29-year-old Clement Adewale Adeyemi Oluyide, on Thursday, slumped and died on the football pitch at the Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, during the 5th Isiaka Adeleke Memorial Cup final tournament in Osun State.

Incidentally, Oluyide, an Ikinyinwa-Ijesa born football star, died on his birthday anniversary trying to win laurel to celebrate his 29th birthday ceremony.

Oluyide, a midfielder whose team was playing against Ejigbo local government area team, slumped on the field while his team was preparing to take a free kick.

The demise of Adewale Oluyide was confirmed in a statement by the Osun State Police Command issued on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, Mrs Yemisi Olawoyin Opalola.

Opalola stated that Adeyemi Adewale Oluyide from Ilesa West local government area football team slumped on the pitch of Ataoja School of Science and was rushed to Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, where he was confirmed dead.

The Police spokesperson added that his remains were deposited at the hospital morgue.

The shocking incident has thrown Ikinyinwa-Ijesa into mourning as all public activities were suspended in honour of the departed illustrious son of the community.

No official statement has been issued by the Osun State government or the organisers of the tournament in memory of the first executive governor of Osun State, late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.

Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola Badmus, aka Portable, and his former lover, Queen Dami, have refollowed each other on Instagram.

This comes after the duo had a messy clash in December 2024. The estranged couple’s relationship made headlines due to their messy fight on social media.

At the time, Queen Dami moved out of the apartment Portable reportedly got for her, and the singer blamed the former Oyo queen for all his misfortunes.

In a shocking twist of events, it appears all is now well between the supposed lovebirds despite Portable’s relationship with several other baby-mamas.

One of the first things Portable and Queen Dami did when their relationship hit the rocks was to unfollow each other on Instagram.

However, as rumours about them getting back together trended, a look through their social media pages show that they were now back to following each other.

The new development has drawn the attention of many Nigerians on social media. Some of them questioned if the music star and the former queen of Oyo are truly back together especially after Queen Dami wrote:

“There’s no love without forgiveness and there’s no forgiveness without love. Your relationship doesn’t need to make sense to anybody except you and your partner.

99 advisers, O helper. Oloriburukus will advise you and still badmouth you at the back. True love never dies. No matter what, follow your heart and that is what I am about to do.

My happiness is all that matters.”

United States President-elect Donald Trump wants Pastor William Kumuyi, the revered General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, to attend his second inauguration in Washington, D.C., on Monday, January 20, 2025.

The invitation, confirmed by A. Larry Ross Communications, a leading U.S.-based public relations firm, reflects Trump’s desire to have globally influential spiritual leaders present at this historic event, highlighting the significance of faith in his leadership journey.

In the statement regarding the invitation, Pastor Kumuyi commended Donald Trump for his bold commitment to defending Christian values and championing international religious freedom throughout his first term in office.

He lauded Trump’s efforts to strengthen faith-based initiatives and prioritize issues that resonate deeply with the global Christian community.

Kumuyi noted that these initiatives have not only bolstered religious liberty in the U.S. but also sparked important conversations on the need for moral leadership worldwide.

During this visit to Washington, D.C., Pastor Kumuyi is expected to engage in a series of high-profile meetings with U.S. lawmakers, prominent church leaders, and influential media representatives.

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This is coming shortly after Nigerian gospel singer and pastor, Nathaniel Bassey, recently made headlines following his tell-all account behind his invitation to the same upcoming US Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast.

While ministering at Pastor Poju Oyemade’s World Faith Believers Convention (WOFBEC), Bassey recounted the life-changing phone call that led to this honor.

The acclaimed gospel artist revealed that Reverend Merrie Turner extended the invitation after a moment of divine inspiration during prayer. According to Turner, she felt led by God to call on Bassey to bring His glory upon the United States through his ministry.

Federal lawmakers on Thursday engaged in a heated argument at the National Assembly Complex during the 2025 budget defence by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Trouble began when Egbetokun was providing a breakdown of funds allocated for the construction of five zonal police headquarters across the country.

The police chief had barely started his presentation when a member of the House of Representatives, Mark Esset, from Akwa Ibom, stopped him in track, questioning why the details being read by the IG were not contained in the documents circulated among lawmakers.

Events took a new turn when Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, a member of the All Progressives Congress, said as a senator, he ought to have the appropriate copy of the document the IG was presenting.

Nwebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North Senatorial District said,  “We are here to serve Nigerians, and Nigerians should see us as a very serious institution.

“We are not against the presentation of the IG. But I, as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, should have what the IG is reading.”

Efforts to clarify his point were fruitless as the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, Abubakar Yalleman, overruled Nwebonyi’s Point of Order, allowing the IG to continue his presentation.

Angered, Nwebonyi packed his belongings and left the budget defence session. As he exited, he exchanged heated words with several House of Representatives members who jeered at him.

Yusuf Gagdi, a member of the House of Representatives representing Panshin/Kanam/Kanke Federal Constituency of Plateau State, expressed disappointment at the incident.

He explained that the committee’s decision to allow the IG to continue speaking was in line with established parliamentary procedures.

Gagdi added that it was inappropriate for lawmakers to interject when they did not have the floor.

When order was restored,  Egbetokun resumed his presentation, pointing out that the police require adequate funding.

He also called for an end to the envelope budgetary system.

On recruitment, Egbetokun disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has increased the yearly recruitment quota from 10,000 to 30,000, a move he said would significantly enhance the Force’s performance.

He urged the National Assembly to assist the police in delivering on their mandate, stressing that “Otherwise, we are entirely dependent on budgetary allocations.

“We are glad that this committee has recognised the gross underfunding of the police.”

The National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Festus Osifo, has projected that the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) may rise soon if crude oil continues to increase in price.

Osifo said this at the PENGASSAN’s National Executive Council Meeting on Thursday in Lagos.

He called for better exchange rate management, warning of potential price hikes as crude prices rebound.

“The crude price rose to $80 per barrel today. Without exchange rate improvements, PMS prices will increase in the coming weeks,” Osifo stated.

He also pointed out that the exchange rate collapse was behind high fuel prices nationwide, despite the commencement of the operations of domestic refineries, though not at full capacities.

He dismissed misconceptions about refining processes, emphasising that achieving a quality Premium Motor Spirit requires multiple refining stages.

Osifo, said, “The old Port Harcourt refinery is functional, and there is significant progress at the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries. Refineries globally engage in blending operations; it is a normal part of the process.”

On the high cost of PMS in Nigeria, the PENGASSAN official said it was due to the fluctuations in the exchange rate, stressing its impact on Nigeria’s economy.

“The price of PMS is directly linked to our weak naira. If the exchange rate improves to below N1,000 to a dollar, PMS could sell for N500–N600 per litre,” he noted.

Comparing Nigeria to countries like Venezuela and Zimbabwe, he highlighted the critical role of currency management.

“The oil and gas business is conducted in USD (United States dollar), from equipment to expatriate salaries. Weak currency translates to higher costs, including PMS,” he added.

He also debunked claims that local refining would drastically lower prices, explaining that cost margins are essential.

“Producing locally does not mean selling below cost. Even farmers calculate their production costs before adding margins,” Osifo emphasised.

In another development, Osifo criticised Nigeria’s 2025 budget of ₦49tn (approximately $30bn), labelling it insufficient to address the country’s challenges and inadequate for a nation of over 230 million people.

“The budget of $30bn is abysmally low for a country like Nigeria, especially when you compare it with nations like South Africa, which has a population of about 60 million but operates on a budget of over $120bn,” he stated.

Osifo emphasised the need for Nigeria to harness its abundant natural and mineral resources to expand its revenue base and reduce dependence on loans.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says the surge in terrorist activities in the country’s north-east and north-west is fuelled by an influx of foreign fighters.

Recently, Nigeria experienced attacks on military bases and civilians, sparking worries about the country’s national security architecture.

Speaking at the maiden military press briefing of the year, Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, attributed the development to a “collaboration” between Sahelian fighters and local accomplices.

“The resurgence in terror attacks can be attributable to the influx of foreign fighters who came in as reinforcements for these terrorists,” Buba said.

“These foreign fighters are from the Sahelian region. The other contributing factor is the support from local collaborators who serve as informants, reporting on troops’ movements.”

Buba reassured Nigerians of the military’s dedication to eliminating terrorism by breaking the terrorists’ will to fight.

“In spite of the situation, troops are profoundly conscious of their role and responsibility in ending insurgency and terrorism in the nation. Though we might record occasional tactical setbacks,” he said.

“Our strategic objective remains unhindered and it is to break the terrorist will to fight. In essence, defeating an enemy means destroying or breaking his will to fight.

“And we are achieving this by the cumulative effort of killing their operatives, Commanders and senior leadership.

“We are taking away their most important assets, such as their logistics, administrative and fighting capabilities. And of course, we are applying regional and international pressure, as well as engaging the media. All these combine to destroy the terrorists’ will to fight.”

The defence spokesperson said troops have continued to target the terrorists’ key assets, including their logistics, administrative structures, and combat capabilities.

“And of course, we are applying regional and international pressure, as well as engaging the media. All these combine to destroy the terrorist will to fight,” he added.

“Wars are fought and won all over the world by destroying the enemy’s will to fight. And we are bent on achieving just that.

“We understand that this war is not a quick fix, but a long and enduring military operation at the end of which these terrorists will be destroyed and we will have a better world.

“Overall, we understand that we all want to be in a different situation — a situation whereby all this insecurity is over and the terrorist is completely eradicated,” he added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that 7,746 deceased voters were removed from the national voter register in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory as of December 2022.

The Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Etta-Messi, disclosed this to our correspondent on Thursday.

“Seven thousand, seven hundred and forty-six decreased persons across the 36 states and the FCT were removed from the National Register of voters as of December 2022,” she disclosed.

According to INEC, a thorough cleaning of the voter register is usually done before every general election.

In its 2023 post-general election review in December 2024, INEC highlighted challenges with cleaning up the voter register, despite improvements in the voter registration process that added 12,298,944 new registrants.

One major issue is the difficulty in removing deceased persons due to gaps in official death records.

“Problems with official death records continue to make it very difficult for INEC to remove deceased registrants,” the commission noted.

The commission also identified the problem of double or multiple registrations, which was addressed by deploying the Automated Biometric Identification System.

 This process flagged and removed 2,780,756 cases of invalid registrations, representing 22.6 per cent of all new registrants nationwide.

INEC further noted concerns about declining voter turnout. The 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections recorded a turnout of 27.5 percent, down from 35.6 per cent in 2019.

Some stakeholders attributed this decline partly to an inflated voter register and called for more rigorous efforts to clean it.

Stakeholders at the review recommended that INEC should strengthen collaboration with agencies such as the National Population Commission and the National Identity Management Commission to identify deceased voters.

There were also calls to suspend individuals who have not voted in the past three elections and require them to revalidate their registration.

“One suggestion from this review was to strengthen collaboration with other agencies such as NIMC and NPC to identify deceased persons in the register and remove them. In addition, the commission could suspend individuals who have not voted in the past three elections from the register and request them to revalidate their registration,” INEC noted in its review.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that those responsible for the explosion that rocked parts of Ibadan last year are currently in prison.
Makinde, on Thursday, stated that the culprits are facing trial for terrorism and are presently being held in custody.

The governor made these assertions in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, and made available to DAILY POST.

DAILY POST reports that an explosion occurred at Dejo Oyelese Close, Bodija Housing Estate in Ibadan, on January 16 last year.

Some lives were lost as a result of the incident, while several people sustained varying degrees of injuries.

DAILY POST reports that properties worth millions of naira were also destroyed in the incident.

Speaking about the incident one year later, Makinde reiterated his administration’s determination to ensure the safety and security of all parts of the state.

Makinde, while praying for the repose of the souls of those who died, called on citizens to join hands with the government to secure the state.

“The explosion of January 16, 2024, could have been prevented if those who noticed the storage of explosive devices in residential areas had informed our security operatives. That means the people who died did not have to die, the houses that were destroyed didn’t have to be destroyed, and the disruption we experienced didn’t have to happen.

“To prevent a recurrence of such incidents in any part of the state, let us all take security issues seriously and cooperate with security operatives by providing necessary information to help them discharge their duties of securing our lives.

“We pray for the repose of those who lost their lives in the incident and ask that Almighty God continues to strengthen their loved ones.

“As a government, we have taken steps to prosecute those who caused this unfortunate incident. They are facing trial for terrorism and are currently being held in prison,” he said.

The member representing Kiru/Bebeji constituency, Kano, and chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Habitat, Dr. Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, has emphasized the need for urgent reconciliation between former governors Rabiu Kwankwaso and Umar Ganduje amidst their lingering feud.

Jibrin, who described the situation as unfortunate and a setback for Kano State, made the call on Thursday while featuring a radio program monitored by our reporter.

He charged all well-meaning citizens of Kano to join hands together in reconciling the two political leaders for the betterment of the state.

According to him, the two political leaders and long-time friends have excelled in their political careers.

“While Kwankwaso started in the Kano State Civil Service and later became the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, rising through the ranks to become a two-term governor, Minister of Defence, Senator, Ambassador, presidential aspirant, and candidate who remains a potential future president or vice president, Ganduje was, on the other hand, a civil servant, Director in FCT, Commissioner, Deputy Governor, Executive Secretary, two-term governor, and now the Chairman of the ruling party.

“Not everybody will be chosen by God to hold these offices. They have both been blessed in a special way by God.”

Speaking further, he said, “Whoever is aware of what is happening in Kano knows that the genesis will not be unconnected to the lingering feud between Kwankwaso and Ganduje. Everybody knows we are all NNPP and disciples of Senator Kwankwaso and his movement, Kwankwasiyya. But it is an obligation upon some of us to force a reconciliation between the duo.

“Whether they like it or not, the issue of politics is something different; it is their choice, but as Muslims we have a duty to do the right thing by reconciling them.

“They were friends for a long time, and they started good things together, but what is happening between them is sad and painful. This is not a time to open old wounds but a time to embrace a future of peace, unity, tranquillity, progress, and development.

“We are already working hard towards that, but I am calling on all of us who believe in this reconciliation effort to come together and make it a reality. Let us see Kwankwaso attending the wedding of Ganduje’s daughter and Ganduje attending the wedding of Kwankwaso’s son. They should stand for each other in times of happiness and sadness. Forget about seeing them in the same political party; that’s their choice.

“I don’t have anything personal on this, but it is the right thing, and for those people who don’t want to see a reconciliation between Kwankwaso and Ganduje, May Allah guide them to the right path,” he concluded.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have arrested a soldier, Lance Corporal Sani Aminu, for allegedly being in possession of a substance suspected to be ‘Canadian Loud’, a highly potent strain of imported cannabis.

Aminu, who serves in the Nigerian Army under service number 13NA/70/11481, was apprehended by a police patrol team on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in the Surulere area of Lagos.

According to a police signal, the operation was led by ASP Alex Dung, who intercepted the soldier at around 8:15pm.

The signal stated, “SITUATION REPORT X ARREST OF MILITARY PERSONNEL X TODAY BEING 15/01/2025 X AT ABOUT 2015HRS X PATROL TEAM LED ASP ALEX DUNG ATTACHED MINE X INTERCEPTED AND BROUGHT TO THE STATION 13NA/70/11481 L/ CPL SANI AMINU ATTACHED TO ABALTI BARRACKS SURULERE X WITH SUBSTANCE SUSPECTED TO BE CANADIAN LOUD X SUSPECT WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO CP TACTICAL SQUAD 1 FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION PLEASE X SUPOL 74 ORILE-IGANMU.”

The police have since confirmed that Aminu will be handed over to the Commissioner of Police Tactical Squad 1 for further investigation.