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2026

Sports

Nigeria’s Flamingos lose 2–1 to Poland in opening U-17 Women’s World Cup match

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Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, have lost 2-1 to Poland in their opening Group B match at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. The match, played on Saturday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, saw the Flamingos struggle to convert their scoring opportunities and concede two costly goals. Poland took the lead in the 33rd minute when Wiktoria Skrzypczak converted a penalty awarded after a Football Video Assistant Referee review. Natalia Skrok doubled the advantage in the 65th minute, capitalising on a poor clearance by the Nigerian defence. Nigeria responded in the 79th minute through substitute Oluebube Umejiaku, who scored from a free kick after an assist from Kanyinsola Yusuf. However, the Flamingos were unable to find an equaliser despite late pressure. The defeat exposed defensive lapses and a lack of finishing precision, despite Nigeria creating several chances during the match. Players including Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and Queen Joseph threatened Poland’s goal in the first half but failed to convert their opportunities. Head coach Akeem Busari introduced Umejiaku and Awawu Bashiru in the 68th minute in an attempt to revive Nigeria’s attack. The substitutions brought renewed energy, with Umejiaku’s goal giving the team hope of salvaging a point. Meanwhile, defending champions Korea DPR began their campaign with a commanding 6-0 victory over Puerto Rico in the other Group B fixture. The result leaves Nigeria under pressure to secure a win against Puerto Rico in their next match on Tuesday before facing Korea DPR in their final group game. The Flamingos will need to improve their defensive organisation and finishing as they seek to revive their campaign and strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

Crime

NDLEA uncovers ₦6.98 billion tramadol shipment disguised as maize starch

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol worth over N6.98 billion at Apapa Port in Lagos. The consignment, shipped from India and declared as maize starch, was found to contain tramadol hydrochloride concealed in 349 bags, according to laboratory analysis. The agency also seized 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis valued at N165 million, at the Tincan Port. The substance was hidden inside a Toyota Sienna in a 40-foot container. In Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a store in Idumota and arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam and 6,500 tablets of Molly. Two other suspects, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested in separate operations in Mushin with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of cannabis, respectively. The agency also intercepted a truck along the Iyana Oba axis carrying 18,000 tablets of tramadol concealed in cartons labelled as insecticide. Two suspects, identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested. In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during raids conducted between October 15 and 16 in several communities in Owan East Local Government Area. Among them was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis. Another suspect, Ayo Aigberadion, was arrested with 220.8 kilogrammes of cannabis, while other suspects were found with varying quantities of cannabis and other controlled substances. In Ondo State, operatives destroyed a three-hectare cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest, with the plants estimated to weigh 7,500 kilogrammes. Five suspects were arrested, while additional cannabis and related substances were recovered in separate operations across the state. The agency also recorded seizures and arrests in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory. In Bauchi, officers intercepted a suspect carrying 894,800 pills identified as tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets. They also recovered 265 kilogrammes of cannabis from an abandoned vehicle along the Bauchi-Gombe road. In Kano, two suspects were arrested along the Zaria-Kano road with 30,100 tablets of tramadol, while another suspect was found with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5. At the airport, a 16-year-old passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, was arrested while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa. The agency said she was carrying 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil. Her cousin, who allegedly supplied the substance, was subsequently arrested. In Kaduna, three suspects were arrested with 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis, while another suspect was found with 49,500 tablets of tramadol. In Abuja, an operation in Utako led to the arrest of a suspect with 29,500 tramadol capsules. Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse awareness campaign in schools and other institutions across several states. The agency’s chairman, Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts to combat drug trafficking and substance abuse across the country.

Health

Hospitals disrupted by strike in Katsina

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Healthcare services at public hospitals in Katsina State have been disrupted following a one-week warning strike by health professionals over unresolved issues concerning their salaries and welfare. The strike has left patients and their caregivers worried about accessing medical treatment, particularly those requiring urgent medical attention. At the Turai Yar’Adua Maternal and Child Hospital in Katsina, a visit on Saturday revealed a low turnout of patients around the surgical ward. One caregiver, Aina’u Abdulmajid, appealed to the state government to intervene, saying her patient was experiencing complications following surgery. Another caregiver, Sulaiman Mansir, expressed concern over disruptions to the treatment of his sick child and urged the government to engage the striking workers to resolve the dispute. The strike was declared by the Assembly of Health Professionals, comprising the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and the National Union of Allied Health Professionals. The assembly’s chairperson, Ibrahim Balange, said the unions issued a seven-day strike notice on October 7, which expired without a satisfactory response from the government. According to him, the dispute began in 2024 when the state government proposed reviewing health workers’ allowances to bring them in line with those of their counterparts in federal service. The workers also raised concerns over the implementation of the minimum wage, alleging discrepancies between their approved salary structure and actual payments. Balange said a committee set up to investigate the complaints submitted its recommendations in March 2025, but the government had yet to implement them. He added that the government’s initial offer of 10 per cent of the salary difference between state and federal health workers was rejected by the unions. Following the commencement of the strike, the government increased its offer to 15 per cent, but the workers maintained that it was insufficient. The Head of the State Civil Service, Masa’ud Banye, confirmed that government officials had met with union representatives to discuss the dispute. He expressed optimism that the disagreement would be resolved soon and acknowledged the difficulties the strike had caused patients. Banye also reaffirmed Governor Dikko Radda’s administration’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery in the state.

Business, Energy

Nigeria’s long-delayed wind farm

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Nigeria’s efforts to develop renewable energy have suffered major setbacks, with the stalled Lambar-Rimi wind farm project in Katsina State highlighting the challenges facing the sector. The 10-megawatt project was initiated by the Katsina State Government in 2005 before being taken over by the Federal Government in 2007. In 2010, a French company, Vergnet S.A., was awarded a contract to construct 37 wind turbines within 24 months. Despite several years of work, the project remains incomplete. Government reports described it as about 95 per cent complete in 2017, but the Kano Electricity Distribution Company reported in 2023 that it was only 80 per cent complete. The turbines have since deteriorated and require extensive rehabilitation. In 2025, the Katsina State Government reacquired the facility and announced plans to combine it with a 10-megawatt solar power plant. The state expects the hybrid project to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2026. The challenges extend beyond Katsina. Several other wind and solar projects across Nigeria have remained undeveloped or have been cancelled, reflecting persistent problems with financing, infrastructure, regulation and project coordination. Experts say Nigeria lacks the systems needed to turn renewable energy plans into viable projects. They identify policy uncertainty, limited access to financing, inadequate wind-resource data, grid constraints and difficulties securing land as major obstacles to investment. They also stress that renewable energy projects require reliable transmission infrastructure, clear power-purchase agreements and credible buyers to ensure investors can recover their costs. Egypt provides a contrasting example, having expanded its renewable energy sector through clearer regulations, competitive bidding, investment support and improvements to electricity transmission infrastructure. Its Benban solar park, which has a combined capacity of 750 megawatts, was connected to the national grid in 2019. Industry stakeholders say Nigeria can adapt some of these approaches while developing solutions suited to its own electricity market, including mini-grids and commercial and industrial renewable energy projects. Local manufacturing is another challenge. Although Nigerian companies can produce or assemble some solar equipment, specialised technologies and key components remain heavily dependent on imports. Manufacturers face high financing costs, foreign-exchange instability, unreliable electricity and uncertainty about demand. The government’s Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up programme aims to expand electricity access to more than 17.5 million Nigerians through connections and mini-grids. A proposed solar manufacturing facility involving the Rural Electrification Agency, Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria and Dutch company Solarge BV is also intended to support local production. Industry experts recommend gradually increasing local manufacturing, starting with solar-module assembly, mounting structures, cables and battery packs, while developing domestic capacity for wind-turbine foundations, steel towers, installation and maintenance. They say Nigeria’s renewable energy industry will only grow sustainably if projects are supported by reliable financing, stable regulations, transmission infrastructure, local manufacturing and long-term maintenance plans.

Politics

SERAP takes INEC to court

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its failure to account for more than ₦126.46 billion allocated for electoral operations. The organisation is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel INEC to disclose how the funds were spent, following allegations of financial irregularities contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2023 audited report. The suit, filed last week, seeks details of payments, contractors, beneficiaries and the procurement of ballot boxes, electoral materials, vehicles and other election-related equipment. No hearing date has been announced. According to SERAP, the report, published on August 7, 2026, identified several questionable transactions covering 2022 and extending into 2023. The organisation alleged that more than ₦112 billion was irregularly paid for ballot boxes, electoral devices and other materials without competitive bidding or the required certificate of no objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement. It added that the Auditor-General found no evidence that the items had been procured. SERAP also raised concerns over payments exceeding ₦1 billion for Toyota Prado vehicles, more than ₦3.1 billion paid to four contractors for electoral materials before the contracts were awarded, and over ₦9.2 billion spent on 22 contracts allegedly split to circumvent procurement procedures. Other transactions highlighted in the suit include ₦504 million for accreditation devices, ₦235 million for sleeping mats and digital archiving, and ₦129 million paid to accounting firms for audit services without sufficient evidence of utilization. The organisation is asking the court to compel INEC to provide documentary and physical evidence showing that the items were procured and to disclose their current locations and status. It is also seeking the publication of the names of contractors, suppliers, consultants and public officials who authorised or benefited from the transactions. SERAP wants INEC directed to preserve the assets involved to prevent their disposal or destruction while accountability efforts continue. The group argued that transparent management of electoral funds is particularly important ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying Nigerians have a right to know how public resources allocated for credible elections are used. SERAP further cited constitutional provisions and Nigeria’s international anti-corruption obligations in support of its case, insisting that public institutions must account for every naira entrusted to them.

Politics

APC raises its electoral target in Kaduna

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Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is targeting three million votes in Kaduna State in the 2027 general elections. He announced the target on Saturday in Zaria during a reception for former Kaduna State Commissioner for Finance, Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, and other politicians who defected from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the APC. Sani said the party had increased its target from two million votes, citing the growing number of supporters joining its ranks. He added that Kaduna has 4.6 million registered voters, with 96 per cent reportedly having collected their Permanent Voter Cards. The governor said the APC would intensify grassroots mobilisation through door-to-door campaigns to secure victory across the state. He also urged residents to support the party, citing projects and political appointments the federal government had provided to Kaduna State. Among the prominent defectors are Sa’idu, a former Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Finance under ex-governor Nasir El-Rufai; former Commissioner for Education Jafaru Sani; and former Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari, who also served as commissioner for finance under El-Rufai. Sa’idu claimed that more than 200,000 ADC members and supporters had joined the APC through his political group, Kaduna De-Initiatives. He said the group became dissatisfied with the ADC’s leadership and candidate-selection process, alleging that the party’s affairs were controlled by a small group. The defections followed disagreements over the ADC’s governorship primary, in which Isah Ashiru emerged as the party’s candidate for 2027 after securing 86,113 votes. Uba Sani, who also contested the primary, came second with 29,580 votes and rejected the outcome, alleging irregularities. Sa’idu declared that the ADC had lost its political relevance in Kaduna following the defections and predicted that the party would finish third in the state in the 2027 elections. The political realignment comes amid growing divisions among politicians previously associated with El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna from 2015 to 2023. El-Rufai recently reflected on relationships with former associates in a statement, saying he had no regrets about supporting people and causes he believed in, even when others did not reciprocate. The impact of the defections on Kaduna State’s political landscape remains to be seen as parties prepare for the 2027 elections.

Entertainment, Film

‘Agbara Nla: The Return’ sets a new Nollywood opening record

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Nollywood faith-based film Agbara Nla: The Return has recorded the biggest non-December opening for a Nigerian film, grossing approximately ₦170.6 million during its preview screenings and opening weekend. The film earned ₦71.4 million from preview screenings ending October 1, before generating another ₦99.2 million between October 2 and 4, according to box-office figures reported by Premium Times. The performance also makes it the highest-grossing October opening for a Nigerian film and the strongest opening recorded by a faith-based Nollywood production. The remake, which premiered in cinemas on October 1, 2026, revisits the original film produced by Mike Bamiloye in 1993. His sons, Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Joshua, popularly known as Jay Mikee, directed the new version. The original production reportedly began with just ₦5,000. Bamiloye recalled facing financial difficulties during filming, with members of the Christian community providing food, accommodation and financial assistance to support the project. The story follows a confrontation between Christian evangelists and a powerful herbalist who holds a village under spiritual influence. Its themes of faith, deliverance and spiritual warfare helped establish it as one of the notable productions of Mount Zion Faith Ministries. The new adaptation features Mike Bamiloye reprising his role as Isawuru, alongside Damilola Mike-Bamiloye, Philip Olubakin, Aanu Kolade Abiodun and other cast members. The film’s opening performance is particularly significant because Nigerian cinemas typically record their strongest earnings during the December festive season. However, it remains behind Funke Akindele’s Everybody Loves Jenifa, which earned approximately ₦206 million during its opening weekend, and Behind the Scenes, which grossed about ₦205.5 million. Agbara Nla: The Return was produced by Mount Zion Film Productions, Circuits and Sozo Films, with Nile Entertainment handling distribution.

Sports

Super Falcons crush Comoros 5–0 to advance in Olympic qualifying

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Nigeria’s Super Falcons have advanced to the third round of the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers after defeating Comoros 5-0 in the second leg of their qualifying tie. The victory, recorded on Tuesday, October 13, gave Nigeria a 7-0 aggregate win after their 2-0 victory in the first leg. Toni Payne and Uchenna Kanu scored twice each, while Christy Ucheibe converted a penalty to complete the emphatic victory. The result also saw Nigeria keep clean sheets in both legs, offering encouragement to interim coach Augustine Eguavoen as the team seeks to rebuild confidence following a disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Kanu’s performance further strengthened her position as an attacking option for the team, while Michelle Alozie impressed at right-back with her defensive contributions and support for attacks. Substitutes Folashade Ijamilusi and Blessing Okpe also made significant impacts, providing two assists each. Okpe additionally won the penalty converted by Ucheibe. The Super Falcons will now face Morocco in the third round of the Olympic qualifiers. The North African side presents a tougher challenge, having emerged as one of the continent’s leading women’s football teams in recent years. Nigeria will draw confidence from their 3-2 victory over Morocco in the final of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. However, the upcoming two-legged encounter will require greater defensive discipline and attacking efficiency as the nine-time African champions continue their quest to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Health

Lagos orders hospital to register pregnant women turned away from antenatal care

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The Lagos State Government has ordered the registration of all pregnant women turned away at the Mother and Child Hospital along Ogombo Road, Lekki, over an alleged limit on antenatal registrations. More than 30 women were reportedly stranded on Tuesday after being told that the hospital’s registration quota of 45 patients had been reached, despite some arriving as early as 6:40 a.m. The Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, intervened following complaints from the affected women, prompting the hospital’s management to apologise and direct nurses to register everyone. However, the hospital’s management denied having a policy restricting registration to 45 patients, while some staff blamed the situation on a shortage of healthcare workers. The hospital’s managing director, Dr Femi Aletan, attributed the staff shortage partly to the migration of Nigerian medical professionals abroad in search of better salaries and working conditions. The incident has raised concerns about access to antenatal care and the pressure on healthcare facilities to meet growing demand amid a shortage of medical personnel.

Business, Economy

Federal Government unveils five reforms to attract investors

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The Federal Government has unveiled plans to introduce five major fiscal reforms aimed at attracting investors, improving the business environment and boosting economic growth. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced the reforms on Wednesday at the Nigerian Investors’ Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, held alongside the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings. The reforms will focus on agriculture and food security, electricity, regulation, inflation management and data management. Oyedele says the government plans to address food inflation by tackling its underlying causes, while also developing strategies to improve electricity supply and efficiency in the power sector. He adds that the government is working to reduce excessive regulations and the cost of doing business, which he says places a significant burden on businesses. The minister also says the government is finalising plans to make reliable fiscal data more accessible through the Ministry of Finance’s website to improve transparency and investor confidence. He says the reforms will have clear responsibilities and timelines, as the government seeks to promote sustainable economic growth and attract more investment into Nigeria.