Author: Press Room

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has given the clearest indication yet that he may endorse a successor from within his current team ahead of the 2027 governorship election, saying the move would ensure continuity and deepen the roadmap for sustainable development. The governor made this known on Thursday during the Stakeholders’ Consultative and Engagement Meeting on the 2026 Budget, held at the Ogunlana Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. Governor Makinde, whose second term winds down in 2027, explained that while the final decision on who becomes the next governor remains with the people of Oyo State, he…

Victor Osimhen has disclosed that he was pressured into joining Napoli in 2020 despite his reluctance, describing the move as one of the most difficult moments of his career, Soccernet.ng reports. Italian financial investigators’ probe into Napoli’s transfer dealings remains ongoing. Speaking to prosecutors, Osimhen revealed how his then-agent and Lille hierarchy pushed him into signing for the Serie A club while he was preoccupied with his father’s deteriorating health. Nigeria and former Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. Photo by IMAGO “The agent I had before told me that Napoli had serious interest, but he was only interested in my…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a public warning concerning the activities of one Mr Barry Donald, a former employee of the Service who has allegedly been impersonating the agency to defraud unsuspecting individuals. In a statement released on Thursday through its official X handle, @OfficialDSSNG, the Service disclosed that Mr Donald had been dismissed from service and is no longer in any way associated with the organisation. “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby alerts members of the public of the activities of one Barry Donald, a dismissed staff. He is reportedly engaging in unscrupulous activities, including…

The House of Representatives on Thursday directed its relevant committees to investigate the persistent non-functionality of Nigeria’s state-owned petroleum refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, despite about $18 billion reportedly spent on their rehabilitation over the past two decades. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Lagos lawmaker Oluwaseun Whinghan during plenary proceedings presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. Nigeria has four government-owned refineries. Two of the refinaries are in Port Harcourt, and one each in Warri and Kaduna operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Over the years, the facilities have suffered…

• Assures on readiness for National Convention• Northern support group endorses Jonathan for Presidency Two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly, yesterday, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). With the defection, APC now has total control of the 26-member Assembly, without opposition. Amid recent defections of its key figures to APC, the opposition PDP has accused the ruling party of orchestrating the exodus through intimidation, coercion and blackmail. Even with the defections from its fold, the PDP Northern Support Group, a coalition of loyalists and affiliate organisations within the opposition party, has endorsed former President Goodluck…

Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen, has dismissed as unfounded reports linking him to the Super Eagles’ head coach position amid uncertainty over Eric Chelle’s future, Soccernet.ng reports. Media reports on Wednesday claimed Eguavoen and U-20 boss Ladan Bosso were being lined up to take over if Eric Chelle failed to secure World Cup qualification. But Eguavoen has swiftly distanced himself from the speculation, describing it as ‘hurtful’ and ‘unhelpful.’ Eguavoen handled the Super Eagles on an interim basis during the last few months in 2024 before Chelle was appointed in January.  NFF Technical Director Austin…

APC must unite to avoid missed opportunities, says Babayemi An international businessman and a philanthropist, Hareter Babatunde Oralusi, has formally declared his intention to contest for the 2026 Osun State governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Oralusi, while speaking in Osogbo, yesterday, promised to bring accountability and transparency to governance. Oralusi emphasised the need for Osun State to complement the Federal Government’s national reforms with local initiatives that would transform the state into “a productive, modern, and prosperous state that contributes meaningfully to the New Nigeria agenda.” MEANWHILE, a frontline governorship aspirant on the APC…

Justice Rahman Oshodi of Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has admitted additional documents and digital evidence in the ongoing $4.5 billion fraud trial involving the embattled former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele. The court overruled objections raised by defence counsels, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), and admitted the documents tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as exhibits. EFCC’s witness, Alvan Gurumnaan, continued his testimony, revealing WhatsApp messages between key suspects that allegedly linked the former CBN chief to multiple cash transactions. According to Gurumnaan, one of the alleged, John Adetola, told investigators…

• Dissolves Anambra chapter exco over intra-party squabbles• Oyebanji’s administration setting Ekiti on path of greatness, says aide Ahead of the October 27 governorship primary in Ekiti State, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared Governor Abiodun Oyebanji, and Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo to contest both the party’s primary and the governorship election. However, the party has disqualified Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olajumoke Olawunmi for failing to comply with the provisions of the APC’s constitution and the extant provisions of the Electoral Act. Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Duro Meseko, announced the decision yesterday, following deliberations by the…

The Super Eagles take on Lesotho on Friday, and some players are at risk of getting suspended… Super Eagles stars Ademola Lookman, Tolu Arokodare, Semi Ajayi, Alex Iwobi, Stanley Nwabali, Bruno Onyemaechi, Wilfred Ndidi, and Calvin Bassey will be suspended for one game if they get yellow carded in the game against Lesotho on Friday, Soccernet.ng reports. According to FIFA rules, players who get yellow carded twice in the World Cup Qualifiers series will get an automatic one-game suspension for the next World Cup Qualifier game only. This was what happened to South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena. He got booked twice,…