The Daily Beam

  By Abel Chigozie   Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved a two-year extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Clement Adebooye. The extension was announced on Monday during the inauguration of the university’s reconstituted Governing Council at the Osun State Government House in Osogbo. According to a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, Adeleke said the extension was approved in the interest of the institution and aimed at ensuring continuity in its administration. The governor disclosed that Adebooye initially declined the offer but later accepted to continue in office for another two years. Adeleke said retaining the Vice-Chancellor would strengthen the university’s governance structure and prevent any administrative vacuum that could disrupt its operations. As part of the reconstitution of the Governing Council, the governor also retained Professor Adewale Oladipo as ...

  By Abdullahi Musa   Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs Titi Laoye-Ponnle, has declined her nomination to serve on the newly reconstituted Governing Council of Osun State University (UNIOSUN). The development was disclosed by the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, during a courtesy visit to Governor Ademola Adeleke at the Osun State Government House in Osogbo on Sunday.  Basiru said Laoye-Ponnle was initially expected to accompany him on the visit and personally communicate her decision to the governor, but was unable to attend. According to the APC national secretary, the former deputy governor declined the appointment because she is currently serving as the Chairman of the Governing Council of a federal institution. “She said I should tell you she is not concerned about capacity, but she is presently the Chairman of the Governing Council of one of our federal institutions,” Basiru quoted Laoye-Ponnle as saying...

  By Abdullahi Musa  The Federal Government has announced plans to increase annual admission into Nigerian medical schools to 20,000 students within the next three years, while unveiling plans for the establishment of medical simulation centres across the country’s six geopolitical zones.  The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Medical Simulation Committee. According to Alausa, the proposed simulation centres will provide practical training for students studying medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health professions. He said the initiative was part of efforts by the Federal Government to expand Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and improve the quality of practical training available to students. The minister explained that the expansion of training capacity had become necessary following a significant increase in enrolment into health-related programmes. He disclosed that ...

  By Abdullahi Musa   Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has inaugurated the reconstituted Governing Council of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), charging its members to strengthen the institution’s governance and advance its position among Nigeria’s leading state-owned universities. Adeleke, who disclosed this in a statement on the inauguration, said the move was part of his administration’s renewed commitment to improving the university’s academic standing, research capacity, innovation and overall development. The governor commended the management and outgoing council of UNIOSUN for what he described as significant progress and landmark achievements recorded by the institution. According to him, the development demonstrated what could be achieved when the university enjoyed stability, commitment and a shared vision for excellence. Adeleke announced the retention of Professor Adewale Abiodun Oladipo as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, describing h...

  By Abel Chigozie   President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the rescue of 21 Nigerians abducted by criminal elements in Kogi State, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The President disclosed this in a statement, saying the victims were rescued on Monday afternoon following a coordinated Search and Rescue operation conducted by security agencies. The rescued victims comprised eight males and 13 females, according to the statement. Tinubu said the operation involved personnel from the Nigerian military, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and local vigilantes. The victims were rescued from the kidnappers’ hideout in the forests of Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, where they had been held since their abduction last week. The President said the rescued corps members and other victims were receiving medical attention before being reunited with their families. While celebrating their freedom, Tinubu disclosed that se...

  By Abdullahi Musa  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it recovered more than N1.23 trillion in the last 34 months under the leadership of its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede. Olukoyede disclosed this on Monday, August 31, 2026, while presenting his stewardship report to journalists, highlighting the commission’s activities in asset recovery, prosecution, institutional reforms and the fight against economic and financial crimes. According to him, the commission recovered N1,233,612,040,411.11 during the period under review. The EFCC chairman also disclosed foreign-currency recoveries of $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million. Of the naira recovery, Olukoyede said approximately N397.26 billion, representing 33 per cent, was recovered directly for the Federal Government, while N836.34 billion, representing 67 per cent, was recovered on behalf of ministries, departments and agencies, state revenue services, companies, individuals and foreign victims. He exp...

  By Abdullahi Musa  Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39, bringing an end to one of the most decorated careers in the history of the Argentina national team.  Messi made the announcement on Monday, following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Argentina lost 1–0 after extra time, ending Messi’s hopes of concluding his international career with another World Cup triumph.  The Inter Miami forward said the decision was painful but acknowledged that it was the right time to step away from international football. “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi said in a message shared on Instagram.  Messi leaves the Argentina national team as its most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer, with 207 appearances and 125 goals.  His international career included six World Cup appearances and ...

  By Abdullahi Musa  Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Bola Tinubu administration over persistent insecurity in Benue State, linking the violence to food inflation and the wider cost-of-living crisis. Atiku made the remarks in a statement following a meeting with ADC candidates contesting various elective positions in Benue State. Describing Benue as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” the former Vice-President said insecurity had severely disrupted farming activities and threatened the livelihoods of communities across the state. Atiku cited an Amnesty International report which, according to him, recorded 6,896 deaths in Benue State during the first two years of the Tinubu administration. He said the figures represented farmers killed or displaced from their farms, families forced from their ancestral communities and communities affected by persistent violence. “And when Benue cannot farm, Nige...

  By Abdullahi Musa  The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has said Nigeria’s maritime sector has undergone significant transformation since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu established the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in August 2023. Oyetola, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Dr Bolaji Akinola, said the ministry had taken steps to harness the economic potential of Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline and extensive inland waterways. Presenting the ministry’s three-year scorecard, Oyetola highlighted developments in revenue generation, port infrastructure, maritime security, regulation, indigenous shipping, human-capital development, fisheries and inland-waterway safety. He said agencies under the ministry generated ₦1.83 trillion in 2025, representing a 160 per cent increase from the ₦700.79 billion recorded in 2023. The minister attributed the revenue growth to regulatory reforms, digitisation, stronger revenue-assurance ...

  By Abdullahi Musa  Former Bayelsa State Governor and immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress, accusing the ruling party of abandoning the principles and ideals upon which it was founded. Sylva announced his resignation amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, where opposition parties are seeking to challenge the APC’s hold on power. The former governor reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of the ruling party, arguing that the APC had deviated from the principles that initially attracted Nigerians to it. Sylva subsequently called on Nigerians to vote out the ruling party at the next general election. His resignation represents a significant political development, given his previous roles as Bayelsa governor, federal minister and a prominent figure within the APC. The former minister has been involved in Nigerian politics for seve...

  By Abel Chigozie  Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his three-week European leave, arguing that the decision reflects a “vacuum of political leadership” amid Nigeria’s economic and security challenges. Atiku made the remarks in a statement while reacting to Tinubu’s departure from the country for a three-week European leave. The ADC presidential candidate acknowledged that he had travelled and lived abroad but said there was a distinction between the movements of a private citizen and the responsibilities of a sitting Nigerian president. He argued that Tinubu was leaving behind a country grappling with high petrol prices, rising food costs, expensive transportation and insecurity. “Consider what Bola Tinubu is leaving behind. Petrol priced beyond the reach of ordinary people. Families rationing food. Transport fares that have turned a journey to one’s own ...

  By Abdullahi Musa Pastor David Ibiyeomie, founder and senior pastor of Salvation Ministries, has sparked reactions after arguing that preaching extensively about hell may not be an effective way of winning Nigerians to Christianity amid the country’s economic hardship. Ibiyeomie made the remarks while speaking about effective approaches to evangelism and the kind of messages Christians should communicate when seeking to win souls for Christ. According to the cleric, many Nigerians are already experiencing severe economic difficulties, making messages centred on the threat of hell less compelling to people struggling with their present circumstances. He said Christians should instead emphasise God’s love, hope and the possibility of transformation through faith in Jesus Christ. “You can imagine preaching hell to Nigerians. They are already in hell. There’s no way you preach hell to Nigerians and anybody will be born again,” Ibiyeomie said. The pastor advised ministers to present C...

  By Abel Chigozie   Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election, recalling his role in mobilising Osun federal lawmakers for the emergence of Godswill Akpabio as Senate President in 2023. Adeleke made the remarks on Sunday 30th August, 2026 when the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, paid him a congratulatory visit following his victory in the August 15 Osun governorship election. Basiru, who visited the governor alongside other political stakeholders, said the visit was prompted by three major reasons, including appreciation for Adeleke’s support during his mother’s burial, congratulating him on his electoral victory and thanking him for endorsing Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election. Speaking during the visit, Adeleke said he had reaffirmed his support for Tinubu immediately after his victory to avoid any controversy over his position....

  By Abel Chigozie  The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has extended the deadline for candidates with outstanding admission offers dating from 2021 to accept or reject the offers. The new deadline is September 30, 2026, giving affected candidates an additional 30 days to regularise their admission status. JAMB had earlier fixed August 31, 2026, as the deadline for candidates with outstanding admission offers to indicate whether they intended to accept or reject them. The Board’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, announced the extension in a statement on Saturday, describing it as the final opportunity for affected candidates to take action. JAMB urged candidates with pending regular or Centralised University Information Admission offers to act before the new deadline and warned that there would be no further extension after September 30. According to the Board, candidates who accept their outstanding admission offers will be able to p...

  By Abdullahi Musa  The price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, is edging towards ₦1,500 per litre in parts of Nigeria despite a decline in international crude oil prices. Petrol prices reportedly increased from about ₦1,205 per litre to ₦1,310 per litre in Lagos and neighbouring areas, with some filling stations selling the product for between ₦1,315 and above ₦1,400 per litre. The development comes despite a drop in international crude oil prices from around $92 to $87.31 per barrel, raising concerns over the continued increase in domestic petrol prices. Checks reported in the downstream petroleum market indicated that MRS increased its pump price to ₦1,310 per litre from ₦1,205. Meanwhile, depot prices have also remained high across key locations. Data from the Daily Depot Price Intelligence Report showed that petrol was sold at about ₦1,217 per litre in Warri, ₦1,214 in Port Harcourt, ₦1,204 in Calabar and ₦1,202 in Lagos as of Friday, August 28, 2026. I...

  By Abdullahi Musa  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commenced a three-week leave in Europe, the Presidency has announced. The development was disclosed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Tinubu’s departure comes as political activities and preparations for the 2027 general elections continue to intensify across the country. According to the Presidency, the President is expected to spend the period in Europe as part of his leave, although details of his itinerary were not immediately disclosed. The trip comes against the backdrop of increasing political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition parties stepping up their preparations for the next electoral contest. Tinubu, who was elected President in 2023, is expected to seek re-election in 2027, while several opposition politicians have also begun positioning themselves for the presidential race. The President’s lat...

  By Abdullahi Ahmed  A student of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Ademiju Ayeni, has been stabbed to death during the convention of the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee, Osun State Chapter, in Osogbo. Ayeni, a student of the Department of Estate Management, was reportedly attacked on Saturday following a disagreement at the convention held at the Osun State NUJ Press Centre.  Sources who participated in the convention alleged that Ayeni was stabbed by a member of the programme’s security committee while attempting to prevent him from gaining access to the venue. The student was subsequently rushed to a private hospital in Osogbo, where he was confirmed dead. His remains were later deposited at the morgue of the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, while an autopsy is expected to be conducted.  Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the police were aware of the matter. Ojelabi e...

  By Abel Chigozie The Nigerian Medical Association has raised concerns over the growing exodus of doctors and the changing attitude of medical students, saying some students are now planning to leave Nigeria for better opportunities even before completing their medical training. The development, according to the association, reflects the worsening conditions within Nigeria’s health sector and the increasing attraction of foreign countries to young medical professionals. The NMA warned that the trend could further deepen the shortage of doctors in the country and place additional pressure on an already overstretched healthcare system. The association’s concern comes amid continued reports of Nigerian doctors and other health professionals relocating abroad in search of better working conditions, improved remuneration, career opportunities and more conducive professional environments. The growing migration has also increased the workload of doctors who remain in the country, with se...

  By Abdullahi Ahmed  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has filed a legal challenge in the United States seeking to prevent the release of records held by American law-enforcement agencies concerning past allegations of drug trafficking. The documents, reportedly held by the US Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration, are being sought under the Freedom of Information Act by transparency activist Aaron Greenspan. According to a 16-page court filing shared with Channels Television by Greenspan’s legal team, Tinubu is challenging efforts to obtain and publicly release the records. The President reportedly argued that the disclosure of undisclosed information would violate his privacy rights, while maintaining that he had committed no wrongdoing. The legal action places the long-running controversy surrounding allegations linked to Tinubu’s past activities back in the spotlight, particularly as the Nigerian President prepares for the 20...

  By Abdullahi Ahmed  Stakeholders of  All Progressives Congress in Osun State have passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of former Governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, while reaffirming their commitment to delivering one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. The resolutions were reached at an expanded stakeholders’ meeting held in Osogbo following the conclusion of the 2026 Osun State governorship election. The meeting provided an opportunity for party leaders, stakeholders and members to review the outcome of the election and deliberate on strategies for rebuilding the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. A motion for a vote of confidence in Oyetola was moved by a former member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Orolu and Irepodun constituencies, Kamil Oyedele, and seconded by Oyetunji Agunbiade. The motion was unanimously supported by stakeholders, who commended Oyet...

  By Abdullahi Ahmed  Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to introduce a $10 billion financing programme for start-ups and entrepreneurs if elected President in 2027. Atiku made the pledge while receiving a nationwide delegation of N-Power beneficiaries who visited him to declare their support for his presidential ambition. The former Vice-President said Nigerian youths needed an economy that created opportunities for prosperity rather than a government focused on teaching citizens how to cope with economic hardship. He argued that the current cost-of-living crisis had eroded the purchasing power of millions of Nigerians, weakened small businesses and made it increasingly difficult for young people to secure employment, access capital and achieve economic independence. According to Atiku, his administration would prioritise restoring purchasing power, reducing the cost of living and deliberatel...

  By Abdullahi Ahmed  The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his victory as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, spoke on Saturday in Osogbo while addressing APC leaders, members and supporters on the outcome of the election and the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections. While congratulating Adeleke, Oyebamiji urged the governor, as the state’s Chief Security Officer, to take immediate measures to halt what he described as killings, harassment and intimidation of APC members and supporters across the state. He also called on the Nigeria Police Force to conduct thorough investigations into reported cases of political violence and ensure that those responsible were prosecuted. The APC candidate expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sup...

  By Abdulahi Musa  The Presidency has challenged former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his pledge to “open the borders” if elected President in 2027, insisting that Nigeria’s land borders are already open. The Presidency, in a statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the Federal Government reopened most of the country’s land borders in March 2024 and had not reversed the decision. It therefore questioned what Atiku meant by his promise to “open” the borders. “On February 14, 2026, President Tinubu opened the Kamba border in Kebbi State, with attendant economic and diplomatic gains,” the statement said. The Presidency argued that if Atiku was referring to relaxing existing border controls, he should explain which controls he intended to remove and how his administration would prevent terrorists, arms traffickers, smuggl...

  By Abdulahi Musa   President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, to oversee a comprehensive forensic audit of Federal Government systems, including the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and all federal ministries, departments and agencies. The directive, announced on Friday, followed a resolution of the Federal Executive Council on August 19, 2026, in response to findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission concerning alleged fake government agencies, ghost workers and other control failures. According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the audit is designed to establish the nature and extent of weaknesses within the government’s control systems and determine how such weaknesses may have been exploited. The exercise will have two major components. The first component will in...