Category: Daily Trust

Sporting Lagos have topped the Super 4 tournament to win the 2025/26 Nigeria National League NNL title at the Remo Stars stadium in Ikenne on Friday.

The privately owned Lagos-based club suffered a 1-0 loss to their fierce rivals also privately owned, but claimed the NNL title on superior goals difference.

The Super 4 pitted winners of the four different NNL conference together in a league format, and winner of Conference B Sporting Lagos, piped Conference A winners Inter Lagos to the title.

Hassan Bashiru scored the only goal of the match on seven minutes, slotting home an emphatic finish to give rays of hope to Inter Lagos. However, the rays dimmed as the match wore on as Sporting were resolute in defence and limited their opponents to long range efforts.

The hope was extinguished at the final whistle as Jeffery Buter’s Sporting Lagos lads dragged themselves over the line.

Both Sporting Lagos and Inter Lagos finish with same six points, but the former has four goals difference, compared to Inter’s two goals, and claimed their first ever NNL title on the final matchday of the Super 4 contest.

They take home the ?10,000,000 prize money in addition to the trophy.

It is the first league title won by Sporting Lagos since its creation in 2022.

Today in Nigeria, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, is a visible reality. Signed into law on 3 April 2024, it has already disbursed over N206 billion to 1.16 million students in public tertiary institutions. I am one of them. From my 300 level to graduation, NELFUND paid my tuition and gave me N20,000 monthly upkeep. That is the reality for hundreds of thousands of us who would have dropped out. It has removed shame from our families and kept lecture halls open to the poor.

The reality on campuses is clear. Children of farmers, traders, drivers, and widows now write exams without being chased out of halls. N128.8 billion has gone directly to institutions for tuition, while N77.4 billion has reached students as upkeep. The Vice Chancellor of Sokoto State University states that NELFUND ‘accorded opportunity to less privileged families’ and eased financial constraints. This is governance touching the powerless, and it is happening now, not tomorrow.

But there is another reality we cannot ignore. Walk through any city or village today and you will see it. Children are hawking pure water at 10 a.m. Teenagers cannot spell their names because their parents could not pay N3,000 PTA levy. Nigeria currently has over 10.5 million out-of-school children. These children are real. They are growing up without a First School Leaving Certificate or SSCE. And without SSCE, they are permanently locked out of university and permanently locked out of NELFUND.

This is the reality of our education system: we are funding the roof while the foundation is collapsing. NELFUND’s mandate to ‘democratize access to higher education’ is working for those who reach the door of a university. But millions never get to that door because Primary 1, Primary 4, or JSS1 defeated them with fees their parents could not pay. Right now, the academic ladder is broken at the bottom, and the pain is felt in every LGA.

The reality therefore demands that we extend the NELFUND framework to primary and secondary schools immediately. Not as a loan, but as a Basic Education Support Fund using the same zero interest-free, digital, NIN/BVN-verified system that disbursed N206.2bn ‘without the usual theatre of scandals’. Let it cover approved levies, uniforms, and textbooks in public schools across the 774 LGAs. The technology exists. The model exists. The need exists today.

The real strength of NELFUND is that I did not need to know a Senator to benefit. I applied with my NIN and matric number, and it was approved. That is the reality of equity we must extend downward.

Mr. President, this is not about the future alone. This is about today. Today, children are out of school. Today, parents are burdened. Today, NELFUND cannot reach those without SSCE. The only way for all citizens to access education from primary to tertiary, and for the less-privileged to benefit without following those in power, is to act now. Let us make education total. Let us make Nigeria proud. The reality we create today will be the nation we live in tomorrow.

God bless you, Your Excellency. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Six governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State have rejected the adoption of former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali, as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 elections.

The aspirants said only a free, fair and transparent primary election would be acceptable to them.

The group, comprising Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, Bashir Sheriff Machina, Kashim Musa Tumsah, Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, Lawan Kolo Geidam and former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Alkali Baba, described the adoption of Wali as a violation of the Electoral Act and the constitution of the APC.

In a communiqué issued after a joint meeting held in Abuja, the aspirants insisted that the provisions of the Electoral Act relating to consensus candidature must be strictly followed in the emergence of the APC governorship flag bearer in Yobe State.

According to them, due process was not followed in the adoption of Baba Mallam Wali as consensus candidate.

They maintained that if consensus must be adopted, it should be done in line with the provisions of the law and the APC constitution.

The aspirants also passed a vote of no confidence on the Yobe State Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Mohammed Gadaka, accusing him of bias and compromise in the ongoing political process.

They consequently demanded his withdrawal from all matters relating to the conduct and supervision of the party’s governorship primary in the state.

The group, however, reaffirmed its confidence in the national leadership of the APC and pledged support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Yobe APC chairman, Mohammed Gadaka, were unsuccessful as he neither answered calls nor responded to text messages sent to his known telephone lines.

Daily Trust reports that Wali was recently endorsed by some political stakeholders in Yobe as the preferred successor of Governor Mai Mala Buni, whose second term will end in 2027.

Visa has released its latest consumer spending insights for the Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr period in Nigeria, based on the Visa Consulting and Analytics Retail Spend Monitor.

During this period, spending on Visa premium consumer cards increased 20% year-over-year, with spend share up +10% percentage points.

This reflected higher spending on travel, everyday retail, and food-related categories.

According to the report, spending by international visitors using Visa premium consumer cards in Nigeria increased 40%. Spending from the United States of America, United Kingdom and Canada increased 40%.

International travel spending from Nigeria on Visa premium consumer cards increased around 20%.

Booking behavior skewed toward shorter lead times, with 70% of trips booked within one month of travel.

Spending to destinations including the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and France increased 40%.

Spending behavior during Ramadan reflected both pre-month stock-up and in-month in-store activity.

The data also indicated that in the week preceding Ramadan (Feb 12-18), food and grocery spending rose 25% compared to the prior week (Feb 5-11).

Spending activity also occurred later in the day, with late-night spending (1am-4am) up 35% compared to non-Ramadan weeks.

‘Spending peaked around Eid Al-Fitr, with total spending up 25% during the Eid period (Mar 16-19) compared to the preceding days (12-15 Mar).

‘During Eid, spending on food and restaurants increased 80% compared to the preceding days,’ the report said.

Andrew Uaboi, Vice President and Country Manager for Visa in West Africa, said, ‘The Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr period saw higher spending across travel and everyday retail categories, reflecting both inbound visitor activity and sustained local spending. These insights highlight how consumer behavior shifts during key seasonal moments and underscore the opportunity for businesses to respond with more relevant and seamless commerce experiences.’

Nicolas Khoury, SVP, Head of Visa Consulting and Analytics, CEMEA, said: ‘The VCA Retail Spend Monitor provides a view of how consumer spending evolves across the Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr period, from changes in travel patterns to shifts in everyday spending.

‘These insights help issuers and merchants better understand seasonal behavior and design offers and experiences that remain relevant as consumer needs change.’

The Emirates Group has unveiled financial results for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with Emirates retaining its position as the world’s most profitable airline despite major regional disruptions late in the reporting period.

The Group posted a record profit before tax of AED 24.4 billion (US$6.6 billion), up 7% year-over-year, alongside record revenue of AED 150.5 billion (US$41 billion) and record cash assets of AED 59.6 billion (US$16.2 billion).

Similarly, Emirates subsidiary, dnata’s total revenue increased by 12% to hit a new record of AED 23.6 billion (US$ 6.4 billion), driven by increased flight and travel activity across the world, particularly in its major markets: Australia, Europe, the UAE, UK, and US.

According to a statement, Emirates carried 53.2 million passengers (down 1%) in 2025-26, with seat capacity down by 1%.

The airline reports a Passenger Seat Factor of 78.4%, a marginal decline from 78.9% last year. Passenger yield was higher by 4% at 38.1 fils (10.4 US cents) per Revenue Passenger Kilometre (RPKM).

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group in a statement said: ‘These outstanding results, despite significant challenges in the last month of our financial year, reaffirm the strength and resilience of the Emirates Group’s business model, which is rooted in safety, excellence, innovation, people and partnerships.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored once to reach a landmark achievement in Al Nassr’s 4-2 win over Al Shabab in the Saudi Premier League on Thursday night.

The 41-year-old ageless forward scored the third goal for Al Nassr to reach 100 league goals since he arrived in the league in January 2023.

Joao Felix, his Portuguese compatriot, scored a hattrick in the match, but the night was significant for Ronaldo who becomes the first foreign player to reach a century of goals in Saudi Arabia.

His goal, scored in the 75th minute, was the third of the night for Al Nassr at their King Saud University Stadium, with Ronaldo moving towards the near post to reach Sadio Mane’s low cross with a first-time left foot shot that zipped into the net.

The goal is also Ronaldo’s 26th goal of the season, and the Real Madrid legend has scored against every club in the SPL this season.

It is the second time in his career Ronaldo will score against every club in the league in one season, repeating his feat for Real Madrid in the 2011/12 season.

The former Sporting Lisbon youngster also becomes the only player to reach 100 goals for four different clubs, following similar records at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. He reached the milestone in 105 matches in the SPL.

Al Nassr’s win moves the club further towards their first league title in seven years. They top the league with 82 points from 32 matches, five ahead of fierce rivals Al Hilal who have played a match less.

Al Nassr can win the league in front of their fans with victory against Al Hilal next week Tuesday.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), working in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA) Lagos Country Office and law enforcement agencies from Switzerland, France, and Greece, have dismantled a transnational criminal organisation allegedly involved in laundering hundreds of billions of naira in drug proceeds across Europe and Nigeria.

The operation led to the arrest of an alleged billionaire drug baron, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland, alongside two suspected female accomplices identified as 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi and 28-year-old Blessing Ngozi Amadi.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the coordinated arrests followed months of intelligence gathering and investigations spanning multiple countries.

According to the agency, Ikechi was arrested in Anambra State, while Blessing Amadi was apprehended in Agbor, Delta State, during simultaneous operations carried out on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

Babafemi said investigations linked the suspects to the laundering of proceeds from drug trafficking and other financial crimes running into hundreds of billions of naira.

He explained that the criminal network allegedly operated through a web of shell companies, proxies, cryptocurrency wallets, and multiple bank accounts used to conceal illicit funds.

The anti-narcotics agency further revealed that several high-value properties linked to the syndicate had been identified as suspected proceeds of illicit drug transactions.

The properties include Jovi Hotel located at 1 Isiayei Street, GRA Phase 1, Asaba, Delta State; Jovi Hotel and Suites situated at 4 Orikeze by Deeper Life Road, Agbor, Delta State; and Jovi Apartment at Jamieson Court, Mabushi, Abuja.

Babafemi added that multiple bank accounts and cryptocurrency addresses allegedly used by the cartel to move and conceal illicit funds had also been identified and frozen.

Reacting to the development, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, said the success of the operation demonstrated the agency’s resolve to combat narcotics trafficking and associated financial crimes.

Marwa noted that the operation sent a strong signal that Nigeria would not serve as a safe haven for drug traffickers or their illicit financial networks.

He commended the support of the US-DEA and other international partners in dismantling the syndicate, adding that the collaboration had strengthened intelligence sharing, evidence gathering, case management, and tactical operations.

‘The NDLEA remains relentless in its pursuit of those involved in narcotics trafficking and associated financial crimes, regardless of where they attempt to hide,’ Marwa stated.

He assured that the agency would continue to deepen cooperation with international partners to combat transnational organised crime and protect Nigeria’s economic and security interests.

ýThe Ministry of Power has issued a press release to dismiss media reports on the Minister of Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, promising to fix Nigeria’s recurring grid collapse within three months.

ý

ýThe statement issued on Thursday described the reports as ‘a clear misrepresentation’ of the Minister’s remarks during his Senate screening on May 6, 2026.

ý

ýAccording to the spokesperson of the ministry, Adeola Adelabu, Tegbe ‘made no such commitment’ and merely stated that efforts to stabilize the grid would commence within his first 100 days in office.

ý

To establish the truth, we compared the spokesperson’s statement with the actual transcript of Tegbe’s comments before the Senate.

ý

ýWhat Tegbe said:

ý

ýA review of the screening transcript shows that Tegbe did not directly say:

ý’I will fix grid collapse in three months.’

ý

ýýHowever, he made several statements linking his proposed reforms to a three-month timeline.

ý

ýSpeaking before the Senate, Tegbe said: ý’My promise to Nigerians and to this chamber is that Nigerians will see visible improvement in the sector. If you don’t see this in three months, it means you won’t see it in six months. So you must see it in three months, and you must hold us accountable for it.’

ý

ýOn the issue of the national grid, he added: ‘There are questions around grid collapse, and the next phase, in 100 days, is to stabilise that grid.’

ýý

ýTegbe also discussed broader reforms involving metering, tariff structures, sector liquidity, gas supply, and electricity market sustainability, indicating that some structural challenges would require longer-term interventions.

ý

ýWhat The Spokesperson Said:

ý

ýIn the rebuttal press release, the spokesperson stated: ‘Mr Tegbe made no such commitment. He stated unequivocally that the timelines are still being worked and subject to diagnostics and stakeholder engagements.’

ý

ýýThe statement further noted that: ‘Initial grid stabilisation efforts would commence within the first 100 days,’ while broader reforms in the sector could take about a year.

ý

ýýThe release also quoted Tegbe’s promise that Nigerians would see ‘visible improvement in the sector.’

ý

ýHowever, the statement omitted his follow-up remark: ‘If you don’t see this in three months, it means you won’t see it in six months.’

ýý

ýýFindings

ý

ýThe fact check found that the spokesperson’s rebuttal is misleading.

ý

ýThe transcript confirms that Tegbe never explicitly promised to completely eliminate grid collapse within three months. Therefore, headlines suggesting he categorically vowed to ‘fix grid collapse in three months’ overstated his exact words.

ý

ýHowever, Tegbe unmistakably tied public expectations to a three-month performance window by promising ‘visible improvement’ and urging Nigerians to hold him accountable if such progress was not seen within that period.

ý

ýHis additional statement about stabilising the grid within 100 days reasonably reinforced public interpretation that the administration intended to achieve measurable progress on grid reliability within roughly three months.

ý

ýBy excluding Tegbe’s strongest timeline-based comments, the spokesperson’s rebuttal presented a softer interpretation of the original remarks.

ý

ýVerdict

ý

ýPartly true

ý

ýJoseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe did not explicitly state that he would completely end grid collapse within three months.

ý

ýHowever, he clearly promised visible improvements in the power sector within that timeframe and linked his first 100 days to efforts aimed at stabilising the national grid.

ý

ýThe spokesperson’s statement attempted to correct the interpretation of Tegbe’s remarks but omitted key portions of the transcript that strengthened the public perception of a three-month commitment to grid stability.

The Abuja Mater plan is a legal document, because its production was predicated upon the provision of the FCT Act. Therefore, allocation of any land within the FCT must comply with the land use plan as determined by the Masterplan. On the other hand, any allocation done in violation of the land use plan is a violation of the FCT Act, which in essence is a contravention of the law.

The Abuja Masterplan is not a hidden, but a public document, and has been commercialised by the authority. It is being sold to the members of the public, in order to spread the knowledge of the Abuja development program. This is aimed at preventing the violation of any of its provision. Clearly, all developments that are contrary to the land uses are well-known by the culprits and are dangerous investment risks. More so, if there is a lot of public outcry. The developers may feign ignorance, but ignorance of the law is never an excuse.

Section 3 and 4 of the FCT Act, provides for the establishment, function and powers of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). The Authority is charged with the responsibility of the choice of site for the location of the capital city within the FCT; the preparation of a master-plan for the capital city and of land use with respect to town and country planning within the rest of the territory; the provision of municipal services within the FCT and the establishment of infrastructural services in accordance with the master-plan among others.

The plan was prepared in strict compliance with the development guidelines FCDA provided to the International Planning Associates (IPA). Due diligence was undertaken by the FCDA in the plan production and subsequent implementation. It was not only the FCDA staff, the modus operandi involved input of prominent Nigerian professionals and statesmen, in order to ensure the domestication of the plan and success of the assignment within the stipulated period. A list of 11 FCDA Board Members, 27-member Technical Assessment Panel constituted by the FCDA, and four members of the International Review Panel were named and acknowledged by the IPA in the report.

The Urban and Regional Planning (URP) Department was mandated with the custodianship of the Masterplan in order to ensure that the land use plan according to the masterplan is respected during the allocation process. The Department of Lands can make allocation only when the URP is satisfied with the proposal based on the land use requirement. Any allocation by any of the sister department in the FCT Administration made without the input of the URP Department is a violation of the official procedure. Such allocations that are devoid of the established processes of check and balance are the trademarks of land use or masterplan violations.

A land use budget was arrived at by the masterplan as a means of achieving the enshrined objectives. This is the manifestation of the principles and philosophy of the plan. All these vision were factored in the Abuja Master plan, and subsequently translated to the city’s land use plan for implementation. However, almost all the components are now being violated.

The Garden City Concept was to be achieved with 33 per cent of the land budget allocated for greening. Unfortunately, the buffer zones flanking the streams across the city, which were factored within the 33 percent, are now reduced to narrow waterways, only wide enough for the flow of the stream at the moment, not minding the catastrophic runoffs due to torrential rainfalls.

Earlier, we made presentation on the principle and philosophy of the Abuja Masterplan. Out of the ones enumerated, five had to deal with environmental issues. The new capital was expected to conserve as much as possible the natural and cultural environment of the territory. It was also to foster standards of settlement development appropriate not only to the current Nigerian culture and environment, but also to the needs and aspirations of future generations of Nigerians.

A building project can commence now, but may not be completed until the following year or beyond. It doesn’t matter, if completed or not, enforcement actions can be taken against any project so long as there are underlying contraventions, most especially projects that have bearing with contravention on public facilities.

The appointment to the position of FCT Chief Executive Officer or Minister is a trust to superintend on the implementation of the Masterplan, not a licence for amassing the FCT lands. More so with contraventions of land uses, with impunity, for selfish benefits.

The only feigning defence we received recently was that the government has the right to ‘readjust’ the Masterplan. It seems it is no more a review. In any case no review or so-called readjustment can explain any reason for any violation. So long as a planned and desired service is being denied for the public benefit as a result of the violation.

Meanwhile, no incumbent Administrator can defend any contravention when he is no longer in power. At that time the Administrator will certainly be preoccupied with his personal defense, not any other, who would then be a nuisance, or serve as a further proof of his maladministration. This is because all atrocities committed by previous administrations are always exposed as soon as a successor comes on board.

All those violating the plan that are being protected, would certainly be on their own. And the law establishing the Authority will certainly not be on their side. Many have lost their valuable investments in the past, and history has a way of repeating itself. Therefore, all developers that are involved in land use violations must take note.

The vice chancellor of University of Abuja (now Yakubu Gowon University), Prof Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, has sought collaboration with Media Trust Group to combat fake news and reinforce professional standards in journalism.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the media organisation’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, Fawehinmi said the university was interested in reviving and expanding an earlier partnership with the group, which publishes Daily Trust, Weekend Trust, Aminiya, Trust TV, Trust Radio and other digital platforms.

‘We want to reestablish that relationship and we have a thriving faculty of communication and media studies that had broadcast department.

‘As a university, we are into teaching research and community service. We believe our teaching could help to boost your staff development exercise and our research could also help with empirical data for several aspect of your operations.

‘Since my commencement of duty as the 8th substantive vice chancellor, most of our adverts have been in the Daily Trust newspaper because we trust the integrity of your paper and have confidence in your wide coverage especially in the northern part. We want us to be partners in the fight against fake news.

‘Media houses nowadays pick up disruptive stories sometimes that are not true about institutions or individuals as a way of bringing them or destroying their image and we know your outfit has grown beyond that and it is because of your reputation that you have risen to the heights you are now.’