Category: Daily Trust

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, was among top government officials who attended the burial of Mama Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Mama Lydia died in August at the age of 83.

In his remarks at the burial service on Saturday, Akpabio extended his condolences to the grieving family, urging the APC National Chairman to take solace in the knowledge that his mother had chosen the right time to depart.

He said, ‘To our dear Mama, goodbye from all of us. Goodbye from Nigeria. To our National Chairman, be consoled in the knowledge that your mother chose the right time to depart – a time when her legacy continues to speak through you and through all the lives she touched.’

The Senate President also used the occasion to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for unifying and bringing together people fom different faiths, regions and political divides.

‘All former Governors of Plateau State are here today, irrespective of political party. The Governor of Plateau State, working closely with our National Chairman, has received you warmly, and the people of Plateau have shown tremendous affection and excitement at your visit.

‘As a politician, I observed the turnout from the airport to this venue – thousands of Plateau citizens lined the streets, waving and cheering. That alone speaks louder than any words: Mr. President, you have touched the hearts of the people of the Plateau.

‘This service today is a powerful reflection of unity, faith, and leadership – and it shows that God has truly registered your presence.’ Akpabio added.

Penultimate Tuesday’s fire outbreak at Afriland Towers, a six-storey building located on Broad Street, Lagos Island, reignited concerns on the preparedness and limitations in Nigeria’s emergency response and regulatory agencies. United Capital Plc, which occupies the third and fourth floors of the building, lost six of its employees while the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) lost four. During the incident, many occupants were reportedly trapped, with some jumping from windows to escape the inferno.

The Lagos State Government said the towers’ incident was triggered by a spark from inverter batteries located in the basement of the building. And as the incident laid bare, the deaths could have been avoided if the emergency services – National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Fire Service (FFS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Police, State Fire and emergency and regulatory services had acted differently.

Yet, emergency response incidents – fires, building collapses, and natural disasters – have always been with us. In 2024 alone, Lagos State recorded over 1,600 emergency incidents, including more than 340 truck-related crashes and over 260 fire outbreaks, many in multi-storey commercial buildings.

In the first five months of 2025, Nigeria recorded at least 25 major market fire incidents. They include the October 1 early morning fire which destroyed about 26 shops at the very busy Bariga Market in Lagos.

On February 18, 2025, fire at the Talata Mafara Central Market in Zamfara State killed three people with 50 sustaining injuries, while on February 23, over 100 shops were destroyed in a fire at the Central Market in Gusau, Zamfara capital. Sokoto Kara Market, a major hub for the sale of grains, suffered two major fire outbreaks in 2025, destroying at least 560 shops.

Lagos alone saw 19 building collapses in the first half of 2025, with over 350 deaths nationwide in the past decade. In February 2024, a shopping plaza under construction in Onitsha, Anambra State, collapsed, killing at least six people and trapping others in the debris. Another building collapsed in Awka, the state capital, a disturbing pattern. In Plateau State, 22 students died in school collapse as victims were trapped in dense rubble.

Generally, these incidents and deaths are blamed on prevention failures by supervisory agencies and ‘slow and inadequate’ response by emergency services. Across the country, accusations of slow response time from internal building safety officers to the statutory emergency services are frequent, resulting in some people sometimes jumping from burning buildings. The situation is exacerbated by lack of adequate equipment and due enforcement of safety precautions in designing, constructing and managing the buildings. For example, as of 2024, Lagos reportedly has just one functional crane for major rescue operations. Thus, the state relies more on private contractors for crucial equipment, which can be unreliable in high-risk emergencies where every second counts.

This is compounded by outdated and inefficient fire and other emergency vehicles, limited access to water especially hydrants, insufficient aerial ladders for high-rise buildings, including understaffing and low response time, with the average being between 30-60 minutes especially in a congested city like Lagos, instead of few minutes.

Most worrisome is that most public buildings and markets lack sprinklers, smoke detectors or clear emergency exits. In fact, a 2023 study in Abuja found that 70 per cent of shopping malls lack functional emergency response requirement systems.

Therefore, Daily Trust calls for stricter enforcement and mandatory compliance with all building and fire requirements by regulatory bodies. We also insist that in case of non-compliance, serious punishment for individual officials and agencies responsible for negligence or lack of oversight should be imposed according to specifications. Moreover, all regulations should be backed with relevant federal and state laws for enhanced enforcement of safety standards. The laws should also include mandatory improved funding for emergency response, and severe penalties for violations by developers and construction professionals.

We also call for improved power supply as fires have been traced to power supply issues. It is instructive that the fire at the Afriland Towers started from the batteries in the inverter room, a reminder that if there is stable supply of electricity, there would have been no need for such installation and regular use.

There should also be installation of fire/smoke detectors in buildings as most victims of fire die due to smoke inhalation and suffocation. Every building must have adequate fire safety system with regular maintenance and equipment, exit points, and an alarm system with regular emergency drills in order to acquaint all users of available safety measures. Also, all buildings must have internal first responder officials and equipment, meaning that for each high-rise building, there must be fire management facility personnel.

We also advice that every room in high-rise building must be equipped with safety rope ladder that can be deployed instantly in case of emergency. Such ladders, compact and easy to use, can provide individuals with a personal means of escape, independent of malfunctioning lifts or overcrowded stairwells.

In addition, the Federal Fire Service (FFS), in conjunction with their state counterparts, should implement nationwide audit of both public and private buildings and ensure that all safety standards are enforced while erring facilities are sanctioned. The FFS should also help in training facility managers just as it strengthens partnerships with regulatory agencies.

Specifically, there should also be diligent implementation of 2026 National Building Code regulations to ensure uniform standards for structural integrity, fire safety measures, electrical installations and accessibility alongside the seven regulatory bodies of the built environment.

Most importantly, we at Daily Trust call for synergy among emergency response agencies in order to minimise duplication of duties, wasted resources, and reduced efficiency which could weaken the overall response. There should be clear and crucial mandates towards the development and execution of integrated national strategies.

Our offices, market areas and other public places should not become death traps. Towards this, all professional and regulatory bodies must rise up and plug regulatory services failure. Human errors should not be allowed to destroy the nation’s human and material resources. There should be no issue of compromise of safety standards.

The most successful U-17 male national football team in the world, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, on Tuesday September 30, presented an unwanted 65th Independence Day celebration gift to the country when they failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON Championship.

The five-time world champions were beaten 2-1 by Ghana in the second semi-final of the WAFU-B Championship, which also serves as qualifiers for the U-17 AFCON. The host country, Cote d’Ivoire, had defeated Burkina Faso 2-1 in the first semi-final match. Therefore, both the Baby Elephants and the Black Starlets will represent WAFU-B at the continental showpiece where 10 teams would qualify for Qatar 2026 World Cup.

Following the pre-Independence mishap in Cote d’Ivoire, the Golden Eaglets have now failed twice in a row to qualify for the World Championship, a testament to the sharp decline in the fortunes of the cadet national team. Nigeria’s last appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup was in 2019 in Brazil, but the team failed to go beyond the round of 16.

In Brazil, the Coach Manu Garba led Eaglets topped their group but fell 1-3 to the Netherlands in the Round of 16. The 2021 edition was cancelled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which altered many human activities, but the World Championship returned in 2023 without the Golden Eaglets. Nigeria missed out of the party because the Nduka Ugbade squad had failed to reach the semi-finals at the 2023 AFCON. They ended their campaign at the quarter-final stage after losing 1-2 to Burkina Faso, the same team they had beaten by the same margin in the final of the WAFU B championship in Ghana. The failure to qualify for Indonesia 2023 led to the sack of Ugbade and other members of the technical crew.

After giving Ugbade the boot, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with a penchant for recycling failed coaches, brought back Manu Garba to continue from where he stopped in 2019. The appointment of the former World Cup winner was greeted with condemnation from most Nigerians who wanted a new generation football coach to be assigned the responsibility of discovering future Super Eagles.

Those who opposed the return of Manu Garba did so not out of hatred for the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) but because of their conviction that as long as the older generation of coaches are preferred to the emerging managers who have already proven their mettle with youth teams in the country, we shall continue to run in circles. Sadly, this is happening already as the once flourishing Golden Eaglets are no longer good enough to even qualify for the AFCON U-17 Championship.

Personally, I have so much respect for Coach Garba because of the meritorious services he has rendered to the nation in his active days as a player and now as a coach. As we all know, the 59-year-old Gombe State born football tactician is a proud winner of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013 and the prestigious AFCON U-20 title in 2015. He is also credited with discovering and nurturing Super Eagles stars like Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Nwakali, Isaac Success, Musa Mohammed, Musa Yahaya, etc.

However, nothing lasts forever. Just as we have tired legs, we also have tired brains. So, many are of the opinion that now is the time for Garba to honourably leave the stage because soon Nigerians would forget that he once gave them joyous moments. After all, it is said that a coach is as good as his last match. And what is Garba’s last match? It is the failure to qualify his team for the next FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

It may be argued that he is still a good coach, but between 2013 and now, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. It is either his hunger for results has diminished or he has consciously surrendered his team selection to greedy football agents. In fact, I was shocked when a known football agent in Nigeria wrote on behalf of Garba to invite players for screening in Uyo. You heard me right: a football agent invited players for screening on behalf of the coach. Therefore, the end result didn’t come to me as a surprise.

But soon after the Eaglets crashed out of the WAFU-B Championship on Tuesday, the coach who spoke during a press conference blamed his team’s failure on the ‘imbalance’ in the allocation of slots to the football zones in Africa. He said it was unfair for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to allocate only two slots to WAFU-B, which, according to him, is housing the continent’s most formidable and successful cadet national teams.

It will be recalled that in CAF’s allocation of slots for the U-17 AFCON, WAFU-A with eight countries have three slots; WAFU-B with seven countries have two; North Africa Zone with five countries have three slots; the Central Zone with eight countries have two; East Zone with 10 countries have three slots while the South Zone with 12 countries have three, making a total of 16 teams for the continental tournament.

Coach Garba, therefore, is advocating that one more slot be allocated to WAFU-B comprising Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, Togo, and Benin Republic. His argument is that going by the present arrangement, CAF is denying the continent of credible representation at the World Cup. The embattled coach has a valid point because Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso have the potential to perform on the world’s biggest stage at any given opportunity. Unfortunately, if the current ‘evil route’ to the AFCON U-17 is maintained, every year, the world would be denied the opportunity of watching some of the prodigious talents from Africa because two out of the four heavyweights must drop out.

Even as I fully support Garba’s call for CAF to increase the slots for WAFU-B from two to at least three, I still insist that he has failed the country again. Considering Nigeria’s pedigree as the most successful team in the world cadet championship and the talents that abound in the country, we shouldn’t beg for more slots for us to qualify for the AFCON. In Cote d’Ivoire, two tickets were at stake, yet the Eaglets failed to pick one. Where is the guarantee that if the slots are eventually increased, we would easily clinch one?

Well, instead of crying over spilt milk, let us demand positive changes from the concerned authorities. The NFF should find a young and knowledgeable coach like Olumide Ajibolade of Beyond Limits to replace Manu Garba. Apart from Ajibolade, there are so many other new generation coaches who can make a difference. Coach Garba, too, should know that he is gradually becoming a serial failure, which is not good for his reputation. Therefore, he shouldn’t hesitate to hand over the baton to a younger colleague when asked to do so.

We have to act fast because as we continue to toy around with our youth national teams, we are inevitably laying the foundation for more future catastrophes in football. It is, indeed, worrisome that Nigeria is no longer developing future Super Eagles players. Instead of going forward, we are consistently running backwards.

Leading smartphone brand Infinix Nigeria has once again proven its commitment to Nigerians, as over 15 winners emerge from the summer sales promo across Nigeria.

The summer sales promo, which ran from August to September 6, 2025, offered customers lots of benefits, including massive discounts, instant gifts, a chance to win household appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, gas cookers, and the ultimate grand prize of a fully loaded solar system worth ?2.9 million in a nationwide raffle draw. In addition, Infinix hosted live sales events across its social media platforms, where exclusive discount codes were made available to participants, providing them with added savings on flagship devices such as the HOT 60 Pro and HOT 60 Pro+.

Beyond the discounts, Infinix ensured that customers went home with instant gifts like the Infinix Smart Watch, Infinix Xe33 Earbud and Infinix-branded gift items on purchases of the NOTE 50 series, HOT 60 Pro, HOT 60 Pro+, SMART 10, HOT 60i, and other models. In the end, the promo recorded winners from multiple regions in Nigeria, ensuring that customers nationwide felt the impact. From Lagos to Abuja, Ibadan to Kano, Kaduna to Onitsha, and Port Harcourt.

Reflecting on the success of the promo, Oluwayemisi Ode, Integrated Marketing Communications and PR Manager at Infinix Nigeria, said: ”The Summer Sales Promo was designed to show appreciation for our customers nationwide, and the response was overwhelming. We are excited to keep delivering value in innovative ways, creating shared experiences, rewarding loyalty, and building stronger connections with our customers’.

The promo encouraged Nigerians to shop smart, save big, and enjoy exclusive gifts across both physical stores and online platforms. It was more than just a sales promo, but a nationwide experience that blended entertainment, shopping, and community.

For more information and exciting news, follow @infinixnigeria on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok.

A tanker inferno in the wee-hours of Friday left one person injured and three vehicles burnt along the Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway in Ogun State.

It was gathered that the tanker carrying 30,000 litres of fuel fell on its side and spilled its content at the Abeokuta-Kobape-Siun-Sagamu/Interchange stretch of the highway.

The spokesman of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, in a traffic alert, said the development resulted into a fire outbreak.

He blamed the crash on speeding and loss of control on the part of the driver.

Akinbiyi said, ‘The effect of the unfortunate incident also extended to the burning of a truck and tow vehicle along the roadside, as well as the destruction of a cable supplying electricity to Mowe and environs.’

Speaking with our correspondent, Akinbiyi confirmed that one woman sustained injury while trying to rescue her children near the inferno.

He said some properties were lost to the incident, but no one died.

Also, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun command, said no casualty was recorded in the incident.

The command, however, said the three vehicles involved in the incident were ‘burnt beyond recognition.’

Controversy has trailed the plan by the daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Iyaloja-General, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to inaugurate Pastor Josephine Ivbazebule as Iyaloja Iyeki-General (general head) of all markets in Edo State.

Mrs Tinubu-Ojo had on Wednesday, in the company of market women and the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, visited the Oba of Benin palace to inform Oba Ewuare II that she was in the state to inaugurate Ivbazebule.

The term ‘Iyaloja’ is a Yoruba title that translates to ‘Mother of the market’. It is a highly respected market leadership position in Yoruba culture, particularly in southwestern Nigeria.

The Iyaloja serves as the head of market women and traders in a community, overseeing trade activities, resolving disputes among traders, and representing their interests before traditional rulers and government authorities.

The Iyaloja is often deeply influential, managing market affairs, enforcing rules, setting levies, and ensuring fair practices.

The current Iyaloja-General, Mrs Tinub-Ojo, took over after the demise of her mother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji. Shortly after informing the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II explained to Tinubu-Ojo that Iyaloja-General, also known as Iyeki-General nomenclature ‘is alien to Benin culture and tradition.’

According to him, the Iyeki performed certain cultural roles on his behalf in the markets besides coordinating the affairs of traders.

‘In Benin, we have a special place for women. Iyaloja, meaning Iyeki-general as they say, is a bit alien to us here in Benin.

‘I know this is an association. You gather yourselves together to be more powerful and harness the power of women to help the political class.

‘You are in the home of culture. Iyeki has a special relationship with the palace,’ he said.

While educating Mrs Folashade on assigned roles of the various market women leaders (Iyeki), he said they would usually go round market shrines, report to the spirits by serving as spiritual rails, in addition to coordinating market women on behalf of the palace, whose authority the markets were founded.

Weekend Trust learnt that the monarch didn’t reject the president’s daughter but the Iyaloja nomenclature, which he said was alien to Benin custom and tradition.

The development has, however, been raising dust among various groups in the state.

The choice of Pastor Josephine Ivbazebule as Iyeki-General, who is from the Edo Central senatorial, is raising controversy as Benin group claimed that the position is for Benin indigenes since the holder of such title has spiritual duties to perform on behalf of the Oba.

Shortly after the incident, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) issued a statement signed by Dan Osa-Ogbegie, its publicity secretary, noting that Edo will not permit the desecration of its customs, and called on every Edo person to stand with the palace

‘Market leadership in Benin has its own native process. Iyeki (market leaders) are selected by market women and confirmed by the palace, not parachuted in by outsiders,’ the PDP stated.

Also, a Benin socio-cultural group, the Aiguobasinmwin Movement Worldwide, dismissed the reported inauguration of Pastor Josephine as an Iyaloja (Iyeki), saying ‘she is not qualified to hold the title under Benin tradition.’

The president of the group, Mr Iyamu Osaro and secretary-general, Mr Osayuki-Osa Benson, in a statement, noted that the institution of Iyeki was rooted in the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom and not subject to political or individual manipulation.

‘The position of Iyeki is reserved strictly for Benin women. Benin women should begin the process of electing their Iyeki in line with tradition and cultural norms in preparation for the final selection of an apex Iyeki,’ the group noted.

Meanwhile, a Benin indigene who gave his name as Osaauwa, told Weekend Trust that the monarch didn’t reject Tinubu-Ojo as a person but the Iyaloja title.

‘The palace and market coexist; they don’t exist in isolation, so Iyeki requires an indigene of Benin because of the fear of a non-indigene polluting our culture,’ he said.

He alleged that Tinubu-Ojo was trying to use the Iyeki-General as a political group to aggregate support ahead of 2027.

‘The Oba’s position is clear: there is no Iyeki-general in Benin culture. Each market in Benin has its own Iyeki, and if you are the Iyeki of Oregbeni market, you represent the palace and take care of the Oba traditional shrine and customs,’ he added.

He said that according to the custom of the land, as the Iyeki of one market, you cannot move to any other market in Benin kingdom claiming to be in charge, adding that Iyeki exists at different levels and in different markets, stressing, ‘There is nothing like Iyeki-general or Iyaloja-general in Benin kingdom.’

The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) has expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady and wife of the president, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her ‘unprecedented’ fundraising initiative aimed at completing the long-abandoned National Library of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Lawal Umar, and Secretary, Dr. Amogu Uma Kalu, the association described the First Lady’s gesture as ‘a selfless and visionary act of patriotism’ that has rekindled hope in the country’s educational infrastructure.

‘Your Excellency, we are deeply moved and inspired by your innovative approach to securing essential resources,’ the statement read.

Recall, rather than receive personal gifts to mark her 65th birthday, Senator Tinubu requested well-wishers and donors to contribute to the National Library Project Fund. The strategy, which transformed a private celebration into a national call to action, has so far yielded N20.7 billion, with the donation account expected to remain open until December 2025.

According to the NLA, ‘The funds raised through this noble initiative represent more than just financial contributions; but the collective goodwill and belief of the Nigerian people in the potential of a national library – a belief you, Your Excellency, have effectively energised.’

The National Library project, which has suffered decades of delay and underfunding, has long been a source of disappointment to stakeholders in the education sector. The NLA noted that Senator Tinubu’s intervention has ‘injected vital momentum into this crucial project’ and ‘shone a powerful spotlight on the importance of knowledge, literacy, and national infrastructure for intellectual growth.’

‘When completed, this building will be the epicentre of intellectual inquiry, a repository of our nation’s history and knowledge, and a crucial resource center for students, legislators, researchers, and every Nigerian citizen,’ the association stated.

The NLA also called on the Federal Government and National Assembly to commit to sustained operational funding, stressing that ‘generous, long-term funding is essential for the library to fulfil its mandate.’

The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), in partnership with Sterling One Foundation and with support from Agence Française de Développement (AFD), has launched the Women Investment Readiness Accelerator (WIRA) programme to strengthen women-led enterprises across the country.

The initiative, unveiled in Lagos, is aimed at helping women entrepreneurs overcome barriers, such as difficulty accessing finance, limited mentorship and inadequate business support services. It will provide training, guidance on accessing institutional funding, and market linkages to enable women-owned businesses to scale and compete effectively.

The managing director/chief executive officer of DBN, Dr Tony Okpanachi, said the bank remained committed to fostering inclusive economic growth through support for women entrepreneurs.

‘At DBN, we believe that empowering women entrepreneurs is not just the right thing to do, it is smart economics. With the support of Agence Française de Développement, programmes like WIRA can provide the guidance, mentorship and access to capital that women-led businesses need to thrive, scale and create lasting impact across Nigeria’s economy,’ he said.

The chief executive officer of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, stressed ‘Women are a powerful force in Nigeria’s economy, yet across the continent they face a $42 billion annual financing gap, receive less than 10 per cent of total investment despite owning nearly 60 per cent of small and medium enterprises and secure only around 5 per cent of venture capital when led by female chief executive officers. With WIRA, we are going beyond just helping them stay afloat, we are giving them the tools, connections and confidence they need to grow, compete and succeed on a bigger stage.’

The programme, which combines training, mentorship and market linkages, is expected to equip more women-led businesses with the capacity to expand and contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s economic development.

During the summer Liverpool strengthened upfront bringing in Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to add firepower alongside Mo Salah. Wirtz was hauled off the field early by Arne Slot for the seventh time this season as the £116miliion Bundesliga player added little to the attacking midfield. Fortunately for Liverpool Dominic Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch are dependable, strong and creative plus also adding goal threats of their own. They covered well for Wirtz.

As a successful player at Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz would collect the ball in midfield and move past players before delivering an incisive pass into the penalty area or taking a shot himself.

This season all that Bundesliga skill has deserted him and he failed to have any impact during the loss to Crystal Palace. The Premier League is more physically demanding for players and incoming European talent often find it difficult to adapt. Time and again Wirtz was simply pushed off the ball.

It is at the back where Liverpool have come mainly unstuck and last weekend Crystal Palace cruelly exposed the Red’s defensive failings.

This week in training, Arne Slot split his squad into two, concentrating on working with Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahim Konate, M Kerkez and Conor Bradley. Konate is his main worry. The strong, tough defender has lost his form and Crystal Palace forwards Jean-Philppe Mateta, Yeremy Pino and Ismaila Sarr often left him behind after taking him on one on one. That is what Slot is worried about and cost Liverpool the game.

Fans ask United players ‘where is your fight?’

Manchester United have yet to win consecutive games with Ruben Amorim in the manager’s chair. He often says his United team suffer from bad luck but that excuse is running thin with most followers of the club. As the players went to wave to their supporters at the end of the match, which saw them beaten 3-1, many fans pointed to the badge on their shirts and shrugged their shoulders asking ‘where is your fight and passion?’ Many gave rude hand gestures and many just shouted complaints at the players.

Brentford fans sang that old favourite towards losing opposition coaches ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning.’

Amorim points out that he still has the backing of Sir James Ratcliffe’s INEOS Group because he can show them that United have improved on chances created and shots on target. However, he fails to point out that since he took over at Old Trafford in November 2024 the team has conceded the first goal in 21 Premier League matches and in six of those the goals came within the first ten minutes.

Amorim came under severe criticism for playing Mason Mount out of position as a left wing-back. The amazing thing is that it was the second time the midfielder had been forced to play in that position. It appears that Amorim is quickly losing the faith, loyalty and respect of his players with dressing room body language very obviously one of frustration.

After the game and being questioned about his position at the club he went on the attack commenting, ‘I am always comfortable in the job and I continue to give 100 per cent to my job. I’m never concerned about my job. I’m not that kind of guy.’

He would do well to think about his situation because Graham Potter was sacked at West Ham after 26 per cent wins and Amorim is only a per cent point ahead at 27 per cent.

Personally, I think the new management has made so many mistakes since they took over and they don’t want to be criticised for appointing the wrong manager.that in my opinion is why Amorim is still at Old Trafford. But how long will it last?

I have received word that former Real Madrid and French legend Zinedine Zidane has been spoken to about the possibility of moving to Manchester.

In another possible twist to the story ex-Barcelona player legend and former manager Xavi has expressed interest in United should Amorim be shown the door. He has been without a club for a year now.

Saliba commits.now for Saka

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he would love Bukayo Saka to follow William Saliba and sign a new contract. His current contract, signed in 2023, has only two years before it expires. Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have all committed themselves to the Gunners and signed. Real Madrid showed an interest in Saliba but after he sat down with Arteta he said he wanted to stay with Arsenal for the future and win the league this season.

Guardiola pays tribute to Kyle Walker

Kyle Walker’s return to the Etihad did not go Burnley’s way. After a star-studded career at Manchester City the right back decided to take up a new challenge, trying his luck in Italy at Milan but then returned to the north east of England with Burnley. Kyle won 14 major honours in eight years and Pep Guardiola described him as ‘one of the greatest full backs ever.’ He said, ‘I don’t judge behavior over a short length of time. He was an unbelievable player for us. One of the greatest full backs ever. I slept like a baby for the games with Kyle in the team. He is one of the greatest too in terms of consistency and no injuries and playing every single game. An incredible figure in the locker room. In eight years, six Premier League titles, a Champions League, many other titles and always being there in good moments and bad moments.’

Liverpool look after Diogo Jota’s family

I was delighted to see that Liverpool owners Fenway Sports are going to pay Diogo Jota’s contract to his family. Arne Slot said FSG will look after Diogo’s widow Rute Carduso and his three children after the striker died in a car accident along with his brother. Diogo’s contract paid him £140k a week which means his family will receive approximately £14million over two years.

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed an alarming wave of emigration popularly referred to as the ‘Japa’ phenomenon. Doctors, nurses, engineers, academics, and even skilled artisans are leaving the country in droves, seeking better opportunities abroad. While migration has always been part of human history, the scale and speed at which Nigeria is losing its skilled workforce has reached a level that now threatens national development. The brain drain is no longer just a talking point in urban conversations; it has become a crisis that cuts across households, communities, and critical sectors of the economy.

The health sector is perhaps the hardest hit. According to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), tens of thousands of doctors have left Nigeria for countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United States in the past decade. Hospitals across Nigeria are grappling with a severe shortage of healthcare professionals, leading to long waiting times, overworked staff, and increased patient mortality. Many nurses now see foreign recruitment agencies as their gateway to a dignified life, leaving local hospitals understaffed. For patients in rural areas, accessing basic healthcare has become an uphill task.

The education sector is also bleeding. University lecturers, frustrated by poor wages, dilapidated facilities, and constant strikes, are relocating abroad where their skills are better appreciated. This exodus has worsened the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria, as institutions struggle to retain experienced faculty members. The result is a growing gap in mentorship for young scholars and declining global rankings for Nigerian universities. Parents who can afford it increasingly send their children abroad for education, further depleting confidence in the local system.

Technology and engineering are not spared. Nigeria’s young tech talents, once hailed as the pride of Africa’s Silicon Savannah, are being lured abroad by multinational firms offering better pay, stable infrastructure, and access to global networks. Startups that could have thrived locally lose their best hands to overseas opportunities. Similarly, engineers in the oil, gas, and construction sectors find little incentive to remain in a system plagued by erratic policies, corruption, and limited innovation.

The push factors behind this mass migration are well known: insecurity, high unemployment, inflation, poor working conditions, and lack of trust in governance. For many, the decision to leave is not merely about money but about the pursuit of dignity, safety, and hope. Young professionals often describe Nigeria as a place where talent is stifled and dreams are deferred, whereas other countries offer a clearer pathway to personal growth and professional fulfilment.

The impact on families and communities is profound. While remittances from abroad have become a lifeline for many households, the emotional toll of separation cannot be overlooked. Parents are separated from children, communities lose vibrant youth, and the nation loses the very people it needs to build its future. The irony is that Nigeria spends significant resources training these professionals, only for them to contribute their expertise to foreign economies.

Economists warn that the long-term implications of unchecked brain drain are dire. A shrinking skilled workforce will stifle innovation, reduce productivity, and weaken critical sectors like health and education. Without urgent intervention, Nigeria risks becoming a nation heavily dependent on imported expertise, undermining its sovereignty and capacity to compete in a globalised world.

To stem the tide, experts suggest a multifaceted approach. First, the government must prioritise investment in education and healthcare, ensuring professionals are adequately remunerated and provided with conducive working environments. Second, policies that promote entrepreneurship and job creation must be strengthened to give young people reasons to stay. Third, restoring security and trust in governance will reduce the sense of hopelessness that drives people abroad. Finally, engaging the Nigerian diaspora in nation-building-through knowledge transfer, partnerships, and incentives-could turn the brain drain into a ‘brain gain.’