- Sanwo-Olu reveals Lagos needs 40,000 doctors and nurses to fix the health worker shortage
- Nigerian author loses $2m book deal due to use of AI allegations
- ADC questions EFCC independence after Tinubu orders Osun account freeze reversed
- A$AP Rocky says Rihanna’s billion-dollar wealth does not threaten his pride
- Michael Jackson biopic sequel could begin filming this year
Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the top five Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.
Sanwo-Olu reveals Lagos needs 40,000 doctors and nurses to fix the health worker shortage
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has revealed that the state needs about 40,000 additional doctors and 40,000 nurses to adequately serve its growing population. He also said the health sector requires at least ₦100 billion beyond current budgetary provisions to meet its needs.
Speaking at the second Eko Health Convention in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu identified healthcare funding and staff shortages as the sector’s biggest challenges. He said Lagos currently has about 7,000 doctors and warned that declining donor funding could further affect disease control efforts.
The governor said the state was tackling the shortage through increased recruitment, better welfare packages and plans to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences. He also disclosed that more than 1.5 million residents had enrolled in the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme as the government works to expand access to healthcare.
Nigerian author loses $2m book deal due to use of AI allegations
Nigerian author Jerry Falade has reportedly lost a publishing deal worth more than $2 million for his debut crime novel, Call Me, I’ll Hide the Body, after questions were raised about possible AI use during its writing or editing. The book had attracted strong interest from publishers in the US and UK before being withdrawn from sale.
Falade’s literary agents said they could no longer verify how the manuscript developed from its original concept to its final version. They explained that although Falade had previously assured them that he did not use AI tools, they were no longer able to confirm the claim. His US agent, Marc Gerald, said the agency ended its relationship with Falade after a July 29 meeting in which “aspects of his story changed”.
Falade has denied using AI to write or edit the novel and accused the publishing industry of racial bias in its handling of the controversy. Despite the dispute, Gerald praised the manuscript as “genius”, regardless of how it was produced.
ADC questions EFCC independence after Tinubu orders Osun account freeze reversed
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has questioned the independence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after President Bola Tinubu directed the agency to return to court and lift its order freezing the Osun State Government’s bank accounts.
The opposition party urged Tinubu to disclose the court order he said the EFCC obtained, arguing that the commission had previously defended the account freeze based on its statutory powers and had not publicly stated that it secured judicial approval. The President said the timing of the action, coming days before the August 15 governorship election, was inappropriate and could create the impression of federal interference.
The EFCC had said it froze the accounts as part of an investigation into the alleged misuse of ecological and intervention funds by the Osun government. The agency also maintained that the move was not politically motivated, pointing to a similar restriction placed on Edo State’s accounts before its 2024 governorship election.
A$AP Rocky says Rihanna’s billion-dollar wealth does not threaten his pride
A$AP Rocky has dismissed comparisons between his finances and those of his partner, Rihanna, insisting that her billion-dollar fortune does not make him feel insecure. The rapper addressed the issue during a recent interview on The Jason Lee Show while discussing public scrutiny of their relationship.
Rocky said he is proud of his own achievements and does not view Rihanna’s success as a reflection of his worth. He noted that while the singer has billions, he has made millions through his own career and remains proud of what he has built independently.
The rapper also rejected the idea that another man’s opinion could make him feel insecure about Rihanna’s success. Rocky praised his partner for achieving her wealth and influence through her own efforts, stressing that her accomplishments belong to her and do not diminish his own.
Michael Jackson biopic sequel could begin filming this year
A sequel to Lionsgate’s record-breaking Michael biopic could begin filming later this year, with the studio targeting a 2028 release. Lionsgate Motion Picture Chief Adam Fogelson confirmed the plans during the company’s latest earnings call, saying production could also begin in early 2027.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Michael follows the late singer’s rise from the Jackson 5 to global superstardom and ends with his 1987 Bad Tour. The film, starring Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, did not cover the sexual assault allegations that emerged later in the singer’s life due to legal restrictions surrounding the project.
Fogelson said some scenes that were cut from the first film, including major musical sequences, could be used in the sequel. The announcement follows the film’s record-breaking success, with Michael becoming the highest-grossing music biopic ever after surpassing $1 billion globally.
