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  • Rayfield Gardens City Estate Wins 2024 Gate Africa Estate Cup

    Rayfield Gardens City Estate Wins 2024 Gate Africa Estate Cup

    By David Ogar

    Rayfield Gardens City Estate emerged victorious as the best footballing community in the 2024 Gate Africa Estate Cup, defeating Olubadan Estate 2-0 in the Oyo State capital last weekend.

    The two-day tournament, featuring eight top estates in Ibadan, was organised by Gate Africa Technology, a platform that regulates access control, management, and payment processing for estates across Africa.

    Tournament Highlights

    In the third-place match, Goshen Estate secured a 3-1 win over Aerodrome Estate to claim the final spot on the podium.

    The tournament’s Most Valuable Player award went to Egbeleke Usman of Goshen Estate, while Jolayemi Michael was recognised as the Best Goalkeeper.

    Organisers Applaud Teams

    Gate Africa’s CEO, Tunde Buremo, commended the participating teams for their discipline and coordination throughout the competition.

    “This tournament has proven the value of teamwork, collaboration, and sportsmanship. At Gate Africa, we believe in fostering community growth, and this competition will become an annual event to further promote sports development at the estate level. We have also taken feedback from the estates and will include more sports in future editions,” Buremo stated.

    Lead Organiser of the Gate Africa Estate Cup, Adeniyi Lawal, emphasised Gate Africa’s role as the go-to solution for estate management needs, particularly in access management and payments in Oyo State.

    Local Impact

    Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and Director of 3SCFansTV, Idris Animashaun, expressed joy at the initiative’s success.

    “This initiative fosters local cooperation through sports while uplifting the sporting landscape in Ibadan. It is exciting to see the continuous improvement of sports in our city,” Animashaun said.

  • Lille President Reveals Financial Details of Osimhen’s Napoli Transfer

    Lille President Reveals Financial Details of Osimhen’s Napoli Transfer

    By Ben Nsemo

    French Ligue 1 side Lille earned just €7m from Victor Osimhen’s high-profile transfer to Napoli in 2020, despite the deal being valued at over €70m, club President Olivier Letang has revealed.

    The Super Eagles striker’s move to the Italian side included four Napoli players who never featured for the French club, raising questions about the true value of the transfer.

    “The net amount, considering the player’s purchase, four players valued at €20m, but who were worth nothing, intermediaries and commissions, was €7m, more or less,” Letang told L’Equipe TV.

    Investigations and Reactions

    The revelation comes amid investigations by authorities in Italy and France into the circumstances surrounding the transfer, though Napoli have been cleared of any wrongdoing.

    “Napoli have already been judged on this matter with two different levels of the justice system that cleared the club and directors, finding no irregularities,” club lawyer Mattia Grassani said last year.

    The lawyer emphasised Napoli’s clean record, noting, “Napoli is the only club where the Prosecutor did not ask for the judgment to be revoked, which then led to Juventus having first a 15-point and then a 10-point Serie A penalty.”

    Letang, who became Lille’s President months after Osimhen’s departure, has now shed light on the complex financial structure of the deal that took the Nigerian to Italy.

    Osimhen’s Rise to Prominence

    The transfer marked a significant milestone in Osimhen’s career, which began in the challenging environment of Lagos’ Olusosun community. After impressing at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot with a record 10 goals, he earned a move to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

    Following a difficult spell in Germany, Osimhen found his feet at Charleroi in Belgium before joining Lille in 2019, where he scored 18 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions.

    His subsequent move to Napoli proved transformative for both player and club. The 25-year-old striker netted 76 goals in 133 appearances for the Partenopei, playing a crucial role in ending their 33-year wait for the Serie A title in 2023. The Lagos-born forward also claimed the Serie A Golden Boot and became the highest-scoring African in Italian top-flight history, surpassing George Weah’s record of 46 goals.

    Current Form and Future Prospects

    Osimhen, who was crowned 2023 CAF African Footballer of the Year, is currently on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, where he has maintained his prolific form with 10 goals and five assists in 14 appearances.

    Though contracted to Napoli until 2026, the striker’s future remains uncertain with clauses in his contract allowing for a permanent departure either in January or summer.

    His time in Naples was marked by consistent goal-scoring and the historic Scudetto triumph, but this latest revelation about his transfer fee adds another chapter to what has been a complex relationship between the player and the Italian club.

  • NBF Chief Decries IOC Boxing Changes, Calls for Fairer Representation for Africa

    NBF Chief Decries IOC Boxing Changes, Calls for Fairer Representation for Africa

    By Ben Nsemo

    The interim president of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Azania Omo-Agege, has accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of discriminating against African nations through recent changes to Olympic boxing weight categories. Speaking to The PUNCH, Omo-Agege argued that the IOC’s decision to reduce boxing categories has adversely impacted African medal prospects at the Olympics.

    Impact on African Boxing

    “This has not been very good for Africa as most of the weight categories they took out are where Africa excelled,” Omo-Agege stated. “If you check our statistics for the past Olympics, Africa was coming with about three to five medals. Since the new change, Africa has only been getting one to two medals as a whole continent at the Olympics. That is discrimination.”

    The NBF chief’s comments come after Africa secured just one boxing medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with Algeria’s Imane Khelif claiming gold in the -66kg category amid controversy over transphobic harassment and gender-related questions.

    Athlete Challenges

    The reduction in weight categories has forced athletes to make significant weight adjustments to compete, a practice Omo-Agege describes as unfair and discriminatory.

    “Now when they reduce the categories, you are forcing the athletes to rapidly increase or reduce weights so as to compete, and that is not fair,” he said. “I am agitating for more slots where Africans have their strengths or to go back to the original weight categories.”

    Nigeria’s struggles in Olympic boxing were evident in Paris. Adam Olaore, the nation’s last hope, crashed out in the round of 16 of the men’s 92kg heavyweight category against Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay. The team’s campaign was further marred by Cynthia Ogunsemilore’s doping-related disqualification and Dolapo Omole’s injury withdrawal, extending Nigeria’s Olympic boxing medal drought since Duncan Dokiwari’s bronze at Atlanta 1996.

    Plans for Revitalisation

    Looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028, Omo-Agege has outlined plans to revive the Nigerian Boxing League as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen the sport in the country.

    “There is a perception that most of our boxers are from the streets. We are working to change that, and we need constant competition to do that,” he said. The federation chief also believes that the introduction of prize money by the International Boxing Association (IBA) will motivate athletes.

    “Since there is prize money now from the International Boxing Association, the boxers will be encouraged to fight where they can actually earn a living. When we attend more competitions, it will put us in a good position to go out for international games where we can prepare ourselves for the Olympics.”

    Call for Action

    Omo-Agege’s remarks underscore the need for greater representation of African athletes in global sports and equitable policies to ensure a level playing field. As Nigeria seeks to end its Olympic boxing medal drought, the NBF’s efforts to bolster the sport domestically could be critical to its success on the international stage.

  • Tinubu Orders Review of Controversial Tax Reform Bills

    Tinubu Orders Review of Controversial Tax Reform Bills

    By Ben Nsemo

    President Bola Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Justice to collaborate with the National Assembly to address concerns raised about the controversial Tax Reform Bills. The directive, issued on Tuesday while the President was in South Africa, comes amid nationwide debates and protests.

    The proposed laws—Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill—have sparked heated discussions. While some groups, including northern youths who staged a demonstration at the National Assembly, have expressed support for the reforms, others, including northern governors and lawmakers, have strongly opposed them.

    Concerns Over Fiscal Federalism

    Critics argue that the reforms could disrupt the balance of fiscal federalism by centralising tax authority at the federal level, thereby weakening states’ revenue-generating capacity. Opponents, including some northern senators and governors, claim the bills, if passed, could impoverish Nigerians and worsen economic inequality.

    The northern governors have also expressed apprehension, suggesting the proposals might undermine the financial independence of states and marginalise certain regions.

    Tinubu’s Directive

    In a bid to address the concerns, President Tinubu directed the Ministry of Justice and officials involved in drafting the bills to work closely with the National Assembly. The goal is to identify and resolve any legitimate issues before the bills proceed to passage.

    A statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, titled “President Tinubu Committed to Accountability on Tax Bills, Directs Ministry of Justice to Work with NASS on Concerns”, highlighted the President’s commitment to inclusivity.

    The statement read:

    “In line with established legislative procedures, the Federal Government welcomes meaningful inputs that can address whatever grey areas there may be in the bill. President Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Justice and relevant officials who worked on the drafts to ensure all genuine concerns are resolved before the bills are passed.”

    Bills Will Not Be Withdrawn

    Despite the opposition, Tinubu has ruled out withdrawing the bills from the National Assembly. The Federal Government assured the public that the reforms are not designed to impoverish any state or region or to scrap or weaken existing federal agencies.

    The Minister further noted:

    “The fiscal reforms will not impoverish any state or region of the country, neither will they lead to the scrapping or weakening of any federal agencies.”

    Welcoming Debate

    The Federal Government has also welcomed the vigorous debate on the bills, viewing it as a testament to Nigeria’s democratic values. The statement underscored the government’s belief that public participation and dialogue are critical components of effective policymaking.

    Broader Context

    The Tax Reform Bills are part of the administration’s broader fiscal reforms aimed at improving transparency, enhancing revenue generation, and ensuring sustainable economic growth. The government has called for constructive engagement from stakeholders to shape a framework that promotes accountability and fiscal equity.

    As discussions continue, the outcome of the legislative process will determine the fate of these contentious reforms and their impact on Nigeria’s fiscal landscape.

  • NNPC Reopens Port Harcourt Refinery, Begins Distribution of Petroleum Products

    NNPC Reopens Port Harcourt Refinery, Begins Distribution of Petroleum Products

    By Ben Nsemo

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. has officially recommenced operations at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), marking a critical milestone in the nation’s drive towards energy independence.

    The re-streamed facility has started processing crude oil and distributing petroleum products to the market.

    On Tuesday, the refinery in Port Harcourt began the truck-out of products, including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and Household Kerosene (HHK), among others. The event was celebrated during a brief ceremony attended by key stakeholders.

    Speaking at the occasion, NNPC Ltd.’s Group CEO, Mele Kyari, described the commencement of product distribution as a “monumental achievement” for Nigeria. He said it represents a step forward in achieving economic growth and energy self-sufficiency.

    Kyari acknowledged the unwavering support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration, he noted, has been instrumental in driving the refinery’s rehabilitation project. He also expressed gratitude to the NNPC Ltd. Board, staff, and contractors for their dedication in overcoming challenges to deliver the project.

    “Today’s milestone is a testament to our commitment to restore the nation’s refineries to optimal capacity. We deeply appreciate Nigerians for their patience and look forward to completing work on the remaining refineries,” Kyari stated.

    The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, commended the achievement, assuring that his agency will continue supporting efforts to revive other refineries.

    The PHRC rehabilitation project carried out under an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation & Commissioning (EPCIC) framework, has so far recorded over 16 million man-hours without any incidents of Lost Time Injury (LTI), underscoring the project’s emphasis on safety and efficiency.

    With the successful re-streaming of the Port Harcourt Refinery, the NNPC Ltd. takes a significant step towards ensuring stable petroleum product supply and reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imports. The company remains committed to restoring all its refineries to full functionality.

  • Terrorists Attack Troops in Kukawa, Borno; 12 Neutralized

    Terrorists Attack Troops in Kukawa, Borno; 12 Neutralized

    By David Ogar

    In the early hours of 25th November 2024, terrorists launched an assault on the 101 Special Forces Battalion under Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) in Kukawa Town, Kukawa Local Government Area, Borno State.

    The attackers, mounted on gun trucks and motorcycles, attempted to breach the camp using a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) from the Gudumbali axis.

    Troops responded with coordinated firepower, supported by the Air Component and the Nigerian Army’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray. Twelve terrorists were neutralized, with several others fleeing with injuries.

    Recovered items included:

    • 5 AK-47 rifles
    • 1 RPG bomb and tube
    • 2 Anti-Aircraft guns
    • 1 QJC gun
    • 1 NSV heavy machine gun
    • 40 motorcycles
    • 152 rounds of Shilka ammunition
    • Four VBIEDs destroyed.

    Unfortunately, three soldiers lost their lives during the attack. Security forces are conducting clearance operations, including house-to-house searches, to ensure the area is secure.

    The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen OO Oluyede, lauded the troops for their bravery and urged them to maintain momentum in ongoing operations.

    Operation HADIN KAI continues its commitment to eradicating terrorism in the Northeast to enable socio-economic development in the region.

  • EFCC Arraigns Yahaya Bello Over Alleged ₦110.4 Billion Fraud

    EFCC Arraigns Yahaya Bello Over Alleged ₦110.4 Billion Fraud

    By David Ogar

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja.

    Bello was arraigned alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge of criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving ₦110.4 billion.

    One of the charges alleges that Bello and his co-defendants used 5,698,888 Dirhams (approximately ₦1.9 billion) from the state treasury in 2022 to acquire property at the Burj Khalifa area in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Another charge accuses Bello of unlawfully obtaining ₦677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited between 2017 and 2018.

    All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    During the proceedings, EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), objected to bail applications filed on November 22, 2024, arguing that they were premature as they predated the defendants’ arraignment.

    He also raised concerns about Bello’s alleged history of disregarding court summons and the risk of interference in the trial, citing the defendants’ political influence and access to public office.

    Counsel for Bello, Joseph Daudu (SAN), argued that his client’s voluntary appearance before the court demonstrated his commitment to justice and urged the court to grant bail, referencing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

    Justice Anenih ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody and scheduled the bail application hearing for December 10, 2024.