The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the rising cases of attacks and killings of security personnel across the country.
Obi, in a post via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, described the spate of violence against soldiers, policemen, members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and vigilante groups as tragic and unacceptable.
The former Anambra State Governor stressed that the sacrifices of security operatives to the nation must not go unappreciated.
“The country has been thrown into mourning yet again with the reported tragic killings of our security personnel. Our men and women in uniform have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, dedicating their lives to the safety and stability of our dear nation,” Obi said.
He urged leaders at all levels to take urgent steps to better equip and motivate security operatives, insisting that security must form the foundation of governance.
According to him, Nigeria cannot continue to bury its security personnel while abandoning their families. He stressed the need for adequate compensation and support for the dependents of fallen officers.
“Our government must rise to the responsibility of ensuring that the wives, children, and parents of these fallen heroes are fairly compensated and supported. That is the least a grateful nation can provide. It is not charity, it is justice,” Obi added.
The former governor offered prayers for the repose of the souls of the slain operatives and assured their families of solidarity and support.
“To every fallen hero, may your soul rest in perfect peace. Your sacrifice and patriotism will never be forgotten. And to the families left behind, you are not alone. May God continue to provide you with strength and comfort,” he concluded.
The Irigwe community of Kamaru Ward in Chawai Chiefdom, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has expressed deep appreciation to Governor Uba Sani for promptly settling the medical bills of victims of the recent Angwan Rimi attack.
In an open letter signed and released on Tuesday by community stakeholder Mr. Barnabas Musa and parents’ representative Comrade Raphael Joshua, the residents said the governor’s intervention saved the lives of injured children whose treatment had been halted at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital over unpaid bills.
The letter, dated September 22, 2025, commended Governor Sani for his “swift and compassionate response,” noting that the confirmation of full payment was received on Sunday through the Chairman of Kauru Local Government Area, Hon. Bashir Tanko Dawaki.
“We write to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Your Excellency for your prompt and compassionate intervention.
“Your swift response has brought renewed hope and comfort to our distressed community,” the letter read.
The community also praised the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Ahmad, for her professionalism, and Dawaki for carrying out the directive “with dedication and empathy.”
The governor’s action followed an earlier public appeal from the community after the hospital allegedly suspended treatment for injured victims of the attack.
The payment has allowed the continuation of critical care and restored the residents’ confidence in what they described as the governor’s “people-oriented leadership.”
Recall that gunmen suspected to be bandits had invaded Angwan Rimi village in Kauru Local Government Area on September 15, killing two people and leaving several children critically injured.
The victims were rushed to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna metropolis, but treatment was reportedly suspended after the families failed to settle mounting medical bills, prompting an urgent plea to the governor for assistance.
The letter concluded with prayers for Sani’s success in building a safer and more inclusive Kaduna state.
Adron Homes Sponsors Olojo Festival 2025, Celebrates Heritage and Tourism Development
Adron Homes and Properties Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading real estate companies, has reaffirmed its commitment to cultural preservation and community development by officially supporting the 2025 Olojo Festival themed “Tourism for Inclusive Growth with Cultural Rebirth.”
In a press conference held recently at the Palace of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, highlighted the festival’s enduring significance as a symbol of Yoruba heritage and a catalyst for economic and social development.
Representing the Chairman/CEO, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, the Managing Director of Adron Group, Mrs. Adenike Ajobo, described the Olojo Festival as “more than a cultural gathering, a living heritage that connects the Yoruba civilization to the global stage, strengthening local economies, uniting people, and inspiring generational pride.”
She noted that Adron Group’s sponsorship aligns with its mission to build communities that honour tradition while creating sustainable opportunities.
“Tourism and housing share a common purpose which connects people, places, and possibilities. At Adron, we believe that true development must respect heritage while driving progress for future generations. Supporting Olojo Festival reflects our commitment to inclusive growth and cultural rebirth,” she stated.
The Olojo Festival, recognised as one of Africa’s foremost cultural events, continues to attract international attention while reinforcing Ile-Ife’s status as the cradle of Yoruba civilization. With the support of organisations like Adron Group, the festival is expected to further project Nigeria’s culture globally, boost tourism, and inspire unity across communities.
Adron Group extended prayers for the continued reign of His Imperial Majesty, Kabiyesi Ojaja II, and expressed optimism that the 2025 Olojo Festival would be peaceful, impactful, and a beacon of pride for Yorubaland, Osun State, and Nigeria at large.
Nigerians filed over 7,646 asylum applications in Sweden between 2000 and 2024, according to official figures from the Swedish Migration Agency, Migrationsverket.
Data obtained by Saturday PUNCH from the agency’s portal, covering the period, showed a consistent stream of Nigerian asylum seekers in the Nordic country.
A total of 6,783 asylum applications from Nigerian nationals were recorded between 2000 and 2021.
In 2022, there were 288 applications, followed by 200 in 2023, and 375 in 2024. Of the 375 applications received in 2024, 239 were first-time claims, while 136 were follow-up “extension” requests from persons whose temporary status was about to expire.
Women filed nearly two-thirds (159) of all first-time Nigerian claims, and half of every Nigerian applicant was between 25 and 44 years old, as no one over 64 applied in 2024.
Children accompanied 60 adult applicants, while one child travelled alone and registered as an unaccompanied minor.
Similarly, in 2023, there were 160 adults, 39 children in families, and one unaccompanied child among first-time asylum seekers from Nigeria.
Over the longer period from 2000 to 2021, a total of 132 unaccompanied minors from Nigeria applied for asylum.
The number of new applications for international protection peaked in 2003 at 452 and again in 2013 at 601, but the volume has never reached the scale of applications seen from countries experiencing internal conflicts.
Across Africa, Nigeria is among the top five countries of origin for asylum seekers in Sweden.
However, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Ethiopia far surpass it in numbers due to ongoing conflict and instability.
Somalia alone accounted for more than 54,128 applications since 2000, followed by Eritrea with over 39,000, then Sudan, Libya, Morocco, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Other countries include Uganda, Egypt, Cameroon, The Gambia and Burundi, Kenya, Algeria, Tunisia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali, Zambia, Djibouti, Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, and single-digit applications from Benin, Niger, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic and Mauritania. Nigeria, however, remains West Africa’s largest contributor of asylum seekers.
According to the reports, the migration from these countries is often directly tied to large-scale conflict and instability, a factor that distinguishes them from the lower, more consistent flow of applicants from Nigeria.
Swedish authorities say the distinction is significant as it enables a fast-track process for nationalities with historically high rejection rates, defined as a rejection percentage of 85 per cent or higher.
In 2024, Nigerian asylum seekers had an 88 per cent rejection rate while Colombians had 99 per cent.
Globally, the highest asylum grants in Sweden went to nationals of Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Ethiopia, Palestine, Ukraine, and stateless persons.
On the other hand, the highest denials were recorded among applicants from Nigeria, India, Bangladesh, Albania, Georgia, Mongolia, Russia, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
The Swedish government says it prioritises claims linked to war, persecution, or statelessness over applications driven by economic factors.
Sweden’s asylum regime is rooted in the Aliens Act (Utlänningslagen), which incorporates both EU asylum directives and the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
A successful applicant must demonstrate either refugee status (fear of persecution), eligibility for subsidiary protection (risk of serious harm in war or conflict), or humanitarian grounds such as severe illness or family reunification.
In recent years, however, Sweden has shifted toward more restrictive policies.
Since 2022, it has issued more temporary residence permits, limited family reunification programmes and tightened deportation enforcement.
Following the record influx of asylum claims in 2015, the Swedish parliament introduced a temporary emergency law that curtailed family reunification rights and made almost all new permits temporary. The main features were ratified in July 2021.
Under its 2023 Tidö Agreement, the current centre-right coalition, bolstered by the far-right Sweden Democrats, imposed “the EU’s minimum level” of protection, which uses tougher naturalisation and welfare rules as explicit deterrents.
To be granted asylum in Sweden today, an applicant must clear at least one of the classic Geneva or EU thresholds—fear of persecution, risk of torture or death, or indiscriminate violence—or demonstrate “exceptionally distressing” humanitarian circumstances.
Meanwhile, Abuja-based development economist Dr Aliyu Ilias, reasoned that the exit of more Nigerians and their permanent settlement abroad meant a loss of skilled labour for the country.
He said that with Nigerians battling economic headwinds and deteriorating security at home, the asylum route, however uncertain, still appeared to offer a better prospect.
“So, it is a total brain drain in the long run, and for the economy, it is reducing our GDP. The appalling part is that most of our Nigerian brothers and sisters who go out do not return,” he added.
The Olofin of Isheri, Oba Sulaiman Bamgbade, Ayodele III, has handed over a newly built Isheri High Court to the Ogun State Government, in what he described as a contribution to strengthening the state’s justice delivery system.
The monarch said the gesture was driven by a desire to promote quicker access to justice and ease the workload of existing courts.
During the official handover, Oba Bamgbade explained that the judicial facility, which he singlehandedly built, represents his commitment to strengthening access to justice and ensuring that the people of Isheri and environs are better served by the rule of law.
In a statement on Friday signed by the Palace’s Office of Media and Publicity, the monarch stressed that a functional justice system was key to peace, order, and development in any society.
“Justice and healthcare are the twin pillars of a thriving society. By handing over the Isheri High Court to the Ogun State Judiciary, we are strengthening access to justice for our people, who previously had to travel as far as Itori and Ifo,” the monarch said.
Aside from the PHC, the traditional ruler also inaugurated the 20-bed Renewed Hope Primary Healthcare Centre in Isheri Olofin as part of efforts to boost access to quality healthcare for residents.
The monarch said that the project was conceived to address the pressing medical needs of his people, particularly women, children, and the elderly.
Speaking at the unveiling as part of events to mark his 4th coronation anniversary, the monarch explained that the facility would provide affordable and accessible healthcare services, noting that primary healthcare remained the foundation of any functional health system.
He stressed that strengthening grassroots health facilities was critical to reducing avoidable deaths and the burden on tertiary hospitals.
According to him, the center would reduce the long distances my people travel to access medical care, while also creating a safer environment for maternal and child health in the area.
“With the commissioning of the Primary Healthcare Center, we are also prioritising the health and well-being of our people, because only a healthy community can truly prosper.
“This brings an end to our people having to leave their community in search of medical attention,” the monarch said.
Dignitaries at the event include the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Adijat Adeleye, and the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker.
Others are Member, House of Representatives (Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency), Hon. Tunji Akinosi, Member, Ogun State House of Assembly (Ifo II), Hon. Folawewo Salami, and the Executive Chairman, Ifo Local Government, Hon. Idris Kusimo. Also present were numerous traditional rulers, community leaders, and illustrious sons and daughters of Isheri.
On May 24, 2025, Oba Bamgbade appealed to the Lagos and Ogun State Governments, as well as the Federal Government, to support heritage initiatives that protect and promote the Awori history and identity.
The monarch also urged the government to support the kingdom in turning Isheri Olofin into a cultural tourism destination and a hub for economic empowerment.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja have tested negative for both Ebola Virus Disease and Marburg Virus.
The NCDC, in a public health advisory issued on Friday and signed by its Director General, Dr Jide Idris, noted that further tests are ongoing for other hemorrhagic fevers, including Lassa fever and dengue fever.
The advisory comes amid public concern and speculation following reports of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever cases in Abuja.
Ebola virus disease, formerly known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, is a severe, often deadly disease caused by the Ebola virus, with a fatality rate of 25–90 per cent.
The NCDC said people become infected with Ebola either through contact with infected live or dead animals (usually following butchering, cooking, or eating) or through contact with the body fluids of infected humans.
Most cases are caused by human-to-human transmission, which occurs when blood, bodily fluids, or secretions (stool, urine, semen) of infected people enter a person’s body through broken skin or mucous membranes.
Ebola symptoms vary, but commonly experienced symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, especially at the beginning of the disease.
“The NCDC wishes to inform the public that two recent suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever in Abuja both tested negative for Ebola and Marburg viruses. We are currently testing samples for other viral hemorrhagic fevers like Lassa fever and dengue fever,” the advisory partly read.
The most recent case involved a traveller who, after returning to Nigeria from Kigali, responsibly presented himself immediately to a hospital in Abuja when he felt unwell.
“His decision to report early, combined with the vigilance of the attending clinician and hospital team, ensured that our public health system was promptly activated and that the risk to the public was minimised.
“This responsible action is highly commendable and a good practice all Nigerians are urged to emulate; when you feel unwell, especially after travel, seek care early. Doing so protects you, your family, and your community.
“We deeply commend the clinicians and staff at the Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, whose high index of suspicion and immediate reporting triggered a rapid, coordinated response. We also recognise the FCT Epidemiology and Rapid Response Teams, the Port Health Services, the National Reference Laboratory, airline and immigration partners, and other stakeholders whose swift collaboration with NCDC demonstrates the strength of Nigeria’s preparedness system. Together, their actions exemplify how vigilance and teamwork prevent potential public-health emergencies,” the agency stated.
The agency assured Nigerians that it has activated anticipatory measures nationwide following recent Ebola outbreaks in other countries.
It said the measures include heightened surveillance at ports of entry, alerting isolation facilities, and prepositioning infection-prevention supplies.
“We are currently collating and analysing all the relevant data and information to improve our response. As part of its mandate to safeguard the health of the nation, the NCDC has already conducted a Dynamic Risk Assessment following recent reports of Ebola viral disease in other countries, and anticipatory measures are being implemented nationwide.
“We have activated multidisciplinary collaboration with federal and state health authorities, strengthened surveillance at points of entry, placed isolation/treatment facilities on alert, and prepositioned critical infection-prevention and related case management supplies.
“The NCDC national reference laboratories remain on standby to provide rapid testing, and public-health teams are ready to conduct contact tracing if needed. Beyond these immediate steps, NCDC is also working with states and partners to strengthen readiness across all 36 states and the FCT.
“This includes upgrading isolation facilities, reinforcing IPC training for healthcare workers, conducting simulation exercises, and ensuring a clear pathway for access to medical countermeasures such as vaccines and therapeutics if ever required,” it added.
It urged states to strengthen surveillance and keep isolation centres ready, while healthcare workers, especially in private hospitals, must stay vigilant, follow strict infection-prevention measures, and promptly report unusual cases through official channels.
Nigerians were also advised to practice good hygiene, avoid risky animal contact, seek care immediately if symptoms arise after travel, and rely only on official updates from NCDC.
It said suspected cases can be reported through the NCDC’s 24/7 Connect Centre via toll-free number 6232, WhatsApp at +234 708 711 0839, SMS at +234 809 955 5577, or email at info@ncdc.gov.ng
According to the World Health Organisation, 48 confirmed and probable Ebola cases have been reported, and 31 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The presidential candidate of the defunct Nigeria for Democracy in the 2019 election, Asuquo Archibong, has said that the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State and subsequently suspended is not about Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
This is as he commended President Bola Tinubu for ending the six-month emergency rule and reinstating Fubara to office.
Recall that Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state on March 18, following a frosty relationship between Gov Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly.
The development made it impossible for the governor to present the Rivers State 2025 Appropriation Bill before the legislature for its input.
The Federal Government swiftly waded in and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator to oversee the running of the state for an initial period of six months, which elapsed on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, Archibong described Fubara’s return to office as “A respect for the rule of law and democracy in Rivers State.”
He added, “The return of democracy in the state will promote peaceful co-existence. Everything that played out will strengthen democracy.
“Anytime we have an aberration in terms of governance or the rule of law, it’s a painful experience. The emergency rule was not particularly pleasant. We should naturally welcome the reinstatement of democracy in River State.
“It’s not really about Fubara, but the experience of democracy so that we can have uninterrupted dividends of democracy in the state.”
While urging the relevant stakeholders to put the past behind them and give peace a chance, Asuquo stated that the good thing is that Fubara has stepped into the office he was elected into by the Rivers electorate and urged the three arms of government to work together.
“That’s why we have the three arms of government, and they are all equal arms.
“The executive branch is at the same level as the legislature and is at the same level as the judiciary, and they all have to work together for the betterment of the people. This is the principle of democracy,” he added.
He urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to be cordial with Governor Fubara in the interest of the state.
He also commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his role in the reinstatement of Gov Fubara after six months of emergency rule in the state.
The European Union proposed Friday to bring forward a ban on Russian gas imports as part of a new package of sanctions aimed at sapping Moscow’s war chest — and pleasing US President Donald Trump.
Under the measures presented for approval by the bloc’s member states, the European Commission said it aims to phase out liquefied natural gas purchases from Russia by January 2027 — one year earlier than planned.
“Russia’s war economy is sustained by revenues from fossil fuels. We want to cut these revenues. So we are banning imports of Russian LNG into European markets,” Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said.
“It is time to turn off the tap”.
The proposal comes as the United States pressures the EU to end fossil fuel imports from Russia — and the bloc seeks in turn to persuade Trump to take a tougher stance on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
The US leader has so far held back from upping pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin but said last week he was ready to do so if allies stopped buying Russian oil and hit China with tariffs.
The 27-nation EU has already banned most Russian oil under previous rounds of sanctions — slashing the share it imports from 29 per cent in early 2021 to two per cent by mid-2025.
Only Hungary and Slovakia, friendly to Moscow and Trump, still buy the stuff.
– ‘Pay the price’ –
Presenting the new EU sanctions package — the 19th targeting Moscow since the Ukraine war began in 2022 — von der Leyen made no mention of oil.
But EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was bringing forward by 12 months a previous pledge to end all imports of LNG by the end of 2027.
“Our aim is to speed up the phase-out of Russian liquefied natural gas by 1 Jan 2027,” she wrote on X.
“Moscow thinks it can keep its war going. We are making sure it pays the price for it.”
Despite a push to end decades of European dependency, Russia still supplied 19 per cent of the EU’s gas in 2024 — down from 45 per cent before the war.
This is in part due to an increase in purchases of LNG transported by sea, which has partially offset a sharp fall in pipeline imports.
In 2024, 32 billion cubic metres of gas entered Europe via the TurkStream pipeline, and 20 billion cubic metres through liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.
Most LNG is imported through terminals in France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium — although it is hard to know how much is also consumed there or simply passes through towards other nations.
The United States — the world’s top oil producer — is the largest supplier of the stuff, accounting for almost 45 per cent of total EU LNG imports.
A former Big Brother Naija housemate Victoria Adeyele, popularly known as Vee, has sparked a major online discussion after revealing her personal dating philosophy.
In a video shared on her TikTok page on Tuesday, the 29-year-old stated that it is her “mission in life to avoid the wrong man getting me pregnant”.
Vee, who had a romantic relationship with fellow housemate Neo Akpofure on the 2020 BBNaija show before they ended things in February 2022, explained that her cautious approach to dating is a form of self-preservation.
“It is my own personal mission. It may not be your own mission, but it’s my mission,” she said.
She was quick to clarify her stance, adding, “It’s not to say that I’m better than the women who have been in that position. It’s simple, I know myself. I know what I’m like, and I try to avoid certain situations that will put me in a state of psychosis.”
She described dating in Lagos as being particularly difficult, referencing a past negative experience.
“I’m a 29-year-old living in Lagos and… dating is hard, but dating in Lagos, there’s a tweet Offset made that haunts me to this day. I don’t want to put myself in a position where a man can tell me such.”
Vee candidly admitted that her strong resolve might be a barrier to finding love, but it’s a trade-off she’s willing to make.
“I am passionate about not getting f#cked over. And maybe that’s what stops me from finding unapologetic love. I’m stubborn. Yes, I’m hard-headed, but I’m not stupid,” she said.
She also emphasised the importance of making careful choices, even when it comes to choosing a partner.
“I need to make sure that when it comes to choosing a life partner, I try my best to get it right. People say experience is the best teacher. Not in my world… I don’t need to experience something to know that it’s not going to work for me,” she said.
In the now-viral moment, Vee concluded by stating she has a limited number of chances left for dating.
“I just turned 29… I have two more tries left in me sha. Just two. You see these two fingers? Two. Let it pass that two. The way these men are doing.”
Nigeria singer and songwriter Oludipe David popularly known as Spyro has announced his engagement to his partner, Janet Atom.
The “Who Is Your Guy?” crooner took to his Instagram page on Friday to make the announcement, sharing pictures of his proposal to Atom.
Singer Spyro proposes to lover. Credit: Instagram | spyro__official
Singer Spyro proposes to lover.
Singer Spyro proposes to lover. Credit: Instagram | spyro__official
Spyro revealed that he met his fiancée on March 30, 2024, at 2:48 a.m. while working at a club in Lagos.
He wrote, “The 30th of March 2024, my world paused as I found love in an unexpected place (sic) at exactly 2:48am I met the answer to my prayers #_callme_njure in a Lagos Club while at work and from then till now I have lived every single day a very happy man.
“Thank you for saying YES my sweet J. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Spyro is well known for his song “Who is your Guy?” which was first released in November 2022 and re-released in March 2023 as a remix featuring Tiwa Savage.
