The on Friday overturned the judgment of the which had permitted Muslim female students of the to wear hijab as part of their school uniform.
In the lead judgment, the appellate court held that although the has recognised the right of Muslim students to wear hijab in public schools, the apex court has not made any pronouncement extending that right to private schools.
The court stated:
“In public schools, you can wear hijab on school uniforms based on the judgment of the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court is yet to make any decision on the use of hijab in private schools.”
Based on that reasoning, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal filed by the authorities of the International School, University of Ibadan, and set aside the 2022 judgment of the Oyo State High Court.
However, Justice dissented, holding that the appeal lacked merit and ought to have been dismissed.
The legal dispute began in 2018 after some Muslim students challenged the school’s policy prohibiting the use of hijab as part of its approved uniform.
In 2022, the Oyo State High Court ruled in favour of the students, holding that the restriction violated their constitutional rights.
Dissatisfied with that decision, the management of the International School, University of Ibadan, appealed the judgment, culminating in Friday’s decision by the Court of Appeal, which overturned the High Court’s ruling.
The Federal Government has announced major reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), including plans to replace the traditional khaki uniform with Adire fabric and deploy corps members based on their areas of academic specialisation.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed that the iconic khaki uniform would give way to Adire as part of efforts to promote locally made products and support Nigeria’s economy.
“It’s Adire… Let’s put our money back into the country,” the minister said while explaining the rationale behind the proposed uniform change.
Olawande also revealed that, under the ongoing restructuring of the NYSC scheme, corps members would increasingly be posted to places of primary assignment that align with their courses of study and professional skills.
According to him, the reforms are aimed at making the NYSC more impactful by ensuring graduates contribute meaningfully in sectors where their expertise is needed, while also improving their career development and practical experience.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the NYSC scheme, promoting indigenous industries, and ensuring the programme remains relevant to national development and youth empowerment.
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, on Thursday formally received his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination form and officially unveiled Honourable Micheal Adesoji Adedeji as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
The ceremony, held before party leaders, stakeholders and supporters, however, witnessed the noticeable absence of some prominent APC figures in the state, including Adebayo Adelabu, Teslim Folarin and Florence Ajimobi. Their absence immediately attracted attention and sparked political discussions among party members and observers, although no official explanation was provided.
Presenting the INEC nomination form on behalf of the party’s national leadership, APC Deputy National Auditor, Gbenga Olayemi, described Alli as the party’s standard-bearer and urged members to close ranks and work towards reclaiming Oyo State in the 2027 governorship election.
In his acceptance speech, Senator Alli described his emergence as the party’s candidate as a collective victory rather than a personal achievement. He appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Working Committee, the Oyo State leadership, security agencies, party members and all those who contributed to the success of the party’s primary election.
The APC candidate also extended an olive branch to fellow aspirants and their supporters, calling for reconciliation, unity and teamwork ahead of the election. According to him, only a united APC can successfully challenge the ruling party in the state.
Speaking on his vision for Oyo State, Alli pledged to run an inclusive and transparent administration that would prioritise agriculture, quality education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, environmental sustainability and economic growth. He assured residents that his government, if elected, would be accountable and accessible to all irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
The newly unveiled deputy governorship candidate, Honourable Micheal Adesoji Adedeji, thanked the party leadership for the confidence reposed in him and pledged unwavering loyalty to the APC. He expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious at the 2027 governorship poll, promising to work closely with Senator Alli in delivering effective leadership for the state.
The event was attended by members of the APC State Working Committee, candidates for the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, as well as party leaders and stakeholders from across Oyo State. However, the absence of notable party chieftains such as Adelabu, Folarin and Florence Ajimobi remained one of the major talking points of the occasion.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that Nigeria must never be plunged into another civil war, stressing that the country cannot afford to relive the devastating consequences of the 1967–1970 conflict.
Obasanjo made the remark while speaking at a public event, where he reflected on the lessons of the Nigerian Civil War and the need for leaders and citizens to safeguard the country’s unity. He said the painful memories of the war should remain a constant reminder of the importance of peace, dialogue and national cohesion.
“God forbid Nigeria sees another civil war,” the former president said, urging Nigerians to shun actions and statements capable of deepening ethnic, religious and political divisions.
He noted that the civil war left millions dead, displaced countless families and inflicted severe economic and social setbacks on the nation. According to him, Nigeria’s diversity should be harnessed as a strength rather than allowed to become a source of conflict.
Obasanjo called on political leaders to embrace inclusive governance, fairness and justice, insisting that addressing citizens’ grievances through dialogue and constitutional means remains the best path to lasting peace.
He also appealed to the younger generation to learn from the country’s history and resist attempts by individuals or groups seeking to promote violence or disunity.
The former president maintained that preserving Nigeria’s unity is a shared responsibility, urging all stakeholders to work together in building a peaceful, stable and prosperous nation where future generations can thrive.
Residents of several communities across Lagos State were left counting their losses after heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding that submerged homes, disrupted electricity supply and rendered major roads impassable.
The downpour, which lasted for several hours, inundated residential areas, forcing many families to evacuate their homes as floodwaters swept through streets and buildings. Vehicles were stranded on flooded roads, while commercial activities slowed as commuters struggled to reach their destinations.
Electricity supply was also affected in some parts of the state after power distribution facilities were impacted by the flooding. Residents reported prolonged outages, with concerns raised over the risk of electrocution in waterlogged neighbourhoods.
Many residents appealed to the Lagos State Government and emergency management agencies to improve drainage infrastructure and intensify flood-control measures, saying recurring floods continue to threaten lives and property whenever there is heavy rainfall.
Officials advised residents to avoid driving or walking through flooded areas and urged those living in flood-prone communities to relocate temporarily where necessary. Motorists were also encouraged to exercise caution, while emergency responders monitored affected locations and assisted vulnerable residents.
The incident has once again highlighted the challenges posed by poor drainage, blocked waterways and rapid urbanisation in Lagos, with stakeholders calling for sustained investment in drainage maintenance and environmental sanitation to reduce the impact of seasonal flooding.
The Oyo State House of Assembly has approved Governor Seyi Makinde’s request for a N330 billion budget realignment and supplementary appropriation to accelerate the execution of critical infrastructure projects and other priority government programmes across the state.
The legislative concurrence followed the consideration of an executive communication transmitted by Governor Makinde and read during Wednesday’s plenary by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.
Following the presentation, the Oyo State Supplementary and Realignment Appropriation Bill, 2026, alongside the Oyo State Supplementary Finance Bill, 2026, successfully passed first and second readings before being referred to the House Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning for further legislative scrutiny.
In the executive communication, Governor Makinde explained that the request became necessary after several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) sought additional budgetary allocations to ensure the timely execution and completion of ongoing strategic projects.
He noted that the proposal had earlier received the approval of the State Executive Council following recommendations from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which reviewed the funding requirements of the affected MDAs in line with the administration’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development (2023–2027).
According to the governor, the additional funds will primarily finance the completion of major infrastructure projects, including the Circular Road, Ido-Eruwa Road, Airport-Ajia-New Ife Expressway, Saki-Igboho Road, Apete-Awotan-Akufo Junction Road, as well as the ongoing remodelling and upgrade of the Ladoke Akintola International Airport.
The proposal also makes provision for construction works at the Government House, Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges (CRFC), public debt servicing, loan repayments, gratuity payments, and preparations for the forthcoming Local Government elections scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2026.
Governor Makinde further disclosed that requests for additional funding were received from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Oyo State Investment and Public-Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPPPA), Ministry of Finance, Office of the Executive Governor, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Ministry of Establishments and Training, Oyo State Road Maintenance Management Agency (OYSROMMA), and the Office of the Head of Service.
A breakdown of the proposal shows that the total additional expenditure stands at N330 billion, with N35.5 billion allocated for recurrent expenditure, representing 10.76 per cent, while N294.5 billion, representing 89.24 per cent, is earmarked for capital projects.
The funding plan indicates that N120 billion will be generated through the realignment of existing capital allocations from MDAs with unspent budget provisions, while the remaining N210 billion will be introduced as a supplementary budget to the state’s 2026 Appropriation Law.
With the Assembly’s approval, Oyo State’s 2026 budget has increased from N892.09 billion to N1.102 trillion, reflecting an additional N210 billion to strengthen the state’s fiscal framework.
Governor Makinde expressed confidence that the budget adjustment would ensure the uninterrupted execution of ongoing developmental projects, enhance service delivery across key sectors, and sustain his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development and economic growth.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers has suspended its withdrawal of services across Oyo State public schools following renewed engagements with the state government and assurances over measures to improve security after the abduction of teachers and learners in Oriire Local Government Area.
In a statement jointly signed by the union’s Oyo State Chairman, Hassan Ajibola Fatai, and Secretary, Olukayode Salami, on Wednesday, the union announced that the suspension followed a directive from its national leadership after reviewing the prevailing security situation and considering appeals by the Oyo State Government and other key stakeholders.
The union directed all public primary and secondary school teachers across the state to resume official duties from Thursday, July 2, 2026, bringing an end to the industrial action that was declared in response to the kidnapping of teachers and students in Oriire Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the decision was taken in the collective interest of teachers, learners and the general public after the government assured the union that sustained efforts were underway to secure the safe release of the abducted victims and strengthen security around schools and surrounding communities.
The union disclosed that the government had made several commitments aimed at preventing future attacks, including intensified rescue efforts for the abducted teachers and learners, the establishment of a well-equipped Joint Security Task Force to patrol vulnerable schools and access routes, continuous engagement with affected families, psychosocial support and rehabilitation for rescued victims, and payment of gratuities and other entitlements to the families of deceased teachers.
Other commitments include strengthening the Safe School Initiative through public sensitisation and early warning systems, improving emergency response mechanisms, addressing criminal hideouts, upgrading school infrastructure, tackling illegal mining and open grazing in forest reserves, enhancing community intelligence gathering, ensuring speedy prosecution of criminal suspects, improving the welfare of security personnel, and deploying technology to bolster school security.
The union commended its members, as well as the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), for their discipline, solidarity and compliance throughout the period of the industrial action, describing their support as instrumental in advancing the welfare and security of teachers and learners.
While directing members to return to the classrooms, the union urged teachers to remain vigilant, obey the law and promptly report any security threats within their schools and communities to the appropriate authorities.
The NUT reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare and security of teachers, stressing that it would continue engaging the government until all outstanding concerns regarding the safety of teachers and students are fully addressed.
The Federal Government has approved the reconstruction of major road corridors in Oyo State, a move expected to boost economic activities and improve connectivity across the Oke-Ogun region.
Among the projects approved are the reconstruction of the Iseyin–Ilesa Baruba Road, the Igbeti–Igboho Road, and the Igboho–Sooro–Kishi Road, all of which serve as critical links between Oyo State and neighbouring states.
The approval forms part of a broader package of road infrastructure projects recently approved by the Federal Government.
The total road awarded across the country cost N3.9.4tr and Oyo state has over 900bn.
The approvals followed the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja. It was the first meeting in approximately three months since the council last sat on March 4, 2026, when Tinubu swore in the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, said the council ratified a series of approvals alongside fresh decisions spanning road construction, rehabilitation, dualisation and concession arrangements.
Here’s the breakdown of the entire road projects across the country.
N276 billion for the dualisation of Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road.
N217 billion for the dualisation of old alignment ijawaya to FGC to Ilorin Road with a spur to Akinmorin
N265 billion for the reconstruction of Iseyin-Eruwa-Agbesi Road in Oyo State and Kwara State.
N110 billion for the Ogbomoso-Oko-Illupu Road in Oyo and Osun States.
N98 billion for the construction of 30km Idi-Araba-Ayede-Olodo Road in Oyo State.
N82 billion for the rehabilitation of Igbeti Road in Oyo State.
N74 billion for the construction of Igbeti-Soro-Kishi Road in Oyo State.
N15.5 billion for the 13km Badeku-Jaiye Road in Oyo State.
The Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, has expressed confidence that the schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State will be rescued safely, saying coordinated security operations are already underway across the South-West.
The Chairman of the South-West Amotekun Commanders’ Forum and Commander of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps, Adetunji Adeleye, gave the assurance on Tuesday while parading 28 suspects arrested for various criminal offences at the corps headquarters in Akure.
Mr Adeleye said Amotekun personnel, working with local hunters, youths and community leaders familiar with the forests, had intensified search operations to track down the abductors.
Lagos State has recorded the highest number of new HIV infections in Nigeria, accounting for 10,430 of the 102,025 cases reported nationwide in 2025, according to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The figures, contained in the ministry’s State of the Health of the Nation Report 2025, highlight the continued challenge posed by HIV despite ongoing efforts to expand testing, treatment and public awareness across the country.
According to the report, Rivers State ranked second with 6,287 new infections, followed by Kano with 6,106 cases. Akwa Ibom recorded 5,413 new infections, while Taraba and Benue reported 4,854 and 4,804 cases respectively. Anambra also recorded a high burden with 4,468 cases.
Kaduna registered 3,659 new infections during the period, while Adamawa and the Federal Capital Territory recorded 2,989 and 2,764 cases respectively. Cross River, Sokoto, Abia, Imo, Delta, Borno, Ogun, Plateau, Niger and Ebonyi each reported more than 2,000 new infections.
At the lower end of the scale, Ekiti recorded the fewest new HIV infections with 462 cases. Bayelsa reported 982 cases, while Gombe, Osun, Kwara, Enugu, Yobe, Katsina and Kebbi all recorded fewer than 1,600 infections.
Public health experts say the figures reflect the need for sustained investment in HIV prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatment. They also stressed the importance of combating stigma, which remains a major barrier preventing many Nigerians from seeking testing and care.
Although Nigeria has made significant progress in expanding access to antiretroviral therapy and reducing AIDS-related deaths over the past decade, health authorities warn that new infections remain a major concern, particularly in densely populated and economically active states.
The Federal Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening HIV response programmes through collaboration with state governments, development partners and community-based organisations. It urged Nigerians to embrace regular HIV testing, adopt preventive measures and support people living with HIV to accelerate progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.
