The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Firm rewards associates, customers

    Firm rewards associates, customers

    A real estate firm, Abode Assets Limited has concluded an international training bootcamp for 16 of its outstanding associates and customers in Qatar and Rwanda, respectively

    The week-long programme, which combined professional development training with cultural immersion, brought together raffle draw winners from the Africa Wealth Festival (AWF), top-performing sales associates and members of the Abode leadership team.

    Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder, Mr Jeffrey Itepu, said the bootcamp was designed to enhance professional competence, boost productivity and provide Abode’s associates with the global exposure necessary for a fundamental mindset shift in wealth creation.

    Also, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and co-founder, Mr Damilare Oshokoya, said the programme was more than just a reward trip. “This is about transforming our associates into global citizens to understand that wealth-building transcends geographical boundaries.

    “We’re committed to democratising wealth opportunities across Africa and that starts with investing in our people,” he said.

    Read Also: Akpabio files fresh N200bn defamation suit against Natasha

    Oshokoya noted that participants had training sessions on advanced sales strategies, team development and global best practices in real estate investment. “The programme also included guided city tours of Doha’s iconic skyline and cultural landmarks in Rwanda, providing associates with firsthand exposure to international markets and investment landscapes,” he added.

    One participant described his experience at the programme as life-changing, noting that the training modules challenged conventional thinking about wealth creation and professional excellence.

    “The level of investment Abode is making in its associates is unprecedented in the Nigerian real estate sector.

    “This isn’t just about selling land; it’s about building a generation of financially intelligent Africans,” he said.

    Mr Oshokoya emphasized that land remains one of the most reliable wealth preservation tools, stressing, “We’re not just selling property; we’re offering Africans a tangible stake in the continent’s economic future.”

    He noted that the company had positioned itself beyond a real estate firm, adopting a mission to democratize wealth across Africa through simplified property ownership and empowerment programmes.

    “The Qatar-Rwanda Associate Bootcamp represents the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at building a network of financially empowered professionals across the continent,” he said.

    Real experts said such investments in human capital development had set Abode apart from traditional real estate companies and highlight a shift toward a more holistic wealth creation across Africa’s property market.

  • Oba Awurela Agbaaye woos President Tinubu

    Oba Awurela Agbaaye woos President Tinubu

    Dr. Ifayomi Oba Edu Jogbodo Orunmila, the Oba Awurela Agbaye Obatala, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen collaboration with traditional institutions as insecurity continues to escalate across Nigeria.

    The revered spiritual leader said the nation’s current security challenges demand both modern strategies and ancient indigenous knowledge rooted in cultural heritage.

    The traditionalist noted that Nigeria’s forefathers safeguarded their territories through spiritual rites, strict communal vigilance and adherence to ancestral principles—methods which, according to him, still hold value in restoring national stability today.

    Read Also: Ned Nwoko renews call for social media regulation after false assassination claim

    He stressed that honouring the gods of the land and performing necessary spiritual rites would pave the way for peace, harmony and renewed security across all parts of the country.

    While assuring President Tinubu that Eledumare will guide him through this critical phase of his administration, Oba Edu appealed to Nigerians to remain prayerful and united as the government works to overcome national challenges.

    On the economy, the traditionalist commended President Tinubu’s direction, describing it as the right path for sustainable recovery. He urged citizens to support ongoing reforms and remain hopeful, adding that Nigeria will be great again.

  • Akpabio files fresh N200bn defamation suit against Natasha

    Akpabio files fresh N200bn defamation suit against Natasha

    The rift between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan deepened on Friday after Akpabio filed a fresh N200 billion defamation lawsuit against the Kogi lawmaker.

    Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, confirmed receiving the court documents in a post on her social media pages, where she also shared a copy of the suit filed before Justice U. P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

    In the suit, Akpabio accused her of making “false, malicious and injurious” allegations depicting him as a “sexual predator,” claims he said have subjected him to “public hatred, contempt and ridicule.”

    The Senate President is seeking substantial monetary damages, public retractions and broadcast apologies across major media platforms.

    The court had on November 6 granted an order for substituted service after bailiffs were unable to serve Akpoti-Uduaghan personally, with the documents eventually delivered through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

    However, the legal action has opened an unexpected opportunity for the Kogi senator, who said she is “ready for full trial,” adding that she finally has a chance to present allegations she claimed the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges declined to hear.

    Read Also: Akpabio: Segun Awolowo built bridges across the Niger

    “Now, I am glad that Akpabio has brought this up,” she wrote. “The Ethics Committee declined to hear me on the grounds that his wife had filed a defamation suit, so they couldn’t handle a matter already before the court.

    “Yet I couldn’t proceed to court because Senate rules require me to first present my case to that same committee.

    “At last, I now have a chance to prove how I was sexually harassed and how my refusal to give in to his demands unleashed unprecedented attacks on my person. See you in court, Godswill Akpabio.”

    Her posts immediately reignited public debate, with political watchers describing the development as an unprecedented clash between the head of the National Assembly and a sitting senator.

    The rift stretches back months. In March, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months after objecting to the relocation of her seat during plenary, a move she claimed was targeted at silencing her.

    She accused Akpabio of running the Senate with an iron fist and once publicly labelled him a “dictator.”

    Although her suspension formally expired in September, she was unable to return to the chamber immediately due to what she called internal resistance from Senate leadership.

    Her sealed office was eventually reopened by Sergeant-at-Arms officials, and she resumed without offering any apology.

  • FULL LIST: 2026 World Cup new entrants 

    FULL LIST: 2026 World Cup new entrants 

    With a record 48 national teams set to compete, the 2026 World Cup will offer several countries their first taste of football’s biggest stage.

    While Brazil have played in all 22 previous tournaments, 132 of FIFA’s 211 member associations have never participated.

    Cape Verde

    With a population of around 600,000, Cape Verde, an archipelago off Africa’s west coast, became the second smallest country to reach a World Cup finals after Iceland in 2018, when they qualified in October. However, that record was soon surpassed by Curacao.

    Cape Verde earned their spot by defeating Eswatini, capping a remarkable rise in football over the past 40 years. 

    The nation played its first World Cup qualifiers in 1990, gradually building a competitive team with players of Cape Verdean descent from around the world. Their current squad includes six Dutch-born players and one Irish-born player: Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto Lopes. Lopes, 33, was born in Dublin but qualifies for Cape Verde through his father and was recruited via LinkedIn.

    Curacao

    The tiny Caribbean island of Curacao will become the smallest nation ever to play in a World Cup after drawing with Steve McClaren’s Jamaica to secure qualification. The record previously belonged to Iceland in 2018, but Curacao, with a population of just over 150,000—comparable to Cambridge or Huddersfield—and a land area of 171 square miles, surpasses them in smallness.

    Read Also: World Cup 2026: England draw Croatia as Scotland set for Brazil clash in group stage

    Former England manager McClaren resigned after Jamaica, needing a win for their first World Cup appearance since 1998, drew 0-0, including a late penalty that was overturned by VAR. Curacao’s coach Dick Advocaat, absent from the match for personal reasons, will become the oldest manager at a World Cup at 78, surpassing Otto Rehhagel’s record with Greece in 2010.

    Curacao, located 37 miles off the coast of Venezuela, only became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010, following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles. Ten years ago, they were ranked 150th in FIFA’s world rankings; today, they sit 82nd.

    Jordan

    Jordan has also secured its first-ever World Cup qualification. The Arab nation first entered the qualifiers 40 years ago but had never advanced until now. They clinched their spot by finishing second in AFC Group B, behind South Korea.

    In 2016, former Tottenham, Portsmouth, and QPR manager Harry Redknapp briefly oversaw Jordan’s World Cup qualifying campaign, recording an 8-0 win over Bangladesh and a 5-1 loss to Australia.

    Uzbekistan

    Uzbekistan has also progressed from the Asian qualifiers for the first time. They previously came close to qualifying for Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014, falling in the final rounds. The team features notable talents, including Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov, the first Uzbek to play in the Premier League.

    Who else could join them?

    Suriname narrowly missed their first World Cup appearance after leading their qualifying group for most of the campaign. A final-round defeat to Guatemala allowed Panama, who beat El Salvador 3-0, to secure automatic qualification. 

    Suriname will have another chance in the inter-confederation play-off in March; a successful campaign would make them the lowest-ranked team ever to qualify, currently sitting 123rd in the world. The South American nation has a population of just over 600,000, roughly the size of Leeds.

    Also participating in the inter-confederation play-off is New Caledonia. The French territory, comprising dozens of islands in the South Pacific, has a population just under 300,000. Their squad consists largely of part-time players from the 10-team New Caledonia Super Ligue and others who compete no higher than the fifth tier of French football.

  • West African oil governance centre hails Komolafe on emergence as AFRIPERF boss

    West African oil governance centre hails Komolafe on emergence as AFRIPERF boss

    The West African Centre for Oil Governance (WACOG) has congratulated Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), on his election as chairman of the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF), describing the development as a major boost for regional energy integration and regulatory cohesion across the continent.

    In a statement on Friday signed by its executive director, Dr. Mensah Kofi Adjei, WACOG said Komolafe’s emergence reflects “the growing recognition of Nigeria’s leadership capacity in shaping Africa’s energy future” and marks a new phase in the effort to harmonise petroleum regulatory frameworks across the continent.

    AFRIPERF, a coalition of petroleum regulators from across Africa, elected Komolafe at its executive committee meeting earlier in the week, during which Nigeria was also adopted as the official headquarters of the Forum. 

    WACOG said the dual endorsement underscores not only Nigeria’s long-standing position as Africa’s largest oil producer but also its renewed commitment to transparent, modern regulatory practices.

    Dr. Adjei said Komolafe’s leadership at the NUPRC has been closely followed across West Africa, noting that his reputation for strengthening technical standards, deepening regulatory reforms and improving investor engagement made him an “exceptional choice” to steer AFRIPERF.

    According to him, the Forum’s mandate requires a leader with both continental perspective and deep industry knowledge—criteria he said Komolafe meets with distinction.

    Read Also: Akpabio: Segun Awolowo built bridges across the Niger

    “Across Africa, regulators are grappling with shifting global energy dynamics, rapid technological disruption and the urgent need to leverage hydrocarbon resources for sustainable development,” the statement reads. 

    “We are confident that Engr. Komolafe will bring the clarity, structure and foresight required to position African regulators as united, capable and strategically aligned in this new era.”

    WACOG added that Komolafe’s appointment comes at a crucial time as African countries push to standardise petroleum regulations, share data, strengthen local content frameworks, and engage more effectively with international energy markets.

    Dr. Adjei said the Forum is expected to drive reforms that ensure African regulators speak with a stronger collective voice, especially on issues such as energy transition financing, investment security, emissions standards, cross-border infrastructure, and the future of African crude in global markets.

    He said Nigeria hosting the Forum’s headquarters would allow West African countries to benefit from the country’s extensive regulatory experience, technical expertise and institutional memory in upstream petroleum governance.

    WACOG urged AFRIPERF member-states to give full cooperation to the new leadership, stressing that the continent stands to gain from a unified platform capable of shaping policies that improve investor confidence and enhance energy security.

    The Centre also encouraged the Forum to prioritise capacity building, noting that many African regulators still face structural gaps that hinder effective supervision of upstream operations.

    “Komolafe’s tenure must usher in an era where African regulators no longer operate in silos but function as a coordinated bloc capable of defending the continent’s interests,” the statement added.

    WACOG reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with AFRIPERF on research, training exchanges and policy dialogue initiatives aimed at strengthening the region’s regulatory landscape.

    The group said Komolafe’s election represents “a defining moment for Africa’s oil governance framework” and expressed optimism that the Forum, under his leadership, would accelerate the modernisation of regulatory systems across the continent.

  • Osimhen’s bicycle kick secures 3-2 win for Galatasaray over Samsunspor

    Osimhen’s bicycle kick secures 3-2 win for Galatasaray over Samsunspor

    Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen scored the crucial winner as Galatasaray survived a late fight back from Samsunspor to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory in their Super Lig clash on Friday.

    Galatasaray came into the match looking to end a two-game winless run after a Champions League defeat to Union St.Gilloise and a draw with Fenerbahçe. Determined to end that run, they made a brilliant start with Leroy Sané opening the scoring in the eight minute.

    Victor Osimhen then doubled the host’s lead in the 29th minute of the game, receiving a superb pass from Sané before finishing past Okan Kocuk, making it 2-0 and giving Galatasaray a comfortable lead going into half time.

    Samsunspor started to dominate the game in the second half in search for a goal and they got rewarded in the 56th minute of the game when Anthony Musaba scored to reduce the deficit, making the scoreline 2-1.

    Emre Kilinc then scored the equaliser in the 88th minute, curling in a brilliant ball from the edge of the box to beat goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. However, in the dying minutes, Osimhen scored with a brilliant bicycle kick, securing all three points for the hosts.

    The result means that league leaders Galatasaray are up to 36 points in 15 games, increasing their gap over second-placed Fenerbahçe to four points. Meanwhile, Samsunspor remain fifth on the table with 25 points in the same number of games.

    Osimhen’s brace means he has now scored 11 goals for Galatasaray this season. He now has five goals in the Super Lig to go with his six Champions League goals. For club and country, the 26-year-old has racked up 16 goals this season. 

  • Trump wins inaugural FIFA Peace award

    Trump wins inaugural FIFA Peace award

    President Donald Trump has been awarded with the inaugural Peace Award by received FIFA chief Gianni Infantino during the World Cup Draws in Washington D’C., honouring his connection with the 2026 global football event. 

    While accepting the award, comprising a golden trophy, a medal, and a certificate, Trump asserted that his diplomatic efforts had saved lives by averting wars before they could erupt.

    Trump stated he had saved “tens of millions of lives” through diplomatic interventions and had “stopped wars happening just before they started”.

    “This is truly one of the great honours of my life,” Trump said, before claiming that the 2026 World Cup has set a new record for ticket sales.

    “Gianni has done an incredible job. It is a nice tribute to you and the game of football, or as we call it soccer. It is beyond the numbers we thought were possible,” Trump said.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: Countries banned, excluded from FIFA World Cups (1938- 2026)

    “The world is a safer place now. The USA was not doing well a year ago; now we are the hottest country in the world right now.”

    The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will run from June 11 to July 19.

    Trump returned to the stage with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney to take part in the ceremonial opening of the draw.

    Each of the three leaders selected the ball representing their own nation, whose group placements had already been determined. They then joined Infantino for a selfie to mark the moment.

    Mexico will compete in Group A and host the tournament’s opening match, Canada will play in Group B, and the United States will feature in Group D.

  • World Cup 2026: England draw Croatia as Scotland set for Brazil clash in group stage

    World Cup 2026: England draw Croatia as Scotland set for Brazil clash in group stage

    England will launch their 2026 World Cup journey against Croatia, while Scotland have been handed a daunting draw that includes Brazil when the tournament kicks off next summer.

    Thomas Tuchel’s England side begin their Group L campaign on 17 June, with their opener set for either Dallas or Toronto. Ghana and Panama complete the group line-up.

    For Scotland, the tournament marks their first appearance at a men’s World Cup in 28 years. They start against Haiti on 13 June in either Boston or New York, before taking on Morocco and then five-time champions Brazil in Group C.

    In Group B, Wales or Northern Ireland could find themselves alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland—provided either nation successfully navigates two rounds of UEFA play-offs in March. The Republic of Ireland, should they qualify, would be placed with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

    The 2026 edition—the first ever featuring 48 teams—will be staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July. A separate fixture-allocation draw, scheduled for 17:00 GMT on Saturday, will confirm venues and match timings, though a few details are already settled.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: Countries banned, excluded from FIFA World Cups (1938- 2026)

    Mexico are set to face South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in the opening match of the expanded competition, which will comprise 104 games across 16 host cities.

    In a significant tweak to the format, the four highest-ranked teams in the FIFA standings—Spain, Argentina, France and England—have been granted protected seedings. This ensures they cannot meet one another until the semi-final stage, provided they all top their groups.

    England, perfect in qualifying with eight wins from eight, could face the winners of Brazil’s group in the quarter-finals. Winning their group would also set them up against one of the tournament’s eight best-performing third-placed teams in the first knockout round.

    Scotland, drawn from pot three, face a formidable task: to progress they must contend with the world’s fifth-ranked team Brazil and 11th-ranked Morocco as they chase a place in the last 16 for the first time since 1998.

    World Cup 2026 draw in full:

    Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Winner of Uefa play-off D

    Group B: Canada, Winner of Uefa play-off A*, Qatar, Switzerland

    Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

    Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Winner of Uefa play-off C*

    Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

    Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner of Uefa play-off B*, Tunisia

    Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

    Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

    Group I: France, Senegal, Winner of FIFA play-off 2, Norway

    Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

    Group K: Portugal, Winner of FIFA play-off 1, Uzbekistan, Colombia

    Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

    Uefa play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Northern Ireland

    Uefa play-off B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania or Sweden

    Uefa play-off C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania

    Uefa play-off D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland or North Macedonia

    Fifa play-off 1: DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia

    Fifa play-off 2: Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname

  • We’ll continue to strengthen security architecture, secure Oyo – Makinde

    We’ll continue to strengthen security architecture, secure Oyo – Makinde

    …commissions Police Area Command rebuilt by Akinyele LG 

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has reiterated that his administration will continue to strengthen the security architecture of the state in order to secure the lives and properties of residents.

    The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, stated this on Friday, at the commissioning of the Moniya Area Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, which was reconstructed by Akinyele Local Government.

    The governor also commissioned two motorised boreholes situated at the Rehabilitation Centre for the Physically Challenged in Isabiyi Ward 6 and Akuro Community, Olorisaoko, Ward 11.

    The governor maintained that the construction of the new Area Command of the Nigeria Police in Moniya is part of the commitment of the government to securing lives and properties in the state.

    He said that the government remains ready to proactively combat security challenges.

    Governor Makinde highlighted that Moniya and, indeed, Akinyele Local Government, is rapidly becoming a centre of attraction with massive urban expansion due to several vast infrastructure development projects of the state government, including the ongoing Circular Road, the Ilutuntun Business District and the Dry Port, among others.

    Read Also: Ogun moves to enforce cleaner environment, adopts community service for waste offenders

    He noted that these projects have and will continue to attract more people to the council and that the government must expand its capacity to secure the people, a development he noted was demonstrated by the construction of the Police Area Command Headquarters in Moniya.

    While stating the strategic importance of the project, the governor added that the infrastructure development has projected Akinyele Local Government economically, noting that it requires robust security to ensure both public safety and a stable environment for investment.

    He said: “This project has a lot of facilities in it, which will help the officers to perform their duties effectively. This also comes with a borehole and I want to commend the local government chairman for it.

    “As a community, I want to urge us to say something when we see anything strange. In Oyo State, we have decided to really confront insecurity head on. Most of the needs of the security agencies are being met regularly to the extent that if you see any car carrying the logo of the Nigeria Police Force, just know the state government donated it.

    “I attend the NEC meeting on a monthly basis and I keep interrogating at the higher level in Abuja; look, you say it is the Nigeria Police Force but go to the states, in terms of equipment, mobility, the only thing states do not do is to buy arms and ammunition. 

    “The rest of the responsibilities are being done by the state governments and we will continue to do this in Oyo State. This is because we are appreciative of what the Police Force is doing for us in terms of security.

    “For this Area Command, if there are things that must be put in place beyond the ability of the local government, please escalate it to the state government.

    “The contract for the road in front of this place has been awarded and they have started working on it, and it would be completed in due course. 

    “In the whole of Southwest, Oyo State stands as the safest; we have the statistics and records, and we are proud of the status in South-West Nigeria.”

    Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman, Akinyele Local Government, Akinwole Akinleye, said the Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Moniya is meant to reposition the command to secure borders and safeguard the people of the state in the face of mounting insecurity in the country.

    He added that the newly built area command has facilities that will enable policemen to effectively perform the task of tackling security issues associated with urbanisation as represented by the opening up of Ilu-Tuntun Business District and the ongoing Circular Road Project in Akinyele Local Government.

    While commending Governor Makinde for strengthening the security architecture of the state, he assured the people of the state of more dividends of democracy.

    Also in his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Femi Haruna, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Isiaka Salahudeen, urged the residents of the state to cooperate with the government by providing useful information to the security agencies to tackle insecurity and other social vices in their communities, adding that securing the state is a responsibility for all.

    He assured of the police’s readiness to work with other security agencies to support the government to progress and achieve good results.

    In their separate goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Olayiwola; the Chairman of Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Sikiru Sanda and an elder statesman, Engr Julius Akinsola, lauded Governor Makinde’s initiatives on security.

    They equally commended Akinleye for complementing the efforts of the government through the projects.

    They charged the Police Force and the people of Akinyele Local Government to utilise and maintain the projects to reduce the menace of insecurity in the state.

  • Wike sacks FCT-IRS acting chairman

    Wike sacks FCT-IRS acting chairman

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday sacked the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr. Michael Ango.

    This was made known in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Minister of Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.

    Read Also: Shettima reaffirms Tinubu administration’s commitment to traditional institutions

    The most senior official of the FCT-IRS has also been directed to take over the running of the revenue agency with immediate effect. 

    Reasons for his sack was not made known as at the time of filing this report.