The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Gobir urges Trump to support Nigeria with technology, reject claims of religious genocide

    Gobir urges Trump to support Nigeria with technology, reject claims of religious genocide

    Former Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir has called on United States President Donald Trump to desist from what he described as inciting narratives on Nigeria’s security situation and instead support the country with advanced technology to help locate and dismantle terrorist and bandit enclaves.

    Gobir said it was neither wise nor fair for the United States to rely on what he termed false information suggesting that a Christian genocide was taking place in Nigeria.

    “It is not wise, fair, and sincere for the US to be fed with untrue figments of confusion that Christian genocide is taking place in our country. This is unacceptable for someone in another country to confuse Nigeria based on wrong information,” he said.

    He urged the US government to verify facts by sending an independent mission to Nigeria to ascertain the true security situation on the ground, rather than being driven by what he described as wrong perceptions.

    Gobir made the remarks in Sokoto while speaking with reporters on the US position on Nigeria’s security challenges, coming amid concerns over recent airstrikes.

    He said Nigeria possessed the manpower and resources to tackle insecurity but lacked sufficient political will and technological capacity, which he noted could be strengthened through the active support of foreign partners.

    “We are lacking in political will and technologies that would drive our capacity to confront and end the situation with the active support of foreign powers. If we had these, we would have been close to, if not completely ended, the menace and be living in peace,” he said.

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    The former lawmaker absolved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of blame, saying the president inherited the security challenges from previous administrations. He added that earlier and more practical efforts by past leaders could have significantly reduced the problem.

    According to Gobir, Tinubu is committed to securing the country and ensuring that terrorists and bandits face the consequences of their actions.

    Gobir, who is a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission board and a former Managing Director and Chairman of Sokoto Cement Company, now BUA Cement, questioned the claims of religious genocide, noting Nigeria’s long history of interfaith coexistence.

    He cited personal and communal examples to buttress his argument. “My stepmother-in-law is a Muslim married to a Christian. Bombs do not discriminate between Muslims and Christians,” he said.

    Gobir added that in his hometown of Sabon Birni, where bandit attacks are frequent, churches exist alongside mosques, and victims of abductions are forced to pay taxes and ransoms regardless of religious affiliation.

  • Ex-Dasr communication MD Obaseki attacked, stripped naked in Benin

    Ex-Dasr communication MD Obaseki attacked, stripped naked in Benin

    A former Managing Director of Dasr Communication and Chief Executive Officer of Hosamudia Farm, Don Pedro Obaseki, has reportedly been attacked and stripped naked by suspected thugs in Benin, Edo State.

    Obaseki, a cousin of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, was said to have featured prominently in several “meet and greet” sessions organised by the former governor across Europe.

    Sources disclosed that the incident occurred at Uwa Primary School, where Pedro Obaseki had gone to play football before he was allegedly attacked and beaten by the assailants.

    A viral video seen by our reporter showed Obaseki kneeling at the gate of the Oba of Benin’s Palace to pay allegiance to the monarch, Oba Ewuare II.

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    According to eyewitness accounts, the suspected thugs had forced their way into the palace after allegedly telling palace guards that they had brought in an “Oghion,” loosely described as an enemy of the Oba.

    Some palace chiefs who spoke during the incident said it coincided with the festive period, noting that the Oba was on his way to the Holy Arousa Church for a thanksgiving service.

    One of the chiefs was quoted as saying, “Today is Thanksgiving Day at the Holy Arousa. We don’t want any trouble. If there is anybody who considers himself an enemy of the Oba, allow him and see how he will end up.”

    Despite protests from the suspected thugs, the chiefs later intervened and took Pedro Obaseki into the palace.

    Details shortly…

  • Oyo APC guber aspirant, Saheed Oladele, escapes assassination attempt

    Oyo APC guber aspirant, Saheed Oladele, escapes assassination attempt

    Oyo State All Progressives Congress gubernatorial aspirant and Baàmèkó of Ibadanland, Oloye Saheed Oladele, has escaped an assassination attempt while returning from a political meeting in Lagos.

    According to a statement issued on Sunday, December 28, by Maroof Asudemade, Director of Media and Publicity for the Saheed Oladele Support Foundation, the incident occurred when Oladele’s entourage was attacked, and his vehicle was reportedly hit by a projectile.

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    The statement noted that the attack might be linked to Oladele’s growing popularity and increasing acceptance among the Oyo State electorate, which it said has become a threat to those who had previously underrated him.

    Details surrounding the incident remained sketchy at the time of filing this report.

  • NGO urges sustained compassion for elderly, vulnerable groups

    NGO urges sustained compassion for elderly, vulnerable groups

    A non-governmental organisation, Grace Relief Initiative International Inc. (GRII), has called for sustained compassion towards the elderly and other vulnerable groups, describing it as a vital pathway to promoting love, dignity, and a sense of belonging in society.

    The organisation made the call during an event organised for volunteers of Arinola Kitchens, one of its humanitarian arms. Founders of the NGO, Apostle (Dr) Israel Eledan and Reverend (Mrs) Grace Eledan, urged federal and state governments to create a more enabling environment for collaboration between humanitarian organisations and government agencies to strengthen social welfare delivery.

    The founders also commended Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for prioritising the welfare of senior citizens through the prompt payment of pensioners’ gratuities and workers’ salaries.

    Speaking at the event, Rev. (Mrs) Grace Eledan reaffirmed GRII’s commitment to caring for the elderly and the underprivileged, describing the outreach as the organisation’s contribution to societal development.

    “We will not relent in showing love and care to the elderly and those in need. This is our own way of giving back and strengthening the fabric of our society,” she said.

    In his remarks, Apostle (Dr) Israel Eledan said GRII’s programmes are inclusive and designed to meet the needs of youths, men, women and other vulnerable populations.

    “This is a vision God has placed in our hands, and we take delight in impacting lives positively through it. Arinola Kitchens is a programme that brings together both male and female volunteers to serve humanity,” he said.

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    Also speaking, Dr. Fiaz Masih, Coordinator of GRII and Arinola Kitchens Programme in Pakistan, described the initiative as impactful and inspiring, commending the volunteers for their dedication.

    “This is a very nice and fabulous programme. I truly enjoyed it. The volunteers are being appreciated for the great work they do, and that is commendable,” Masih said.

    He noted that Arinola Kitchens goes beyond food provision, serving as a platform for sharing love, hope, and the message of Christ, while hailing the founders for what he described as their exceptional compassion and spirit of service.

    Grace Relief Initiative International Inc., a non-governmental organisation registered in Nigeria and the United States, continues to impact the lives of needy elderly persons through Arinola Kitchens, a programme dedicated to providing food, care, and holistic support for senior citizens. The programme is coordinated under the directorship of Mrs. Victoria Olu-Talabi.

    The colourful event, which also served as the initiative’s Christmas celebration, featured the presentation of awards and appreciation funds to volunteers in recognition of their dedication and selfless service.

    Organisers emphasised that the vision of Arinola Kitchens goes beyond meeting basic needs, focusing on delivering total care and restoring dignity to elderly persons in need.

  • APC to Makinde: Account for alleged N50bn Bodija explosion relief fund or resign

    APC to Makinde: Account for alleged N50bn Bodija explosion relief fund or resign

    The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has asked Governor Seyi Makinde to explain how he allegedly utilised a N50 billion relief fund received from President Bola Tinubu following the January 2024 explosion that devastated parts of the Bodija Government Reserved Area in Ibadan, or resign from office.

    The opposition party’s demand followed claims by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who said during a live interview on a Lagos-based private television station on Friday that Makinde received the funds on behalf of the victims when he visited President Tinubu to brief him on the incident.

    Fayose alleged that the governor neither publicly acknowledged the receipt of the money nor deployed it to provide relief for victims who lost their lives and property in the explosion.

    In a statement on Sunday, the APC Publicity Secretary in Oyo State, Olawale Sadare, criticised Makinde, accusing him of failing to account for the alleged fund while also faulting his recent remarks against President Tinubu and the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

    Makinde had, during a recent media chat, claimed that he declined a request by the President to help organise the APC in Oyo State and was also quoted as saying that the Minister of Power lacked the capacity to deliver.

    Sadare said the governor became “the new face of sleaze” shortly after assuming office in 2019, alleging that he reviewed existing government contracts and inflated their costs.

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    Regarding the Bodija explosion, the APC spokesman stated that Makinde had claimed to have spent N4.5 billion on victims, but without providing detailed records to show beneficiaries or disbursements.

    “Now that his close friend and fellow party man has disclosed that a whopping N50 billion was actually paid into the coffers of the Oyo state government as a Relief Fund by the federal government, Gov. Makinde should realize that a flippant reaction by his media aide cannot be enough, as the whole world needs to know what he did with the money. And lastly, it should be on record that there was never a time when Oyo APC required reorganization in the hands of Makinde, who has emerged the Chief Pallbearer of the PDP, which gave him the platform to serve as governor for two consecutive terms.

    “As it stands now, the least among the prospective gubernatorial aspirants in our party possesses greater capacity to be innovative, creative, and successful as the state governor than the one who merely celebrates window dressing and inflicts hardship on property owners and other residents across the state.”

    He also dismissed Makinde’s claim about reorganising the APC in the state, insisting that the party never required such intervention and describing the governor as a beneficiary of the Peoples Democratic Party platform for two consecutive terms.

    Sadare concluded that prospective governorship aspirants within the APC possessed greater capacity to govern the state, accusing Makinde of “window dressing” policies that, he claimed, had inflicted hardship on residents and property owners across Oyo State.

  • Man Utd closing in on final agreement with AFCON star Sinayoko

    Man Utd closing in on final agreement with AFCON star Sinayoko

    Manchester United are ‘negotiating personal terms’ with Auxerre and Mali star Lassine Sinayoko, who will be out of contract in the summer of 2026.

    Amorim has already seen his side take wins over Liverpool and Chelsea this season but, when asked if the manner of this one made it one of his most satisfying at the club, he agreed.

    “Especially if you see the second half,” he said. “We managed to defend sometimes with a back six but we suffer together and that is a good feeling.

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    “If we have always this spirit we are going to win so many games. I think it is something we need to feel, that we can win sometimes without playing so well, we can win games with the spirit and with a togetherness in the team.”

    The Portuguese manager is expected to be backed by INEOS in the upcoming transfer windows, with United’s need for midfield and attacking reinforcements made clear by the options on his substitutes bench on Friday.

  • Ijomoni, Adeleke, Oladipupo rule GOtv Boxing Night 34

    Ijomoni, Adeleke, Oladipupo rule GOtv Boxing Night 34

    The trio of Tobiloba “Smiling Assassin” Ijomoni, Sadiq “Happy Boy” Adeleke and Saddam “Baby Boxer” Oladipupo dominated fan conversations at GOtv Boxing Night 34Jams Festival, delivering stellar performances.

    The event, held on Friday at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, saw Adeleke and Oladipupo emerge as the national champions, while Ijomoni walked away with the biggest individual honour of the night.

    In the headline bout, Adeleke dethroned defending champion, Durotimi “Tiny” Agboola, to claim the national super bantamweight title after a gruelling 10-round duel. The judges returned a majority decision in his favour, rewarding a performance built on steady pressure. The victory marked Adeleke’s first national title and capped a measured, mature showing on the biggest stage.

    Earlier, Oladipupo announced himself as the new national lightweight champion, outclassing Imole “System” Oloyede by unanimous decision over 10 rounds. “Baby Boxer” dictated the pace of the bout and dominated exchanges to earn the points.

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    While the titles went to Adeleke and Oladipupo, the “Smiling Assassin” was named Best Boxer of the Night, receiving the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and a ₦1 million cash prize after a commanding unanimous decision victory over Segun “Odi” Gbobaniyi in their eight-round national lightweight challenge contest.

    The undercard delivered a run of emphatic finishes. Emmanuel “Ability” Abimbola halted the previously unbeaten Sodiq “Smart Lion” Suleiman in the fourth round of their light welterweight bout, while Toheeb “Full Tank” Hassan recorded a fifth-round technical knockout against Ezekiel “Touch” Seun in the super bantamweight division.

    International spice came courtesy of Rasheed “ID Buster” Idowu, who stopped Ghana’s Nii Offei Dodoo in the fourth round of their eight-round catchweight clash.

    Outside the ring, fans were treated to live music by Shoday and a comedy performance by Triclowns. The event was sponsored by GOtv, with support from MultiChoice, Renmoney, ZetaWeb, TheCable and the Lagos State Sports Commission.

    Oke-Odo LCDA, Hon. Abiodun Ejigbadero, and Ibile Microfinance Bank for supporting this year’s edition,” he said.

  • AFCON: Nigeria survive dramatic late rush from Tunisia, qualify for knock out stage

    AFCON: Nigeria survive dramatic late rush from Tunisia, qualify for knock out stage

    Nigeria Saturday defeated Tunisia 3-2 in a dramatic Group C clash that saw Super Eagles survived a late push from Cathage Eagles at AFCON 2025.

    Victor Osimhen had a string of early chances in Fes before having a 17th-minute goal immediately disallowed for offside. But he finally got his first goal of the tournament at the end of the first half, heading in from Ademola Lookman’s deep cross.

    The Atalanta winger got his second assist within five minutes of the restart as his inswinging corner was headed in by captain Wilfred Ndidi. And Lookman added the third goal, finishing off the post.

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    Nigeria were brilliant for more than 70 minutes in that match and showed exactly why they should be considered genuine contenders for the AFCON title. But then showed in the final 20 minutes the exact weakness that cost them the chance of a place at next summer’s World Cup.

    Montassar Talbi pulled a goal back for Tunisia before Ali Abdi’s penalty set up a nervy finish for the Nigerians, but they were able to hang on for all three points.

    Substitute Emmanuel Ejuke was released into space on the right-hand side and burst into the penalty area. With Osimhen alongside him in support, he went for goal but watched Dahmen beat his effort away — it was far too central and lacked any real power.

    They should be commended for ultimately holding off the late Tunisian charge — particularly given the strong north African support in the stands — but that game should have never been so close given the 3-0 lead.

  • Benin secure first points with win over Botswana

    Benin secure first points with win over Botswana

    Benin breathed new life into their AFCON 2025 campaign after edging Botswana 1-0 in a tightly contested Group D encounter at the Stade Olympique de Rabat on Saturday.

    The victory delivers Benin’s first points of tournament and reopens the qualification battle in group that remains finely balanced.

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    Benin appeared to strike gold almost immediately when Aiyegun Tosin found the net inside the opening minutes but celebrations were cut short as the goal was ruled out for offside in the buildup.

    Undeterred the Cheetahs maintained their intensity and were rewarded around the half hour mark. Defender Yohan Roche broke the deadlock in the 28 minute finishing from close range after captain Steve Mounié created space with intelligent movement inside the box.

    The goal shifted the momentum firmly in Benin’s favour.

  • Council boss commits to sports as Karomishaus Boxing Competition holds

    Council boss commits to sports as Karomishaus Boxing Competition holds

    The Chairman of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos, Hon. Abiodun Ishola Ejigbadero, has pledged to promote sporting activities in the area as a means of engaging youths productively and making them more useful to society.

    Hon. Ejigbadero made this commitment during the finals of the 4th Agbado Oke-Odo Eji Boxing Championship 2025, organised by KAROMISHAUS under the leadership of the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) of the LCDA, Comrade Ernest Olabowale Babatunde Kasunmu.

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    The boxing competition was held at Temidire Primary School, Oke-Odo, Lagos, between December 20 and 23, 2025.

    The Chairman noted that the competition had started before he assumed office, stressing that local councils should prioritise sports development at the grassroots level.