IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Manchester City's fans started the night by unfurling a huge flag taunting Real Madrid and Vinicius Junior for their angry reaction to Rodri beating the Brazilian to last year's Ballon d'Or. 'Stop Crying Your Heart Out' was the message, the words of the Oasis hit accompanied by an image of Rodri kissing the coveted trophy at the ceremony boycotted by Real in protest at the decision.

Firing barbs at the most ruthless and experienced operators in Champions League history is a dangerous occupation, and so it proved. All the tears belonged to City and their supporters at the final whistle after a trademark smash-and-grab late surge gave Real a potentially decisive 3-2 advantage after the first leg of this play-off to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Real's relentless, concrete-clad confidence in themselves and street wisdom honed over years of experience and triumphs, saw them turn a 2-1 deficit after 86 minutes into a victory, Carlo Ancelotti's side preying on City's own painful lack of self-belief. The contrast was stark, City wilting visibly in the second half, then consumed by anxiety and nerves once their former midfielder Brahim Diaz restored parity with four minutes of normal time left.

City are never home and hosed this season. Real Madrid never believe they are beaten. And this was the case again as Pep Guardiola's team lost a lead for the fifth time in this campaign. It is perhaps an insight into City's current state of mind and form that the two late goals conceded here made it eight goals shipped in the final 16 minutes of their past five Champions League games, the most of any side.

Guardiola is currently presiding over a team with too many miles on the clock, too many players not fully fit – or not fit at all in Rodri's case. The cracks are starting to look beyond repair, rather more in need of major renovation. Rodri was watching from the sidelines, having been included in City's Champions League squad in the hope he may recover from his knee injury this season, and on that giant flag. How City needed his calming influence, quality and steel on the pitch as they were overcome late on once more. 

The South East Development Commission (SEDC) aims to grow the region’s economy to $200 billion by 2035, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion national GDP.

Speaking at his inauguration, Managing Director Mark Okoye expressed gratitude to the 10th National Assembly and the Senate Committee on Regional Commissions for their role in establishing the commission. He highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure investment, citing over 2,500 active erosion sites, high unemployment, and a challenging business environment in the region.

To address these challenges, SEDC plans to:

Rebuild critical infrastructure damaged during the Civil War.

Collaborate with state governments, private sector investors, and development partners.

Focus on security, investment climate, technology, innovation, agriculture, and industrialization.

Engage traditional and religious leaders, academia, and civil society to ensure inclusive development.

Okoye assured that SEDC will prioritize action over rhetoric, with clear strategies and measurable impact. In the coming months, the commission will launch new initiatives and an interactive website for public engagement. 

A new bill has been proposed in the Nigerian Senate seeking to prohibit the daytime movement of heavy-duty vehicles across the country. The legislation aims to reduce traffic congestion, enhance road safety, and curb accidents involving large trucks and trailers.

Under the proposed law:  

- Individual violators will face a fine of ₦500,000.

- Corporate offenders will be fined ₦5,000,000.

- Offending vehicles may be seized for up to 30 days.  

The bill comes in response to rising road accidents and gridlocks caused by heavy-duty vehicles operating during peak hours. If passed, the regulation will enforce strict movement schedules to improve traffic flow and enhance public safety on Nigerian roads. 

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has declared that if he decides to seek a second term in 2027, nothing will stand in the way of his victory.

Fubara made this statement on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers and leaders from the three Local Government Areas that make up the Kalabari Ethnic Nationality in Rivers State.

The delegation endorsed his re-election bid, commending his leadership and commitment to infrastructure development, particularly the ₦200 billion Trans-Kalabari Road Project, which is currently under construction.

In response, Governor Fubara reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering tangible progress, stressing that impact and service are more important than time spent in office. 

Nigeria has been ranked 140th position out of 180 countries in the world on the 2024 corruption perceptions index, according to a report by Transparency International. The TI’s latest ranking released on Tuesday sees the continent’s most populous nation move up 5 spots when compared with 2023 ‘s report and 10 spots as against 2022’s report.

Denmark emerged as the least corrupt country with 90 points with fellow Nordic country Finland coming in second with 88 points, and Singapore in third with 84 points. However, countries that made the most corrupt list in the world were South Sudan, Somalia and Venezuela. It was observed that no African country made the top 10 as it was dominated by European countries.

Based on the report, Uganda, Mexico, Madagascar, Iraq, and Cameroon shared the same spot with Nigeria with a total score of 26 points. In the African category, Cape Verde topped the list of least corrupt countries, although it was ranked number 35 with 62 points. “The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that corruption is a dangerous problem in every part of the world, but change for the better is happening in many countries,” the chair of Transparency International, Francois Valeria, said.

“Research also reveals that corruption is a major threat to climate action. It hinders progress in reducing emissions and adapting to the unavoidable effects of global heating. “The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The results are given on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).”

To Valeria, while 32 countries have significantly reduced their corruption levels since 2012, there’s still a huge amount of work to be done – 148 countries have stayed stagnant or gotten worse during the same period. 

Former spokesman for the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has officially announced his resignation from the party.

Okonkwo stated that his resignation will take effect on February 25, 2025.

In a statement, the Nollywood veteran expressed disappointment over the party’s internal conflicts and leadership challenges, which he believes have affected its effectiveness.

He pledged to collaborate with other well-meaning Nigerians to promote good governance and national progress.

“My involvement in politics is driven by the pursuit of good governance, and I remain committed to ensuring that Nigeria becomes a nation led by men of integrity. However, this vision is no longer achievable within the Labour Party as currently structured," the statement read.

Okonkwo added that his resignation coincides with the second anniversary of the 2023 presidential election and will allow him the freedom to work with like-minded individuals in charting a better future for Nigeria.