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 LASG, OTHERS JOIN GLOBAL CELEBRATION OF WORLD SANGO FESTIVAL AT AAFIN OYO The Lagos State Government, through the Council for Arts and Culture, joined dignitaries, cultural troupes and visitors from across the globe to celebrate the 2026 World Sango Festival, held on 15th August, 2026, at the historic Aafin Oyo, Oyo State. The World Sango Festival honours Sango, the revered Yoruba deity of thunder and lightning and stands as one of the most profound expressions of Yoruba spirituality and identity, particularly for the people of Oyo. This year’s edition featured a vibrant showcase of traditions, music, dance, and spiritual heritage. Guests experienced colourful royal processions, thunderous Bata and Dundun drumming, captivating masquerade performances, and ancestral storytelling that embody centuries of Yoruba history. Speaking at the event, the Director/CEO, Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Olulowo Idowu Johnson, emphasised that the festival underscores the enduring l...

 FCCPC ESTABLISHES POSSIBLE MANIPULATION OF CEMENT PRICES IN NIGERIA The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has uncovered possible manipulation of cement prices in the Nigerian market following a three month industry-wide investigation.                  The FCCPC discloses this in a statement, saying the preliminary findings, contained in a 40-page field report, follows a cross-border study by the Anticompetitive Practices Department (ACP) of the Commission in response to complaints over the high cost of cement. According to the Commission, the investigation was prompted by concerns over Nigeria’s comparatively high cement prices despite its substantial limestone deposits, domestic production capacity and reported surplus capacity. It adds that all major cement manufacturers made their records available to the Commission, except one, while publicly available estimates show that three major undertakings...

 2026 ISESE DAY: LASG, AATREN HOST ONE-DAY SEMINAR The Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture (LSCAC), in collaboration with the Association of African Traditional Religion of Nigeria and Overseas (AATREN), successfully hosted a landmark 2026 one-day seminar on the theme “The Role of Nigeria in World Culture Development”, held recently at Akowanjo Playing Ground, Ajako Bus Stop, Shasha, Alimosho, Lagos. The seminar served as a key preparatory event for the forthcoming Isese Day celebration. Representing the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Director of Administration and CEO of LSCAC, Mr. Idowu Johnson, urged members of AATREN to portray African Traditional Religion in a positive and exemplary manner to the public, particularly to younger generations. He emphasised the importance of involving children in cultural events to ensure continuity and coexistence of traditional practices, reiterating the government’s commitment to supporting religious groups a...

  Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke: I Had No Deal or Partnership with ADC in Election Victory Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has dismissed claims of any electoral deal or partnership with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stating that the party played no role in his re-election victory. In a statement released, Governor Adeleke said: “I had no electoral deal or partnership with the ADC before, during, or after the governorship election. The credit for our victory goes to God Almighty and the good people of Osun State for their overwhelming support and re-election.” He further clarified that the ADC was never part of the rainbow coalition that canvassed, mobilised and supported his campaign. “For the sake of history, it is important to clarify that the ADC was never part of the rainbow coalition that canvassed, mobilised, and supported our campaign in the battle leading to last Saturday’s election,” the Governor stated.

Davido rules out APC support, says he has no preferred candidate for 2027 presidential election Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has declared that he currently has no preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections and has firmly ruled out any alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, the music icon addressed questions about his political involvement ahead of the next presidential contest. He clarified that his personal political convictions remain independent of those of his uncle, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who has declared support for President Bola Tinubu. “My uncle, immediately he won, came out to declare his support for Tinubu, but for me, I’m not propelled to support anybody. I personally haven’t seen anybody,” Davido stated. Recalling his past political engagements, the artiste noted that he had previously backed opposition figures and cross-party causes. “In the past, yes, I...

 LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT: MINISTER INSPECTS KEY FACILITIES IN BORNO AHEAD OF COMMISSIONING Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has inspected key livestock development projects in Maiduguri ahead of their official commissioning. The minister, accompanied by the Borno State Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadadur, who oversees Borno State Ministry of Livestock Development, toured several facilities including Borno Liquid Nitrogen Plant.  During the inspection, the minister assessed the plant’s equipment and power supply system, as well as the Borno State Gene Plasm Bank, where artificial insemination activities are carried out to improve livestock breeds. He also visited the cattle breeding facility housing animals imported from Brazil for crossbreeding with local breeds, aimed at enhancing productivity in the livestock sector. The inspection tour also covered the Poultry Production Unit and the Dairy Processing Plant, where the minister was briefed on ongoing effort...

 Céline Dion Prepares for 10 Paris Shows as She Continues Living With Stiff-Person Syndrome Céline Dion is preparing to return to the stage, with 10 shows scheduled in Paris starting in September as she continues living with stiff-person syndrome. The 58-year-old singer has been preparing for the performances with Pilates and ballet classes, focusing on her physical ability to perform. “It’s been so long,” Dion told Harper’s Bazaar. “I would like to offer them something to show how I’ve missed them.” Dion, who was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in 2022, said her experience has changed how she approaches life. “I’m honest, and it’s not always pretty,” she said. “Sometimes it’s happy things, sometimes it’s sad, but it’s called life.” “Instead of questioning life, can you live life?” she added. “So I’m living my life, girl. I’m living the life.” Dion has previously credited her fans with helping her through her health challenges, saying their support helped her continue after he...

 Newlywed couple die in helicopter crash on Greek Island during honeymoon  A young British couple and their pilot were killed in a helicopter crash on the Greek island of Sifnos on Monday, Greek police have said. They have been named as Alexander Cromie and Marie Ebert.  The couple were on their honeymoon, newspaper Kathimerini said. The private helicopter crashed just metres from a landing pad, k!lling the pair and their pilot, a Greek national. The couple are said to have taken the helicopter from the village of Markopoulo near Athens to the popular holiday island, Kathimerini reported. An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the crash.

 Musicians Wande Coal and Davido trade words after Davido reveals why their unreleased song never dropped Nigerian music stars Wande Coal and Davido have exchanged words online after Davido spoke about a song they recorded together that was never officially released. Davido recently explained why his verse on Wande Coal’s viral “Come My Way” snippet never made it to the final release. According to him, Wande reached out to him to record a verse for the song, but he expected the track to be released first before Davido’s version was later released as a remix. Wande Coal, however, challenged Davido’s account, insisting that the song already had a release plan and date before Davido got involved. The exchange escalated when Davido responded, “No vex Mr. Little D!ck,” before Wande Coal replied, “No vex too Mr. Toto B€ggar.”

 PRESS BRIEFING BY CP PATRICK DAAOR, mnips, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, EDO STATE COMMAND Good Afternoon, gentlemen of the press, distinguished members of the media, and, the good people of Edo State. I welcome you to this press briefing at a very important moment in our collective efforts to strengthen security, protect lives and property, and make Edo State increasingly safe for residents, visitors and businesses. Let me state clearly from the outset that the security and safety of Edo people remain the central priority of this Command. We are also strengthening our operational posture by turning Edo State to a highly Mobile Command. The objective is simple: to ensure that criminals do not find Edo State a comfortable operating environment. We are equally deepening inter-command and inter-state collaboration.  Our approach is one of prevention, swift intervention, intelligence gathering, effective investigation and prosecution, while maintaining respect for the rights of all...

 TROOPS OF OPERATION FANSAN YAMMA FOIL ABDUCTION ATTEMPTS, RESCUE CIVILIANS AND NEUTRALIZE IED THREAT IN ZAMFARA Troops of Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA have recorded further operational successes in Zamfara State, foiling separate terrorist abduction attempts, rescuing civilians and neutralizing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by terrorists in Bukkuyum Local Government Area. On 17 August 2026, troops of Sector 2 responded to an abduction incident along the Gurusu–Anka Road and swiftly pursued the terrorists, compelling them to abandon their captives and flee. Seven victims, comprising 4 women and 3 children, were successfully rescued unharmed. In a separate operation in Tsafe LGA, troops responded swiftly to reports of terrorists attempting to abduct motorists around Magazu Village. The troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to abandon their victims and flee into the surrounding bushes. The rescued victims, some of whom sustained gunshot woun...

 Court Jails Two for Illegal Naira Trading in Lagos    Justice A. Aluko of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, convicted and sentenced two persons to six months imprisonment respectively for offences bordering on unlawful trading of naira notes.    The convicts; Mutairu Omowunmi Tawa and Faith Chukwujeku were separately arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on one-count charge each.   The charge against Mutairu Omowunmi Tawa reads: “That you, Mutairu Omowunmi female, on or about 25th of July, 2026, at Salamagic Event Centre, Onikan, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, did sell and trade in the sum of N850,000.00 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(4) of the Central Bank Nigeria Act. 2007 as amended and punishable under Section 21(10) of the same Act.’’   The charge against Faith Chukwujeku reads: “That you, Faith Chukwujek...

 It’s officially my birthday 🎂💃💃🤭 Today, I celebrate ME. ❤️🎂✨ Happy birthday to a woman who has walked through storms and still found the strength to smile, to love, to give, and to keep going. I celebrate every version of myself, the little girl who dreamed, the woman who fought battles in silence, the woman who fell and found the courage to rise again, and the woman I am becoming. I may not have everything figured out, but I am grateful for how far God has brought me. I am grateful for every lesson, every closed door, every answered prayer, every disappointment that made me stronger, and every blessing that reminded me that God never left my side. This new chapter, I choose peace over pressure, purpose over perfection, and gratitude over comparison. I choose to love myself deeper, protect my heart, honor my journey, and trust God’s timing. May this new age bring me genuine happiness, divine protection, greater opportunities, good health, beautiful memories, abundance, and th...

" It’s My Birthday! Eat, Pray, Love,Drink, Dance, Break plates, Feed Cats!! Thank you G*D!" 🇬🇷♥️.  More photos below