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2026

Sports

Messi signs off Argentina career with goal and two assists

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Lionel Messi has ended his Argentina international career in style, scoring once and providing two assists as the world champions defeated Benin 3–0 in Buenos Aires. The October 6 match marked Messi’s final appearance for Argentina, bringing his 21-year international career to an end. Messi set up Nicolás Otamendi for the opening goal in the 48th minute before assisting Nico Paz for Argentina’s second in the 61st minute. He then converted a penalty in the 71st minute to complete the 3–0 victory. The 39-year-old finished his Argentina career as the country’s most-capped player with 208 appearances and its all-time leading scorer with 126 goals. Former Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr was in charge of Benin for the farewell match. Messi leaves international football having won the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2021 Copa América with Argentina.

Health

NCDC steps up Ebola preparedness after Kenya confirms case

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has heightened surveillance after Kenya confirmed an imported case of Ebola. The case, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was confirmed on October 6 after a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo travelled through Uganda to Nairobi. The patient was isolated and tested positive for the virus but later died. The NCDC says there is no confirmed case of Ebola in Nigeria as of October 6, but it is reviewing the country’s preparedness measures in response to the regional development. The agency says its preparations include early detection, isolation and referral, laboratory testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and protection of healthcare workers. The NCDC has urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant, practise regular hand hygiene and avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of sick people or the bodies of people who died from unknown illnesses. It also advised travellers from affected areas to monitor their health for 21 days and seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms.

Business, Energy

Nigeria opens bidding for 40 new oil blocks

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The Federal Government has announced a new licensing round offering 40 oil blocks across land, shallow water and deepwater areas. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission says the 2026 licensing round is aimed at attracting fresh investment into the country’s oil and gas sector. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, says Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production has increased to 1.82 million barrels per day, up by more than 80 per cent since 2023. The NUPRC also says it has approved 120 oil and gas field development plans since 2024, involving about 47-point-six billion dollars in capital commitments. The commission says the projects could eventually add 1.74 million barrels of oil and 13-point-nine billion standard cubic feet of gas per day to Nigeria’s production capacity. For the new licensing round, bidders will be required to disclose their beneficial owners, while the evaluation process and results will be published in greater detail. The NUPRC says the exercise will prioritise transparency and competitive bidding, with successful investors expected to develop the assets rather than simply hold the licences.

Metro

Security forces rescue 20 abducted corps members in Imo

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Twenty prospective NYSC members and a civilian abducted in Imo State have been rescued by security agencies. The victims were rescued on Wednesday, October 7, at Amakohia Ubi Village following a joint intelligence-led operation involving the military, DSS, police and other security agencies. The 20 prospective corps members were abducted while travelling along the Onitsha-Owerri Road on October 1. The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the rescue, saying the victims have been taken for medical assessment and necessary care. Meanwhile, security agencies say efforts are ongoing to arrest those responsible for the abduction and bring them to justice. Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, commended the security agencies for their coordinated efforts, while the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, visited the rescued victims at a DSS facility in Owerri.

Politics

INEC puts Nigeria’s voter register at over 103 million

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says Lagos State has the highest number of registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, with over 7.4 million voters. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this in Abuja as the commission began its 100-day countdown to the elections scheduled for January 16 and February 6, 2027. INEC says the total number of registered voters nationwide stands at over 103 million. Kano follows Lagos with about 6.5 million voters, while Kaduna ranks third with over 4.6 million. The commission says the voter register will be displayed nationwide from October 9 to 15 for public scrutiny. INEC has also established an Artificial Intelligence Division to detect anomalies in election results and combat misinformation, including deepfakes and AI-generated content. The commission plans to deploy 57,000 newly procured BVAS devices during the elections and will conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force says it is working with other security agencies to address security threats and protect voters, election materials and collation centres ahead of the polls.

Technology

Three Scientists Share 2026 Nobel Prize for Breakthrough Brain Research

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Three scientists have won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries that have transformed the study and control of nerve cells in the living brain. Karl Deisseroth of Stanford University in the United States, Peter Hegemann of Humboldt University of Berlin and Georg Nagel of the University of Würzburg in Germany were jointly awarded the prize. They were recognised for their discoveries involving light-gated ion channels and optogenetics, a technique that uses light to control nerve-cell activity. The breakthrough began with research into how a single-celled alga responds to light, leading to the discovery of a protein called channelrhodopsin. Deisseroth later applied the discovery to neuroscience, using blue light to activate nerve cells in living mice. The Nobel Assembly said optogenetics has become an important tool for studying how the brain controls memories, emotions and behaviour. Researchers are also exploring the technology for treating neurological and psychiatric conditions and potentially restoring sight in people with visual impairment.

Entertainment

Mike Edwards Calls Out Carter Efe for a Boxing Showdown

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Former Big Brother Naija star and professional boxer Mike Edwards has challenged streamer and content creator Carter Efe to a boxing bout. Edwards issued the challenge after Carter Efe defeated singer Speed Darlington in their recent “Chaos in the Ring” fight. The former BBNaija star said he had previously challenged Carter Efe, but claimed the streamer had avoided the matchup despite having fought three times. Edwards urged Carter Efe to accept what he called a “real challenge” and give fans a bigger fight. He also revealed that he had spoken with Dr Eazy Adamu and Balmoral Promotions about potentially staging the bout. Edwards said he would first compete in Dubai on November 7 before facing Carter Efe, adding that he wants to give Nigerian fans the fight they want. Carter Efe had earlier said he wanted to stop fighting local opponents and face international boxers.

Entertainment, Film

Agbara Nla Pulls Over ₦170 Million in Its First Four Days

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Nollywood faith-based film Agbara Nla: The Return has grossed over 170 million naira in its first four days in cinemas nationwide. The film distributor, Nile Group, announced the milestone on Monday, saying the movie recorded packed cinemas and several sold-out shows. The distributor also revealed that Agbara Nla: The Return set three major records, including the biggest non-December Nollywood opening weekend and the biggest October opening weekend ever recorded. It also recorded the biggest opening weekend for a faith-based film. The movie had earlier generated about 70 million naira from preview screenings between September 25 and October 1, with more than 12,000 admissions. The latest figures further highlight the strong performance of the film since its release, despite competition from other titles currently showing in Nigerian cinemas.

Business, Energy

NNPC Posts Record ₦7.2 Trillion Profit Despite Lower Revenue

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, recorded a record N7.2 trillion profit after tax in 2025, despite a drop in revenue. The company’s profit rose by 33 per cent from N5.4 trillion in 2024, while revenue fell to N34.5 trillion amid lower crude oil prices and reduced petroleum product sales. NNPC attributed the improved performance to tighter cost control, debt recovery, increased efficiency and stronger financial discipline. Taxes, royalties and other payments to the Federal Government also rose by 39 per cent to N22.3 trillion during the year. The company says it recovered significant debts owed to it, while general and administrative expenses fell by about a quarter. NNPC also plans to increase crude oil production to two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels per day by 2030. The company says it will seek more than 60 billion dollars in investment across the energy value chain to achieve its production targets and strengthen its refineries and gas infrastructure.

Technology

NITDA Warns Nigerians to Think Twice Before Sharing Personal Data With AI

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The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has warned Nigerians against sharing sensitive personal information on artificial intelligence platforms. The agency, in an advisory on the safe use of AI platforms, cautioned users against uploading details such as NIN and BVN numbers, bank information, photographs and medical records. NITDA said many Nigerians now use AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot and Meta AI for schoolwork, business, job applications, health questions and personal matters. It warned that information entered into AI platforms may be stored or logged outside the user’s control, creating risks of data breaches, identity theft, impersonation and financial fraud. The agency also cautioned that AI-generated responses may sometimes be inaccurate or outdated, particularly on health, legal, financial and academic matters. NITDA advised users to anonymise sensitive information before using AI tools, check the platforms’ privacy and data-handling policies, and avoid uploading confidential documents without proper authorisation.