Nigerian News: Morning Headlines – 28 September 2026

Presidency dismisses speculation over Tinubu’s health

The Presidency has dismissed speculation about President Bola Tinubu’s health, saying the president remains hale and hearty while on a working vacation in Paris, France.

According to Naija News, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu had continued official engagements despite being outside Nigeria.

Onanuga said the president had been meeting investors in France, including those involved in a proposed $7 billion deep-sea port project in Ogun Waterside.

The Presidency also noted that Tinubu was not the only African leader absent from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

---

Tinubu expected in Lagos ahead of Independence Day

President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, after spending about four weeks on a working vacation in Europe.

Naija News reports that Presidency sources said Tinubu would arrive in Lagos and participate in activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The president is expected to remain in Lagos through October 1, when he will deliver a nationwide Independence Day broadcast.

Other activities planned for the anniversary include a public lecture scheduled for September 30.

---

Shettima departs New York after UN General Assembly

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York for Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

According to Naija News, Shettima left New York on Sunday after leading Nigeria’s delegation to the international gathering.

During his address, Shettima renewed Nigeria’s call for reform of the United Nations Security Council, including permanent African representation.

He argued that the current global power structure should reflect present-day realities rather than the distribution of power established in 1945.

---

Atiku’s aide challenges Tinubu over El-Rufai detention

Phrank Shaibu, an aide to African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to release former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai if he poses no threat to the president’s 2027 political ambitions.

Naija News reports that Shaibu made the statement during an interview on Arise Television.

El-Rufai has been detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission amid investigations and legal proceedings involving allegations linked to his tenure as Kaduna governor.

Shaibu described El-Rufai as a political prisoner and criticised the conditions attached to his bail.

---

FG approves upgrade of four South-South ports

The Federal Government has approved the upgrade of four major ports in Nigeria’s South-South region as part of efforts to reduce dependence on Lagos ports.

According to Naija News, the affected facilities are the Onne, Rivers, Delta and Calabar ports.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola said the move complements the earlier approval for the modernisation of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.

He said the initiative would improve infrastructure, enhance operational efficiency and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime competitiveness.

---

Fani-Kayode recalls clashes with Atiku during Obasanjo era

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has recalled confrontations involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to Naija News, Fani-Kayode made the claims in an article titled “The Seventh Bid of Waziri.”

He alleged that he twice demanded Atiku’s removal from Federal Executive Council meetings over disagreements concerning his relationship with Obasanjo.

Fani-Kayode said Obasanjo intervened during the first incident but that a similar confrontation occurred weeks later.

---

Nollywood actor Rykardo Agbor survives car crash in Ibadan

Nollywood actor Rykardo Agbor has survived a car accident in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Naija News reports that the Yoruba-language actor shared footage of the incident on Instagram and expressed gratitude for surviving the crash.

The accident reportedly occurred around the Cornerstone City billboard area along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Details surrounding the cause of the crash and whether other people were involved were not immediately disclosed.

Agbor thanked God for sparing his life following the incident.

---

Mr Macaroni opens up about financial struggles

Nigerian content creator and activist Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, has revealed that he experienced a difficult financial period in recent years.

According to Naija News, the entertainer disclosed this in a post on X while reflecting on messages from people he had previously helped.

Mr Macaroni said he found it difficult to ask for assistance when he became the person in need.

He revealed that he had borrowed money and sought help from several people during the challenging period.

---

Liverpool suffer injury concern as Isak withdraws from Sweden squad

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak has withdrawn from the Sweden squad after sustaining a minor thigh injury.

Naija News reports that Isak scored in Sweden’s 2-1 victory over Romania before undergoing an assessment.

Sweden manager Graham Potter said the injury was not serious but confirmed that the striker would not participate in the upcoming international fixtures.

“Isak has a minor thigh problem. It’s nothing serious, but due to the number of matches in a short period of time, he won’t be able to take part.

“It’s frustrating for both him and us, but it is what it is,” Potter said.

---

Lamine Yamal says football remains about enjoyment, not money

Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal has said his passion for football remains more important to him than money, goals or assists.

According to Naija News, the 19-year-old said he derives the most satisfaction from expressing himself, helping teammates and creating opportunities on the pitch.

Yamal said he did not want personal statistics to become the defining measure of his career.

The Barcelona star also discussed meeting Lionel Messi, whom he regards as the best player in football, and recalled thanking the Argentine for his contribution to the sport.

---

FG opens talks with World Bank for $1.5bn in new loans as public debt hits record N166.79tn

The Federal Government has opened discussions with the World Bank for three new loans totalling $1.5bn, even as Nigeria’s public debt climbed to a record N166.79tn at the end of June 2026.

Documents obtained from the World Bank show that the proposed financing comprises three separate $500m facilities for climate resilience, social protection and early childhood development.

---

INEC chairman Amupitan: We have no candidate or party to favour in 2027

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality ahead of the 2027 general election, saying INEC has no candidate or political party to favour.

In a post obtained from INEC’s X handle on Sunday, Amupitan stated that elections were fundamentally about the social contract between citizens and those entrusted with public office.

---

Tinubu delays return from Europe vacation, now expected Tuesday

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has delayed his return to Nigeria from his working vacation in Europe, with his arrival now expected on Tuesday, September 29, according to reports.

The President had been expected to return this weekend following an earlier extension of his stay abroad, but his itinerary has since been revised, with Tuesday now the likely return date.

---

Resident doctors give FG two-week ultimatum over welfare issues

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has given the Federal Government two weeks to resolve outstanding welfare and professional issues affecting its members or risk industrial action.

The ultimatum was part of the resolutions reached at the association’s 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on Sunday in Calabar, Cross River State.

---

NDLEA intercepts 2.55m opioid pills at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted 2.55 million opioid pills weighing 1,640.55kg in three consignments at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.

The agency disclosed this in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.

---

Ogun police arrest 11 suspects, recover 25 ATM cards, three firearms

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects and recovered 25 Automated Teller Machine cards, three firearms and two suspected stolen vehicles during an 11-day security operation across the state.

The command said the ATM cards were recovered from a 45-year-old man, Ameachine Anthony, who was arrested in Igbesa over an alleged N2.5m fraud.

---

FG approves modernisation of four ports to ease Lagos congestion

The Federal Government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of four major ports in the eastern and southern corridors as part of measures to expand Nigeria’s cargo-handling capacity and reduce the concentration of maritime traffic around Lagos.

The affected ports are Onne Port in Rivers State, Rivers Port, Delta Port and Calabar Port in Cross River State.

---

Troops kill suspected terrorist, rescue six kidnap victims in Sokoto, Zamfara

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, OPFY, have killed a suspected terrorist and rescued six kidnap victims in separate operations in Sokoto and Zamfara states.

According to the task force, the operations, conducted on Saturday, also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, a foreign military uniform and other items.

---

Bandits abduct nine, rustle over 200 livestock in Sokoto community

Bandits have abducted nine residents, shot another and rustled over 200 livestock during an attack on the Illelar Dawagari community in Kagara Ward, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

A resident who spoke to journalists on Sunday said the attackers invaded the community at about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

---

Bandits abduct, kill Katsina LGA health secretary

The Health Secretary of Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, Sa’adu Dantutture, has been abducted and killed by bandits in his hometown of Dantutture, Kafur Local Government Area.

It was gathered on Sunday that Dantutture, a former Director of Primary Healthcare in Funtua Local Government Area, was abducted shortly after returning to the community on Wednesday night.