Category: PM News

Ghana sealed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Comoros in their final qualifying match on Sunday night.

The decisive encounter, played before a roaring home crowd, saw the Black Stars struggle to break down a resilient Comoros defence throughout the first half.

Despite dominating possession, Ghana’s attacking efforts were repeatedly frustrated by the visitors’ compact formation and disciplined defending.

However, just two minutes into the second half, star midfielder Mohammed Kudus produced the moment that mattered.

The West Ham United playmaker latched onto a clever through ball from Thomas Partey and slotted home past goalkeeper Youssouf Bourhane to hand Ghana the crucial breakthrough in the 47th minute.

The goal lifted the atmosphere in the stadium and allowed Ghana to dictate the tempo, though Comoros continued to threaten on the counter.

Coach Otto Addo made tactical substitutions to consolidate the lead, introducing Joseph Paintsil, Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Collins Bonsu Baah to maintain energy and defensive balance.

Comoros, who had earlier stunned several higher-ranked teams in the qualifiers, pushed for a late equaliser, but Ghana’s backline, marshalled by Alexander Djiku and Daniel Amartey, held firm until the final whistle.

The narrow victory was enough to confirm Ghana’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

It marks the Black Stars’ return to football’s biggest stage, further reaffirming their status as one of Africa’s football powerhouses.

With this result, Ghana finish top of their qualification group I with 25 points, six ahead of Madagascar and will now begin preparations for the global showpiece, where fans will once again expect them to emulate or even surpass their famous 2010 quarter-final run in South Africa.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike across all public universities in Nigeria.

The union’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced this on Sunday during a press briefing at the University of Abuja.

According to him, the strike will take effect from midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025.

‘Compatriots of the press, it goes without saying that there is nothing sufficient on ground to stop the implementation of the ASUU-NEC’s resolution to embark on a two-week warning strike at the expiry of the 14-day notice given on the 28th September 2025,’ Piwuna said.

He added that the warning strike would be ‘total and comprehensive,’ as agreed at the last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

The development comes despite ongoing talks between the Federal Government and the union to prevent another disruption in the nation’s universities.

Earlier in the week, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the government had made progress in resolving the issues, including the release of N50 billion for Earned Academic Allowances and another N150 billion captured in the 2025 budget for needs assessment.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) have reiterated calls for hospitals to treat gunshot victims immediately without requesting for police reports.

Both organisations issued the reminder during interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, following recurring reports of hospitals neglecting gunshot victims in emergencies.

NAN reports that the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Wounds Act, signed into law in 2017, mandates prompt treatment by all hospitals, public or private, without requiring police documentation.

Section 7 of the Act states that any person or authority whose omission leads to unnecessary death of a gunshot victim may face five years of imprisonment, a N500,000 fine, or both.

The Nigerian Police Force, in a circular dated Oct. 25, 2023, directed all personnel to comply with the Act’s provisions immediately, reiterating that no delay in treatment is permissible.

Dr Mohammad Suleiman, National President of NARD, condemned the refusal to treat victims as ‘unacceptable,’ citing both the law and the Federal Ministry of Health’s directive on emergency care.

Suleiman stated that some doctors might be unaware of the law and stressed that NARD educated members regularly through Continuing Medical Education programmes on legal matters affecting medical practice.

Speaking on his experience, Suleiman said: ‘Where I practice in Katsina, we treat first. The police pick up the process. Our role as doctors is to save lives, not judge.’

Although unaware of recent denial cases, Suleiman encouraged citizens to report such incidents for investigation, emphasising that all emergency patients must be treated regardless of administrative or monetary concerns.

He warned that rejecting patients in emergencies was criminal and unethical.

‘Offending doctors should be referred to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) disciplinary tribunal for sanctions.

‘Our training is anchored on life protection, not profit. Any doctor who turns away a patient in critical condition for monetary reasons must be held accountable,’ Suleiman emphasised.

He applauded the ministry’s efforts to strengthen emergency response systems and reminded the public that the MDCN tribunal had powers equivalent to a Federal High Court in disciplinary matters.

Registrar of the NMCN, Mr Ndagi Alhassan, noted that some nurses acted based on restrictive hospital policies, even though those policies might contradict Federal Government directives on emergency treatment.

‘In some hospitals, policy demands documentation before care, but nurses must prioritise life. With the federal directive, saving the patient comes first, then documentation can follow,’ Alhassan explained.

Alhassan advised nurses to stabilise gunshot victims immediately and handle documentation later.

‘That’s the ethical, professional, and lawful approach nurses must follow in life-threatening emergencies,’ he stated.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday night departed Washington for a high-profile visit to the Middle East, beginning with Israel, where he is expected to meet families of hostages and hold talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Trump spoke briefly to reporters, describing the trip as a ‘very special event’ and expressing optimism about the ongoing peace efforts in the region.

‘This is going to be a very special time,’ Trump said. ‘There were 500,000 people yesterday and today in Israel, and the Muslim and Arab countries were cheering. Everyone was cheering at one time – that’s never happened before. Usually, if you have one cheering, the other is the opposite,’ he added.

He continued, declaring that ‘the war is over’. He says that ‘everybody is into his deal’ to bring an end to the war in Gaza and adds that the ceasefire ‘is going to hold’. ‘Everybody is happy, and I think it’s going to stay that way,’ he says

He concluded his remarks by saying, ‘Everybody is amazed, they’re thrilled, and we’re going to have an amazing time.’

According to the White House, the president is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday morning. His itinerary includes meetings with hostage families, a bilateral discussion with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and an address to the Knesset.

Trump will later travel to Cairo, Egypt, where he is expected to co-host a Gaza Peace Plan Summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi aimed at securing a long-term truce and humanitarian corridor in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced that Hostages Square would remain open overnight, providing continuous live coverage of the expected release of hostages. The forum described the moment as ‘historic and deeply moving,’ inviting members of the public to witness the event in person.

The square has been the site of weekly rallies calling for the safe return of Israeli hostages since the conflict began.

Tragedy occurred late Friday night in Kogi when ten passengers perished in a road crash along the Obajana-Lokoja highway.

According to officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), 11 others were seriously injured.

FRSC said the accident which involved a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number KTG 100YL occurred around 11:30 p.m. on October 10 near Apamaru.

The vehicle was said to be carrying 21 male passengers when it lost control due to excessive speeding and wrongful overtaking.

Preliminary investigations by FRSC officers confirmed that the driver was attempting to overtake another vehicle when he lost control, leading to the fatal crash.

A statement signed by the corps spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide on Saturday, said ‘All 10 victims died on the spot, while 11 others sustained serious injuries, including deep cuts, fractures, and bruises.’

The injured passengers were rushed to Fisayo Hospital in Obajana for treatment while remains of the deceased were handed over to their families for burial in accordance with Islamic rites, as they were all Muslims.

The Sarikin Hausawa of Obajana coordinated the burial rites otherwise called Janasa.

Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed, in the statement, expressed deep sorrow and issued a strong call for increased passenger vigilance, especially during night journeys.

He called on commercial vehicle operators to adhere strictly to road safety regulations, emphasising that the corps will intensify its enforcement on overloading and advocacy to discourage night journey across critical corridors in Nigeria.

He implored passengers to speak out and caution drivers whose actions endanger lives, noting that silence in the face of recklessness is complicity in tragedy.

He emphasised that there are too many dangers associated with night travel.

He urged commercial drivers to strictly adhere to safety regulations.

Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, the Ogun State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections, has congratulated international lawyer and chairman of the party in Ogun State, Barrister Femi Aina, on the occasion of his birthday celebration today, Sunday, October 12, 2025.

Ajadi, in a goodwill message released to journalists in Ogun State, described Barrister Aina as ‘a man of uncommon intellect, integrity, and courage,’ whose professional and political commitments have contributed immensely to the growth of the NNPP in Ogun State and beyond.

‘Barrister Femi Aina is not only a brilliant lawyer with international recognition but also a loyal party man whose dedication continues to strengthen our political movement. His consistency, wisdom, and leadership have been invaluable to our collective progress,’ Ajadi said.

Ajadi highlighted Barrister Aina’s contributions to party unity and grassroots mobilisation, particularly during and after the 2023 elections, when the NNPP made remarkable inroads into new political territories across the South-West

‘Leadership in politics is not just about ambition; it is about service, strategy, and sacrifice. Barrister Aina embodies all these virtues. On behalf of all NNPP members and supporters in Ogun State, I celebrate him today and wish him more strength, wisdom, and fulfilment in his service to humanity,’ Ambassador Ajadi added.

Barrister Femi Aina, a seasoned legal practitioner with over three decades of experience in international law, has earned widespread respect for his advocacy for justice and good governance. Beyond his legal career, he has been instrumental in mentoring young politicians within the NNPP and promoting inclusiveness in Ogun State politics.

Ambassador Ajadi, who has consistently championed youth involvement, entrepreneurship, and national unity through both his political and philanthropic engagements, reaffirmed his admiration for Aina’s steadfastness in advancing the party’s ideals.

‘Barrister Aina and I share the same vision of building a new Nigeria rooted in fairness, development, and opportunity for all. His birthday is a reminder of the many lives he has touched through his professionalism and patriotism,’ Ajadi reiterated.

The felicitation, which has since been widely shared among party faithful and admirers on social media, has drawn commendations from political associates, who lauded the cordial relationship between the two leaders as a model of mutual respect and ideological commitment in Nigeria’s political space.

Hundreds of worshippers were left horrified on Friday morning after a man brazenly urinated on the Altar of Confession inside St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City’s holiest Catholic site.

The disturbing act took place around 9 a.m., according to the New York Post, when the unidentified man scaled the steps of the sacred altar where the Pope traditionally celebrates mass, dropped his pants, and urinated in full view of stunned tourists and worshippers.

Videos circulating online show the man calmly pulling up his jeans moments after the act before Vatican police tackled and escorted him out of the basilica. It remains unclear if he has been detained or charged.

The incident has been described as a grave desecration of one of Christianity’s most revered sites. Sources told the Post that Pope Leo XIV was ‘deeply shocked’ upon learning of the event, though the Holy See Press Office has yet to issue an official statement.

The Altar of Confession, located directly above St Peter’s tomb, is reserved exclusively for papal masses and key liturgical ceremonies.

This is not the first time the altar has been defiled. Earlier this year, a man smashed several candelabras on the same spot, and in June 2023, a Polish protester stripped naked atop the altar with ‘Save children of Ukraine’ scrawled across his back. That incident prompted Vatican officials to re-sanctify the altar in a special penitential rite.

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk, popularly known as Iyanya, has opened up on some of the struggles men face despite being wealthy and famous.

Iyanya on his X page, revealed that some men in the entertainment industry suffer without asking for help due to societal expectations.

He added that celebrities struggle more to get back on their feet after hitting rock bottom

‘Celebrities are humans with deep feelings and struggles like everyone else. Beyond the media glamorisation is a person simply yearning to be human like the rest of us. For male celebrities, there’s often an even deeper struggle to bounce back when one hits a low. Men are wired not to show weakness, not to ask for help, or they risk being called soft,’ he wrote.

The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, wants stronger regional collaboration among Northern states to drive sustainable development and attract large-scale investments across the region.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Bauchi Investment Summit 1.0, Comrade Gwarzo commended Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad and the people of Bauchi State for successfully hosting what he described as a groundbreaking event that showcased the region’s untapped economic potential.

Representing the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, he said the summit had set a new benchmark for strategic governance and innovative economic planning in Northern Nigeria.

He applauded the Bauchi State Government’s foresight in convening the summit, noting that its success reflected meticulous organization and a deep commitment to inclusive growth.

The Deputy Governor urged other Northern governors to replicate Bauchi’s model by organizing similar investment-driven initiatives capable of transforming the region’s economy through partnership and knowledge sharing.

According to him, ‘Northern Nigeria is not a region dependent on others, but one rich in human and material resources. I’m very happy to hear you emphasizing that we are nobody’s parasites. We have never been and will never be, Insha’Allah. The surest way out of our challenges is through the support of our leaders and the effective utilization of our God-given resources.’

Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad, in his closing remarks, described the summit as a transformative learning experience that broadened his understanding of governance, investment, and sustainable growth.

He noted that the deliberations and interactions had deepened his appreciation of the role of knowledge in governance, saying, ‘I am more educated than I was before. How I wish this investment sermon was convoked when I came into government. That is what knowledge can do.’

The governor further highlighted Bauchi’s vast tourism and natural resource potential beyond the popular Yankari Game Reserve, citing archaeological and historical sites that, if properly developed, could significantly boost the state’s economy.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining a peaceful environment conducive to investment and inclusive development.

A Statement by the Deputy Governor’s Press Secretary, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, indicated that the Bauchi Investment Summit 1.0, which was declared open by Vice President Kashim Shettima, featured key sessions on multi-state economic opportunities, agriculture, solid minerals, and tourism.

The two-day event attracted prominent national and international investors, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as delegations from Tunisia, China, Saudi Arabia, and other countries.

It recorded the signing of 47 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and secured investment commitments worth over $5 billion, signaling a major step toward repositioning Bauchi as a hub for investment and sustainable growth.

The Kogi West FGYB Legacy Group, comprising stakeholders from the seven Local Government Areas of Kogi West Senatorial District, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for a second term in office.

According to a statement by Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Olorunfemi Fanwo, the endorsement was made in a communique at the end of a meeting held in Kabba, Kogi State, on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

The communique was jointly signed and read by its drafting committee chairman, Fanwo; Secretary, Barr. Tanko Mohammed; and Member, Hon. Shaibu Ipinmisho on behalf of the group.

The stakeholders unanimously passed a vote of confidence in President Tinubu, citing his bold economic reforms, efforts towards energy stability, and massive infrastructural development across the nation.

They pledged over 90 percent of the votes from Kogi West Senatorial District in future elections in recognition of his people-oriented leadership.

The meeting commended Governor Ododo for his impactful leadership and remarkable achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, youth and women empowerment, and humanitarian development.

The stakeholders particularly lauded the governor’s strategic approach to tackling security challenges across the state, especially in Kogi West, and for fostering peace and stability in all communities.

The meeting applauded the governor for his ongoing and completed projects across Kogi West Senatorial District.

These include massive projects at the Kogi State University, Kabba, the Model Secondary School, Okebukun, and the Township Road reconstruction projects in Mopa and Ayetoro Gbede.

The stakeholders also commended the take-off of projects at the College of Education (Technical), Mopa.

The stakeholders expressed deep appreciation for the governor’s personal visit to troubled areas and his efforts in ensuring security in the Senatorial District.

The group called on traditional rulers, community leaders, and citizens to support government efforts towards restoring and sustaining peace across Kogi State.

They reaffirmed their unwavering support for the administrations of President Tinubu and Governor Ododo, pledging to mobilize citizens in support of government policies.

The meeting commended security agencies for supporting the governor in ensuring security in the district. Local hunters also commended for complementing security agencies in Kogi West.

The stakeholders resolved that leaders of every LGA in Kogi West should mobilize people to participate in Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and commended the stakeholders’ turnout.

Earlier, during the meeting, the APC Chairman, Kogi State, Hon. Abdullahi Bello said the party is for progressive people with loyal leaders.

He commended former Governor Yayaya Bello raising people at the grassroots and laid a solid foundation for the incumbent Gov Ahmed Ododo to build on.

He emphasised that APC stakeholders’ meeting would strengthen the party in the state and the country at large.

Bello urged members to be focused and united and beware of inexperienced and self-centered politicians.

The APC Chairman commended President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians and urged party members to sustain support for Tinubu and Gov. Ododo.

Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones and that of Finance and Budget Planning, Asiwaju Idris; Environment and Ecological Management, Olusegun Joseph who spoke on behalf of Kabba-Bunu, Yagba East, and Yagba West, respectively, lauded Gov. Ododo and President Tinubu’s achievements.

The meeting was attended by all Commissioners, LG chairmen, Assembly members, federal lawmakers, and former and present political appointees from Kogi West, as well as former Sen. Smart Adeyemi.

Other signatories for each of the seven LGAs are Aliyu Umar Yusuf, Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly – Lokoja LGA; Cdr Jerry Omodara retd, State Security Adviser – Kabba/Bunu; Mrs Folashade Ayoade, Secretary to the State Government – Yagba East; Kingsley Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications – Mopamuro LGA; Engr. Bashir Gegu, Commissioner for Solid Minerals – Kogi LGA; Engr. Olusegun Joseph, Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management – Yagba West, and Dr. Helen Adeniyi, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology – Ijumu LGA.