1. Revisiting or reinstating petrol subsidy in any form in the country will have no positive impact on the economy, finance and economic experts said yesterday.
They opposed any plan to reintroduce fuel subsidy, warning that it would only end in destabilising the economy and reversing the ongoing consolidation. Any such policy sommersault, according to them, is unviable, unsustainable, sentimental, counter-productive and injurious to the economic growth and national development.
2. Another alleged fictitious Federal Government agency has been uncovered with President Bola Tinubu yesterday ordering the immediate arrest of the suspected promoter of the scam. The president also ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries in connection with the promotion of the fake agency that goes by the name National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office.
The lid was blown over the fictitious agency by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) following an investigation
3. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, yesterday predicted a wider political realignment in the country ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying more politicians would soon join what he described as a “larger Rainbow Coalition” in support of President Bola Tinubu. Wike said the recent visit of Osun State reelected Governor Ademola Adeleke to President Tinubu was a pointer to the emerging political configuration ahead of the presidential election
4. The Kaduna State Police Command has rescued 75 travellers, including men, women and children, who were abducted by armed men near Folwaya village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of the state. The victims, who were travelling on commercial buses, were reportedly kidnapped by gunmen wielding AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons and taken into a forest, where they were concealed in a cave.
5. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has released the Osun State Government accounts which were earlier frozen “to prevent the alleged diversion of public funds”.
Saturday PUNCH confirmed on Friday that the accounts, domiciled with First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank, are now functioning.
6. Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered an AK-47 rifle and other weapons in Plateau State, while rescuing a kidnapped victim during a separate operation in Edo State.
The Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X handle, on Friday, saying the operations were carried out as part of ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping, arms trafficking and other violent crimes across the country
7. The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has officially launched his campaign for the 2027 presidential election, outlining plans to move Nigeria towards a production-driven economy while tackling insecurity, poverty, unemployment and weaknesses in education and healthcare. Obi unveiled the agenda on Friday at a press conference at his residence in Onitsha to mark the commencement of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly campaigns.
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8. The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, August 25, 2026, a public holiday to commemorate the 2026 Eid ul Mawlid, marking the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement issued on Friday by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani.
9. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has disclosed that the federal government and Borno State government are working closely to ensure the safe rescue of school children abducted from Mussa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area. The Governor stated this on Friday, during a meeting with parents of the abducted children at the Government House, Maiduguri. The meeting was convened at the request of the parents, who had been calling for urgent action from the authorities
10. The Benue State Police Command has rescued 13 more passengers abducted by suspected armed herdsmen along the Otukpo-Adoka Road while travelling from Enugu to Abuja. The victims were among the passengers of an 18-seater bus ambushed on August 14, 2026. Five passengers had earlier been rescued by the police hours after the incident.
