Arsenal’s Nwaneri Heads to Marseille

Arsenal have confirmed the exit of Ethan Nwaneri on loan to Marseille, in a move that will see the 18-year-old join forces with the twin brother of a current teammate. Nwaneri became the Premier League’s youngest-ever player in 2022 and continued his upward trajectory in 2024-25, scoring nine goals in all competitions as he burst onto the first-team scene. However, added competition for places has bumped Nwaneri down the pecking order this season, and he failed to make the matchday squad for any of Arsenal’s last four Premier League games. ​ ​Seeking guaranteed minutes for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, Nwaneri and Mikel Arteta quickly gave the green light to a loan move to Marseille, and the Gunners have now confirmed his switch. “Ethan Nwaneri has joined Olympique Marseille on loan until the end of the season,” a statement read. “Our hugely talented 18-year-old has made 12 appearances in all competitions this season and will now get more valuable game time with the Ligue 1 side. “We wish Ethan all the best for his time with Marseille and look forward to seeing him develop his talent in one of the best leagues in Europe.”   Nwaneri’s switch to the Orange Velodrome comes just a few hours after Les Olympiens announced the signing of Dutch midfielder Quinten Timber, the twin brother of Arsenal right-back Jurrien Timber.   The 2007-born Englishman will also join forces with ex-Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in Marseille, who have also employed Nuno Tavares, Matteo Guendouzi and William Saliba over the past few years. Arsenal will hope that Nwaneri can follow in Saliba’s footsteps in particular, as the defender excelled at Marseille on loan in 2021-22 and has now blossomed into one of Europe’s most menacing defenders. Nwaneri temporarily leaves Arsenal having made just 12 appearances in all tournaments this season, scoring one goal against Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round of the EFL Cup. Marseille do not have an option or obligation to sign Nwaneri on a permanent deal, though, as the teenager only extended his Arsenal contract until 2030 last summer. Arsenal will bank a small amount for Nwaneri’s loan move to Marseille, who will reportedly pay the Gunners an initial €1.5m (£1.3m), according to football.london. Arsenal could supposedly end up banking as much as €4m (£3.5m) through the attacker’s temporary exit, but the final fee will be dependent on how much Nwaneri plays in France. Marseille will supposedly have to pay less money the more minutes Nwaneri plays, giving Roberto De Zerbi another incentive to hand the Arsenal loanee as many minutes as possible. Nwaneri could make his debut for Marseille against Ligue 1 leaders Lens on Saturday evening; De Zerbi’s men sit third in the table, eight points off the top and seven adrift of Paris Saint-Germain.

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Davido Shares Warm Backstage Hug With France’s First Lady Brigitte Macron At Paris Fashion Week

A video of Afrobeats sensation Davido, born David Adeleke, interacting warmly with France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, has gone viral, delighting fans across social media. The clip, captured backstage after his performance at Paris Fashion Week 2026, shows Davido receiving a heartfelt greeting from the French First Lady. Currently in Paris for Day 1 of the fashion week, Davido had earlier confirmed his presence in the city after US streamer IShowSpeed asked about his location during his Africa tour 2026. In the footage, Davido affectionately greets Brigitte Macron with “Mama,” prompting her to hug him warmly. The friendly exchange continued as the first lady also embraced Davido’s older sister, Sharon Adeleke, creating a lively and positive atmosphere that immediately caught the attention of fans online. First Lady of France Specially greeting Davido Backstage after his Amazing Performance. pic.twitter.com/sQsmIUi8TE — PHOENIX 30BG (@30bgphoenixx) January 23, 2026

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IfeLuv Sparks Debate After Undergoing “Christian BBL” Body Enhancement Procedure

Nigerian influencer IfeLuv has revealed that she underwent a body enhancement procedure she described as a “Christian BBL.” Sharing a recovery video on social media, she wrote: “I went in, came out and I’m deeply grateful. Thank you, God, for protection, peace, and a successful surgery. No surgery is small and choosing the safest hands and the right environment is the first step to survival. So thankful for the expertise, care, and professionalism of Heritage Med & Spa. This journey was covered 🙏” By calling it a “Christian BBL,” IfeLuv sparked widespread online discussions about body modification and faith. Her post drew mixed reactions, with some fans congratulating her while others debated the ethics and choices involved in cosmetic procedures.   View this post on Instagram  

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Tope Alabi’s Daughter Welcomes First Child

Tope Alabi’s daughter has welcomed her first child with her husband, bringing immense joy to the gospel singer’s family. She shared the news on Instagram with photos of herself and her husband, including a tender shot of their baby’s tiny fingers being held. In the post, she wrote: “Psalm 127:3 A love so pure, it feels like heaven Our angel in human form is here and we are more than grateful to God for her :@prestaz AYO is available on all streaming platforms!” The heartfelt post captures the couple’s gratitude and excitement as they celebrate the arrival of their newborn.

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BREAKING: Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Resigns From NNPP

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has officially resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), citing persistent internal conflicts and leadership disputes within the party. The announcement was made on Friday by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa. Yusuf submitted a resignation letter to the Chairman of the NNPP in Diso-Chiranchi Ward, Gwale Local Government Area, effective January 25, 2026. In the letter, the governor expressed gratitude to the party for providing him a political platform and for the support of its leadership and members across Kano State since 2022. However, Yusuf said unresolved leadership disagreements and ongoing legal battles within the party made it increasingly difficult to maintain cohesion. “In recent times, the party has faced persistent internal challenges arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes, many of which are presently before the courts,” he noted. He added that the disputes have caused growing disenfranchisement among members, deep divisions within the party structure, and uncertainty at both the state and national levels. “After careful reflection, and without prejudice to the party’s ability to resolve its challenges, I have concluded that my resignation is in the best interest of the people of Kano State,” Yusuf said, emphasizing that his decision was made in good faith and without bitterness. He reaffirmed his commitment to peace, unity, and the continued development of Kano State despite leaving the NNPP.

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President Tinubu Hosts Olubadan Of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja At Presidential Villa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday, January 23, 2026. The meeting was shared on X by Bayo Onanuga, who posted photos of the president and the traditional ruler together, captioned: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meets with Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday 23/01/2026, Photo State House.” No details of the discussions have been made public. Oba Ladoja, the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, maintains a longstanding relationship with President Tinubu, who attended his coronation in Ibadan last year.

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House Minority Committee Confirms Illegal Alterations In Tax Laws

The House of Representatives Minority Caucus Ad-hoc Committee has confirmed that some recently passed tax reform laws were illegally altered, with the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, identified as the most affected. The committee’s interim report, released on Friday, compared the versions of the tax laws passed by the National Assembly with those published in the official gazette, confirming discrepancies raised by House member Abdulsamad Dasuki over altered documents circulating publicly. The Minority Caucus had previously warned on December 28, 2025, that any attempt to impose fake laws on Nigerians would violate the constitutional role of the National Assembly and pledged to defend legislative independence. To investigate, the caucus, led by Kingsley Chinda, set up a seven-member fact-finding committee on January 2, 2026, chaired by Victor Ogene. The team includes Aliyu Garu (Bauchi), Stanley Adedeji (Oyo), Ibe Osonwa (Abia), Marie Ebikake (Bayelsa), Shehu Fagge (Kano), and Gaza Gbefwi Jonathan (Nasarawa). On January 3, 2026, the House, through spokesman Akin Rotimi, announced that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas had ordered the release of four tax reform Acts signed by President Bola Tinubu for public verification. These are: Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025; and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025. According to the committee’s preliminary findings, comparisons between the certified copies and the gazetted versions revealed multiple alterations. “There were some alterations as alleged, especially in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025. There were three different versions of the documents in circulation, particularly the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025,” the report said. The report highlighted several irregularities: Section 29(1) on reporting thresholds lowered individual thresholds from N50m to N25m, contrary to the approved law. New subsections 41(8) and 41(9) imposed a mandatory 20% deposit for tax disputes to be heard in the High Court, which were not in the authentic law. Section 64 expanded enforcement powers for tax authorities, including arrests and asset seizures without court approval. Section 3(1)(b) excluded petroleum income tax and VAT from federal taxes. Section 39(3) mandated tax computation for petroleum operations in US dollars, replacing the original provision to use the currency of the transaction. The committee also flagged changes to the Nigerian Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, noting the removal of Sections 30(1)(d) and 30(3), which had provided for National Assembly oversight through reports, summons, and accountability mechanisms. Describing the alterations as “anomalies, illegalities, and impunity” that undermine constitutional powers, the committee called for a deeper investigation and requested an extension to continue its work. The committee expressed gratitude to the caucus leadership for entrusting them with the assignment.

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Distillers, Labour Unions Protest Sachet Alcohol Ban At NAFDAC Office In Lagos

Members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria staged a protest on Friday at the Lagos State office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets. The demonstration saw distillers joined by workers from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), who marched to the agency’s office holding placards and chanting solidarity songs. Placards carried by the protesters included messages such as “Stop destroying local manufacturers,” “N2 trillion investment deserves protection,” “5.5 million Nigerians cannot be pushed to the streets,” and “The Renewed Hope Agenda must work for all Nigerians.” At the time of reporting, neither the protesters nor NAFDAC officials had addressed the media. The protest is tied to ongoing disputes surrounding the enforcement of the ban on sachet alcoholic drinks, which industry players say threatens local businesses and employment.

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