Many Nigerians are reportedly being hired as prison officers in the United Kingdom, UK as the British government seeks to address staffing shortages in overcrowded prisons.

According to The Telegraph, the UK prison service is now sponsoring skilled worker visas for the first time, as a result of a rule change that allows them to recruit from abroad.

Prison governors disclosed that many of the new recruits come from Nigeria, with some skilled workers switching to the role from other visa routes.

However, many of these workers soon arrive in the UK only to encounter accommodation challenges, upon realizing that their job offers did not include any provision for housing.

Reports reveal that some have resorted to camping or even sleeping in their cars as a cost-saving measure.

Mark Fairhurst, president of the Prison Officers’ Association (POA), shared an example of one foreign recruit who commuted 70 miles daily from Huddersfield to Nottingham but later decided to sleep in his car outside the prison to save costs.

At another prison, recruits camped in a wooded area near their workplace after discovering no housing was provided.

“We have got problems with people who turn up at the gates with cases in tow and with their families saying to the staff: ‘Where is the accommodation?’” said Mr. Fairhurst.

The recruitment drive follows changes in visa rules in October 2023, which added prison officers to the list of skilled workers eligible for sponsorship.

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) sources estimate that about 250 foreign nationals have been sponsored to join the prison service so far, completing Zoom interviews and vetting processes.

Prison governors report a high interest in these roles, with many applicants coming from Africa.

In one month last year, two-thirds of 3,500 applicants were from the continent.

Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors Association (PGA), believes online word-of-mouth among the Nigerian expat community has fueled the demand.

This influx has created challenges in some prisons, particularly in remote rural areas, where integration into local communities and communication issues have surfaced.

“It’s turned into an approach that has been promoted online by the expat Nigerian community,” Wheatley noted.

Despite these challenges, the Prison Service maintains that all recruits undergo thorough assessments and training.

“In October 2023, changes were made to the skilled worker visa scheme which has allowed the prison service to sponsor visa applications for foreign nationals,” said a spokesperson. “All staff – regardless of nationality – undergo robust assessments and training before they work in prisons. Our strengthened vetting process roots out those who fall below our high standards.”

However, Mr. Fairhurst has criticised the recruitment process, particularly the reliance on Zoom interviews and six weeks of training.

He argued that this system is inadequate for preparing recruits to manage prisoners effectively.

“The process is simply not fit for purpose,” he said, warning that it risks recruiting under-qualified or corrupt officers.

Former Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has revealed that Kylian Mbappé became “a little jealous” after Lionel Messi joined the French club in August 2021.

Neymar made the statement on Thursday during a podcast hosted by Brazilian World Cup winner Romário, where he shared insights about life at PSG and the dynamics within their star-studded front three.

Neymar, who joined PSG for a world-record £222 million transfer fee in 2017 after his successful stint at Barcelona, admitted there were tensions between him and Mbappé but described their relationship as generally positive.

“He’s not annoying,” Neymar said in response to Romário’s question about Mbappé.

“I have my things with him, we had a little fight, but he was fundamental for us when he arrived.

“I used to call him golden boy. I always played with him, said he was going to be one of the best. I always helped, talked to him, he came to my place, we had dinner together,” Neymar recalled.

However, Neymar added that Messi’s arrival in 2021 created a rift.

“We had some good years of partnership, but after Messi came he was a little jealous. He didn’t want to split me with anyone. And then there were some fights, a change in behavior,” Neymar stated.

Mbappé joined PSG from Monaco in the same year as Neymar, with both players brought in to help the club secure its first UEFA Champions League title — a feat that remains elusive.

Neymar reflected on the challenges the team faced due to inflated egos within the squad.

“It is good to have egos, but you have to know that you don’t play alone. There needs to be another guy by your side. Big egos were almost everywhere, it can’t work.

“If nobody runs and nobody helps, it is impossible to win anything,” Neymar said.

Neymar, who now plays for Saudi club Al-Hilal, concluded his time at PSG with an impressive record of 118 goals and 77 assists in 173 appearances.

Mbappé has since moved on to Real Madrid.

Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo has warned her colleague, Lizzy Anjorin to desist from constantly harassing and bullying her.

Ojo lamented that Anjorin has continuously targeted her loved ones with curses, threats, and defamation amid their court case.

Speaking via her Instagram page, she warned her colleague to respect her boundaries, focus on her life, and stop stalking her.

She wrote,

“PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

“To the General Public, Nigerian Authorities, and Government:

“@npf_nccc

“@nigeriapoliceforce

“I am compelled to expose a disturbing pattern of harassment by Liz Anjorin. Despite our ongoing court case, she continues to target my loved ones, hurling curses, threats, and defamation at them from her social media space.

“I urge the authorities to take note of this announcement.

“Liz Anjorin, I’m warning you publicly for the last time:

“Cyberstalking is a crime; be warned.

“Cease your harassment and bullying tactics immediately.

“Stop targeting innocent people, including my family, friends, and colleagues.

“Your actions will no longer be tolerated.

“Your constant curses on my children and partner are unacceptable. They have never responded or engaged with you.

“I demand that you:

“Respect boundaries

“Focus on your own life

“Stop stalking me

“The Nigerian Police and all authorities, please take note.

“To the general public, please be aware”.

Nollywood actor, Yomi Fabiyi, has claimed that late singer, Mohbad’s brother, Adura Aloba, offered to give him a video of the singer and his wife, Wunmi, fighting before his death.

Yomi made the claim during a recent press conference in Lagos State.

The movie star said the video captured the moment Wunmi pushed Mohbad down the stairs and broke his neck, which could be linked to why the singer’s neck was bent in the casket.

Yomi stated that he sent a petition to the Lagos State Police Criminal Investigation Department about his conversation with Adura.

However, he was later invited and told that Mohbad’s brother was being impersonated.

The thespian added that a discovery during his visit to the police showed that the investigation into Mohbad’s death was not harmonised.

He said, “At about 4:23pm, Adura Aloba, Mohbad’s younger brother had sent me a DM after listening to me for a while and reacting in the comment section.

“When he realised, I may not see the DM on time, he wrote in the comment section, asking I check my DM.

“He offered to give me a video recording of a fight that ensured between the late singer Mohbad and his wife, Cynthia.

“He demanded for N3 million. He went further to convince me by narrating how the altercation between his brother and his wife resulted in Mohbad failing off the stairs and hitting his head on the floor.

“Something that can equally be linked to the bent neck in the late singer’s casket.”

Recall that Mohbad tragically passed away in a controversial manner in September 2023 after exiting Naira Marley’s Marlian Music over alleged failure of the record label to fulfil contract agreement.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has announced the appointment of its principal officers, Naija News reports.

The Lagos State Assembly carried out the appointments during the plenary session on Friday.

The members appointed are: Hon Temitope Adedeji (Ifako Ijaiye 1) as Majority Leader, Hon Sanni Babatunde ( Kosofe 1) as Chief Whip, Hon. Richard Kasumu (Ikeja 2) as Deputy Majority Leader while Hon. David Setonji (Badagry 2) as Deputy Chief Whip.

Recall that the Lagos Assembly impeached its former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa on Monday, citing multiple statutory and financial violations.

Obasa was replaced by his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, a former chief whip and representative of Apapa Constituency 1.

Following Obasa’s impeachment, all principal offices and committees were dissolved immediately.

The daughter of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Adeyemi Adebisi Aminat, has accused her father’s ex-wife, Queen Dami of paternity fraud.

She accused Queen Dami of shaming someone over the paternity of their child, despite not knowing who the father of her child is.

Recall that Queen Dami was married to the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyeye but the marriage crashed after she allegedly broke a palace rule, an act that prompted her to leave her marriage and run away from the palace.

She later blamed the whole act on frustration and wrong advice from friends. Unfortunately, her relationship with the monarch was never repaired before his demise last year.

Speaking via series of Instagram post, the late monarch’s daughter accused Queen Dami of buying her child from Port Harcourt.

She warned that the Alaafin’s throne must not be rubbished, adding that she had all the blood tests and evidence before the King passed away.

She noted that the fact that the palace isn’t talking doesn’t mean they don’t know what to say.

She wrote, “Dammy you are insulting someone that they don’t know the father of their child. Do you know the father of your own child? The child you went to buy in Port Harcourt. The fact that we are not talking doesn’t mean we don’t know what to say.

“The Alaafin’s throne is not to be rubbished. Don’t play with me. I have all the blood tests and evidence before the king passed away. Go and give the child to the rightful owner”.

Martina Luis, the estranged wife of Pastor Abraham Daniel Ejeh, has broken her silence in an emotional revelation that has shocked the Nigerian Christian community.

Martina, visibly shaken but resolute, recounted how her once-loving husband and former Dunamis pastor spiralled into a life of turmoil after delving into occultic books like ‘The Seven Days of Moses’.

“He was a godly man, full of love and compassion for our family and the church,” Martina began, her voice heavy with grief. “But everything changed when he started reading those books. He became withdrawn, unstable, and began seeing everyone, even me, as an enemy.”

Martina shared that her husband’s transformation led to terrifying moments, including an instance where he allegedly attempted to harm their daughter. “He once held a knife to her, claiming that ‘sacrifices must be made.’ I was horrified, and it was then I knew he had completely lost his way,” she said, tears streaming down her face.

Her heartbreaking account continued with allegations of threats to use their children for rituals, violent outbursts, and an eventual abandonment of his faith. “He left God, fought the church, and became a man I couldn’t recognize anymore. It’s painful because he was such a good man before this.”

Martina has called on Nigerians and the Christian community to pray for Abraham, hoping he finds redemption and mental stability. “The God of Pastor Enenche is still at work,” she said, clinging to hope for the man she once loved.

This shocking revelation raises important questions about spiritual vigilance and the dangers of straying from one’s faith. It is a somber reminder that even those in positions of spiritual authority are not immune to the struggles of life and faith.

In response to a sustained increase in the price of Brent crude, the global benchmark, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has announced a new price list for its customers for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as petrol or fuel.

In a statement reportedly disseminated via email on Friday, The PUNCH quoted Dangote Refinery to have revealed that the new price for its refined products will be set at ₦955 per litre at the loading gantry, indicating a revision in its pricing framework.

The refinery specified that marketers purchasing between 2 million and 4.99 million litres will be charged ₦955 per litre, while those acquiring 5 million litres or more will benefit from a slightly lower rate of ₦950 per litre.

This adjustment represents an increase of ₦55.5, or 6.17 per cent, from the ₦899.50 per litre price that was offered as a holiday discount to Nigerians in December of the previous year.

The new pricing structure will apply to all stock balances that have not yet been lifted by the specified time, and any pending stock as of the effective time will also be subject to the revised rates.

The statement further indicated that this new pricing regime will come into effect at 5:30 PM today.

The notice titled, “Communication on PMS Price Review” read, “Dear Esteemed Customer, Trust this email finds you well.

“Kindly be advised that effective from 5:30 PM today, an upward adjustment has been implemented on the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit.

Quantity:

• Previous Price (NGN/Litre)
• 2 million-9.99 million -N899.50
• 10 million Litres & Above N895

Quantity:

• New Price (NGN/ Litre)
• 2 million – 4.99 million N955
• 5 million Litres & Above N950

“Please note that all stock balances yet to be lifted as at the above-stated time are to be repriced at the new reviewed prices.

“We shall communicate with customers on their revised volumes based on the reviewed prices, in due course.”

Naija News reports that the anticipated rise in prices is likely to significantly impact the downstream petroleum industry, especially private depots and retail markets.

An oil and gas specialist, Olatide Jeremiah, told newsmen that depots are expected to raise the loading prices of refined petroleum products due to the substantial influence exerted by the refinery.

Jeremiah, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Price.ng, said, “Dangote Refinery’s influence on Fuel price has become unmatched; private depots, Major marketers, and independent Marketers will compete with this new price. Therefore, Nigerians should expect an increase in Petrol Pump Price.

“Brent Crude oil as of today is $81.84, highest in 2025, its one major factor for the increase.”

On Thursday, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed that the price of crude oil in the international market remains a significant force in driving the fluctuations in the pump prices of petrol.

He said the downstream sector is now fully deregulated, and the government is no longer involved in setting prices.

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.”