Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has identified the two fixtures that will cost Arsenal the Premier League title.

With seven matches left, the Gunners can go back to the top of the table with a win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

But Ferdinand believes that Mikel Arteta’s men will suffer two more defeats before the season’s end, which will eventually cost them the title in the process.

While predicting the run-in for TNT Sport, Ferdinand tipped Arsenal to lose 2-1 away at North London rivals Tottenham, before falling to another defeat against United at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the campaign.

According to him, Erik ten Hag’s side will run out 3-2 winners against Arteta’s men.

The Lagos State Police Command said a 25-year-old suspected cultist has died from cult clashes in the Ajegunle part of Lagos.

The command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed this to newsmen on Saturday, adding that police had arrested two suspects in connection with the clashes.

Hundeyin explained that police received a distress call on Friday that suspected cultists of Nasamu and Iyalode Streets at Ajegunle were engaging themselves in a free-for-all.

According to him, the suspected cultists damaged six commercial vehicles at Boundary Roundabout, Ajegunle during the clashes.

“Based on the report, teams of policemen mobilised to the scene and dislodged the suspects, many of whom fled the scene.

“Police operatives, however, combed the area and arrested two of the hoodlums in their hideouts.

“One other suspect, a 25-year-old, who was seriously injured during the clash, was rescued and rushed to the hospital where he later died,’’ Hundeyin said.

He assured that normalcy had been restored to the affected areas while foot and vehicular patrols had been deployed to forestall any further threat to law and order.

Hundeyin said investigation was ongoing while efforts were on to arrest the fleeing cultists.

Two people have died while 13 others sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident at Ajede, after J4, on the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode expressway on Saturday.

The Spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Ogun, Mrs Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta.

Okpe explained that the accident occurred at about 12:10 pm and it involved a Toyota Hiace bus marked GUE 59 ZY and a truck with registration number BGT 94 LG.

According to her, the accident was caused by excessive speeding which caused the bus driver to ram into a stationary truck parked by the roadside.

“Fifteen people were involved in the crash – 10 men and five women and a total of 13 people sustained injuries while two persons died,” she said.

Okpe further stated that the injured victims were taken to Hope Hospital at J4 while the deceased were deposited at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital Morgue.

Meanwhile, the Sector Commander, Anthony Uga cautioned motorists against wrong parking of vehicles on the highway.

Uga further warned motorists against overspeeding and advised them to always drive carefully.

The federal government targets over 25,000 jobs and $2.5 billion worth of investment in four years through the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative.

The Programme Director and Chief Executive of the PCNGI, Michael Oluwagbemi, disclosed this in a stakeholders’ workshop in Ibadan Oyo state on Friday.

He stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had given PCNGI the mandate to convert one million vehicles by 2027.

“The President has said we need to convert one million vehicles by 2027. We need 1,000 conversion shops and over 3,000 filing stations just like this. You can imagine the level of investment required for this.

“To sustain one million vehicle conversions by 2027, we need 25,000 technicians. So, the job creation potential is an opportunity for job creation in addition to our gross domestic product, $2.5 billion worth of investment to be mobilised in the next four years and, of course, more than $25 billion added to our GDP.”

Recall that President Tinubu approved the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas initiative to achieve 11,500 new CNG-enabled vehicles and 55,000 CNG conversion kits for existing vehicles that depend on Premium Motor Spirit.

Brazil and AC Milan legend KaKa’s ex-wife, Caroline Celico, has revealed that she divorced him because he was “too perfect” for her.

Kaka, 41, married his childhood sweetheart Celico in 2005 before they divorced in 2015, spending ten years in their marriage together.

The divorced couple had two children together, but Celico was not happy and has now revealed she felt something was missing.

“Kaka never betrayed me, he treated me well, he gave me a wonderful family, but I was not happy, something was missing,” she was quoted on The Sun.

“The problem was, he was too perfect for me,” Celico declared.

Celico, a Brazilian socialite, joined Kaka’s church after they married and later became an Evangelical pastor but quit in 2010.

The 36-year-old later married Eduardo Scarpa Julião in 2021 and the couple are now expecting their first child.

Kaka also found love again with partner Carolina Dias whom he started dating in 2017.

He had a decorated career which saw him win nine major trophies, including the World Cup with Brazil in Korea/Japan 2002 and the FiFA Confederations Cup in 2005 and 2009.

He also won Serie A and the Champions League with AC Milan, as well as La Liga with Real Madrid.

Kaka was also named FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or both in 2007.

Adanma Luke, the producer of the upcoming movie in which the late actor Junior Pope was supposed to be featured, has broken her silence on the recent boat mishap.

Pope, the actor, died on Wednesday after he fell into the River Niger in Asaba, Delta state on his way to a movie location.

The film star was in the company of some other actors and crew members when the incident occurred.

The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) earlier suspended all movies involving riverine locations.

Emeka Rollas, the president of the AGN, also warned filmmakers not to work with Luke “until further notice”.

On Friday, Adanma surrendered herself to the police for questioning over the circumstances that led to Pope’s death.

In a series of videos via Instagram on Saturday, Luke broke down in tears as she explained her side of the story.

She described the incidents of the past few days “as a dream” she wished she could wake up from.

“On April 10, we lost five actors who were on their way to a location. Through the means of boat transportation, they had an accident. I have been so traumatised, I have been so cold. This whole thing still feels like a dream to me, I wish I could still wake up from this dream,” she said.

“I have not been able to make any statement since because we have been trying to recover the bodies. I have been providing money to those looking for bodies, providing caskets to enable the bodies are transported to their villages; and to the families that wanted it to be done. I have not been quiet, I have been doing things just so these people can rest. It is so sad that this had to happen on my set.

“I blame myself that I would have been in Lagos, doing my thing in Lagos. I blame myself for coming down to Asaba. I was supposed to be on that boat. My production manager was calling me to bring the memory card so they could start filming and I told him to come and collect it and he was like you know this place is far, please bring it for us. I said okay why have you people not crossed? Why have you not gone to work?

“He said they were waiting for Junior Pope to arrive. Before now on the 9th, they went there on their own and when Junior Pope came, he came on his own, he came alone. So on 10th, when I was preparing to go and drop the card, I was accompanied by my brother’s children. Two kids that were supposed to go with me, were supposed to be on that boat together. Getting there, I saw Emeka. Emeka was my DOP, he was just sitting and I did not see the others.

“I asked Emeka what is it and people surrounded him. Emeka was quiet and I was like, Emeka talk to me, what is it? What is the problem? Why have you not crossed? Where is Ogolo? Where is everybody? Has JP come? He was still quiet. I started shouting what was happening, can somebody please talk to me? Emeka now said JP is dead, Abigail is dead, Friday is dead, Precious is dead.

“He said ‘dem dey inside water’. I said let me go inside, let me be sure that the divers are looking for them. He said ‘there are over 15 divers looking for them inside the water’. I still cannot believe this because these crew members were my family. They have been working with me, if I was shooting in Lagos, they would transport from Asaba to Lagos to come and work with me. All through last year, we stayed together in Lagos, we filmed, worked together.

“… on that said day, I saw my director and Emeka outside. My director told me he did not know what happened. He was in a life jacket, and Emeka too was in a life jacket. There was still one life jacket available, I do not know who took it. My PM told me that they saw live jackets hanging when they got there and he asked the late Friday to even send one to Junior Pope but Junior Pope said it was dirty or so, so he did not take it. Those with life jackets survived. They even told me that when they were in the water, Junior Pope was also there asking if everybody was okay. How everybody is fine?

“That they even threw a gallon to him to use and hold himself, which he was holding that all of a sudden, they did not see him again. It was when they came out that they noticed that he was no longer there because they said divers had come and rescued some of them while other divers were still there trying to rescue others. I asked what could have caused this? He said he did not know but that TC was standing on the speedboat and ringing a bell.”

Popular nigerian pastor and a major critic of the nigerian government has blasted nigerians that are not happy as the dollar begin to appreciate. He was furious that despite being an obidient, he has moved on, but some people always want to see anything bad about their country especially since their candidate lost, and always want bad things to be happening so that they can say, Shey we warned you.

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Nollywood makeup artist, Abigail Edith Frederick, in Ikot Udoma, Eket Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement by Ekerete Udoh, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Pastor Eno, on arrival from an official engagement in Abuja, went straight to the deceased family’s compound to console them.

The statement noted that the governor thereafter gave automatic employment in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service to the surviving elder sister of the deceased, and directed the SSA on Humanitarian Services, Umo Ekpo, to renovate the family house and bring it to modern standards.

The governor also gave assurance of government’s assistance to the two sisters of the deceased, who are undergraduates at the University of Uyo and whose education was being sponsored by the late Nollywood makeup artist.

The governor, in his remark, said: “This is deeply unfortunate for a young girl, 24 years old, who finished her youth service just last year and decided to pursue her passion. This is a reflection of our Arise spirit. It shows that our young people are willing to go out there, not begging, not waiting for handouts, but to pursue their passions.

“It is unfortunate that her life ended the way it did. Once I was fully briefed, I decided to come here personally with the full complement of the government to console and encourage the family. You are not just the governor when people are celebrating; in times and moments like this, you become the mourner-in-chief and give them hope.

“I trust the Holy Spirit will perfect the hope in their lives. Coming here means we care. You know Akwa Ibomites are like Americans. We don’t leave each other behind. Government will be with the family and support them.”

says project would be ready for commissioning in May

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that the construction of the Vice President’s official residence in Abuja will not cause any traffic disruption upon completion.

Mr Wike stated this while inspecting the project on Saturday.

He said the federal government’s design and planning for the residence took traffic flow into careful consideration.

According to the Minister, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) provided valuable input into the project, ensuring that necessary adjustments were made by both the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the project contractor.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike inspects construction of the Vice President's residence

“Those who designed the Vice President’s residence know why. We are not the ones who designed it. It was the Federal Government that decided that the Vice President’s residence should be located here. So, I’m sure they considered everything before deciding that.

“We have invited the office of the NSA and they have taken a look and made their input which the FCDA and the contractor, Julius Berger have taken into cognizance and made amendments. So, for traffic concerns, I don’t think it’s a problem,” he said.

Highlighting the meticulous planning behind the project, Mr Wike said the selection of the residence’s location was a decision of the federal government, with thorough consideration of all relevant factors before construction commenced.

He expressed contentment with the progress of the project, noting the speed and quality of work.

The minister confidently announced that the project is on track for completion and commissioning by next month, with the contractor pledging timely delivery.

Furthermore, Mr Wike assured the public of the timely completion of other infrastructure projects in the FCT, slated for May, underscoring the administration’s commitment to fulfilling its promises within the first year of office.

“Significant progress has been made on the project since his last visit to the site, while the contractor has also promised to hand over the project in May.

“As for the quality of the job, of course, we can see the work is going according to design and specification. So, we believe, by the grace of God, that is something that will be actualised,” he stated.

Veteran journalist and development data expert, Rotimi Sankore, is dead.

Kadaria Ahmed, chief executive officer of RadioNow 95.3FM, revealed this in a post via Facebook on Saturday.

Ahmed described the deceased as one of Nigeria’s finest journalists and excellent all round human beings.

The cause of his death was however not stated.

“It is with deep sorrow that I announce we have lost one of Nigeria’s finest journalists and excellent all round human beings, Rotimi Sankore. Rotimi loved Nigeria with a passion that allowed him to be honest about her problems and what needs to be done to solve them.

“He was an expert data journalist, the best at what he does. He could analyse data like no one else I knew using it to understand events but also project trajectories, especially avoidable ones.

“Over the years Rotimi spent time and energy trying to make sure those in government, policy makers and ordinary Nigerians understand what the numbers show, how they came about , what they mean and how they can help us understand what needs to be done.

“His work was insightful and was significant and it is his legacy. His death is a big loss . We will miss him. My heartfelt condolences to his daughter and his family,” the post read.

Sankore was a Development and Policy Expert; Journalist/Journalism Trainer; and Human Rights Advocate.

He was the ED/Editor-in-Chief of the Africa Centre for Development Journalism, a centre which offers strategic communication support to organisations whose goals are to effect social, political and economic change in Africa.

He worked as a Journalist across Africa and internationally, and until recently was Editorial Board Chair of Nigeria Info Radio Group / Part of AIM Media Group with 13 Stations in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Onitsha (Incorporating Nigeria Info, WaZoBia, Cool FM & Arewa Radio Stations).