Today’s Headlines: President Tinubu, Governors are Like Sons to Me –Pete Edochie; ABU Increases Fees

Veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie has described himself as a father figure to President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s 36 state governors, citing his age and standing in society. Speaking in an interview with TV3, the actor said he would turn 80 within six months and that his advice carries weight with political leaders because he is older than them.

Edochie recalled using a media interview at his home in Enugu to appeal for government assistance for an ailing colleague. He said the government responded the following week by providing ₦500,000 to support the colleague. The actor emphasised that his influence extends beyond the entertainment industry, allowing him to speak to political leaders in the manner of a father advising his children.

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has increased registration fees for the 2026/2027 academic session from between ₦62,000 and ₦84,000 to between ₦143,000 and ₦298,000, depending on students’ courses and levels. Medicine and Surgery students will pay ₦242,000, while Law students will pay ₦182,000 and Nursing Science students ₦212,000. The increase, approved by the university’s Governing Council on September 29, has sparked protests among students and concerns that rising education costs could make university education less accessible to low-income families.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), through its president, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, opposed arbitrary fee increases, warning that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) should not replace adequate government funding because beneficiaries must repay the loans after graduation. Meanwhile, Bayero University Kano, Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja and the University of Benin said they had not increased their fees or had no plans to do so. The University of Jos also reported receiving no formal or informal communication about a proposed fee hike from the National Universities Commission.

The South African government has withdrawn a directive on processing asylum applications following xenophobic clashes in Johannesburg’s Soweto district and the coastal city of Durban. The Home Affairs Department said the directive overwhelmed refugee reception offices within days, putting officials at risk and creating serious public safety concerns. The order had followed a Constitutional Court ruling that certain procedural barriers facing asylum seekers were unconstitutional.

The violence erupted on Thursday during protests organised by anti-illegal immigration groups, with at least 14 vehicles burnt in Durban, a municipal building set alight and three foreign nationals arrested over an alleged assault. In Soweto, at least 10 vehicles were torched and foreign-owned shops looted. South Africa has experienced repeated xenophobic violence, while rising unemployment and concerns over immigration have intensified tensions ahead of local government elections scheduled for November 4.

Lagos State recorded 1,324 emergency incidents between January and September 2026, including 1,135 fire outbreaks, prompting the government to urge residents to strengthen fire-prevention measures as the dry season approaches. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also recorded 79 rescue calls, 100 salvage operations, nine building collapses and one gas-related explosion. During the period, 210 people were rescued alive, while 65 suspected fatalities were recovered. The service additionally reported 341 false emergency calls, warning that they could delay responses to genuine incidents and endanger lives.

The service estimated that properties worth ₦79.44 billion were saved, while losses amounted to ₦13.24 billion, bringing the total value of affected properties to ₦92.68 billion. January recorded the highest number of incidents at 203, followed by March with 201, while September had the lowest at 94. Controller-General Margaret Adeseye urged residents to avoid indiscriminate burning, store flammable materials safely, unplug electrical appliances when not in use, avoid overloading sockets and maintain functional fire extinguishers. She also called for prompt reporting of emergencies and cooperation with firefighters, stressing that prevention remains essential to reducing fire-related deaths and property damage.

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