ThisDay Nigeria

• Says over 140m Nigerians live in poverty, 18m children out of school Sunday Aborisade in Abuja The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, on Thursday declared that Nigeria’s greatest challenge was not a lack of resources but the failure of leadership to convert the country’s enormous wealth into human development, productivity, security and shared prosperity. Obi stated this in his Independence Day address read to journalists in Abuja to mark Ni

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, Chairman of Optiva Capital Partners, Franklin Nechi, has called on Nigerians to renew their commitment to building a nation where freedom, enterprise, opportunity and human potential can flourish. In a goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day on Thursday, Nechi described Nigeria’s 66th anniversary as an opportunity not only to celebrate the country’s journey since 1960, but also to reflect on t

Funmi Ogundare  The University of Ibadan (UI) has called on student union leaders to embrace ethical conduct, accountability, competence and resilience in the discharge of their responsibilities, stressing that effective leadership goes beyond occupying a position. The Director, Career Development and Counselling Centre (CDCC), University of Ibadan, Prof. Adebayo Oluwole, made this call at a training programme for student union leaders, Tuesday themed, ‘Ethical and Responsible S

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto A member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Sokoto State, Miss Amanwi Gahtan Ndomchen, has provided free Hepatitis screening for 250 residents and trained students of Rochas Foundation School on skills acquisition. The medical outreach was carried out in collaboration with UNICEF, Pathfinder Women and Children Development Initiative (PWCDI) and Pure Path Health Initiative (PHI). The programme targeted residents of Kwanawa community and Internally D

Chuks Okocha in Abuja Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar Thursday continued his attacks on the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, stating that contrary to the present situation in the country, his administration if elected will provide affordable welfare and protection of lives and property for all Nigerians at inception of office as President. He also asked President Bola Tinubu to explain how N750 billion was distributed to Nigerians without telephones. Addressing a press

Boniface Okoro, Umuahia Over 40,000 farmers under the aegis of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) Abia State chapter, have endorsed and adopted the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Kelechi Anosike, as their sole candidate for the February 6, 2027 governorship election in the state. The adoption was announced  by the State Chairman of Abia AFAN,  Mike Obinna Okezie, who led members of the state executive to visit Dr. Anosike at

Members, partners and other close associates of Queen Belemzy Ministries-School of Power, have celebrated its founder Apostle Queen Belemzy as she marked her 46th birthday on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The historic birthday celebration of the US-Based preacher was anchored on a three-day revival crusade themed,“3 Days Holy Ghost Encounter,” which was held from Sunday September 27 to Tuesday September 29, which was her birthday. It was an atmosphere of worsh

Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin City The campaign office of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Oredo federal constituency in the 2027 general election, Hon. Frank Uyi Omosigho, in Benin City, has reportedly been attacked. The attack, which reportedly occurred at about 10 p.m. last Tuesday, with campaign posters, banners and other materials allegedly destroyed during the attack, was said to have been carried out by suspected political thugs. The campaign office located at Stadi

Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin City Indigenes and stakeholders of Orogho Dukedom in Edo South of Edo State have raised the alarm over alleged activities of some oil companies and a traditional ruler of the community. Some indigenes of the community, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital, yesterday, said the oil companies, in concert with some of their leaders, are cornering the resources meant to develop the community. According to the representatives of the seven communit

Laleye Dipo in Minna Almost three weeks after 37 Illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, another disaster has befallen the state. This time, no fewer than eight people, mostly women and children, have reportedly died in a stampede at the Government House in Minna, the state capital. The stampede was said to have been caused when people were allegedly invited from different wards in Minna to receive N10,000 palliatives fr

Sunday Okobi Cybernovr has announced a 100 per cent scholarship programme for learners seeking to acquire cybersecurity knowledge and practical skills through its Cybersecurity Education & Awareness Programme (CEAP). The nine-week programme, in commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary, is open to applicants at all levels, with selected learners required to pay no tuition fees. According to a statement issued by the organisers, the scholarship is designed to provide p

Chuks Okocha in Abuja The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has condemned the arrest of members of the ‘Tinubu-Must-Go (TMG)’ movement in Maiduguri, Borno State, by the administration of Governor Babagana Zulum, describing the action as a reckless abuse of power and office. In a statement issued yesterday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the arrests as an attempt to intimidate and silence citizens expressi

Linus Aleke in Abuja The Nigerian military has said troops across all theatres of operation killed 554 terrorists and other criminals, apprehended 1,333 of them alive, and rescued no fewer than 1,736 kidnapped civilians in the third quarter of 2026. The military also revealed that 333 terrorists surrendered to troops, while 244 arms and 8,160 rounds of ammunition were recovered. Addressing a press conference on the operational achievements of personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and

 Funmi Ogundare The University of Ibadan (UI) yesterday called on student union leaders to embrace ethical conduct, accountability, competence and resilience in the discharge of their responsibilities, stressing that effective leadership goes beyond occupying a position. The Director, Career Development and Counselling Centre (CDCC), University of Ibadan, Prof. Adebayo Oluwole, made this call at a training programme for student union leaders with the theme: ‘Ethical and Responsi

By Alim Abubakre On 1 October 2026, Nigeria turns 66. That anniversary invites neither self-congratulation nor despair. Both are too easy. Nigeria has survived civil war, military rule, commodity shocks, insurgency, disputed elections and repeated economic disruption. It has also produced globally competitive entrepreneurs, professionals, artists and institutions. Yet too many Nigerians still rely on private ingenuity to compensate for public weakness. That contradiction deserves att

Alex Enumah in Abuja  Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a suit challenging the emergence of former Cross River Governor, Donald Duke, as the presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) for the 2027 general election.  Justice Umar dismissed the suit filed by an aggrieved aspirant, Yakubu Muhammed Kingsley, for being incompetent and lacking in merit. Besides Duke, the PRP and the Independent National Electoral Commission

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), one of the sponsors of the 21st Abuja International Trade Fair, will spotlight the ongoing Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) during the company’s special day. This was contained in a statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Unit and made available to journalists in Lokoja, Kogi State, yesterday. The Dangote Special Day, scheduled for October 2, will feature a high-level f

Jonathan Eze The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abass Lawal, has charged charcoal merchants and other stakeholders in the forestry sector to embrace sustainable practices and support the federal government’s efforts to reverse deforestation and restore Nigeria’s degraded forest landscapes. The minister gave the charge at the flag-off of the 2026 Operation One Million Trees Tree Planting Programme organised by the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchant

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, Jonathan Eze examines the country’s turbulent journey, the changing character of its politics and the difficult choices that will determine whether the promise of independence can finally be translated into prosperity, stability and national confidence. On October 1, 1960, Nigeria inherited the sovereignty for which generations of nationalists had agitated. Sixty-six years later, the question is no longer whether Nigeria can survive. It has survived

Former National Vice-Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, South-West, Mr Bankole Adefemi Oluwajana, in this interview, speaks on President Bola Tinubu’s performance, the state of Nigeria’s economy, agriculture, restructuring, and the 2027 general elections, among other national issues. Wale Igbintade brings excerpts. What is your assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s vision and performance so far? President Tinubu is very brilliant and knows what he is doing and where he is taking Ni