Community leaders in Ilesa on Friday endorsed Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, for re-election following the completion of the N16.5 billion dual carriageway and ten township roads. Residents of the town praised the governor’s efforts in ensuring the projects were executed and assured him of their support during the August 2026 voting exercise. Speaking on behalf of the community leaders, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran said:“The dual carriageway and other road projects have changed the face of the town. Moruf Ojebode, stated:“The administration of Governor Adeleke constructed the 6.2-kilometer dual carriageway alongside ten township roads in Ilesa to stimulate industrial growth, expand business hubs, and support emerging enterprises in the ancient town. These projects are part of Adeleke’s infrastructure-driven agenda to reposition Ilesa as a major commercial and economic corridor in the state.

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old landlady, Nafisat Lateef, over the alleged poisoning of a three-year-old boy in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The arrest followed a complaint lodged at the Odigbo Police Division by the child’s mother, Rofiyat, 32, who is a tenant of the suspect. The complainant alleged that the landlady was responsible for poisoning her son. Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Adebowale Lawal, warned residents against allowing disputes, particularly landlord–tenant disagreements, to degenerate into criminal acts. Members of the public were also encouraged to contact the Ondo State Police Command through its official communication channels to report suspicious activities or make inquiries.

In 2026 alone, an estimated 4.5 million girls, many under the age of five, remain at risk of undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM). “We need to build on this momentum and speed up progress to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of ending female genital mutilation by 2030. “Every dollar invested in ending female genital mutilation yields a tenfold return. Funding cuts and declining international investment in health, education and child protection programmes are already constraining efforts to prevent female genital mutilation and support survivors. “Furthermore, the growing systematic pushback against efforts to end female genital mutilation, compounded by dangerous arguments that it is acceptable when carried out by doctors or health workers, adds further hurdles to elimination efforts.

United States President, Donald Trump, has shared a video on social media that included a racist clip depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. Republican Senator Tim Scott, who is black, urged the president to take the video down, calling it “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House”. The White House defended the post, describing it as an “internet meme video”, and told critics to “stop the fake outrage”. Although Trump offered no explanation when sharing the post, the video was one of dozens uploaded to his Truth Social account overnight and triggered a fierce backlash. The Obamas clip was attached to a minute-long video promoting debunked claims about a voting conspiracy in Michigan during the 2020 election.

Amidst confusion over the Senate’s decision on the electronic transmission of election results as proposed in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025, the Obidient Movement has accused the upper legislative chamber of frustrating efforts to sanitize the country’s electoral process. Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, made the statement in a press release issued to journalists in Abuja on Friday. The Senate on Wednesday rejected a proposed amendment to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill 2026, which sought to make the electronic transmission of results from polling units compulsory. This latest move by the Senate only serves to entrench the same systems that enable electoral malpractice. By rejecting these essential transparency measures, they are eroding the very foundation of credible elections.”The Obidient Movement questioned the motives of the current leadership, asking:“Does the government exist to ensure order and justice, or to institutionalise chaos?

“For example, we went to Karu— every road there has been reconstructed by a Nigerian contractor, Abdul Val Constructions Company. Wike also spoke on the long-delayed Apo–Karshi Road project, describing it as a critical corridor that required urgent intervention. Another major project underway is the Bwari–Kubwa Road, which the minister described as vital to economic growth in the area. According to him, additional link roads are also under construction across various Satellite Towns, forming part of a broader infrastructure push. People who have never experienced proper road infrastructure before are now seeing real change,” Wike said.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the killing of about 170 people in Kwara State, describing the attack as evidence of a total collapse of security under the Tinubu-led Federal Government. The statement read: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent gruesome killing of about 170 innocent Nigerians in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. “This horrific massacre is one of the worst atrocities recorded in recent times and stands as a painful reminder of the complete collapse of security across the country. If such measures were genuinely implemented, vulnerable rural communities like those in Kwara State should not be left completely exposed to mass slaughter. The ADC stands firmly with Nigerians in demanding competent leadership, honest governance, and a security strategy that protects lives rather than reacts after mass graves have been dug.”

The Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Friday called on the police to lift the ban on Amotekun operations to combat the emerging threats. Adeleke, who made the call in a statement in Osogbo, posited that the Amotekun service had developed the containment expertise, especially in the rural border areas, submitting that the police’s shutting down of the service operations has created a big gap being exploited by bandits and criminals. ALSO READ: Adeleke warns against Ikirun palace invasion, mobilises security agencies“I am taking this matter to the public domain in view of another kidnapping at Ora Igbomina. Closing down Amotekun exposes the Osun people to serious risks. “I call on the Inspector General of Police to unseal Amotekun and allow its operatives to secure my people across the grassroots.

Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, speaking on the seizure, said it had been receiving several reports from members of the public about unsafe food preservation practices by some traders, including deliberations on food security and safety recently at the Oyo State House of Assembly. ALSO READ: Bitcoin falls again after week of heavy lossesAt the market, officials reportedly discovered baskets of small, unripe mangoes treated with chemicals. “Just yesterday, we received an anonymous call from Oyo alerting us that unripe mangoes were being soaked in chemicals to make them ripe within one or two days,” she stated. According to Akande, investigations revealed that chemicals such as calcium carbide and other liquid substances resembling water were used to ripen unripe fruits within hours. “Whoever is apprehended will be penalised, and the executive members of that market will not be exempted,” she warned.

The Bauchi State Government has formally informed the general public of a regrettable road crash involving journalists from the state, stating that it has taken responsibility for their medical treatment. The injured journalists include correspondents of Channels Television, African Independent Television (AIT), and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), as well as other members of the Correspondents’ Chapel and staff of the Bauchi State Television Authority (BATV) and the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC). The government stated that, “Though the crash was severe, we give thanks to Almighty Allah that no life was lost. The State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, on behalf of the government and the people of Bauchi State, deeply sympathised with the injured journalists, their families, colleagues, and respective media organisations. It added, “We pray for the speedy healing and complete recovery of the injured journalists, and we pray that Almighty Allah grants them strength during this difficult time,” as contained in a statement signed by Mukhtar Gidado, MNIPR, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor.

A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 30 modifiable risk factors that contribute to cancer cases worldwide, warning that up to four in 10 cancers could be prevented through lifestyle changes and reduced exposure. The large global study is the first to outline how much cancer risk comes from causes people can control, including nine cancer-causing infections newly added to the list. “This is the first global analysis to show how much cancer risk comes from causes we can prevent,” Dr. André Ilbawi, the WHO’s team lead for cancer control and the study’s author, said in a press release. “By examining patterns across countries and population groups, we can provide governments and individuals with more specific information to help prevent many cancer cases before they start,” he continued. Smoking tobacco accounted for 15% of new cases worldwide, followed by cancer-causing infections at 10% and alcohol consumption at 3%.

Muslim Lecturers Association of Nigeria (MLA) has thrown its weight behind the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) following the agency’s ban on the production, distribution, and sale of sachet alcoholic drinks and other sachet spirits. In a statement issued signed by its President, Professor Wasiu Ajagbe, the association described the ban as a decisive, lawful, and life-saving intervention aimed at protecting public health, social stability, and Nigeria’s long-term development. The association noted that sachet alcoholic drinks are often poorly regulated, cheaply produced, and aggressively marketed, frequently failing basic safety, labelling, and quality standards. The lecturers further cited empirical evidence, World Health Organisation (WHO) data, and public health observations linking sachet alcohol consumption to liver disease, mental health disorders, addiction, road accidents, domestic violence, and premature death, particularly among youths and economically vulnerable populations. The association also invoked historical and cultural arguments, noting that Nigerian societies traditionally treated alcohol with restraint and communal regulation.

The Joint Health Sector Unions has suspended its nationwide strike, 84 days after the industrial action began. In a communique issued after the meeting, JOHESU said the strike has been suspended to “allow for the implementation of the FG-JOHESU Terms of Settlements.”Recall that JOHESU commenced its strike on November 15,2025. “Immediate withdrawal of the ‘NO WORK, NO PAY’ directive issued in relation to the JOHESU Strike. Tajudeen Abass, Speaker, House of Representatives; Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ipalibo Banigo; Chairman House Committee on Health Institutions, Hon. JOHESU also thanked the national leadership of the NLC and TUC for their intervention, support and solidarity throughout the period of the nationwide strike.

… calls for urgent security actionThe Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on Friday condemned the recent killings in Kwara, Katsina, and Benue States, describing the attacks as senseless, barbaric, and unacceptable. Kalu expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and destruction of property resulting from the violent incidents, while extending his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and affected communities. He urged security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and deploy decisive measures to bring the perpetrators to justice. He prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.

ALSO READ: SDP faults Senate’s rejection of real-time e-transmission of election resultsThe DG said, “This partnership promises transformative benefits for Nigeria’s tourism industry, including economic diversification beyond oil dependency in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Oba Ogunwusi expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for appointing a youthful leader to head the NTDA, saying he also embodies youthful energy in cultural stewardship. The event featured symbolic gestures underscoring the partnership’s focus with the DG presenting the Ooni souvenirs, including a plaque of Naija Flavour, as emblems to propel Nigeria’s tourism and cultural diplomacy. Ojaja, a Pan-African platform specializing in cultural branding and investment facilitation, brings private capital and diaspora networks to the table, creating a synergistic public-private framework for sustainable tourism advancement. The NTDA-Ojaja alliance sets a blueprint for tourism-led prosperity, promising lasting impacts on employment, revenue, and global visibility.