BREAKING: Ex-Delta Governor, Uduaghan is dead

BREAKING: Ex-Delta Governor, Uduaghan is dead

Published on October 19, 2026

BREAKING: Ex-Delta Governor, Uduaghan is dead

A former Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is dead.

He died after a brief illness at the age of 71.

The Uduaghan family announced his death in a statement signed by Toju Andre Uduaghan, on Monday.

The statement, titled, 'ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PASSING OF HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. CHIEF EMMANUEL EWETA UDUAGHAN', read:

"It is with hearts weighed down by immeasurable grief and profound sorrow that we announce the passing to glory of our beloved Father, Brother, Uncle, and Patriarch, His Excellency, Dr. Chief Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State, who departed this world on the morning of 19th October 2026.

"His passing has left us devastated. Words can hardly express the depth of our sorrow at the loss of a man who meant so much to our family and whose life and service touched countless others across Delta State and Nigeria.

"He was a source of strength, a father figure, a beloved brother and uncle, and a respected elder. We will deeply miss his presence and forever cherish the memories and legacy he leaves behind.

"He served as Commissioner for Health from 1999 to 2003, Secretary to the Delta State Government from 2003 to 2007, and Governor of Delta State from 2007 to 2015. Throughout his years in public service, he demonstrated a commitment to the human and infrastructural development of Delta State.

"His passing is a profound loss to our family, the people of Delta State, and Nigeria at large. We are grateful to Almighty God for his life, his service, and the legacy he leaves behind.

"We pray that Almighty God, in His infinite mercy, will grant his soul eternal rest and comfort our family, friends, associates, former colleagues, and all who mourn this painful loss.

"Rest well, our beloved Father, Brother, and Uncle. Your memory will forever remain in our hearts, and your legacy will endure in the lives of those you touched.

"May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen."

I'm Obasanjo's Oldest Child, We Are More Than Friends; I'll Be 60 Next Year And He Will Be 90 -Bello

I'm Obasanjo's Oldest Child, We Are More Than Friends; I'll Be 60 Next Year And He Will Be 90 -Bello

In an interview with TVC, Iyabo Obasanjo Bello stated that there is no rift between her and her father, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, contrary to rumours about their relationship.

Iyabo said she and her father have become more like friends. She disclosed that she will turn 60 next year, while her father will turn 90,

Iyabo stated that she no longer needs much fatherly guidance at this stage of her life. She added that she is closer to her father than most Nigerian adults are to their fathers.

In Iyabo's words: "I am the oldest child, I don't even know how to describe our relationship, we are more than friends now. I will be 60 next year and he will be 90 next year. At this age I don't need a lot of fathering, we are more like friends but friends with a deep connection"

Entertainment; Gospel singer, Toluwanisings is dead

Entertainment

Gospel singer, Toluwanisings is dead

Gospel singer, Toluwanisings is dead

Nigerian gospel singer, Toluwanisings is reportedly dead.

His death was announced by the Convener of the Coalition of Public Interests Lawyers and Advocates, COPA, Pelumi Olajengbesi on Wednesday.

Expressing concern over the death of young Nigerians, Olajengbesi, in a post on Instagram, pleaded for God’s mercy.

While noting that the death of Toluwanisings is not God’s plan, he wrote, “We say no to untimely death.”

“I am deeply troubled by the deaths of young men and women. This is not God’s plan for us.”

Reacting to the sad news, comedian Woli Agba said they are still praying for a miracle.

He wrote on his page, “Please hold on. Please don’t conclude. We are trusting God. Please.”

Responding in the comments section, singer Boyebest wrote, “Yes yes yes. Yeah I have faith in God. I do. God you’ll do this one.”

This came about two hours after the rumour first surfaced on social media.

DAILY POST reports that the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death have not been revealed as of the time of this report.

Dare Akogun, 27 others win UK MEET fellowship

Dare Akogun, 27 others win UK MEET fellowship

An Assistant News and  Politics Editor with PUNCH Weekend titles, Dare Akogun, has been selected alongside 27 other journalists and content creators for the 2026 UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technologies Fellowship.

The three-month fellowship, delivered by Imperial College London through Imperial Global Ghana, with support from the British High Commission in Accra and the UK Government in Nigeria, aims to strengthen science journalism and improve public understanding of emerging technologies.

The President of Imperial College London, Prof Hugh Brady, announced the 2026 Ghanaian and Nigerian cohort in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday.

Brady said the programme would equip journalists and content creators to improve their reporting on science, innovation and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, climate risk, biomedical innovation, the circular economy and electronic waste.

He said, “The UK MEET Fellowship is a programme for science journalists and content creators from Ghana and Nigeria to strengthen and inspire their reporting on science, innovation, and emerging technologies, focusing on wide-ranging topics from artificial intelligence and climate risk to biomedical innovation, the circular economy and e-waste.”

According to him, evidence-based science journalism has become increasingly important amid the spread of misinformation, rapid technological changes and complex global challenges.

“Evidence-based, trusted science journalism has never been more essential. In a world of rapid technological change, misinformation and increasingly complex global challenges, our policymakers, leaders, and educators need accurate, accessible reporting that helps them understand what's at stake, ask informed questions and make sound decisions,” he said.

Brady added that accessible science reporting could help build public trust in research and connect scientific discoveries with the communities expected to benefit from them.

He disclosed that the Ghanaian fellows began their training in Accra on Monday, while the programme would move to Abuja, Nigeria, the following week.

He also said selected fellows would have the opportunity to visit Imperial College London in December to meet researchers and tour its facilities.

In an earlier email notifying Akogun of his selection, the programme organisers said the fellowship attracted more than 500 applications from journalists and content creators across Nigeria and Ghana.

The organisers said each eligible application was independently assessed by two reviewers, with 13 per cent of applicants selected.

They said Akogun’s application stood out because of his reporting track record, clear editorial perspective and proposed story idea.

The Nigerian residential programme is scheduled to hold in Abuja from October 18 to 24, 2026. Activities will include engagements with researchers working on artificial intelligence, climate and health technology, as well as practical sessions on verifying emerging technology claims, investigating data and developing publishable story pitches.

The fellowship will also provide opportunities for participants to build professional networks with science and technology reporters across the region.

According to the organisers, fellows who demonstrate strong progress in developing rigorous story pitches during the Abuja residential may be considered for a knowledge exchange programme in London in late November.

The UK MEET Fellowship is part of efforts to strengthen science communication and improve public understanding of technological developments and their implications for society.

World Sight Day: 400,000+ Beneficiaries, One Priceless Gift

World Sight Day: 400,000+ Beneficiaries, One Priceless Gift

A child can't read, a trader struggles to recognise a customer, and an older person needs help finding their way home. When it becomes hard to see, it also becomes difficult to learn, earn, and live independently. Sometimes an eye test, glasses, or prompt treatment can help. But what happens when that care isn't available?

That is the need First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and the Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF) set out to address when they launched Priceless Gift of Sight in 2009. By July 2024, the programme had provided free eye care to over 400,000 Nigerians, including eye tests, optical services, surgeries, and disease management.

Last week’s World Sight Day commemoration brought the next challenge into focus: how to make care accessible to more people—and keep it available.

FCMB held a roundtable meeting with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the National Eye, Ear and Sensory Functions Health Programme, and TCF to discuss partnerships and sustainable funding.

The task is practical. Eye tests need to lead to treatment. Clinics need skilled people and functioning equipment. Patients need support to complete their care.

After more than 15 years of partnership, the goal remains close to everyday life: helping more people see a lesson, serve a customer or find their way home.

BREAKING: FG Announces 30-Day Discount On NNPC Petrol

BREAKING: FG Announces 30-Day Discount On NNPC Petrol

Bola Tinubu Bola Tinubu Access Services

The Federal Government has announced a 30-day discount on petrol sold by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), with public transport operators to receive priority under the arrangement.Shop African Art

 Politics Nigeria reports that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this on Thursday at a press briefing on fuel prices and subsidy-related issues in Abuja.

Oyedele explained that the measure was not a return to petroleum subsidy but an arrangement through which the government would make petrol available at cost for the period.

“We are offering a discount on petrol dispensed by NNPC limited for the next 30 days in the first instance with priority for public transporters nationwide. So, it’s not a subsidy, government is just saying we sell to you at cost,” the minister said.

The announcement followed growing pressure from organised labour over the impact of rising petrol prices and transportation costs on workers and households across the country.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress had demanded an immediate reduction in the price of petrol, a nationwide wage award for workers and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.

In an Independence Day statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the NLC warned that Nigerians were facing what it described as a worsening survival crisis.

The union said persistent inflation had significantly reduced the purchasing power of workers, while higher petrol and transport costs had contributed to increases in the prices of food, school fees, rent and other basic necessities.Track Exec Orders

“We stand at the crossroads of a full-scale survival crisis. The real value of wages has been devoured by structural inflation. Petrol now sells at ₦1,430 per litre or higher in major cities and far more in remote areas,” the NLC said.

The labour union also revisited the Federal Government’s decision to remove petrol subsidy in May 2023, describing the resulting increase in fuel prices as a “systematic assault on the working class.”

It questioned the government over the use of funds saved from the subsidy removal, arguing that Nigerians had yet to see the infrastructure and social services it said were promised as part of the reform.Shop African Art

“Government claimed subsidy removal would free up resources for infrastructure and social services. Three years later, petrol prices have multiplied several times over, yet the promised infrastructure and social services remain mirages. Where exactly did the subsidy savings go? Nigerians deserve an answer, and they deserve it now,” the NLC said.

The union further criticised the country’s continued dependence on imported refined petroleum products despite Nigeria’s status as Africa’s largest oil producer.

According to the NLC, dependence on imported products had exposed Nigerians, particularly workers, to fluctuations in international oil prices and intensified the pressure created by higher fuel costs.

The union identified a reduction in petrol prices as its first priority, arguing that transportation was one of the major channels through which increases in fuel prices translated into broader inflation.

“Without cutting this chain, any effort to ease the suffering of the people is futile,” it said.

Beyond fuel prices, the NLC demanded the immediate implementation of a nationwide wage award for workers across the federal, state and local governments.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele

It argued that the measure should be treated as an emergency response to declining real incomes rather than a welfare gesture.

“A wage award is not charity. It is an emergency intervention against the collapse of real income,” the union said.

The Federal Government’s latest announcement, however, comes against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s continued defence of his administration’s economic reforms and rejection of calls for the restoration of petrol subsidy.

Tinubu, in his 66th Independence Day address last Thursday, maintained that the reforms introduced by his administration were producing results and argued against reversing the subsidy removal policy.Access Services

Upon assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy as part of a broader package of economic reforms. The policy was followed by a sharp increase in the price of petrol and subsequent pressure on household incomes and transportation costs.

Atiku flays Tinubu’s desperate reintroduction of fuel subsidy, says move election driven Mr Atiku restated his commitment to making life affordable again.

Atiku flays Tinubu’s desperate reintroduction of fuel subsidy, says move election driven

Mr Atiku restated his commitment to making life affordable again.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day fuel discount at NNPC stations, describing it as a desperate, temporary gesture that cannot repair the damage caused by the crushing cost of fuel.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the Tinubu administration’s attempt to dangle a fuel subsidy as bait for Nigerians was reckless, disgraceful and scandalous.

He said the same government had watched Nigerians endure excruciating hardship without offering meaningful relief. Now, as the election draws closer, President Tinubu is dangling a temporary discount at the very epicentre of the cost-of-living crisis that has tormented households and businesses.

“Atiku totally rejects this calendar-scheduled, election-laced subsidy package. Nigerians are not fools to be offered a month of discounted fuel after years of punishing prices and then expected to forget the hardship when the discount expires. This is shameless and heartless,” he said.

Atiku said the proposed 30-day discount was not an economic plan but a political bandage on a wound the government had helped create.

“What happens on Day 31? Nigerians wake up to the same brutal prices, the same punishing transport fares and the same rising cost of food. The government cannot manufacture relief for one month and expect Nigerians to applaud while the hardship remains,” he said.

He noted that the offer is limited to NNPC stations, while the government has yet to state how much motorists will save per litre or guarantee that any savings for transport operators will be passed on to passengers through lower fares.

The former vice president said the administration’s sudden reversal on this sensitive social welfare issue was itself an admission of guilt over the hardship Nigerians have endured. It also exposed the weakness of the government’s repeated claims that meaningful relief was impossible.

“This volte-face proves that the production-support proposal I have advanced is workable, achievable and not complicated. The Tinubu government and its spin doctors have tried to make it sound impossible, yet they are now reaching for a temporary subsidy-style intervention because the pain has become impossible to ignore,” Mr Atiku said.

He reiterated his proposal for capped and budgeted production support tied to fuel refined in Nigeria, with safeguards to ensure that the benefit reaches consumers and supports local refining.

“Nigerians need lasting relief, not a countdown to the return of hardship. Tinubu’s government cannot spend years telling Nigerians to endure, then offer 30 days of relief and call it a solution,” he said.

Mr Atiku restated his commitment to making life affordable again.

“Tinubu made life expensive. I will make life affordable again.”

Phrank Shaibu

Director of Strategic Communication

ADC Presidential Campaign Council