By Douglas Baye-Osagie _dbayeosagie@yahoo.com_ Four years. That is all it took to take Nigerian football from “sleeping giant” to “patient in ICU.” Under the leadership of Ibrahim Gusau and his NFF board, the promise of 2022 has turned into excuses, early exits, calculator qualifications, and embarrassment in 2026. The time for press statements is over. The time for resignation is now. Let’s be honest about the results. In the past four years, the Super Eagles failed to qualify for a World Cup. Same for the Olympics football event . The Super Falcons also failed to qualify. The U20s and U17s,…
Author: National Update
By Friday Idachaba, Port Harcourt The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged Nigerian journalists to protect the safety, dignity, privacy and rights of children in their reports. UNICEF Chief Field Officer, Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, gave the advice at a two-day workshop on ethical reporting of children in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Chiluwe warned that sensational headlines, inappropriate pictures and careless disclosure of children’s identities could expose them to stigma, discrimination and further trauma. She said journalists had great influence through the stories they publish, the headlines they write and the voices they amplify. According to her,…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the resignation of the current leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The group said Nigerian football needs experienced football professionals to take leading roles in the administration of the game. In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, on Thursday, HURIWA said years of poor leadership and political interference had affected the development of Nigerian football. It called for greater roles for former internationals and respected football administrators, including Michael Emenalo, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha, Segun Odegbami and Ahmed Musa. HURIWA also urged the…
Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has urged the Nigerian military to intensify efforts to rescue schoolchildren and other victims abducted by insurgents in Southern Borno. Ndume made the appeal during a visit to the Theatre Command, North East Operation Hadin Kai, where he met with the Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar. According to a statement from his media office, 42 pupils were abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Mussa in May. In June, insurgents reportedly attacked Government Day Secondary School in Lassa, Askira/Uba Local Government Area, and abducted 36 students and a teacher. Ndume, who…
A final-year student of the Department of Physics, Federal University Dutse (FUD), Daha Muhammad Albakari, has developed an Artificial Intelligence-powered fire detection and prevention system. The system, called AI FIRE SYSTEM, is designed to detect fire and smoke early and help prevent small incidents from becoming major disasters. Albakari said the system uses artificial intelligence, computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT) technology and environmental sensors to monitor possible fire risks in real time. Unlike traditional fire alarms that mainly depend on smoke or heat sensors, the AI FIRE SYSTEM can analyse images, temperature and gas levels to identify possible fire…
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a man identified as **Moferewa Maiye** for allegedly impersonating a DSS officer and using a fake firearm to intimidate and extort motorists and commuters in Abuja. Maiye was arrested late Wednesday at his hideout around **NITEL Junction, along Adetokunbo Ademola Way, Wuse II**, following intelligence received by the Service. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was allegedly wearing a DSS tactical uniform and carrying a fake pistol. A security source said Maiye had been using the uniform and fake weapon to intimidate motorists and commuters and collect money from them.…
Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Governor Hope Uzodimma and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to court over the 2027 Imo West Senatorial ticket. Okorocha is challenging INEC’s decision to publish Uzodimma as the APC candidate for the senatorial district. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1854/2026, was filed on August 13 at the Federal High Court in Abuja by Okorocha’s counsel, O.J. Aboje. Okorocha served as Imo State governor from 2011 to 2019 and later represented Imo West in the Senate between 2019 and 2023. He contested the APC senatorial primary with Uzodimma in…
Former Vice President and ADC presidential candidate, **Atiku Abubakar**, has promised to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in the January 2027 election. Atiku made the pledge during a Hausa-language interview on the PAP programme on Wednesday. He said anyone found to have stolen funds meant for the fuel subsidy would be forced to return the money under his administration. President Bola Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, shortly after assuming office, describing the policy as unsustainable. The Federal Government has defended the decision, saying the removal of the subsidy and the liberalisation of the naira…
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse Geregu Power Plc has reaffirmed its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the power sector, pledging to strengthen electricity generation and meet its bond obligations in full. The Chairman of the company, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, said the Board was determined to support the Federal Government’s efforts to transform the power sector and provide sustainable electricity to Nigerians. Yari said all stakeholders in the power sector must work together to ensure the success of the administration’s efforts to improve electricity generation and supply. “As a stakeholder and a Senator of the Federal…
A group, the Concerned Citizens Assembly, has called for a major restructuring of Nigeria into 17 autonomous regions, with each region retaining 80 per cent of the revenue generated within its territory. The group made the proposal in a communiqué issued on Wednesday after a three-day meeting at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja. The communiqué was read by the Convener of the Assembly, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo. The Assembly said Nigeria’s highly centralised system had slowed development, weakened accountability and contributed to the country’s security problems. It proposed a new federal system where regions would control most of their internal affairs, while…