Nigerians risk deportation as UK scraps sponsorship for over 100 skilled jobs (Punch)
Panic has gripped thousands of Nigerians working in the United Kingdom on Certificate of Sponsorship or Skilled Worker visas over the new regulations announced by the British government.
The UK government, in its efforts to control immigration, has removed over 100 jobs, including skilled worker roles, from CoS eligibility, while the salary thresholds for other jobs on the scheme have also been increased by at least 30 per cent.
The government removed lower-skilled roles (previously at RQF Level 3–5) from CoS eligibility unless they appear on a newly created Temporary Shortage Occupation List. Read more
Pension scheme: Untold story of police retirees’ anger (Sun)
Monday, July 21, will remain a memorable day for many personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
That day, thousands of retired officers of the force gathered in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and across some states of the federation to protest what they term the poor and unacceptable implementation of the Contributing Pensions Scheme (CPS) of the federal government.
The retired police officers on that day, defied the heavy rains in the FCT as they completely took over entrance to the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force and the National Assembly, carrying various placards and chanting “Pay police a living wage and proper pensions,” among other banners bearing similar inscriptions. Read more
Court jails TikToker G-FRESH, musician Breaker for naira abuse (Guardian)
The Federal High Court sitting in Kano, Kano State, on Friday convicted and sentenced a popular TikToker in the state, Abubakar Ibrahim, alias ‘G-Fresh,’ and famous Kannywood musician, Hamisu Sa’id, also known as ‘Hamisu Breaker,’ for abusing the Naira.
They were jailed upon their arraignment by the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge each, bordering on the abuse of the Naira notes, contrary to Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.
According to EFCC, G-FRESH, sometime in November 2024, in a shop belonging to female TikToker Rahma Sa’idu at Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State, while dancing, sprayed and matched on 1,000 Naira notes denomination totalling ₦14,000 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Read more
For Free, Fair, Credible 2027 Polls: Strip president of power to control judiciary, INEC — Nigerians (Vanguard)
Leaders, lawyers, activists, and other stakeholders in the country have demanded a constitutional amendment that precludes the executive arm of the government (president) from controlling the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for free, fair, and dependable elections in 2027.
Accusing the judiciary of selling judgments to the highest bidder and the INEC of declaring phony results, they also called for a far-reaching restructuring of both the judiciary and INEC. However, some stakeholders absolved the judiciary and INEC, saying the political class is the reason there are no reliable elections in the country.
Remove the judiciary and INEC from the executive arm’s control, says Alaowei, an activist
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade (CHURAC), Mr. Cleric Alaowei, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard in Warri, Delta State, stated: “The clamor for free and fair elections in the country requires institutional reformation. To free the judiciary and INEC from executive arm control, a constitutional amendment is required. Judges should not be chosen by the executive arm and sworn into office. Read more
PDP already compromised, will come fourth in 2027 — Ayo Fayose (Tribune)
Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has predicted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will come fourth in the 2027 general elections, saying the opposition party is already compromised in most states.
Fayose said this on Friday while appearing on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme to x-ray the aftermath of the party’s 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Answering questions on insinuations that he was working against the interest of the PDP, Fayose said Nigerians know where he belongs, and he never hid his affection for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Read more
How traffickers use online loans, scholarships, others to entrap victims – NAPTIP (Nation)
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, has revealed some of the tactics deployed by human traffickers to lure victims.
She said traffickers lure victims with fake job opportunities and scholarships in some destination countries, and also recruit victims as marketing agents for some branded products in order to exploit them.
The NAPTIP boss added that some traffickers also recruit their victims through online loan schemes, baby factories, organ harvesting, and the recruitment of unsuspecting youths for online scams (yahoo-yahoo) within Nigeria, Ghana and some West African countries. Read more
Tinubu meets chairmen of GENCOS, pledges to resolve longstanding debt (DailyTrust)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday appealed to power generation companies (GENCOs) to give the federal government more time to complete the verification and validation of longstanding debts owed to the companies.
During a meeting with members of the Association of Power Generation Companies, led by Col. Sani Bello (rtd), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President assured them of his administration’s commitment to resolving the liquidity challenges in the power sector.
The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, disclosed that a ₦4 trillion bond programme has received anticipatory approval from President Tinubu to address the liquidity shortfall in the sector. Read more
Almost a third of people in Gaza not eating for days, UN food programme warns (BBC)
Almost one in three people in the Gaza Strip are going for days without eating, the UN’s food aid programme has warned.
“Malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment,” the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a statement.
Warnings of starvation in Gaza have intensified this week. Nine more people died of malnutrition on Friday, according to the Palestinian territory’s Hamas-run health ministry – bringing the total such deaths since the war began to 122. Read more
Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé Soundtrack New Leonardo DiCaprio Film (HipHopDx)
Kendrick Lamar and Beyoncé‘s hit collaboration “Freedom” is the soundtrack to the trailer for the new Leonardo DiCaprio film One Battle After Another.
Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film also stars singer Teyana Taylor as well as Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro and Regina Hall.
DiCaprio and Taylor star as former revolutionaries on the run from a white supremacist police officer with Kendrick and Bey’s fiery anthem proving to be a fitting background to the trailer. Read more
Akon & Vevo team up for ‘CTRL’ performance of ‘Locked Up’ (Udiscovermusic)
Akon has teamed up with Vevo “CTRL” for a live performance of “Locked Up,” the lead single from his monumental 2004 debut, Trouble.
The song, which has become a classic staple in Akon’s wide-reaching discography, shares the singer’s reflections of his time in prison. He sings about being behind bars and the wide reaching implications that led to his road to redemption. He croons: “I’m steady tryna find the motive/ Why I do what I do?/ Freedom ain’t getting no closer/ No matter how far I go/ My car is stolen/ No registration/ Cops patrollin’/ Now they done stop me and I get locked up.” Even more than 20 years later, the words still hit powerfully. Read more
Trump visits Scotland to see golf resorts, meet with Starmer on trade (UPI)
President Donald Trump leaves for Scotland for a visit through Tuesday to see his two golf resorts and refine the trade deal with the United Kingdom in a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Scotland is the home of Trump’s mother, but it’s also where he’s faced strong protests in previous visits.
He plans to visit his Turnberry and Aberdeen golf clubs, and meet with Starmer. Britain and the United States already reached a trade deal in June, but this meeting is to refine it. The deal was to cut tariffs and improve trade between the two countries. Read more
Air Ambulance staff said to have battled for two hours to save Ozzy Osbourne before Black Sabbath icon’s death (NME)
An air ambulance was called to Ozzy Osbourne’s house to try and save him on the day that he died.
The 76-year-old godfather of heavy metal, solo artist, and iconic frontman of Black Sabbath, died on Tuesday (July 22) at his Grade 2-listed mansion in Buckinghamshire. In a statement, Osbourne’s family shared that the music legend was “surrounded by love” at the time of his passing.
Now, it has been confirmed that the Thames Valley air ambulance was called to his residence to try and save the singer, and landed in a field close to Welders House at around 10:30am on Tuesday. Read more
Ed Sheeran teams up with Arijit Singh for special cross-cultural version of ‘Sapphire’ (Musicnews)
Global superstar Ed Sheeran has joined forces with legendary Indian artist Arijit Singh for a captivating new version of Sheeran’s vibrant summer track, “Sapphire.” This special collaboration, available now, adds a rich, cross-cultural dimension to the already popular song.
The partnership sees a unique linguistic exchange, with Arijit Singh contributing a verse in a blend of Hindi and Punjabi, and an English chorus. In a delightful twist, Ed Sheeran also sings a chorus in a mix of Hindi and Punjabi, creating a truly blissful fusion of languages and cultures.
Both the original version of “Sapphire,” released last month, and today’s new remix, were crafted during joint studio sessions in Goa, featuring intricate South Asian percussion and production by Ilya Salmanzadeh, Johnny McDaid, and Savan Kotecha. Read more
It’s coming home,’ Super Falcons vow (Guardian)
In 2022, the Super Falcons surrendered their WAFCON title to the Banyana Banyana of South Africa. Now, the Nigerians have their eyes firmly on the title and prize money attached, as they face host nation, Morocco, in Saturday’s final.
This is the 13th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), and the nine-time champions believe they have what it takes to accompany their ‘Mission X’ assignment.
After their hard-earned semi-final victory over South Africa, the Nigerians departed Casablanca on Wednesday for Rabat, venue of the final showdown. Read more
WAFCON 2024: Ghana beat South Africa on penalties to win bronze (Vanguard)
Ghana clinched the bronze medal at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, edging out South Africa 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Friday.
It was a rematch of their group stage clash, where South Africa had won 2-0. This time, the Black Queens turned the tables.
South Africa struck first through Nonhlanhla Mthandi just before halftime, but an own goal by goalkeeper Andile Dlamini in the 68th minute brought Ghana level. Read more
Sarri backs Dele-Bashiru for 2025/26 campaign (Punch)
Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri has backed Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to play an important role for the Biancocelesti in the upcoming 2025/26 campaign despite the Nigerian’s limited game time last season.
Dele-Bashiru’s future at the Stadio Olimpico had been in doubt this summer following a difficult debut season in which he struggled for regular minutes under former coach Marco Baroni.
The 25-year-old, who joined Lazio from Turkish Super Lig club Hatayspor last year after an impressive two-year stint, featured in 29 games with five goals and three assists to his name. Read more
Messi suspended after skipping MLS All-Star game (Sun)
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami team-mate Jordi Alba have been given one-match bans for skipping Major League Soccer’s All-Star game earlier this week.
Both players missed Wednesday’s match in Austin, Texas where the MLS squad posted a 3-1 win against Mexico’s Liga MX All-Stars.
“Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match,” MLS said in a statement on Friday. Read more
England, Spain duel in Women’s Euro final (Tennis365)
With Lauren James of England and Aitana Bonmati of Spain set to clash in Tomorrow’s Women’s Euro final, the match will showcase two of the modern game’s premier creative dribblers vying for one of football’s biggest prizes. Both sides boast a host of players who are more than comfortable with the ball at their feet and capable of bringing the crowd to theirs every time they take on an opponent, as well as defenders ready to stop them.
“You have to try to read the situation — what’s the right thing to do? Can you go at two (players) or should you pass the ball? We just have to analyse where the space is and what’s possible,” Caroline Graham-Hansen, a teammate of Bonmati’s at Barcelona, told Reuters. Just believe in yourself. Like, if you have two (players marking you), somebody else has more space, so just try to exploit that advantage or disadvantage that they try to give you,” she added.
Read Also: 2025 AFCON: NFF unveils ‘Mission X’ campaign for Super Falcons
Graham-Hansen is one of many dribblers who have lit up the Women’s Euros with her skills which she discovered and sharpened while playing with friends as a child. Read more