The National Assembly has suspended all official visits to South Africa and barred lawmakers and officials from participating in legislative activities organised or hosted by South African authorities.

The directive was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi.

The decision followed growing concerns over reports of renewed xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation and destruction of property targeting Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.

The National Assembly said it was particularly concerned about reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, homes and investments.

According to the statement, the suspension applies to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff of the National Assembly.

It covers official visits, conferences, seminars, workshops, meetings, parliamentary exchanges and other legislative engagements organised, hosted, sponsored or co-sponsored by South African legislative authorities.

The ban also extends to virtual and online engagements.

The National Assembly said no lawmaker, committee, official or staff member would be allowed to participate in such activities during the suspension without the express approval of its leadership.

The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, said the decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The lawmakers said the suspension was necessary because the reported attacks had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders for South African authorities to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and prosecute perpetrators.

The National Assembly had earlier condemned renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa and supported diplomatic efforts to address the situation.

It stressed, however, that the latest action did not amount to a rejection of Nigeria’s longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relationship with South Africa.

The suspension will remain in force until further notice and may be reviewed by the leadership of the National Assembly depending on developments.

The lawmakers said parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation between both countries remained important but should be based on mutual respect and the protection of lives, property and lawful businesses.

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Six Nigerian men accused of defrauding more than 100 women in the United States through online romance scams have been extradited from South Africa to the US.

The suspects, who were arrested in South Africa in 2021, were handed over to officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service at Cape Town International Airport on Friday.

The South African Police Service said the suspects were allegedly members of the Black Axe organised criminal network and were wanted by US authorities over alleged wire fraud and money laundering.

According to SAPS, the suspects allegedly defrauded their victims of more than R100 million through online romance and love scams.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, popularly known as the Hawks, coordinated the extradition with INTERPOL South Africa.

Hawks spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale, said the suspects were transported from a correctional facility in Cape Town to the airport before being handed over to the American authorities.

Mogale said the extradition demonstrated continued cooperation between South African and international law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational organised crime.

He added that the process would ensure that the suspects, who are wanted in another jurisdiction, face due legal process in the United States.

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New York City on Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, with victims’ families, political leaders and members of the public gathering at Ground Zero to honour the nearly 3,000 people killed.

The solemn ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial began with a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Families later read the names of those killed in the attacks.

A new feature of this year’s commemoration was a seventh moment of silence for thousands of first responders, rescue workers and others who have died from illnesses linked to exposure to toxic dust at Ground Zero after the attacks.

Vice President JD Vance joined victims’ families and former US presidents at the New York ceremony, while President Donald Trump attended a separate remembrance at the Pentagon. Another ceremony was held at the Flight 93 crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The September 11 attacks killed 2,977 people after hijackers crashed four commercial aircraft into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. The attacks transformed US security and foreign policy and continued to shape American society a quarter-century later.

In New York, the annual remembrance also serves as a reflection on the city’s recovery from one of the darkest days in its history and the lasting impact on families and survivors.

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The Federal Government has begun moves to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria following approval of the proposal by the Federal Executive Council.

The development was announced by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

The proposed reform would remove the criminal punishment attached to attempts to take one’s own life and shift the response towards support and intervention rather than prosecution.

Under the existing Criminal Code, a person who attempts to kill himself is guilty of a misdemeanour and may be sentenced to up to one year in prison.

The government’s move therefore marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s approach to suicide attempts, which have traditionally been treated as a criminal matter.

The proposal will still have to go through the necessary legal process before attempted suicide is formally removed as a criminal offence.

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The MTN Foundation and SAIL Empowerment Foundation have trained 5,000 public school teachers in Inquiry-Based Learning and artificial intelligence-assisted teaching.

The initiative, under the second cohort of the MTN-SAIL Teachers’ Fellowship, introduced a formal AI component for the first time, with Microsoft providing the curriculum through the MTN Foundation.

Five hundred teachers selected for the second phase of the programme graduated on Thursday at the MTN Roof-Top Event Hall, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, while other members of the graduating class participated virtually from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The organisers said the graduating teachers are among the first group of Nigerian public school educators to receive formal training on the responsible use of AI in teaching.

Speaking at the ceremony, Co-Founder of SAIL Empowerment Foundation, Feyisola Abiru, said the programme was designed around the belief that teachers remain the key link between education policies and Nigerian children.

Abiru said the fellowship, which began in 2022, had now trained more than 10,000 public school teachers across Nigeria.

She said the latest cohort comprised entirely public school teachers, particularly educators from communities where access to professional development opportunities is limited.

According to her, the teachers could become “multipliers” in the education system, noting that if each of the 5,000 teachers reaches an average of 80 pupils annually, the programme could indirectly affect about 400,000 children in one year.

She urged the graduands to apply the skills acquired during the fellowship in their classrooms, share the knowledge with other teachers and remain active within the SAIL alumni network.

Three outstanding graduands were recognised for their commitment and application of the training. Each received a laptop and laptop bag from the SAIL Empowerment Foundation.

The foundation also announced plans to establish a permanent SAIL Alumni Network and launch the “SAIL: Where Are You Now?” campaign to reconnect with past fellows.

The inaugural SAIL Founders’ Day and Alumni Celebration is scheduled for December.

The foundation further disclosed that its SAIL Innovation Lab and Sport Centre, currently under construction in Orimedu, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, would include a dedicated Teachers’ Lounge.

Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to the Teachers’ Fellowship, saying its focus was to improve the quality of primary and secondary education in Nigeria.

She said the use of Inquiry-Based Learning had helped make classroom lessons more participatory while improving learning outcomes.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, commended the founders and partners for investing in teacher development and human capacity.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, also praised Senator Tokunbo Abiru for his contributions to education in Lagos.

The Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described SAIL Empowerment Foundation as a partner in promoting innovation, digital skills and future-ready employment opportunities for young people in the state.

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The Federal Government has moved to remove data charges on selected educational platforms, allowing Nigerian students and teachers to access approved digital learning resources without paying for internet data.

The initiative is being driven by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) under its proposed Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content framework.

The NCC on Thursday, September 10, 2026, announced that it was advancing the initiative as part of efforts to make digital learning more accessible and promote digital inclusion.

The NCC said the initiative is aimed at improving digital access to education and reducing the financial burden of internet costs on learners.

Under the proposed arrangement, selected educational websites and digital learning platforms would be accessible without users’ data bundles being deducted.

The commission had earlier opened a public consultation on the framework, seeking contributions from students, educational institutions, telecom operators, technology companies and other stakeholders before its implementation.

However, the policy does not mean that students will have unrestricted free internet access. The zero-rating is expected to apply to approved educational platforms and content under the framework.

The move is expected to benefit students who struggle to afford regular data subscriptions, particularly those who depend on online resources for lectures, research, assignments and other academic activities.

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Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has argued that agriculture and production, rather than subsidy-driven spending, offer a better path out of poverty for Northern Nigeria.

Obi made the argument during an interview on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Thursday while outlining his approach to tackling poverty and economic hardship in the region.

According to him, Northern Nigeria has vast agricultural potential that remains largely underdeveloped despite the large population and available land.

He said government should focus on investments that allow people to produce and earn, including agriculture, infrastructure and human capital, instead of relying mainly on interventions that provide temporary relief.

Obi’s position reflects his wider argument that Nigeria must shift from a consumption-based economy to one driven by production.

He also linked economic hardship to insecurity, arguing that poverty, unemployment and the inability of people to earn sustainable livelihoods have consequences for stability.

The former Anambra governor has made economic restructuring, job creation and human capital development central themes of his campaign as he prepares for the 2027 presidential election.

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Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has claimed that he remains the only contender in the 2027 presidential race widely celebrated across Northern Nigeria.

Obi made the claim on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he also outlined his plans to tackle poverty and economic hardship in the region.

According to him, his administration would focus on reducing poverty through accountable governance and better use of Nigeria’s resources, rather than corruption.

“If there’s one presidential candidate who the North celebrates, it’s me,” Obi said.

He said agriculture would be a major part of his economic plan, promising increased investment and targeted subsidies to boost production and create opportunities for Nigerians in the North.

Obi also said his government would prioritise the education and welfare of almajiris, with plans to return them to formal education while providing support in other areas.

He argued that addressing poverty and insecurity in the North would require investment in people and productive sectors rather than relying solely on infrastructure projects.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has delayed the hearing of a fundamental rights suit filed by detained Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is seeking his release or bail pending trial.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu returned the case file to the court registry for reassignment after ruling that the 72-hour period given to the respondents to respond to Adeyemi’s application had not yet expired.

Adeyemi’s lawyer, Muhammad Abdulaziz, told the court on Thursday that the respondents had been served and that his client was ready for the hearing.

But the court registrar confirmed that the order was served on the respondents on September 8, while the hearing notice was served the following day.

Justice Egwuatu questioned the timing of the service and also raised concerns over the validity of the proof of service for the hearing notice.

The judge consequently declined to hear the application, directing that the matter should return when the respondents’ response period had expired.

The court had earlier ordered the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the Attorney-General of the Federation to explain why Adeyemi’s remaining requests should not be granted.

It had, however, granted one of his requests by ordering the authorities to allow him access to lawyers of his choice at reasonable hours while in custody.

Adeyemi is also asking the court to order his release, grant him bail and allow him access to medical practitioners of his choice.

He wants the police restrained from interrogating him or obtaining a statement from him without his lawyer present.

He was arrested in Osun State in July after a Federal High Court issued a bench warrant following his repeated failure to appear for arraignment.

Adeyemi is facing an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery, fraud and impersonation over his claim to be the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, an organisation the Presidency has disowned as “fake.”

His arraignment is expected to take place on September 30.

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Professor Olatunji Abanikannda has praised the Lagos State Government for the appointment of Professor Ayodeji Olawunmi Badejo as the new Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University.

Badejo was appointed the 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor of LASU by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

In a lengthy post titled “The Government That Listened,” Abanikannda said the appointment was significant because it followed months of public scrutiny over the university’s leadership succession process.

He claimed that concerns had earlier been raised over the wording of the eligibility requirements, the shortlist of candidates and the composition of the Selection Committee.

According to him, the issues were raised in the interest of transparency and accountability, rather than out of malice.

Abanikannda said the Lagos State Government’s eventual decision demonstrated its willingness to listen to concerns about the process instead of simply endorsing the outcome presented by the outgoing university administration.

“Responsiveness in governance is not a slogan; it is a discipline,” he wrote, arguing that government must be willing to examine contested processes and act where necessary.

He described Badejo’s emergence as an “emergence against the odds” and said the new Vice-Chancellor now has the responsibility of restoring confidence and stability within the university.

Abanikannda congratulated Badejo and wished her wisdom and fortitude as she takes charge of the institution.

He also expressed appreciation to the LASU Governing Council, Senate Selection Committee, Pro-Chancellor and other stakeholders, particularly Sanwo-Olu, for what he described as a peaceful transition.

“I hereby formally rest this case and pray that Lagos State University would grow from glory to glory!” he said.

Badejo succeeds Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, whose five-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor began in September 2021.

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