French President Emmanuel Macron hosted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday night, as Nigeria and France seek to deepen their longstanding bilateral relationship.

The meeting was disclosed on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

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According to Onanuga, the private dinner reflected the “enduring relationship” between Nigeria and France and the shared commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The engagement took place as President Tinubu continues his stay in France as part of his three-week working vacation in Europe.

Recall that Tinubu arrived in Paris on September 13, 2026, for the second leg of his European vacation after spending the earlier part of his leave in London.

The meeting comes amid continued high-level diplomatic engagements involving France and other international partners in Paris.

UN Women has renewed its call for equal pay for work of equal value, saying women around the world still earn, on average, 20 per cent less than men.

UN Women made the call on Friday, September 18, 2026, to mark International Equal Pay Day, warning that the persistent gender pay gap continues to affect women’s lifetime earnings, economic security and retirement benefits.

According to the organisation, the disparity is even wider for some groups of women, including migrant women, women with disabilities, and women from racial and ethnic minorities.

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UN Women said equal pay for work of equal value remains critical to reducing poverty, advancing women’s economic rights and building more inclusive economies.

“This gap is neither inevitable nor acceptable,” the organisation said, stressing that equal pay for work of equal value cannot wait.

The organisation also pointed to renewed momentum in 2026, noting that governments, employers, workers and private-sector leaders strengthened their commitments to addressing structural barriers affecting women in the workplace at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

It also highlighted the adoption in June of International Labour Organization Convention No. 193, the first international labour standard focused on decent work in the platform economy.

According to UN Women, the convention could provide stronger protections for women working through digital platforms against issues including unfair pay, harassment, discrimination and opaque algorithmic decisions.

UN Women, alongside the International Labour Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, continues to work through the Equal Pay International Coalition to support efforts by governments, employers and workers’ organisations to translate equal-pay commitments into action.

The organisation said closing the gender pay gap is possible, but called for greater action to ensure that women are valued equally for work of equal value.

At a time of economic uncertainty and widening inequality, UN Women said equal pay is not only a matter of justice but also contributes to stronger families, economies and societies.

The statement comes as the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opens in New York, with UN Women reaffirming women’s economic empowerment as a key priority under its Strategic Plan 2026–2029.

How can 37 suspected illegal miners arrested by security operatives die while in government custody within just days of their detention?

That is the question Nigerians and the families of the deceased are demanding answers to following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

The suspects were arrested during enforcement operations conducted by the Niger State NSCDC Command on September 15 and 16 around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal mining.

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According to the NSCDC, the operation led to the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.
However, in the early hours of September 17, several of the detained suspects were found dead.

The Niger State NSCDC Command initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, saying the corpses had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.

The national headquarters later stressed that no specific disease had been medically confirmed as the cause.

The circumstances surrounding the deaths have nevertheless raised serious questions about what happened inside the detention facility.

A survivor, Dauda Shehu, told the Associated Press that 65 detainees were held in a poorly ventilated cell and alleged that those inside struggled to breathe.

He said detainees attempted to attract the attention of guards by banging on the cell door.

The account has raised questions about overcrowding, ventilation and the response to the detainees’ distress, although it has not independently established the cause of death.

An intelligence report cited by AFP also suggested that overcrowding and poor ventilation may have contributed to the deaths, while officials have continued to point to a possible disease outbreak.

The precise cause therefore remains a matter for medical examination and investigation.

The NSCDC has launched an investigation into the incident, with a high-powered investigative team led by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation directed to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The Niger State Police Command has also opened a separate investigation and appealed for credible information that could assist investigators in determining what happened.

The matter has now escalated at the federal level.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and directed a full investigation into the incident.

The suspension is pending the outcome of the investigation.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago also confirmed the deaths, announced three days of mourning and constituted a panel of inquiry into the incident.

The state subsequently cancelled an APC political rally scheduled for September 19 in Minna following the tragedy.

But beyond the investigations, Nigerians need answers.

The families of the deceased need answers.

How many people were held in the facility? What condition were the suspects in when they were arrested? How were they monitored while in custody? When did signs of illness or distress first become apparent? Were routine checks carried out? Was medical assistance sought, and how quickly was it provided?

Most importantly, what happened between the suspects’ arrest and the discovery of their bodies?

These questions cannot be answered by condolences alone.

The families deserve a clear account of how their loved ones died, backed by medical findings, evidence and a transparent timeline of events.

For many Nigerians, the incident raises an even broader question. With insecurity already making many citizens feel unsafe in their homes, communities and on the roads, the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in government custody raise another disturbing concern: if people are not guaranteed safety even after being arrested and placed under the protection of the state, where exactly is safe in Nigeria?

Whatever the eventual findings, the death of 37 people while in government custody demands a thorough and credible investigation and if the investigation establishes that any individual or institution failed in its responsibility, appropriate accountability should follow.

For now, the exact cause of the deaths remains unconfirmed, with medical examinations and investigations expected to provide answers.