Morning recap: Governors spend N512bn on travels and offices, 19 oil licences expire this year, other top stories

In the first half of 2026, 33 state governments in Nigeria spent a combined N512.10 billion on government houses, governors' offices and travel. This expenditure is nearly 5,000 times higher than the combined six-month salary of all 36 governors, which is estimated at just N108.65 million. Ogun State Police Command dismantled a baby factory syndicate in Abaren Village, Mowe, rescuing two pregnant women and four children.

However, one newborn remains missing. Country music icon Dolly Parton passed away at the age of 80, prompting President Donald Trump to lower American flags across the country for one week. This death has been mourned by millions. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission reported that 19 oil licences in the upstream sector will expire within 2026.

Internally Generated Revenue of Nigerian states surged by 34% to N2.43 trillion in the first half of 2026, despite economic hardship on households. NDLEA Chairman Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd.) emphasized that drug lords' assets must be seized, not just arrested, to defeat trafficking.