The US presidential race remains neck-and-neck according to polls released Sunday, two days before Kamala Harris and Donald Trump hold their first – and potentially only – televised debate.

The latest polling confirms that Trump retains locked-in support from about half of voters, despite the Republican’s historic status as a convicted felon and his role in instigating the unprecedented attempt to overturn his 2020 loss to Joe Biden.

Harris, who only jumped into the race after President Biden abruptly quit in July, has rapidly transformed herself from a little-noticed vice president into a serious contender.

However, the polls show she has not made a major breakthrough, leaving the race a toss-up.

A New York Times/Siena poll found that 78-year-old Trump is leading Harris nationally by 48 to 47 per cent, well within the margin of error.

US presidential elections are decided by tallying the results of state-by-state contests, rather than an overall national popular vote, meaning that a tiny handful of swing states typically decide the balance.

The poll found Harris, 59, narrowly ahead in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania and tied in four other swing states – Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina and Arizona.

A CBS News/YouGov poll put Harris ahead by one percentage point in Michigan and Wisconsin and tied in Pennsylvania.

The election is already chaotic, with 81-year-old Biden dropping out amid concerns over his age, Trump narrowly surviving an assassin’s bullet at a rally, and fears mounting that Trump will again refuse to concede if he loses in November.

However, the latest numbers confirm that each candidate retains a remarkably stable base of loyalists, almost evenly splitting the country.

One game changer could be Tuesday’s ABC News debate, the only one scheduled between the two.

Trump will be under pressure to rein in his characteristic use of insults and intimidation as he stands next to a mixed-race candidate vying to become the first female president in US history.

Harris will need to use the huge viewership to connect with Americans in a way that she was unable to as vice president and has had little time to accomplish in her super-condensed campaign run.

With Trump now the oldest presidential nominee in US history, she is pitching an optimistic, forward-looking message in contrast to Trump’s apocalyptic claims that the country faces terminal decline without him in the White House.

At the same time, Harris will have to solve the conundrum of how to debate Trump, who habitually makes false statements on nearly every topic and loves to get under his opponents’ skin.

Biden, in his only debate against Trump before dropping his candidacy, found himself entirely unable to cope.

Already, Trump has been subjecting Harris in his speeches to racist and sexist taunts, deliberately mispronouncing her name and calling her “crazy” and a “Marxist.”

[DailyTrust]

Nigeria’s caretaker coach, Augustine Eguavoen has explained his reason for delaying the substitution of midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi during the second half of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifier against the Republic of Benin on Saturday.

Ndidi paired fellow Premier League player, Alex Iwobi in the midfield against Benin.

The Leicester City star put up his best performance in a while for Nigeria but it came at a cost as he became fatigued.

In the second half, Ndidi was caught on camera signaling to the bench to be substituted, but Eguavoen opted to leave him on the pitch until the 80th minute when he was replaced by Raphael Onyedika.

Explaining why Ndidi’s substitution was delayed, Eguavoen said at his post-match press conference that he wanted to allow his replacement enough time to get fully warmed up before stepping onto the pitch.

“But we have to buy time, you don’t have to rush into changes because Republic of Benin today surprised me, a very good team.

“I watched them against us in Abidjan, they were not as good as this, so they came with a good game plan, today’s performance for them was very okay.

“I knew at some point we are going to sub Ndidi but somebody who is coming in has to be properly warmed and prepared.”

Nigeria won the match 3-0, thanks to Ademola Lookman’s brace and Osimhen’s goal.

[nigerianeye]

Less than two weeks before the governorship election in Edo State, four aides to the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki have resigned their appointments.

DAILY POST reports that the former Senior Special Assistants, SSAs, to the Governor also resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Dr Pamela Archer also resigned as Special Adviser to Owan East Local Government Council.

The resignation letters dated September 4 and September 6, 2024, were addressed to the chairman of the council and chairmen of their various wards.

The former aides to the governor are Osayande Emenya, Ward 6, Henry Osaheni Ukato, Ward 6, Efosa Edo-OsagieWardd 6, Oredo local government and Timothy Edokpolor, Ward 8, Ikpoba Okha local government area.

Emenya who was the former Youth leader of Ward six and former organizing secretary of Oredo local government of the party and Efosa Edo-Osagie hinged their resignation from the party due to the non-payment of salary since their appointment as SSA to the Edo State Governor.

The duo and others also attributed their resignation from their appointments and the party to the alleged marginalization of the aboriginal members of the party.

“We are also resigning from the party based on the principle of equity, fairness and justice that we hold dearly which no longer prevails within our Party at the Ward levels, coupled with the marginalization of the aboriginal PDP members, who have worked assiduously to sustain this party, prior to its infiltration, despite complaints”, they said.

They, however, thanked the leadership of the party and the State Governor for the time they have spent in the party since its inception and the opportunity to serve the state government.

On her part, Pamela attributed her resignation as SA at Owan East Council to the lack of inclusiveness in the decision-making and governance of the council According to her, after careful consideration and reflection, ”I am writing to formally resign from my position as Special Adviser at Owan East Local Government Council, effective 4th Sept. 2024.

“It has been a privilege to serve in this capacity. However, I must express my concerns about the decision-making processes within the council. “Unfortunately, I have observed that decisions are made without the valuable input from the executives, which I believe undermines the collective effort and the potential for effective governance.

“The lack of inclusive and collaborative decision-making has made it increasingly difficult for me to perform my duties effectively. “I firmly believe in a system where diverse perspectives and expertise are considered, ensuring that decisions made are in the best interest of our people.

“Regrettably, I feel that the current approach does not align with these values, and I do not wish to be part of a system where my contributions as an executive member are not valued or considered.

“I want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly, and it stems from my commitment to integrity, transparency, and the betterment of our community.

“I hope that my resignation will highlight the need for a more inclusive and participatory approach to governance, which I believe is essential for the progress and development of Owan East”, she added.

[DailyPost]

48 persons have been given mass burial after a petrol tanker explosion in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident occurred in the early morning of Sunday when the petrol tanker had a head-on collision with a trailer truck loaded with travellers and cattle from Wudil in Kano state.

The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arab who gave the update on Sunday, also confirmed that 48 persons whose bodies were burnt beyond recognition had been given mass burial in the local government.

According to him, following further search and rescue operations 18 more bodies were recovered from the 30 bodies earlier reported.

“Following further search and rescue operations, my agency discovered 18 more bodies which were also burnt to death and all the dead have been given mass burial,” he said.

Baba-Arab made the accident known on Sunday in a statement in which he said the incident happened on Sunday at about 12.30 am along Lapai-Agaie, 2km from Dendo Community in Agaie LG.

He also disclosed that over 50 cattle were also burnt alive and two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van were caught in the inferno.

The NSEMA statements read, “NSEMA has received a report of a deadly tanker explosion that occurred on Sunday, the 8th of September, 2024, at about 12.30 am along Lapai-Agaie, 2km from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA.

“The incident occurred when a petrol tanker loaded with PMS collided with a trailer truck loaded with travellers and cattle from Wudil in Kano State heading to Lagos, two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van were also caught in the incident.

“Over 30 people are already confirmed dead, with over 50 cattle burnt alive. NSEMA’s Rapid Respond Team (RRT), in conjunction with LGEMCs, is still on the scene of the incident conducting search and rescue operations as more corpses are still trapped inside the trucks.”

[Punch]

Nigerian para-powerlifter Folashade Oluwafemiayo clinched a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, shattering two world records in the process.

Her remarkable lift of 167kg not only broke her previous world record in the women’s 86kg Para-Powerlifting category but also made her the first Para-athlete in history to achieve such a feat.

Her performance secured Nigeria’s second gold medal at the Paralympic Games.
The 39-year-old, who had previously won a silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, has now become a two-time Paralympic champion.

Oluwafemiayo’s accomplishment follows a series of strong performances by Nigerian athletes at the Paralympics. Flora Ugwunwa secured a silver medal in the women’s javelin F54 event, while Onyinyechi Mark won gold in para-powerlifting with a record-breaking lift of 147kg. Esther Nworgu also claimed silver in the women’s 41kg Para-Powerlifting event, setting two new Paralympic records.

Eniola Bolaji made history as the first African to win a medal in badminton at the Olympic or Paralympic Games, achieving a bronze after defeating her Ukrainian opponent in straight sets.

Overall, Nigeria’s medal tally at the 2024 Paralympics stands at seven: two gold, three silver, and two bronze. These accomplishments are a testament to the hard work and dedication of Nigerian para-athletes, who continue to excel on the global stage.

Nigeria’s first gold at the Games came from Onyinyechi Mark in the powerlifting finals on Friday.

Esther Nworgu added a silver medal in the women’s 41kg Para-Powerlifting event on Wednesday, and Bose Omolayo also secured a silver medal in the 79kg Para-Powerlifting category.

[BusinessDay]

Over 30 people have been confirmed dead following a petrol tanker explosion in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State.

The incident occurred when the tanker collided head-on with a trailer truck carrying passengers and cattle from Wudil, Kano State, en route to Lagos.

Abdullahi Baba-Arab, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), confirmed the tragic event in a statement on Sunday. The explosion happened around 12:30 am along the Lapai-Agaie road, approximately 2km from Dendo Community.

The NSEMA statement read: “NSEMA has received a report of a deadly tanker explosion that occurred on Sunday, 8th September 2024, at about 12:30 am along Lapai-Agaie road, 2km from Dendo Community in Agaie LGA.

“The incident happened when a petrol tanker loaded with PMS collided with a trailer truck carrying travellers and cattle from Wudil, Kano State, heading to Lagos. Two other vehicles, a crane truck and a pickup van, were also involved in the incident.

“Over 30 people have already been confirmed dead, with more than 50 cattle burnt alive. NSEMA’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), in conjunction with LGEMCs, is still at the scene conducting search and rescue operations, as more bodies remain trapped inside the vehicles,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the state Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has expressed sadness over the loss of lives and properties from the explosion.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, the Governor says he is pained by the unfortunate incident and the colossal loss incurred.
The Governor called for calm by the residents of the affected area and also enjoined road users to always be cautious and abide by road traffic regulations to safeguard lives and property.

The Governor prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and grant quick recovery to those injured.

[Vanguard]

Gbenga Adeyinka has praised some of his colleagues’ comedy expertise, arguing they can host shows better than Trevor Noah.

Noah is an award-winning South African comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, and television host. He is best known for hosting The Daily Show, an American news satire program, from 2015 to 2022.

Adeyinka, who has built an illustrious career that has endured for decades, spoke on the recent episode of TheCable’s ‘Our Two Kobo’ podcast.

The show host said comedians like Basketmouth, Okey Bakassi, Bovi, and himself “could outshine” Noah in anchoring international shows.

Adeyinka cited the lack of opportunities as the primary obstacle hindering Nigerian entertainers’ global recognition.

“Trevor is amazing. He is funny. I think there are Nigerians who can do what he is doing better. Basketmouth will do the daily show better. Bovi, Okey Bakassi, and I will do it better,” he said.

“… what we do not have is the opportunity. But I think Kenny Blaq has it. But a lot of people need that. That international connection of doing things the right way.

“I still see a lot of Nigerians travelling out of Nigeria with tourism visas. It is the biggest insult you can do to your brand.

“Work permit is the easiest to get. Anyone who wants you to come perform for you should invest in getting you a work permit.

“There are a lot of entertainers who cannot enter the United States or the United Kingdom. They will not tell you.”

Before the end of his tenure in 2007, former President Olusegun Obasanjo sold two of the nation's four refineries at a paltry sum of $751 million to a local consortium. Many concerned citizens, including the workers in the oil industry, kicked against the illegal privatisation of the two refineries. 

President Umaru Yaradua probed the sale and found that the sale was singlehandedly carried out by former President Obasanjo in utter breach of the provisions of the Privatisation and Commercialization Act. Consequently, the sale of the two refineries was cancelled and set aside in the national interest. 

Former President Mohammadu Buhari resisted the pressure of neoliberal ideologues in and outside his government to sell the four refineries as scraps. Based on the advice of patriotic forces, the Federal Executive Council approved the rehabilitation of the two refineries in Port Harcourt for the sum of $1.5 billion.

In line with the terms of the contract awarded in March 2021 to an Italian company, Tecnimont SPA, the rehabilitation of the 210,000-barrel capacity refineries was required to be carried out in three phases of 18, 24 and 44 months. In particular, the first phase of the contract was to be completed in 18 months, which would take the refinery to a production of 90 per cent of its nameplate capacity.

Furthermore, on August 6, 2022, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna refineries to the Italian company Saipem for US$1.5bn. The installed capacities of Warri and Kaduna refineries are 125,000 bbl/d and 110,000 bbl/d, respectively. The project was required to be completed in three phases of 21, 23, and 33 months.

The two contractors that are said to be international experts in refinery maintenance and rehabilitation have not been allowed to explain the breach of the $2.9 billion contracts. Instead of calling the contractors to order for embarrassing the Federal Government, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari has been shifting the dates for the completion of the rehabilitation of the four refineries. 

Let Tecnimont SPA and Saipem speak out!

Instead of relying solely on the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited to solve the crisis of fuel scarcity and hike in the pump price of PMS, the federal government should ensure that the September date for the completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries of 445,000-barrel capacity is not further shifted. If the contractors fail to honour the new completion date, the federal government should not hesitate to sue them for a serial breach of the contracts.

Let the public refineries and private refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, flood the market with refined petroleum products including PMS. 

When that happens, there will be no justification for the incessant hike in the pump price of PMS. 

Femi Falana SAN,

The Chair,

Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB)

I have been laughing at the back and forth between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, and the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC.

The leader of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, clearly does not understand anything about the oil and gas industry and only succeeded in advertising his ignorance on a topic he knows next to nothing about when he picked his needless fight with our national oil company.

One very talkative woman has been all over social media, similarly broadcasting her low intelligence conceptualisation of the matter.

What Nigerians need to understand is that the only way Dangote's fuel can howsoever be affordable for the average Nigerian is for NNPCL to be its sole offtaker, at least of the component of his product meant for local consumption.

That way, NNPCL will more or less do what it has been doing thus far with the Federal Government to make it available to consumers below its actual cost.

Dangote, on his part, is obviously reluctant to tell Nigerians what his fuel costs per litre because it could even be as high as ₦1300, if not way more!

Indeed, nothing would alarm Dangote more than for NNPCL to refuse to be his middleman because he would then have to sell directly to independent marketers who would in turn dispense to Nigerians at such a high price that he would immediately become miserably unpopular contrary to his posturing that he has come to save the day.

NNPCL is not forcing Dangote to sell exclusively to it; it is rather Dangote that is begging NNPCL to be the sole buyer of his products.

If you know, you know.

If you don't know, just keep quiet for once, for God's sake.

Contrary to the crass ignorance being displayed by Professor Akintola, no marketer would ever go directly to Dangote to load up fuel when they know they will get it far cheaper from NNPCL as an offtaker.

Ignorance is not bliss; it is a disease in need of a cure called "knowledge".

Social media, particularly X (formerly known as Twitter), has always been a platform where individuals can express themselves, share ideas, and grow their influence by gaining followers. However, a concerning trend has emerged: some users, instead of requesting others to follow them honestly, resort to deception to expand their follower base. These users are not necessarily scammers in the traditional sense, but their deceitful tactics are creating a nuisance on the platform.

The strategy is simple but underhanded. A user creates a post, often pretending to give away something, offer financial help, or share a prize in celebration of a personal milestone. In reality, there is no giveaway or assistance, only an intent to deceive. The goal is to attract attention, spark engagement, and ultimately gain more followers by luring people into interacting with the post.

For example, users may post things like: “Send your account, and I’ll give away N5,000 to five people!” In some cases they go as far as deceptively posting something like, “Follow me and retweet this for a chance to win a brand-new phone!”

While the language may vary, the purpose remains the same: to exploit the curiosity or hope of other users in order to drive up engagement. In some cases, users will even follow through with minimal giveaways to maintain the facade, but the overwhelming majority of these posts are just tricks to inflate their follower count.

You may have asked in this context, “Why Do They Do It?” The answer to your question cannot be farfetched as the primary motive is to quickly and efficiently boost their following, as social media metrics are often viewed as a form of credibility. With a higher number of followers, users can: Increase their social influence, attract potential business opportunities, gain attention from brands looking for influencers to promote products and elevate their status within the X community.

For these users, the ends justify the means. Instead of organically growing their followers by offering valuable content, they resort to deception, prioritizing follower numbers over genuine interaction and trust.

At first glance, this follower-gaining tactic may seem harmless compared to financial scams. However, this deceitful behavior can have long-term negative consequences for the platform and its users. This is as it erodes trust. In fact, social media platforms thrive on trust. When users start questioning every interaction or doubting the authenticity of every giveaway or offer, the very fabric of the platform weakens. People become less likely to engage with others, limiting the sense of community that X aims to foster.

In a similar vein, the deception wastes the time and energy of innocent users of the platform. This is as many users, lured in by the promise of rewards, spend time interacting with these deceptive posts, only to end up disappointed. This wastes their time and adds to the growing frustration many feel on social media.

Also is the false metrics the deception generates. Despite the allure of their posts, the followers these deceptive X users gain are often not genuinely interested in their contents. This creates a distorted picture of their actual influence. Brands or businesses looking to collaborate with influencers based on follower count may find that these users offer little real value in terms of reach or engagement.

The reality is that growing a follower base organically on X requires time, effort, and authentic interaction. Instead of posting valuable content that engages the community, these deceptive users take shortcuts, exploiting the algorithms and the trust of fellow users. By masking their intentions with fake offers, they can generate more shares, likes, and follows than they would through legitimate means.

The allure of a quick follower boost can be tempting, especially when follower count is often seen as a status symbol. But what isgained through deception does not last. Eventually, many followers realize the truth, and the trust deficit created by such deceit can harm the user’s reputation in the long run.

While the number of followers might seem crucial in the social media landscape, genuine engagement should be the goal. X users should focus on cultivating real relationships with their audience by providing authentic content and meaningful interactions. It is better to have a smaller, loyal follower base than a large, disinterested one gained through deceit.

To those using deception to grow their follower count: consider the value of trust and authenticity. There is no harm in openly requesting followers or promoting content honestly. Social media is meant to be a space for connecting and sharing, not tricking others into following for non-existent prizes.

Deceitful users on X may not be scammers in the traditional sense, but their tactics of deception for gaining followers are undermining the platform’s integrity. Instead of fostering genuine relationships and building a community of engaged followers, they prioritize quick, artificial growth. As users, it is essential to be aware of these tactics and promote authenticity, both in our own behavior and in our expectations from others. Social media should be a space for real connections, not one filled with tricks and false promises.