Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Music and love are inseparable, each inspiring the other and shaping the hearts of those who feel deeply. For Nigerian singer Tony Frank, that connection is personal, emotional, and central to his artistry.

‘Yes, I’m gonna be Frank with you, like my name, Tony Frank. Or should I say, to be Frank, it’s Tony Frank. Being an artist definitely shapes how I experience love. As a creative, I tend to feel emotions very deeply, and that reflects in how I connect with people. Love, for me, isn’t just about romance; it’s inspiration, vulnerability, and storytelling,’ Tony shared.

Known for soulful songs like Call My Baby and Fall, Tony explains that both the highs and lows of love fuel his music. ‘Sometimes it makes the highs even more intense, because I don’t just live the moment-I also translate it into music. And the lows-heartbreak, distance, or challenges-they also become fuel for creativity. Love doesn’t just shape me as a person; it shapes my art, and my art gives me a deeper way to process love,’ he adds.

Being in the spotlight comes with challenges. ‘Things I used to do freely, like moving around unnoticed or keeping my personal space, are different now. There’s more pressure to always be mindful of how I carry myself, both online and offline. Fame also shows you how differently people treat you. Some genuinely support you, while others are drawn to the image of success rather than the person behind it,’ he notes.

Sacrifice is central to his journey. ‘I once sold my family’s land to promote a song with Timaya. I even put my car up as collateral. The sacrifice is worth it. Although I’m not where I want to be, I’m not where I used to be,’ he says.

Tony navigates music promotion strategically: ‘Social media is a huge tool. I create content that connects with people and lets the music spread organically. I also build good relationships with DJs, influencers, and media houses, which reduces costs.’

Looking ahead, he hoped for a fairer system. ‘Nigeria has so much raw talent, but many voices are silenced because they can’t afford promotion.’

Tony Frank said that love and music are inseparable. Every note he sings and every emotion he shares is a story lived, boldly and unapologetically.

Veteran Nollywood actor Duro Michael has died after a prolonged illness.

He reportedly died of diabetes, an illness that kept him bedridden for months.

Movie producer Stanley Ontop announced his death.

He wrote on Instagram: ‘Nollywood actor Duro Michael has kicked the bucket. He died a few days ago after battling a terminal illness. May his soul rest in peace. Omo, it’s well ooo. We don’t help ourselves in this Nollywood, and it’s too bad. No synergy.’

Duro Michael was a renowned figure in Nollywood, widely recognized for his roles in several films.

The future is not just something we step into but something to prepare for. True investment goes beyond money; it’s about building a foundation, a legacy that outlives the present and positions us for greater opportunities ahead.

1. Financial literacy and smart money habits: Wealth is sustained by knowledge. Learning about savings, investments, budgeting, and financial planning sets you up for stability and freedom tomorrow. Every coin wisely managed today multiplies in the days to come.

2. Continuous learning and skills development: Industries evolve, technology advances, and opportunities shift. Future-ready people commit to lifelong learning through formal education, online courses, or practical skills. Sharpening your mind is one of the best future-proof investments.

3. Relationships and networking: The connections you nurture today often become bridges to tomorrow’s opportunities. Building authentic, value-driven relationships ensures you’re not just walking into the future alone, but with allies who can support, guide, and inspire.

4. Health and well-being: No matter how much wealth or opportunity you gather, you can’t fully enjoy the future without good health. Investing in proper nutrition, exercise, mental wellness, and rest ensures your body and mind are fit to sustain your vision.

5. Technology and innovation: The future is digital. Whether it’s understanding AI, blockchain, renewable energy, or sustainable practices, positioning yourself within the wave of innovation allows you to ride the tide of progress instead of being swept aside by it.

6. Personal branding and legacy: The name you build today is the reputation people will remember tomorrow. Cultivate integrity, excellence, and consistency. Your personal brand is an investment that will continue to yield dividends in trust, influence, and opportunities.

7. Faith and values: A future without direction is like a ship without a compass. Investing in spiritual growth and strong values ensures you remain grounded no matter how uncertain the times become. Your convictions will guide your decisions and keep you aligned with purpose.

On the final note, the best way to predict the future is to create it. These seven investments are not quick fixes, they are seeds. With time, patience, and persistence, they’ll grow into a tomorrow you’ll be proud to step into.

Remember, the Future you don’t invest in, will be unproductive when it’s time to reap.

Concerned tanker drivers from across the country have reaffirmed their confidence in the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and its leadership under Comrade Augustine Egbon.

Drivers from Kaduna, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Warri zones at a press briefing yesterday disowned a group parading itself as the ‘PTD Elders Forum,’ describing its members as impostors with no recognition under PTD or NUPENG constitutions.

They appealed to security agencies to investigate and prosecute those behind the forum.

Speaking on behalf of Kaduna Zone, Bashir Izalan, said the group was unknown to PTD, stressing that Egbon’s leadership had been transparent and responsive to members’ welfare.

He noted that drivers benefited from union-backed insurance, medical support and intervention in workplace disputes.

Mr. Itanola Abiodun, representing Lagos Zone, maintained that the so-called elders were not members of the union, pointing out that every legitimate PTD member belonged to a unit and zone.

He urged the group to identify their units if they were genuine members, insisting that they were ‘hired hands’ out to destabilise the union.

From Port Harcourt Zone, Chukwudi Okafor dismissed allegations that PTD leadership mismanaged check-off dues and loading fees, clarifying that the funds, contributed by truck owners, are used for drivers’ health insurance and welfare.

He said members were satisfied with how resources are managed, urging the government to support PTD.

Dennis Akore of Warri Zone alleged that the controversy was linked to former PTD members who lost out in the July, last year’s delegates’ conference. He claimed the group was attempting to regain control of the union after being voted out by drivers.

Earlier, NUPENG President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, had also warned against the activities of the ‘PTD Elders Forum,’ describing them as infiltrators working to sow disaffection within the union.

The newly inaugurated leadership of the Lagos Secretariat Community Central Mosque (LSCCM), Alausa, has pledged to strengthen stakeholders’ engagement, improve religious structures, and expand community-focused programmes to promote harmony and development.

Speaking after he was sworn-in for a second term, LSCCM Chairman, Abdulhafis Toriola, assured worshippers of the leadership’s commitment to sustaining the mosque’s legacy.

Toriola, an engineer, who’s the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, said: ‘We are going to continue to assess the mosque to look at areas of improvement in order to sustain this edifice. With Allah’s guidance, we have been able to carry stakeholders along through our three-tier structure of governance – the executive, board of trustees and mission board.’

According to him, the Imams have also been exposed to regular trainings to improve the quality of their khutbah (sermons).

‘Our message to the Muslim community is to continue to believe in Allah, obey His rules and be good ambassadors of Islam,’ he said.

LSCCM Vice Chairman and Chairman of Shamsideen Adisa Mosque, Dr. Ismail AbdusSalam, stated the need for unity and financial support from the Muslim community.

‘This is a call to serve Allah, and we cannot do it alone. We need cooperation in the form of prayers, financial support, and active participation in our projects. With this, we can harmonise the community and achieve the objectives of the mosque,’ he stated.

He urged Muslims to remain steadfast, contribute to the mosque’s programmes, and continue to pray for the leadership so that ‘Allah accepts our efforts as an act of worship.’

LSCCM Women Affairs Secretary, Hajia Jelilat Abdulhamid, said the mosque runs weekly women’s forum that provides spiritual guidance, vocational training, and counselling services. Hajia Abdulhamid, who is the Deputy Director at the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), added that the forum addresses the needs of single sisters by providing platforms for marital connections, educational sponsorship programmes and support young women some of whom are currently in universities.

‘We need upright women to nurture children and strengthen families. Our society can only thrive if women return to their primary roles of building the home and raising responsible children,’ she said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.

‘At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,’ Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich. ‘Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.’

Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but ‘it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.’

FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.

The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.

The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.

‘First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason. They have to deal with that,’ Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.

Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.

Reigning Nigeria Basketball Premier League (NBPL) champions Rivers Hoopers put up a performance underlined by resilience and character, as they overturned a 4-point deficit at halftime to beat Lagos Legends 89-70 in the final game of the Atlantic Conference Phase Two.

In what was essentially a battle for pride and supremacy, it was Lagos Legends who scored the game’s first points as they opened up an early lead that stretched to nine points at 26-17 by the end of the first quarter, which was characterised by near misses for the KingsMen.

The KingsMen improved in their shot accuracy during the second quarter, as vice-captain Buchi Nwaiwu and Victor Sunday combined for fourteen points to cut the deficit to four points with the halftime score at 47-43.

The halftime break offered Rivers Hoopers Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu the opportunity to make tactical tweaks, reinforcing how the team contained their opponents.

‘The first thing that I spoke about in the huddle today was transition defense, the need to get back on time quickly. We didn’t do that well. When we corrected it later on, the game changed [in our favour], but in the first half they killed us on the transition offense. ‘It’s something that we’re definitely going to work on going forward,’ he revealed.

The KingsMen responded positively to Odaudu’s halftime instructions and, buoyed by the vociferous crowd, came out with much verve in the third.

Samuel Sani showed outstanding industry, scoring big points along with vital rebounds. But it was John Idoga who got the crowd rocking with a game-tying shot from deep to level the score at 61-61, before Abdul Malik sent the arena into a frenzy with the last sequence of the third quarter, sinking one free throw followed by a brilliant layup to hand the hosts the lead for the first time with the score at 64-61.

From that moment on, it was one-way traffic as Malik’s energy inspired the team to an outstanding performance in the fourth quarter, during which they restricted their opponents to just nine (9) points while scoring twenty-five (25) to close out the game at 89-70.

Speaking after the game, Odaudu could not hide his admiration for his standout performers.

‘I am very proud of both of them, Malik and especially Favour [Komene]. They changed the tempo and the dynamic of the game. They are my two MVPs for today’s game. These are people who hadn’t seen major minutes in all the games, but they stepped up when it mattered most and helped us out.

He further said such mentality shown by Malik and Favour is what makes Rivers Hoopers formidable.

‘That’s how it’s supposed to be. There’s no specific day, and there’s no particular person who is a hero on this team. Anybody can wake up any day and bail us out, and that’s what Milk did today,’ he pointed out.

Buchi Nwaiwu alongside John Idoga, top-scored for the KingsMen with fifteen points, while Sani (14) and Victor Sunday (12) also hit double figures.

The result meant Rivers Hoopers completed Phase Two of the Atlantic Conference with a perfect record, much to the delight of the team’s gaffer, who also pointed out some areas for improvement.

‘I’m happy that it was a clean sweep, but I’m also not happy with the way we played. It wasn’t entirely convincing. I don’t think the scoreline reflected the true situation of the game. We started off really badly with too many mistakes; we missed too many open baskets, so it’s something that we have to go back to the drawing board and work on. In all, I’m happy that we won, and we’ll move on from there.’

Attention now shifts to Phase Three of the NBPL 2025 season which will see the top four teams from both Conferences gather for the Playoffs at a yet to be named venue.

Media personality Uti Nwachukwu has weighed in on the altercation that led to the disqualification of Big Brother Naija Season 10 housemate Faith.

According to Uti, both parties could have handled the situation better.

He argued that it’s narcissistic to label the person who triggered the conflict as a victim and the one who reacted as an abuser.

In his view, both the trigger and the reaction are equally significant, and both individuals share responsibility for the escalation.

Uti emphasised the importance of learning to respond appropriately in such situations, particularly for young adults.

He noted that their 20s are a time for growth and learning, and encourages viewers to reflect on the situation and draw valuable lessons.

Uti clarified that his analysis is based on what he witnessed live, and he’s not taking sides but rather offering a nuanced perspective on the incident.

He wrote: ‘Saw this and ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS FAITH. In his own words – IT TAKES TWO. Could she have acted better – YES! Could he have handled it better – YES!

‘A TRIGGER is just as grave as a REACTION. it is incredibly Narcissistic to label the one who triggered/created/fueled the situation a VICTIM and then Label the one who reacted (without hitting the other) – an Abuser.

‘However, the onus is on us to learn to respond appropriately. Las las we are all human and our 20s is for Adulthood learning.

‘This is not defending anyone. It’s analysing what we all watched live not internet clips. Learn the lessons and dead sentiments – this is 2025 , Let’s be guided.’

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has dissolved another board, the Rivers State Microfinance Agency, inaugurated by the former Sole Administrator of the state, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd).

The dissolution occurred about two days after Fubara disbanded the Rivers Pension Board and directed the state’s Accountant-General to take charge of the board’s activities till further notice.

The recently dissolved Microfinance Board was among the eight agencies inaugurated in one fell swoop by Ibas on August 14th, with Prof. Adolphus Toby named as the Chairman.

The governor, in a statement signed by the Head of Service, Dr Inyingi Brown, appointed Pastor Jonathan Tobin to act as the Managing Director of the Agency.

The statement said, ‘The Rivers State Governor hereby announces the dissolution of the Board of the Rivers State Microfinance Agency and the immediate appointment of Pastor Jonathan Tobin as the Acting Managing Director of the Agency.

‘Consequently, members of the defunct Board are by this notice to hand over all properties and assets of the Board in their possession to the Acting Managing Director of the Agency.

‘His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, will in due course reconstitute the Board’.

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to reject proposals for the creation of State police in Nigeria, warning that such a move would endanger democracy, minority groups, and religious freedom.

The forum, in a statement on Friday through its chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, a member of the APC campaign council in the 2023 elections, reacted to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s recent declaration that ‘the time for state police has come’ during a court session marking the 2025/2026 legal year in Jos.

Rejecting the proposal, the Forum argued that state police would worsen insecurity, encourage impunity, and destabilize democracy.

‘State police will only lead to anarchy and increased impunity across the country, and as a result, these calls should be rejected by all right-thinking Nigerians,’ it said.

The group alleged that governors already exploit the Federal police despite lacking direct control, and warned that giving them full command of state police would be disastrous.

‘As we speak, most governors are using the machinery of the state to intimidate, oppress, and harass minority groups and the opposition. We are afraid of how far they will go when they now have a full-fledged police force at their beck and call. State police will give them the license to do and undo,’ the statement read.

The Forum noted that Federal police are already being misused to destroy businesses and properties of opponents, raising fears of far greater abuse.

‘What they are doing now will be child’s play compared to what they will do when they have their own police force,’ it warned.

According to the Forum, State police would become a weapon of oppression, ‘State police will derail the democratic system as it will be used to suppress dissent and turn governors into dictators.

‘With state police, anybody seen as an opponent of government would be hounded, jailed, or worse still, lose their lives. Opposition will be criminalized.’

The Forum also expressed fears over religious implications in the North-Central region, warning, ‘We don’t want state police in the North-Central, which is a secular region with minority groups and diverse religions.

‘We have observed that some governors in the region don’t want to accommodate minorities, including their religious practices.

‘If you arm these governors with state police, they will criminalize the traditional practices and religions of minority groups.’

It further accused some governors of prioritizing religion over governance, emphasising that, ‘One of the biggest problems in Nigeria at the moment is that most governors are practicing religion more than governance.

‘They believe in religious doctrines more than the Constitution. If you give them state police armed with AK-47s, what will be the fate of those who do not agree with them?’

The Forum maintained that creating State police would be counterproductive and could plunge Nigeria into crisis, urging President Tinubu, lawmakers, civil society groups, and Nigerians to resist the proposal.

‘These are the reasons why we, the North-Central APC Forum, are urging President Bola Tinubu and members of the National Assembly, especially senators and representatives who have the interest of the country at heart, to reject calls for state police.

‘State Police is an evil wind that will not blow anyone any good. We also urge civil society organizations and all Nigerians to reject this proposal,’ the Forum noted.