The family of Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, the late leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere,  has announced December 17, 2026, for the burial of the elder statesman, who died at the age of 100.

The burial arrangements were announced in a statement issued by Dr Taiwo Fasoranti on behalf of the family.

The family said the burial programme would begin with a Christian wake-keeping service on Wednesday, December 16, at the deceased’s residence in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The funeral service and interment are scheduled for Thursday, December 17, at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure.

Fasoranti, a prominent Yoruba leader, nationalist and elder statesman, died at his residence in Akure on Tuesday.

His death has continued to draw tributes from  political leaders, associates and other Nigerians who acknowledged his contributions to the Yoruba nation and the country. 

According to the statement, the wake-keeping service will take place at the late patriarch’s residence within the Omolere Nursery and Primary School Compound, Akure.

The statement said the funeral service would hold at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, on Thursday, December 17, after which the remains of the deceased would be interred at the church cemetery.

It added that guests would be entertained at his residence immediately after the interment.

The family further announced that an outing and thanksgiving service would be held on Sunday, December 20, at St. David’s Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure, to conclude the burial programme.

Describing the deceased as a beloved patriarch, a foremost nationalist and a distinguished leader of Afenifere, the family said the burial arrangements were intended to honour his memory and celebrate his life of service.

The statement read, “The family of late Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, CFR, is pleased to announce the burial arrangements of our beloved patriarch, leader of Afenifere and foremost nationalist, who passed away at the age of 100 years.”

The family appealed to friends, associates, well-wishers and members of the public to support it with prayers and attend the funeral ceremonies in honour of the late elder statesman.

“We request your prayers and presence as we honour the memory of a distinguished elder and patriot,” the statement added.

1. President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the All Progressives Congress will on Saturday kick off the President’s re-election campaign in Kaduna State, as the ruling party intensifies efforts to secure support across the North, which accounts for 56.01 million of Nigeria’s 103.43 million registered voters.

With 31 state governors and other party chieftains expected at the campaign flag-off, the APC is banking on what its leaders describe as a growing consensus among northern stakeholders and voters to secure Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

2.  A Department of State Services, DSS, operative yesterday told an Imo State High Court how 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members were abducted at gunpoint while travelling to orientation camps, as hearing began in the case against three alleged kidnappers.

3. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the devaluation of the naira, worsened poverty in Nigeria. He spoke on Wednesday at the Financial Times Africa summit 2026 in London, United Kingdom, UK. According to him, the sharp decline in the naira’s value had impoverished Nigerians and contributed to the country’s position as the world’s poverty capital.

4. The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, CDCFIB, has asked candidates who reached the oral interview stage of its ongoing recruitment exercise to check the portal on October 28 to know their status. It said the portal will remain open until November 13.

5. The Federal Government has directed hospitals nationwide to prepare isolation beds and strengthen infection prevention measures as part of efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak, warning that 15 states are yet to update their response plans.

6. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate publication of the preliminary voters’ register, warning that the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission to display the list online could undermine confidence in the 2027 general election. Atiku, in a statement on Thursday, said Nigerians were entitled to inspect the register, challenge questionable entries and correct omissions before the election.

7. The International Criminal Police Organisation has arrested two suspects in Nigeria in separate investigations into cybercrime, including an international investment fraud scheme linked to more than $2.4m in suspected criminal proceeds. The arrests were disclosed in a statement on Operation Serengeti III, a cybercrime enforcement operation.

8. The Edo State Government has demolished buildings allegedly used for ritual activities and cult-related crimes following the arrest of two suspects in the state’s renewed crackdown on criminality. The government demolished a bungalow and four boys’ quarters at Uwalor-Oke in Uromi, allegedly used by a suspected ritualist, Ebhata Eromosele. Another building linked to cult-related activities in the Ewatto was also pulled down.

9. A collaborative, multi-pronged plan to ease the cost of living for Nigerians was unveiled yesterday after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting. The Federal and state governments will work jointly to achieve the objectives of the plan, which is designed for implementation over 90 days. NEC, the highest economic policy coordination body of the government, is chaired by the Vice President and comprises members of the Federal Government’s economic team and state governors.

10. Three more states – Kaduna, Bayelsa, and Benue – have approved the proposed sixth alteration to the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and Other Related Matters. The development brought the number of Houses of Assembly that have endorsed the State Police Bill to about 20. The Kaduna State House of Assembly unanimously endorsed proposed amendments to 15 sections of the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police.

The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to place 46 persons who came in contact with an Ebola patient on a no-fly list for 21 days.

The minister announced the directive in an X post on Wednesday after a virtual meeting with Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, over the Ebola outbreak.

Nigeria confirmedits first case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) on Tuesday after a diplomat who reportedly arrived from Uganda fell ill in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Pate said the Federal Government has identified 44 close contacts for tracing to prevent further transmission.

Keyamo said Pate provided him with the list of 44 persons who came in contact with the affected person at a hospital after the patient developed symptoms, as well as two domestic staff.

The minister said efforts are ongoing to isolate the contacts pending confirmation that they had not been infected with the virus.

He added that he had directed the NCAA to notify all local and international airlines of the development.

Keyamo also directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen Ebola response and surveillance protocols at all international airports.

According to him, the measures being implemented by FAAN include enhanced health screenings, temperature checks, travel history tracking, digital health declarations and coordination with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).

He said the measures followed earlier regional outbreak alerts.

Ebola is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who is sick with the disease or has died from it, or through contact with contaminated materials.

The World Health Organisation has noted that Ebola is a fatal infection that can begin with fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness before progressing to vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases, internal or external bleeding.