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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that the construction of new roads in Abuja is an important part of Nigeria’s plan to host the next Commonwealth Games.

Wike made this known on Tuesday during the flag-off of the Access Arterial Road S1 project, which runs from Ring Road 2 to the FCT Fire Service Station in Kaura District, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

According to him, good roads will make Nigeria’s bid stronger. ‘I hope you know that Nigeria is bidding to host the next Commonwealth Games. We cannot succeed without a good road network,’ he said.

He explained that modern infrastructure would impress the international committee when they visit. ‘If the committee comes and sees that we are providing the basic infrastructure, it will help us get the hosting right,’ he added.

The minister also stressed that the new road will help the Fire Service respond faster to emergencies.

He said that poor road access in the past slowed down fire trucks during incidents.

The 2-kilometre road project includes a 3-span bridge. Wike expressed confidence that it would improve emergency services and make life easier for residents.

He also urged the company handling the project to employ local youths from the area. ‘Please give residents the opportunity to participate by employing our young people,’ he appealed.

Wike further noted that the FCT Administration is working on several other road projects, including the Airport-Kuje Expressway and the Kuje-Gwagwalada dualisation, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

‘The hope is that before the end of President Tinubu’s first term, Abuja will look very different and compete with other world-class cities,’ he said.

The FCT Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud, also spoke at the event. She said the road project supports President Tinubu’s vision for better infrastructure.

She added that it would improve fire response times, boost public safety, and open up Kaura District for more businesses, investments, and a better quality of life.

The Rivers chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has concluded arrangements to embark on a seven-day warning strike.

A letter signed by the union’s Secretary, Mr Sunday Adeniran, and directed to branch offices across the state, said the move protests the alleged dismissal of Emohua council workers.

Adeniran explained that the union, at its state executive congress on Sept. 29, resolved to strike in solidarity with the disengaged employees.

He noted the action became necessary following what he described as unlawful treatment, which also resulted in salary denial for the affected council staff.

‘Effective from midnight of Sept. 30, 2025, all local government employees across the state are directed to withdraw their services until further notice.

‘We count on your solidarity in ensuring full compliance with this directive,’ Adeniran said.

American YouTuber James Stephen ‘Jimmy’ Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast has defended his latest stunt video while reacting to the criticisms.

The video which showed a man escaping a building on fire with bags of cash was widely criticised by his viewers who felt such challenge was unsafe.

MrBeast, however, stated in his response that there were safety precautions were taken before the video shoot. He also praised the stunt coordinator while addressing the concerns of his fans.

‘I take safety more serious than you could ever imagine. This blew up. If you’re curious obviously we had ventilation for the smoke and a kill switch to cut off the fires. We had professionals test this extensively and the guy in the video as stated is a professional stunt man. I take safety more serious than you could ever imagine. But our stunt coordinator did an amazing job as always, and none of these systems were ever needed. Just wanted to be transparent with you all since I saw some concern!,’ he stated.

Six suspected members of a land fraud syndicate have been arrested in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for allegedly defrauding one Aniekan Etukudo Koffi of the sum of ?6 million. The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The suspects identified as Enobong Clement Etim (aka Edet Nsem Udo), Iniakop Okot, Emmanuel Edet, Essien Edet Aniedi, Christopher Anthony and Edwin Etim were arrested at different locations in Akwa Ibom State.

Their arrest followed a petition from their victims alleged that the prime suspect, Enobong Clement Etim, used a pseudo name, and along with his accomplices, defrauded him of the said sum in a bogus transaction involving a parcel of land located at Ifa Ikot Ubo, Ifa Ikot Okpon-Etoi in Uyo Local Government Area of the State.

The petitioner alleged that he was introduced to the prime suspect and his gang in July 2025 through a member of the syndicate who claimed access to a prime parcel of land which, according to them, was up for sale.

The petitioner said he was taken to the said piece of land for inspection, and was eventually shown some forged documents by the arrested suspects.

Relying on their offer which he eventually found to be fraudulent, the petitioner allegedly paid ?6,000,000.00 to the alleged fraudsters, with an initial transfer of ?4,000,000.00 into a UBA Account Number: 1027675758 belonging to the prime suspect.

Preliminary investigations have shown that the said piece of land does not belong to Enobong Clements Etim or any member of the syndicate, and that the petitioner was defrauded of the sum of ?6,000,000.00.

Efforts are still ongoing to apprehend other accomplices and recover the petitioner’s funds.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has officially closed its application portal for the 2024/2025 academic year as of Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

According to the Fund, this marks the end of the second full cycle of the loan scheme.

The closure will allow NELFUND to finish processing pending applications and continue payments to approved students.

In a statement signed by Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the Director of Strategic Communications,

NELFUND announced that the portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The new application window will remain open until January 2026.

The Fund directed schools to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) so that eligible students can apply.

Schools that are yet to begin a new session within the given period were advised to notify NELFUND for special consideration.

NELFUND warned that any 2024/2025 applications left unverified by institutions after October 8, 2025, will be cancelled. Affected students will need to reapply for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The Fund added that some applications remain unpaid because certain schools have not completed the required verification.

NELFUND said it is working with such institutions but stressed that schools which fail to comply will have their names published.

On upkeep allowances, the Fund clarified that payments for the 2024/2025 session will continue until November 2025.

However, all students must reapply for the 2025/2026 session to remain eligible.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigeria may face a problem bigger than the current Boko Haram insurgency by 2050 if the challenge of current high number of out of school children was not tackled.

Obasanjo made the prediction in his remarks at the inauguration of the Bakhita ICT Centre at the Catholic Secretariat in Sokoto State on Tuesday.

He noted that by 2050, Nigeria’s population is projected to reach 400 million.

‘If we fail to prepare for these challenges, the Boko Haram of today will be child’s play.

‘Already, 24 million children who should be in school are out of school. That alone could become a recruiting ground for future insurgencies.

‘We must not give up on educating every Nigerian child. If everyone is educated, you will have better servants, better leaders, and a better society,’ Obasanjo cautioned.

The former Nigerian President emphasised the importance of education and knowledge as tools for national development.

‘No matter our religion, tribe, culture or language, we cannot develop our full potential without education.

‘In today’s world, we need not only general knowledge about our society but also practical skills to empower individuals, families, communities, and the nation,’ he added.

Obasanjo, however, affirmed that although Nigeria is a diverse and complex nation, it is not a difficult country to govern.

He stressed that Nigeria’s strength lies in its unity in diversity.

‘There are many good things in Nigeria. These are shown in our unity in diversity, and Nigeria is what it is today because of its diversity.

‘If diversity is managed with good governance and inclusiveness, then we will be respected and counted among the leading nations in the world,’ he said.

The former president added that honesty and sincerity on the part of leaders remained crucial in managing the country.

‘Nigeria is not a difficult country to rule if leaders are honest with themselves, with God, and with the people.

‘I am one of the greatest beneficiaries of Nigeria’s diversity. Since 1979, I have sought counsel and blessings from elders across the North, South, East and West to manage our unity in diversity,’ Obasanjo said.

Obasanjo commended Gov. Ahmed Aliyu for his efforts in managing Sokoto State and praised the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, for his commitment to unity.

He also lauded Bishop Matthew Kukah for establishing the ICT centre, while acknowledging Aare Afe Babalola for supporting the initiative.

In his remarks, Sultan Abubakar appreciated Obasanjo for gracing the occasion and urged Nigerians to emulate his dedication to promoting unity.

He emphasised the urgent need for Nigerians to unite in addressing security challenges and fostering development.

Representing Aliyu, Alhaji Aminu Dikko, the Chief of Staff to the Sokoto State Government, expressed appreciation to Obasanjo and the Catholic Diocese for the initiative.

He assured that the state government would remain committed to promoting technology education to expand opportunities for future generations.

Earlier, Kukah explained that the centre was open to all citizens without discrimination and was designed to empower the people with digital skills.

Courses at the centre include: Computer literacy, office productivity, coding, computer engineering, software development, data science, and digital analysis, among others.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says the online ticketing platform for the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) is now open for payment.

The Chief Public Relations Officer, NRC, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Umyimadu said that passengers were therefore encouraged to book their tickets online ahead of resumption on Oct. 1 via https://nrc.tps.ng or visit any of the designated stations to purchase their tickets.

According to him, in preparation for the resumption of services, the journey time has been reduced following a review of the Temporary Speed Restriction (TSR) to enhance operations.

The new schedule is as follows Abuja – Kaduna – Idu: 8:45 a.m., Kubwa, 9:10 a.m., Rigasa (Arrive), 11:47 a.m., Kaduna – Abuja: Rigasa, 2:30 p.m., Kubwa, 5:12 p.m., and Idu (Arrive), 5:32 p.m.’

He added that the management of NRC appreciated the patience and understanding of its esteemed passengers during the suspension period.

He assured the public that safety, comfort, and customer satisfaction remained top priorities.

The Lagos State Government has appointed popular content creator, Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, widely known as Mandy Kiss, as an ambassador for its anti-drug abuse campaign under the Lagos State Kicks Against Drug Abuse (LASKADA) initiative.

The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, announced the appointment on Tuesday, noting that the state was adopting new strategies to engage young people in the fight against substance abuse.

Ogunlende said the choice of Mandy Kiss, who commands a following of over 400,000 online, was deliberate, as her influence among young people makes her a powerful voice in reshaping narratives.

‘Drug abuse is a pandemic. We must work with those who can reach as many people as possible, and Mandy Kiss has a large followership. With the powers conferred on me, I make her one of our brand ambassadors. Say no to drugs,’ the commissioner said in a viral video.

The appointment comes weeks after the 25-year-old influencer sparked controversy by announcing plans to attempt a Guinness World Record involving intimacy with 100 men, a move that generated widespread criticism.

Speaking further, Ogunlende explained that the state government engaged Mandy Kiss in discussions, redirecting her towards a more positive role.

‘With empathy and understanding, we assessed the situation and explored healthier, more constructive paths forward. She has now embraced a purpose-driven cause, standing for something greater than herself,’ he said.

According to him, her appointment reflects transformation rather than cancellation. ‘It shows what is achievable when young individuals are met with love, guidance, and opportunities for positive growth.’

The commissioner also stressed that the Sanwo-Olu administration remains committed to addressing mental health, emotional wellness, and youth development as part of its social agenda.

Lagos State has stepped up its drive to recover outstanding revenues and taxes, with Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), revealing that the state recently secured ?1.5 billion from a defaulting bank.

Pedro, who disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing to mark his second year in office, said the recovery was part of wider reforms to strengthen fiscal governance through the rule of law.

He explained that Lagos had established dedicated Revenue Courts at both the High Court and Magistrate levels, alongside a Revenue Recovery Unit (RRU), to fast-track enforcement actions against individuals and organisations failing to meet their tax obligations.

‘Many companies have responded to our pre-action protocol notices and have started paying or made arrangements to pay their outstanding tax liabilities,’ Pedro said.

‘One of the notable banks facing our enforcement process paid the sum of ?1.5 billion in outstanding taxes. Other banks are already making efforts to settle their outstanding tax liabilities to avoid sanctions,’ he disclosed.

He cautioned residents and corporate organisations still in default to settle their obligations promptly, especially now that courts had resumed from vacation.

‘This firm but fair approach to the recovery of taxes and revenue underscores our determination to ensure that money due to Lagos State is recovered lawfully, so as to boost the State’s capacity to deliver critical services to our people,’ the Attorney General added.

The Department of State Services, DSS, has arraigned controversial Nigerian activist and politician Omoyele Sowore to Court.

The politician was arraigned to the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, after making an alleged offending post against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Sowore is being accused of making false posts about the President to cause a breakdown of law and order in the country.

‘This criminal @officialPBAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!,’ he wrote on X.

The prosecution claims that the post is contrary to Section 24(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition and Prevention Act 2024.

Sowore, however at the time of this report has over 20 lawyers representing him in the trial.