By Son Tertsea, Abuja

A Catholic priest was crushed to death by a wooden crucifix that pressed him against the pulpit as it fell from the wall while celebrating Mass in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil on Saturday.

According to reports, shouts of “Father, Father! Call an ambulance!” people at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church could be heard shouting just before a livestreamed broadcast cuts out.

The graphic footage of the accident went viral Sunday on social media and was widely carried by news outlets.

The Archdiocese of Guayaquil mourned the death of the priest, Patricio Sanchez, in a statement and expressed its “solidarity, affection and love” for his family and friends.

Airbus Southern Africa, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), one of Africa’s top universities, and the Institut Supérieur de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) all signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to put together a strategic partnership linking advanced aeronautical training with aerospace manufacturing and design in South Africa.

University of the Witwatersrand Airbus Southern Africa, Wits University, and ISAE-SUPAERO signed a four-year memorandum of understanding to collaborate on advanced aeronautical training in South Africa.

The agreement aims to provide South African engineering students with internationally recognized qualifications and support the local aerospace industry.
Wits and ISAE-SUPAERO will align their aerospace engineering courses and facilitate lecturer exchanges between Johannesburg and Toulouse.
The partnership includes regular student and staff exchanges, giving Wits students access to specialized master’s programs and advanced research in France.

The deal, with a four-year timeline, is designed to provide South African engineering students with internationally certified qualifications to bolster local industrialisation and engender the growth of the country’s aerospace industry.

The agreement will ensure that Wits and ISAE-SUPAERO will review and align their aerospace engineering courses, with lecturers exchanging expertise between Johannesburg and Toulouse.

According to Airbus, it will also give Wits students access to advanced aerospace design and engineering knowledge, as seen on DefenseWeb.

Furthermore, the deal is to establish regular student and staff exchanges, allowing Wits students to gain specialised master’s programmes and receive exposure to advanced research methods in France, according to Airbus.

“This collaboration connects academic excellence with industrial expertise to empower the next generation of South African aeronautical engineers,” said Nam-Binh Hoang, Airbus Country Representative in South Africa.

“By combining the local expertise of Wits University, the world-class aerospace training of ISAE-SUPAERO, and Airbus’s operational footprint, we are building a sustainable talent pipeline that supports both local innovation and global aerospace standards,” Nam-Binh Hoang added.

“Partnering with global leaders like Airbus and ISAE-SUPAERO enhances our capability to deliver world-class engineering education.

“This agreement ensures our students gain access to advanced aerospace modules, international exposure, and practical research opportunities directly tied to industry needs.” Professor Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation at Wits University, stated.

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

An Israel-bound plane co-pilot attacked the pilot midair, in what is believed to be a ‘suicide crash’ attempt.

The emergency landing on September 30 of a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai flight was due to a “terrorist” who wanted to crash the plane and kill Israelis, Israel’s far-right national security minister said.

One of the pilots of the Israel-bound flydubai flight diverted on Wednesday attacked his co-pilot and tried to crash the plane to kill everyone, a passenger said.

Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon said the plane was “pretty much out of control” when the stabbing took place over Jordan on the flight’s path from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

“The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane,” she told reporters by speakerphone held up by her mother who was waiting at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

“It was really on the way to crashing, and it was simply the resourcefulness of many people who took control of the co-pilot and neutralised him,” she said.

“There was also a doctor who gave first aid, and people who treated both of them. Other than the pilot, there were no injuries, but the bigger fear was really a crash, which is exactly what he was trying to do.”

Her mother, Yasmin Abukasis, said her daughter was on the flight to attend a service for her brother killed in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

The daughter “thought they were going to die,” Abukasis told AFP, adding that one woman “went to the (cockpit) and saw a lot of blood”.

She said that two other pilots were on the plane and took charge, diverting it to Saudi Arabia.
[9/30, 8:56 PM] Wata Tachia, PhD: FG Carving 24-hour Power Zones: Lagos, Abuja, Kano, others

By Isa Abdul, Abuja

The creation of energy zones that ensure 24-hour power supply is the Federal Government’s new energy strategy. Already, it is engaging electricity distribution companies into the proposed 24-hour electricity supply to homes, businesses and industries in major demand centres across the country.

Consequently, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, held a closed-door meeting with the leadership of selected distribution companies to discuss the proposed initiative, which targets the Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port Harcourt corridors.

The meeting was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the minister’s media aide, Adeola Adelabu. It partly read:

“In furtherance of the Federal Government’s commitment to deliver reliable electricity to Nigerians, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has held a strategic closed-door meeting with the leadership of select electricity distribution companies over the proposed Energy Zones, designed to deliver stable, 24-hour power supply to homes, businesses and industries in the country’s highest-demand areas, namely Lagos axis, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano and Enugu-Port-Harcourt.”

The initiative is designed to address electricity distribution constraints and ensure that power generated and transmitted to the national grid reaches consumers more reliably, particularly in areas with high commercial and industrial demand.

According to the statement, Tegbe said the challenges facing the power sector extended beyond electricity generation and transmission to the capacity of distribution companies to receive and deliver available electricity to end users.

“The constraint on the sector is not limited to generation and transmission but includes how much power is taken up and delivered at the distribution end.”

He said the proposed Energy Zones would help close the gap, unlock commercial and industrial demand, and improve the revenue and collection performance of distribution companies.

The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding electricity infrastructure in areas with high demand, noting that supply capacity must grow in line with the needs of Nigeria’s expanding economy.

The proposed zones are expected to focus on locations where reliable electricity is critical to businesses, manufacturing and other productive activities.

The statement did not provide a timeline for implementation of the proposed capacity of the zones or the specific infrastructure investments required to deliver round-the-clock supply.

The engagement, according to the statement, forms part of Tegbe’s commitment upon assuming office to adopt a disciplined and phased approach to addressing the sector’s longstanding challenges.

It also aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which identifies reliable electricity supply as a key driver of economic growth, industrialisation and job creation.

The distribution companies and energy firm represented at the meeting were Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Sahara Energy Group.
[9/30, 8:57 PM] Wata Tachia, PhD: Tinubu Signs 2025 Budget Extension Bill, Implementation Now Till Dec 31

By Felix Umande

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the Appropriation (Amendment) (No.4) Bill, 2025, extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from September 30, 2026 to December 31, 2026.

The presidential assent followed the swift passage of the amendment bill by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

According to the Presidency, the extension gives Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) more time to complete ongoing capital projects and ensures that funds already appropriated are fully put to work for Nigerians without disrupting critical programmes.

President Tinubu commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for their prompt consideration of the bill, describing it as a further sign of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature in the service of the nation.
[9/30, 8:58 PM] Wata Tachia, PhD: Workers Commence Warning Strike October 2nd, If …

By Isa Abdul, Abuja

The Federal Government has been given an ultimatum over the rising cost of petrol, the demand for a wage award and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage by the Public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, who have reaffirmed their September 30, 2026, ultimatum.

The JNPSNC, made up of eight public sector unions, issued a three-day warning strike notice to the Federal Government, beginning October 2, should the government fail to slash the price of petrol to N500 per litre, announce a wage award and introduce other measures to cushion the crushing hardship in the country.

Members of the JNPSNC include the Nigerian Civil Service Union; Medical and Health Workers Union; Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria; and National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.

Others are the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees; Nigeria Union of Public Service, Reportorial, Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers; National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers; and National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees.

The council said it had mobilised public servants across the country for a three-day warning strike if the Federal Government failed to address the issues raised in its letter to President Bola Tinubu before the deadline.

Recall that the JNPSNC had, on September 21, written to Tinubu, demanding that the price of petrol be slashed to N500, the immediate announcement of a wage award and the beginning of negotiations for not less than N500,000 minimum wage from 2027, among others.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 29, 2926, leaders of the JNPSNC warned that should the issues of fuel pump prices and the wage award not be addressed by September 30, especially during the Independence anniversary speech by the President, public servants nationwide would commence a three-day warning strike beginning October 2, 2026.

The statement issued by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC and General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Gbenga Olowoyo, said the September 30 deadline remained sacrosanct, stressing that the concerns of Nigerian workers could no longer be ignored.

According to him, “The three critical issues requiring urgent attention are as follows: reduction of fuel price to N500 per litre. The Federal Government should take urgent steps to bring down the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N500 per litre.

“This can be achieved through the provision of an intervention fund to address landing costs and support oil and gas operators.

“It is equally important for the Federal Government to ensure the sale of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and operators of modular refineries at appropriate terms to facilitate increased domestic refining and help bring down the price of petroleum products.

“The current price of PMS, ranging from N1,450 to N2,000 and, in some locations outside major communities and cities, as high as N2,500 per litre, is unacceptable to Nigerian workers.

“The council maintains that the economic hardship occasioned by the high cost of fuel is placing the survival of Nigerian workers, their dependants and the general populace under severe pressure, making it increasingly difficult for Nigerians to live normal and dignified lives.

“The Federal Government should urgently approve a wage award for Nigerian workers to cushion the effects of the prevailing harsh economic conditions being experienced by workers, their dependants, and vulnerable Nigerians.

“The council believes that urgent action on this demand will further enable public servants to consolidate their loyalty, commitment and productivity within the public service ecosystem.”

Minimum wage committee

The workers asked the Federal Government to urgently establish a committee to facilitate negotiations for the new minimum wage.

“The Federal Government should urgently establish a tripartite committee to commence and facilitate negotiations for the new national minimum wage expected to become due in 2027.

“The Nigerian workers’ demand for the immediate constitution of the committee is informed by the need to avoid any administrative or procedural delay that could affect the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage once it is eventually negotiated and passed into law by the National Assembly,” the statement added.

Warning strike

“Consequently, the council states that failure by the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to address these issues on or before 30th September 2026 will leave Nigerian workers with no option but to commence a three-day warning strike, with effect from Friday, 2nd October 2026, to press home their demands.

“It is imperative to state clearly that the Independence Day address of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should adequately address these critical issues.

“Failure to address the concerns raised, according to the Council, will attract the displeasure of Nigerian workers and their dependants, as well as other vulnerable Nigerians who continue to bear the brunt of the prevailing economic hardship,” the statement concluded.
[9/30, 8:59 PM] Wata Tachia, PhD: Ministry of Youth, Others Ranked Lowest Among MDAs

By Nick Ibe, Abuja

The Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public integrity (CeFTPI) has rated the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Metallurgical Training Institute, Ontisha; Federal Polytechnic, Katungo, Gombe; Abuja Broadcasting Corporation; Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Hadeijia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority as the lowest among the MDAs in transparency and accountability ranking.

Unveiled on Monday, 28th September, 2026, the report also showed others on the list including Federal Medical Center, Katsina, Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka Kaduna state, FCE Kontagora Niger, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Training Center, Zaria, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs and the National Cereals Research Institute Badeggi completed the list of bottom ten.

In the same vein, top on the list of MDAs with full transparency and accountability disclosures include: the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Others are the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Human Rights Commission, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) completed the list of the top ten agencies

While commenting, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dasuki Arabi said the report is targeted at improving public service transparency and boosting confidence in public space.
[9/30, 9:00 PM] Wata Tachia, PhD: Amnesty: Release Five Opposition Politicians in Court over Anti-Tinubu T-shirts

By Michael Lim

Amnesty International has called for the release of five members of the opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC, in court in northeast Nigeria after being arrested for wearing “Tinubu Must Go” T-shirts.

Police arrested the men, aged between 21 and 44, in Borno state capital Maiduguri on September 25, accusing them of “criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery”.

Amnesty International Nigeria said they were supporters of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Police said the men printed the T-shirts with the “intent to cause breach of public peace”.

They appeared in court on Tuesday for the first time and were remanded in custody, with their trial continuing on October 6.

Elections in Africa’s most populous country are often marred by violence and allegations of malpractice.

Politicians have been accused of recruiting thugs to intimidate opponents and disrupt rallies or polling stations, but prosecutions for wearing anti-government T-shirts are rare.

“The authorities must immediately release all of those detained and drop any purported plan to put them through a sham trial based on bogus charges,” Amnesty said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The right to show and express political opinion is not exclusive to only one political party.”
[9/30, 9:01 PM] Wata Tachia, PhD: Stop Giving Judges “Greek gifts”: Retiring Supreme Court Justice Tells Politicians

By Isa Abdul, Abuja

Politicians have been cautioned against attempting to sway judicial officers with “Greek gifts” by a retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Ibrahim Saulawa.

Justice Salawu who has retired from the bench on reaching the mandatory age of 70, insisted that action must be taken against the practice of politicians gifting cows and rams to judges, adding that he had previously raised the matter with the Chief Justice of Nigeria. In his words:

“Why should a politician send a ram, cow or other items to a Supreme Court Justice? It is unheard of in other countries.

“I am calling on the CJN to do something about this. I once raised the issue. It is demeaning and equally frustrating.”

Saulawa, who bowed out of the bench after a 44-year journey in the legal profession spoke at a valedictory court session the apex court held in his honour.

While urging judges across the federation to embrace a culture of integrity, honesty and morality, the retiring Justice recalled a case in which an influential person he later convicted had tried, before judgment was delivered, to influence him through proxies after he declined a gift of a car. He went down memory lane about the temptations judges go through saying:

“Prior to the case, the Alhaji had donated to me a brand new Peugeot motor vehicle, which I flatly rejected.

“He went to the extent of seeking the intervention of some prominent personalities, including the Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Usman, the District Head, Alhaji Balan Goggo, et al., with a view to influencing me to accept the ‘Greek gift,’ but to no avail.”

Only six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) and 13 other lawyers attended the jurist’s valedictory session on Tuesday, in contrast to similar ceremonies in the past that attracted serving and former governors and other eminent personalities.

A representative of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BoSAN), Mr. Damien Dodo, SAN, who declared that he was embarrassed by the poor attendance of lawyers, blamed it on miscommunication, saying it was not a reflection of the personality of Justice Saulawa, who, he said, served the country “with granite integrity.”
The outgoing jurist disclosed that, while in service, he had, in a bid to safeguard his principles, turned down several invitations to attend social gatherings.

“But some of my learned friends are always there, even if they didn’t need to be there,” he noted.

Recalling the crisis that led to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Justice Saulawa said that, as the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal at the time, he took steps to stem the tide of conflicting court orders which, he said, were orchestrated by the military.

He noted that while the FCT High Court issued two interim orders that restrained the Professor Humphrey Nwosu-led National Electoral Commission (NEC) from conducting the presidential poll and from announcing the results, some state high courts issued conflicting orders directing that the results be announced.

Insisting that the legal confusion was masterminded by the military, Justice Saulawa said he acted on the directive of the then President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice M. Akanbi, by swiftly moving to Kaduna to take control of the appellate court’s registry.

“Appeals were filed at the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, by the NEC. As the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, and the only spokesperson thereof, I flew from Lagos to Kaduna and took effective control of the Registry and supervised the registering of the appeals and the issuing of the appropriate court processes to the respective parties to the appeals.

“I equally issued a press release regarding the circumstances surrounding the two appeals and motions relating to.

“Later in the evening, I flew back to Lagos and briefed the PCA, Hon. Justice MMA Akanbi, a man of unquestionable integrity and unwavering courage. Upon my advice, the Hon. PCA called for an emergency meeting of the Hon. Presiding Justices over the crisis,” he added.

He said it was after every effort the military made to infiltrate the judiciary “was frustrated by myself and Justice Akanbi” that the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, annulled the outcome of the presidential contest on the excuse that he was saving “the judiciary from self-destruction.”

While faulting the military for engaging in “forum shopping,” which he said led to all the conflicting court orders, Justice Saulawa insisted the judiciary at that time deserved “a gold medal.”

“We actually did all we could do to frustrate the military,” he added.

Meanwhile, the CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in her address at the valedictory court session, extolled Justice Saulawa’s virtues, describing him as “a man whose life has been defined by service.”

The CJN recalled the time the retiring Justice was serving as the Presiding Justice of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal, saying: “There was, during that period, a particular moment which has remained with me, because of what it revealed about the values we both held dear.

“A situation arose which called for a clear and principled response to an attempt, however discreetly made, to place a matter of personal benefit in the path of judicial duty.

“Without hesitation, we each took the position that the integrity of the judicial office admits of no compromise and that even the appearance of impropriety must be guarded against.

“What followed was a quiet but unmistakable affirmation of a principle that needed no elaborate expression: that the honour of the judicial office is preserved not merely in our judgments from the Bench, but also in the choices we make when no judgment is being written.

“I believe that moment deepened my appreciation of my Lord’s character and, in its own quiet way, helped to define the mutual respect and understanding that have characterised our relationship since,” the CJN added.