Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Drogba Submits Petition For Fair Transfer Of Ademola Lookman. Milan, Italy – Football legend Didier Drogba arrived in Italy on 14 August 2025 to present a 50-page petition to Atalanta, calling for a fair and transparent transfer process for Ademola Lookman, the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year. The petition, endorsed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), underscores the need for accountability in global football transfers, particularly for Africa’s brightest talents. Drogba, a two-time CAF Player of the Year and former Chelsea star, has taken a bold stand to ensure that Lookman, the Nigerian forward who has…

Nigeria Introduces E-Visa System For Swift 48-Hour Visa Processing. The Nigerian government has launched a groundbreaking electronic visa (e-visa) system, enabling international visitors to obtain entry visas within just 48 hours, according to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. This transformative initiative, announced on 14 August 2025, aims to boost tourism, streamline business travel, and enhance Nigeria’s appeal as a global destination. The new e-visa system marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s immigration policy, replacing cumbersome manual processes with a fully automated, online platform. Speaking on the television programme *Politics Today*, Minister Tunji-Ojo highlighted the economic potential of…

Lagos State Government Schedules Night Repairs For Maryland Independence Bridge. The Lagos State Government has announced a four-day partial closure of the Maryland Independence Bridge to facilitate essential repairs. The maintenance work, targeting a damaged section of the bridge’s wall and expansion joints, is set to take place from Saturday, 16 August, to Tuesday, 19 August 2025, between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. daily, as confirmed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi. To minimise disruption, the repairs will occur during late-night hours when traffic is lighter. Motorists travelling inbound to Oshodi, Ojuelegba, Stadium, or Lagos Island will be…

D’Tigress Soar To Eighth In FIBA Women’s World Rankings. Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have achieved a historic milestone, climbing to eighth place in the latest FIBA Women’s World Rankings, as announced on 14 August. This remarkable rise from their previous 11th position marks their highest-ever ranking and solidifies their status as the only African team to break into the global top 10. The team’s ascent follows a stellar performance at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan, where they clinched their fifth consecutive title and seventh overall with a commanding 78-64 victory over Mali in the final. This…

Nigeria Aims To Become Steel Powerhouse By 2030, Says President Tinubu. President Bola Tinubu has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform Nigeria into a regional steel powerhouse by 2030, targeting an annual production of 10 million tonnes of liquid steel. The pledge, announced during the inaugural National Steel Summit in Abuja on 13 August, is part of a broader strategy to revitalise the nation’s steel industry, create over 500,000 jobs, and reduce reliance on imported steel, which currently accounts for over 90% of consumption. Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the two-day summit themed “Rebuilding and Consolidating Nigeria’s…

Dangote Group Pledges Full Support For Phyna’s Sister Injured In Truck Accident. The Dangote Group has committed to covering all medical expenses and providing compensation for Ruth Otabor, the sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Ijeoma “Phyna” Otabor, following a tragic accident involving one of its trucks. The incident, which occurred near Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State on 13 August 2025, left Ruth with severe injuries, including the amputation of one leg, sparking widespread public outcry. In a statement released on 14 August via its official X account, Dangote Group confirmed that senior officials from Dangote Cement…

Globacom Given 24-Month Ultimatum To Appoint New CEO Or Face NCC Sanctions. Globacom, one of Nigeria’s leading telecommunications operators, has been issued a 24-month deadline by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to appoint a chief executive officer (CEO) separate from its chairman, Mike Adenuga. Failure to comply with this directive could result in regulatory sanctions, as outlined in the NCC’s new corporate governance guidelines released on 7 August 2025. These rules aim to enhance accountability, transparency, and operational independence across Nigeria’s telecom sector. The NCC’s directive mandates that telecom operators maintain a clear separation between the roles of board…

FEC Approves N142bn For Construction Of Ultra-Modern Bus Terminals In Six States. The Federal Executive Council (FEC), chaired by President Bola Tinubu, has approved ₦142.02 billion for the construction of ultra-modern bus terminals across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, marking a significant step toward improving the nation’s transport infrastructure. The announcement, made by the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, following the FEC meeting on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing road safety, passenger comfort, and economic activity. The bus terminals, to be constructed by Messrs Planet Project Limited, will be located in Abeokuta (South-West), Gombe (North-East),…

Tinubu Orders Review Of Revenue Deduction, Retention By NNPC, FIRS, Others. Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive review of revenue deduction and retention practices by Nigeria’s major revenue-generating agencies, a move aimed at boosting public savings and driving economic growth. The directive, announced by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, targets agencies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Speaking to journalists at the…

Tinubu’s Economic Reforms Praised By WTO Chief Okonjo-Iweala. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s economy, describing the ongoing economic reforms as moving in the right direction. Speaking to journalists following a courtesy visit to the President at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Thursday, 14 August 2025, Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the importance of these reforms as a foundation for future growth while urging the government to prioritise economic expansion and social safety nets. Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian Finance Minister and globally respected economist,…

Russia Imposes Restrictions On WhatsApp And Telegram Calls Amid Security Concerns. Russia has introduced partial restrictions on voice and video calls made through WhatsApp and Telegram, a move announced by the country’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, on 13 August 2025. The decision, affecting an estimated 96 million WhatsApp users and 89 million Telegram users in Russia, is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to tighten control over the internet, citing national security and crime prevention as key motivations. Roskomnadzor justified the restrictions, claiming that the messaging platforms have become primary channels for fraudulent activities, extortion, and the recruitment of…

Stranded Nigerian Miners Return To Abuja From Central African Republic. A group of Nigerian miners, previously stranded in a remote village in the Central African Republic (CAR), are set to arrive in Abuja today, marking the end of a distressing ordeal. The miners, who were allegedly abandoned by a Chinese mining company, are expected to land at approximately 5:00 pm aboard an Asky Air flight, accompanied by Abdurahman Idris Baba Yola, an official from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs based in Bangui, CAR’s capital. The plight of the six miners came to light last month through a viral…