Since Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, the country will mark its 66th Independence Anniversary on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

The citizens are expecting the details of the anniversary events by the Federal Government, through the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

• South African police

The Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA) says Olatunde Olaleye, a 40-year-old father of two, has been shot dead in the country.

According to NAN, NUSA said Olaleye,‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍‍‌ an indigene of Ikere-Ekiti, was killed on September 21 while working at Spanata Bar and Grills in Mamelodi, Pretoria.

Smart Nwobi, NUSA president-general, in a statement on Thursday, said Olaleye was a husband and father of two children, adding that his death has left his family devastated.

He said the union is concerned by reports that Olaleye was allegedly shot by a South African national following an argument over whether a drinking glass should be taken outside the bar.

According to him, there were also reports that the suspect returned to the premises to threaten the bar’s management, with a promise that members of his crew would return.

Nwobi called for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We cannot continue to lose Nigerians under circumstances that leave families devastated and communities traumatised,” he said.

Enugu|•L-R Prof Pat Utomi; Prof Chinyere Okunna and Eze Anaba President Nigerian Guild of Editors at the 22nd All Nigerian Editors Conference in Enugu. Photo. Nwankpa Chijioke

Nigerian editors have been urged to protect the credibility of the ballot and help safeguard democracy as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The call was made by Eze Anaba, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, in his welcome address at the 22nd Annual All Nigerian Editors Conference, which opened today in Enugu.
The conference is themed, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.”
Anaba said the media, alongside other critical institutions, had a responsibility to nurture democracy by ensuring that voters were adequately informed and that electoral outcomes reflected the choices of the people.

According to him, the ballot can only fulfil its democratic purpose when voters have access to credible information and are able to make their choices freely, without intimidation or undue influence.

He urged editors and journalists to uphold verification, independence, accuracy, fairness, accountability and courage, particularly in an era of social media, artificial intelligence, deepfakes and the rapid spread of misinformation.

“As editors, we must remain above board in an increasingly polarised environment. We must not become agents of disorder. Neither should we display contradictory tendencies that cause the citizenry to question our credibility,” Anaba said.

He stressed that the media’s overarching responsibility was to serve the public good and help ensure that government derived its legitimacy from the consent of the people.