Nigeria’s U-20 women’s team booked their place in the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after an emphatic 4-0 win over Venezuela in Cali, Soccernet.ng reports.

The victory, powered by goals from Amina Bello, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Flourish Sebastine, and substitute Joy Igbokwe, ensured the Falconets advanced with six points from three games.

The South Americans kicked off proceedings at Estadio Pascual Guerrero, but it was Nigeria that posed the first threat. Twelve minutes in, Okwuchukwu came close to putting the Falconets ahead, but her effort was comfortably saved by the Venezuelan goalkeeper following a clever pass from Sebastine.

Just four minutes later, Nigeria made their dominance count. A quick interplay between Okwuchukwu and Amina Bello saw Bello calmly slot home the opener to put Nigeria in front. Okwuchukwu doubled the lead in the 28th minute, heading in from close range to give Nigeria full control of the match.

Venezuela struggled to break down Nigeria’s defence and were denied by a fantastic save from Faith Omilana, who made her debut start for the Falconets.

Omilana’s heroics kept Venezuela at bay before the Nigerians added to their tally in first-half stoppage time. Flourish Sebastine tapped in Nigeria’s third goal, giving her team a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break.

The second half saw the Falconets continue to control the game, but it was substitute Joy Igbokwe who put the icing on the cake.

In the third minute of added time, Igbokwe unleashed a powerful strike from distance, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 victory for Nigeria.

The win propelled Nigeria into the Round of 16, with Amina Bello, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Flourish Sebastine, and Joy Igbokwe all contributing to a perfect attacking display.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his commitment to replicate China’s infrastructure in Nigeria, following his visit to China.

He made this known during a meeting with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in China (NIDO China) and the Nigerian community in Beijing.

Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s spokesman, said in a statement, that his discussion with President Xi Jinping and participation at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, green economy, and mining.

He emphasised the need for innovative teaching methods and a flourishing business environment.

President Tinubu urged Nigerians in China to be good ambassadors and represent Nigeria positively.

He stressed the importance of discipline and commitment to national service, citing China’s disciplined society as an example.

“I cannot tell you more, except from the embassy, that China is a disciplined society and we have to be disciplined too. Without discipline and commitment, we cannot build a nation that is respected everywhere in the world.

“We must exploit our diversity and be ready to do everything required of us within the laws of the communities that we live in and reflect a good image of our country,” the President said.

The President assured Nigerians in Diaspora that the Bank of Industry was prepared to collaborate with them to leverage opportunities in Nigeria.

He acknowledged the impact of investments in China’s economy and the need for bold decisions to drive Nigeria’s prosperity.

Dr Oche Barnabas, President of NIDO China, commended President Tinubu for strengthening Nigeria-China relations.

He requested the President’s assistance in advocating for Nigeria to be officially recognised as a native English-speaking nation, which would open up job and educational opportunities for Nigerians in China.

The Chairman of NIDO China pledged the organisation’s continued support for President Tinubu’s administration and efforts to elevate Nigeria’s global standing.

Following the recent increase in the pump price of petrol and the prevailing food supply challenges gripping the country, economists have warned that the number of Nigerians below the poverty line may soon exceed the 104 million projected by the World Bank in 2023.

The global bank had said the poverty rate in the country increased to 46 per cent in 2023 representing 104 million poor Nigerians.

Disclosing this in its Nigeria development update, titled, ‘Turning the Corner: From Reforms & Renewed Hope, to Results’, released in December last year, the World Bank said Nigeria’s poverty rate had risen from 40 per cent in 2018 to 46 per cent, as the number of poor people increased from 79 million to 104 million.

“Sluggish growth and rising inflation have increased poverty from 40 per cent in 2018 to 46 per cent in 2023, pushing an additional 24 million people below the national poverty line,” the World Bank said.

The report said the number of poor people in urban areas — more exposed to inflation — increased from 13 million to 20 million, while the number of poor people in rural areas rose to 84 million from 67 million within the same period.

The World Bank had predicted that the increase in poverty rate would be undone by the economic reforms  of President Bola Tinubu from the beginning of 2024 till 2026.

But speaking with Saturday PUNCH on Thursday, some economists said the policies and policy decisions of the current administration with the latest being the fuel price increase would definitely increase  the number of poor Nigerians beyond the World Bank estimates because the salaries of most people had remained stagnated despite the surging inflationary trend.

A professor of Development Economics, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Taiwo Owoeye, said with the way the fuel price hike had jerked up transportation costs, prices of basic commodities of the poor people would worsen the inflationary pressures. 

He said that with a 45 per cent hike, the new fuel price would have ripple effects on every aspect of the economy.

According to him, there has not been an onward increase in the salaries of workers, because while most states have yet to implement the N70,000 minimum wage, more Nigerians may find themselves in poverty very soon.

“Definitely, it will push more Nigerians into poverty. It is a 45 per cent increase in the price of fuel and that will affect other aspects of the economy. So, it will definitely put a lot of people below the poverty line,” he said.

Also in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, an agricultural economist from the Centre for Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Tobi Awolope, said the latest fuel price hike would worsen the misery already afflicting the poor people in the aspect of food crisis. 

When asked whether the recent fuel price hike and other related factors will jerk up the number of poor Nigerians to over 100 million, she said, “It’s very possible. Aside from the fuel price increase, there has been an irregular pattern of rainfall and climate change does have a long-term effect.”

The Edo State Government has announced an indefinite postponement of resumption of all schools in the state over the hike in fuel price.

The government announced this in a memo signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Ojo Akin-Longe, in Benin on Saturday.

The permanent secretary said the resumption, scheduled for September 9, was postponed until further notice.

“The Edo State Government hereby announces the postponement of the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, originally scheduled for Monday, 9th September 2024, until further notice.

“An official statement from the government has directed that schools remain closed due to the tension arising from the recent increase in fuel prices and the challenges faced by parents and guardians.

“The government urges parents, guardians, and caregivers to monitor the activities of their children and wards closely, given the current situation and the rising tension caused by the fuel price hike,” the memo read.

An erstwhile National Vice Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Salihu Lukman, has alleged that the APC and the duo of former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Bola Tinubu ruined the country.

Lukman, who said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, also stressed that 2027 presents a golden opportunity to replace them.

The former APC stalwart noted that it would not be enough to merely replace the APC, adding that Nigerians have to work hard to entrench a system whereby the new political party that would produce the next leaders, has the power to put elected officials in check. 

He lamented that the current crop of leading opposition politicians are working at cross-purposes as they are each focused on their presidential ambitions, rather than subsuming their narrow interests under the broader national interest of rescuing the nation from the vice-grip of current political hawks.

According to him, unknown to key political opposition leaders, the strength or confidence of President Tinubu is derived from their inability to open themselves and honestly commence negotiations to build a united front ahead of 2027.

He said key opposition political leaders like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr Peter Obi and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have paid their dues and are still actively nursing ambitions to become President, even though they were Presidential candidates in the 2023 election.

Lukman said while the opposition leaders all agree that the performance of President Tinubu in the last year since his assumption of office has been disastrous, unfortunately, their agreement falls short of making them accept to work together towards building a common platform, capable of mobilizing and uniting Nigerians towards defeating President Tinubu and APC in 2027.

He said it is quite worrisome that notwithstanding the dangers before the nation, key opposition leaders believe in a business-as-usual approach to politics whereby the most important thing in politics is the management of their ambitions to become President.

Lukman said; “At this point, it is important to appeal to our key opposition leaders to wake up and try to be compassionate and appreciate the gravity of the dire situation facing citizens.

“The big question is whether, on account of personal ambitions, we want to continue to mismanage our reality and sacrifice every opportunity, which ideally a democratic system offers.

“The opportunity that the democratic system offers is that any government, which fails its citizens should be voted out. No doubt, by any standard, both President Tinubu and APC have failed Nigerians. It is quite disheartening that a party, which came with all the promises of changing Nigeria for the better has ended up ruining the country.

“From the economy to problems of insecurity and corruption, which were the three cardinal challenges APC and former President Muhammadu Buhari promised to tackle in 2015, what we had in 2015 is a child’s play today.

“The hard truth is that both former President Buhari and President Tinubu have turned out to be self-centred and unable to produce the needed leadership to pull the country out of its current challenges.

“Certainly, all of us who were actively in support of these leaders never imagined that they would be such colossal failures.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has approved 20,000 dollars each for eligible Bureau de Change (BDCs) at the rate of N1,580 to a dollar.

This is according to a statement issued by Dr Williams Kanaya, the acting director, Trade and Exchange Department of the apex bank.

“This is to inform the BDC operators and the general public that we are providing more liquidity into the market. 

“To this end, the CBN has approved the sale of 20,000 dollars to each eligible BDC operators at the rate of N1,580/dollar. This is to meet the demand for invisible transactions.

“All BDCs are allowed to sell to eligible end-users at a margin not more than one per cent above the purchase rate from CBN.

“Eligible BDCs interested in this transaction are directed to make the Naira payment to the CBN deposit account numbers with them,” he said.

He said that payment confirmation and all necessary documentation for disbursement are to be submitted at the appropriate CBN branches in Abuja, Awka, Kano, and Lagos for collection of the 20,000.00 dollars. (NAN)

Popular movie producer and actor, Chris Bassey, has left the Nigerian entertainment industry for plumbing work.

Chris made this known while sharing insights into his new life in Canada.

Speaking during a live chat with Daddy Freeze on Instagram, he emphasized that his new career pays better than tech jobs and also gives him a more relaxed lifestyle.

Daddy Freeze asked: “I know you as a producer and actor, what career are you into this Yankee?”

Bassey replied: “I’m into construction here.”

Daddy Freeze who was surprised by the development, however questioned the actor’s transition despite his fame.

Bassey said in pidgin: “In the last seven months, the province I have visited just on weekends in Canada, even person wey dey do tech no fit afford am.

"For here, I don’t know about the UK or US.”

Watch the video below:

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has warned the federal government not to take Nigerians for granted.

The President-General of the forum, Yerima Shettima stated this while reacting to the hike in the price of fuel.

Speaking to newsmen, he lamented that it seemed like the current government may have lost touch with the current realities of what Nigerians were going through.

According to him, it was unfortunate for the same government that appealed to Nigerians not to embark on protests with the promise to make life better to wake up all of a sudden to add to the pains of its people.

He said, “The price of foodstuff is no longer within the reach of an ordinary Nigerian and is now clear that the increase in minimum wage to N70,000 is nothing but a deceit,” stressing that it cannot meet the needs of one person not to talk of a family.

 “For me, the federal government should have a rethink on the numerous challenges.

“President Bola Tinubu must allow Nigerians to breathe because with the situation of things now, angry and hungry Nigerians are further being pushed to the wall and the reaction of a hungry and angry person may be unimaginable.”

He then called on the government to live up to its responsibilities and let Nigerians feel the positive impact of the ‘renewed hope agenda’ by making life and living better for Nigerians.

Shettima noted that the sudden increase in the price of petrol had already created a multiplier effect on prices of not only foodstuffs but in several other areas such as transportation.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has clarified its stance regarding the recent accusations by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which suggested that NNPC’s actions were undermining the operations of Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL).

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC, the company refuted claims that changes in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) would prevent the Dangote Refinery from offering competitive prices.

NNPC emphasized that it is not the sole buyer of petroleum products in Nigeria and that the market remains open for competitive pricing from any local refinery, including DRL.

They reiterated that pricing of products from any refinery, including DRL, is determined by global market forces, and current high prices present an opportunity for local refineries to sell at lower rates.

The company also dismissed the claim that it is the sole offtaker of products from DRL, stating that domestic refineries are free to sell directly to any marketer on a “willing buyer, willing seller” basis.

The NNPC assured the public that they hold no exclusive rights to distribute Dangote Refinery’s products and that their role in the market remains transparent and competitive.

The company statement reads: “The attention of the NNPC Ltd has been drawn to a press release by the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, which claims that the Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL) is being undermined by actions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd). Specifically, MURIC asserts that recent changes to the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) will prevent the Dangote Refinery from offering lower prices and that NNPC Ltd. has become the sole offtaker of all products from the refinery.

“To set the records straight, NNPC Ltd. wishes to further state as follows:

“1. The pricing of petroleum products from any refinery, including the Dangote Refinery Ltd. (DRL), is determined by global market forces. The recent changes in PMS prices have no impact on the DRL or any other domestic refinery’s access to the Nigerian market. In fact, if current prices are perceived as high, it presents an ideal opportunity for the refinery to sell its products at lower prices in the Nigerian market.

“2. Furthermore, we emphasize that there is no guarantee of lower prices associated with domestic refining compared to any global parity pricing framework, as confirmed by the DRL. The NNPC Ltd. will only fully offtake PMS from the DRL if the market prices of PMS are higher than the pump prices in Nigeria. The DRL and any other domestic refinery are free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, which is the current practice for all fully deregulated products. NNPC Ltd. has no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment, and therefore, the notion of becoming a sole offtaker does not arise.

“3. The NNPC Ltd. cannot undermine a business in which it holds a billion-dollar stake.

“4. As an advocacy group for fair and just treatment, MURIC should have verified the facts before making statements that are entirely flawed and has the potential to incite ordinary Nigerians against the NNPC Ltd.”

President Bola Tinubu says the increase in petrol price is a “bold and unprecedented decision” necessary for Nigeria’s growth.

Tinubu spoke on Friday at a meeting with Nigerians in Beijing, China, after rounding off his official engagements in the country.

In a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, Tinubu said the petrol price hike and other reforms by his administration are part of an overall strategy to set Nigeria on the path of economic growth.

“Nigeria is going through reforms, and we are taking very bold and unprecedented decisions. For example, you might have been hearing from home in the last few days about fuel prices,” the president was quoted as saying.

“But, can we help it? Can we develop good roads like you have here? You see electricity being constant in quantity and quality. You see water supply, constant and running, and you see their good schools. And we say we want to hand over a banner without stain to our children?

“What is the critical part to get us there if we cannot take hard decisions to pave the way for a country that is blessed and so talented?

“So many of you are so talented, speaking very fluent Mandarin. It is what you contribute and tell them at home that will reflect in the attitude of our people.

“The more you want everything free, it will become more expensive and long-delayed to achieve meaningful development.’’

On September 3, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited increased the pump price of petrol to N855 across its retail outlets amid long queues at filling stations.

The development followed a protracted scarcity which has strained business activities nationwide.

Media reports attributed the price adjustment to a directive of the federal government asking the NNPC to sell at N1,000 but Heineken Lokpobiri, minister for petroleum resources (oil), said the ministry never gave the national oil company such a directive.

Tinubu said while it is not always easy to have a national consensus on issues, he is ready to take the hard decisions to move the nation forward.

“One economic action leads to another, and it is in your hand to build our nation. Mine is to provide the leadership, and I am committed to doing just that. We are focused, and I have a very good team,” the president said.

Tinubu added that he is committed to replicating China’s infrastructure in Nigeria.