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NAFA unveils season 4 of secondary school flag football league

The Nigerian American Football Association (NAFA) has officially unveiled Season Four of the Nigerian Secondary School Flag Football League (NSSFFL), marking another step forward for grassroots sports development in the country.

The launch took place on Thursday at Haven Tower, Agidingbi, Ikeja, with top officials including NAFA Secretary General and spokesperson Lawrence Ojaideh; Abiodun Bello, representing Nigeria School Sport Federation (NSSF) President Olabisi Joseph; league coordinator Abe Oluwatobi; and Samson Akapo from the Lagos State Sports Commission.

This season will feature schools from 11 states – Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Benue, Kwara, Rivers, Ogun, Cross River, Abuja, and Lagos, with Lagos defending both the male and female titles. Preliminary rounds will run from October 27 to November 6 across the states before the national finals.

Ogun will kick off the preliminaries on October 27, followed by Oyo and Ekiti on October 28, Ondo and Rivers on October 29, and Akwa Ibom and Kwara on October 30. Abuja and Lagos will host their games on November 4, with Benue and Lagos concluding the preliminaries on November 6.

In his address, Ojaideh said the league has grown from about 900 student-athletes in its debut year in 2022 to more than 6,000 participants nationwide.

‘The NSSFFL is now Africa’s largest school flag football competition and a hub for youth engagement, sports education, and athletic discovery,’ Ojaideh said.

He announced the upcoming Nigeria Collegiate Flag Football League (NCFFL), a partnership between NAFA and the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA), to provide a pathway for secondary school players to continue the sport at the tertiary level.

Ojaideh also noted that some former NSSFFL players have represented Nigeria at the inaugural IFAF Africa Flag Football Championship, where both the men’s and women’s teams won gold medals.

NAFA acknowledged the role of the Nigeria School Sport Federation and sponsors including Browns Nigeria (in partnership with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns), Unique Open University, Allez Charis Gas Limited, Zibwe, Stretford Hill Limited, and the Gridiron Gems initiative, which promotes female participation in flag football.

‘Together, we are building more than a league – we are shaping a movement that proves Nigeria is ready for American football,’ Ojaideh said.

Reyes: ‘It will take some time’ to craft rules on livestreaming ICI hearings

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Chair Andres Reyes Jr. said on Friday that ‘it will take some time’ for the commission to have rules and procedures for livestreaming its hearings because they are ‘undermanned’ with lawyers to process it.

Reyes said this after he said on Thursday that the commission would need to study and draft the rules of procedure and parameters before it goes on livestreaming its hearings.

‘I don’t know. It will take some time,’ Reyes noted when asked ‘how soon’ the ICI would have the livestreaming procedures.

According to the ICI chair, they have only 13 lawyers to handle the crafting of the rules-five originally from the ICI and eight from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

‘We have to look at the procedures of all the courts, all the heading bodies. We have to remember we only have five lawyers. So, it’ll take some time,’ Reyes said.

‘We borrowed eight from the PAO. So, now we have 13. But we’re undermanned. But we will try to finish it,’ he added.

The ICI is currently conducting an investigation into the massive infrastructure anomalies across the country.

Lagos demands renewed integrity, discipline from Public Servants

The Lagos State Government has called on public servants to renew their commitment to integrity, professionalism, and the core ethics that define effective governance, warning that service to citizens must be anchored on discipline and accountability.

Speaking during a one-day in-house training organised by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Olayinka Ojo, said the state’s progress depends on a dedicated and value-driven workforce that fully understands its role in serving the public interest.

The training, themed ‘Basic Knowledge, Norms and Ethics of the Public Service for Clerical Officers, Drivers, Cleaners, Security and Ad-hoc Staff,’ was organised in collaboration with Alpha Glory Consulting to strengthen work ethics and enhance productivity among staff.

Represented by the Director of Economic Intelligence, Mr. Alao Akinkunmi, Mrs. Ojo described public service as a moral contract between the government and the people, stressing that the behaviour and attitude of every civil servant directly affect public trust.

‘Our actions and conduct reflect the image of the Lagos State Government. We must consistently demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and respect for the values that guide the public service,’ she said.

She noted that the workshop provided a platform for staff to reassess their responsibilities, identify gaps, and share ideas that would foster a culture of excellence within the ministry.

‘By deepening our understanding of the service’s core values, we can strengthen teamwork, improve service delivery, and drive sustainable development across the state,’ she added.

Earlier, the Director of Administration and Human Resource, Mr. Ademola Awolesi, who coordinated the training, said the exercise was a deliberate investment in the professional growth of staff.

He reminded participants that the resources used for the training could have been channelled into other needs such as medical supplies, underscoring the government’s commitment to staff development.

‘You must take this training seriously and make the most of it. The facilitators here are libraries of knowledge-learn, ask questions, and apply what you gain in your daily work,’ Awolesi urged.

He commended the facilitators, Mr. Michael Dawodu, a retired Permanent Secretary, and Mr. Yinka Kilanko, for their depth of expertise and contributions to public service capacity building.

Participants, numbering in their hundreds, expressed gratitude to the ministry’s leadership for the initiative and called for such training programmes to be held regularly to keep workers motivated, skilled, and aligned with the state’s vision of efficient service delivery.

Pastors will soon start killing themselves – Joshua Selman warns

Popular preacher and founder of Eternity Network International, Apostle Joshua Selman, has raised the alarm over what he described as a dangerous wave of hatred and dishonour spreading among Nigerian pastors and young ministers.

Speaking at the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) 40th Anniversary Conference on Thursday, Selman lamented that many clergymen have turned zeal into rivalry, warning that if the trend continues unchecked, ‘pastors will soon start killing themselves.’

‘There is widespread communication of dishonour – dishonour to fathers, dishonour to contemporaries,’ he said. ‘People have spiritualised lack of manners, and just because we quote scripture around it doesn’t make it right.’

Selman noted that the mismanagement of zeal among his generation of ministers has led to unhealthy competition and bitterness disguised as passion for God.

‘The level of growing hatred in the body of Christ is alarming. It has even become a human rights issue on social media. We cannot claim to love Jesus so much that we begin to destroy one another as proof of our love. Something is wrong with our understanding and zeal,’ he warned.

The cleric also expressed concern about the mental health of pastors, urging the church to look beyond spirituality and address trauma and unresolved pain that many preachers carry to the pulpit.

‘Many pastors have spiritualised trauma trauma from childhood and they bring it to the pulpit, preaching it as sermons,’ Selman said, calling for introspection and healing within the ministry.

Suspected food poisoning downs over 110 students in Palompon, Leyte

More than 110 students from the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation (MSEUF), based in Lucena City, Quezon province, were hospitalized after suffering from alleged food poisoning during an educational tour in Kalanggaman Island, Palompon, Leyte, on Wednesday.

According to MSEUF’s official statement on Thursday, the affected students and faculty members were brought to the Immaculate Conception Hospital in Baybay City after experiencing symptoms of foodborne illness hours after returning from their island trip.

All second-year Tourism and Hospitality Management students and faculty members involved are now in stable condition and recovering well, the university said.

‘Most students have fully recovered, while others are awaiting medical clearance,’ it added in its advisory.

The incident reportedly involved 177 students and 10 faculty members managed by IM Travel Corporation, a tour agency based in Tacloban City. The students were served meals during the trip, catered by Blitz Grill, a Palompon-based food service provider.

The local government of Palompon expressed deep concern over the incident, saying it has launched a joint inspection and investigation through its Municipal Health Office, Business Permits and Licensing Office, Municipal Council for Culture, Arts, and Tourism, and Municipal Environment and Eco-Tourism Office.

‘A thorough investigation is still ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident and to establish accountability,’ the LGU said in a statement.

It added: ‘We continue to monitor the situation and extend our full cooperation to all concerned agencies and parties. The safety, health, and welfare of all visitors to Kalanggaman Island remain our top priority.’

In a separate statement, Warblitz Martinez, owner of Blitz Grill, denied any wrongdoing, stating that their catering service complies with food safety and sanitation standards. Martinez said all 187 guests were served lunch between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and had already returned to shore by 2:00 p.m. without any complaints.

‘The reported health concerns were raised almost 12 hours later, after the guests had already eaten dinner elsewhere,’ Martinez said. ‘Based on medical facts, food poisoning symptoms normally appear within one to six hours if caused by contaminated food.’

Martinez added that Blitz Grill has been operating for 22 years with a clean record and is fully cooperating with authorities to ensure a fair and thorough investigation. ‘We kindly ask the public not to jump to conclusions or spread unverified accusations while the investigation is ongoing,’ she said.

Meanwhile, the MSEUF extended its gratitude to the Baybay City government, hospital personnel, and local agencies for their swift response, as well as to the Lucena City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit for their readiness to assist.

Kalanggaman Island is a small yet world-renowned sandbar island in Palompon, known for its pristine white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and picturesque sandbars that extend on both ends of the islandKalanggaman is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas and is managed by the local government unit (LGU) of Palompon./coa

U.S terminates all trade talks with Canada

President Donald Trump has abruptly terminated all trade negotiations with Canada, citing a $53.5 million Ontario government advertisement featuring former U.S. President Ronald Reagan as ‘fraudulent’ and misleading.

The ad, launched by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, highlighted the potential negative impact of U.S. tariffs on American families, farmers, and businesses. Using excerpts from a 1987 radio address by Reagan, the commercial warned that high tariffs ultimately backfire, shrinking markets and threatening jobs.

Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to condemn the campaign, writing: ‘The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.’

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute also criticized the ad, saying it misrepresents Reagan’s words and that Ontario did not seek permission to use or edit the remarks.

The announcement intensifies tensions between the U.S. and Canada, coming as Prime Minister Mark Carney attempts to navigate a new bilateral relationship following Trump’s re-election. The president has already imposed tariffs on lumber, aluminum, steel, and automobiles and announced a 25% levy on heavy trucks beginning November 1.

Ford defended the ad, stating it is factual and educational. ‘We’re going to repeat that message to every Republican district across the country,’ he said, adding that the commercial is ‘not nasty’ and underscores Reagan as ‘the best president America has ever seen.’

The dispute puts Carney under domestic pressure, with critics warning that failure to secure concessions could hurt Canadian industries already strained by U.S. tariffs. Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre urged the prime minister to return from Washington with tangible results.

The controversy comes amid Trump’s repeated threats to annex Canada or make it the ’51st state,’ rhetoric that has unsettled Canadian leaders, including former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

’We don’t know where Sowore is’ – Lawyer alleges after re-arrest

The lawyer representing activist Omoyele Sowore has accused the Nigerian Police of violently re-arresting his client moments after a magistrate granted him bail.

In a video circulating online, the lawyer said that Sowore, who was granted bail along with 13 others arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest, was forcefully dragged into a police vehicle by officers led by CSP Ilyasu Barau.

‘We never heard of a protest being illegal; if it’s illegal, it is illegal. If it’s not, then it’s not. But today, the judiciary disappointed the police,’ the lawyer said. ‘They have been masquerading as law enforcers and blackmailing defendants, claiming they violated a court order. But the magistrate courageously granted bail.’

The lawyer claimed that about 50 police officers were present at the Kuje Magistrate Court while his team worked to finalize Sowore’s bail conditions. He alleged that CSP Barau and his men attacked Sowore, physically restraining him and refusing to show any remand order.

‘In the course of that, they descended on everybody. I was injured. As we speak, we don’t know where he is,’ the lawyer added. ‘We are still following up on the bail perfection. If we perfect the bail today, the police must justify keeping him. This is illegality.’

Sowore was arrested on October 23 while attending the terrorism trial of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He and the other defendants were initially charged with unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.

The police have not yet commented on the incident.

Araneta City opts for renewable energy from First Gen

Lopez-led First Gen Corp. has bagged a supply deal with Araneta City (ACI Inc.), which is one of the first mixed-use hubs to embrace retail aggregation.

The company on Thursday said the agreement, inked last week, would cover the electricity needs of more than 200 retail and service establishments. These are tenants at Ali Mall and New Frontier Theater. The supply contract also covers 18 residential towers of Manhattan Gardens.

The government’s retail aggregation program allows multiple consumers sharing a common area to pool their demand to hit the 500-kilowatt minimum threshold.

First Gen said the electricity supply would be sourced from its Pantabangan-Masiway and Casecnan Hydroelectric Power Complex in Nueva Ecija. This facility has 300 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity.

‘We are privileged to transition Ali Mall, an iconic retail landmark, to retail aggregation and renewable energy,’ Carlo Vega, First Gen chief customer engagement officer, said in a statement.

Antonio Mardo, senior vice president of operations at ACI Inc., meanwhile, also signaled interest in expanding their partnership.

Strategic move

‘Each of our properties has energy demands. Switching to retail aggregation and using renewable energy is a strategic move that will enable us to improve energy efficiency and effectively manage our electricity costs,’ Mardo said.

First Gen’s renewable energy portfolio includes 1,300 MW of capacity from geothermal, solar and wind power facilities. It also has interests in four natural gas-fired power plants with a combined capacity of 2,017 MW.

By 2030, the group hopes to scale up its portfolio to 13,000 megawatts. First Gen banking on the expansion of its geothermal projects to reach the goal.

The company finished the first half with an almost flat growth in net income, which was pegged at P8.6 billion. This, as gains from its hydro were not enough to offset its weaker geothermal and gas businesses.

Putin breaks silence on Trump’s Russia sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has broken his silence on the U.S. sanctions targeting Moscow’s oil industry, calling them ‘unfriendly’ and insisting Russia will not bow to foreign pressure, even as the country faces mounting economic strain.

The sanctions, announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, blacklist Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, freezing their U.S. assets and banning all transactions with American firms.

Secondary sanctions also threaten foreign banks that process Russian oil trades.

Together, these companies produce over 3 million barrels of oil daily roughly five percent of the global supply and fund much of Russia’s war efforts.

Trump’s move comes after the collapse of planned peace talks between him and Putin in Budapest, with the White House citing Moscow’s ‘lack of serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.’

The sanctions immediately sent global oil prices surging nearly five percent, while China froze Russian purchases and India, Russia’s largest remaining buyer, prepares to slash imports.

Speaking in Moscow on Thursday, Putin condemned the measures but tried to project confidence. ‘Dialogue is always better than war,’ he said, while stressing that Russia’s economy will withstand external pressure. His deputy, Dmitry Medvedev, meanwhile described Trump as a ‘talkative peacemaker’ who has now fully embarked on a ‘warpath against Russia.’

The Kremlin is also facing renewed scrutiny after Russian warplanes again breached NATO airspace. Lithuania reported that two Russian aircraft, a Su-30 fighter and an Il-78 refueling tanker, entered its airspace for 18 seconds before being intercepted by Spanish jets. Russia denied the violation, claiming the planes were on a ‘training flight’ from Kaliningrad.

Despite Putin’s confident front, the sanctions strike a significant blow to Russia’s finances, with oil revenues making up roughly a third of the national budget. Industry insiders say India’s expected reduction in imports could further squeeze Moscow’s coffers, forcing state refiners to reroute supply chains away from the blacklisted companies.

On the diplomatic front, Trump continues to push for a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. Reports suggest his recent meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky descended into a heated exchange, as Trump pressed Ukraine to accept Russia’s conditions, though the U.S. President denies the claim.

Lasisi Elenu announces arrival of second child

Nigerian comedian, actor and content creator Nosa Afolabi, popularly known as Lasisi Elenu has announced the arrival of his second child.

The comedian, on his Instagram page on Thursday, announced that his wife Nonso Adibua, delivered a baby boy. While expressing his joy and excitement, Lasisi gushed over the newborn named River.

‘Meet our son RIVER ELROI. Our River of flowing waters is here, our joy, our testimony, our gift from God,’ he stated.

This announcement quickly stirred happy reactions from his fans. They congratulated him for the new addition to his family.