Dr. Doyin Abiola, the first woman to become Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of a national daily in Nigeria, has died.

She passed away at 9:15pm on Tuesday, August 5, family sources confirmed.

She was 82.

Doyin, the widow of the late business mogul and politician Chief MKO Abiola, was a media powerhouse in her own right long before her name became linked to Nigeria’s most iconic democratic martyr.

She began her journalism journey in 1969 at the Daily Sketch, where her popular column “Tiro” tackled major societal issues including gender advocacy at a time when few dared.

In 1970, she left for the United States, bagged a master’s degree in journalism, and returned home to join Daily Times as a Features Writer.

There, she rose to become Group Features Editor, and later secured a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York in 1979.

On her return, she served on the Daily Times editorial board, where she worked alongside greats like Dele Giwa, Stanley Macebuh, and Amma Ogan.

But history would come calling when the National Concord, owned by MKO Abiola, appointed her as its pioneer daily editor.

She eventually became Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief in 1986, becoming the first Nigerian woman to hold such a top role at a national daily.

Her career at the National Concord spanned three decades, and she remained a towering figure in Nigeria’s media landscape.

Dr. Doyin Abiola and MKO Abiola got married in 1981, and she stood firm through the highs of journalism and the political storms that trailed her husband’s June 12 presidential mandate.

The Lagos State Government has issued a fresh warning to residents living in low-lying areas across Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle to relocate immediately to higher ground, as more flooding is expected due to intensified rainfall this season.

The State’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, gave the order during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

The warning comes after parts of the state were severely flooded on Monday following marathon rainfall that began Sunday night and continued through the next day. Viral videos

He advised the affected communities to act now to avoid avoidable disasters as the rains intensify.

“Those around the Ajilete axis of Lagos, that’s Ajegunle, have to move,” Wahab said. “Those around the coastline of Ikorodu; Majidun, have to move. Some areas around the Lekki corridor too — not all.”

Wahab specifically mentioned Isheri in the OPIC area as another flood-prone location where residents should be on high alert.

He reassured residents in other parts of Lagos such as Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja, which he described as generally safe.

The warning comes after parts of the state were severely flooded on Monday following marathon rainfall that began Sunday night and continued through the next day. Viral videos

The death toll after the flood that hit Adamawa State capital about 10 days ago has been put at 29.

The Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta gave the update on Tuesday, in Yola when the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu provided support for affected residents.

Kaletapwa, who represented Governor Ahmadu Fintiri during the symbolic distribution of the cash and other relief items to the flood victims, said the latest assessment of the effects of the July 27, 2025 floods showed, by Monday August 4, that 29 people in total had died as a result of the flood.

The flood in view had swept through communities in Yola South, one of the two local government areas constituting the twin Yola capital territory, and has come to be seen as one of the worst floods that have been recorded in the capital city in recent times.

Farauta, who said the state government had done much on its own to help the victims of the flood, thanked Remi Tinubu for intervening.