Armed Forces Pay Rise: Nigeria’s new military pay scale takes effect Sept 1, 2026, lifting a general’s monthly pay to N3.25m and a private’s to N187,200, with increases across ranks and an expected jump in the annual salary bill. Health Insurance Boost (Edo): Edo Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa flagged off NHIA coverage for about 4,000 residents in Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East, with cards presented after initial enrolment of 2,000+ beneficiaries. Fertility Care (Edo): Edo Specialist Hospital in Benin City is set to expand access to IVF services, offering new hope for couples facing infertility. Drug Abuse Fight (Edo): NDLEA in Edo says cannabis cultivation in forest areas and growing involvement of schoolchildren are key hurdles, urging stronger partnerships with pharmacists. Security & Public Safety (Edo): Police and army operations in Edo reported a kidnapping rescue and ransom recovery, while another 85-year-old community leader was shot dead in Benin City—both underscoring health risks from violence and insecurity. Water & Food Safety Warning (Ghana): Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams urged prayers over Ghana’s polluted water bodies and degraded lands, warning illegal mining could threaten food security and public health. Sports + Education (Nigeria): The National Sports and Education Excellence Programme (N-SEEP) was launched to help athletes train while earning academic qualifications. Road Strain (Niger Delta): Reports describe worsening delays and dangers on the Benin–Sapele–Warri corridor, with craters and traffic chaos affecting livelihoods and safety. Forensics in Hotel Deaths (Ghana): Ghana’s police launched investigations after two women’s bodies were found in a Tamale hotel room, with forensic checks underway.