This Week in Nigeria — Current Affairs Digest

Latest Developments (2026)

• 15 August 2026 Osun governorship election holds 15 August — Osun State elects a governor on 15 August 2026. Incumbent Ademola Adeleke, now of the Accord Party after leaving the PDP in December 2025, faces Bola Oyebamiji (APC) and Najeem Salaam (ADC) among 14 candidates on the ballot. (Punch)
• 5 August 2026 308 kidnap victims freed in largest single-day rescue — A joint operation by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Armed Forces, DSS and police freed 308 abductees — 163 taken from Woro community in Kaiama LGA, Kwara State, and 145 from Niger State — from the Kainji Lake National Park forest. President Tinubu described it as Nigeria's largest single-day rescue operation. (Premium Times)
• 1 August 2026 Prof. Segun Aina assumes office as JAMB Registrar — Professor Segun Aina, a Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, took over as JAMB Registrar from Professor Ishaq Oloyede, whose 10-year tenure ended on 31 July 2026. The youngest Registrar in the board's history, he pledged zero tolerance for examination malpractice. (Channels TV)
• August 2026 Minimum wage talks continue as demands rise — The review window for the N70,000 national minimum wage lapsed in July 2026 and renegotiation with the Federal Government continues. Labour's demands have ranged from the NLC's earlier N154,000 position to calls of N500,000 made by NLC and TUC officials in August; the Nigeria Governors' Forum has proposed N100,000. (Leadership)
• 23 July 2026 Army expanded to 12 divisions to tackle insecurity — President Tinubu approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army from eight to 12 divisions and the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel. Four new divisions will be based in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City, with the first phase due for completion by 2027. (Punch)
• 20 July 2026 Tinubu names 26 board appointees, Fayose to head REA — President Tinubu announced 26 new appointments across 10 federal agencies. Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose was named chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) board, with all the appointments taking immediate effect. (The Guardian)
• 7 July 2026 Panel inaugurated to draft state police law — President Tinubu inaugurated the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, chaired by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila. It follows the National Assembly's passage of the Constitution Alteration (State Police) Bill 2026. (Channels TV)
• 30 June 2026 FEC approves sweeping NYSC reforms — First overhaul in 53 years: orientation extended to six weeks, a civilian Director-General (military retains security), a redesigned uniform, 11 specialised career streams, and the Passing-Out Parade replaced with a graduation ceremony. (Premium Times)