Category: PM News

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday issued a stern caution to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), urging the union to exercise restraint in its dealings with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and his conglomerate.

Speaking during a plenary session at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit held in Abuja, Shettima described Dangote as ‘an institution in Nigeria’s economic parlance’, warning that any attempt to undermine him could send damaging signals to foreign investors about the nation’s commitment to supporting homegrown enterprise.

‘Aliko Dangote is an institution in Nigeria’s economic parlance, and how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us,’ Shettima declared.

‘If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, he would probably be worth $70 to $80 billion by now, but he chose to invest in his country. We owe it to future generations to jealously protect and promote him,’ he added.

The Vice President’s remarks come amid recent tension between PENGASSAN and the Dangote Refinery over alleged labour issues, a dispute that has drawn public attention and raised questions about the industrial harmony within Nigeria’s critical energy sector.

Shettima stressed that national interest must take precedence over organisational disputes, adding that labour and the private sector must handle conflicts with tact and patriotism.

‘I wish to call for more caution from both labour and the organised private sector in defining and improving the relationship between labour and industry,’ he said.

‘Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us,’ he added.

He urged the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to intervene by proposing actionable recommendations that would preserve the stability of major industries while ensuring fair labour practices.

‘The government is hereby tasking the NESG to take more than a passing interest in the matter. We expect recommendations from the NESG in addressing this issue, even as the government takes steps to protect big industry,’ Shettima stated.

The Vice President reiterated that his message was not partisan but a call for unity and strategic collaboration to secure Nigeria’s economic growth.

‘I’m not coming to you as partisan. I’m coming in search of solutions to our national challenges. The fortunes of our economy depend on how we protect those who invest in it,’ Shettima stated.

It was not a surprise that key members of the opposition have quickly latched on the claims that the Minister of Science Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji forged his academic certificates to hit at the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Perhaps, that has been the whole objective all along – Tinubu, not Nnaji may have been the target of these purveyors of falsehood. Yes, falsehood it is! And the fact that this false claim has been fraudulently given vent to spread far, even adorning front pages of some newspapers does not make it true.

As the Yoruba people say falsehood may take off a thousand years, but truth will overcome it in a single day. Against the deliberate misinformation of the past few days, the truth now in public domain is that the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology is a distinguished and proud alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The Minister graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry, with Second Class (Honours) Lower Division.

This was confirmed by the University itself in a letter it issued on 21 December 2023, duly stamped and signed by Mrs. I.A.S. Onyeador for the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Celine Ngozi Nnebedum. The letter, was written in response to inquiry by online news platform, People’s Gazette that had like Premium Times taken upon itself the task of probing the academic credentials of the Minister. ‘Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science, Second Class (Honours) Lower Division,’ the letter issued on the letter head of the university and properly stamped stated emphatically.

Also, UNN’s 1985 Convocation Brochure, which, I gathered, was brought out and circulated by some school mates of the Minister who were not only surprised but were taken aback by the shenanigans and lies of the past few days have been circulating in the past few days.

The Convocation Brochure had the names of the 37 students who successfully completed their course in Microbiology and were duly certified for convocation in 1985. The Minister’s name and picture was clearly reflected in the brochure as a member of the graduating class of the Department for that year.

The brochure is part of the UNN’s archives. But the good news is that the names of the classmates of the Minister are also well reflected and some of them have volunteered to start speaking to further put a lie to this deliberate misinformation in the next few days.

Furthermore, the Minister had submitted the same UNN credentials to the Senate for screening before confirmation of his nomination as a minister. Surely, the credentials were duly screened and confirmed as genuine by the DSS before Nnaji was called for screening by the senate.

Yet, we must put the role of the UNN, especially, its Vice Chancellor, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya who only assumed office about two months ago in this deliberate disinformation campaign under the searchlight. Said to be a dyed-in- the- wool politician, Ortuanya was a former commissioner of education and Secretary of the State Government under the PDP administrations of Governors Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in Enugu State respectively. He was also a former Director General of South East Governor’s Forum. There are speculations that the Vice Chancellor remains a card carrying member of PDP and is planning to contest for the senate in 2027.

His ‘volte face’ on the Minster’s graduation from UNN as reflected in a letter he purportedly issued to Premium Times two years after the institution in a letter duly signed by its registrar said otherwise, seemed a confirmation of these speculations.

The fact that the Vice Chancellor also dabbled into issues related to examination and graduation records instead of the Registrar who is recognized as the custodian of such functions reflected Prof’s Ortuanya mischief in the ugly affair. What’s more, the Minister had after getting information that of attempts to tamper with or alter his academic file had filed a suit against the Vice Chancellor and the management of the UNN.

The court, presided over by by Hon. Justice H. J. Yilwa had on 22 September granted a series of protective orders, including an injunction restraining the Vice Chancellor and management of UN from tampering or continuing to tamper with the Minister’s academic records. The court also issued an order of mandamus compelling the University to release the Minister’s academic transcript as well as a directive to the supervising authorities to ensure compliance through their disciplinary powers.

But rather than obey these certified order of court, the Vice Chancellor, a lawyer decided out of what is believed to be a politically motivated malice to embark on media trial obviously aimed at embarrassing the Minister and indeed, the Tinubu’s administration.

A clear reading of the political climate in Enugu State will reveal a clear case of the Biblical voice of Jacob but the hands of Esau as the nation races towards 2027. Certainly, it was not a coincidence that the falsehood about the Minister’s academic credentials began to circulate days after the same platform behind it had indicated that Enugu’s PDP governor, Peter Mba is plotting to decamp to the ruling APC.

With the Enugu chapter of PDP in shambles as a result of infighting, the Governor had long desired to dump the party for the APC. Unfortunately, the Minister who is rightly the leader of the APC in Enugu State not just because of his present position or the fact that he was the gubernatorial candidate of the party 2023 election, but because of the role he has been playing in solidifying the party as credible platform has constituted his main stumbling block.

This is more so if its realized that the PDP and its leadership had since 1999 hold Enugu by the jugular, despite their failures to meet the yearning of the people by ensuring that the opposition parties can only function as appendages. However, in the 2023 election, the opposition parties demonstrated that the PDP is far from invincible in Enugu State. There is palpable fear in Enugu Government’s House that with his rising profile matched against failure of the Mba’s administration to deliver on its promises to the people, the unending crises in PDP, the Minister now constituted the biggest obstacle to the Governor’s bid to use the APC to return to office in 2027.

It’s very unfortunate that an otherwise noble institution with distinguished alumni who are contribution to the advancement of humanity across the globe has, courtesy of a Vice Chancellor, has become a pawn in Enugu politics. It will seem as if the Vice Chancellor has wittingly lend himself to a coordinated campaign to drag a public servant dutifully serving his country, and a distinguished alumnus on an institution he is presiding over into the mud of partisan politics for obvious political gain.

But what is also clear going by reports in the past few days was that beyond Nnaji, the opposition has seized on this falsehood to his at the President’s Tinubu’s administration as reflected in flurry of press statements by the opposition parties. These opposition political parties and so called public commentators who do not wish the Tinubu’s administration well have taken position, passed judgments and pronounced guilty verdicts despite the fact that the issue is under adjudication at a competent court. They cannot wait for pronouncement of the court on the matter because their aim is to do everything possible to discredit the Tinubu’s administration.

But Nigerians cannot be fooled. And knowing him, President Tinubu will also not be carried away or distracted by such sponsored campaign and neither should Nnaji. The Minister should also not allow the campaign of calumny to take his gaze off the task of advancing innovation, building Nigeria’s science and technology capacity, and restoring the nation’s confidence in research-driven industrial growth as he was mandated by the President.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said that more than 33 million Nigerians are currently facing acute food insecurity, adding that the situation requires quick legislative actions on agriculture, rural infrastructure, irrigation, and mechanisation.

Akpabio made the call in his welcome address at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

The President of the Senate therefore called on the lawmakers to perform their legislative duties with courage and urgency to help stabilise Nigeria’s economy and improve the lives of citizens.

‘Hunger cannot be defeated with words; it requires policy, budget and political will,’ Akpabio said.

He noted that Nigerians are facing rising living costs, insecurity and unstable power supply, urging lawmakers to work closely with the executive arm to find lasting solutions.

‘These trials summon us to service with uncommon urgency and in partnership with the executive arm so that together we can rewrite the story of our nation,’ he said.

The senate president stressed the need for economic reforms to attract investment, broaden the tax base and promote growth.

He also called for stronger education and healthcare systems to give young Nigerians real opportunities to excel.

Akpabio said that the senate would review the 1999 Constitution to strengthen federalism, improve governance and make democracy more inclusive.

He urged lawmakers to exercise their oversight powers responsibly to ensure the prudent use of national resources.

‘Our relationship with the executive shall remain frank and firm. Where policies lift our people, we shall lend our support; where they endanger them, we shall speak up,’ he said.

Akpabio pledged that the senate would remain open, accountable and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

‘To the citizens of Nigeria, we say this: we hear you and understand your expectations. You ask not for excuses but for results.

‘This Senate will not shrink from scrutiny; we welcome it because accountability is the lifeblood of democracy,’ he said.

He also urged Nigerians to elect leaders of integrity; competence and genuine commitment to service, stressing that democracy would thrive only when voters chose wisely.

‘Let history record that in our time, we did not shy away from the truth or our responsibilities, but worked as leaders worthy of the people’s trust,’ Akpabio said.

He called on senators to return to their duties with renewed commitment and make the 10th Senate a beacon of hope and national transformation.

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has assured Nigerians that Calabar is fully prepared and safe to host the 2026 Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) competition.

He gave this assurance on Tuesday while leading a NUGA delegation and the management team of the University of Calabar on an inspection tour of facilities at the UJ Esuene Stadium.

Otu described Calabar as a peaceful, youth-friendly, and welcoming city with a beautiful environment suitable for hosting major sporting events.

‘The field we are standing on today has produced some of Nigeria’s greatest football legends like Uwenm Ekarika, Etim Essien, and John Okon,’ he said. ‘The first captain of the national football team was also from Calabar.’

The governor expressed joy that NUGA is returning to Calabar after 35 years, adding that he is confident the event will be successful.

He praised the Executive Secretary of the NUGA 2026 Local Organising Committee (LOC), Dorncklaimz Enamhe, for his dedication and commitment, saying he trusts him to deliver a memorable event.

Otu also highlighted Calabar’s strong sports history, noting that it was the first city in Nigeria where football was played.

He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to promoting sports and restoring its pride of place in the state.

Enamhe said that Calabar has some of the best sports facilities in Nigeria, including the greenest stadium, a top basketball court, and an Olympic-size swimming pool.

He added that the city is home to top table tennis players and Africa’s biggest carnival, which creates opportunities for youth engagement.

He described the return of NUGA to Calabar as a major milestone for the state and its people.

An Abuja High Court on Tuesday adjourned until Oct. 21 to enable the EFCC to list a witness that will testify in the trial of former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki on an amended 32-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, dishonest release and receiving various sums of money to the tune of N33.2 billion.

The former NSA was accused of misappropriation of security funds in the accounts of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

He was arraigned alongside a former General Manager with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa.

Others are two firms: Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

The EFCC arraigned the four defendants afresh on March 25 and accused Dasuki, among others, of releasing the equivalent of N10billion in foreign currencies from the NSA’s account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the 2014 presidential primary election of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dasuki and his co-defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, marked as FCT/HC/CR/43/2015.

At the resumed hearing of the case ,the prosecution witness, Adariku Michael, a detective with the EFCC informed the court that the anti-corruption commission received intelligence report on Sept. 21, 2015 bordering on abuse of office and money laundering.

He alleged the NSA moved huge sums of money between October 2014 and April 2015 to accounts of various companies.

The witness said the report was assigned to a special taskforce team headed by ACE 1 Halimah Kazeem, which he was a member, to carry out investigations on the report.

‘I got to know about this case when the commission (EFCC) received intelligence report on Sept. 21, 2015 bordering on abuse of office and money laundering.

The witness said that on receiving the report, the special taskforce promptly swung into action and wrote letter of investigation activities to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

It was at this point that counsel for Baba-Kusa, Solomon Umoh SAN, told the court that the witness was not listed by the prosecution on the list of witnesses in the paper the EFCC served the defence team.

‘This is against the provisions of Section 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA),’ he said.

The Prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, however, told the court that the witness had given evidence before the Chief Judge, in the case.

He further submitted that several documents were tendered by the prosecution as exhibits through the witness.

‘ This case had lasted almost 10 years,’ he said.

Atolagbe, however, sought an adjournment for the prosecution to do the needful.

This was not opposed by the defence team.

Based on this, the presiding judge, Justice Charles Agbaza, adjourned the case until Oct. 31 for continuation of hearing.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday declared that the state has set a new benchmark in workplace safety and public protection with the inauguration of the Safety First Campaign and the Occupational Safety Cadre, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking at the third Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health Conference (LASOSH), the governor described the initiative as a ‘bold declaration’ that safety in Lagos will no longer be treated as an afterthought but as a structured and professional discipline within the public service.

‘This groundbreaking cadre is not just a bureaucratic innovation; it means safety will now be a recognised career path with structure, expertise, and continuity,’ Sanwo-Olu said.

‘Generations of Lagosians will benefit from a professional corps dedicated solely to occupational safety and health,’ he added.

Sanwo-Olu also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Industry (BOI) to strengthen safety initiatives across the state.

Highlighting Lagos’ technological advances in safety management, the governor disclosed that the state has deployed a safety application that allows citizens to report hazards in real time, drones for aerial surveillance of high-risk zones, and body cameras with thermal sensors for monitoring compliance and emergency response.

‘These tools are deliberate investments in predictive governance,’ he said, adding that ‘They help us identify safety issues as they emerge and act proactively rather than reactively.’

While stressing that safety remains a collective responsibility, Sanwo-Olu called on all stakeholders, from private businesses to civil society, to embrace a culture of compliance.

‘Safety should not be seen as a cost, but as an investment in sustainability and human dignity,’ he said.

He also urged safety officers to balance enforcement with fairness, saying, ‘If a facility doesn’t deserve to be shut down, don’t shut it down. But when the law must take its course, don’t hesitate to act.’

Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC), Lanre Mojola, revealed that compliance levels have significantly improved, leading to fewer enforcement actions.

He added that the commission continues to strengthen regulations in areas such as swimming pool control, construction safety, and the handling of dangerous goods transported through Lagos ports.

Mojola announced the induction of 28 new Occupational Safety Officers, noting that over 20,000 facilities in the state are now registered on the Government Safety Information System (GPIS) with verified pictorial evidence.

He also disclosed that the commission is leveraging Artificial Intelligence to predict and prevent safety risks before they escalate.

Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting every resident, saying: ‘Every Lagosian deserves to live, work, and move freely without fear.’

He added that the annual LASOSH conference remains a vital platform for thought leaders, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange ideas and chart pathways for safer workplaces and communities in Lagos.

Governor Dapo Abiodun described the commencement of operations at Gateway International Airport, Illisan, in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state as a major milestone in the actualisation of his administration’s vision to transform the state into an investment-friendly and economically viable state.

Abiodun spoke on Tuesday after the Gateway International Airport recorded its first commercial flight take-off, as a Value Jet airplane conveyed passengers from the airport to Abuja.

The plane took off at 10.02 a.m. , in the presence of Abiodun, and other government functionaries.

Speaking with newsmen , the governor explained that the new airport was a strategic component of the state’s multi-modal transportation master plan designed to integrate road, rail, air, and water transport systems, thereby boosting trade, tourism, and industrialisation.

‘It’s a delightful honour to witness the inaugural flight of a commercial aircraft taking off from Ogun state.

‘This is not like Artificial Intelligence (AI), this is real , commercial operations starting from Ogun state in the lifetime of an administration.

‘We came here 2021, some people said it was just politics, some said it was just a dump site but we are here today and you have seen what can be achieved when there is vision, passion and diligence.

‘Building an airport is one thing , having an airport to become operational is a totally different thing, it is a highly regulated industry,’ he said.

Abiodun commended the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and security agencies for their support and professionalism throughout the airport’s certification and approval process.

According to the governor, the Gateway International Airport is expected to serve as a key driver for investment inflow, job creation, and improved connectivity.

He appreciated the people of the state for their support, noting that his administration since inception had transformed the socio-economic status of the state by making it investment destination of choice.

Abiodun also appreciated God for making it possible, noting that God had given the team the grace to envision, to implement and to see it happened.

Also speaking, Mr Oludaisi Elemide, the Speaker, Ogun House of Assembly, expressed joy at the latest development in the state.

‘I feel elated, excited and on top of the world that this is happening in Ogun state, in a government in which I am part of.

‘The economic gains, the comfort and the convenience are some of the advantages of this airport in Ogun state. I don’t need to go to Lagos. Within 20 to 30 minutes, I am here,’ he said.

In an interview before boarding the aircraft, the Senator representing Ogun Central, Shuaib Salis, expressed excitement at the new development.

‘The Senate is resuming plenary today, there is nothing more exciting than to take a flight from your own state in an airport built by the state government, in an airplane operated by another son of Ogun state.

‘History is being made, we are grateful to God and the governor. It is a great opportunity,’ he said.

The state’s Head of Service, Kehinde Onasanya, described the event as historic and a giant step toward economic development.

Prof. Mahmmood Yakubu has explained why he decided to bow out as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while enumerating his achievements in the nearly 10 years he has been in office.

Yakubu said his decision to bow out of INEC was to pave way for the appointment of a new chairman.

Yakubu had, on Tuesday, stepped down and handed over to a national commissioner, Ms May Agbamuche-Mbu, as acting Chairman of the commission.

The brief hand over ceremony took place during the commission’s regular consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Yakubu said that his bowing out would also enable the person taking over to quickly settle down to the task of conducting elections and electoral activities.

He said that he knew the enormity of the challenges ahead, having been privileged to serve the commission for 10 years, with only a few more weeks remaining for him to serve.

‘I have taken a decision and conveyed the same as provided by Section 36, Subsections 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.

‘In the interim, I am handing over to one of the most senior national commissioners by date of appointment.

‘Following consultation with other national commissioners, Ms May Agbamuchembu will serve in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman of the commission.

‘I hope that this will afford the appointing authorities adequate time to appoint a new chairman.

‘It will also enable the new chairman to quickly settle down to the task of conducting elections and electoral activities in Africa’s most demographically and logistically complex environment,” he said.

Yakubu expressed appreciation to members of the commission and RECs for the excellent working relations they shared.

He noted that since 2015, he had worked with 24 national commissioners and 67 RECs.

He said that he would forever cherish the support of successive secretaries and staff of INEC nationwide.

‘Together, we innovated and managed the commission’s enormous responsibilities, sometimes on the verge of breaking down,” he recalled.

Yakubu also appreciated the support of the National Assembly, political parties, the National Peace Committee, civil society, the media, the labour unions, security agencies, National Youth Service Corps and other stakeholders.

‘Above all, I thank Nigerians for their comments as well as criticisms which encouraged rather than discouraged us to persevere,” he said.

He noted that over the years, INEC, under his watch, achieved a lot in responding to challenges and introducing many innovations.

Yakubu added that the commission also consolidated the biometric register of voters and replaced many of INEC’s manual processes with digital platforms and applications.

These, according to him, include the nomination of candidates, submission of polling and collation agents by political parties, accreditation of national and international observers, and the media for elections, voter accreditation and result management.

He added that with the support of development partners, INEC had introduced various technologies to improve diverse aspects of election management, such as the easy location of election facilities.

Others were management of collation and returning officers, virtual training of electoral staff, management of political parties’ finances and audits as well as the overall monitoring of elections using our Election Monitoring and Support Center, (EMSC).

Yakubu said while tremendous progress was made under him, a lot more still needed to be done.

He stated that the commission was already preparing for Anambra governorship election holding in November and the FCT Area Council election as well as Ekiti and Osun governorship elections in 2026.

He said that in addition to those off-cycle elections, INEC already commenced preparations for some of the major activities for the 2027 general elections, while awaiting the enactment of a new Electoral Act.

‘The bill is currently before the National Assembly. It is expected that electoral reforms contained in the new act will necessitate further review of our regulations and guidelines, as well as the manuals for elections.

‘Beyond these reviews, the commission needs to further clean up the voters’ register, review the locations of some of the polling units, and allotment of voters to them.

‘The management of party primaries is another major area of activity. You may recall that for the last general election in 2023, the Commission processed the nomination of over 20,000 candidates.

‘Furthermore, election logistics involving the procurement, production and transportation of huge quantities of materials by road, by air and by sea are monumental undertakings,” he said.

In her brief response, the acting INEC chairman, Agbamuche-Mbu, commended Yakubu for setting high record during his tenure as the commission’s chairman.

‘We acknowledge the significant contributions and achievements made by Yakubu during his tenure, in particular his hard work and dedication in serving our country meritoriously.

‘We wish you God’s guidance in your future endeavours. As you step down, we pray for greater success in whatever you set out to do.

‘We are confident that history will judge you very well,” she said.

Agbamuche-Mbu assured Yakubu that the commission would do its best to maintain and uphold the standards he had set.

‘I pledge to uphold the integrity of the commission and work with utmost professionalism, dedication and in unity with the honourable commissioners, the RECs, the directors, all the staff of INEC nationwide,’ she said.

The acting chairman also pledged to work with the stakeholders to ensure the success and growth of the commission.

Highlights of the occasion included presentation of presented two books entitled: ‘Election Management in Nigeria 2015-2025”, a compendium of all activities carried out in the last 10 years under his watch and’Electoral Technology 2015-2025”.

Yakubu, thereafter, signed his official handing over notes and presented them to Agbamuche-Mbu.

Ahead of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, will depart Abuja in the early hours of Wednesday, October 8, aboard Royal Air Maroc, as they begin the final phase of their preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The team is scheduled to arrive in Morocco’s industrial and economic capital, Casablanca where they will settle into camp before heading to Rabat for the tournament proper.

While in Casablanca, the Flamingos will intensify their build-up with two high-profile international friendlies first against New Zealand on October 10, followed by a clash with Paraguay on October 14.

The team will then move into the official FIFA hotel in Rabat on October 15, where all participating teams will be housed for the competition.

The Flamingos have been drawn in Group D, alongside Canada, France, and Samoa. Nigeria will kick off their campaign against Canada on Sunday, October 19, before facing France three days later both matches scheduled for 8 p.m Nigerian time at the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 2) and Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 1) in the city of Sale.

Their final group stage encounter will be against Samoa on October 25, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. at the Football Academy Mohammed VI (Pitch 3) still in Sale.

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere’s side head into the tournament full of confidence, having played 10 tune-up matches, scoring an impressive 44 goals without conceding any.

Their dominant form in camp so far, coupled with a well-balanced squad, underscores their determination to go one step further than their quarter-final finish at the last edition in the Dominican Republic.

Nigerian singer Oludipe David, popularly known as Spyro, has opened up about his difficult upbringing and the emotional battles he faced on his way to fame.

In an emotional interview with veteran media personality Frank Edoho, the Who Is Your Guy crooner revealed that he once believed he would ‘die broke,’ blaming the fear of failure on his father’s constant negative remarks during his childhood.

‘I thought I was going to die broke. I always had this fear of failure. And my dad contributed to that. He took every opportunity he got to always tell me that I am a failure,’ Spyro said.

The singer recalled how his father’s harsh words affected his confidence, leading to poor academic performance in secondary school and self-doubt when he got into university.

He noted that the experience left him battling atychiphobia, the fear of failure, for years.

Spyro explained that his turning point came when he developed a personal relationship with God, which helped him rebuild his self-belief.

He also shared that he nearly gave up on music and had already started a business in interior design before his breakthrough song, Who Is Your Guy, went viral in 2022.

The hit track, followed by its remix with Tiwa Savage in 2023, cemented Spyro’s place in the Nigerian music industry.

Later that year, the collaboration won Best Collaboration at the 16th Headies Awards.