U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly tapped Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state. If Rubio were confirmed, it would make him the first Latino to hold the nation’s senior cabinet position.
President Bola Tinubu has extended his heartfelt congratulations to Senator Monday Okpebholo on his inauguration today as the Governor of Edo State. In his message, President Tinubu urged Governor Okpebholo to diligently work to enhance the living standards of the people of Edo State and make a significant impact during his tenure. Following his triumph in the state governorship election held on September 21, 2024, Okpebholo officially took over from former governor Godwin Obaseki. Reflecting on the transition, President Tinubu noted that after eight years under Obaseki’s administration, Edo State is rejoining the ranks of the All Progressives Congress. He emphasised the importance of Governor Okpebholo justifying the confidence placed in him and the APC while fostering true democracy and effective governance in the state. The President encouraged Okpebholo to empower the Legislature and other vital government institutions throughout his administration, underscoring that a robust and independent legislature is essential for achieving democratic good governance. Expressing concerns, President Tinubu lamented the previous administration’s attempts to undermine the legislative branch, which hindered its effectiveness for much of its tenure. Additionally, President Tinubu commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for the successful conduct of the Edo Governorship Election and encouraged the Commission to strive for even greater excellence in the upcoming Ondo Governorship Election, scheduled for November 16, 2024. The President celebrated this milestone as a new chapter in Edo State’s democratic journey and rejoiced with the people of Edo for this momentous occasion.
Only Spain-based forward Sadiq Umar was being expected as Nigeria’s juggernaut rolled sturdily into the much-familiar environment of Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Tuesday, with 22 players set for the team’s first training session ahead of a potentially-explosive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against neighbours Benin Republic on Thursday. “We have 22 players, with only one person to join the team in the early hours of Wednesday. It has been a particularly great atmosphere here in Abidjan, and we are all very positive going into the first training session ahead of the match,” Coach Augustine Eguavoen told thenff.com on Tuesday. Eleven players, viz Captain and AFCON Man of the Competition William Ekong, reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, his likely successor Ademola Lookman, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina, Victor Collins and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and Germany-based forward Victor Boniface all arrived at once on Tuesday morning, before being joined by South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Earlier, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Kelechi Iheanacho had arrived, to join the eight that were in camp on Monday: goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defenders Gabriel Osho and Bruno Onyemaechi, midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze. With 10 points from four matches, seven goals for and none against, and top of their Group D, the Eagles will walk with an extra bounce into the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the facility where they upended the aspirations of Guinea Bissau, Cameroon and Angola at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the year. It was also the venue where in the summer, they were slated by two goals to one by the Cheetahs (who have been forced by lack of a CAF-approved facility in their country to adopt Abidjan as home) in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying game in which they scored first. “The stadium is a familiar one for us and we have good memories from the AFCON. We will rather focus on the positive results we have taken away from here and work hard for another good day in the office on Thursday. “It is not going to be easy because the Beninoise are also chasing a ticket to the final tournament. However, our objective is clear: three points on the night,” Captain Ekong said on Tuesday. Senegalese official Issa Sy, who was in charge when the Super Eagles pipped Angola 1-0 at the same venue, in a quarter-final match of the Africa Cup of Nations finals, has been selected by CAF as referee for Thursday’s encounter, which will commence at 7pm CIV time (8pm Nigeria time). He will be supported by compatriots Djibril Camara (assistant 1), Nouha Bangoura (assistant 2) and El Hadji Amadou Sy (fourth official). Ivorian Rene Williams Sere will be the commissioner while Angolan Inacio Manuel Candido will be the referee assessor. The Super Eagles need only one point from Thursday’s clash to be sure of a ticket to the 35th AFCON, scheduled for Morocco 21st December 2025 – 18th January 2026.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso has reaffirmed that inclusive finance is not just about access to banking—it is the bedrock for #EconomicGrowth in Nigeria. Cardoso restated this at the 2nd International Financial Inclusion Conference (IFIC) in Lagos on Tuesday. He craved for Bank’s unwavering commitment to financial inclusion, just as he pledged to reduce barriers and make finance accessible to all. “By reaching the unbanked, we are building a resilient, $1 trillion economy. “Financial inclusion is not just a goal; it is key to poverty reduction, income equality, and economic growth. For Nigeria, this means empowering citizens to save, invest, and thrive economically. “Women are essential to Nigeria’s economic growth, yet they face financial exclusion. When women thrive financially, they uplift families and communities. The CBN is committed to closing this gap, offering support for women and youth to achieve financial independence and drive economic growth,” Cardoso assured. Nigeria is advancing in financial inclusion through resilient policies, digital solutions, and financial literacy programmes that empower young Nigerians to achieve financial independence, foster entrepreneurship, and drive growth. Let us invest in the next generation! In a similar vein, CBN Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability (FSS), Mr. Phillip Ikeazor, called for greater teamwork across government, private sector, FinTech, and civil society to achieve the goal of 95% financial inclusion by 2024. “Nigeria’s commitment to the #MayaDeclaration has driven progress in financial access. Since our 2012 National Financial Inclusion Strategy, the adult exclusion rate dropped from 46.3% in 2010 to 26% in 2023. A collaborative journey!”
In consolidation of existing efforts aimed at reducing the spate of environmental nuisances to the barest minimum in the metropolis, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI effected the removal of 54 illegal shanties which harboured 84 illegal occupants and eight make-shift toilets beneath Eko Bridge at the Ebute-Ero area of the State on Monday. This disclosure was made by the Corps Marshal of the Agency, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd) who led the dislodgement operation. According to the Corps Marshal, ‘‘The Elegbeta Water Channel which spans the Lagos Lagoon right under the Eko Bridge around the Ebute-Ero axis turned home to miscreants, illegal occupants occupying the waterfront, usually in the habit of promoting indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the lagoon, activating the base of the bridge as a criminal hideout and enjoining open defecation, urination have been removed after serving the squatters a seven-day abatement notice which was not adhered to’’. Cole appreciated the laudable leadership of the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, stressing that the mandate of the Agency to maintain a cleaner and greener environment as enshrined in the THEMES+ agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains paramount and sacrosanct to the collective cleanliness of the State’s environs. The Corps Marshal also sounded a strong warning to environmental defaulters, usually in the habit of indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and water bodies, and erection of illegal structures on road setbacks, lay-bys, kerbs, medians and verges. He maintained that the law will soon catch up with all those involved in due course and deal decisively with defaulters who show clear disregard for the State’s environmental laws. The KAI boss also echoed the need for commuting Lagos residents to make appropriate use of pedestrian bridges instead of crossing highways, affirming that defaulters will be arrested and prosecuted on a daily to serve as a deterrent to others. Also, Cole enjoined Lagosians to be more safety-conscious as the yuletide approaches as he made a case for law enforcement to be provided with community-based intelligence when security issues are identified.
AS Roma has announced the sacking of the manager Ivan Juric a few minutes after the final whistle of the 3-2 home defeat against Bologna on Sunday.
Victor Osimhen scored twice to inflict a first Europa League defeat on 10-player Tottenham and earn a 3-2 victory for wasteful Galatasaray. Spurs conceded 28 shots and had just five of their own yet escaped from Istanbul with a respectable scoreline despite having Will Lankshear sent off in the second half. Galatasaray stormed into a sixth-minute lead when Yunus Akgun’s stunning volley from the edge of the box crashed into the top-right corner but Spurs responded through 19-year-old striker Lankshear, who tapped in his first goal for the club after Brennan Johnson had squared a cross. Tottenham’s Will Lankshear, second from left, celebrates with his team-mates after scoring his side’s opening goal against Galatasaray However, the visitors were vulnerable at the back throughout with Osimhen forcing a good save from Forster and then having a goal ruled out for offside before restoring his side’s lead with a clever toe-poke after Radu Dragusin gave the ball away. Forster saved again from Osimhen but just 60 seconds later the striker netted his second of the first half with a cushioned volley from Dries Mertens’ perfect cross. Ange Postecoglou brought on Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur for Brennan Johnson and Heung-Min Son at half-time – but Spurs got worse. Abdulkerim Bardakci had a goalbound shot blocked after Forster dropped an easy cross before Akgun’s volley was deflected inches wide and Osimhen missed two chances. Lankshear then picked up his second yellow card, just seven minutes after his first, for a silly tackle on the halfway line and then Forster made two more saves. Solanke, though, cleverly flicked Pedro Porro’s low pullback into the net against the run of play to put Spurs within one goal and Kulusevski could have equalised in injury-time when his long-range shot rolled wide with goalkeeper Fernando Muslera way out of his goal. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said: “I just felt it was self-inflicted. We had really simple solutions out there to keep the ball. It wasn’t that hard. We showed it with 10 men. We just needed to be stronger on the ball and play the kind of football we play every week. “Maybe it was a little bit the changes I made and the environment and atmosphere, but the moments that stick out to me was giving the ball away. We were playing through them quite easily with 10 men but with 11 men we had nowhere near that conviction and that was disappointing.” On Will Lankshear: “Will took his goal well, he worked hard for the team. He hasn’t had a lot of experience at senior football so he would have learnt a lot today. The red card, it was a bit of overenthusiasm in that moment to give away a foul, but he’ll learn from that.” Galatasaray have won three of their opening four games in a major European campaign for the first time since 2009-10, also in the Europa League. Tottenham faced 28 shots in their loss to Galatasaray, their most in a game under manager Ange Postecoglou; it is the most efforts faced by an English team in a Europa League group stage match since Everton faced 39 shots against Wolfsburg in November 2014.
Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Mbasogo has fired anti-corruption agency chief Baltasar Engonga over his alleged involvement in sex scandal.
