Category: The Nation – Nigeria

José Mourinho has spoken about his managerial philosophy, warning of the importance of trust between players and coach – and ‘non-negotiable’ rules for his squad to follow – as he looks to build a new winning team at Real Madrid.

Veteran coach Mourinho returned to the Bernabéu this summer – 13 years after he was last in charge – after Madrid went two years without landing a major trophy, and fired two coaches, Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa, last season.

He’s had a tricky start to life back in Spain, though, with Madrid already six points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona and having lost last weekend’s derby to Atletico.

‘Don’t betray me,’ Mourinho told the Bet It Drives Show, when asked about trust and management. ‘When I say don’t betray me, of course, I’m speaking about football. Don’t betray me, and I’ll always be there for you.’

Mourinho has had a reputation as a strict disciplinarian, but has claimed he’s now more ‘calm’ at this stage of his career.

‘There are rules that are not negotiable,’ Mourinho said. ‘If you report at 9 a.m., it’s 9 a.m. for everybody. If you arrive at 9.15, even if you’re a superstar, you just can’t. I don’t accept it … But another thing is giving them freedom to express themselves.’

Madrid’s 2025-26 season was disrupted by a number of off-field issues with critics citing a lack of training-ground discipline, including a clash between Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde which saw the latter hospitalised.

‘You are a football player 24 hours a day,’ Mourinho said. ‘Everything reflects the job. What you eat, what you drink, how you sleep, even things in your private life. You cannot ski. You cannot ride a bike.

‘You fall off your bike, and you don’t play three matches maybe, or maybe worse, maybe you break a leg … There are a lot of things you have to give up to be a football player. If you feel it’s a hobby, you’re dead. There’s always a relationship between what you achieve and what you give up.’

Mourinho also discussed the process behind his surprise return to Madrid, where he had a successful, but turbulent, first spell.

‘After two seasons where the biggest club in the world didn’t have the best results and a little ‘divorce’ with the fans, the club contacted me,’ he said. ‘They told me ‘We know you. You know us. You know the club, you know the culture.

‘We need you. We need you to rebuild. We need you to start again an amazing decade that the club had. We need a person with your profile.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified poverty, unemployment, poor education and social disintegration as notable drivers of conflicts, saying his administration is committed to building a secure, stable and prosperous Nigeria.

Tinubu spoke on Saturday at the passing-out ceremony for cadets of the 73rd Regular Course (Army, Navy and Air Force), Short Service Course 49 (Army), Direct Short Service Course 34 (Air Force) and Branch Commission Course 3 (Air Force) at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

The President, who was represented by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said addressing the underlying causes of insecurity remained an important component of the government’s non-kinetic strategy.

He identified job creation, macroeconomic stability, human capital development and social protection as measures being pursued alongside security operations.

‘Despite the diverse challenges our dear country has been confronted with, my administration has remained steadfast, focused and committed to building a secure, stable and prosperous Nigeria,’ he said.

Tinubu said the government would continue to strengthen measures aimed at addressing socioeconomic conditions that could contribute to conflict and insecurity.

He urged the newly commissioned officers to uphold professionalism, discipline and loyalty in the discharge of their responsibilities.

‘Through the continuous and surgical application of all elements of national power, including, and most importantly, the military, we have continued to stabilise the situation, improving our responses and expanding as well as modifying our interventions, which thankfully are yielding desired outcomes.

‘We aptly recognise that kinetic military operations alone cannot defeat insecurity since poverty, unemployment, poor education, and social disintegration are notable drivers of conflicts. That is why under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we are pursuing job creation, macroeconomic stability, human capital development, and social protection in tandem with our security efforts.’

The President said his administration is also enhancing Nigeria’s regional and global collaborations and cooperations, due to the transnational nature of the threats. He also said Nigeria will continue to provide leadership and assistance to fellow countries in West Africa.

According to him, ‘Nigeria will continue to enhance our commitments to democracy and stability in our region and indeed globally. Despite the setbacks in the cooperation within the subregion, especially in the Sahel, Nigeria under my leadership, through the auspices of ECOWAS and other regional bodies, will continue to pursue inclusive diplomacy, security cooperation, and economic integration.

‘Consequently, with the military’s unalloyed support for democratic governance, Nigeria’s continental and regional leadership role will continue to be upheld and intensified.

‘We remain opposed to unconstitutional changes of government, however we will not abandon our brothers and sisters in Mali, Niger, or Burkina Faso. Preserving five decades of ECOWAS achievements, covering free movement, trade, and regional coordination, is essential to our collective security and prosperity.’

The President since the establishment of the NDA in 1964, the institution has lived up to the expectations of its founding fathers and the nation and has evolved in line with nascent security challenges by developing a training curriculum which blends military training and academics with a focus on character development.

President Tinubu also said that a critical aspect of this is a realistic and enhanced Counter-Terrorism and Counterinsurgency training designed to suit contemporary security challenges. This, he noted, is in addition to the rapid integration of technology into training and research.

The President Tinubu who acknowledged that some NDA cadets are undergoing military training in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Brazil, and France said, ‘I am particularly encouraged that the Nigerian Defence Academy is increasingly receiving international recognition through invitations extended to its cadets to participate in highly competitive military cadet competitions in the United States, Brazil, and most recently, the People’s Republic of China.

‘Such invitations are earned through demonstrated excellence. They attest to the remarkable improvements in the Academy’s training standards, professionalism, and global standing, while affirming that Nigeria is producing officers capable of competing and excelling alongside the very best military institutions in the world.’

The President added that the Academy equally continues to serve as a regional hub for military education by training cadets from several African countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, The Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.

‘These engagements strengthen military diplomacy, deepen professional cooperation, and reaffirm Nigeria’s leadership in defence education and capacity development across the African continent,’ he said.

Edo State Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sylvester Aigboboh, has said First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu is expected in the state on October 15 in connection with the 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses procured by the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

Aigboboh said the buses were part of the administration’s efforts to provide affordable public transportation and reduce the burden of transportation costs on residents.

He spoke while thanking traders for welcoming Okpebholo and his entourage at Uwelu Sparepart market, in Benin City.

The APC deputy chairman described the administration as one committed to improving the lives of Edo residents through infrastructure and other interventions.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on September 19, cited Edo’s 50 CNG buses while giving an update on the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme, saying the buses were already in active service.

Aigboboh said the Okpebholo administration was also making progress on road reconstruction and rehabilitation across the state.

According to him, the Sapele Road reconstruction project has reached about 80 per cent completion, while Amufi Road is ready for inauguration.

He said work had also been completed on Uteh Palace Road and Temboga Road.

Aigboboh said the road projects and public transportation interventions demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving mobility and easing the cost of living for residents.

He thanked the traders for their support and assured them that the administration would continue implementing projects aimed at improving the welfare of the people.

The Chief Executive Officer of World Energy Council Nigeria, Bala Wunti, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the country’s 44 critical minerals are developed into factories, jobs and sustainable economic opportunities for Nigerians.

Wunti warned that Nigeria must not repeat the crude oil model of exporting raw materials and importing finished products at significantly higher prices.

He spoke at the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit, held at the Sheraton New York Times Square alongside the United Nations General Assembly.

Wunti participated in a panel titled, ‘Rare Currency: Critical Minerals in a Shifting Global Economy,’ which examined America’s growing dependence on imported minerals and China’s dominance of global mineral processing.

The former Chief Upstream Investment Officer at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said Nigeria must move beyond exporting mineral tonnage and develop domestic processing and manufacturing capacity.

‘For half a century, Nigeria exported crude oil and imported refined petroleum products. That created poverty, not prosperity. We will not repeat that mistake with lithium and rare earth elements,’ he said.

Explaining why Nigeria had not fully developed its mineral resources despite its vast potential, Wunti identified the absence of reliable geological data and commercially structured projects as major obstacles.

‘The central issue is the difference between mineral potential and an investable project,’ he said.

‘We had geological indications, but not proven reserves supported by JORC compliant data. We also had good policies, but not clearly defined projects. Investors invest in projects, not potential.’

According to him, attracting private capital into the mining sector requires reliable geological data, clearly defined projects, enabling infrastructure, predictable regulation, credible developers and viable routes to market.

Wunti described the Nigerian Solid Minerals Company as the country’s flagship investment platform, established to transform mineral resources into bankable projects.

‘The company is moving Nigeria from saying, ‘We have minerals,’ to presenting investors with defined projects and clear commercial propositions,’ he said.

‘Rare earth elements are not necessarily rare in the ground. They are rare in the market. Bringing them to the market requires capital and technology.’

Wunti said Nigeria must present commercially viable transactions to investors rather than rely on policy documents and promotional presentations.

‘We must move from potential to bankability. Investors need actual transactions, not presentations. Give me a credible price, and I will give you private capital,’ he added.

He said private capital would be required to finance most critical mineral projects, while the government must create an environment that reduces investment risks.

‘Government must address geological uncertainty, unpredictable regulation, inadequate infrastructure and inefficient permitting,’ he said.

‘However, government can only make a project bankable. It cannot permanently make an uneconomic project profitable.’

Wunti identified four conditions necessary for attracting sustainable investment into the sector. These are JORC compliant geological data, commercially viable prices, a stable and competitive fiscal system, and credible buyers.

‘The lesson is price, not pitch,’ he said. ‘A price floor of $110 per kilogram gives investors commercial certainty. That is how Nigeria can attract processing facilities, create jobs and retain greater value from its mineral resources.’

Beninese striker Joseph Ede Oloko has shot to the top of the European Golden Shoe standings, edging out Barcelona’s Raphinha by a single point after a prolific run in Latvia’s top flight.

His form earned him his first senior call-up for Benin now under Nigeria’s former trainer, Gernot Rohr.

Oloko has scored 25 goals in 27 Virsliga games this season, first on loan at Tukums 2000 and now back at parent club FK Liepaja, with five matches still to play before the Latvian league season closes in early November.

Under the competition’s points-based coefficient system – which weights goals by the strength of the league they’re scored in – his tally converts to 25 points, one ahead of Raphinha’s 24.

Raphinha, deployed as a makeshift centre-forward for Barcelona this season in place of Robert Lewandowski, has scored 12 goals in seven LaLiga appearances, including back-to-back hat-tricks. Because ‘Big Five’ league goals carry a multiplier of two under the coefficient system, his return outstrips higher-volume scorers from smaller leagues on paper, even as Oloko’s raw tally leads the continent.

Looking back at your time in the house, what’s one thing you wish you had done differently?

I wish I had explored more friendships. Friendships with Keivo, Araga and Gerald. Once they left the house, I had almost nobody apart from Bells. I wish I had tried more relationships.

What inspired the eviction look?

Naturally, I just like to try new things. I was bored of the look I was carrying in the house. I wanted to disrupt the normal day of my life. I wanted to look and feel different.

What is your biggest mental hurdle?

I wasn’t the best at arena games because they were new to me, unlike other housemates who had prior knowledge. I wasn’t the worst either, but I could have done better. Losing the games made me feel moody.

Can you share some of the misconceptions about yourself that you’d be correcting?

That I have a temper. I just had a few confrontations with Tram and Sultex, and that was me standing up for myself, but watching the highlights, I realised how that must have looked like I was an angry person. It was just an outburst. An outburst here or there shouldn’t define my image. The second narrative was always with Bells. Bells was part of the journey, but I was also friends with Araga, Keivo and Gerald. Keivo even brought out the weird side of me. I had my moments with Wager too.

What does fashion mean to you in general?

For me, fashion is a form of expression, how I think about myself and how I carry myself. It’s a compliment to who I am. So, most of my outfits are usually very intentional. My entrance outfit was unconventional because I intentionally wanted the world to see me in that way, like royalty or something of some sort. It also depicts my feelings; most times when I feel low, even in the house, I wear black but I don’t think people got to understand that part of my fashion reasoning. For me, fashion means self-expression in some type of way. I use fashion to express myself.

What is it about the house that you’d really miss?

I love how unpredictable it was. I cherished the unpredictability because it also gave hope to the people who had not won enough that maybe your day will come, so that feeling of hopefulness was one thing that carried a lot of people. It kept us going; it kept them going. I love how spontaneous it is. I love activities so much; that’s why I was very active during the wager. The house will stimulate you with so many activities going on at the same time. I loved how it was a mixture of several characters and personalities that were multi-layered. I observed so many people in the house, and it was beautiful watching people unravel themselves. I think that sums it all.

What sort of roles are you naturally drawn to, and which would you like to explore as you’re out of the house as an actor?

Naturally, I’m drawn to every type of role because I’m a curious person, and I’m also curious about myself. So, I want to experience everything and explore everything that comes with acting. I want to be versatile. I want to do drama, action, comedy, romance, thriller, and series. I want to go mainstream. I want to be actively involved in acting and master my craft. I want to perfect it, be the actor that people look forward to watching because of how good and expressive he is. I want to do so much in my acting career.

Now that you’re out, what’s next for Yusuf, and what should we expect from you after BBNaija?

I want to go back into acting and do more challenging roles. Accept more diverse roles. Do more interesting things in acting. I was an author, so I want to go back to writing books, scripts, etc. I also want to delve into public speaking and hosting, and expansion of my farm.

The Toronto International Film Festival has revealed the 2026 award winners during a live press conference at TIFF Lightbox recently.

Among the top honours announced were the People’s Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, voted on by TIFF’s public audience; the Platform Prize, the Festival’s only juried programme; two Canadian feature film awards, Short Cuts, FIPRESCI, and NETPAC awards.

In total, 12 awards were handed out, celebrating standout films and breakout talent.

In a historic first this year, winning TIFF’s Platform Prize grants a non-English-language film direct eligibility for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, alongside top winners from five other qualifying festivals.

The 2026 TIFF presented 294 films from 72 countries, welcoming over 800 talent across 98 red carpets. The Festival hosted 2,000 accredited media, close to 7,000 TIFF: The Market delegates, and 279 directors from around the world.

Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s ‘La Bola Negra’ People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers; ‘Elsinore’ won International People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers; ‘Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been’ People’s Choice Documentary Award presented by Rogers; ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney’ won People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award presented by Rogers; Theja Rio’s ‘Angh’ won Platform Prize; ‘Brace Your Heart’ won Special Jury Award; ‘Sunburn’ won Best Canadian Feature Film Award and a $10,000 CAD cash prize; while ‘Smudge the Blades’ won the award for Best Canadian Discovery Award.

Nigeria sit second in Group L after a 2-1 win over Madagascar in their first 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture on Friday.

The Super Eagles fought back from an early goal to take maximum points.

But it was not enough for the three-time African champions to go top of the group.

This is due to Guinea-Bissau’s 2-0 win over Tanzania.

Franculino Djú opened the scoring for Guinea-Bissau in the 33rd minute before Mama Baldé added the second goal in the 58th minute to seal the away win.

Nigeria’s next game will be away to Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, as they wrestle for early leadership in the group.

The Lagos State Government has urged residents to make environmental sanitation a daily responsibility rather than wait for government-led exercises.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, made the call during the September sanitation monitoring on Saturday.

The ????????exercise was held at Otto Road, Ijora Olopa, Lagos Mainland Local Government.

Agoro said the exercise, which began six months ago, had recorded improving turnout, but residents could do more.

He said residents often waited for government officials to arrive before cleaning their surroundings instead of taking responsibility for their environment.

‘We want to see people already cleaning outside, by the time we come,’ Agoro said.

The Head of Service said environmental sanitation was a continuous exercise that would be sustained by successive administrations.

He urged residents to understand that cleanliness began with individuals and should not be left entirely to the government.

‘Government cannot come inside your house and clean your bathroom and clean your toilet. It starts with you,’ he said.

Agoro said maintaining a clean environment would help reduce sickness and airborne diseases while promoting healthier communities.

He said the foundation for sustained environmental sanitation had been laid, but compliance could still improve.

Agoro said government officials would continue monitoring and sensitising residents while supporting communities to maintain environmental cleanliness.

He commended the Executive Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government, Mayor Jubril Emilagba, for mobilising residents for the exercise.

Also speaking, Emilagba said the council’s partnership with residents remained essential to sustaining environmental cleanliness across the local government area.

He said community development associations and community development committees had joined the exercise alongside residents.

‘We advise our people to continue to tidy up their area, not once in a month, but on a regular basis,’ Emilagba said.

The chairman said the local government had overcome its recent refuse crisis, adding that its areas were currently clean.

‘The era of refuse crisis in our local government has passed; it ended last month,’ he said.

Emilagba expressed satisfaction with the level of cleanliness observed during the exercise and urged residents to sustain the practice.

He said the council would continue encouraging residents to maintain clean homes and surroundings.

Social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has faced criticism from some Nigerians on X after sharing documents relating to an individual who reportedly bought 1,200 units of Dangote Flour Mills shares for ?18,000 in 2007.

VeryDarkMan shared what he described as receipts showing the investor purchased the shares at ?15 per unit, along with documents indicating dividend payments allegedly received in subsequent years.

According to the documents, the investor received ?324 and ?216 in dividends in 2009, while another document showed a dividend payment of ?108 in 2012.

VeryDarkMan later urged subscribers to the ongoing Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO) to watch the video, suggesting the documents offered lessons for those considering the investment.

The post, however, attracted criticism from some X users, who questioned the relevance of the historical investment to the current Dangote Refinery IPO and accused the influencer of discouraging investment.

One user, @kelz_Realist, argued that the experience was not unusual, noting that the 2007-2008 global financial crisis affected investments across the Nigerian stock market.

‘There’s nothing new here. The stock market crashed in 2007/08. I was affected. All the shares I bought from major companies, banks, and insurance companies crashed,’ the user wrote.

Another user, @ajokpa, questioned the expectations attached to the investment, asking: ‘How much were you expecting from a ?18k investment in the capital market?’

@Fortunate0_1 accused VeryDarkMan of discouraging people from investing.

Another user, @odunlamisodiq, said investors were already aware of the risks involved, writing, ‘Oga rest we don buy we don buy we all knows dat anything for the country na risk either it works out or not it left to us.’

@santos_sure questioned VeryDarkMan’s qualification to offer financial advice, while @EnzoXtra questioned why the influencer was focusing specifically on Dangote.

Another commenter, @User_047, said investors should understand that stock investments carry risks and that returns are not guaranteed.

‘Na Black man be Black man problem. People expecting short-term returns or no risk at all should stay away from any kind of Stock (IPO). Stocks rise and fall everywhere in the world; you shouldn’t de-market people’s business,’ the user wrote.

@Oluwasheyi45 also questioned whether some people understood how the stock market works, noting that returns depend on company performance and that stocks are not fixed investments.