The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has described himself as the foremost traditional ruler in Yorubaland.

What he said

In a television interview reported on Friday, 6 November 2026, the monarch said that, going by history and the contribution of the old Oyo Empire to Yoruba civilisation, the Alaafin is number one. He denied that he was in a contest for supremacy with any other Yoruba ruler, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi. He said he regularly prays for the progress of the Yoruba people and believes that when Oyo succeeds, all Yoruba people are honoured.

The earlier dispute

His comments follow a dispute between the two thrones in August 2025, after the Ooni conferred the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland on Ibadan businessman Dotun Sanusi. The Alaafin gave the Ooni 48 hours to withdraw the title, arguing that the Ooni's authority was limited to a few local government areas in Osun State and that the title was unlawful. The Ooni's spokesman later said the monarch had told him not to respond to what he called an empty threat.

Background

The question of which monarch ranks highest in Yorubaland has been debated for many years. The Alaafin's supporters point to the power of the old Oyo Empire, while the Ooni's supporters point to Ile-Ife's place as the traditional cradle of the Yoruba people. Oba Owoade was crowned Alaafin in 2025, succeeding the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.

Nigeria's external debt reached about $145.0 billion in 2025, according to the World Bank's International Debt Report 2026.

The figures

According to reports on Friday, 6 November 2026, the total was 6.6 per cent higher than the year before and about 74 per cent higher than the $83.2 billion recorded in 2015. Public and publicly guaranteed debt made up about $62.4 billion of the total, private debt without government guarantees about $54.5 billion, and short-term debt about $28.1 billion. Multilateral lenders were the biggest creditors of the government, at about $31.4 billion, including about $18.5 billion owed to the World Bank's International Development Association. China remained Nigeria's largest single-country lender, owed about $5.7 billion.

Burden of repayments

Some measures of the debt burden improved: external debt fell to 212 per cent of export earnings and to 51 per cent of gross national income. But debt service took a bigger share of income, rising to 19 per cent of exports and 5 per cent of gross national income.

The global picture

The World Bank said debt service payments by low- and middle-income countries reached $1.4 trillion in 2025, the fifth yearly rise in a row, driven largely by payments to private lenders such as bondholders. It noted that loans from official lenders carried an average interest rate of 1.9 per cent, compared with 9.6 per cent from private creditors.

Why it matters

The figures come as President Bola Tinubu seeks Senate approval for new external borrowing of about $7.7 billion, a request opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, have urged lawmakers to reject. The government says borrowing is needed to fund infrastructure and that its reforms are improving the economy.

Uzbekistan has reportedly introduced temporary restrictions on visas and entry for Nigerian citizens.

What was announced

The restrictions came to light through a notice published on the website of the Green Energy Technologies Central Asia exhibition, reported on Friday, 6 November 2026. The notice said temporary restrictions had been introduced on issuing visas and on entry into Uzbekistan for citizens of the affected countries. It advised Nigerians who need to travel in exceptional circumstances to contact the consular section of the Uzbek embassy. Similar measures were reportedly listed for citizens of Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Iraq and Bangladesh.

No official explanation

Uzbekistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued a public statement explaining the reasons for the restrictions or how long they will last, and its main visa portal does not mention them. The Nigerian government had not publicly reacted at the time of writing.

Background

Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, has been trying to attract more tourists and investors in recent years. Nigerians already face strict visa requirements for many countries, and travel restrictions affecting Nigerian passport holders often spark debate at home about the country's image abroad.

What it means for travellers

Nigerians planning trips to Uzbekistan, including for business events, are advised to check with the Uzbek embassy before making travel arrangements.

Gunmen have reportedly abducted 10 passengers travelling on the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan road in Ogun State and are demanding ₦25 million for their release.

What happened

The passengers were travelling in a commercial bus when armed men stopped the vehicle shortly after it passed through Ijebu-Ode on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, and took them into a nearby forest, according to reports on Friday. Two recently discharged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were said to be among the passengers; one escaped, while the other remains in captivity.

Ransom demand

A relative of one of the victims said the incident was reported at a police station in Ijebu-Ode. She said the kidnappers later contacted the family using her brother's phone, first demanding ₦20 million and then raising it to ₦25 million. The Ogun State Police Command had not publicly commented at the time of writing.

Background

Kidnapping on highways in the South-West has become a growing concern, with travellers on roads linking Ogun, Oyo and neighbouring states reporting attacks in recent years. Earlier this week, a court heard that suspects arrested over the abduction of corps members had admitted making confessional statements. Paying ransom is illegal in Nigeria, though families often say they feel they have no other choice.

What happens next

Families of the victims are calling on the police and other security agencies to rescue the passengers.