Latest News from Thursday, August 20th, 2026

The group stage of the I Beg To Differ Secondary School Debate – Tournament of Champions has ended after eight days of intense competition among some of Nigeria’s brightest young debaters.

Square College Lagos defeated Silverbird International School, Port Harcourt, in a closely contested debate on whether elections remain the best measure of democracy.

Government Science Secondary School, Tungamaji, Abuja, has emerged as the Group C champion of the I Beg To Differ Season Nine Tournament of Champions after defeating Pleroma International High School, Port Harcourt, in a closely contested debate on sugar taxation and public health.

Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with both countries focusing on trade, investment, technology, aviation and people-to-people ties.

Another batch of 83 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission said.

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 10 kidnap victims in separate operations across Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, the military said Thursday.

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has cautioned Nigerians against ethnic and religious profiling in the fight against insecurity, saying criminality has no ethnicity and terrorism has no religion.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has presented Certificates of Return to Osun State Governor-elect Ademola Adeleke and his deputy, Kola Adewusi, following their victory in the August 15 governorship election.

Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele says the federal government's economic reforms have generated N20.4 trillion in incremental resources and helped prevent a deeper fiscal and economic crisis.

The Lagos State Examinations Board has announced that the 2026 Common Entrance Screening Test will begin Friday, Aug. 21, and run through Monday, Aug. 24.

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, effective Aug. 27, 2026.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, potentially marking their first face-to-face encounter since Trump began his second term.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a committee to draft a five-year strategic defence cooperation plan for Nigeria.

More than 5,000 cases of Ebola have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, making the country's latest outbreak the deadliest in its history, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.