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The ongoing industrial row between the Dangote Refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has led to a significant shortfall in gas supply.

This is according to the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) which says this has led to the slashing off of the country’s power generation by more than 1,100 megawatts.

NISO is a critical division within the country’s power sector, responsible for managing and coordinating the operations of the national electricity grid.

According to a statement released by NISO on Tuesday, total generation on the National Grid dropped sharply from over 4,300MW in the early hours of Sunday, 28 September 2025, to just 3,200MW at its lowest point, raising serious concerns of a potential nationwide blackout.

‘These disruptions triggered widespread gas shortages, reducing available generation and putting immense pressure on the grid,’ the statement said.

NISO said to stabilise the grid, it swiftly deployed emergency interventions, including ramping up output from Nigeria’s major hydropower stations, which contributed over 400MW to offset the shortfall from gas-fired plants.

According to the Operator, it took more measures which included: Real-time load adjustments to match generation with demand, frequency and voltage control to maintain system integrity, and selective load shedding, applied as a last resort to avoid a total system collapse.

‘These timely actions enabled the NISO National Control Centre (NCC) to minimise the impact of the labour-induced gas shortages and preserve power supply to critical infrastructure,’ the statement said.

Despite the crisis, NISO reaffirmed its commitment to ‘proactive grid management and operational excellence,’ pledging to uphold secure, stable electricity delivery across the country.

The power supply crisis follows a nationwide strike declared by PENGASSAN in protest over the reported dismissal of over 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The union ordered all members across companies, institutions, and agencies to withdraw services from 12:01 a.m. on Monday, 29 September, with field workers instructed to begin a round-the-clock prayer vigil starting Sunday morning.

The fallout has effectively paralysed operations in key oil and gas institutions, severely impacting gas distribution and regulatory oversight across the sector.

Attempts by the Federal Government to broker peace on Monday ended in a deadlock, with no resolution reached after extended dialogue sessions.

The Nigerian Official Selection Committee, NOSC, has announced that there will be no film entries for the 2026 Oscars from the Nollywood industry.

This confirmation was made in a statement released on Monday by the NOSC chairperson, Stephanie Linus.

The body revealed that although 6 movies were submitted for consideration, the majority of the body voted that no films be submitted for the Oscars.

‘While Nigerian films have no doubt shown significant improvement and growing awareness of IFF standards, there is still a deficit in creative and technical intentionality that will improve their competitive potential for global awards,’ Linus said.

An Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Tuesday, remanded 55-year-old National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) official, Samsideen Oladiti, also known as ‘Shameleon’ at Ikoyi Correctional Facility after he was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on assault and murder.

Oladiti who was accused of beating a tricyclist to death was docked before Magistrate A. O. Akinde.

The charges were read before the court, but his plea was not taken.

Rather, Akinde directed that the case file be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice. She adjourned the matter until Oct. 28.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, SP Anthony Iyeye, said the defendant committed the offences on 27 August at about 10 a.m. at Lewis Street, Lagos Island.

Iyeye alleged that Oladiti assaulted a tricyclist, Imam Ramon, causing injuries which later led to his death at the Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina.

He further told the court that, on 17 Sept. 17, the defendant also attacked a dispatch rider, Mr Omale Samuel, inflicting serious bodily harm.

Samuel was taken to hospital, where he remains on admission. The prosecutor said the defendant’s actions showed a pattern of violence against innocent citizens.

Iyeye said the offences contravened Section 223 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015, which prescribes the death penalty for murder upon conviction.

Investigations are continuing, while the court awaits the DPP’s legal advice on how to proceed.

The Lagos State Government has announced a comprehensive traffic diversion plan ahead of the Electric Powerboat Racing Championship, Africa’s first-ever E1 Series event, scheduled to take place on the Lagos Inland Waterways, Victoria Island Lagoon, from Saturday, 4th to Sunday, 5th October 2025.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the diversions were necessary to ensure smooth traffic flow and the successful hosting of the international event.

‘There will be a total road closure at 1st Lekki Junction inward Ozumba Mbadiwe. In view of this, motorists are advised to make use of alternative routes that have been carefully mapped out to minimise disruptions,’ Osiyemi explained.

According to the government’s plan, motorists from Ajah heading towards Lekki are expected to make a U-turn at the Lekki 1st Junction by the pedestrian bridge, before linking Yesufu Abiodun Street to Maroko Police Station, City of David, Ligali Ayorinde, Ajose Adeogun, Eko Hotel Roundabout, and onward to Ahmadu Bello Way.

Other alternatives include using Ogonbo Road through Abraham Adesanya to connect Okun Ajah and the Coastal Road, while motorists from Lekki heading to Ikoyi or the Mainland can use Admiralty Way to access the Lekki Link Bridge. Those going towards CMS can connect Yesufu Abiodun, Oniru Road, Aboyade Cole, and Ligali Ayorinde.

Osiyemi assured Lagosians that ample parking has been provided at Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, and the Law School premises on Victoria Island.

‘We have also deployed LASTMA officials strategically along all routes to manage traffic and guide motorists. The coastal road will remain open to traffic throughout the two-day event,’ he added.

The Commissioner appealed for patience, describing the diversion as part of the traffic management strategy for the historic championship.

‘We urge motorists to cooperate fully with traffic officials. This event places Lagos on the global stage, and together we can ensure its success,’ he said.

The E1 Electric Powerboat Racing Championship is expected to attract participants, tourists, and international spectators, marking a milestone for Lagos as Africa’s first host city for the groundbreaking sporting event.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued a strong warning to Goodluck Jonathan regarding his political future, particularly over reports that the former president may join the 2027 presidential race.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Primate Ayodele cautioned Jonathan to tread carefully if he intends to contest under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the cleric, the PDP is under a spiritual curse, and any aspirant who chooses to run on its ticket will face significant obstacles that demand extraordinary effort and divine intervention.

He stressed that while Jonathan has the option of considering other political parties with stronger prospects than the PDP, running under the PDP would require him to embark on intense preparation, spiritual dedication, and serious work to overcome the challenges tied to the party.

‘If Jonathan wants to come out of PDP, he will do a lot of work because there is a curse on the party already. There are other parties he can contest from that will give him better chances than PDP,’ Primate Ayodele stated.

The cleric further warned that Jonathan’s biggest challenge might not just come from the political platform but from the people around him.

He predicted that the former president would be surrounded by individuals who would give him misleading advice, which could derail his ambitions.

‘Jonathan will be blindfolded; wrong advisers will destroy his dreams. If he contests and eventually loses, he will be embarrassed by his past and face public disrespect,’ Ayodele cautioned.

Primate Ayodele therefore urged Jonathan to be certain of his decision before making any political move, emphasizing that his choice of platform, advisers, and spiritual preparation will determine whether his ambition strengthens his legacy or damages his reputation.

Popular Nigerian comedian and television host, Teju Babyface, has stirred controversy after advising men against confessing infidelity to their wives or partners.

In a YouTube video shared on Monday, Teju described open confessions about cheating as ‘one of the most catastrophic and damaging things you can ever do in your life,’ stressing that such admissions cause more harm than healing in marriages.

‘If you cheat on your wife or your husband, but especially your wife – especially men – if you cheat on your wife, don’t tell her. Don’t confess. Do not ever do it,’ he said.

The entertainer argued that while many justify confession with biblical references, repentance and forgiveness should be directed to God, not to one’s spouse.

‘People will even quote the Bible to support the idea of confession. They will say that if we confess and repent, then our sins are forgiven. Excuse me, that is to God and from God, not to man. It is confession to God, not to man. Do not do it,’ he emphasized.

Teju further explained that most confessions are not acts of honesty but rather selfish attempts to ease personal guilt.

According to him, ‘You are not being honest; you are being manipulative. What you’re really doing is shedding the weight of your guilt, not helping your spouse. You’re looking for someone else to carry the burden of your wrongdoing.’

Sharing a personal story, the comedian admitted that before marriage, he once cheated in a serious relationship and confessed, a decision he now regrets.

He said the confession was less about integrity and more about subconsciously sabotaging the relationship.

‘I can see clearly now that I confessed because I wanted out of the relationship. If I cheated and then confessed, and she left by herself, I could justify it to myself. That was not honesty – that was cowardice,’ he said.

Teju concluded that confessions rarely mend relationships, instead leaving betrayed partners with long-lasting pain and distrust.

‘There is no benefit to your spouse when you confess. All the benefits are yours. What you give them is pain, heartache, and misery,’ he stated.

President Bola Tinubu is reportedly considering Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This comes as the current chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, nears the end of his 10-year tenure.

A presidency source confirmed that Amupitan is being strongly considered. A close associate of the professor also confirmed the development, although no official announcement has been made yet.

Yakubu, appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, was expected to step down in June but stayed on while the presidency searched for a replacement. His time as chairman saw both innovations and controversies.

He introduced BVAS, the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and simultaneous accreditation and voting. However, he faced criticism for frequent inconclusive elections.

If confirmed, Amupitan will oversee major upcoming polls, including the Anambra governorship election in November 2026, the FCT council elections in February 2026, the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in 2026, and the 2027 general election.

Who is Amupitan?

Professor Amupitan, born in 1967 in Kogi State, is a legal scholar and Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

He studied law at the University of Jos, where he graduated as the best student in 1987.

He later obtained his Master’s and PhD in Law.

He has worked at the University of Jos since 1989, becoming a professor in 2008. He is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the university and also serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University.

Amupitan specializes in Company Law, Corporate Governance, and Law of Evidence.

He has written several books and published more than 70 academic papers.

He has also served on boards of companies, worked as a government consultant, and been involved in several important legal cases.

He was made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2014 and has held various leadership roles in academia and law.

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A 22-year-old graduate, Femi Ayoade has been sentenced to life imprisonment for defiling a four-year-old girl inside a tricycle at Eti-Osa area of Lagos State.

Ayoade was jailed by an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court presided over by Justice Abiola Soladoye on Tuesday.

The court ruled that the prosecution had proven the one-count charge of defilement against Ayoade beyond reasonable doubt.

Soladoye described Ayoade as a ‘criminally audacious man who turned a child’s vagina into a playground.’

‘It is indeed a shameless act.

‘The prosecution has successfully presented compelling evidence against the defendant.

‘Consequently, the defendant is hereby found guilty of the charge of defilement and is sentenced to life imprisonment,’ she held.

The judge further ordered that the convict’s name be entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

Lagos State Counsel, Mrs Olufunke Alebiosu, presented two witnesses during the trial, the survivor and her father, while the convict testified as the sole witness for the defence.

The prosecution had submitted that the convict committed the offence in September 2021, at about 11.10 a.m., at No. 19, Milestone Close, Infinity Estate, Skido Bus Stop, Eti-Osa, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Section 137 of the Criminal Law, Chapter C17, Volume 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, over alleged false claims against President Bola Tinubu until October 27.

Justice Mohammed Umar granted the adjournment on Tuesday to give Sowore sufficient time to prepare his defence.

Sowore, who ran for president under the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2019 and 2023, faces a five-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government. X Incorp. (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Inc. are listed as co-defendants.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 and dated September 16, 2025, alleges that Sowore referred to President Tinubu as ‘a criminal’ on his X and Facebook accounts.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Sowore was present, as was counsel for Meta. There was no legal representation for X. DSS counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, requested the charge be read to all defendants for them to take their plea. Sowore’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, opposed, noting that the court bailiff had yet to serve the charge on his client and stressing the importance of proper representation for all defendants in a criminal trial.

The court confirmed that X and Meta had been served electronically. DSS then sought to serve Sowore in open court, which was granted by Justice Umar.

Sowore’s lawyer requested an adjournment to ensure the defendant had adequate opportunity to defend himself under Section 282(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015. The court subsequently fixed October 27 for arraignment.

The charges follow an earlier DSS request for Sowore’s alleged defamatory posts to be removed from social media. Under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, Sowore is accused of posting a message on August 25 via his X handle, @YeleSowore, claiming:

‘THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!’

The DSS alleges the post was knowingly false and intended ‘to cause a breakdown of law and order,’ particularly among individuals holding differing views on President Tinubu. The alleged acts are contrary to Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act.

Nollywood actor and producer, Afeez Owo, has spoken glowingly about his wife and colleague, Mide Martins, as the couple continues to celebrate their enduring 22-year marriage.

In a recent interview on Oyinmomo TV, Afeez debunked misconceptions about his wife’s personality, describing her as a wonderful partner who is neither strict nor ‘wicked,’ both at home and in public.

He revealed that their marriage thrives on balance and mutual understanding rather than stereotypes of dominance or calmness.

‘Our marriage isn’t the kind where the husband has to be overly strict or the wife has to remain overly calm. We’ve built it on balance, and God has been faithful to us,’ he said.

Speaking further, Afeez shared details about their unique bond, disclosing the unconventional pet names they call each other.

‘I call her Iya Alekuleja, and she calls me Baba Elere. Those aren’t the usual pet names like dear or honey, but it works for us because of the closeness we share,’ he added with a smile.

Reflecting on their journey together since tying the knot in 2003, Afeez expressed gratitude to Mide, publicly thanking her for her patience and love.

’22 years of marriage is no small thing. Ajoke, thank you for putting up with me. I swear to God, my wife is not a wicked woman, whether at home or in public,’ he said.