MIDDAY NEWS
THE HEADLINES
Oyo School Abduction: Bola Ahmed Tinubu Says Rescue Efforts Yielding Results
Academic Activities Face Disruption as UNILAG Medical Lecturers Begin Strike.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Moves Against Officers Implicated in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Incident.
Aviation Sector Gets Relief as Dangote Refinery Reduces Fuel Price.
Europe faces growing pressure from United States, China and Russia, warns EU diplomat
Maduka Okoye Wins Player of the Season Award at Udinese Calcio
THE DETAILS
Security agencies were stepping up efforts to rescue victims abducted by gunmen in Esiele community, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said yesterday.
He condemned the killing of one of the abducted teachers and renewed the call for the establishment of state police.
The President described the killing as barbaric and vowed that the perpetrators and their local collaborators would be tracked down and be made to face the full weight of the law.
In an update yesterday, Governor Seyi Makinde said 18 secondary schoold pupils, seven primary school pupils and seven teachers were abducted by gunmen, who invaded Esiele community last Friday.
a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said the Federal Government was collaborating with the Oyo State Government and security agencies to ensure the safe return of all victims.
Academic activities at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, may face major disruption following the commencement of an indefinite industrial action by medical and dental lecturers under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics, UNILAG chapter (NAMDA-UNILAG
In a formal notice addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, the lecturers said the strike took effect from Monday, May 18, 2026, following the expiration of a three-week ultimatum issued to management.
The development is expected to affect medical students and academic activities across the College of Medicine, with lecturers suspending lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions, ward rounds and supervision of research projects
The lecturers maintained that the strike would continue until issues raised in their April 22, 2026 demand letter are addressed and extant circulars from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the National Universities Commission are fully implemented.
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has vowed that any operative found to have violated professional standards during a controversial operation at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) will face disciplinary action.
The incident, which occurred on May 12, involved armed operatives of the commission visiting the teaching hospital, amid allegations that they assaulted the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Professor Eyo Ekpe, and four other hospital workers.
In a statement shared on the commission’s X handle on Monday, the EFCC chairman said the move became necessary in response to concerns raised by members of the medical community and the public.
The EFCC chairman further assured stakeholders that the commission would collaborate with relevant institutions to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.Despite the backlash trailing the operation, Olukoyede insisted that the agency would remain committed to its mandate of combating economic and financial crimes across the country.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals yesterday reduced the price of aviation fuel (Jet A1) by N100 from N1,750 to N1, 650 per litre as part of continuous efforts to ease cost pressures on airlines.
Under a Federal Government-packaged intervention programme, Dangote Refinery is also providing a 30-day interest-free credit facility backed by bank guarantees (BG) for marketers and airline operators as well as a shift from a dollar-denominated pricing structure to a naira-based model.
The interventions come amid growing concerns over the rising operational costs faced by domestic carriers, with aviation fuel accounting for a significant portion of airline expenses.
The price reduction by Dangote Refinery is expected to bring relief to airline operators as it will lower fuel procurement costs, improving operational stability and supporting efforts to moderate airfares.
As part of the intervention Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, a proposed pricing band set rates at N1,760–N1,988 per litre in Lagos and N1,809–N2,037 per litre in Abuja.
Europe Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas has warned that the U.S., China, and Russia all prefer a fragmented Europe because a united EU represents a geopolitical force capable of challenging major powers.
Speaking at the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn, the Estonian capital, yesterday, Kallas said the EU’s collective strength is precisely why external powers have sought to undermine it.
They don’t like the European Union; that’s very clear,” she said. “If we stick together, if we operate together, then we are equal powers; we are strong.
She argued that dealing with individual European countries is easier for global powers than negotiating with the bloc as a whole, describing efforts to cultivate bilateral ties as part of a wider “divide-and-conquer strategy.
Kallas also urged EU governments to resist pressures that could weaken European unity, warning that internal divisions risked diminishing the bloc’s global influence at a time of mounting geopolitical instability.
ON SPORTS
Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been named Udinese’s Player of the Season following his outstanding performances during the 2025/26 Serie A campaign.
The Nigerian shot-stopper enjoyed a phenomenal resurgence after overcoming a difficult start to the season, which included temporarily side-lining due to a bureaucratic suspension linked to an alleged match-fixing investigation that was later cleared.
Upon returning to the starting lineup, Okoye quickly reclaimed his place as Udinese’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper. He delivered several master class performances, particularly in high-stakes matches against Serie A heavyweights like Juventus and AC Milan.
Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic praised the Super Eagles goalkeeper for his steady development and growing leadership within the squad.
Oyo School Abduction: Bola Ahmed Tinubu Says Rescue Efforts Yielding Results
Academic Activities Face Disruption as UNILAG Medical Lecturers Begin Strike.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Moves Against Officers Implicated in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Incident.
Aviation Sector Gets Relief as Dangote Refinery Reduces Fuel Price.
Europe faces growing pressure from United States, China and Russia, warns EU diplomat
Maduka Okoye Wins Player of the Season Award at Udinese Calcio
THE DETAILS
Security agencies were stepping up efforts to rescue victims abducted by gunmen in Esiele community, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said yesterday.
He condemned the killing of one of the abducted teachers and renewed the call for the establishment of state police.
The President described the killing as barbaric and vowed that the perpetrators and their local collaborators would be tracked down and be made to face the full weight of the law.
In an update yesterday, Governor Seyi Makinde said 18 secondary schoold pupils, seven primary school pupils and seven teachers were abducted by gunmen, who invaded Esiele community last Friday.
a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said the Federal Government was collaborating with the Oyo State Government and security agencies to ensure the safe return of all victims.
Academic activities at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, may face major disruption following the commencement of an indefinite industrial action by medical and dental lecturers under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics, UNILAG chapter (NAMDA-UNILAG
In a formal notice addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, the lecturers said the strike took effect from Monday, May 18, 2026, following the expiration of a three-week ultimatum issued to management.
The development is expected to affect medical students and academic activities across the College of Medicine, with lecturers suspending lectures, tutorials, seminars, laboratory sessions, ward rounds and supervision of research projects
The lecturers maintained that the strike would continue until issues raised in their April 22, 2026 demand letter are addressed and extant circulars from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the National Universities Commission are fully implemented.
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has vowed that any operative found to have violated professional standards during a controversial operation at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) will face disciplinary action.
The incident, which occurred on May 12, involved armed operatives of the commission visiting the teaching hospital, amid allegations that they assaulted the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Professor Eyo Ekpe, and four other hospital workers.
In a statement shared on the commission’s X handle on Monday, the EFCC chairman said the move became necessary in response to concerns raised by members of the medical community and the public.
The EFCC chairman further assured stakeholders that the commission would collaborate with relevant institutions to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.Despite the backlash trailing the operation, Olukoyede insisted that the agency would remain committed to its mandate of combating economic and financial crimes across the country.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals yesterday reduced the price of aviation fuel (Jet A1) by N100 from N1,750 to N1, 650 per litre as part of continuous efforts to ease cost pressures on airlines.
Under a Federal Government-packaged intervention programme, Dangote Refinery is also providing a 30-day interest-free credit facility backed by bank guarantees (BG) for marketers and airline operators as well as a shift from a dollar-denominated pricing structure to a naira-based model.
The interventions come amid growing concerns over the rising operational costs faced by domestic carriers, with aviation fuel accounting for a significant portion of airline expenses.
The price reduction by Dangote Refinery is expected to bring relief to airline operators as it will lower fuel procurement costs, improving operational stability and supporting efforts to moderate airfares.
As part of the intervention Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, a proposed pricing band set rates at N1,760–N1,988 per litre in Lagos and N1,809–N2,037 per litre in Abuja.
Europe Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas has warned that the U.S., China, and Russia all prefer a fragmented Europe because a united EU represents a geopolitical force capable of challenging major powers.
Speaking at the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn, the Estonian capital, yesterday, Kallas said the EU’s collective strength is precisely why external powers have sought to undermine it.
They don’t like the European Union; that’s very clear,” she said. “If we stick together, if we operate together, then we are equal powers; we are strong.
She argued that dealing with individual European countries is easier for global powers than negotiating with the bloc as a whole, describing efforts to cultivate bilateral ties as part of a wider “divide-and-conquer strategy.
Kallas also urged EU governments to resist pressures that could weaken European unity, warning that internal divisions risked diminishing the bloc’s global influence at a time of mounting geopolitical instability.
ON SPORTS
Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been named Udinese’s Player of the Season following his outstanding performances during the 2025/26 Serie A campaign.
The Nigerian shot-stopper enjoyed a phenomenal resurgence after overcoming a difficult start to the season, which included temporarily side-lining due to a bureaucratic suspension linked to an alleged match-fixing investigation that was later cleared.
Upon returning to the starting lineup, Okoye quickly reclaimed his place as Udinese’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper. He delivered several master class performances, particularly in high-stakes matches against Serie A heavyweights like Juventus and AC Milan.
Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic praised the Super Eagles goalkeeper for his steady development and growing leadership within the squad.