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 Okpoko Building Collapse: Ojukwu Condemns Illegal Structure, Orders Demolition ‎ ‎By Chukwuka Ugokwe ‎ ‎The Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Bar. Chijioke Ojukwu, has on Oct 8, described the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area, as unfortunate. ‎ ‎The incident, which occurred in the Anata Anaba area of the town, claimed the lives of a middle-aged woman and her 14-year-old daughter, amid allegations that warnings about the safety of the building had been ignored. ‎ ‎The victims, identified as Happiness Ugoagu and her daughter, Chikaima, were reportedly asleep in their bedroom when the building collapsed onto their residence. ‎ ‎Ojukwu, who visited the scene alongside officials of the ministry, alleged that substandard materials had been used in the construction. He also disclosed that a stop-work notice had previously been served on the building. ‎ ‎Describing the structure as illegal, ...

‘I am so popular, I could say the stupidest things and you’d clap’ — Trump tells supporters United States President Donald Trump has joked that his supporters would applaud him even if he said “the stupidest things,” as concerns grow over Republican voter enthusiasm ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Trump made the remark on Saturday during a campaign rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, where he backed Republican Senator Bill Hagerty and gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn. Addressing the crowd, Trump boasted about his popularity within the Republican Party and dismissed suggestions that his political standing could hurt candidates seeking election in November. “I’m very popular. I really am,” he told supporters. The president later highlighted the reception he receives at campaign rallies, saying his loyal supporters would continue to applaud him regardless of what he said. “There’s such love in these rooms,” Trump said. “I could say the stupidest things, and you’d clap.” He...

AKSU Alumni Mourns Former SUG President, Calls for Probe Into Death at NYSC Camp The Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) Alumni Association has mourned the death of its immediate past Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Comrade Etimbuk Daniel, who reportedly died at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Enugu State. The association, through its National Executive Council, described Daniel’s death as a painful loss to his family, the university community and young leaders, noting that his commitment to student representation and service had earned him a place in the institution’s history. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Engr. Thomas Obot, the association called for an urgent, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. According to the statement, Daniel reportedly complained of a headache and was subsequently given medication, after which his condition allegedly deteriorated. The stateme...

Otti Warns Abians: Don’t Trade State’s Future for ₦5,000, Rice Ahead of 2027 Elections Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has urged voters to reject financial inducements from politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning against sacrificing the state’s future for temporary material benefits. Otti gave the warning on Sunday while speaking at the Second Session of the Seventh Synod of the Anglican Communion, Diocese of Aba Ngwa North, held at All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Aba. The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Caleb Ajagba, spoke on the theme, “Don’t Just Absorb It; Think It Through,” urging residents to carefully consider the long-term consequences of their political choices. He cautioned voters against accepting items such as ₦5,000, ₦10,000, wrappers and bags of rice from politicians in exchange for their support, insisting that such benefits should not determine the future of Abia State. “The people who created a problem that God now had to answer you...

 BAUCHI STATE POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE BAUCHI POLICE ARREST FOUR FOR RAPE AND DEFILEMENT OF MINORS AND VULNERABLE PERSON In its unrelenting efforts on the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGVB) across the State, the Bauchi State Police Command has arrested four male suspects for separate offences of rape, defilement and sexual exploitation of minors and a vulnerable person across Ningi, Katagum, Shira and Bauchi Metropolitan. 1.  DEFILEMENT OF A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN NINGI LGA On 9th October, 2026 at about 1330hrs, a father,  resident of Gadar Maiwa Village, Ningi LGA, reported that his neighbour, one Musa Ibrahim alias Musa Fawa, 50 years old, deceived his 10-year-old daughter into a guinea corn farm behind their houses and defiled her. The victim was evacuated to General Hospital Ningi for medical examination which confirmed sexual assault. The suspect has been arrested and has confessed to the crime. 2.  DEFILEMENT OF AN 11 YEARS OLD GIRL IN AZARE...

 Olivia Culpo & Christian McCaffrey welcome second child – name, gender, & birth date revealed Big news for Olivia Culpo and Christian McCaffrey they've welcomed baby No. 2! The couple shared the happy announcement together on Instagram on Saturday, October 10th. They introduced their baby boy, who arrived last week and is named Roman Augustus McCaffrey, born on September 29th. In their joint post, the proud parents shared a bunch of sweet photos of their newborn son. Olivia, 34, and Christian, 30, have been together since 2019, got engaged in 2023, and tied the knot in Rhode Island in June 2024.  They became parents for the first time with daughter Colette Annalise in July 2025, announced they were expecting again in May, and now their family of four is officially here!

  SANWO-OLU TARGETS 3,000MW ELECTRICITY SUPPLY FOR LAGOS BY MARCH 2027 As part of efforts to end blackouts and build a 24-hour power economy in the state, the Lagos State Government has announced plans to increase electricity supply to the state to above 3,000 megawatts from the current level of below 1,000 megawatts by March 2027. Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Saturday at the Fourth Lagos Business School Africa Energy Conference (AEC 2026), with the theme, “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future: Policy Reform, Capital Mobilisation, and Pathways to a Sustainable Power and Energy Market,” held at the Honeywell Auditorium, Lagos Business School (LBS), Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos. Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat said the state is working to mobilise an additional 2,000MW through national grid resources, independent power projects, energy hubs, power barges, energy traders, and embedded generation supply. He stated that achievin...

 THREE GOVERNORS TO LEAD DIGNITARIES AT COWLSO’s 2026 NWC - LAGOS FIRST LADY  Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his counterparts from Delta and Ekiti States, His Excellencies Sheriff Oborevwori and Biodun Oyebanji, are expected to lead other important dignitaries for the 26th edition of the annual National Women Conference (NWC) of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), scheduled to hold from October 26 to 28, 2026. The three-day conference, which is the 8th and final edition for the administration of Governor Sanwo-Olu, will take place at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The First Lady of Lagos State and Chairman of COWLSO, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, made this known on Thursday while briefing journalists ahead of the conference, with the theme, “ANCHORED IN PURPOSE, BE THE BLUEPRINT”. She stated that the presence and participation of the three governors, alongside other distinguished personalities expected at...

 CDS Directs DSA to Expand Space-Based Intelligence Support to North-West, North-Central….. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has directed the Defence Space Administration (DSA) to extend its space-based intelligence and surveillance support to military operations in the North-West and North-Central regions to enhance operational effectiveness and troops’ situational awareness. The directive will extend the support currently provided to Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East to Operation Fansan Yamma in the North-West and Operation Savannah Shield in the North-Central. General Oluyede gave the directive on Friday during the DSA’s 12th anniversary celebration in Abuja, where he commended the Administration for its contributions to military operations through space-based intelligence, surveillance and communications capabilities. “As we speak now, they are supporting Operation Hadin Kai, and I have given instructions that they should extend that to Operation F...

  Kajuru Supervisory Councillor For Agriculture, Hon. Eluwe Yahaya Durba, Distributes Wrappers, Cash To Over 170 Women Hon. Eluwe Yahaya Durba, Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Food Security in Kajuru Local Government Council, Kaduna State, has distributed wrappers and cash tokens to over 170 women across the local government area. The distribution took place on Saturday, October 10, 2026, as part of his engagement with women and grassroots groups in the area ahead of the forthcoming elections. According to a statement on the initiative, the gesture was aimed at supporting the women while expressing solidarity with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The latest intervention adds to Durba’s previous engagements with different groups across Kajuru LGA. In recent months, he has distributed wrappers to wives of pastors and imams across Kajuru, as well as more than 250 bags of 10kg rice to APC supporters d...

 Desola Afod Retracts Controversial Remarks About Yoruba Nollywood Stars After Backlash Desola Afod, the wife of popular Yoruba film actor Kunle Afod, has publicly retracted her controversial comments regarding practitioners in the Yoruba movie industry. Her decision comes after intense criticism from prominent Nollywood personalities who took offense at her sweeping generalizations. The Initial Warning and Industry Backlash The controversy began when Desola shared a video issuing a stern warning to actors and actresses in the Yoruba film scene. She expressed frustration over individuals addressing her by her first name without proper respect, emphasizing that she is 44 years old and would no longer tolerate what she viewed as disrespect. Her remarks sparked immediate reactions from prominent figures within the profession. Actress Bimbo Success advised her to exercise restraint, noting that industry stakeholders had remained silent primarily out of respect for her husband. Similarl...

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU WELCOMES WORLD BANK’S LATEST REPORT AS YET ANOTHER PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT OUR REFORMS ARE WORKING, REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS FOR NIGERIANS   President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the World Bank's October 2026 Nigeria Development Update, titled Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Reshaped State Priorities. He said its findings confirm that the administration's economic reforms are delivering results and placing the economy on a firmer footing for sustained growth.   The President noted the World Bank's finding that the poverty rate has stabilised for the first time since 2019. The Bank expects poverty to decline gradually as GDP grows faster than the population. The report shows the economy grew 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9 per cent in the first half of 2025, despite the impact of the conflict in the Middle East. The World Bank projects growth to average at least 4.4 per c...

 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE ATIKU’S DEMAGOGUERY IN THE FACE OF TINUBU’S LOGICAL POLICIES   By  Sunday Dare   Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent press conference in Abuja—where he attacked NNPC Retail’s 30-day discount on petrol price and a modulation framework—is a seminal example of shallow, election-laced demagoguery.   Atiku “Kachalla”, totally unplugged from global realities and consumed by an unbridled lust for power, is a Lone Ranger.    In the United Kingdom, because the international oil market affects local pump prices, Prime Minister Andy Burnham offered Britons a Google Maps link to find the best gas prices. Google Maps' Fuel Prices feature helps drivers compare near-real-time petrol and diesel prices at local forecourts.   In America, President Trump signed an executive order titled "Emergency Tax Relief on Diesel Fuel" on October 5, 2026 and announced a diesel supply deal with Russia, not minding if it derails his avowed comm...

Atiku Raises Alarm Over 2027 Ballot Printing Contracts and INEC Personnel Moves Ahead of the 2027 general elections, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide full transparency regarding recent leadership redeployments and ballot printing contracts. Speaking through a statement issued by his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku urged the electoral umpire to publicly justify personnel changes in its core operational departments and disclose all details concerning sensitive material procurement. Concerns Over Internal INEC Redeployments The statement highlighted several high-profile movements within the commission. Specifically, former Electoral Operations Director Isa Magaji Gum was reassigned to the Voter Registry Department, while Mrs. Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi assumed control of Electoral Operations. Additionally, Dr. Lawrence Bayode was identified as leading the Information and Comm...

 LAWMA SEALS OVER 25 BUILDINGS AS IT EVACUATES WASTE BACKLOGS IN OKOTA The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has deployed extensive operational resources and manpower to evacuate accumulated waste along Ago Palace Way, Okota, while sealing over 25 buildings for various environmental and regulatory infractions. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, led the intervention on Sunday morning, with management staff joining operational teams in the exercise, which targeted recurrent illegal dumping on road medians and around bridge abutments. The operation featured a massive deployment of compactor trucks, a payloader, tipper trucks and street sweepers to clear accumulated waste and restore environmental order along the affected corridor. It also witnessed the sensitisation of the populace by the LAWMA advocacy team against indiscriminate dumping while encouraging handling of waste through the appropriate channels. Over 25 buildings, including...

 PDP ENGAGES INEC OVER OMMISSION OF SOME CANDIDATES  The Peoples Democratic Party says it is already engaging the Independent National Electoral Commission to resolve the omission of some of its candidates from the Commission’s final list of governorship candidates for the 2027 elections, released on Saturday. A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed assures that the party is treating the development with the seriousness it deserved and seeking an amicable resolution in line with the law and established electoral guidelines. It  urges the affected candidates, members and supporters to remain calm and exercise patience while discussions with INEC continued. The lists  published on the Commission’s website, featured 13 candidates in Ogun and 16 in Gombe states, with no PDP candidate listed in either state. Prominent among those omitted include Ladi Adebutu in Ogun and Isa Ali Pantami in Gombe.

 83-year-old convicted grandma, South African lady arrested with Colos, Meth shipments •  As NDLEA seizes large consignments of illicit drugs in Lagos, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Ondo sweeps; recovers assorted rifles, ammunition in Plateau.   At 83, most grandmothers are asking for rest. Not Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday, who was arrested again by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with consignments of Methamnphetamine and Colorado concealed around her waist, barely a year after she was nabbed, prosecuted and convicted for the same offence. The octogenarian was arrested on Wednesday 7th October 2026 at her home in Ite-Uzo, Umuaguma, Obingwa LGA, Abia State, with quantities of Methamphetamine and Colorado tied to her waist with a wrapper. Her re-arrest followed credible intelligence indicating that she runs a notorious drug joint that harbours criminal elements who terrorise the community. Uloma's first encounter with the law was o...