Top 5 Stories Of The Day | US Blacklists Nigeria Over Child Soldiers Risking Military Aid Cuts

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the top five Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss. 

The United States has placed Nigeria on its Child Soldiers Prevention Act blacklist, potentially restricting military training, weapons sales and defence funding from October 1, 2026, unless President Donald Trump grants a waiver.

The designation was contained in the State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, published on October 11. It cited the continued recruitment and use of children by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Nigeria joins 13 other countries on the list, including Russia, Iran, Somalia, and South Sudan. The report also said Nigeria had failed to meet minimum anti-trafficking standards for 15 consecutive years.

France is preparing for another wave of nationwide student demonstrations over poor classroom conditions, with unions and the far-left France Unbowed party backing marches planned for Tuesday across the country 

The protests follow Thursday’s demonstrations, which drew more than 70,000 people and led to about 500 arrests. Although only 130 of France’s 3,700 secondary schools were closed on Monday, the education ministry warned that violence was worsening.

Eight teaching staff were injured in protest-related incidents, mainly around Paris, Bordeaux, and Lyon. Separately, a 14-year-old was arrested near Marseille after a shooting wounded a school headmaster and teacher.

American rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has reportedly been taken to hospital after sustaining a head injury while serving his prison sentence at a facility in New Jersey.

The 56-year-old was hospitalised on Saturday, October 10, and treated for a non-life-threatening injury, according to the Los Angeles Times. Reports citing TMZ said Combs was conscious and speaking before receiving medical attention. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.

A representative for Combs said his health and wellbeing were the immediate priority. The Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix declined to comment on the reported hospitalisation.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the federal government to publish the contract documents and payment records for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to reroute sections of the highway through the existing East-West road.

In a statement on Monday, Atiku questioned the financial implications of the revised route, including payments already made and the project’s updated cost. He also alleged that the government might seek additional loans to fund the highway.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate insisted that Nigerians deserve transparency, asking authorities to disclose the proposed borrowing, the contracts involved and all previous payments.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Starrgirl 💜⭐️ (@ayrastarr)

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has announced a 20-date world tour in support of her third studio album, Starrgirl, with shows scheduled across Europe, the UK, and North America from January to April 2027.

The ‘Starrgirl World Tour’ will begin in Cologne, Germany, on January 20, visiting cities including Paris, Amsterdam, and Milan before ending its European leg in London on February 2. The North American leg starts in Houston on March 18 and concludes in San Francisco on April 14.

The announcement follows her historic halftime performance at the NFL International Game in London on Sunday, featuring hits such as ‘Rush,’ ‘Heaven Baby,’ ‘Dangerous,’ and ‘Hot Body’.

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