The body of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has arrived in Abuja ahead of his burial on Friday. The Nigerian Air Force plane, NAF 918, carrying his remains landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at approximately 12:15 PM.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State ordered an immediate freeze on all state-owned bank accounts on Thursday, effective until further notice. The directive mandates strict compliance from commercial banks and heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, disclosed the order in a statement, emphasizing that anyone, including MDA heads or civil servants, who disregards the directive will face severe consequences. "All bank accounts in commercial banks are frozen. Banks must comply with this order to ensure that not a single penny is withdrawn from government coffers until further notice," the statement reads.
The governor is conducting an investigation and reconciliation process and will decide on future actions for the accounts based on these findings.
Additionally, Itua announced that Governor Okpebholo has ordered the reversal of the "Ministry of Roads and Bridges" to its original name, "Ministry of Works." This change undoes a renaming initiated by the previous administration under Governor Godwin Obaseki. Governor Okpebholo noted the irony of the name given that no significant road or bridge projects were completed by Obaseki’s administration.
“We will continue reviewing the actions taken by the previous administration and make further decisions that serve the state’s best interests,” the statement concluded.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced that its subsidiary, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), has finalized a Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
In a statement on Wednesday, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, confirmed the signing. The agreement was executed on Tuesday at the Dangote Corporate Head Office in Falomo, Lagos State, with NGML Managing Director, Barr. Justin Ezeala, and Dangote Group President/CEO, Aliko Dangote, signing on behalf of their respective organizations. The agreement secures a supply of natural gas to the Dangote Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, for both power generation and as feedstock.
Soneye emphasized that this partnership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to leveraging Nigeria’s gas resources to stimulate industrial growth and economic prosperity. This agreement, noted as one of NGML's most substantial commitments without any capital expenditure (CAPEX) from NNPCL, is regarded as a groundbreaking achievement in Nigeria’s gas distribution history.
Under the agreement terms, NGML will provide 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCF/D) of natural gas, with 50 MMSCF/D as firm supply and another 50 MMSCF/D as interruptible supply, for an initial term of 10 years with options for extension and scalability.
NNPCL highlighted that this collaboration represents a major step in supporting the Dangote Refinery’s operations while advancing Nigeria’s domestic gas utilization goals. The statement read, “This milestone for both NNPC Ltd. and Dangote Refinery underscores their commitment to enhancing local production and providing essential products for Nigerians. It further reflects NGML’s dedication to business excellence and fulfilling NNPC Ltd.’s core mandate of securing Nigeria’s energy needs through strategic gas projects nationwide.”
Nearly 40 years after his pro debut and 19 years post-retirement, 58-year-old Mike Tyson will step back into the boxing ring on Friday for a Netflix-sponsored fight that has stirred up strong reactions within the boxing community. Tyson, the dominant heavyweight of the late 1980s, is set to face 27-year-old YouTube star Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The fight, structured as eight rounds of two minutes each, was initially slated for July but was delayed after Tyson required medical treatment for a bleeding ulcer following an incident on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles. This health scare has added to the criticism surrounding Friday's bout, with many calling it a dangerous spectacle that poses unnecessary risks to Tyson, who last fought professionally in 2005, ending in a loss to Kevin McBride.
British promoter Eddie Hearn voiced his disapproval, saying, “If anyone believes Tyson should be fighting at this age, they’re either unconcerned for his health or acting recklessly. This fight shouldn’t be happening.” Fellow promoter Frank Warren agreed, comparing it to a roadside accident that attracts attention for the wrong reasons.
Tyson, who is reportedly earning around $20 million for the fight, has dismissed health concerns, attributing criticism to jealousy. “I’m beautiful; that’s all there is to say,” he stated, adding that critics "wish they could be in my place."
At a workout in Texas this week, Tyson explained that his intense training had bolstered his confidence. "The fight is the celebration—all the hard work is done,” he said, and at a press conference in Texas, he added simply, “I’m just ready to fight.”
On the other side, Jake Paul, who rose to fame on YouTube before entering the boxing world, also expressed confidence, promising a swift fight. Paul, who has built a record of 10 wins (seven by knockout) and one loss, wore a rooster-shaped headdress at his workout and stated, “It’s going to be a short night for Mike.”
While Tyson’s prime years in the 1980s might have seen him dispatch an opponent like Paul in minutes, many wonder if he still retains any of the power that crowned him the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 20. Boxing legend Bob Arum, 92, also weighed in bluntly on the spectacle, adding yet another voice to the debate surrounding this unique match.
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