a new development to an investigation that authorities say is considering possible foreign state involvement.

TThe 25-year-oldman was arrested in Westminster on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, while two properties in the area were searched. Five other men arrested near the Gloucestershire airbase remain on police bail.

Police said the five men, all UK nationals from London, were initially arrested after three suspicious vehicles were reported near the base, which is operated by the US Air Force.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said there are ‘strong indications’ Iran played a role in the incident, while Tehran has denied involvement. Counter terrorism officials said investigators were examining all possible explanations.

Christa Pike survives two lethal injections as Tennessee halts executions

Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike is in critical condition after surviving two lethal injection attempts, prompting the state to halt executions for the rest of the year while an independent investigation is conducted.

Pike, 50, was convicted of mmurdering 19-year-oldColleen Slemmer in 1996 and has spent nearly three decades on death row. Her lawyers said she remained alive after receiving two doses of pentobarbital and was taken to hospital.

Her legal team described difficulties establishing an intravenous line before the injections and said observers later saw that Pike was still breathing. They are now asking the state to commute her death sentence.

Governor Bill Lee said the investigation into the failed execution would be thorough and that there were many questions that needed answers. Pike’s lawyers said they were also considering further legal action.

Japan raises permanent residency ffee 20-fold

Japan has increased the fee for foreigners seeking permanent residency by 20 times to 200,000 yen, as the government introduces tougher requirements for long-term residence.

Applicants must now also meet new income, pension and Japanese language requirements. Long queues formed at immigration offices before the changes took effect, with wait times at Tokyo’s main bureau exceeding seven hours.

The changes are part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s efforts to manage Japan’s growing foreign population, even as the country faces an ageing population and persistent labour shortages.

Japan’s foreign resident population reached a record 4.12 million at the end of 2025, up 9.5 percent from the previous year. The government has said its immigration policies are intended to ensure orderly residence while addressing public concerns.

AFRICA

Explosions reported in Addis Ababa after drone ban

Explosions were reported in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa hours after authorities banned drone flights over the city, amid heightened security concerns following renewed fighting in the north.

Residents and diplomatic sources reported blasts near the military headquarters and in the southern part of the capital. An opposition source claimed an armed alliance was behind drone strikes, but there was no independent confirmation.

The explosions came a week after fighting erupted between government forces and a newly formed alliance of armed groups, including forces from the Tigray region. Ethiopian authorities have not confirmed the cause of the blasts or reported casualties.

Ethiopia has also accused Eritrea of supporting the opposition alliance, an allegation Asmara has rejected. Addis Ababa later announced the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and the expulsion of 10 Eritrean diplomats.

Algeria introduces death penalty for arson after deadly wildfires

Algeria has approved legislation introducing the death penalty for people convicted of deliberately setting forests or fields on fire following a series of deadly wildfires.

The law, approved by the national assembly, also extends capital punishment to certain child abduction cases involving torture, sexual assault or mutilation. No executions have been carried out in Algeria since 1993.

The legislation follows more than 100 fires in northeastern Algeria during a period of extreme heat. The official death toll stands at 12, although local media reports suggest the number could be higher.

Justice Minister Lotfi Boudjemaa said the tougher penalties were intended to curb what he described as organised arson. The law must still pass through the Council of the Nation before being ratified by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Thousands flee Congo Ebola camp after security operation

Thousands of displaced people have fled an Ebola-affected camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after security forces entered the site in search of weapons, raising concerns over the spread of the disease.

The Kigonze camp in Ituri province housed about 19,000 displaced people before clashes prompted residents to leave. A UN official said the camp is now largely abandoned, while an Ebola treatment facility was also burned.

Health officials said about 1,000 people identified as Ebola contacts were living at the camp, but only about a fifth have since been traced. The UN warned that the displacement would make efforts to contain the outbreak significantly harder.

The UN refugee agency said 88 confirmed Ebola cases and 56 deaths had been recorded across displacement sites in Congo, although the figures were likely an underestimate. Poor sanitation and overcrowding make displacement camps particularly vulnerable to disease transmission.

Eritrea cuts diplomatic ties with Ethiopia

Eritrea has announced that it is severing diplomatic relations with Ethiopia, deepening tensions between the two neighbours as fighting continues between Ethiopian government forces and an opposition alliance.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea and other countries of supporting the alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which has been fighting federal forces since last week. Eritrea has denied backing the group.

The latest dispute comes years after Ethiopia and Eritrea restored diplomatic relations following a peace agreement in 2018, ending decades of hostility between the two countries.

The renewed tensions threaten to further destabilise the Horn of Africa, where Ethiopia is already facing renewed conflict and political tensions involving several armed groups.

Bashir moved to Khartoum hospital as lawyer seeks treatment abroad

Ousted Sudanese President Omar al Bashir has been transferred to amilitary-runn hospital in Khartoum for medical treatment and may need to leave the country for further care, his lawyer said.

Bashir, 82, was removed from power in 2019 after months of protests and has remained under military custody. He was later moved between detention and medical facilities after Sudan’s current war erupted between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

His lawyer, Mohamed Alhassan Alameen, said Bashir had undergone medical tests in Khartoum after developing symptoms requiring further diagnosis and treatment. His family has described treatment abroad as urgent.

Bashir’s transfer comes as Sudan’s war approaches another year of destruction, with the conflict displacing millions and severely disrupting the country’s health system.

John Uwajimogu, Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, has said that the Federal Government is exploring ways to support businesses in Abia State, particularly those in Aba fashion industry, comprising of garment and finished leather manufacturers.

Uwajimogu stated this, on Wednesday, during a visit to Governor Alex Otti, at Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area.

He said that the delegation was in the State to deepen engagement with the government and identify areas of collaboration that could attract federal projects and investment opportunities.

Uwajimogu said that the Federal Government had taken note of Aba’s strong industrial capacity, particularly i’ the finished leather and garment sectors, and was considering measures to address major constraints facing businesses in the sector.

‘One of the biggest things that we see coming out of Abia State is the strong industrial capacity in Aba, particularly in the textile and garments sector.

‘And we have been thinking of how, from the federal level, we can support the businesses that are working in that sector and have come up with ideas on how we can address one of the biggest binding constraints that they often face, namely infrastructure and finance.

‘And we’re also coming to discuss what we can bring to the table and help resolve and address those binding constraints’, Uwajimogu said.

He said that the Federal Government was also interested in bringing its projects and programmes to Abia, through closer collaboration with the state government.

Uwajimogu said that the focus was to strengthen businesses, improve productivity and tackle challenges, particularly inadequate infrastructure and limited access to finance.

He added that the visit would provide an opportunity to discuss practical measures for addressing the constraints and strengthening Abia’s industrial base.

The presidential adviser also expressed the Federal Government’s readiness to support Abia in agricultural development, stressing the importance of agriculture and agro-processing to economic growth.

He said agriculture provides a foundation for improved livelihoods and industrialisation through value addition and processing.

Uwajimogu said his engagement with the State government was also informed by the development initiatives being pursued by the Otti administration and the opportunities they presented for collaboration.

Cornelius Adebayo, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Office, NALDA), described Governor Otti, as a performer and reformer.

Adebayo said that NALDA’s core mandate is to alleviate poverty, through agriculture and sought the State Government’s support in providing land for its Renewed Hope Mega Farm Estate programme.

He said that the programme was designed to aggregate farmers, provide infrastructure, improve security, facilitate access to inputs and markets, and create sustainable incomes.

Adebayo expressed the hope that Abia would host a major NALDA agricultural project, including a processing facility, and appealed to Otti to provide suitable land and other support for the initiative.

Responding, Governor Otti expressed his administration’s readiness to collaborate with NALDA and other stakeholders to unlock Abia’s agricultural potential.

He described the proposed farm settlement initiative as a practical pathway to increasing food production, creating jobs and reducing dependence on food imports.

He said that despite its limited landmass, Abia has fertile and arable land suitable for crops, including cassava, yam, cocoyam, palm and cashew.

The Governor recalled the success of farm settlements established in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as the defunct Star Paper Mill, as examples of enterprises that demonstrated Nigerians’ capacity to build sustainable productive ventures.

Governor Otti said that the proposed initiative aligned with his administration’s vision, noting that food importation placed additional pressure on the foreign exchange market and stressed the need to revive local production, through deliberate investment in agriculture.

He directed the Commissioners for Agriculture and Land to assess available locations, including existing farm settlements and other suitable areas and also directed them to explore measures to strengthen the operations of NALDA’s office in Osisioma.

Bukola Saraki,Former Senate President, has urged Nigerian youths to demand greater accountability, opportunities and improved governance from elected leaders as the country marks its 66th Independence anniversary.

Saraki, in an Independence Day message issued on Thursday, said young Nigerians who grew up under democracy have every right to expect more from the country and its leaders, particularly in areas affecting their education, employment, security and future.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s political history, the former Kwara State governor said the significance of democracy was more readily appreciated by citizens who experienced military rule and witnessed the country’s return to civilian government in 1999.

‘For those of us who lived through military rule, our return to democracy in 1999 meant a great deal. Simply being able to choose our leaders felt like a victory. Because it was,’ Saraki said.

He noted, however, that the expectations of younger Nigerians were shaped by a different experience, as many had never experienced military rule or the political uncertainty that preceded the return to civilian rule.

Saraki said the younger generation was therefore entitled to ask whether the democratic system was delivering tangible improvements to their everyday lives.

‘Imagine saying this to a young Nigerian today, one navigating university, national service, or years of looking for a job. They understand that democracy matters,’ Saraki stated. ‘They would just like to know when this democracy that we celebrate will begin to make a difference in their own lives.’

The former Senate President listed several pressing questions confronting young Nigerians, including whether they will complete their education on time, secure employment, live safely, and build fulfilling lives without feeling compelled to emigrate.

‘Can I finish school on time? Will I find work? Can I travel safely? Do I really have to leave my country to have a chance at the life that I want?’ Saraki quoted young Nigerians as asking.

Saraki argued that such concerns should not be interpreted as evidence that young Nigerians have lost faith in the nation, maintaining that demanding better living conditions is itself an expression of patriotism.

He said young Nigerians are increasingly aware of the country’s potential and the talent available across different sectors, but questioned why many continue to struggle to secure opportunities to thrive.

‘These are fair questions. And those of us who have held public office, myself included, owe young Nigerians better answers,’ he said. ‘I do not believe that any young Nigerian asking these questions loves the country less. Sometimes, loving your country means refusing to accept less than what you know it can be.’

The former Senate President urged young Nigerians to maintain high expectations of those seeking their votes, advising that these standards should shape the questions asked during campaigns and the performance demanded from elected officials.

Saraki also urged youths to remain engaged with governance beyond election periods, stressing that civic participation must extend past the ballot box.

‘Let that expectation shape how you vote, the questions you ask, and what you are prepared to accept from those you elect. And when the elections are over, keep paying attention,’ Saraki said.

Saraki noted that the 66th Independence anniversary should serve as an opportunity for political leaders to reflect on their obligations to the younger generation.

Saraki, who served as Senate President between 2015 and 2019, concluded his message by wishing Nigerians a happy Independence Day.

Nigeria celebrates its Independence Day annually on October 1 to commemorate the country’s independence from British colonial rule in 1960. The national holiday is marked with official ceremonies and cultural displays across the country.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has appealed to political leaders, party members and young people in the state to approach the unfolding electoral process with maturity, tolerance and restraint ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who made the appeal on Thursday at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Akure, during the State’s celebration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, said political differences are natural in a democracy but must not destroy the bonds that unite people as families, neighbours and citizens.

‘I particularly appeal to our political leaders, party members and young people to eschew violence, embrace issue-based engagement and respect the right of every citizen to participate peacefully,’ he said.

The governor consequently urged Nigerians to uphold peace, unity, patriotism and responsible citizenship, saying the bonds of unity, peace and shared purpose celebrated at independence must continue to guide the country.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, who described Nigeria’s 66 years of independence as a continuing responsibility to the past, present and future, urged Nigerians to renew their faith in the country and contribute to building the nation they desire.

He said that generation did not bequeath a finished country to succeeding generations but the responsibility to build, preserve and improve it.

‘Independence, therefore, is more than the memory of a date; it is a continuing responsibility to the past, the present and the future,’ the governor said.

He said the anniversary should prompt every generation to ask: ‘What have you done with the inheritance entrusted to you?’

According to him, building the Nigeria of citizens’ dreams could not be left to government alone, stressing that it required the collective efforts of Nigerians.

‘The Nigeria we desire will not be built by the government alone, but by the collective efforts of its citizens,’ he said.

He, therefore, appreciated the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its continued support and partnership with the state.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is launching a new initiative to help African governments strengthen sovereign credit ratings by improving economic data, transparency and market information, as the continent seeks to lower the cost of accessing international capital.

Sidi Ould Tah, president of the AfDB, disclosed the plan at the S and P Emerging Markets Conference in London, saying inadequate data and weak market infrastructure continue to distort perceptions of risk across African economies and contribute to higher borrowing costs.

Tah said the initiative would be implemented through the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), with the objective of helping governments better prepare for sovereign credit assessments and improve the quality of information available to international rating agencies.

‘What is missed in Africa is the data and the infrastructure… the opacity in some markets creates this notion of high risk, which leads to high cost of borrowing,’ Tah said.

The initiative places data quality and transparency at the centre of the bank’s response to the continent’s longstanding challenge of expensive sovereign financing.

According to Tah, improving the availability and reliability of economic information would help address information gaps that influence how African economies are assessed by global rating agencies.

The AfDB president said improving sovereign credit ratings had become a shared objective across African countries, noting that only three of the continent’s 54 countries currently hold investment-grade ratings.

For governments that depend heavily on international debt markets, sovereign ratings can influence the interest rates demanded by investors and determine the terms under which countries can raise foreign currency financing.

The AfDB’s intervention comes as African governments and institutions increasingly seek to address what they regard as structural disadvantages in the continent’s access to global capital.

The initiative, however, is separate from efforts to establish an Africa-wide credit rating agency.

The African Peer Review Mechanism, an African Union-backed institution, is planning to launch a continent-wide ratings agency this month, reflecting growing efforts to develop African-led mechanisms for assessing sovereign risk.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu had earlier advocated the establishment of an Africa-owned credit rating agency, arguing that borrowing costs for African economies do not always adequately reflect their underlying economic conditions.

Tinubu has also pointed to the influence of Fitch Ratings, Moody’s and S and P Global Ratings on African countries’ access to international capital markets and investor sentiment.

While the proposed AfDB initiative will work within the existing international rating architecture by improving the information available to rating agencies, the parallel push for an Africa-wide ratings agency seeks to create an alternative institutional framework for assessing African sovereigns.

Beyond sovereign ratings, the AfDB is also stepping up efforts to deepen domestic financing and capital markets as part of a broader strategy to mobilise more resources within Africa.

Tah said the bank had been engaging key stakeholders, including pension funds and banks, to identify barriers limiting the development of stronger domestic capital markets.

The objective is to increase the capacity of African economies to mobilise local savings and channel them into government and private-sector financing, reducing dependence on external capital.

The two approaches – improving sovereign data for international assessments and deepening domestic capital markets, form part of the AfDB’s broader effort to expand Africa’s financing options.

For African governments, stronger economic data could improve the information available to investors and rating agencies, while deeper domestic markets could provide additional avenues for raising capital locally.

The AfDB’s move therefore signals a shift beyond simply challenging sovereign ratings towards addressing some of the information and market infrastructure gaps that influence how African economies are priced by global investors.

With only a small number of African economies currently classified as investment grade, the success of the initiative could have implications for how governments across the continent access and price both international and domestic financing

For 66 years, Nigeria’s sporting story has mirrored the country itself: extraordinary promise, moments of global recognition and the frustration of potential left partly unfulfilled.

Sport has given Nigerians some of their clearest reasons to believe in their country. Olympic victories, continental championships and football triumphs have created rare moments when national identity felt bigger than politics, geography and difference.

But the story is also one of unfinished progress.

As Nigeria marks another Independence anniversary, its sporting achievements sit alongside familiar weaknesses in funding, infrastructure, governance and athlete development.

The contrast is particularly sharp in 2026.

Nigeria missed the FIFA World Cup for a second consecutive edition after failing to qualify. The Super Falcons also failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, ending their appearance at every edition since the tournament began. The female basketball team, D’Tigress, did not make it past the group stages at the FIBA World basketball tournament.

Meanwhile, Spain’s U-20 women won the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in September, defeating DPR Korea on penalties in the final. Spain’s senior men also won the 2026 FIFA World Cup, underlining the strength of a football system that develops talent across age groups.

For Nigeria, the issue has never been a shortage of talent. It is how consistently that talent is developed and converted into sustained success.

The moments that made a nation believe

Nigeria’s sporting history is filled with occasions when athletes and teams exceeded expectations and put the country on the world stage.

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Chioma Ajunwa became the first Nigerian and the first Black African woman to win Olympic gold in a field event.

Four years later, Nigeria’s men’s 4x400m relay team was upgraded from silver to gold at the Sydney Olympics following the disqualification of the United States team.

In 2022, Tobi Amusan won the women’s 100m hurdles at the World Championships in Eugene and set a world record of 12.12 seconds in the semi-final.

Football has produced perhaps the country’s most enduring memories.

The Super Eagles have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Nigeria’s men’s football team defeated Brazil in the semi-final before beating Argentina to win gold, becoming the first African country to win Olympic football gold.

The Golden Eaglets announced Nigeria as a force in youth football by winning the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Championship in China in 1985.

At club level, Enyimba became the first Nigerian club to win the CAF Champions League in 2003 and retained the title a year later.

These victories became part of the country’s collective memory. For generations, they offered proof of what Nigerians could achieve when talent met opportunity.

When the present feels different

That history makes the country’s recent struggles harder to ignore.

The Super Eagles watched the 2026 World Cup from home. The Super Falcons will also miss the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

The problems extend beyond football.

D’Tigress entered the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup as African champions, having won a fifth consecutive continental title and reached the Olympic quarter-finals for the first time. Their World Cup campaign ended with a heavy defeat to France.

For sports analyst Felix Awogu, Nigeria’s results do not match its potential.

‘We have won Olympic gold medals here and there. But looking at our capacity as a nation, I think we are falling short,’ Awogu said.

‘We should be far, far ahead of our current achievements.’

He argues that Nigeria still treats sport largely as entertainment rather than as an industry capable of contributing to economic growth.

‘We see it as something for entertainment, but sports has the capacity to contribute to the GDP of our country,’ he said.

Football’s crossroads

The problems in football administration have made the structural weaknesses more visible.

NFF president Ibrahim Gusau resigned alongside General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and eight executive committee members, disrupting preparations for the federation’s September 27 elective congress.

Gusau said his resignation was intended to create space for reforms addressing the institutional and developmental problems confronting Nigerian football.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently directed the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF secretariat and other stakeholders to maintain continuity and pursue reforms.

The proposed changes include governance, stakeholder representation, domestic competitions, development pathways and accountability, with engagement expected with FIFA and CAF.

Tinubu described the problems as structural weaknesses within a sport that receives significant public attention and investment.

The crisis has also revived questions around public funding, including a N17 billion Federal Government intervention released in 2024 to settle outstanding payments to national team players and officials.

The missing link

Nigeria continues to produce athletes capable of competing at the highest level. The challenge is creating a system that consistently develops them.

Amusan is one example. D’Tigress is another. The Golden Eaglets once provided a pipeline into senior football, while Enyimba demonstrated that Nigerian clubs could compete successfully on the continent.

But isolated success is different from a functioning development system.

Athletes need training facilities, qualified coaches, regular competition and clear pathways from grassroots sport to the elite level. Without those structures, Nigeria remains heavily dependent on exceptional individuals finding a way through the system.

Infrastructure is part of that equation.

Nigeria built major sporting facilities for the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, but maintaining such facilities has proved more difficult than constructing them.

‘We have facilities. I remember we hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009. But the problem is maintenance,’ Awogu said.

Investment, he argues, must include long-term maintenance and stronger oversight.

Nigeria’s sporting history is ultimately a story of achievement and unfinished business.

The country has produced Olympic champions, world champions, continental winners and teams that have created some of its strongest moments of collective pride.

But those successes have too often depended on exceptional talent rather than a system capable of reproducing it.

The 2026 World Cup absence, the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 tournament and the NFF leadership crisis have exposed some of those weaknesses. D’Tigress’ progress, meanwhile, shows what sustained investment and development can produce even when the wider system remains uneven.

Spain’s 2026 U-20 women’s title offers another useful reminder. Youth success becomes more significant when it forms part of a broader pipeline into elite sport.

For Nigeria’s next 66 years, the challenge is therefore not simply to produce another Ajunwa, Amusan, Super Eagles generation or D’Tigress.

It is to build the structures that can identify talent, develop it, support it and give it enough opportunity to flourish.

At 66, Nigeria has no shortage of sporting memories.

The unfinished task is turning those memories into a system that can produce more of them.

Wema Bank has equipped 500 Nigerian business owners with knowledge, skills and resources required for active participation in international trade.

The entrepreneurs were equipped at a two-day training organised by the Wema Export Trade Academy (WETA), the second edition of the programme held in Lagos, with exporters, SMEs, commodity aggregators, trade associations, regulators, and professionals participating.

The training focused on helping Nigerian business owners understand and navigate the realities of the export market, from identifying viable opportunities and meeting international buyer expectations to documentation, compliance, financing, logistics, and risk management.

Participants were taken through critical areas of the export journey by experienced international trade professionals, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), as well as businesses and professionals actively involved in international trade.

Oluwole Ajimisinmi, deputy managing director, Wema Bank, said at the training that Nigeria has enormous entrepreneurial potential and businesses with products that can compete in markets beyond the borders. What is often required is the right combination of knowledge, access, financing and partnerships.

According to him, ‘At Wema Bank, we recognise that the potential of Nigerian businesses in global trade can only be fully realised when they have access to the right knowledge, the right connections, and the right financial support. WETA brings these critical elements together and our ambition is to create a platform that helps businesses understand the export ecosystem, connect with the right stakeholders, and build the capacity required to participate sustainably in international trade.’

Speaking on the impact of the Academy, Oluseyi Sanyaolu, deputy director, NAFDAC, emphasised the importance of understanding the processes and regulatory requirements involved in taking Nigerian products to international markets: ‘For businesses looking to take their products to international markets, understanding the processes, regulatory requirements and institutions involved is critical to ensuring that their products meet the required standards. This is why initiatives like the WETA are important, because they equip businesses with the knowledge and guidance needed to navigate the export journey and compete more confidently in global markets.’

For participants, the programme also provided an opportunity to reassess their businesses through the lens of international trade and better understand what would be required to take locally developed products and services into new markets. One of the participants, Dele Badejo, an importer exploring opportunities within the export market, described the programme as an important step in understanding the opportunities available to Nigerian businesses seeking to diversify into export.

Tajudeen Bakare, divisional executive, Wema Bank, spoke on the continuity of the engagement. ‘Our intention is not to end its engagement with the participating businesses after the academy. We are not training and leaving them to navigate the journey alone. The goal is to continue to work with them, understand what they require at different stages, and provide the relevant financial and non-financial support that can help them grow.’

The commissioner said the prior approval requirement was intended to allow security agencies to assess potential risks and prevent activities that could threaten public safety.

He also warned individuals against provocative statements, threats and inflammatory comments circulated on social media, particularly those capable of influencing followers to engage in actions that could threaten peace.

Bakori said security agencies were monitoring such developments and would take action within the law where comments or conduct crossed the line into criminal activity or threatened public order.

The commissioner said the police and other security agencies remained committed to protecting lives and property, maintaining public peace and ensuring that lawful directives were obeyed across Kano State.

The five arrests mark one of the first publicly disclosed enforcement actions linked to the reported destruction of political campaign materials amid the latest security tensions in Kano.

The police warning also places renewed emphasis on prior security clearance for public horse-riding activities as authorities seek to prevent further escalation arising from competing political, traditional and public-order interests in the state.

As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary amid pressing socioeconomic challenges, prominent politician and entrepreneur, Ayedero Shina Peller, has issued a passionate call for national rebuilding, urging citizens and leaders alike to move beyond performative speeches and embrace actionable solutions.

Reflecting on the nation’s anniversary, Peller acknowledged the harsh economic realities currently straining Nigerian households and businesses. He emphasised that sugarcoating the country’s state does no one any favours, noting that trust between the government and the populace remains thin.

However, he reaffirmed his belief in the resilience, innovation, and unwavering spirit of everyday Nigerians, particularly the youth, who continue to drive local economies and redefine industries globally.

According to Peller, true national rebirth requires a radical shift toward genuine youth inclusion, economic decentralisation, and courageous, uncompromised leadership. He stressed that Nigeria no longer needs career talkers or empty statistics, but fearless doers ready to disrupt the status quo and demand accountability from public institutions.

Demonstrating his commitment to practical support, Peller has launched the ‘Independence Day Liftteller Giveaway,’ a ?3,000,000 empowerment initiative designed to offer financial relief to citizens. The giveaway will be executed in three distinct phases, rewarding 30 beneficiaries with ?100,000 each.

The former federal lawmaker explained that to participate, contestants are required to download and register on the Lifteller app, follow his profile, and answer trivia questions posted across his official social media pages and Lifteller handle.

He added that the first 10 participants to respond correctly in each phase will secure the cash prizes.

Lifteller, launched on September 12, 2026, is a platform that uses technology to drive charity, connecting people in need to people willing to help in monetary and non-monetary means.

Alongside the announcement, Hon. Peller issued a stern disclaimer regarding fraudulent activities aimed at exploiting the initiative. He cautioned the public against impersonators and fake accounts soliciting registration fees or personal banking details.

Clarifying that he has not authorised any separate groups, channels, or payment requests, Hon. Peller advised all participants to remain vigilant, verify official channels, and avoid falling victim to scammers as the first phase of the contest kicks off.

Civil servants across federal, state, and local governments have commenced a three-day warning strike over the federal government’s refusal to lower petrol prices to N500 per litre.

Organized by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), the industrial action began at midnight on October 2, 2026, and is set to continue until October 4.

In an official directive, Gbenga Olowoyo, JNPSNC national secretary instructed all affiliated labor unions to enforce strict compliance following the expiration of a September 30 deadline previously set for the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The dispute follows a formal letter dispatched to the presidency on September 21, in which labor representatives demanded immediate relief from rising fuel costs and called for wage talks to establish a minimum monthly pay of N500,000 starting in 2027.

With union leaders citing severe financial strain and declining living standards among public sector employees, the warning strike serves as a decisive move to force action on worker welfare and economic relief.