Ligue 1 clubs, Monaco, Olympic Lyon and Olympic Marseille are jostling for the signature of Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.

Ndidi has few days left on his contract with Leicester City.

The Foxes are desperate to extend the Nigerian’s contract following their return to the Premier League.

According to French news outfit, Foot Mercato, Ligue 1 clubs; Marseille, Lyon and Monaco have all approached Ndidi.

Aside from the French trio, Everton and Sevilla have also been credited with interest in the defensive midfielder.

Turkish clubs; Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are also reportedly interested in the player.

The 27-year-old joined Leicester City from Belgian Pro League club, KRC Genk in January 2019.

Everton have reportedly completed a £9m move for Aston Villa’s England-born Nigerian midfielder, Tim Iroegbunam.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. the 20-year-old looks set to be Everton’s first signing of the summer.

“Everton have completed deal to sign Aston Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam for fee around £9m, medical to follow,” Romano wrote on X.

Iroegbulam featured 15 times under Unai Emery last summer – including five times in the Europa Conference League.

Prior to that, he enjoyed a successful loan at QPR last season, making 32 appearances and scoring twice.

He also has two goals in seven games for England’s U20 side and is a highly-rated youngster that will bolster Sean Dyche’s midfield options.

Iroegbunam is a product of the West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa academies.

He spent the 2022–23 season on loan at EFL Championship side Queens Park Rangers, and also appeared for England at under-19 and under-20 levels, winning the UEFA European Under-19 Championship with the former in 2022.

The Federal Government said yesterday it was working on establishing an electricity offences tribunal to combat power theft in the country.

Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, the Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, NEMSA, Aliyu Tahir, who disclosed this, said:  “We are working on the establishment of an electricity offences tribunal with an in-built appeal system for faster dispensation of electricity-related offences. It is to vest NEMSA in-house counsel with powers to prosecute electricity offences.” 

Providing further explanation about the tribunal, Tahir said the initiative would adequately check electricity theft when implemented, adding that the National Assembly had been informed.

“We are looking at the establishment of this electricity tribunal to be able to enforce our mandates more. When you look at the enforcement, with respect to sanctioning of violators in the Act, it is a very long process.

“So to fast-track the prosecution of offenders, the establishment of this tribunal solely for the power sector will go a long way in ensuring that we fast-track the process, carry out enforcements and sanction violators,” he said.

The NEMSA boss said based on the powers conferred on the agency in the Electricity Act, NEMSA had been working hard to establish a tribunal that would speedily try electricity-related offences.

He noted that with the tribunal, issues of electricity theft would be addressed speedily and violators prosecuted as quickly as possible.

While noting that the agency was interfacing with the National Assembly on this, Tahir said further:  “The establishment of this tribunal has been brought to the knowledge of the legislature and we’ve made submissions to them. Our hope is that they will amend the Electricity Act to include a provision for this.”

He also said his agency was perfecting the process for the establishment of an electricity offences tribunal with an inbuilt appeal system to speedily tackle power-related offences.

He said a total of 2,655,488 meters in the power sector had been tested and calibrated, as most of the equipment had been deployed for use by consumers across the country.

Tahir stated that in line with the mandate of the agency, NEMSA has tested and calibrated over 2.6 million meters.

He said NEMSA, which is an agency of the federal government established in 2015, was still testing and calibrating more meters to ensure their functionality, durability and safety when in use

“A total of 21,681 electricity installation projects have been inspected and tested, out of which 13,154 have been certified. Also, a total of 16,624 electricity networks have been monitored by NEMSA.

“About 4,921 factories, hazardous installations and public places have been inspected, tested and certified fit, while 2,655,488 electricity meters have been tested and calibrated, as 487 incidences were investigated by the agency,” the NEMSA boss added.

Tahir, who said the figures were based on data compiled by NEMSA as of the first quarter of 2024, added that the Electricity Act 2023 had strengthened the enforcement powers and responsibilities of the agency.

The Federal Government has requested an 18-month extension on the closing date of the World Bank’s $800m palliative loan to boost its social safety net programmes.

The request is coming in the wake of the country’s battle against rising inflation and economic challenges. 

According to a restructuring paper document on the project from the World Bank, the government requested an extension of the closing date of the project from June 30, 2024, to December 31, 2025.

The report said about three million poor and vulnerable households have benefitted from the $800m palliative loan.

The apex bank had disbursed the loan to cushion the effect of recent government’s policies, such as fuel subsidy removal.

Of these beneficiaries, 700 thousand households were from rural areas and about 2.5 million households from urban areas.

The extension seeks to realign project timelines and enhance the efficacy of the National Social Safety Net Programme-Scale Up, adding that 1,652 urban wards had been covered through the targeting system developed under the project.

The document read:  “Since its start, about 30 million beneficiaries have been covered by social safety net programs, and about three million poor and vulnerable households have received shock responsive cash transfers as of May 2024.

”Of these beneficiaries, 700 thousand households were from rural areas and about 2.5 million households were from urban areas. 1,652 urban wards have been covered through the targeting system developed under the project.”

It added that a planned digital payment delivery mechanism had been put in place, using straight-through processing to deliver transfers directly to beneficiaries’ accounts or wallets while the national social register is being integrated with the National Identification Number, NIN, to further strengthen the targeting system.

The NASSP-SU project, initiated to provide shock-responsive safety net support to Nigeria’s poor and vulnerable, was approved on December 16, 2021, and became effective on January 30, 2023.

With this loan, the Federal Government plans to run a monthly cash transfer programme for poor and vulnerable Nigerians, who have been hit hard by recent policies, such as the fuel subsidy removal.

But it was abruptly stopped following a probe of alleged malfeasance in the management of the scheme by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

As part of restructuring to restart the cash transfer, the government has sought approval to change the chairmanship of the project’s national steering committee from the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Minister of Finance.

It also stressed that the extension request stems from Nigeria’s ongoing battle with high inflation, which peaked at 33.2 per cent in early 2024, exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate depreciation.

The document partly read, “This paper seeks approval from the Country Director for a Level II restructuring of the National Social Safety Net Program Scale-Up project, an $800m investment project financing.

”The restructuring will extend the project closing date by 18 months from June 30, 2024, to December 31, 2025. The benefit size and duration of the cash transfers under component 1 will also be changed.

“Despite earlier delays, the project remains central to the government’s ambitious plan to provide temporary cash transfer support to the population affected adversely by high inflation, particularly in the wake of the fuel subsidy removal and other macroeconomic reforms the government is undertaking.

”No financial or audit reports are pending, and there are no changes in the audit requirements. There have been some delays in procuring key service providers, and contract management practices are being improved by building the capacity of the PIU’s procurement team.”

The UN World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a spike in cholera in several regions of the world, with almost 195,000 cases and over 1,900 deaths reported in 24 countries since the start of this year.

The agency’s Eastern Mediterranean Region reported the highest number of cases, followed by the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the Southeast Asia Region, and the European Region.

WHO, in a statement on Thursday, stated that there are no reported cases in the Western Region, according to its bulletin released on Wednesday.

The UN health agency said it exhausted its global stockpile of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) by March but was able to exceed “the emergency target of five million doses in early June for the first time in 2024.”

Yet, the supply of the vaccine does not equate to its demand.

WHO reported that since January last year, 16 countries requested 92 million doses of OCV – almost double the 49 million produced during that time.

WHO, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners are working together to use resources to find long-term solutions for cholera.

On the positive side of health news, WHO announced on Thursday that Chad successfully eradicated “sleeping sickness” as a public health problem.

The agency applauded the Government and people of Chad for eradicating the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis, (also known as sleeping sickness).

“I congratulate the government and the people of Chad for this achievement.

“It is great to see Chad join the growing group of countries that have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease (NTD),” Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said.

In eliminating the disease, Chad joining some 50 others globally that have succeeded in this endeavour.

“The 100-country target is nearer and within reach,” Ghebreyesus, added, referring to the target set out in the road map for address neglected tropical diseases by 2030.

Sleeping sickness can cause flu-like symptoms initially but eventually causing behaviour change, confusion, sleep cycle disturbances or even coma, often leading to death.

Improved access to early diagnosis and treatment, as well as surveillance and response has proven that countries can control and eventually eliminate transmission.

Gunmen have kidnapped a pregnant woman, simply identified as Mrs. Ogunbunmi, in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.

Mrs. Ogunbunmi, who is due for delivery, was said to have left her home in Oke Lantoro, to the state Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta.

It was gathered that her husband, Ogunbunmi Lateef, said he had received a WhatsApp message notifying him of his wife’s kidnap by the abductors.

Confirming the incident, yesterday in a terse statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola said the suspected abduction had been reported to the command.

She said: “One Ogunbunmi Lateef of Oke Lantoro, Abeokuta reported that his pregnant wife due for delivery left home for state Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta.

“He received a WhatsApp message confirming the abduction of his wife by unknown armed men,” she said.

Nigerian music star Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, has ignited a flurry of reactions among fans with hints about possibly launching his own church.

The renowned Nigerian musician, who has had an increased activity on social media recently, stirred curiosity through a series of cryptic posts on his official X account.

Wizkid shared his thoughts about the idea of starting a church, causing a whirlwind of discussions online.

In one of his posts, Wizkid stated, “I could start a church if I wanted”

In another post, he wrote, “Jesus is King,” reaffirming his belief and further fueling speculation about his potential spiritual endeavors.

Fans have reacted enthusiastically to the possibility of Wizkid starting a church, with many taking to social media to bestow upon him titles such as “Pastor” and “Prophet.”

@Tunnykvng wrote, ”Pastor Wizkid or Pastor Big Wiz?

@Jbrandy_YBNL: Machala trying to win souls for the first time on the alter

@sakpo0007 wrote, “Your vision is more accurate than the pastors we have nowadays anyways.”

@honest30bgfan_ noted, “You don kuku talk am say na Eledumare dey ginger you nicely.”
@toyor_pr said, “Pastor Starboy”

Femi Otedola, billionaire businessman and chairman of FBN Holdings, has regained his position as the majority shareholder of First Bank.

According to corporate filings on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) on Thursday, Otedola now owns 9.41 percent shares in the bank.

This became possible after he purchased the group’s shares valued at N18.9 billion.

According to the corporate filings, the billionaire paid N21.91 per share or N6.935 billion for 316,506,776 shares.

He then bought an additional 546,674,034 shares through Calvados Global Services Limited, his holding company, for N21.97 per share — totalling N12.01 billion.

With this, the number of shares recently acquired totalled 863,180,810.

The fresh acquisition has increased Otedola’s shares (direct and indirect) in FBN Holdings to 3,380,462,950 — from 2,517,282,140 shares.

This means the businessman is now the highest shareholder in the company, overtaking Barbican Capital Limited, owned by Oba Otudeko, which has 3,110,400,619 direct shares.

In January, FBN Holdings appointed Otedola as the chairman of its board of directors.

The appointment came two years after the investor became the firm’s single largest shareholder in December 2021, when he increased his stake to 7.57 percent.

A month after the appointment, FBN Holdings named Barbican Capital Limited as its majority shareholder — making Otedola the second major shareholder at the time.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, an African non-grant foundation, says Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco receive 61.1 percent of remittances into Africa.

The foundation disclosed this in its 2024 forum report, titled, ‘Financing Africa. Where is the Money?’

Published on June 18, the report noted that Egypt is the largest recipient of remittances in Africa, receiving inflows of $28.3 billion in 2022; followed by Nigeria ($20.1 billion), and Morocco ($11.2 billion).

According to the report, Africa accounts for 12.3 percent of global remittances, “with nearly $100 billion in 2022”.

“Approximately 160 million people born in Africa currently live and work outside the continent,” the report reads.

Their remittances, according to the foundation, support the living costs of an estimated 200 million relatives — representing a significant source of foreign currency.

“Compared to other regions, Africa accounts for 12.3% of global remittances of which Egypt, Nigeria and Morocco receive 61.1% combined. The ratio of remittances relative to Africa’s economy makes them an important income source,” the further report reads.

“In 2022, Africa’s remittances of $96.7 billion represented 3.5% of the continent’s GDP, the highest of any world region.

“In 2022, for 19 countries remittances accounted for at least 4% of their GDP. In four countries – Gambia, Lesotho, Somalia and Comoros – this exceeded 20%.”

When properly accounted for, the foundation said, hard currency remittances could be used to improve a country’s creditworthiness and sovereign risk ratings by credit rating agencies.

The organisation said they could also function as a source of foreign exchange (FX).

“Remittance flows could also be used as collateral to improve ratings of sub-sovereign borrowers,” the foundation said.

The foundation added that through the use of remittance-backed securities, several banks in developing nations have been able to raise more than $15 billion from foreign capital markets since 2000.

The World Bank says its $750 million loan to Nigeria will support the federal government’s policy reforms.

World Bank made this known in the programme appraisal document — dated May 17, 2024 — on the proposed loan disbursement to Nigeria.

On June 13, Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, announced the approval of two financial support packages by the World Bank valued at $2.25 billion.

The loan consists of $1.5 billion for Nigeria’s reforms for economic stabilisation to enable transformation (RESET) development policy financing program (DPF) and $750 million for Nigeria’s accelerating resource mobilisation reforms (ARMOR) program-for-results (PforR).

In the programme appraisal document, the World Bank said the ARMOR programme contains revenue policy measures such as raising pro-health taxes on tobacco, and alcohol.

The Bretton Woods institution also said the programme contains the introduction of taxes on online betting and gambling, as well as new excise on telecommunication services.

Also, green taxes in the form of excises on vehicles and single-use plastics, as well as the implementation of an electronic money transfer levy were included in the programme.

The World Bank also said the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms has recommended more structural reform of the value-added tax (VAT) regime.

According to the World Bank, the disbursements under the proposed ARMOR programme will be through nine disbursement-linked indicators (DLIs) structured around the programme’s three result areas.

DLI, also referred to as performance-based financing, is a modality under which funds are disbursed by an investor or donor to a recipient upon the achievement of a predetermined set of conditions.

The World Bank said the DLIs support increased revenues from value-added tax and reduced forgone revenue — which will support phasing out the exemption of interest income from corporate bonds and pioneer status tax incentive scheme.

The Bretton Woods institution also supports increased revenue from pro-health and green taxes — which supports increasing the excise rates on tobacco, and alcoholic products, as well as online betting and gambling services — increased on-time online e-filing and e-payments, enhanced VAT voluntary compliance, improved tax audits, increased compliant trade flows, increased customs revenues through better risk management and enhanced post-clearance audits (PCAs), and enhanced transparency and increased oil revenue flows.