Entertainment News August 27, 2026 YBITS Comedy Show to Hit Abuja on August 30 as Entertainment Lovers Rush for Tickets

Abuja is set to experience an evening of laughter, entertainment and family fun as YBITS 100% Comedy takes centre stage at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja on Sunday, August 30, 2026.

The much-anticipated comedy show, with the theme " One of A Kind" which begins at 5:00 p.m., is expected to attract comedy enthusiasts, families, entertainment lovers and veteran entertainers from across the Federal Capital Territory.

Organisers describe the event as one of the biggest comedy gatherings scheduled to take place in Abuja this year, promising an evening filled with quality entertainment, laughter and unforgettable moments.

According to the organisers, the show is designed as a 100 per cent comedy experience suitable for people of all ages, including children and families. They said ticket prices have been deliberately kept affordable to enable more residents to attend and enjoy the experience.

Adding glamour to the evening will be a veteran red-carpet host, who is expected to bring her experience and distinctive style to the event.

YBITS has previously staged comedy shows in Abuja and other major cities across Nigeria, but this year's edition marks the comedian's first outing at the elite *Congress Hall* Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja, further underscoring the growing profile of the show.

The organisers expressed confidence that the event would create an atmosphere of unity, happiness and wholesome entertainment, describing it as an opportunity for Abuja residents to come together, relax and share memorable moments.

YBITS also expressed appreciation to members of his church for their support, encouragement and solidarity towards the success of the show.

Beyond his live comedy performances, YBITS has contributed to the development of the entertainment industry in Abuja and neighbouring states through his podcast, using the platform to promote comedians, entertainers and other creative talents.

Expectations are high that YBITS 100% Comedy will deliver a memorable night of laughter and entertainment in Nigeria's capital.

News August 27, 2026 Police invites VDM to substantiate claims that its officers connive with kidnappers

The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence for his claim that police officers at highway checkpoints leak travellers’ identities and movements to kidnappers.

VDM made the allegation at the recent Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Port Harcourt, accusing checkpoint officers of helping criminals target victims for ransom.

Reacting to his allegation, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, in a statement released today, August 27. dismissed the claim as unsubstantiated and damaging, insisting that police personnel deployed on highways are there to prevent crime and protect motorists.

‘’For the avoidance of doubt, police personnel deployed to checkpoints and other locations nationwide are there to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect citizens, not to facilitate kidnapping. Indeed, these same police officers routinely confront the very criminal elements alleged to be receiving such information. Police personnel have been ambushed, attacked and killed, while police stations, formations and operational assets have equally been targeted by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals.

Ani argued that police officers deserve better than blanket accusations

He invited VDM to come forward to substantiate his claims.

‘’The Nigeria Police Force hereby invites Mr. Martins Vincent Otse to produce, without delay, the evidence upon which he based these serious allegations, including any evidence that police personnel at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and subsequently transmit information about them to kidnappers for the purpose of facilitating their abduction. Any such information will be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly. We encourage any member of the public with credible evidence of officer misconduct to come forward through these channels rather than through public allegation alone, so that appropriate action can be taken. ’’

News August 27, 2026 FG says N600bn in cash transfers disbursed to 10m households in three years

The federal government says it has disbursed more than N600 billion in cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians in the three years since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.

Bernard Doro, minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction, spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

Doro said the payments were part of efforts to support poor and vulnerable households and improve their living conditions.

He said the cash-transfer programme had reached slightly more than 10 million households, which could translate to about 40 million people based on an average household size of four.

“We have done over N600 billion in cash transfers to be able to support vulnerable Nigerians within three years,” Doro said.

The minister also said the government had recently launched a vocational skills programme under which more than 18,000 people were trained and provided with starter kits and stipends.

According to Doro, the beneficiaries also received training in business management and accounting, enabling them to establish businesses.

He said the government is also supporting farmers through a separate programme as part of efforts to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty.

Further defending the impact of the cash-transfer programme, the government official said the payments could make a significant difference to the poorest households despite the relatively small amount received by each beneficiary.

“N25,000 can look very small to elites, but not to the poorest of the poor,” he said.

The minister said the government is focused on translating improvements in the broader economy into better living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

“My job is to translate macroeconomic gains as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. I translate the microeconomic gains to the micro level, and you can see the traction,” he said.

Doro said the government is also monitoring the risk of food insecurity in northern Nigeria following projections that more than 70 million people across nine conflict-affected states could face acute food insecurity.

He said the figures were merely projections and did not necessarily represent the actual number of people who would experience food insecurity.

The minister noted that the government had recently implemented a presidential intervention on food and nutrition across 10 northern states, saying it would continue to monitor the situation and intervene where necessary.

Crime News August 27, 2026 Police nab 7 suspects in alleged N3.6bn crypto fraud

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrimes Centre (NPF-NCCC) says seven suspects have been arrested over alleged money laundering, business email compromise, sextortion, blackmail, romance scams and other internet-related offences.

NAN reports that Akaninyene Ezima, assistant inspector-general of police (AIG) in charge of the centre, announced the arrests on Wednesday at a news conference in Abuja.

Ezima said one of the suspects was arrested after the German Federal Police, known as the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), requested the preservation of data associated with an internet protocol (IP) address allegedly used in a sophisticated business email compromise operation.

The AIG said the investigation, codenamed “Operation Broken Mask”, was conducted in collaboration with the BKA and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) under the Budapest Convention 24/7 Network.

According to him, the suspect was arrested on July 20 at his residence in Megamound Estate, Lekki, Lagos, after investigative processes linked him to the alleged scheme.

Ezima said forensic examination of devices recovered from the suspect’s residence revealed more than 12.5 million email logs belonging to victims in over 50 countries.

He said the suspect’s bank verification number (BVN) was linked to accounts with six financial institutions and fintech platforms, while a Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43 allegedly purchased with proceeds of crime was also recovered.

The police chief said the suspect allegedly used phishing kits obtained through Telegram to compromise the Microsoft 365 credentials of employees at targeted companies.

Ezima said the suspect allegedly made more than N100 million from the operation.

“The suspect’s bank verification number was linked to accounts maintained with six financial institutions and fintech platforms, including Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, FairMoney, Carbon, OPay and PalmPay,” he said.

The AIG also disclosed that the centre arrested a technology company owner over alleged international cyber-enabled investment fraud and money laundering.

He said the suspect was arrested following a petition filed by Ugwu Francisca & Co. on behalf of Elizabeth and Prince Iruaregbon.

According to Ezima, the petition alleged that the complainants lost N56.3 million after they were induced to invest in a WhatsApp-based stock trading platform that promised high returns.

He said the investigation traced the funds to accounts operated by entities allegedly linked to the syndicate.

Ezima said the suspect’s technology company allegedly served as a channel for converting proceeds of the fraud.

He said an examination of the company’s account with Save Heaven Microfinance Bank showed terminal cash-out inflows and outflows of N3.2 billion between October 30, 2025, and May 31, 2026.

The AIG added that investigators found that about N3.6 billion in suspected proceeds of crime was converted to Tether (USDT) stablecoins through Bybit peer-to-peer transactions.

He said the suspect was arrested on August 13 in Agiliti, Lagos, and allegedly admitted to owning Kestart Technology and engaging in peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading on Bybit.

Ezima further said two suspects were arrested in Anambra over alleged conspiracy, identity theft, impersonation and computer-related fraud.

He said the investigation followed a complaint by Faruk Yabo, permanent secretary at the federal ministry of solid minerals development, who alleged that an individual was impersonating him on WhatsApp and Facebook.

According to him, the suspects were arrested on August 4 following technical intelligence and other investigative activities.

He said police recovered 24 registered and 33 unregistered MTN SIM cards, 26 registered and 18 unregistered Airtel SIM cards, as well as an MTN toolkit.

Ezima said one of the suspects admitted to buying and selling registered and unregistered SIM cards and creating a social media account in the identity of a United Kingdom (UK) citizen, which was allegedly used to defraud people in India.

News August 27, 2026 Governors express support for CNG transit programme to slash cost of transportation

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed support for the proposed National Affordable Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Transit Programme (NACTP) to reduce transportation costs and cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

The forum expressed this in a communiqué signed by the NGF Chairman, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, issued after the 3rd NGF meeting held on Wednesday night in Abuja.

Reading the communiqué, Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa described the state-led initiative as a major step toward lowering fare burdens for citizens.

”The forum received a presentation on the proposed national affordable transit programme, a state-led initiative designed to translate the lower operating cost of CNG into reduced transport fares for citizens.

”The proposal envisages state support for CNG vehicle conversions, fleets and enabling infrastructure, alongside fare commitments from participating operators, with an indicative target of reducing passenger fares.

”Governors noted the initiative’s potential to ease transportation costs and agreed on the need to further consider its financing and implementation framework,” he said.

Diri also disclosed that the forum received a presentation from the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, on opportunities for state participation in CANEX Weekend 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2027, both scheduled to be held in Lagos.

”Governors noted the platform’s potential to showcase investment-ready projects, promote local exports and tourism, and connect state Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with African and global investors and buyers.

”The forum assured the minister of its support in achieving these objectives,” he said.

Fielding questions from newsmen on the NACTP initiative, Diri said that the timeline for the implementation would be worked out between the forum and the stakeholders who made the presentation.

The governor explained that the NGF believed that reducing the cost of transportation would have multiplier effects on cost of living and several other sectors, making the positive effect of the subsidy removal felt by the common man.

”The rise in the cost of every other thing is also hinged on the increase in transport.

”Now that the forum is going in league with the private sector to see how we can bring in CNG, this will actually reduce the costs of transportation and it will have a multiplier effect on every other sector.

”The impact is expected to be on our people, the very common man that we all talk about,” he said.

Diri, however, dismissed claims that governments at the sub-nationals have not been properly accountable for funds received from the removal of fuel subsidy, saying ”that cannot be true, but we’ll leave that debate for another day”.

News Technology August 27, 2026 Meta agrees to pay $18bn to settle claims its platform harmful to children

Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion over 10 years to settle claims brought by 29 US states that its Facebook and Instagram platforms harmed children.

The settlement also requires Meta to introduce new safety measures for teenage users, including daily usage limits and overnight blocks, with the changes expected to be rolled out within months.

The agreement brings an end to a major federal trial in California, although Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has not yet formally approved the deal. She said on Wednesday that she was “inclined to grant it” and suspended the trial while she reviews the terms.

The lawsuit, filed in 2023, accused Meta of violating federal and state laws and contributing to harms affecting children through its platforms. Meta has consistently denied wrongdoing.

Under the agreement, the settlement money will be used by states for youth online safety initiatives and other priorities.

The total amount could reach $18 billion, although 30% of the payment is conditional on YouTube and TikTok implementing similar child-safety measures.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the settlement secured changes that could otherwise have taken years to achieve through litigation and appeals.

“Instead of getting tied up in years of trials and appeals, we have secured the changes we were after,” Mr Bonta said.

He added that most of the agreed changes would be implemented “within months”.

The settlement covers 48 states, the District of Columbia and three US territories, with 51 states and territories agreeing to a combined settlement worth about $17.1 billion. Texas reached a separate agreement valued at about $1 billion.

New Mexico has opted to continue with litigation, while Florida has also rejected the settlement.

The agreement has drawn criticism from Meta whistleblower Kelly Stonelake, who said the company should not have needed litigation to implement measures aimed at protecting children.

“Meta spent years insisting that the people raising these concerns were wrong, that its products were safe, and that it could be trusted to police itself,” she said.

Experts have also cautioned that implementing the measures could prove difficult, particularly in accurately identifying teenage users.

Professor Alan Woodward of the University of Surrey said the proposed limits and overnight blocks were relatively easy to implement, but warned that the system depended on age verification methods that remain imperfect.

Dr Holly Bear of the University of Oxford described the measures as an important first step but said they would not be sufficient on their own because young people use multiple social media platforms.

The settlement is expected to increase pressure on other major platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, to introduce similar safeguards for younger users.

News Politics August 27, 2026 Atiku’s confusion difficult to ignore on fuel subsidy — Presidency

The Presidency has accused the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of simply playing politics with the temporary discomfort Nigerians face over the removal of the subsidy regime by the present administration.

The Presidency’s declaration is on the heels of contradictory remarks by media aides of the ADC Presidential candidate.

Recalls that Paul Ibe, one of the spokespersons of Atiku Abubakar, had said petrol subsidy would be restored and later phased out if the ADC presidential candidate won the forthcoming general election, a position that was disclaimed by Phrank Shaibu, another media aide of the former vice-president, who said, “Atiku has never proposed restoring the import-subsidy regime and subsequently removing it on some predetermined date. That is not his policy and should not be attributed to him.”

Responding to the glaring contradictions, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, in a statement noted that the varied submissions on the subsidy regime by Atiku’s aides “are not merely a matter of semantics. It is a serious policy contradiction.”

The Presidency maintained that the ADC presidential candidate lacks understanding of the dynamics of the petroleum market.

The statement pointedly asked Atiku Abubakar to explain precisely what he means by ‘targeted subsidy’.

The statement read: “The latest comments by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on petrol subsidy raise a fundamental question: is he seriously proposing an economic policy, or is he simply playing politics with the temporary discomfort Nigerians face?

“Within a week, Nigerians have heard three different explanations of what an Atiku administration would do about petrol subsidy. The confusion has now become impossible to ignore.

“First, Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, said Atiku would restore petrol subsidy if elected president and later phase it out. Ibe described it as a temporary intervention intended to give Nigerians and businesses room to recover.

“Then came a clarification from another senior aide, Phrank Shaibu, who said Ibe’s statement was an

“unauthorised and misleading characterisation” of Atiku’s position. According to Shaibu, Atiku would not set a predetermined date for ending the subsidy. Instead, it would remain until domestic refining expands, supply stabilises, competition deepens, and the market can deliver affordable prices without government support.

“But just hours later, Atiku himself intervened and effectively overruled that clarification.

“He insisted that his position “has not changed” and that he would restore what he called a “targeted subsidy” if elected president. He also said, “I will restore targeted subsidy and put purchasing power back in the hands of Nigerians.” This is not merely a matter of semantics. It is a serious policy contradiction.

“If Atiku’s position has not changed, why did one of his principal aides say the subsidy would be temporary and phased out? Why did another senior aide have to publicly disown that explanation and introduce a completely different framework based on market conditions? And why did Atiku then step in to reaffirm the original position?

“Nigerians deserve clarity, not policy by trial and error. More fundamentally, Atiku’s argument appears to misunderstand the dynamics of the petroleum market.

“Petrol does not become cheap simply because government orders a subsidy or because competition is expected to emerge. Several factors, including international crude oil prices, exchange rates, refining costs, transportation, distribution, and other market costs, influence pump prices.”

The Presidency further cautioned the former vice-president to “stop playing politics with a policy that has significantly restored fiscal health to the three tiers of government and stabilised the macroeconomic environment.

“The economy is too serious for policy somersaults, incoherence, destructive populism and election gimmicks.

Atiku says his subsidy will follow the barrel of crude. Is he aware that refined petrol only constitutes 45 per cent of the by-products of a barrel of crude? A barrel yields other products, such as aviation fuel, kerosene, and diesel, which were deregulated many years ago.

“Diesel, which the Obasanjo-Atiku administration deregulated in 2004, accounts for roughly 25% of the barrel. Jet Fuel and Kerosene make up about 9% of the barrel. Kerosene and jet fuel were deregulated in 2009, and subsidies were removed in 2016.

“About 10% to 15% of the barrel creates base ingredients for synthetic rubber, nylon, polyester, and plastics used in everyday goods like toothbrushes, cups, and packaging.

“Asphalt makes up about 2% to 4% of the barrel. Hydrocarbon Gas Liquids (HGL), like propane and butane, make up about 4%. Lubricants and Waxes constitute about 1% to 2%. Petroleum coke and sulfur form the solid residue left from refining.

“Will Atiku subsidise all these by-products of the barrel as well, since kerosene is used by the underprivileged to cook, and many homes and factories use diesel to power generators and delivery trucks? And will he allow the refineries he will supply discounted crude oil to profit from 55 per cent of the by-products, while focusing subsidy only on petrol, his obsession?

“The former Vice President is definitely suffering from a lack of basic understanding of his newfound policy prescription.“