The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has initiated a probe into the shocking mistreatment of Nigeria’s Super Eagles at a Libyan airport.

CAF strongly condemned the lengthy delay faced by the team and coaches, describing it as unacceptable, and has been engaging with Libyan and Nigerian authorities. 

The African football governing body said it has escalated the matter to its disciplinary board for thorough investigation.

CAF promised to take decisive action against those found guilty of breaching its rules and regulations.

“The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has been in contact with the Libyan and Nigerian authorities after it had been informed that the Nigerian National Football Team (”Super Eagles”) and their technical team were stranded in disturbing conditions for several hours at an airport that they were allegedly instructed to land by the Libyan authorities,” the statement reads.

“The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations.”

The Super Eagles team was detained at the Al Abaq airport since Sunday evening, sparking outrage, ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match.

In response to widespread criticism, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the withdrawal of the Super Eagles from the qualifying match on Monday.

Nigeria’s oil marketers have said the director general of the Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi has intervened in its complaints about the high price of Premium Motor Spirit(Petrol) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and unpaid debts.

The spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike said this in an interview with DAILY POST at the weekend.

This comes after petroleum marketers and the DSS had a meeting on Wednesday amid the recent hike in petrol price to N1030 per liter by NNPC.

Giving details of the meeting, Ukadike said that the Chief Executive of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed agreed to issue their members bulk purchase license to get petrol directly from Dangote Refinery.

He also said that the NMDPRA has pledged to release N10 billion to offset debts owed to marketers.

“The Director of the Department of State Security has intervened in our complaints about high petrol prices, debt owed to us, and challenges facing the oil and gas sector.

“The director intervened and said that we should be patient, and he also made some calls.

“The Executive Director of NDPRA said he would issue us a bulk purchase license to get petrol directly from Dangote Refinery.

“NNDPRA promised to release N10 billion to pay outstanding bills to petroleum marketers. We asked members to continue operations”, he told DAILY POST.

Recall that petroleum marketers had vowed to shut down operations over ex-depot price of N1,010 per liter by the NNPC which is higher than the N1030 per litre retail price.

Earlier, the oil marketers had raised alarm that NNPC owed them over N15 billion.

DAILY POST recalls that on September 15, 2024, Dangote Refinery commenced petrol distribution with NNPCL as the sole off-taker.

Samson Dauda, the Nigerian-born bodybuilder representing the United Kingdom, has been crowned the 2024 Mr. Olympia.

Mr. Olympia is an annual bodybuilding competition and title awarded to the professional men’s bodybuilding contest winner in the open division at Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend. The international bodybuilding competition is sanctioned by the IFBB Professional League.

Dauda made history by winning the 60th Mr. Olympia contest at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada, United States.

He defeated top competitors on Saturday with Hadi Choopan taking the runner-up spot, while 2023 champion Derek Lunsford secured the third position.

Dauda also became the first bodybuilder of Nigerian descent to win the Mr. Olympia competition.

He previously finished third in the 2023 Mr. Olympia. This year, he won the title and was named People’s Champion, receiving a championship belt and trophy.

Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, has said the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi is currently the voice of the opposition and not his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar.

Fayose, who spoke on Sunday during an interview on Channels TV, dismissed chances of his party, the PDP to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 presidential election.

Lamenting the leadership crisis rocking the party, the former governor said PDP members no longer have a party.

”As I always say, we can defeat the APC but when we don’t have a party again, how can we defeat them?” He queried.

Fayose, who also urged Atiku to stop contesting elections in Nigeria, said, “when we complain about the APC and we don’t have a party and you can say you will do this and that, but when Obi is the voice of the opposition now.

“The press will call Obi than call the PDP and when the Publicity Secretary is suspending people and vice-versa, so where is the party?”

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested 26-year-old Nura Mas’ud, a resident of Mu’azu village of Sule Tankarkar LGA, for allegedly setting his 60-year-old grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, ablaze.

PUNCH Metro learnt on Sunday that Mrs Muhammad had repeatedly expressed concern over her grandson’s physical appearance and mental health status, who is said to be mentally unstable.

Mas’ud was said to have been provoked by his grandmother’s frequent inquiries and warned her to stop but she continued.

In a confessional audio clip made available to PUNCH Metro, Mas’ud said he was fed up with his grandmother’s endless inquiries about his health status.

He noted that his decision to set her ablaze using petrol had put to a halt her questioning.

“She frequently asked about my health, and I asked her what was happening to me but she kept mum. That was what informed my decision to pour petrol on her,”  Mas’ud stated.

When contacted, the Jigawa State Police Command’s spokesman, Shiisu Lawan Adam, who confirmed the tragic incident to our correspondent, stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, who is suffering from mental derangement, has been receiving treatment at the Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital.

“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is suffering from mental illness and has been receiving treatment at the Kazaure Psychiatric Hospital”, Lawan emphasised.

“One Nura Mas’ud, ‘m’, age 26 years of Mu’azu village, Sule Tankarkar LGA, went to his family house with a petrol canister and suddenly poured it on his grandmother, Zuwaira Muhammad, ‘f’, aged 60 years, of the same address, and set her ablaze”,  Lawan said.

According to him, the victim died while receiving treatment at a hospital, adding that the suspect had voluntarily confessed to have committed the offence because of the endless enquiries the victim was making about his life on several occasions.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has appointed Professor Toyin Ogundipe as the new Chairman and Pro Chancellor of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.

Prof. Ogundipe before his appointment was the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

Professor Ogundipe, DAILY POST gathered, replaces Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, the Assistant General Overseer in charge of Training and Education of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Adetunji Adeleye on Monday in Osogbo.

According to the statement, the other members of the reconstituted Governing Council are: “Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ahmed Parker Yerima, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olalere Gabriel Adeyemi, representing the University Senate, Professor Christian Happi, representing the University Senate, Professor Idowu Odebode, the University Congregation, Professor Emmanuel Ajav, representing the RCCG, Pastor (Mrs.) Tomi Somefun, representing the RCCG, Pastor Sola Olukoya, representing the RCCG, Dr. Olaniyi Salau (Legal Practitioner) representing the RCCG, Mr. Tobi Aniyi, representing the Redeemer’s University Alumni, Mrs. Funmilayo Olusola Kolade, representing the National Universities Commission, and Mrs. Mojisola Oje who is the Registrar and Secretary to the Council.

A former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has expressed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that it is making significant efforts to improve the conditions for Nigerians.

Despite acknowledging the current economic hardships the populace faces, Fayose remains optimistic about a turnaround shortly.

In his recent remarks, Fayose recognized the challenges many Nigerians are enduring but emphasized that the Tinubu administration is committed to implementing policies to enhance the economic landscape.

Fayose’s comments come when many citizens grapple with rising living costs and economic uncertainties.

The former governor said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, “It’s not been too easy, that is the truth for Nigerians, but I think that this government naturally, is given their best but their best still need to be upped.

“If you say they need time, people will begin to question to say, what time do they need? Yes, I agree that it has not been too easy for Nigerians, but I know that with little time things could get better; that is what I can say.”

He, however, noted that the current situation in the country is caused by long-term damage to the economy that won’t be repaired overnight.

Assessing governance in his home state of Ekiti, where he once held sway for two terms, Fayose heaped praises on the current governor, Biodun Oyebaji.

He said that even though he is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Oyebanji is in the All Progressives Congress (APC), it would be unfair not to acknowledge the governor’s good works.

“As at today I am a member of the PDP, the governor there is a member of the APC, but the meeting point is that I am a leader in Ekiti.

“Like I told you, it’s either we lie we die or we say the truth we die. Governor Oyebanji has done exceedingly well,” Fayose said.

He asserted that only a miracle will stop Governor Oyebanji from winning the election to complete a second term in 2026.

“I don’t know the miracle that will defeat him except something changes between now and that election.

“Forget the party, let us be realistic – the PDP is in bad crisis in Ekiti too, anybody can come here and deny I don’t care,” he said.

He said the governor has united all the leaders in the state irrespective of their political leanings.

Former Green Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, has passed away.

Naija News reports that sad news was announced by his longtime friend and ex-international, Segun Odegbami, on Sunday.

Odegbami revealed that Fregene died peacefully after a prolonged illness, with his wife, Tina, and two of his children by his side.

The football legend, who had been on life support for the past week, finally succumbed to his health challenges, marking the end of an era for Nigerian football.

Earlier this year, Odegbami had publicly sought financial assistance for Fregene’s medical care.

In a statement issued in March, he shared that the former goalkeeper was hospitalized in Sapele, Delta State, and required urgent medical attention.

Although some support was provided, including an ambulance covered by Tony Ojesina, more funds were still needed for further treatment at a teaching hospital.

Odegbami also used the opportunity to highlight the absence of a functional welfare system for retired athletes in Nigeria, lamenting the hardships many face in their later years.

In his update on Sunday, Odegbami expressed his grief, writing, “A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life support for the past one week, passed on to meet his creator. He died quietly in the presence of his two children and his devoted wife, Tina.”

Fregene’s legacy is well remembered, especially his standout performances for Nigeria’s national team in the 1960s and 70s, including his participation in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.

Known for his incredible reflexes and shot-stopping ability, Fregene earned the nicknames ‘Apo’ and ‘Flying Cat,’ a testament to his agility and skill between the posts.

Tributes have since poured in from across the sports community, honoring his contributions to Nigerian football and his impact on the generations that followed.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria is poised for talks with Dangote Petroleum Refinery between Tuesday and Wednesday to finalise agreements on the cost and lifting of petrol from the plant.

It was learnt on Sunday that the Petroleum Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria had been asked by the $20bn Lekki-based refinery to resend its request for petrol lifting.

This came as PETROAN expressed optimism that the cost of petrol might reduce in the coming days once the competition in the downstream oil sector sets in fully, as marketers load the commodity from the refinery.

Meanwhile, IPMAN described the planned agreement with the Dangote refinery as a crucial step in the association’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the lifting of petroleum products, thereby contributing to the stability and efficiency of the country’s fuel supply chain.

Last week, the Federal Government granted permission to petroleum marketers to lift petrol directly from the Dangote refinery without going through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

The Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Naira-crude sale implementation committee, Wale Edun, had in a statement, said, “Moving forward, petroleum product marketers are now able to purchase PMS (petrol) directly from local refineries without the intermediary role of NNPC.

“Marketers are encouraged to initiate direct purchases from refineries on mutually negotiated commercial terms, which will promote competition and improve market efficiency.”

Providing an update on Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, said the association hoped to meet with officials of the Dangote refinery for discussion as it is ready to commence a healthy business relationship with the refinery.

Ukadike, who spoke during an interview monitored by our correspondents on Arise TV, said the association had acquired tank farms to enhance its storage facilities, thus addressing a challenge that had previously hindered operations.

He said, “We hope to sit down with Dangote maybe Tuesday or Wednesday and if they give us a template or price, we will move to Dangote. I want to reassure you that we have all it takes to off-take whatever Dangote will give to us. I don’t know why they are dragging their legs to discuss with marketers, maybe it is politics.

“The more we take action in terms of distribution lines, the price will come down, we are not afraid of this competition, we have organised ourselves and are ready to compete because this is the survival of the fittest.

“The issue of not having tank farms is gone because we have addressed the issue and now have farm tanks and anywhere Dangote says they will give us our products, we will distribute them to our marketers.”

On his part, President PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, told The PUNCH his group had been asked to resend their request to lift petrol from the plant.

“We have written to them (Dangote) several times and they are fully aware of what PETROAN has been doing. One of the executive directors there called me to say that they are going to set up a meeting with us, so we are waiting for that to happen. Hopefully, we can do that this week.

“We are willing to take products from all of them, NNPC, traders, importers, Dangote refinery, modular refineries, etc. So, we are in that pursuit. We have not received confirmation of the meeting with Dangote yet, but we have been told to resend our request, which we have done.

“And I think that is a positive response compared to before when they were just keeping quiet. So, any moment from now PETROAN members should start lifting products from the Dangote refinery and it is good news for us and everyone,” Gillis-Harry stated.

On whether the price of petrol would drop in the future, the PETROAN president added, “The price can be knocked down to N700/litre; it depends on the volatility of the market and this does not always mean upward prices, it could also mean prices coming down.

“If we have massive supply and there is a lot of products in Nigeria, obviously everybody will be looking for just minimal profit. Our business is focused on turnover, so people may cut prices down.”

Meanwhile, Ukadike, the IPMAN spokesperson, stated that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority had issued a bulk purchase license for independent marketers so that they could off-take from Dangote refinery.

“The NMDPRA has issued a bulk purchase license for independent marketers so that we can offtake from the Dangote refinery. We want this to take effect immediately. We have also been promised an import license so that we can import. These are the factors of deregulation.

“When you implement it, you have put all the stakeholders in the same line so that the competition will be healthy. It is not putting some people before others. How can we buy products at N1,040 and say there is competition? It is designed to edge us out and make us dependent on NNPC and its sources.

“The NMDPRA boss told our national president that we would be issued an import license on Friday. But you know all these processes have bureaucratic procedures. Before we didn’t have this chance but today, the situation has improved,” he noted.

On the debt owed to oil dealers by the NNPC, Ukadike said, “The NNPC boss has agreed to load out all our tickets that are in their system and unlock the money. Sometimes we get these monies from bank loans and when it is locked up, we incur bank charges which also affect the price of fuel.

“They haven’t loaded us out as I speak to you now; they have also not revealed the new price. It is only when they do that, that we will look at the remittance we are going to pay but our president insisted that since this money has been locked up with them, they should give us at the old price so that we can use it to cushion the bank charges and other expenses we have incurred so far.

“By Monday or Tuesday, the new price will be out and I will announce it. We don’t want that impression that independent marketers are selling higher than NNPC.”

Continuing, IPMAN sought the government’s assistance in financing by creating an energy bank to assist marketers following the huge cost of interest rates affecting price increases.

“We are working with security agencies to ensure that products are not stolen out of this country, and products meant for independent marketers go to their stations. Also, we are working to ensure there is nothing like adulteration.”

He said independent marketers were on the verge of collapsing because of the huge amount invested in buying one truck of 45,000 litres of petrol.

“Before the subsidy removal, we bought products at N8.1m, but now we are buying it close to N50m. How many people can survive that?”

Super Eagles media team on Sunday night confirmed that players and officials of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team were held hostage by Libyan authorities upon their arrival at Al Abaq Airport in Al Abaq, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

In a video posted by the Eagles media team, the players and officials, along with their luggage, were left stranded at the airport, with the Libyan airport officials indifferent to their plight and conversing in Arabic.

The Eagles departed for Libya on Sunday morning, ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matchday 4 clash against the Mediterranean Knights. Initially scheduled to fly into Tripoli and travel by road to Benghazi, the team altered their plans to avoid unnecessary strain. Instead, they chartered a flight with a brief stopover in Kano before continuing to Benghazi. Libya will host the three-time African champions at the 10,000-capacity Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benina, located just 10 kilometres from Benghazi, but reports emerged that they were diverted to another city.

“About an hour to landing, the Nigerian aircraft approaching its destination, Benghazi, was diverted to another city more than a two-hour drive from the original destination,” the Eagles media team said.

“Libya authorities hold Super Eagles and officials hostage at the Al Abaq airport in Al Abaq.”

Nigeria secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Libya at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday courtesy of a late Fisayo Dele-Bashiru strike. The second leg between the two countries will take place on Tuesday, October 15, with the Eagles hoping to maintain their unbeaten runs.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Cape Verdean official Delgado Santos Rocha Lenine to referee the match.

He will be assisted by his compatriots Djêry Gomes Lopes and Jorge Santos Fonseca Aritson as assistant referees. Burkina Faso’s Hamidou Diero will serve as the fourth official. Somalian Amir Abdi Hassan has been named match commissioner, while Malian Dramane Dante will act as the referee assessor. The security of the event will be overseen by Algerian official Rachid Medjiba.