SOURCED FROM CURRENT NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALS
For years, football has been a source of national pride for Nigeria, but recent failures-including poor performances at major tournaments and missing out on the FIFA World Cup-have raised serious concerns about the administration of the game.
The resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and other executives, alongside President Bola Tinubu’s directive for comprehensive football reforms, has intensified calls for accountability and change.
Officials from the Gambian Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs have kickstarted their benchmarking visit in Uganda aimed at understanding how the latter manages her public investments.
Led by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Jobe Baboucarr, the officials say the valuable lessons they have already started to pick in Uganda will help them resurrect their economy which direly needs reforms.
“Gambia has been embarking on a lot of reforms in various aspects, economic reform, judicial reform, institutional reforms in general, and one of the areas that we have been working on is also public investment management. We started working on that, but in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund, we sought advice in terms of which country to actually visit to see exactly how and what they have done so far in that area. A couple of countries were actually highlighted. The country that we ended up choosing was Uganda, and I’m happy to say that we are glad that we chose Uganda for this assignment, because the intention was only on public investment management, but we have gone beyond that because we have been able to get more information on other things,” Mr Baboucarr said.
He added: “Right now, we have gaps in project conceptualisation, evaluation, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, these are all areas that need urgent reforms and what we have seen in Uganda, how the process is actually taken from step by step, is what actually impressed us.”
Gambia, with a $3 billion GDP, he said, is aiming at ensuring that each project which receives government funding is felt by the citizens through job creation and poverty eradication so as to advance the economy which is already growing at six percent.
“And it is important that we learn from each other, because the environment is the same, we are confronted with the same challenges and we have countries in Africa that are well ahead, so there’s no point in going outside of Africa to learn from things that we can learn from our own people,” he said.
After attending a meeting of the development committee, where they were taken through how Uganda handles her public investments, the team visited Makerere University School of Economics which houses the Public Investment Management Centre of Excellence (PIM-CoE) where they interacted with officials about the entire investment agenda.
Speaking at the meeting on Friday August 28, Prof Edward Bbaale, the Head of PIM-CoE, noted that the centre is key in ensuring that government invests in projects that bring returns immediately rather than waiting for years.
“At Makerere University, PIM-CoE, we ensure that we build the capacity of government officials, undertake strategic research to ensure that by the time the government chooses an investment, it is viable and sustainable,” he said.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr Baboucarr said the interaction will not only help them implement what they have seen, but also ensure that they forge partnership with Uganda.
“There are so many things that we believe that we could definitely partner with Uganda in advancing economic development, not only between our two countries, but in Africa as a whole. This is just the initial visit of a series of visits that I believe Uganda will actually embark on in the coming months and years to come,” he said.
The Director-General and Convener of the Youth for Tinubu Initiative, Ajibola Afolayan, has announced a total restructuring and expansion of YTI in Oyo State, alongside the launch of a new youth political force, the BSA Youth Movement, in support of the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli.
In a statement made available to journalists, Afolayan noted that the development signals the start of aggressive, door-to-door mobilisation to secure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election and deliver APC victory across the entire ballot in Oyo State in the coming general election.
According to him, the group was founded in 2021 to mobilise youth for then-Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, adding that the group subsequently became one of the key youth structures that powered Tinubu’s emergence as President in 2023.
Afolayan further said that the organisation is being re-engineered for a more decisive 2027.
He added that the repositioned Youth for Tinubu Initiative will lead grassroots mobilisation for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The newly launched BSA Youth Movement, he said, will serve as the dedicated youth structure for Senator BSA’s governorship campaign in Oyo.
Afolayan further stated that the network will mobilise young professionals, entrepreneurs, students, artisans, farmers, community organisers and political activists to build a physical APC presence that translates directly into votes.
He reaffirmed YTI’s commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election, citing subsidy removal, FX reforms, tax reforms, NELFUND, CNG expansion, and massive investments in roads, rail, power, agriculture and youth empowerment as justification for continuity.
The director-general of the group noted that while YTI remains focused on the presidential campaign, the Oyo 2027 governorship contest requires a dedicated youth structure.
‘The BSA Youth Movement will remain focused on Senator Alli’s campaign while operating in synergy with YTI to deliver APC victory across the ballot.
‘We are not starting from zero. Youth for Tinubu Initiative was established in 2021, and we have travelled this political road before. We understand what mobilisation requires, we understand the grassroots, and we understand the importance of building structures that survive beyond social media.
‘But the scope goes beyond the top of the ticket. The structure will also drive coordinated support for APC’s 3 Senatorial candidates, all House of Representatives candidates, and all State House of Assembly candidates in Oyo State.
We are building a structure that will engage the electorate across the entire ballot. Every level of representation matters, and every candidate requires a strong grassroots connection.
‘The renewed YTI and BSA Youth Movement will deploy across Oyo’s five zones – Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibarapa – with structures cascading into all 33 LGAs, wards, polling units, streets and communities.
‘The new mobilisation strategy deliberately moves beyond rallies and social media. The focus is direct, person-to-person engagement.
If we want the people to hear us, we must be prepared to go to the people. We will mobilise, galvanise, engage and canvass. We will go from house to house, ward to ward and community to community. We will speak with the people, listen to their concerns and present the records and programmes of the candidates we are supporting.
‘Oyo State deserves a conversation about competence, experience, capacity, inclusion and the future. That is the conversation BSA Youth Movement intends to take to the grassroots.
‘The political season has entered another phase. The structure is ready, the youths are ready, and we are taking the campaign to the people,’ he concluded.
The Chairman of forum of former members of Enugu State House of Assembly, Denge Josef Onoh, has criticised the Federal Government’s recent ?610.13 billion infrastructure approvals, saying South-East road network was completely excluded.
Reacting to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) announcements, Onoh stated that reducing the federal infrastructural intervention for the entire South-East region to 50-year private concession for a trailer park is an insult to the region’s commercial and industrial contributions to Nigeria.
Onoh said comparative allocation analysis and a critical review of the approved projects shows a ‘deliberate, lopsided distribution of funds’.
He said out of the ?610.13 billion package, the South-East received a meager 3.23% in the form of a ?19.70 billion trailer park at Aro-Ngwa, Abia State-which is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession, meaning zero direct federal capital is being spent.
Onoh provided a percentage breakdown showing how projects approved for individual states in other regions dwarf the South-East’s lone allocation:
* Ekiti State Road Reconstruction (?159.83bn): 711.3% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Maintenance (?96.43bn): 389.5% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Ogun State Ilara-Iselu Road (?94.24bn): 378.4% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Rivers State East-West Road Section (?74.51bn): 278.2% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Niger State Suleja-Minna Road Section (?56.75bn): 188.1% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Ekiti State Phase II Road Rehabilitation (?54.52bn): 176.8% Higher than the South-East allocation.
* Ogun State Abeokuta-Iboro-Ilaro Road (?54.12bn): 174.7% Higher than the South-East allocation.
He added that after critical analysis, the approved Aro-Ngwa trailer park is an economic dead-end for the South-East region rather than a development project.
Onoh claimed that instead of easing the cost of doing business, it will create an aggressive revenue extraction point that will penalize indigenous logistics companies and increase structural inflation for Eastern traders.
He insisted that if the current administration is serious about the Federal Character principle, the South-East must immediately be allocated direct federal funding for capital-intensive infrastructure
In conclusion, Onoh asked the current administration to see the South-East as a major player and partner in economic development of the country, promote an all inclusive governance rather than a region to be served with a slice of soaked of bread.
‘Because Bread is meant to be dry, firm, or toasted. And Once bread is thoroughly soaked in water, it loses its structure, turns into unappetizing mush, and becomes practically useless and unpalatable. My region deserves better Mr. President,’ he concluded.
A stand-off emerged at the main entrance of Tooro Kingdom’s palace in Fort Portal City on Friday morning after security officers restricted access to the royal compound following the death of Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.
UPDF personnel deployed at the palace blocked kingdom subjects, some officials and journalists from accessing the compound, with no immediate explanation given for the restrictions.
The restrictions triggered a confrontation involving Charles Kamurasi, head of the Babiito royal clan and uncle to the late King, who questioned why kingdom subjects were being prevented from entering the palace.
Kamurasi arrived shortly after 8am and was allowed through the main gate but was stopped a few metres inside.
He was later heard demanding an explanation from security officers.
‘Since when did the palace become a barracks? This is our kingdom. People are being blocked from accessing it. I need to know who has given this order. I am the head of the royal family,’ Kamurasi said.
He was the first senior royal figure to arrive at the palace and was followed shortly afterwards by Tooro Kingdom Deputy Prime Minister Harriet Nyakake, who was allowed to proceed inside.
For several hours, ordinary subjects remained outside the main gate, while journalists covering developments following the King’s death were also initially denied access.
The main gate was opened shortly after 9am following Kamurasi’s protest, although those who entered were temporarily stopped from proceeding to a second gate closer to the main palace house.
Security officers were also seen stopping some people arriving in vehicles and directing them to Muchwa, the Tooro Kingdom administrative headquarters, where mourning activities are expected to take place.
The restrictions frustrated some kingdom subjects who had gathered to mourn the King.
‘He has been our King. Why are people being blocked? Do they think we are going to steal something? I even see some kingdom officials being blocked,’ one resident said.
Kamurasi later left the palace and was driven towards Fort Portal town before returning about 30 minutes later and proceeding directly to the palace.
The restrictions came less than 12 hours after the announcement of King Oyo’s death at about 10pm on Thursday.
His death has triggered an outpouring of grief across Tooro, with kingdom officials, members of the royal family and subjects gathering as preparations for his burial and succession begin.
King Oyo became Omukama at the age of three in 1995 following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III.
He went on to become the longest-serving traditional monarch in the history of Tooro Kingdom.
By Friday morning, no official burial programme had been announced.
Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong said in an early-morning WhatsApp message to this reporter that he was due to meet President Museveni to discuss burial arrangements.
In a separate statement issued by the kingdom, Armstrong formally communicated the King’s death to the President.
Security remained tight around the palace as kingdom officials began coordinating arrangements following the death.
The reason for the restrictions on access to the palace had not been publicly explained by security officials by press time.
Actor Kolawole Ajeyemi has spoken about his growth in the movie industry, attributing his progress to God.
In a recent social media post, the actor shared throwback photos of himself with veteran actors Yinka Quadri and Dele Odule.
He noted that the pictures were taken between 1994 and 1996, early in his career.
Ajeyemi said that if people knew where he started, what he had gone through, and how far God had brought him, they would praise God on his behalf.
He expressed gratitude and described the veterans in the photos as fathers and respected elders of the industry.
‘1994, 1995, 1996. Alhamdulillah, tag them. If you only knew where I started, what I’ve survived, and how far God has brought me, you would praise God on my behalf. Olorun seun. Set awon Agba. Iba eyin Baba mi’, he wrote.
The actor’s post has drawn reactions from fans and colleagues, many of whom commended him for acknowledging the contributions of the older generation and for his humility.
Ajeyemi remains active in Yoruba cinema and is regarded as one of Nollywood’s prominent faces.
An airstrip in the conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was allegedly identified as an escape route after a planned assassination of President Museveni, the High Court in Kampala has heard.
Mr Andrew Wilson, alias Orlando, a prosecution witness, told the High Court yesterday that Dr Kizza Besigye and his alleged associates had discussed using Mahagi airstrip to flee Uganda after the purported attack.
The witness said Dr Besigye had identified the airstrip because one of the two facilities in Mahagi was allegedly not under the control of the Kinshasa government, but was managed by a local chief.
‘We also discussed how to escape from Uganda after the assassination attempt on President Museveni; that is why we were talking of the stamping of passports,’ Mr Wilson told court.
He was responding to questions from Chief State Attorney Richard Birivumbuka during proceedings presided over by Justice Emmanuel Baguma.
Mr Wilson said Dr Besigye explained that Mahagi had two airstrips-one official facility controlled by the Congolese government and another unofficial one allegedly controlled by a local chief.
According to the witness, the unofficial airstrip would allow the group to leave without going through immigration procedures.
‘We discussed the Mahagi airstrip. Dr Besigye said he knew the chief of that area and this could have given us an easy escape route without paperwork. Dr Besigye also said he had previously used the same unofficial airstrip to bring in guns,’ Mr Wilson said.
During the hearing, the prosecution played clips from an over two-hour video recording that Mr Wilson said he secretly captured during meetings involving Dr Besigye.
At one point in the footage, a man whom the prosecution identified as Dr Besigye is seen handing Mr Wilson some material.
Mr Wilson told court that the material was an index card containing details of Mahagi airstrip.
Mr Wilson further claimed that Dr Besigye told him that people associated with their alleged operation would be waiting at the airstrip to receive the logistics.
‘We needed to plan if the aircraft needed re-fuelling and the weight of the cargo it would carry. Dr Besigye said, ‘our people will be there to receive us,” he testified.
The next hearing for the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit regarding historical investigative records on President Bola Tinubu is set for today, August 28 in Chicago, United States.
Today, defendants and intervenor (President Tinubu) must file any opposition to the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment or cross-motions.
This follows a recent motion by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) asking US District Judge Beryl Howell for permission to submit sensitive portions of the records privately (in camera) for judicial review.
The request was contained in a motion filed on August 20, 2026, before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in the case of Aaron Greenspan v. Executive Office for US Attorneys et al, according to an X post by Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York.
The FBI, in the document attached and attributed to it, is seeking permission to file declarations ex parte and in camera in support of its renewed motion for summary judgment.
According to the filing, one of Greenspan’s FOIA requests sought the ‘entire FBI file’ on Tinubu, while another requested FBI Form 302 interview records involving Tinubu from FBI Case No. 245-IP-71386-UUUUUU covering the period between 1992 and 1993.
The FBI said it had invoked several FOIA exemptions, including Exemptions 6, 7(C), 7(D), 7(E) and 7(F), to withhold information responsive to the requests.
The agency said some of the withheld material relates to law-enforcement techniques and procedures and that disclosure of some information ‘could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual.’
The FBI said it could not disclose the full basis for invoking Exemptions 7(E) and 7(F) publicly because doing so could compromise the secrecy it is seeking to protect.
It therefore asked the court to allow it to submit declarations under seal and privately so that Judge Howell could assess whether the exemptions were properly applied.
The FBI said it would provide the declarations to the court by August 28, subject to approval of its request.
The filing also stated that Greenspan opposed the FBI’s request after both parties conferred on August 19.
The latest development is part of a FOIA lawsuit filed by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan in 2023 against the Executive Office for US Attorneys and other US government agencies.
The case concerns records relating to historical US investigations involving Tinubu, including requests to the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The records sought by Greenspan include documents connected to a historical investigation dating to the late 1980s and early 1990s and a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds linked to Tinubu.
Tinubu has denied wrongdoing. The historical US proceedings resulted in civil forfeiture rather than a criminal conviction against him.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has identified disunity among traditional rulers and leaders as a major challenge hindering the progress of the Yoruba nation.
Adams called for a renewed commitment to unity, dialogue and collaboration among Yoruba leaders, warning that personal rivalries and fragmentation could undermine the collective strength of the Yoruba people.
He spoke at the Oodua Progressive Union (OPU) USA Afro Fusion Festival (OAFest 2026), themed ‘Celebrating Our Heritage, Strengthening Our Unity, Shaping Our Future’, held in Indianapolis, United States.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo urged Yoruba leaders and members of OPU to set aside their differences and embrace mutual respect and cooperation.
‘Our strength lies in our ability to come together as one people, united by common goals and shared values,’ he said.
Adams also stressed the importance of cultural pride and visionary leadership in advancing the Yoruba cause globally, noting that Yoruba heritage remained a foundation of identity for millions of people in Nigeria and across the world.
He described culture as a repository of wisdom, creativity and resilience, urging OPU members and Nigerians in the diaspora to take up the responsibility of preserving the Yoruba language, celebrating traditional festivals and upholding values such as respect, courage and community spirit.
‘Our heritage is a source of inspiration and guidance for our present and future,’ he said.
Adams commended OPU USA for its growth since its official launch in 2025, saying its annual conferences across different states had helped strengthen interaction and cohesion among members while attracting new participants.
He urged members to remain united in the face of challenges, stressing that effective leadership required resilience and the ability to weather difficult periods.
Looking to the future, Adams underscored the importance of youth empowerment in securing a prosperous future for Yorubaland and the global Yoruba community.
He called for greater investment in education, entrepreneurship and cultural awareness to equip young people to become custodians and torchbearers of the Yoruba legacy.
He also advocated initiatives aimed at promoting economic development, sustainable growth, job creation and improved quality of life across Yoruba communities.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo further emphasised the need to leverage technology and global networks to connect Yoruba communities worldwide and amplify their voice on the international stage.
In his welcome address, the National Coordinator of OPU USA, Chief Afolabi Olurin, expressed appreciation to guests, members, elders, volunteers, sponsors and members of the planning committee for their contributions to the success of the festival.
Olurin described the gathering as a celebration of Yoruba heritage, culture, unity and progress. He encouraged participants to embrace the spirit of togetherness that binds Yoruba people worldwide, irrespective of their places of residence.
He urged attendees to use the occasion to strengthen relationships, establish new connections and promote the values of respect, service and cultural pride.
The OPU USA Afro Fusion Festival, a cultural event featuring Yoruba music, dance, art and traditions, provided a platform for participants to celebrate their heritage while reflecting on the need for greater unity and collective progress.
Since its launch in 2025, OPU USA has emerged as an active Yoruba diaspora organisation in the United States, with its conferences and cultural festivals serving as platforms for mobilising members, fostering cohesion and promoting Yoruba values.
The festival brought together Yoruba sons and daughters from across the United States, alongside OPU members and other dignitaries, to celebrate their cultural heritage and reflect on the future of the Yoruba people at home and in the diaspora.
Among those who attended were the Continent Coordinator, OPU North America, Toyin Alowonle; General Secretary, OPU North America, Otunba Kemi Olanrewaju; Assistant General Secretary, OPU North America, Chief Victor Abolarinde; Financial Secretary, OPU North America, Chief Samson Adeshina; Treasurer, OPU North America, Princess Modupe Oyinsan; Publicity Secretary, Adewale Odunuga; Deputy Publicity Secretary, Princess Seyi Oyewale; Organising Secretary, Iyameto Funmi Olumade; Programme Director, Chief Omotunde Balogun; and Welfare Secretary, Olufunke Agboola.
Others included Baba Oodua, OPU North America, Prince Adewole Daramola; Iya Oodua, OPU North America, Chief Florence Epee; Baba Oodua Worldwide, Otunba Adewale Adepoju; Iya Oodua Worldwide, Chief Modupeola Sodimu; Deputy Coordinator, OPU USA, Dr Itaniyi Olatoye; and Supervisory Coordinator, OPU USA, Chief Alice Owolabi.
Also present were the Coordinator, Miami, Florida, Adeshina Ogundeyi; Maryland Coordinator, Dickson Olugbodi; Iya Oodua, OPU USA, Mrs Yetty Adesanya; National Publicity Secretary, OPU USA, High Chief Oluwabiyi Greenlyte; Assistant General Secretary, OPU USA, Comrade Bolaji Ganiyu; General Secretary, OPU USA, Mrs Victoria Jamolaya; Mr Oluniyi Aluko; Chief Akin Omokemi; Engr Adeleke Adebogun; OPU Indiana Coordinator, Mr Olugbenga Jaiyeola; Comrade Bamidele Alade; Mr Olubunmi Falope; and Abosede Adebogun.
The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr Aminu Yusuf, is dead.
A source within the commission told Daily Trust that Yusuf died at Nizamiya Hospital in Abuja after the Jummah prayer.
The source added that he fell ill five days ago while preparing for a trip to Rwanda.
According to the source, the NPC chairman had been suffering from what was described as diabetes-related complications before his reported death.
Yusuf was said to have also reportedly collapsed on a number of occasions at his office and during other public functions.
Daily Trust can confirm that the chairman collapsed on March 13 during a press briefing and the official launch of the APLS 13 Report.
During the event, he reportedly had difficulty breathing and remained in a sitting position before medical doctors at the event intervened to resuscitate him. He was subsequently taken to a hospital.
The source, however, did not provide further details on the circumstances surrounding his death.
But he told Daily Trust that Yusuf’s remains had been transported to Minna, Niger State, for burial this evening.
Yusuf was appointed Chairman of the National Population Commission by President Bola Tinubu in 2025 and was subsequently confirmed by the Senate.
He was sworn in by President Tinubu on December 3, 2025, alongside two other members of the NPC board. The State House identified him as a 65-year-old chairman of the commission at the time of his swearing-in.
The NPC also confirmed that Yusuf formally assumed office as chairman following his swearing-in in Abuja on December 3, 2025.
Yusuf holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also obtained a doctorate in International Relations from Nasarawa State University, Keffi, according to the State House.
The reported death comes less than a year after Yusuf assumed leadership of the commission, which is responsible for population data and the registration of vital events in Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the National Population Commission confirming his reported death.