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UK to Release Thousands of Prisoners Early to Avert Crisis

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Starting in September, thousands of prisoners in the UK will be released early to prevent the prison system from collapsing, announced Shabana Mahmood, the new justice minister. The prison population in England and Wales has reached critical levels, with just 700 spaces left for men and facilities operating at 99% capacity since 2023. Mahmood, appointed following Labour’s general election victory, warned of severe consequences if action isn’t taken, including a potential breakdown of law and order. Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, also emphasized the urgent need for action as prisons are at “breaking point.”

The early release plan will not include violent offenders, sex offenders, domestic abusers, or those serving life sentences. Only prisoners eligible for automatic release after serving half their sentence will be freed earlier, now after serving 40% of their sentence. The total number of prisoners recently exceeded 87,505, with over 83,800 men, leaving just 1,451 available spaces. To address this, the government is also building six new prisons to create an additional 20,000 places.

The Prison Governors’ Association welcomed the measures but called for a comprehensive review to prevent similar situations in the future. PGA chairman Mark Fairhurst stated that the early releases would free up around 4,500-5,000 spaces, providing 12 to 18 months of relief before further measures are needed.


 

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‘He Was a Giant’ — President Tinubu Mourns Veteran Actor Olu Jacobs

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.

In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.

“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”


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Deji Adeyanju Demands Action From Tinubu Over Counterfeit Products

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Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.

Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”

Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.

It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.

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‘Two Hours on the Road’ — Lagosians Groan Over Kara Bridge Traffic

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Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.

Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.

Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.


 

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