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Ayra Starr Announces 20-City World Tour for ‘Starrgirl’ Album

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  Nigerian Afrobeats singer Ayra Starr has announced a 20-city world tour in support of her third studio album, Starrgirl. The singer, whose real name is Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, announced the tour on Instagram, revealing plans to perform across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada between January and April 2027. According to details on her official website, the tour will begin in Cologne, Germany, on January 20, before moving to Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Zurich and Brussels. She is scheduled to perform in London on February 2. The North American leg will begin in Houston, Texas, on March 18, with further stops in Dallas, Atlanta, Silver Spring, Boston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver. The tour will conclude in San Francisco, California, on April 14. Announcing the tour, Starr wrote, “STARRGIRL WORLD TOUR. Africa, I’ll see y’all in December.” Released on August 14 through Mavin Records and Republic Records, Starrgirl contains 16 tracks and features collaborations with ZAYN, Leon Thomas, Wizkid, Rema, kwn, Danny Ocean and Theodora. According to tour promoter Live Nation, the album debuted at number two on Spotify’s Global Top Albums Chart, recording 3.9 million streams on its first full day. The announcement follows Starr’s performance during the halftime show at the Philadelphia Eagles-Jacksonville Jaguars NFL International Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on October 11. The upcoming tour further expands the singer’s international live performances and brings her music to audiences across multiple major cities.

Foundation Sues TikTok Over Alleged Restrictions in Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto

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The Foundation for Digital Justice has sued TikTok Inc. at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged restrictions on access to the platform in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto states. The organisation is asking the court to order TikTok to restore access to millions of users in the affected states. The suit was filed on October 5, 2026, by the Foundation’s lead counsel, Festus Ogun. It was brought under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, 2009. The Foundation alleged that the restrictions violated Nigerians’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination. Users Report Access Problems In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, the Foundation’s legal officer, Abidat Idowu, said users in the four states began experiencing difficulties accessing TikTok around September 11. By September 14, she said, access to the platform had become “completely restricted and inaccessible to millions of Nigerian Users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States.” According to the affidavit, users on regular mobile data connections were affected. Their feeds were reportedly freezing, while videos failed to load and uploads repeatedly stalled. “These users cannot load videos, refresh their feeds and upload content on TikTok,” Idowu stated. The Foundation further alleged that the disruption had prevented affected users from accessing and sharing information or participating in online discussions. “Millions of Nigerian Users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States are left out of access to information, they cannot disseminate information, they cannot receive information and cannot express their opinions on the Respondent’s TikTok’s platform owing to the restriction and/or disruption,” the affidavit stated. Foundation Alleges Discrimination The organisation said some affected users had been able to regain access by using virtual private networks, commonly known as VPNs. It also alleged that TikTok remained fully accessible to users in other parts of Nigeria. “Disturbingly, except in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States, users in all other parts of Nigeria continue to enjoy unrestricted and unfettered access and usage of Respondent’s TikTok App,” Idowu stated. The Foundation argued that TikTok had not provided an explanation for the alleged difference in access. “The Respondent has also not provided any explanation for the obvious exclusion, discrimination and restriction of access against all TikTok users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States,” the affidavit said. The organisation wants the court to determine whether the alleged restriction violates Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which protects freedom of expression, as well as Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. It is also asking the court to determine whether the alleged differential treatment violates Section 42 of the Constitution and Article 2 of the African Charter, which protect against discrimination. TikTok Access Described as Critical The Foundation argued that TikTok has become more than an entertainment platform in Nigeria. According to the organisation, the platform is widely used for communication, journalism, business, civic participation, and political and social discourse. “The Respondent’s platform is very critical for communication, journalism, civic participation, business, political and social discourse in Nigeria and the restriction of millions of TikTok users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States has unduly excluded them,” it said. The Foundation also argued that activities such as posting, liking, reposting and replying to content constitute forms of expression. It stated that users affected by the alleged restriction were prevented from viewing, posting, replying to, reposting or liking content on TikTok. The organisation therefore described the alleged restrictions as an exclusion of residents of the four states from what it termed a public forum. What the Foundation Wants The Foundation is seeking several orders from the court. It wants the alleged restrictions to be declared “wrongful, unconstitutional, arbitrary” and a violation of the right to freedom of expression. It is also asking the court to declare that restricting users in the four states while allowing access elsewhere in Nigeria amounts to discrimination. In addition, the organisation wants TikTok to immediately restore access to affected users. It is seeking a perpetual injunction preventing the company from imposing similar restrictions on users in the affected states, or elsewhere in Nigeria, without lawful justification. The Foundation is also asking the court to order TikTok to publish a public apology in three national newspapers within seven days of judgment. It said the legal action was necessary to protect digital rights and uphold the rule of law. “This lawsuit is imperative for the enforcement of fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination and preservation of the rule of law,” the affidavit stated. The Foundation further argued that unless the reliefs sought were granted, the alleged violations would continue to affect millions of TikTok users in the four states.

Julius Agwu Reveals Brain Surgery Affected His Sexual Function

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Nigerian comedian and actor Julius Agwu has revealed that he experienced sexual dysfunction after undergoing brain surgery in the United States in 2015. Agwu made the disclosure during a recent episode of the Beer Parlour Talk Show, where he discussed the effects of the surgery on his body, career and personal life. Responding to a question about whether the brain condition or surgery affected other parts of his body, Agwu said, “After I do am, prick no dey work again now. He no dey work.” Other guests on the programme discussed the possible connection between nerves involved in the procedure and the effects Agwu described. The comedian underwent surgery in 2015 after doctors discovered three tumours in his brain, one of which was reportedly the size of a golf ball. He has previously spoken about the health crisis and its impact on his life and career. During the programme, Agwu also reflected on his contribution to Nigerian comedy, particularly his role in developing music comedy. “Music comedy na me form am o, that is to tell you how my brain dey work,” he said. He later became emotional while discussing his career and the feeling of being abandoned by some of his friends following his health challenges. “God wey I dey serve, anybody wey get hand for wetin happen to me. I go dey look. My friends deserted me. They stopped talking to me, many of them. It is well,” Agwu said. Agwu remains a prominent figure in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, known for combining music and comedy in his performances and for his work in Nollywood.

No Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi, Umahi Declares

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Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has declared that there is no “Rainbow Coalition” in Ebonyi State, insisting that the state remains aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. Umahi made the declaration on Friday, September 25, 2026, during an inspection of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway in Ado, Benue State. His comments came amid ongoing disagreements between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and some APC governors over the role of the cross-party Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 elections. Wike has said the platform is focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election while allowing members to retain their party affiliations. Umahi: No Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi Reacting to reports that he was involved in a similar political arrangement in Ebonyi, Umahi said: “If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship. There is no rainbow coalition in Ebonyi State.” He said politicians were free to campaign in Ebonyi but warned against hate speech and actions that could cause unrest. “Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches… Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State,” he said. Umahi also revisited his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying he believed the party had failed to adequately recognise the interests of the South-East. Umahi Defends Support for Tinubu The former governor linked his support for President Tinubu to the Federal Government’s infrastructure programme, rejecting claims that he had concentrated federal projects in the South-East. “I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to Southeast?” Umahi asked. He said Nigerians should assess the administration based on projects already being executed rather than campaign promises. Minister Orders Changes to Superhighway Alignment During the inspection, Umahi directed contractors handling Section Two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway not to demolish buildings along the current alignment until the Federal Government completes a review and, where necessary, realigns the route. “My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it,” he said. Umahi also ordered contractors to accelerate construction and open additional sections of the highway while engineers address challenges around the Ado Bridge. Section Two of the project covers about 173.6 kilometres, with a reported contract value of about ₦683 billion.

FG Threatens to Shut Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Two Weeks

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The Federal Government has threatened to shut the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within two weeks if motorists and other road users fail to comply with safety regulations. The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, issued the warning on Monday during an inspection of the highway, citing persistent safety breaches, vandalism and illegal activities. Dare said the warning followed a directive from the Minister of Works, David Umahi. “Within two weeks, if there’s no improvement on all these issues, then we have no option than to come back and shutdown this road,” he said. Government Enforces 30km/h Speed Limit Dare said the coastal highway remains under construction and should ordinarily not have been opened to traffic before the completion of its bridges. The Lagos section covers about 103 kilometres across two sections, with 47km in Section 1 and 56km in Section 2. The two sections have 20 major bridges, many of which are still under construction. He expressed concern over motorists driving at excessive speeds, despite the prescribed 30km/h speed limit. “People who come to coastal road and get to a speed of 120 kilometres per hour on the coastal road, and where constructions are going on, bridges, construction are going on,” he said. “We have said your speed on the coastal road must not be more than 30 kilometres per hour.” Dare said accidents were occurring on the highway “almost every other day” and warned that the government could no longer ignore the situation. Police Deployment, Crackdown on Illegal Activities The controller said the government had reached an agreement with the Lagos State Police Command to increase security along the highway. He also warned articulated vehicle operators against parking on the road and announced a crackdown on illegal U-turns, Okada motorcycles, tricycles, hawking, animal grazing and illegal structures. “We don’t want Okada motorcycles, tricycles. We don’t want them on the coastal road,” Dare said. Vandals Target Highway Infrastructure Dare identified vandalism as another major challenge, saying at least five kilometres of ClearVu fencing had been removed, while about 18 kilometres of concrete covers had also been vandalised. “They come in the night, they remove the ClearVu fence that was used to barricade the communities from the coastal highway,” he said. The government is considering replacing vulnerable sections of the steel fencing with concrete barriers and deploying CCTV cameras to strengthen surveillance. 40 Coastal Guards Approved Dare also disclosed that the government had approved the recruitment of 40 coastal guards for the first section of the highway, with four expected to be drawn from each community along the route. The guards will work with the police to provide community-level surveillance, while additional personnel will be recruited for Section 2. He said the coastal guards would be reorganised and trained under the supervision of the Lagos State Police Command.

N’Assembly Transmits 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill to 36 State Assemblies

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The National Assembly has transmitted the 2026 Constitution alteration bill to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration, moving the proposed amendments to the next stage of the constitutional review process. The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, transmitted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following a directive from the National Assembly leadership. The state assemblies have been asked to consider the proposals and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days. States Required to Consider Bill The transmission is part of the procedure prescribed by Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, which requires constitutional alteration bills to secure approval from at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly. Ogunlana said the National Assembly had commenced the next stage of the process by forwarding the bill to the state legislatures for consideration and approval. The state assemblies are expected to deliberate on the proposals independently and follow their respective legislative procedures before communicating their decisions. 30-Day Period Is Not Constitutional Deadline The National Assembly clarified that the 30-day period is an administrative timeframe and not a deadline imposed by the Constitution. “The Constitution does not prescribe a specific period within which the State Houses of Assembly are required to communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill,” Ogunlana said. He explained that the timeframe was introduced to promote an orderly and timely conclusion of the amendment process. The Clerk also stressed that the transmission of the bill does not dictate how the state assemblies should consider the proposals. “The National Assembly recognises the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and respects their independence in the consideration of the Bill,” he said. Next Step Depends on State Assemblies Ogunlana assured that the National Assembly would continue to follow the constitutional requirements governing the amendment process. “Upon receipt of the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly will proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution,” he said.

UK Man Admits Drugging and Raping Wife for Two Decades

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A British man in his 60s has pleaded guilty to drugging and raping his wife over a period spanning more than two decades, in the latest UK case involving drug-facilitated sexual abuse. The man, who cannot be named to protect his wife’s identity, entered the guilty plea on Monday at a court in northwest England. He had previously admitted to other sexual offences against his wife. He was scheduled to stand trial alongside 12 other men accused of conspiring to sexually abuse the woman while she was unconscious. The 12 co-defendants, aged between 28 and 73, deny the allegations. A 13th man previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to drug and rape the victim. On Monday, the husband admitted to 60 offences dating back to 2004, including administering a substance to his wife with the intention of stupefying or overpowering her. The other defendants include a paramedic and a former football coach. They are expected to stand trial at the criminal court in Manchester in the coming weeks. Latest UK Case Involving Drug-Facilitated Sexual Abuse The case adds to a growing number of UK criminal cases involving drug-facilitated sexual abuse (DFSA), in which perpetrators use drugs or other substances to render victims unconscious or unable to resist sexual abuse. Global attention on the crime increased following the high-profile case of Dominique Pelicot in France. Pelicot drugged and raped his then-wife, Gisele, for nearly a decade while allowing other men to sexually abuse her. In another UK case last week, a London man pleaded guilty to encouraging other men in an online group chat to sexually abuse their unconscious partners and share images of the abuse. Meanwhile, another man is due to receive his sentence in central England later this week after pleading guilty in July to 32 sexual offences against his girlfriend while she was allegedly drugged or asleep. The Manchester proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks. AFP

Osun Shooting: Accord Chieftain Buried as Police Recover Second Corpse

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The Osun State Police Command has recovered another corpse from the Mayfair Motor Park in Ile-Ife, bringing the number of deaths linked to Sunday’s shooting at the park to two. The police confirmed the development on Monday as the remains of Olalekan Oyeyemi, a chieftain of the Accord Party in Osun State popularly known as ‘Emir Ajagungbade,’ were laid to rest at his newly completed residence in the Agunbelewo area of Osogbo according to traditional rites. Emir died on Sunday after gunmen opened fire during a clash involving him and a group led by another National Union of Road Transport Workers leader identified by his nickname, Sibi, at the Mayfair Motor Park. A video that circulated on social media after the incident showed Emir lying face down in a pool of blood inside a vehicle. Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, later confirmed Emir’s death in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and directed the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, to identify and arrest those responsible. Emir’s death has been linked to moves by some members of the transport union to install him as the next Osun State chairman of the NURTW. Police Recover Second Corpse Providing an update on the incident, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, told journalists that the police had recovered another body from the motor park. “The governor has decided that the park should not operate. The park has not been operating. A corpse was also recovered by the police, and it has been deposited at the morgue. “The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for more investigation. Those being mentioned in connection with the crime, they should go to the nearest Police station to report themselves rather than going to social media to defend themselves. The Commissioner of Police has promised that all those involved will be apprehended and face the law, irrespective of who they are.” Meanwhile, traditionalists conducted Emir’s burial rites in the presence of close family members and priests. His associates, who accompanied his remains from the Osun State University Teaching Hospital in Osogbo, waited outside the premises while the traditional burial rites took place. Hoodlums Attack Hospital Workers Before the hospital released Emir’s remains, suspected hoodlums believed to be associates of the deceased attacked two members of staff after discovering that the workers were recording them with their phones. Our correspondent, who visited the hospital to monitor developments, later observed the arrival of additional police vehicles carrying security operatives. Their presence helped restore calm at the facility. Commissioner Denies Endorsing Emir as NURTW Chairman Meanwhile, the Osun State Commissioner for Transportation, Sesan Oyedele, has denied claims that he summoned NURTW leaders to his residence in Modakeke on Sunday and told them that the state government had endorsed Emir as the next chairman of the union. Two NURTW leaders in Ile-Ife, identified as Gbadagesin and Kazeem Akeem, had made the allegation in videos circulating on social media. Speaking with PUNCH Online, Oyedele dismissed the claim and said the individuals who spoke about the meeting were not present when the issue of the NURTW chairmanship came up. “The person who did the video was not at the meeting I had with them. Had he been there, he would have known that what I told them was not what he said in that video. I was not in the meeting they had in Osogbo last week. After that meeting, which involved transport union members from various branches, they called me on Thursday and said they wanted to come and see me. I told them to come to my office on Monday (today), but they said they could come to my house. “They came around 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. When they got to my house, they told me that they had all agreed that Olalekan Emir should be the next chairman, and they wanted me to support them. I told them that since that was what they wanted, I would present their case before the governor, the Chief of Staff and others when he gets back to the state. That was our agreement before they left. It was two hours after they left my house that I was called that Emir had been killed,” he said. Oyedele appealed to residents to remain calm, assuring them that the government was working to resolve the crisis. The police have meanwhile transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and vowed to arrest and prosecute everyone found culpable, regardless of their status. spokesperson for Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi

FG Pays $100,000 Each to D’Tigress Players for Fifth Afrobasket Triumph

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The National Sports Commission has confirmed that each player of Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has received the naira equivalent of $100,000 as part of the Presidential Reward for their historic victory at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket. The commission also confirmed the payment of the naira equivalent of $50,000 to each of the team’s officials. The accounts of the players and officials were credited on September 9, 2026, with the NSC saying all recipients had confirmed receipt of the funds. D’Tigress won the FIBA Women’s Afrobasket title for a record fifth consecutive time and seventh overall in 2025.The commission said the payment completed all components of the rewards promised to members of the team by President Bola Tinubu. In a statement signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Kehinde Ajayi, on Wednesday, the NSC said the Presidential Rewards comprised three-bedroom flats in Abuja, national honours of the Order of the Niger and the cash payments. “With the payment, the entire presidential rewards promised to each member of the team by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR comprising a 3-Bedroom flat in Abuja, national honours of OON and Naira equivalent of $USD 100,000 to players and $USD 50,000 to officials have been fully redeemed and completed,” the statement said. The commission recalled that the players and officials received the title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and certificates of national honours in February 2026 during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Lyon, France. The NSC said the documents were duly signed by Tinubu.It added that the cash payment followed the team’s participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany. The commission also disclosed that the Super Falcons, who were similarly promised Presidential Rewards, had received title documents for their three-bedroom apartments in Abuja and certificates of national honours. It said the Falcons received the documents during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July and August 2026, adding that the cash component of their reward was expected to be paid before their next official engagements. The commission said the Super Falcons were promised the same cash rewards of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for each official. It said the rewards were part of the Federal Government’s effort to prioritise the welfare of Nigerian athletes. The statement said, “This unprecedented rewards to the players and athletes by the Federal Government of Nigeria is in alignment with the Renewed Hope initiative and Shared Prosperity agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR which places athletes’ welfare and appropriate rewards top on the priority list. ”The commission thanked Tinubu for his support for Nigerian sports, saying his policies had given impetus to its reform agenda and efforts to develop a sustainable sports economy. It also appreciated the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for their collaboration in implementing the rewards. The NSC said the collaboration ensured that the Presidential Rewards were implemented “in record time within the due process requirements.”

Trump Promises $5,000 Payment to Americans if Republicans Retain Congress

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US President Donald Trump has pledged to introduce a $5,000 federal “dividend” for every adult American if Republicans maintain control of both chambers of Congress in November’s midterm elections. Trump made the pledge on Wednesday at the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, turning an election rally into a pitch that could put billions of dollars directly into Americans’ pockets. “If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them,” Trump said, he would issue the payment “to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000.” Reuters reported that Trump called the proposed payment a dividend and gave no further details about how the scheme would be funded or implemented. ABC News similarly reported that Trump told the convention he would issue a $5,000 “dividend” to every adult American if Republicans held on to the House and Senate. The network quoted him as saying the proposal was possible “because of our tremendous strength and success economically.” Trump said the money would have to be spent within the United States. “The only caveat I have is that the dividend that we’re making must be spent in the United States of America,” Reuters quoted him as saying. The proposal would represent a huge federal outlay. Reuters estimated that paying $5,000 to roughly 270 million American adults could cost about $1.35tn. The news agency also reported that the legality and practical operation of the proposal were not immediately clear. The Associated Press reported that the proposed payments would likely cost more than $1tn, while questions remained over how they could be financed and administered. It also noted that Vice President JD Vance appeared to qualify Trump’s promise by suggesting that wealthier Americans could potentially be excluded. The pledge comes as Republicans fight to retain their congressional majorities in the November 3 midterm elections, with all seats in the House and about one-third of Senate seats at stake. Trump sought to make himself central to the campaign despite not being on the ballot, telling supporters to vote as though he were running. ABC News quoted him telling the crowd: “So I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot. I’m on the ballot. I’m on the ballot.” The president’s latest proposal also echoes an earlier idea for direct payments to Americans. Forbes reported in February 2025 that Trump was considering a “DOGE dividend” funded from savings generated by the Department of Government Efficiency, after Elon Musk proposed $5,000 refund cheques for taxpayers. That earlier proposal did not become a nationwide $5,000 payment. Trump’s latest announcement is therefore a political promise, not an existing federal payment programme. Any such scheme would require a mechanism for funding and implementation, with Reuters reporting that no further details were immediately available. The Republican Party’s convention comes against a difficult political backdrop for the party, with Reuters reporting that Trump’s approval ratings and voter dissatisfaction over the economy and the war in Iran have created risks for Republican candidates seeking re-election.

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