Bank of Ghana arrests seven women over alleged misuse of Ghanaian Cedi banknotes in money bouquets and cake decorations.
Ghana’s central bank has arrested seven people — all women — for making and selling bouquets and cakes decorated with Ghana cedi banknotes, in what marks the largest single enforcement action yet against the misuse of the country’s currency.
Currency-decorated cakes, like this one, fall under the Bank of Ghana’s warning against acts that impair the lawful use of the cedi.
What happened
The Bank of Ghana said the operation was carried out jointly with the police after a tip-off, and targeted suspects accused of selling currency arrangements across different parts of Accra. The bank says it issued a public notice in July warning that the practice could constitute an offence; the arrests are the first serious consequence of that warning. Investigations are continuing, and the suspects are expected to be prosecuted, with fines or jail terms left to the discretion of the courts.
The legal argument
The Bank of Ghana’s position is that the cedi is legal tender and its physical form is protected by law. In a statement, Dinah Bonzi of the bank’s currency department said the authority warns against “acts that tend to depreciate or impair the national currency, including any conduct that undermines its lawful value or use,” adding that “the misuse or abuse of the currency is an offence and may attract sanctions under the law.” Notably, the bank extended liability beyond the makers: anyone who aids or promotes such activity can also be arrested and prosecuted.
Why it matters commercially
Cash florals and money-topped cakes are a fast-growing gifting category in Ghana, ordered for weddings, birthdays and graduations precisely because they convert a gift into visible, spendable value. That demand made the trade visible and easy to trace — and now legally risky. The July notice gave the market a grace period that most vendors appear not to have treated as binding; the arrests convert a compliance warning into a criminal exposure for florists, cake designers, event planners and social-media promoters alike.
The bigger picture
Arrangements built from folded Ghana cedi notes have been a staple of weddings and graduations — and are now the subject of criminal arrests in Accra.
The central bank has repeatedly flagged related practices: “spraying” or throwing notes at events, writing on or defacing notes, and using currency in decorations. The crackdown mirrors a continental pattern — Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Botswana have all issued warnings against misuse of their national currencies. Ghana’s difference is enforcement: other markets stopped at advisories, while Accra has moved to arrests.
Takeaway
The signal is that currency-adjacent gifting is no longer a grey-area aesthetic choice in Ghana. Anyone building a business on banknotes should stop, and anyone commissioning a money bouquet should expect that the seller — and potentially they themselves — may be acting outside the law.
Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson, known for hits including “You Are My Lady,” has died at 70.
Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson has died at the age of 70, his family has confirmed.
Jackson, whose smooth vocals made songs including You Are My Lady and Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake) staples of 1980s R&B, died on Monday, October 5, just three days after his 70th birthday. His family announced his death through his official social media account.
A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Freddie Jackson rose to prominence in the 1980s and became known for romantic R&B hits including “Rock Me Tonight.”
Jackson’s family remembered him not only for his distinctive voice but also for the relationship he built with listeners throughout his career, saying his music became part of people’s love stories, celebrations and memories. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced later.
Freddie Jackson Dies After Decades in R&B
Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Jackson developed his voice through gospel music at White Rock Baptist Church before establishing himself in New York’s music scene.
He later became associated with the band Mystic Merlin before beginning the solo career that would make him one of the recognisable voices of 1980s rhythm and blues.
His breakthrough came with his debut album, Rock Me Tonight, released in 1985.
The album became a major commercial success and included some of the records most closely associated with Jackson’s career, particularly Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake) and You Are My Lady.
The success helped establish Jackson as a leading romantic R&B vocalist at a time when slow jams and soul ballads commanded a major presence on American radio.
Grammy Recognition for Freddie Jackson
Jackson’s breakthrough also earned recognition from the Recording Academy.
At the 28th Annual Grammy Awards in 1986, he received two Grammy nominations — Best New Artist and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for You Are My Lady.
Although he did not win either award, the nominations reflected how quickly his music had moved from the R&B scene into mainstream recognition.
His follow-up work maintained that momentum. Songs including Have You Ever Loved Somebody helped reinforce his reputation for romantic ballads built around his distinctive tenor voice.
The Songs That Defined His Career
For many listeners, Freddie Jackson’s legacy is inseparable from the love songs that made him famous.
His recordings became particularly associated with the slow-jam era of R&B, with You Are My Lady remaining one of his signature songs decades after its release.
His first album achieved platinum status, while subsequent releases helped Jackson remain a familiar presence on R&B radio through the late 1980s and into the 1990s.
Jackson continued recording and performing long after his commercial peak, maintaining an audience that had followed his music for decades.
Freddie Jackson Had Spoken About Kidney Disease
In 2024, Jackson publicly disclosed that he was living with kidney disease and worked with the National Kidney Foundation to increase awareness about the condition.
However, there is currently no confirmed connection between that condition and his death.
His family has not announced a cause of death, making it important not to attribute his death to kidney disease unless further information is officially released.
Freddie Jackson’s Legacy
News that Freddie Jackson dies at 70 closes a chapter in an era of R&B defined by powerful vocalists, romantic songwriting and soul-driven performances.
His influence rests not simply on awards or chart success, but on a catalogue of songs that remained associated with love and relationships for generations of listeners.
From his Harlem gospel beginnings to Grammy recognition and platinum-selling records, Jackson built a career that helped define the sound of romantic R&B in the 1980s.
His music — particularly You Are My Lady and Rock Me Tonight — remains the clearest reminder of the voice he leaves behind
Nigerian Air Force aircraft involved in a fatal crash in Ondo State, where all 25 people on board were confirmed dead.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that all 25 people aboard an ATR-42 aircraft died after the military plane crashed in the creeks of Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, during a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
The crash has triggered national mourning and international condolences, with the United States, Türkiye and a Canadian humanitarian organisation expressing sympathy to the victims’ families. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and directed that flags be flown at half-mast across the country.
The NAF said the aircraft, designated NAF 931, was carrying five crew members and 20 passengers. Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said search-and-rescue operations were activated immediately but “no survivors have been found.”
The five crew members were Squadron Leader M.I. Aburime, flight captain; Squadron Leader A.P. Man-Ugwueje, co-pilot; Flight Lieutenant I.S. Bako, co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A., aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru H.C., aircraft technician.
Squadron Leader A.P. Man-Ugwueje, co-pilot (left), one of the 25 victims killed in the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 crash in Ondo.
The 20 passengers were Flight Lieutenant T.L. Lazarus, Flight Lieutenant M. Akinloye, Flying Officer I.M. Adeshina, Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F., Master Warrant Officer Matini B.A., Warrant Officer Nuhu F.S., Flight Sergeant James R.B., Flight Sergeant Mohammed A.I., Sergeant Ani A.E., Sergeant Izibenikien S.I., Sergeant Alafuka C., Sergeant Mbadugha A.N., Lance Corporal Ugwuba F.C., Lance Corporal Eledan G.E., Mrs Ezeh Nneka, Godstmine Tarabina, Joy Micheal, Sunday Micheal, Ukeme David and Gideon Omotola.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the crash as a deeply painful moment for the NAF and the nation and assured the bereaved families of the service’s full support. He has also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
International and Military Condolences
The United States Mission in Nigeria expressed condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those killed, saying it stood with Nigerians while reaffirming the two countries’ security partnership.
The mission said: “The U.S. Mission in Nigeria sends our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of those lost in yesterday’s Nigerian Air Force crash.”
Türkiye also expressed sadness over the incident. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives” and extended condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army and Navy equally commiserated with the NAF. Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, expressed solidarity with the Chief of the Air Staff and the entire Air Force family, while Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, offered condolences and prayed for strength for the bereaved families.
Recovery Operation Intensifies
Nigerian Air Force personnel conduct recovery operations following the fatal aircraft crash in Ondo State.
Recovery efforts have faced significant challenges because the aircraft went down in a difficult swampy area surrounded by thick vegetation and murky water.
Two amphibious excavators, known as swamp buggies, have now been deployed to the crash site, accompanied by technical personnel and specialised detection equipment. The equipment is expected to assist with recovering the victims’ remains and locating and retrieving the submerged aircraft.
The difficult terrain had previously limited access to the site, with initial recovery efforts involving small boats proving inadequate. Security personnel have cordoned off the area around the crash site, which is located roughly 500 metres from the Forward Operating Base and naval facility.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has pledged the full support of the state government to agencies involved in the search and recovery operation.
Senate Suspends National Security Summit
The tragedy has also affected the activities of the National Assembly. The Senate postponed its planned National Security Summit, originally scheduled for October 12 and 13, indefinitely in honour of the fallen military personnel.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who chairs the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the summit, said the decision followed the declaration of national mourning. The summit was expected to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges and develop measures to protect lives and property. A new date will be announced later.
Calls for Transparent Investigation
Nigerian Air Force aircraft involved in a fatal crash in Ondo State, where all 25 people on board were confirmed dead.
The crash has also prompted calls for greater scrutiny of military aviation safety and aircraft maintenance.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) called for a thorough and transparent investigation, with President Archbishop Daniel Okoh urging the government to ensure that any safety recommendations arising from the investigation are implemented.
Okoh said: “Every life lost is precious.” He called for stronger aircraft maintenance, operational procedures and emergency response systems to protect military personnel undertaking dangerous assignments.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) similarly demanded scrutiny of defence spending and NAF aircraft maintenance while cautioning against prejudging the official investigation. The party questioned reported differences in defence maintenance funding, claiming that only N4.5 billion, or about 13.98 per cent, of the N34.71 billion budgeted for NAF aircraft maintenance had been released by December 2025, compared with reported releases of N20.27 billion, or 97.76 per cent, of the N20.74 billion allocated to the Presidential Air Fleet. The ADC called for an audit of maintenance expenditure and budgetary releases as part of the crash investigation, arguing that military personnel should have properly maintained equipment when carrying out operations.
The NAF has urged the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while the investigation continues. It has also appealed for respect for the privacy and dignity of the victims’ families.
Former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele is facing charges brought by the EFCC.
A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Finance has told an Abuja court that the ministry was unaware of a ₦124.86 billion withdrawal from the Consolidated Revenue Account during the tenure of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Ali Mohammed, a director in the ministry’s Department of Home Finance, gave the testimony on Tuesday before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, where Emefiele is standing trial on charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Mohammed, appearing as the prosecution’s 10th witness, said none of the divisions under his supervision had knowledge of the transaction when the ministry was contacted by investigators.
Court testimony has raised questions over a ₦124.86bn withdrawal from the Consolidated Revenue Account during Emefiele’s tenure
According to his testimony, the ministry subsequently contacted the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which also said it had no knowledge of the ₦124.86 billion transaction.
How the ₦124.86bn Withdrawal Became an Issue
The witness told the court that the transaction was classified in ministry records as a direct debit by the CBN.
He explained that withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue Account would ordinarily involve the relevant government authorities, including the Finance Ministry and the Office of the Accountant-General.
Documents relating to the correspondence between the ministry, the Accountant-General’s office and investigators were admitted by Justice Maryanne Anineh as exhibits after the defence raised no objection to their admission.
Premium Times reported that another CBN official, Hamisu Abdullahi, had earlier testified that the ₦124.8 billion was used to settle what he described as the central bank’s “internal debts.” He also told the court that the withdrawal did not receive National Assembly approval.
Why the Consolidated Revenue Account Matters
The Consolidated Revenue Fund is the federal government account into which most federally collected revenue is paid.
Government expenditure from the account is generally subject to constitutional and legislative requirements, including appropriation by the National Assembly. The prosecution is relying on the disputed withdrawal as part of its case against the former CBN governor.
Emefiele is facing a four-count charge in the case, including allegations connected to the controversial redesign of the naira and the withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Account. He has contested the charges against him.
What Happens Next
Justice Anineh adjourned proceedings for the cross-examination of the Finance Ministry official and continuation of the trial.
The testimony does not by itself establish criminal liability against Emefiele. The prosecution is presenting its evidence, while the defence will have the opportunity to challenge the witnesses and documents before the court reaches a decision.
Rivers State Police confirm the arrest of two suspected kidnappers linked to a ₦10.3 million ransom payment in Port Harcourt
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested two suspected members of a six-man kidnapping syndicate allegedly responsible for abducting a resident of Port Harcourt and collecting ₦10.3 million in ransom from his family.
The victim, identified as Mr Hassan, was kidnapped on September 6, 2026, near Fidelity Bank in the Garrison area of Port Harcourt before being taken to Igbugulu Waterside in Borikiri, where he was held captive for three days.
According to the police, Hassan was eventually released after his relatives paid the ransom demanded by his abductors.
The victim was reportedly kidnapped near Fidelity Bank in Garrison, Port Harcourt, before being taken to Borikiri
The command’s spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Monday, October 5, explaining that intelligence-led investigations led to the identification and arrest of two suspects.
Police Identify Two Kidnap Suspects
The arrested suspects were identified as 24-year-old Victor Ifeanyi, popularly known as “Big Boby”, and 36-year-old Aniekan Okon Michael, also known as “Duff Man”.
Ifeanyi is from Aguleri in Anambra State, while Michael hails from Ikot Ukpor in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
According to Agabe, the command received information about the kidnapping on September 7, prompting operatives of its Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU-AKU) to launch an intelligence-led investigation.
The operation subsequently resulted in the arrest of the two men suspected of participating in the abduction.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects had confessed to their alleged involvement in the crime.
The suspects reportedly disclosed that the kidnapping syndicate comprised six members who used a white minibus, commonly referred to as a Keke bus, during the operation.
Family Paid ₦10.3m to Secure Victim’s Release
Investigators said the victim was abducted near Fidelity Bank in Garrison and transported to Igbugulu Waterside, where he remained in captivity for three days.
His relatives reportedly paid ₦10.3 million before the kidnappers released him.
Although some initial reports described the operation as a police rescue, the command’s account indicates that Hassan had been released following the ransom payment, while the arrests resulted from subsequent police investigations.
Authorities have not announced the recovery of the ransom money.
Police Launch Manhunt for Four Other Suspects
The Rivers State Police Command said efforts were underway to track down the four remaining suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate.
Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju urged residents to provide credible information that could help security operatives identify and arrest criminal elements operating across the state.
He assured members of the public that information provided to the command would be treated confidentially.
Adepoju also reiterated the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and sustained operations against kidnapping and other violent crimes in Rivers State.
Investigations are ongoing as police continue their search for the remaining suspects.
Students stack wheelie bins and crowd-control barriers to blockade the Lycée Sophie-Germain in central Paris on Tuesday, before marching to Place de la République.
France was gripped by a third national day of school protests as students, parents, lecturers and the CGT union marched in more than 30 cities against chronic under-investment in education. While most demos were peaceful, bins and barricades were set alight in Lille, Lyon and Rennes, with the state reporting 891 schools disrupted, 215 students and 715 officers injured, and more than 6,000 arrests.
Officers in full tactical gear confront protesters in Lyon, some 466km south-east of Paris, where a barricade was set alight. (Credit: AFP)
A movement that out-grew the school gate
What began in mid-September as scattered walkouts by 15- to 18-year-old lycéens in the Paris region has become France’s most sustained education protest in years. Taken up by the secondary-school students’ union Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL) and now backed by parents’ groups, university campuses, lecturers and the CGT, Tuesday’s demonstrations were billed as “Act Three” of the movement — with marches staged in Marseille, Lyon, Nice, Nantes, Rennes, Strasbourg, Lille and Paris.
The numbers are contested — and that matters
The USL claimed 1,800 high schools and 90% of universities were blockaded or closed, calling mobilisation “a new record.” The Education Ministry’s figure is far lower: 891 schools with classes suspended totally or partially. The Interior Ministry counted about 86,000 protesters nationwide excluding the Paris region, with 20,000–40,000 expected at the Paris march to Place de la République. That gap between street and state tallies is itself now part of the fight.
Teachers, parents and union activists march down the Canebière avenue towards Marseille’s old port in support of students’ demands for school investment. (Credit: BBC)
What the students want
Overcrowded classes of 35 or more, absent teachers left unreplaced, 10-hour school days, short lunch breaks and dilapidated buildings — a 160-year-old Marseille lycée that becomes unbearable in summer heat is a recurring example. The USL’s formal demands: 150,000 new higher-education places, €10 billion for emergency school reconstruction, and mass teacher recruitment.
Firefighters extinguish burning rubbish bins set alight by students outside Lycée Fénelon in Lille, northern France.
The violence problem on both sides
Officials describe unprecedented “urban violence” aimed at teachers and police: schools set alight, fireworks and mortars thrown, 715 officers and 215 students injured. But the images driving anger are of teenagers maimed by crowd-control munitions — a 15-year-old who lost a hand in Lens, reportedly from a Grenade à Main de Désencerclement (GMD “sting-ball”); a 16-year-old, Maël, who lost the use of his eye at the Balzac high-school blockade in Tours, blamed on an LBD rubber-ball launcher; and a 14-year-old whose jaw was fractured by a tear-gas canister. Amnesty International has demanded an end to the “disproportionate police response,” and France’s human rights commission (CNCDH) has raised “serious concern,” urging de-escalation. The Interior Minister confirms 10 IGPN investigations into alleged brutality.
The political clock
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has ordered ministers to address the top demands — replacing absent teachers, reviewing the 10-hour day, extending lunch breaks, repairing buildings — with first proposals due by end of October, alongside Education Minister Édouard Geffray’s national student consultation. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin insists a “violent minority” has hijacked the protests. The obstacle is money: a government scrambling to rein in public spending faces a polarised electorate with a presidential election only months away — and lycéens who, as one protester put it, “still feel like we are not being heard.”
Dangote Petroleum Refinery restricts petrol sales to importing marketers amid concerns over fuel blending.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stopped selling petrol to major petroleum marketers involved in importing fuel into Nigeria, following allegations that some importers are mixing its locally refined products with imported petrol of questionable quality.
Dangote Refinery halts petrol sales to importers amid allegations of fuel blending and growing concerns over market competition.
The development, reported by The Punch on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, marks another escalation in the disagreement between the refinery and petroleum marketers over fuel quality, importation and market competition.
According to refinery officials, the decision is intended to protect the quality and reputation of Dangote-produced petrol and prevent its products from being associated with potentially substandard fuel.
The refinery is now prioritizing supplies to independent petroleum marketers and other distributors that are not involved in importing petrol.
Why Dangote Stopped Selling Petrol to Importers
The refinery alleges that some importers blend locally refined petrol with imported fuel, a claim disputed by marketers.
Officials at the refinery alleged that some importing marketers were blending its Euro-5 petrol with imported products they considered inferior.
The refinery expressed concern that mixing fuel from different sources could make it difficult to identify the origin of products distributed to consumers, particularly when questions arise about their quality.
The company had previously warned against practices that could compromise the reputation of its locally refined petroleum products.
However, the allegations regarding the quality of imported petrol remain disputed, and no independently verified test results establishing the refinery’s claims were presented in the report.
Fuel Marketers Challenge Dangote’s Decision
Some petroleum marketers have rejected the restriction, arguing that it could undermine competition in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry.
The marketers questioned whether the refinery should determine where distributors obtain additional supplies and challenged claims that imported products fail to meet acceptable standards.
The dispute has also raised concerns about access to petrol import licenses.
According to reports, some marketers have approached the courts seeking to ensure that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) continues issuing import licenses.
They fear that restrictions on both local purchases and imports could affect their ability to maintain adequate fuel supplies.
IPMAN Reacts to Petrol Supply Restrictions
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has also responded to the development.
Its National Vice Chairman, Hamed Fashola, said the refinery appeared to be selective about the companies it supplies, noting that not all major petroleum marketers import fuel.
Fashola explained that independent marketers generally purchase petroleum products from suppliers offering competitive prices, whether locally refined or imported.
Similarly, IPMAN’s National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, said he could not independently confirm the allegations of fuel blending.
He maintained that independent marketers were interested in buying and distributing available petroleum products while leaving technical quality assessments to qualified industry experts.
What Dangote’s Decision Means for Petrol Prices
The restriction could have implications for competition and petrol distribution in Nigeria, depending on how long it remains in place and whether affected marketers can secure alternative supplies.
Marketers relying on both imported petrol and products from Dangote Refinery may need to adjust their purchasing arrangements.
A prolonged dispute could also increase pressure on regulatory authorities to clarify fuel quality standards, import licensing requirements and competition rules.
However, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that the decision has directly caused a nationwide petrol shortage or an increase in pump prices.
For Nigerian consumers, the central concern remains the availability of affordable petrol that meets established safety and quality requirements.
As the disagreement continues, attention will turn to how the refinery, petroleum marketers and regulators resolve their differences without disrupting fuel distribution across the country.
INEC announces October 9 as the commencement date for nationwide PVC collection.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will begin on Friday, October 9, 2026, as the number of registered voters in Nigeria exceeds 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the development on Monday, October 5, during a strategic workshop with media executives in Abuja, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
According to the commission, the increase in registered voters followed the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which recorded 10,772,421 new registrations.
The announcement forms part of INEC’s preparations to strengthen voter participation, improve electoral transparency and address operational challenges ahead of the elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, outlines the commission’s plans ahead of the 2027 polls.
INEC Announces Nationwide PVC Collection
Amupitan said newly produced PVCs would be distributed to designated Local Government Area collection centres nationwide, allowing eligible Nigerians to obtain their cards.
The collection exercise is particularly important for people who recently registered, transferred their voting locations or applied for replacement cards.
INEC also disclosed that it had introduced printable PVC technology to reduce delays associated with producing and replacing voter cards.
The commission urged eligible voters to follow official announcements and confirm their collection centres to avoid unnecessary difficulties.
Nigeria’s Registered Voters Exceed 103 Million
INEC said the national voter register now contains more than 103 million names following the completion of its registration exercise and biometric verification process.
The exercise recorded approximately 10.7 million new registrations between August 2025 and July 2026.
To improve the credibility of the register, INEC used its Automated Bio metric Identification System (ABIS) to identify and address irregularities, including duplicate registrations.
The development reflects the scale of preparations required to manage voter accreditation and participation across the country.
INEC Strengthens Technology Ahead of 2027 Elections
The commission also announced the acquisition of 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to improve voter accreditation during the elections.
INEC said it was strengthening existing electoral technology rather than introducing entirely untested systems shortly before the polls.
Amupitan explained that the commission was working to address logistical challenges, improve operational efficiency and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
As preparations continue, the effectiveness of PVC distribution, voter education and election-day arrangements will remain critical to ensuring that eligible Nigerians can exercise their voting rights.
The commission has urged Nigerians to rely on verified electoral information and participate in the process ahead of the 2027 elections.
Lionel Messi is expanding his investments in football clubs as his international career comes to an end
Lionel Messi is preparing for life beyond professional football, expanding his investments in European clubs as his international career with Argentina approaches its conclusion.
The 39-year-old is scheduled to make his 208th appearance for Argentina in a farewell friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on October 6, bringing an end to more than two decades of international football.
CD Eldense announced Messi’s acquisition on October 1, subject to regulatory approval
Messi announced his retirement from the national team on August 31, following Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Despite his international retirement, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner remains committed to Inter Miami, where his contract runs until the end of the 2028 Major League Soccer season.
Messi Expands His Football Ownership Interests
Messi’s plans beyond his playing career are increasingly taking shape through football club ownership.
On October 1, Spanish second-division club CD Eldense announced that Messi had acquired the club, subject to approval from Spain’s Higher Sports Council.
The investment followed his April purchase of UE Cornellà, a fifth-tier Spanish club known for developing young football talent.
Eldense described Messi’s arrival as the beginning of a long-term project aimed at strengthening the club’s sporting, institutional and social development.
Messi is also involved in Deportivo LSM in Uruguay alongside former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez. The club secured promotion to Uruguay’s third division in November 2025.
These investments suggest the Argentine superstar is building a long-term presence in football management and development rather than stepping away from the sport entirely.
Business Interests Beyond Football
Messi has also built a substantial business portfolio through endorsements, hospitality and other commercial investments.
According to Forbes, his estimated net worth reached $1.1 billion in 2026, with approximately $140 million earned over the preceding 12 months from football and commercial activities.
His investments include the MiM Hotels business, comprising six boutique properties in Spain and Andorra, while his commercial partnerships include Adidas and Stanley.
Messi also has an option to acquire an ownership stake in Inter Miami after retiring from professional football.
Youth Development Remains a Priority
Beyond professional club ownership, Messi is investing in the next generation of footballers.
The Messi Cup, an international Under-16 tournament, will return to Miami from October 25 to November 1, 2026.
The competition will expand from eight to 16 teams, featuring academies from Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Ajax and several other major clubs.
While Messi has not announced when he will retire from club football, his growing investment portfolio suggests that ownership, youth development and business could define his next chapter.
President Donald Trump speaks on diesel affordability before signing the executive order on dyed diesel in Nebraska on 5 October 2026.
Tax-Free Red Diesel Goes on the Highway: Inside Trump’s Executive Order on Fuel Costs
President Donald Trump signed an executive order late Monday in Nebraska that temporarily permits tax-free “dyed” diesel — the red-tinted, off-road-only fuel long reserved for tractors, construction equipment and heating — to be burned in ordinary highway vehicles. It also defers the 24.4-cent-per-gallon federal excise tax on that on-road use until 31 December, with no interest and no penalties, and directs the Treasury to explore erasing the deferred liability entirely.
President Donald Trump speaks on diesel affordability before signing the executive order on dyed diesel in Nebraska on 5 October 2026.
“I am going to sign a historic Executive Order to officially waive the off-road requirement and allow anyone to purchase tax-free red dye diesel for any reason.” — President Trump, Nebraska
The mechanism matters as much as the headline. Diesel is taxed by intended use: highway fuel carries federal and state excise taxes, off-road fuel carries none and is dyed red so enforcement can detect misuse and bill back taxes. Monday’s order waives the off-road requirement itself, and instructs the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of War, to halt collection. It directs the Transportation secretary to coordinate with states and industry on access, the Agriculture secretary to secure farmers’ supply in high-demand regions, and the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to press governors to match the federal move. Because enforcement discretion sits with the Administration and the states, the practical effect depends heavily on how many follow Texas, which began widening dyed-diesel use and declared a fuel state of emergency at the end of September.
The arithmetic is straightforward and genuinely material at scale. At 24.4 cents a gallon, a 250-gallon tractor-trailer fill-up sheds roughly $60 in federal tax; where states reciprocate, the White House puts the saving above $100 per fill. That is not trivia for an owner-operator — fuel is the second-largest line item in a trucking company’s cost stack after driver pay.
U.S. diesel prices: the national average passed $6 a gallon in September 2026, the first such breach on record.
The trigger is a price shock without modern precedent. The U.S. national average for diesel topped $6 a gallon in September, the first time on record, as war-driven supply disruption and years of constrained refining capacity squeezed transport costs. The Administration attributes the squeeze to the Russia-Ukraine war and to “Green Energy” policies in Democratic-led states that closed refineries; independent reporting also points to a broader global crude and product crisis, and one analysis noted the measure is not expected to increase overall supply.
That is the tension at the centre of the order. Removing the tax and the dye rule reallocates existing fuel more cheaply; it does not refine a new gallon. Broader eligibility could deepen shortages at the rack by pulling off-road supply into highway demand — the risk a price cut cannot fix. There is also a funding question: the diesel excise tax feeds the Highway Trust Fund, and truckers are its principal payers. Deferring it through year-end, potentially forgiven, strips revenue from the very roads the order’s beneficiaries drive, with no replacement in the text.
Politically, the timing is not accidental — the order lands weeks before the midterms, following a package the White House cites including $40bn in direct farm aid since January 2025, hours-of-service waivers for fuel haulers, a Venezuelan oil deal and an agreement with Europe to release 100 million barrels of refined diesel within four months.
The order is temporary by design. But temporary tax waivers have a history of becoming permanent the moment a constituency forms around them. Whether the deferred liability is forgiven or collected in January will decide whether this reads as a relief measure or a quiet raid on the Highway Trust Fund.
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