Samson Siasia, a former Super Eagles head coach, says he believes the team is currently lacking a creative midfielder.

Siasia said the Super Eagles need a playmaker in the mould of former captain of the side, Austine Jay Jay Okocha to be a world-beater.

Nigeria is yet to find a suitable replacement for Okocha since the former Bolton Wanderers star quit international football in 2006.

Former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi was expected to take up the role but failed to live up to expectations.

Fulham star, Alex Iwobi has been used in the number 10 role in recent years but Siasia claimed he is not good enough to play the position.

“We don’t have an offensive midfield player that can give the last pass to the strikers. We have great strikers, but we need someone that is missing,” Siasia told Lagos Talks.

“Iwobi can not play that position. He’s a good player, but he’s not doing as much as he’s supposed to as an offensive player. We have to look for that person in the centre of the field, who can give the last passes and score goals.

“In the defence and other parts, right and left midfield, we are good. We need someone like Jay-Jay Okocha, but it has to be somebody that can score more than him.”

Marketers of petroleum products in Nigeria have reportedly written to President Bola Tinubu to complain that the drop in price of Dangote Refinery’s diesel to N900 per litre, is negatively affecting their businesses.

Devakumar Edwin,  Vice President, Dangote Industries Limited, disclosed this on a Twitter Spaces session organized by Nairametrics.

Edwin highlighted some of the challenges facing the Dangote Refinery and its impact on Nigeria’s fuel supply and prices.

According to him, the refinery, located in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, struggles to sell about 29 tankers of diesel per day due to low patronage from local petroleum product importers.

“As a result of this poor local patronage, the refinery exports most of its diesel and aviation fuel,” he said.

However, he said despite the challenges, 44% of the refinery’s petrol production capacity is sufficient to meet all of the country’s local demand.

Daily Trust reports that the Dangote Refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, started naphtha exports in March, low-sulphur straight run fuel oil (LSSR) exports in May, and began selling diesel and jet fuel domestically in April

In June, it started exporting diesel fuel meeting European specifications.

Jose Mourinho, the Fenerbahce manager, has claimed that Victor Osimhen “dives too much”.

Osimhen has joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan deal from Napoli.

This means the striker and his new teammates will fight directly with Fenerbahce for the Turkish League title.

Mourinho joined Fenerbahce in June, months after he was sacked at AS Roma, where he came up against Napoli a few times.

“The last time we played against him during Roma vs Napoli, I had this conversation with him, ” Mourinho told HT Spor.

“I told Osimhen, ‘you are one of the best players in Africa along with Salah. Before there were Drogba, Eto’o and Weah. You can’t be diving.’

“He dives too much, and that’s my problem with him, but after 10 minutes, we are fine.”

Augustine Eguavoen, the interim Super Eagles coach, has opened up on why he substituted Samuel Chukwueze during the second half of Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifying match against Rwanda on Tuesday.

Chukwueze was brought off at halftime, with Moses Simon taking his place.

The Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to 10 protesters charged with treason-related offenses connected to last month’s #EndBadGovernance protests.

Justice Emeka Nwite set the bail at N10 million for each defendant, requiring a surety with property in Abuja worth the bail amount. The sureties must also submit their passports to the court.

The defendants, who were arraigned on September 2, pleaded not guilty to six charges, including plotting war and attempting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. Their lawyers argued that the evidence did not support the treason allegations.

The charges against the defendants include inciting mutiny, destabilizing Nigeria, and waging war against the state. They were also accused of attacking police officers, burning police stations, and destroying other properties.

Counsel for the 1st-4th defendants, Abubakar Marshal, urged the Federal Government to reconsider the charges, highlighting that 49 additional protesters remain detained at Kuje Correctional Centre under court order.

The case has been adjourned to September 27 for trial commencement.

The Presidency has described the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, as the Nigerian version of former US President and Republican candidate for the US 2024 election, Donald Trump.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, Temitope Ajayi, drew the comparison in a post on social media platform, X on Wednesday.

This comes following the US presidential debate between Trump and Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Peter Obi is the Nigeria version of Donald Trump. Like Obi, Trump will use the most negative epithets imaginable to describe a country he wants to lead again just to make a point and rile up his base,” he wrote.

During the debate, Harris and Trump clashed on many issues ranging from abortion rights to immigration, as both candidates sought to sway voters in a tightly contested race.

Ajayi added, “Kamala Harris prosecuted Trump very well in their first face to face debate yesterday night. Kamala convincingly won the debate and left no one in doubt about his capacity.

“Vice President Harris knew Trump’s weakness and set traps for him. Trump fell for her baits. Both candidates have been fact-checked on their claims in the debate. While Harris was reported to have made just one incorrect claim, Trump made 33 false claims in the same 90 minutes debate.”

Media reports revealed that Trump often responded to Harris’s provocations by repeating conspiracy theories and making false statements regarding the 2020 election and immigration.

Despite being fact-checked by debate moderators, the former president stood by his controversial claims, including the assertion that immigrants were consuming the pets of U.S. residents.

“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs — the people that came in — they’re eating the cats, they’re eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country,” Trump said, contradicting the Springfield city manager, who said such accusations had no basis in fact.

The 2024 US elections are slated to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s efforts to restoring confidence in Nigeria economy through measures aimed at reducing inflation, stabilising the foreign exchange market, and improving fiscal management.

Tinubu stated this on Tuesday at the 17th Annual Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, Banking and Finance Conference held in Abuja.

Represented by his vice, Kashim Shettima, the president described theme of the CIBN Conference, ‘Accelerating Economic Growth and Development: The State of Play and the Way Forward,’ as timely and imperative.

He noted that the conference came at a time the nation was grappling with interrelated challenges.

Tinubu identified the challenges as high inflation, rising costs of living, unemployment, infrastructure deficits and effects of global economic shifts.

He observed, however, that the challenges also present opportunities for growth and development.

In addressing the challenges, the President said that the administration had taken bold but painful steps to reform the macroeconomic environment.

“Though painful in the short term, the removal of fuel subsidies is designed to free up budgetary resources for critical investments in infrastructure and social services.

“The adjustment of the monetary policy rate, a move aimed at curbing inflation and fostering a more market-oriented exchange rate system,” he said.

Tinubu also noted that his administration was committed to strengthening infrastructure development in the ongoing bid to grow Nigeria’s economy.

“We are committed to upgrading Nigeria’s infrastructure to support economic growth.

“We are investing in roads, railways, and energy projects through public-private partnerships to reduce transportation costs and improve market access,” he said.

The Federal Government yesterday rejected accusation of rights abuse made against it by the United Kingdom (UK) Trade Union Congress (TUC), over the arrest of Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), insisting that nobody, including the NLC president, is above the law in Nigeria.

Recall that President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, was arrested and detained by the Department of State Services, DSS, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, en route London to attend a conference of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of UK.

The Federal Government, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the NLC president was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) because he refused to honour the invitation of a law enforcement agency carrying out an investigation.

“The Nigerian government was wrongly and falsely accused of rights abuse because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was stopped from travelling abroad after he snubbed the invitation of a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation.

“Clearly, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), no person is above the summons of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigation.

Government’s position came on a day Ajaero gave insight into his ordeal in the hands of operatives of DSS and other security agencies, following his Monday arrest.

He also confirmed to Vanguard yesterday that the DSS has released his seized international passport and mobile phones.

This is even as the secret police said yesterday that its presence at the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, did not amount to invasion, adding that its operatives were there for investigation.

However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar lampooned the Federal Government over Ajaero’s arrest and takeover of the Abuja office of SERAP.

At press time yesterday, it was gathered that the secret police had pulled its operatives out of SERAP office to which they laid siege on Monday.

‘FG wrongly accused of rights abuses’

Onanuga said, “We are not aware that there is anyone in the United Kingdom or anywhere in Europe and the United States, trade union leaders inclusive, who will flagrantly ignore the invitation or summons of MI5 or Scotland Yard or treat the FBI with the level of disdain Mr Ajaero has subjected law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

“In the United States, for example, former President Donald Trump has been the subject of numerous investigations and prosecutions in courts in several states since he left office.
“Mr. Hunter Biden, son of the President of the United States, has been the subject of a lawful investigation by the FBI.

“We, therefore, reject any notion and allusion to human rights violations in Nigeria. The accusations made by the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom are, thus, unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of the situation.

“Besides, the Nigerian Government is being led by a pro-democracy activist president who will do everything to protect civil liberties and the rights of all citizens.

“There is no adversarial relationship between the Labour Movement in Nigeria and the government.

“While labour unions and the government may not always agree on policy direction, the government has consistently shown readiness to engage on any issue with labour despite the latter’s political partisanship.

“Contrary to the erroneous impression being created, the invitation extended by the Department of State Services to Mr. Ajaero has nothing to do with his role as the President of NLC.

“As a responsible citizen of Nigeria, Mr Ajaero should honour any invitation from our security agencies and resolve any issues that may arise during the investigation instead of stirring adverse public opinion against the security agencies.

“It is worth reminding Nigerians and the global community that the federal government recognises that the labour movement exists to protect and defend the interests of its members. What is also worth noting is that Labour, in most cases, only advances ideological positions that fly in the face of economic realities.

“Many ideological stances of the labour unions in Nigeria in the past have only stunted the economic growth and development of the country and even compromised the material well-being of the workers and the poor people they protect.

“A case in point was the strong opposition of the NLC and TUC to the sale of Port-Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries to Bluestar Consortium, promoted in 2007 by Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“Seventeen years after the labour movement forced the successor government of Umar Yar’ Adua to cancel the sale of the two refineries, none of the four government-owned refineries worked.

“In the obverse, Mr. Aliko Dangote, one of the promoters of Bluestar, has built the largest single-train refinery in the world. In a twist of fate, the same Labour Movement that fiercely opposed Dangote from taking over the two refineries in 2007 hailed him on completing his 650,000-bpd refinery in Lagos.

“The administration of President Tinubu will continue to promote the best economic interest of Nigerians despite the current challenges. It will also continue to pursue policies and programmes that will expand national economic output and create prosperity for our citizens.”

Ajaero: Labour primed for strike

Similarly, President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, yesterday gave insight into his ordeal in the hands of operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS and other security agencies, following his arrest on Monday.

Recall that the DSS had seized the NLC President’s phones and international passport after his arrest and detention for no less than 16 hours at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Confirming the release of the items yesterday, Ajaero said simply: “Yes, it is true. my phones and international passport have been returned to me by the DSS.”

The DSS, it was gathered, succumbed to pressure from local and international community which forced the government to release the NLC president, ahead of the 12 midnight deadline given government to free the detained labour leader.

Ajaero was arrested and detained by the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en-route to the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Britain.

He was to represent Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.

According to sources within the NLC, “all modalities for a nationwide strike had been concluded and it was only left for the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting earlier scheduled for Tuesday (10-09-2024) at 9 am to endorse and declare the strike yesterday.

“All critical sector unions were already mobilized and were ready to begin a total strike yesterday until the NLC President was released unconditionally.

‘’Many groups, including the civil society organizations, CSOs, were already threatening fire and brim stone if Ajaero was not released.”

It was equally gathered the trade unions across the globe were already pushing their home governments to take action against Nigeria over alleged human rights abuses, and persecution of union leaders, among others.

Among the unions are Public Service International, PSI; International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC; and IndustriALL Global Union, IGU.

My ordeal at DSS, by Ajaero

Speaking exclusively, to Vanguard on his ordeal in the hands of the DSS and other security operatives yesterday, Ajaero said: “It was like the DSS arrested me on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, department of the Police because IRT operatives came to interrogate me and take my statement, while I was detained.

‘’The DSS also interrogated me and took my statement. I do not know why they have to embarrass me publicly like that. The same IRT operatives in whose office we were on August 29, 2024, alongside Mr Femi Falana, came and asked the same questions I was asked in the previous meeting with them.

“They asked about the operator of Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of NLC secretariat building. They asked me whether we had communicated on phone, whether he (the Iva Valley operator) communicated with me in writing and so on.

‘’They also asked if I know the protesters (#EndBadGovernance or #Endhunger), especially Eleojo Opaluwa, a staff of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE. I told them I knew him because I employed him at NUEE.

“They equally asked about the Labour Party, LP, whether we are running the party. I told them we do not run Labour Party, but that we are a trustee of the party. I also told them that the Labour Party they see today was founded when Adams Oshiomhole was President of NLC. Also, they asked about the issue of Air Peace which we had settled since last year.

“It is like the security agents are searching for evidence on how and what to nail us with. That is why they have continued to embarrass, persecute, intimidate and do whatever they liked to cow us.’’

Medical checks on Ajaero

Meanwhile, the NLC has said it planned to conduct a comprehensive medical check on Ajaero to ensure his health had not been compromised as a result of the illegal and unjust treatment meted out on him by security operatives

NLC in a statement by the Deputy President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, said: “This overwhelming display of unity in defense of justice and workers’ rights reinforces the strength of collective action and underscores the unbreakable bond between the Nigerian people and the labour movement.

“We are pleased to inform the public that Comrade Joe Ajaero was released late last night (Monday) at approximately 11:00pm, following intense pressure mounted by the NLC and in compliance with the demands issued by the National Administrative Council, NAC, of the NLC.
“NAC had given the government a firm ultimatum, with a deadline of 12 midnight, to release Ajaero, whose detention was a clear violation of our rights and an affront on the principles of democracy.

“While we celebrate his release, NLC remains vigilant. We will conduct a comprehensive medical check on Comrade Ajaero to ensure his health has not been compromised as a result of the illegal and unjust treatment meted out on him. The well-being of our President is paramount, and we will not rest until we are assured that his health is intact.

“The arrest and detention of Ajaero at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, while he was en-route to represent Nigerian workers at the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Britain, is a stark reminder of the length to which the Nigerian state will go to silence the voice of labour and crush dissent.

“NLC unequivocally condemns this reckless abuse of power and reaffirms our commitment to standing firm against all forms of oppression, intimidation and lawlessness.

‘Release all detained #EndBadGovernance protesters’

‘’We once again, demand the release of all citizens languishing in jails across the country for their participation in the #EndBadGovernance protest around the country; stoppage of the massive clampdown on popular voices that espouse dissenting opinions; cessation of the muzzling of fundamental freedoms currently going on in the country; reversal of the hikes in the price of petrol (PMS) and electricity tariffs and, the immediate implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.

“The NLC will not waver in its duty to defend the rights of workers, and we remain prepared to take all necessary actions to protect these rights and restore justice.

‘’The National Executive Council, NEC, of the NLC which was proposed for today (yesterday) has, therefore, been suspended to assess the situation and determine the next steps in our collective struggle.

“We call on all Nigerians, our affiliates, and the international community to remain steadfast and vigilant as we continue this struggle.

“NLC is committed to ensuring that justice prevails and that the rights of workers and citizens are respected. Together, we will overcome these challenges and secure a better future for all.”

Ajaero, SERAP: Oppression from Tinubu’s regime surpasses military dictatorships — Atiku

Reacting to the arrest of the NLC president and take over of SERAP’s office by DSS, former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, in a statement posted on his verified X account, tasked President Bola Tinubu to focus security efforts on terrorists and bandits and not civil society.

He said: “The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.

“The escalating assault on civil society and the media by the Bola Tinubu administration are profoundly disturbing. The level of oppressive control now imposed surpasses even the harshest days of military dictatorship.

“The recent arrest of Mr. Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, en route to an official event, epitomizes this regime’s relentless campaign to intimidate and subdue organized labour.

“Just days prior, security forces detained a journalist, only to later claim it was a grievous error. What if the outcome had been fatal?

“Now, Tinubu’s regime extends its repressive grasp to encroach upon SERAP, an action that stands as a grave affront on our democratic values. This siege is anathema to the principles of freedom and justice.”

DSS to SERAP: We didn’t raid, we came for investigation

Also yesterday, the Department of State Services, DSS, denied allegations of unlawfully invading the offices of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, in Abuja.

The agency clarified that only two unarmed operatives were sent to SERAP’s Abuja office for a routine investigation which, according to it, contradicted initial reports of a raid.

DSS in a statement, explained that the visit was part of its standard official inquiries and liaison, emphasizing that it did not constitute illegality or harassment.

The statement read: “The narrative of unlawful invasion is inaccurate and misleading. A team of two unarmed Service operatives was lawfully detailed on a routine investigation to the SERAP office in Abuja.

“This visit has unfortunately been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials. However, such official inquiries and liaison are traditional and do not in any way amount to illegality or a raid.

“While we assure an in-depth investigation of these malicious contents, we call for citizens’ participation in national security management. We urge the public to disregard these false narratives.”

The DSS assured the public of its commitment to professionalism in discharging its core mandate.

It urged citizens to disregard false narratives surrounding the incident and cooperate in national security management.

However, sources told Vanguard that SERAP’s investigations into sensitive government matters without necessary approvals, prompted the DSS action.

Their publications and statements were deemed detrimental to national security, allegedly spreading misinformation and fueling public unrest.

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, yesterday, gave insight into his ordeal in the hands of operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS, and other security agencies, following his arrest on Monday.

Recall that the DSS had seized the NLC President’s phones and international passport after his arrest and detention for no less than 16 hours at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

However, confirming the release of the items yesterday, Ajaero said simply: “Yes, it is true. My phones and passport have been returned to me by the DSS.”

On his experiencein the hands of the security agents,Ajaero said: “It was like the DSS arrested me on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, department of the Police because IRT operatives came to interrogate me and take my statement, while I was detained.

‘’The DSS also interrogated me and took my statement. I do not know why they have to embarrass me publicly like that.

“The same IRT operatives in whose office we were on August 29, 2024, alongside Mr Femi Falana, came and asked the same questions I was asked in the previous meeting with them.

“They asked about the operator of Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of NLC secretariat building.

“They asked me whether we had communicated on phone, whether he (the Iva Valley operator) communicated with me in writing and so on.

‘’They also asked if I know the protesters (#EndBadGovernance or #Endhunger), especially Eleojo Opaluwa, a staff of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE. I told them I knew him because I employed him at NUEE.

“They equally asked about the Labour Party, LP, whether we are running the party. I told them we do not run Labour Party, but that we are a trustee of the party.

“I also told them that the Labour Party they see today was founded when Adams Oshiomhole was President of NLC.

“Also, they asked about the issue of Air Peace which we had settled since last year.

“It is like the security agents are searching for evidence on how and what to nail us with. That is why they have continued to embarrass, persecute, intimidate and do whatever they liked to cow us.’’

The people of Moriki town in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State are in fear as the deadline given them by notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, to pay an imposed N30m levy expired.

But reacting to the development on Tuesday,  the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, described the bandit kingpin as a deranged person, wowing that the military would soon capture him.

The bandit kingpin, it was learnt, imposed the N30m levy on the community, following the killing of over 100 cows belonging to him by the military some weeks ago.

In a message, he sent to the community, the dreaded bandit kingpin demanded that the community pay him N30m or face his wrath.

He gave them up to Monday, September 9 but our correspondent learnt that the community had not been able to raise the funds, despite launching an appeal.

The PUNCH gathered that some people were already fleeing the town.

An indigene of the town, Sani Musa told The PUNCH on the phone that he had since last Monday evacuated his family and moved to Kaura-Namoda town.

“I am quite sure that this terrible person and his men will soon attack our community because of the non-payment of the N30m.

“We did our best to get the money but due to economic hardship, we were not able to get even half of the amount.

“I was asked to give N20,000 as my own contribution but as I am talking to you now, I don’t have the amount.

“I tried to sell my farm but nobody is interested in buying the land due to the security situation in the area.”

Another indigene of the area, Zayyanu Hassan, expressed hopelessness, saying despite the threat of attack, he was too weak, because of age and ill health, to flee the community.

“I don’t know where to go because of my age and health condition. I will remain here despite the threat from Bello Turji,” Hassan said.

According to Hassan, there are many people like him who are unable to flee the community despite the threat of attack.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief of Defence Staff,  vowed that the military would put an end to the imposition on levies on citizens by non-state actors, such as bandits.

Musa said, “On the issue of Turji, as I said, he is just a deranged individual who feels power, but I can bet you that it’s just a matter of time. It is a matter of time; we’re going to get him, and I can assure you that it will be within the shortest possible time.  We’re going to address that issue on the issue of payment of levy (to bandits).”

The CDS said it had been found that bandits live on the money they levy on innocent citizens but said the military would end the menance.

“One, even when they get the money, they don’t have a way to use it. Two is that the money they’re getting, they know, is blood money. And that is why we all must come together to work with members of the armed forces and security agencies to deny them the ability to move freely within our communities.”

He said the support received by the bandits from residents was fuelling their activities.

Musa said, “Please do not give them any support. Do not give them information on the movement of troops because this is what is happening. Most of the area where this thing is continuing is because we have informants within the communities.”

Musa stated that the operations in the North-West have harmonised after it was reviewed.

He said, “We have reviewed the entire operation and realised that we need to harmonise our operations together. As you notice, we have Operation Hadrin Daiji and Operation Whirl Stroke, both within the Northwest region. We have seen the need for us to harmonize those operations into one operation like we did in the Northeast where you have operation Hadin Kai.

“The same thing is being done now for the North-West operation. We have one unified operation. It’s going to be called Operation Kasar Yamma, which is securing the North-West.

“Now the intention is to ensure that we synergise all our efforts in addressing the security challenges in the North-West. So now, what we are doing is that since we are harmonising the whole operation, we will come under one commander. And then the commander will be able to utilise all the equipment and troops together to ensure that we address this critically. And I think that’s the best solution we have for it. And I can assure you, all the assets that are required to do that will be done.”

He CDS appealed to the citizens to stop giving support to bandits, lamenting that locals invited the bandits to attack the troops’ armoured vehicles when they broke down.

Musa said, “The bandits intend to just show that they are present. And that’s why we’re appealing to Nigerians not to provide any support. If you remember, the last time we had this issue where our APC was, the MRAP was bogged down, and the terrorists came. It was some people who called them and told them that the troops were having issues with their vehicle and they should come around. And they came en masse. That was what exactly happened. And that’s why we’re appealing to individuals.”