Author: Faith Babatunde

Hull City have confirmed that Nigerian winger David Akintola has left the club after his contract was terminated by mutual consent to allow him to complete a permanent transfer to Omonoia FC. Akintola joined Hull City from Turkish side Çaykur Rizespor in August 2025. During the 2025/26 season, the winger made 21 appearances for the club, scoring once and providing two assists as Hull secured promotion to the Premier League. The Nigerian made his Hull debut in August 2025 against Oxford United and also featured in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his time with the club. Before joining…

The National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) has rejected allegations that the Federal Government failed to provide sufficient evidence showing that N33.75 billion in electronic cash transfers reached genuine beneficiaries. The NCTO said the interpretation of the Auditor-General’s audit query was materially incomplete, stressing that the funds were processed through established payment systems to beneficiaries listed in the National Beneficiary Register. According to the office, the audit reviewed transactions from 2023 and raised eight queries. It said N33.751 billion was transferred to 3,295,207 households and beneficiaries across 35 states. The Auditor-General had raised concerns that payment vouchers did not contain complete…

Nigeria continues to face a serious challenge with counterfeit products, with fake medicines, cosmetics, food items, drinks, toothpaste, supplements and baby products finding their way into the market. The growing problem poses serious risks to consumers because counterfeit products can be packaged to look almost identical to genuine products, making them difficult to identify. Regulatory agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have continued to issue alerts and recalls, but the scale of the problem requires a broader response. Counterfeit products can cause poisoning, organ damage, treatment failure and, in severe cases, death.…

President Bola Tinubu has invited members of the public to submit suggestions for the 2027 Finance Bill as the Federal Government considers measures that could shape the country’s economic direction. A Finance Bill is used to introduce proposed changes to taxation and other financial policies, while zero-based budgeting requires government spending to be justified from the beginning rather than relying automatically on previous budgets. Public input could help identify areas requiring reform and improve the effectiveness of government policies. One proposal is the regionalisation of Nigeria’s economy, including moving mines and minerals from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent…

The Bayelsa State Government has highlighted the importance of training students and teachers in emergency response, saying the initiative could help save lives and reduce the time it takes for victims to receive assistance. The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, made the remarks during a three-day emergency response training programme organised in Yenagoa by FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company Limited, the NNPC Limited/FIRST E&P Joint Venture and the Health Emergency Initiative. More than 100 secondary school students and 50 teachers participated in the programme, receiving training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency response. Brisibe said equipping…

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to take over Spanish second-tier club Eldense, according to reports. The proposed deal is still subject to due diligence and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council. Eldense are currently owned by Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which also has clubs in Colombia and Switzerland. If completed, the acquisition would make Eldense the second Spanish club owned by Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner acquired fifth-tier Cornella in April 2026, although that club operates at the semi-professional level. A takeover of Eldense would therefore mark Messi’s first ownership of a professional…

Investors planning to buy shares in Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE through its initial public offering will have to go through a process that continues beyond submitting an application and making payment. The refinery is offering 4.1 billion ordinary shares at ₦525 each, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares costing ₦5,250. The offer is scheduled to run from September 14 to October 13, 2026, and could raise about ₦2.15tn if fully subscribed. After applying through an approved channel, investors will receive confirmation that their subscription has been submitted. However, the confirmation does not mean the shares have already…

Jetour Nigeria has announced plans to unveil its flagship G700 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle in Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026. The three-day luxury mobility showcase will bring together government officials, corporate executives, fleet managers and motoring enthusiasts following the vehicle’s recent presentation in Lagos. According to Jetour Nigeria, the event will allow prospective customers to experience the G700’s technology and participate in VIP test drives rather than simply view its specifications. The G700 is built around Jetour’s Kunpeng Super Hybrid system and dual electric motors. The company claims a combined range of up to 1,400 kilometres, a feature…

France Football has unveiled the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Paris Saint-Germain dominating the shortlist for the prestigious individual award. The nominees were announced on Tuesday, with the winners set to be revealed at a ceremony in London on October 26, 2026. PSG lead the club rankings with 10 nominees, followed by Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona with four each. Arsenal have three players on the list, while Manchester City have two. Among the biggest names nominated are Real Madrid forwards Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr., Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and…

Motorists travelling along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were left stranded for several hours on Tuesday as repair works on damaged expansion joints at the Kara Bridge caused a major traffic build-up. The congestion stretched from the Kara Bridge in Ogun State towards the 7Up Junction in Lagos State, with traffic extending beyond the Secretariat Bus Stop by mid-afternoon. Motorists approaching the Otedola Underpass from Ikeja and Agege were also caught in the congestion, while traffic backed up towards Otunba Jobi Fele Way. Security and traffic management personnel from the police, military, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Federal Road Safety Corps and…