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Erling Haaland continued his prolific form as Manchester City battled to a narrow victory over Brentford and gave boss Pep Guardiola his 250th Premier League win.

Guardiola is the quickest manager to reach the milestone having done so in just 349 games – 55 games quicker than anyone else.

Haaland outmuscled Sepp van den Berg to gather Josko Gvardiol’s looping cross, then wriggled away from the defender before precisely slotting past Caoimhin Kelleher.

It is the Norwegian striker’s third goal this week and his 18th in 11 games for club and country this season.

City had to hold on to their slim lead at the Gtech Community Stadium for more than 80 minutes but limited Brentford to few opportunities, despite the game opening up somewhat in a scrappy second half.

Victory moves City up to fifth before the international break, but there was concern for midfielder Rodri when he hobbled off with injury after just 21 minutes.

The Spaniard missed much of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is yet to return to the form that won him the Ballon d’Or last year.

EPL RESULTS

Aston Villa 2 -1 Burnley

Everton 2-1 Crystal

Newcastle 2 -0 Nottingham

Wolves 1-1 Brighton

Brentford 0-1 Man City

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged the international community to disregard the allegation of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.

It said the claims were unfounded.

The ministry’s spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said the claims were a gross misrepresentation of the complex security situation and a dangerous oversimplification of the nation’s challenges.

Speaking with The Nation, Ebienfa said: ‘I must state categorically that the allegations are false and baseless. The Federal Government of Nigeria unequivocally refutes these unwarranted allegations in their entirety. They represent a gross misrepresentation of the complex security situation in Nigeria and a dangerous oversimplification of the challenges we face as a nation.

‘Such claims are not only false but are also irresponsible, as they threaten to undermine the unity, interfaith harmony, and national sovereignty of Nigeria.

‘As you are aware, Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious society where over 230 million people of diverse faiths, chiefly Christianity and Islam, have co-existed and thrived together for generations. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion for every citizen. The government remains steadfast in its duty to protect this right for all Nigerians, irrespective of their creed.

‘The ministry, therefore, calls upon the international community to disregard these unfounded allegations and to instead support Nigeria’s efforts in combating terrorism and banditry.’

Lagos State Safety Commission at the weekend sealed off chemical factories and shops in Ojota area of the state, for violating safety and environmental regulations.

The exercise followed contraventions of the commission’s Law of 2011. Officials of the agency led by its Director-General, Mr. Lanre Mojola, said the facilities were shut after operators failed to comply with agreed safety measures, despite warnings and a grace period.

He said officials of the commission had inspected the factories and held meetings with executives of the chemical dealers, during which a letter of undertaking was signed on May 9.

At the meeting, the operators agreed to implement safety measures, including: conducting a comprehensive safety audit of the market; organising workshops on hazard identification and risk evaluation; providing serviced and accessible fire extinguishers in all shops; maintaining an up-to-date inventory of chemicals, including expiry dates; ensuring full compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) use; installing clear safety signage, chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS); developing a disaster management and business continuity plan.

‘Despite the expiration of the ultimatum, the chemical dealers failed to act on the agreement reached with the commission,’ Mojola said.

He added: ‘This left the commission with no option but to seal off the facilities in order to safeguard lives and property.’

He said the facilities would remain under lock until full compliance was achieved, warning that the commission would not compromise on enforcing safety standards.

Mojola advised manufacturers and business operators across Lagos to adopt proactive safety measures, to avoid similar sanctions.

The decline in Nigeria’s coffee exports may not necessarily signal a fall in agricultural output but rather, the growing strength of the domestic industrial market

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Dr. Tayo Aduloju, in interview with The Nation, said the shift in export volume may represent a new dynamic in the country’s export landscape, where industrialisation and value-addition initiatives are diverting primary agricultural products from foreign markets to local factories.

He said: ‘I think we need to do some better analysis. When we see these drops, we have to ask what they mean. Do they mean total productivity output in coffee beans drops? Which could be one problem, of course. Most agricultural output in some parts of the country drops for different reasons-insecurity, climate change, access to credit, etc. But that does not by itself reflect a change in the nominal output’.

He noted that as investors are being encouraged to manufacture finished products within Nigeria, they are increasingly competing with traditional export markets for raw materials such as coffee, cocoa, and shea butter.

‘Some of that coffee, cocoa, soya production, even shea butter production that were purely export are now being competed for by those we ask to invest here.’

This is to do new economic value-added to those products, so that reduces your exports.

‘If you are doing 500 metric tonnes-and this is just hypothetically-of a particular export crop, and then your domestic demand, your industrial demand locally is now 5,000, what you will see on the export side is a drop in reduction. But it does not mean there was a drop in outputs. It’s now that there’s a local industrial demand in a local industrial market that is absorbing all the primary production,’ Aduloju said.

He pointed to visible examples of this trend. ‘I know Nestlé now produces a Nigerian version of some of its coffee, where they are using as much local materials as possible. My guess, for example, is they are using some of our coffees. And then I’ve seen in many of our trade fairs now our local coffee, you know, that we are now selling locally, which is cheaper than your Nestlé and your other brands,’ Aduloju said.

This shift, he argued, presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While it may cause a short-term dip in export figures, it highlights the urgent need to scale up production to meet both domestic and export demand. ‘It now becomes a valid point in all to scale up production of coffee beans to a scale that matches domestic, industrial consumption and demand plus export demand. I think that’s where the direction should actually go with most of the export crops. That’s the conversation we need to have next,’ he stressed.

Globally, coffee consumption continues to rise, but Africa is witnessing a troubling decline in production, even as plantations in Asia expand to meet demand. The fall in African output has been linked to land loss to real estate development, as well as the impact of pests and diseases on crops.

Meanwhile, global coffee prices have swung wildly this year, ranging from a high of $4.20 per pound to as low as $2.88 in July, underscoring the volatility of the market.

Currently, Nigeria is not currently among the top 10 coffee producers in Africa-a list that includes Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. Yet experts believe Nigeria’s overlooked coffee industry has the potential to generate more than $2 billion annually.

Currently, Nigeria’s coffee exports remain modest, with an annual output of under one million bags. Industry stakeholders argue that strategic investments, modernised farming practices, and value-added processing are critical to unlocking the sector’s potential.

Chairman , Board of Trustees , Federation of Agricultural Commodity Association of Nigeria (FACAN), Dr. Victor Iyama, highlighted coffee’s global significance. He noted that it is the second most traded and valuable commodity worldwide and the first among agricultural commodities. However, he expressed concern that structural deficiencies, limited investment, and poor-quality seeds have left Nigerian coffee farmers unable to match the prices and productivity ofitz African counterparts .

While production in Nigeria remains stagnant, consumption is expected to rise. ReportLinker projected that Nigeria’s coffee consumption will reach 8.8 thousand metric tonnes next year, up slightly from 8,000 metric tonnes in 2021. Analysts warn, however, that without urgent investments in high-quality seedlings, advanced farmer training, and modern processing facilities, Nigeria risks missing out on the significant economic potential of coffee.

According to 6Wresearch, a market intelligence and advisory firm, Nigeria’s coffee market could see growth taper between now and 2029. It projects that after starting strongly at 7.74 per cent in 2025, growth will soften to 1.54 per cent by 2029. The firm noted: ‘The Nigeria coffee market is experiencing steady growth driven by increasing urbanisation and changing consumer preferences. Instant coffee dominates the market due to its convenience and affordability, but there is a rising interest in specialty coffee among a niche segment of consumers. Local coffee shops and international chains are expanding, contributing to the development of a coffee culture in major cities like Lagos and Abuja. The market faces challenges such as limited domestic production, reliance on imports, and inconsistent quality standards. However, initiatives to promote local coffee production and improve quality are gaining traction. Overall, the Nigeria coffee market presents opportunities for both domestic and international coffee companies to capitalise on the growing demand for diverse coffee products.’

In a bold step, the Cross River State government recently partnered with agribusiness firm JR Farms to launch an ambitious project to cultivate 30 million coffee seedlings across the state. Speaking at the launch, Governor Bassey Otu described the initiative as a strategic move to reintroduce and reposition Cross River as the coffee capital of Nigeria and an emerging player in the international market.

‘With 30 million robust and climate-appropriate seedlings being distributed across our 18 local government areas, this project offers much more than cultivation. It is about creating jobs, generating wealth, building sustainable livelihoods, promoting agro-industrial development, and restoring our ecological balance,’ Otu said.

FCMB Group Plc has launched a N160 billion public share to strengthen its banking subsidiary and meet Central Bank of Nigeria’s N500 billion minimum capital for international banks.

The offering of 16 billion shares at N10 each runs until November 6. Proceeds will be used to recapitalise FCMB Limited and help the lender retain its international licence.

The raise follows a N147.5 billion share sale in 2024, the first in 16 years. This 2024 share sale was oversubscribed by 33 per cent, with 42,800 investors participating, 92 per cent through digital channels. Analysts expect momentum to carry into this second phase of it’s recapitalisation plan.

FCMB has posted robust growth, with group profit before tax rising at 72 per cent compound annual rate between 2022 and 2025. Non-bank subsidiaries delivered 61 per cent PBT CAGR, led by Credit Direct Finance Company Limited, non-bank lender, and FCMB Capital Markets, which topped the FMDQ fixed income league table for bond listing and commercial papers in the first half of 2025.

Groupwide digital initiatives continue to underpin growth, with digital revenue growing at more than 58 per cent annually since 2022, accounting for 13.9 per cent of gross earnings. As of June, digital lending stood at nine per cent of the loan book.

At a 2025 estimated price-to-book ratio below 0.6x, FCMB stock trades at what analysts describe as a rare mix of deep value and high growth.

Following the completion of this share sale, the group plans to conclude the sale of minority stakes in two subsidiaries, with proceeds also injected into the bank. This will lift qualifying core capital beyond N500 billion and close its recapitalisation programme.

A wave of excitement is sweeping through Nigeria’s table tennis community following the election of Adesoji Tayo as the new President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) during the federation’s elective congress held in Abuja over the weekend.

Tayo, who currently serves as Chairman of the Oyo State Table Tennis Association, was unanimously elected after his closest rival, Ahmed Khamisu, stepped down ahead of the presidential vote. The Oyo State-born administrator succeeds Engr. Ishaku Tikon, who led the federation for eight years.

Widely regarded as one of the most peaceful elections in the federation’s history, the NTTF poll was conducted under the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-backed constitution and witnessed strong participation from delegates across the country. Zonal elections were held before the presidential vote.

Tayo, a long-standing stakeholder in Nigerian table tennis, previously served as Vice President of the NTTF. His contributions to the sport are well documented, having on several occasions provided financial support to ensure national teams did not miss out on major international competitions.

Beyond his financial backing, Tayo is highly respected for his deep knowledge of the sport and his unwavering passion for its growth.

He will serve a four-year term and has pledged to prioritize youth development, with a focus on talent discovery and enhancing coaching standards nationwide.

‘Our goal is to build a stronger foundation for the future of Nigerian table tennis. We’ll invest in youth programs and ensure our coaches are equipped to nurture the next generation of champions,’ Tayo said.

Following the election, Ahmed Khamisu was elected as Vice President, representing the North East zone.

The newly constituted 15-member NTTF Board comprises representatives from various zones and affiliated bodies as outlined in the federation’s constitution:

Adesoji Tayo -President; Ahmed Khamisu – Vice President (North East); Wahid Enitan Oshodi – International Representative / President, ITTF Africa; Engr. Ishaku Tikon – Outgoing President; Dominic Sylvester – Technical Representative; Prof. Joshua Umeifekwem – NAPHERSD; Joy Ibekwe – NAWIS; Monilola Udoh – AFFAN; Tony Emefile – Military and Paramilitary; Sunday Odebode – Sponsor/Philanthropist; Sule Nasiru – Athlete Representative; Ebikpolade Ama-Ebi Wilson – South South; Akunna Boniface Uju – South East; Ibrahim Abdul-Hamid Ali – North Central; and Ndanusa Mohammad Sani – North West.

With renewed leadership and broad representation, the NTTF is poised to usher in a new era of growth and excellence in Nigerian table tennis.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that from November 3, settlement of fixed income securities will migrate to the CBN. By December 1, the bank itself will run the trading platform. It is noted that secondary fixed income market platform is currently operated by FMDQ Group with the CBN as the largest shareholder (about 15 per cent stake) seating at the leadership of it’s board over the last decade.

No doubt, the Central bank wanting more control of Government bonds are legitimate as they are the mainstay of monetary policy. They shape interest rates, liquidity, and confidence as the CBN want complete visibility of who is buying, who is selling, and where the money is flowing to. In my considered view, this objective can be seamlessly achieved by a simple interoperability between FMDQ and CBN’s platforms. For market transparency and stakeholders’ confidence, it is advised that the investing public deserve more information on the shortcomings of the FMDQ fixed income trading and settlement system (if any) and provide clearer details on need for the planned takeover of the operation of fixed income market in Nigeria.

Again, a regulator that also becomes an operator can be likened to case of being the referee and player in a football setting. It is a known fact that investors prize independence and clarity. Once the CBN starts looking like an exchange and a settlement house, confidence will definitely take a hit. Moreover, the timing of this policy is also concerning because migrating an entire market in a matter of weeks is operationally risky at any rate. One system bug, one failed reconciliation, the market could freeze, liquidity could vanish and yields could spike leading to an avoidable confidence crisis.

Further, government bonds are capital market instruments hence, they are under the purview of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulation because they are listed and supervised by the SEC. Allowing the CBN operate both the trading and the post-trade functions in our financial system undermines the statutory authority of the capital market regulator. We look to see SEC’s response in the weeks ahead. Whilst the CBN is interested in control, and policy leverage, the market is propelled by trust, predictability, and rules that everyone respects. If participants feel the rules can change by fiat, they will demand a risk premium. That means higher yields for the government and more expensive borrowing for everyone else. In fact, if this process is not reversed or managed seamlessly, it has the potential of scaring away portfolio investors from the Nigerian market with profound implication on investor confidence with downside implications on key macroeconomic indicators.

Nigeria spent the last decade building an independent and vibrant market infrastructure. Thus, this latest move by the CBN risks dragging us back to the illiquidity, shallow and undiversified reality that characterised the system in pre-2014 era when the fixed income market was fully operated by the CBN.

The ideal path is cooperation by strengthening oversight of FMDQ (stricter governance) and interoperability between FMDQ and the CBN platforms. Investors, local and foreign, yearn for financial markets that they can trust, that they can predict, that everyone respects the rules, and not a controlled, ordered market.

Efforts to reconcile factions within the Rivers State political family gained momentum at the weekend as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the Rivers Elders Council met in Port Harcourt.

The meeting, which also had the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, in attendance, was convened at the instance of the Elders Council led by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.

It was described as a major step toward full unification of Wike’s political family in the state.

Sources said discussions centred on consolidating peace and resolving grey areas in earlier reconciliation efforts.

Governor Fubara was reportedly advised to hold consultations with the elders, lawmakers, and the PDP leadership before an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the resolution concerning Edison Ehie’s position as Chief of Staff to the governor, whose return to the position, a source said, was foreclosed.

Fubara was also advised to hold further consultations with the Elders Council, members of the State House of Assembly, and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

He was also said to have apologised to anyone he might have offended.

The Media Aide to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, who shared photos from the meeting, said it signified that ‘the political family is fully united.’

It was learnt that the parley paved the way for the governor to send a new list of commissioner-nominees to the House of Assembly.

Also present were members of the Rivers caucus in the National Assembly and several prominent politicians, including APC South-South Chairman Victor Giadom, who reportedly described the gathering as a ‘rainbow coalition’ led by Wike ahead of the 2027 elections.

Others at the meeting included Senators Magnus Abe, Barry Mpigi, George Sekibo, and Olaka Nwogu; Deputy Speaker of the Rivers Assembly, Dumle Maol; and Chief Sergeant Awuse.

Former Attorneys-General of the state – Frank Owhor, Ken Chikere, Worgu Boms, and Prof. Zacchaeus Adango (SAN) – were also in attendance, alongside PDP Chairman Chief Chukwuemeka Aaron, former Minister of Environment Udi Odum, and former Speaker Ikuinyi Ibani.

Federal appointees from Rivers State, such as Emma Deeyah (HYPREP), Dr. Chinyere Igwe (Ignatius Ajuru University), Chief Boma Iyaye (NDDC), Chief Chukwuemeka Woke (NOSDRA), and Dr. Fred Kpakol (HYPREP), also attended.

Crack detectives of the Lagos Police Command have arrested two suspected armed robbers in raid of a hotel used as criminal hideout,

The hotel, located around in Akala, Mushin, the police said, was raided after four robbery suspects were spotted around 10am on Friday by detectives at Empire Junction by Jibowu.

Spokeswoman for the police command, Superintendent of Police Abimbola Adebisi, said firearms, ammunition and other exhibits were recovered from the suspects.

According to the police, three of the suspects escaped upon sighting the police while one of them identified as Toheeb Adeboye, 21, was arrested.

‘A search on him led to the recovery of one locally made single-barrel cut-to-size gun, an English Barreter pistol with two 9mm live ammunition, and one locally made pistol with ten live cartridges, concealed in a bag.

‘During interrogation, the suspect confessed that the gang had just concluded a robbery at Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, and were on their way to New Supreme Hotel, Akala, Mushin, their regular hideout.’

‘Acting on this intelligence, operatives raided the hotel, recovered incriminating exhibits, including a laptop, charms, substances suspected to be Indian hemp, and hard drugs, and arrested one of the fleeing gang members, Ajayi Adeniyi, 33, who was found with a local pistol. The said hotel hideout has since been cordoned off,’ the police said.

Both suspects and the recovered exhibits have been transferred to the command headquarters, the case is being investigated while efforts are ongoing to track down the other fleeing members of the gang, said the police command.

Commending the team for their professionalism, the Commissioner of Police Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, urged hoteliers across the state to exercise due diligence in keeping proper records of customers.

He stressed that negligence could expose hotels to use as criminal hideouts, reassuring Lagosians that the command was committed to safeguarding lives and property.

The police boss urged residents to stay law-abiding, vigilant, and report suspicious activities promptly.

Team Brazil by Claure Group claimed its maiden victory at the E1 Lagos Grand Prix presented by FirstBank. They made history as the world’s first all-electric race boat Championship staged its inaugural race in Africa.

The action-packed race ended with Team Brazil by Claure Group taking the top step of the podium, fending off fierce challenges from Virat Kohli’s Team Blue Rising in second place and Team Drogba Global Africa in third.

The team’s first win followed a delay to racing as a tropical storm moved over Lagos Lagoon.

It was Team Brazil by Claure Group’s pilots Timmy Hansen, named PIF Pilot of the Race, and Ieva Millere-Hagin, who proved most adept at weathering the storm, building on its pole position secured in Saturday’s qualifying session.

The result extends the battle for the coveted Champions of the Water title as the season approaches its climax in Miami in November. Team Brady retakes the World Championship lead and continues its tense duel with Team Rafa.

The race brought thousands of fans to the waterfront, creating a festival atmosphere as Nigeria proudly hosted one of sport’s most innovative global Championships.

Football legend Didier Drogba, who played a key role in bringing E1 to Africa, attended the event along with co-owner Gabrielle Lemaire to support his team and be part of their podium celebrations.

Lagos, Africa’s most populous city, now joins an illustrious list of iconic global cities to have hosted an E1 race that includes Monaco, Dubrovnik, and Doha.

Speaking to journalists during the final of the competition ,f Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the first-of-its-kind event in Africa as a demonstration of innovation and progress.

He said the event showcased Lagos’ creativity, resilience and commitment to clean energy and sustainable solutions.

‘Hosting the E1 Grand Prix is not just about sport. It is about innovation, environmental responsibility, and putting Lagos on the global map for future-focused development,’ Governor Sanwo-Olu said.

Equally, Rodi Basso, founder and Chief Executive Officer of E1, was equally excited, saying: ‘We made history in Lagos today. This weekend’s race is a landmark moment for our World Championship and for Africa – proving the continent’s appetite for motorsport, sustainability, and technological innovation.’

‘Our vision is to build a legacy here, inspiring new generations of fans and paving the way for cleaner marine mobility. Today’s racing was electric in every sense.’

Following the historic stop in Lagos, the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF now turns its attention to a mouth-watering season finale in North America, where the battle for the 2026 Champions of the Water crown will reach its dramatic conclusion. With the Championship wide open, the Miami showdown promises to deliver the most thrilling racing yet as the teams fight to make history.