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Bayelsa Queens Beat USFA to Book WAFU Champions League Final Spot

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Bayelsa Queens Beat USFA to Book WAFU Champions League Final Spot

Bayelsa Queens FC staged a determined fightback to seal a 2-1 victory over USFA of Burkina Faso in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers on Tuesday night.

USFA struck early through Comfort Yeboah in the second minute, but Emem Essien equalised for the Nigerian champions just 13 minutes later. Janet Akekoromowei, who was later named Player of the Match, fired home the decisive goal in the 62nd minute to complete the turnaround.

The result sends Bayelsa Queens into Friday’s final against hosts ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast, with the winner earning the zone’s sole ticket to this year’s CAF Women’s Champions League.

Tinubu Reinstates NTA DG Dembos, ED News Adewuyi, Reverses Fresh Appointments

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Tinubu Reinstates NTA DG Dembos, ED News Adewuyi, Reverses Fresh Appointments

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the reinstatement of Mr. Salihu Abdullahi Dembos as Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), directing him to complete his three-year tenure.

Dembos, who was first appointed in October 2023, had briefly vacated the position following management changes within the agency.

The President also recalled Mr. Ayo Adewuyi, Executive Director of News, to continue his tenure, which runs until 2027. Adewuyi was appointed in 2024.

The directive effectively sets aside earlier announcements regarding the appointments of a new director-general, executive director of news, executive director of marketing, and managing director of NTA Enterprises.

The statement was issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

FG Launches Training Programme For 100,000 Construction Artisans Nationwide

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FG Launches Training Programme For 100,000 Construction Artisans Nationwide

The Federal Government has commenced the training, certification, and job placement of 100,000 construction artisans across Nigeria under a new three-year initiative.

The programme, known as the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), is being implemented in partnership with Polaris Capital Limited, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the project will be funded through federal budget allocations, private sector investment, and donor contributions. It will also feature a digital booking and verification platform to connect artisans directly with job opportunities while generating revenue to sustain the initiative beyond the MoU period.

Trades covered under the programme include bricklaying, plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, painting, welding, tiling, screeding, POP, upholstery, and refrigeration/air conditioning, among others.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, who signed on behalf of the government, said the scheme is designed to modernise Nigeria’s construction workforce, bridge the skills gap in the housing sector, and create sustainable employment for young people, women, and persons with disabilities.

“NASAP is a nationwide intervention programme designed to train, certify, and digitally connect 100,000 artisans in priority construction trades to job opportunities across Nigeria,” the statement read in part.

Polaris Capital Limited’s Chief Executive Officer, Kelvin Vihishima, described the partnership as a vital step in reducing unemployment and reforming the housing industry. He noted that proper training and certification would help curb quackery in construction and ensure the availability of skilled manpower nationwide.

The Ministry further disclosed that the programme will roll out in three phases: a 2025 pilot phase targeting 3,000 artisans across three states, a nationwide scale-up in 2026, and the establishment of Regional Centres of Excellence in 2027.

The pilot states and official commencement date are expected to be announced soon.

Nigeria Congratulates Vietnam On 80th Independence Anniversary, Pledges Stronger Bilateral Relations

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Nigeria Congratulates Vietnam On 80th Independence Anniversary, Pledges Stronger Bilateral Relations

Nigeria has congratulated the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the celebration of its 80th Independence Anniversary, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar extended warm felicitations to Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Bùi Thanh Sơn. He described the milestone as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Vietnamese people in their pursuit of sovereignty and national development.

Nigeria and Vietnam established diplomatic relations in 1976, which were further consolidated in 2007 with the opening of embassies in both capitals. Current trade between the two nations stands at about one billion dollars as of the last quarter of 2024, with cooperation covering agriculture, education, investment, and multilateral engagements.

The ministry reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to expand areas of collaboration and promote stronger people-to-people connections.

Nigeria also wished the government and people of Vietnam peace, prosperity, and continued progress.

Akpabio Declares ‘No Vacancy In Aso Rock’ Ahead Of 2027 Election

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Akpabio Declares ‘No Vacancy In Aso Rock’ Ahead Of 2027 Election

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that there will be “no vacancy” in Aso Rock in 2027, insisting President Bola Tinubu remains firmly positioned for re-election.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with an ADBN News correspondent in Abuja, Akpabio dismissed recent claims by an opposition coalition that it would unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

The Senate President had just returned from Akwa Ibom State, where thousands of stakeholders endorsed him, President Tinubu, and Governor Umo Eno. He said no alliance among opposition leaders could threaten Tinubu’s second-term bid, describing their efforts as “an exercise in futility.”

Akpabio stressed that the APC’s strong leadership and grassroots support would guarantee the party’s victory in 2027.

Returning to Abuja after a two-week working visit to his constituency, he held stakeholder meetings and commissioned projects across the 10 local government councils of his senatorial district.

At the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Akpabio was received by senators, the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Chief (Dr) Saviour Enyiekere, Managing Director of the South South Development Commission, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, Chief of Staff Barrister Chinedu Akabueze, and other aides.

Diri Appoints Sawyer As Bayelsa Head Of Civil Service

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Diri Appoints Sawyer As Bayelsa Head Of Civil Service

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has approved the appointment of Dr. Wisdom Ebiye Sawyer as the new Head of the Civil Service.

The announcement was made in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Tuesday. Sawyer, a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, succeeds Barrister Biobelemoye Charles-Onyema, who retired on August 31, 2025.

Born on May 14, 1970, in Odi community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Sawyer joined the Bayelsa civil service on June 8, 1998, as a Medical Officer.

He holds an MBBS degree from the University of Port Harcourt (1996), a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Lagos (2000), and a Part 2 Fellowship in Public Health from the National Post-Graduate Medical College (2010). He has also defended his Ph.D dissertation in Clinical Sciences and Public Health at Niger Delta University.

A seasoned professional, Sawyer is a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).

Premier League Transfer Spending Smashes £3 Billion Record

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Premier League Transfer Spending Smashes £3 Billion Record

Premier League clubs have shattered transfer records once again, spending more than £3 billion ($4 billion) during the summer window — the highest figure in football history.

According to Deloitte, the gross spend surpassed the previous record of £2.4 billion set in 2023 by about £650 million. It is the first time Premier League spending has broken the £3 billion barrier and the third consecutive summer the league’s outlay has exceeded £2 billion.

The dramatic final day of the window saw Liverpool secure the British-record signing of striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle in a £125 million deal, underscoring the financial dominance of English clubs.

Premier League spending accounted for 51 percent of total outlay across Europe’s “big five” leagues — England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France — eclipsing rivals and further entrenching the league’s financial superiority.

Tim Bridge, lead partner at Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said the figures highlight the Premier League’s unique market power.

“A third record-breaking summer of Premier League spending in four years sends a strong signal that, despite subdued spending across the rest of the continent, clubs have no plans to slow down their investment in the on-pitch product,” Bridge noted.

“With more English teams than ever competing in European competitions, more than any other league across Europe, Premier League clubs are looking to attract the best talent and further cement the league as the most competitive in world football,” he added.

UK Suspends Refugee Family Reunion Scheme Amid Record Asylum Applications

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UK Suspends Refugee Family Reunion Scheme Amid Record Asylum Applications

The United Kingdom has announced the suspension of its refugee family reunion route, a scheme that allowed families of refugees already in the country to apply to join their relatives, as the government seeks to curb irregular migration.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told parliament on Monday that new applications to the programme were being “temporarily” halted, citing pressures on local authorities and risks posed by criminal gangs exploiting the route.

“We do need to address the immediate pressures on local authorities and the risks from criminal gangs using family reunion as a pull factor to encourage more people onto dangerous boats,” Cooper said.

According to Home Office data, nearly 21,000 family reunion visas were issued in the year to June 2025, mostly to women and children. Over the same period, more than 111,000 people applied for asylum in the UK — the highest number since records began in 2001.

The move comes as Labour grapples with rising migrant arrivals, particularly by small boats across the English Channel, a situation that has intensified public debate and boosted support for the anti-immigration Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage.

Cooper said the suspension precedes a wider reform package expected later this year, which may include “contribution requirements” for family members and longer waiting periods before newly recognised refugees can apply for reunification. In the meantime, refugees will be subject to the same family migration rules as other applicants.

More than 50,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since Labour leader Keir Starmer became prime minister in July 2024. The UK has also begun detaining individuals under a new “one-in, one-out” agreement with France, allowing Britain to return some Channel-crossing migrants in exchange for accepting an equal number of applicants from France via an online platform.

“We expect the first returns to begin later this month,” Cooper told lawmakers, adding that applications for the reciprocal legal route have already opened and are under review with “strict security checks.”

Immigration remains the top public concern in Britain, ahead of the economy and the National Health Service, according to recent surveys.

FG Confirms Financial Strain On Foreign Missions, Moves To Clear Debt And Salary Arrears

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FG Confirms Financial Strain On Foreign Missions, Moves To Clear Debt And Salary Arrears

The Federal Government has admitted that several Nigerian diplomatic and consular missions abroad are grappling with serious financial and operational difficulties, including unpaid staff salaries, debts owed to service providers, and arrears on allowances.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed this in a statement on Monday, acknowledging that the problems have hindered the smooth running of embassies and consulates in different countries.

“The ministry is not unaware of the restrictions that financial limitations have placed on the smooth running of the missions, including the inability to pay salaries of locally recruited staff, financial obligations to service providers, rent to landlords, and the foreign service allowance to home-based officers,” the statement read.

He explained that these financial challenges stem from budgetary limitations over the years, which have caused significant shortfalls in allocations, affecting the ability of missions to function optimally.

Ebienfa assured Nigerians at home and abroad that the welfare of diplomatic staff and their families remains a priority for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He noted that special intervention funds have been approved and released to cushion hardship in some missions, and that over 80 percent of available funds have already been cleared for payments to service providers, staff salaries, and officer arrears.

He further disclosed that the ministry has engaged the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to recover funds lost through exchange rate differentials, while the Federal Government has approved the settlement of these shortfalls. The first tranche has been remitted to missions, and the second semester allocations have also been approved.

The ministry also announced that a sustainable financial model is being developed to guarantee long-term stability of missions abroad, as part of wider public sector reforms.

Below is the full statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NIGERIA, ON THE FINANCIAL STATE OF NIGERIAN MISSIONS ABROAD

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wishes to acknowledge the financial and operational constraints recently being experienced by several of our Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad. The Ministry is not unaware of the restrictions that financial limitations have placed on the smooth running of the Missions, including the inability to pay salaries of locally recruited staff, financial obligations to service providers, rent to landlords, and the foreign service allowance to home-based officers.

It is pertinent to state, however, that the Nigerian Diplomatic Missions are not immune to the economic situation at home and its attendant challenges to government operations. The financial situation in our Missions stems from budgetary limitations over the years, resulting in shortfalls in allocations, which in turn have significantly impacted the optimal functioning of many of our Missions abroad, and the ability to deliver on their core diplomatic and consular mandates effectively.

The Ministry wishes to assure all Nigerians, both at home and abroad, and the international community, that the welfare of its staff and their families in the diaspora is of paramount importance to the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The government is taking decisive and concrete steps to address the issues of fund allocation to all its Missions abroad.
One such remedial measure was the approval and release of special intervention funds to cushion the effects of the hardship faced by some of the Missions.

To ensure that the monies remitted to the Missions are utilised judiciously and managed prudently in line with this Administration’s financial discipline policy, the Ministry set up a committee to assess and confirm the debt profile of the affected Missions with a view to ensuring that payments are justifiable and carried out based on equity and fairness to all those affected. Based on responses from Missions and documentary evidence provided, more than 80 per cent of the available funds have been cleared for payments, with priority given to service providers, salaries of locally recruited staff and arrears of claims due to officers, respectively.

The Ministry has also engaged the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in obtaining refunds for the shortfall in Missions’ allocations in the 2024 fiscal year due to foreign exchange differentials associated with the new monetary policy and the harmonisation of exchange rates. To mitigate its impact, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has graciously approved the settlement of the shortfall. Consequently, the first tranche has already been remitted to all Missions, with some having confirmed receipt.

Similarly, the Second Semester Allocations have also been approved. The Ministry is engaging with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria to facilitate the prompt release of Personnel and Overhead Cost Allocations to all Missions, starting this week, to clear outstanding Allowances and further alleviate the financial situation of the Missions. With these efforts, Missions have begun to stabilise.

In the same vein, the Ministry is also working diligently to develop a sustainable financial model for funding our missions abroad, which includes exploring innovative solutions and efficiency measures to ensure long-term operational stability. These efforts are integral to the broader public sector financial reforms being implemented by the Federal Government, aimed at enhancing fiscal governance and ensuring the effective allocation of resources.

The Ministry recognises the resilience and dedication of its diplomatic staff who continue to discharge their duties with commendable patriotism under these difficult circumstances. We also thank the host governments, service providers and our international partners for their understanding and continued cooperation. The Nigerian government remains unwavering in its commitment to providing the necessary support to all its Missions abroad with a view to enabling them to function at their full capacity.

We are confident that the current challenges are temporary and will be overcome through the concerted efforts of this administration.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to robust and dynamic international diplomacy, as well as the unwavering protection and welfare of every Nigerian citizen worldwide.

Signed:
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa,
Spokesperson,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.
Monday, 1st September 2025

World Must Draw Lessons From WWII To Safeguard Peace, Says Chinese Scholar

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World Must Draw Lessons From WWII To Safeguard Peace, Says Chinese Scholar

Zheng Haizhen, an international relations expert, has urged the global community to continue drawing lessons from World War II, stressing that the world remains far from tranquil and that peace must be sustained through shared responsibility.

Zheng, an Assistant Researcher at the Department for Global Governance and International Organisation Studies under the China Institute of International Studies, made the call as China commemorates 80 years since the end of World War II and the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance. The anniversary also marks 80 years since the founding of the United Nations, which Chinese officials say reflects a global commitment to peace and development.

As part of the commemoration, China has organised documentaries, memorial events, and a military parade scheduled for September 3 in Beijing, with 26 foreign heads of state and government expected to attend.

Speaking on the significance of the anniversary, Zheng said the victory against fascism demonstrated the concept of a “community with a shared future for humanity.” He explained that this idea means the stability and development of one nation are intrinsically linked to others, forming the foundation for global symbiotic progress.

“Post-war experiences show that international imbalances and conflicts once thought irreconcilable can be resolved through development, fairness, justice, and policy adjustments,” Zheng noted, while highlighting ongoing challenges such as conflicts, regional tensions, and economic disparities.

He called for renewed international cooperation anchored in the UN Charter, fairness, and mutual respect. “At present, only by transcending differences, strengthening solidarity, and shouldering shared responsibilities, can humanity find the only viable path forward,” he said.

Describing war as a mirror that underscores the value of peace, Zheng recalled that the anti-fascist struggle eight decades ago was not only a defining 20th-century moment but also a global battle involving over 80 nations.

“The Chinese people, together with others worldwide, ultimately defeated fascism, achieving victory of justice over evil, and light over darkness,” he said.

He further acknowledged the contributions of allied nations, including the Soviet Union, American volunteer forces, and international fighters from Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond.

“The victory was not only a triumph for China but also for the world, showcasing solidarity against shared threats,” Zheng added.

FG Applauds CBN, Diaspora Nigerians as Remittances Surge to $600m Monthly

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FG Applauds CBN, Diaspora Nigerians as Remittances Surge to $600m Monthly

The Federal Government has commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigerians in the diaspora as remittance inflows tripled to $600 million monthly over the past two months, according to CBN statistics.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), attributed the surge to CBN’s reforms and the renewed trust of Nigerians abroad in the financial system.

In a statement issued on Monday by NiDCOM spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa described the boost to the economy as “humongous,” praising CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso for policies that have encouraged formal remittance channels.

She noted that initiatives such as the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (BVN) and a more competitive exchange rate had helped to drive the increase. Sharing Cardoso’s optimism, she projected that inflows could reach $1 billion monthly by 2026.

Dabiri-Erewa also highlighted NiDCOM’s role in promoting sustained engagement through initiatives like the Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit, National Diaspora Day, and the Diaspora Youth Summit. She commended the patriotism of Nigerians abroad, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to the welfare of citizens at home and abroad.

Meanwhile, speaking at the Delta State–Brazil Business and Investment Roundtable in São Paulo, Cardoso said the surge was due to stronger remittance channels and a more attractive exchange rate.

“Our exchange rate is becoming a lot more competitive. Those who previously sought other channels to send their money back home no longer have to do so,” he explained.

The CBN governor disclosed that inflows had previously hovered around $200 million monthly but have now climbed to $600 million — representing a 200 percent increase.

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