IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

It is with deep sorrow that we report the death of two priests and five seminarians of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, Custody of Nigeria, in a fatal road accident that occurred yesterday in Obudu, Cross River State.

The accident claimed the lives of seven members of the religious community, including two priests, four theology students, and one post-novice. Six others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The deceased have been identified as:  

- Fra. Somadina Ibe-Ojuludu  

- Fra. Chinedu Nwachukwu  

- Fra. Marcel Ezenwafor  

- Fra. Gerald Nwogueze  

- Fra. Kingsley Nwosu  

- Fra. Wilfred Aleke  

- Fra. Chukwudi Obueze  

May their souls rest in peace, and may God grant their families and the entire Capuchin community comfort and strength at this time.

Please remember them in your prayers. 

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced July 1, 2025, as the deadline to end all cash transactions at its offices nationwide.

According to a statement by NIPOST's Director of Corporate Communications, Frank Alao, the move is part of broader reforms to modernize operations, improve efficiency, and align with global best practices and Nigeria’s digital economy goals.

From July 1, all payments must be made through approved electronic channels. 

Team Nigeria made a resounding statement on the opening day of the 2025 Senior African Wrestling Championships in Casablanca, clinching four gold medals to surge to the top of the medal standings. Despite the last-minute withdrawal of decorated wrestler Mercy Adekuoroye due to illness, the Nigerian squad delivered a flawless performance, winning all four contested finals in their respective weight categories.

Christianah Ogunsanya (53kg), Esther Kolawole (62kg), Hannah Reuben (68kg), and Damola Ojo (76kg) each captured gold with dominant displays of skill and determination. Their collective performance set a high bar for the rest of the competition. Ogunsanya kicked off the gold rush with a clinical 10-0 semifinal win over Morocco’s Zineb Chabki before securing the top podium spot. Kolawole followed suit with an emphatic 10-0 victory in the final against Senegal’s Safietou Goudialy.

Reuben continued the streak, overpowering Egypt’s Mariam Mesbah 11-0 in a display of tactical and physical dominance. Ojo then completed the golden quartet with a composed and confident win in the 76kg category. Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, praised the team’s remarkable performance. “This is nothing short of phenomenal,” Olopade said. “To win four golds from four finals reflects the strength and consistency of Nigerian wrestling. We are incredibly proud of the athletes, coaches, and the federation for this outstanding result. And this is only the beginning—we are optimistic about more medals to come.”

The tournament, hosted at the Complexe Sportif Mohammed V, continues through May 4, with Team Nigeria aiming to extend their early lead and solidify their dominance on the continental stage. 

The countdown is on, and with just 11 days to the kickoff of the highly anticipated 22nd National Sports Festival popularly known as the Gateway Games 2024 all eyes are turning to a group of teenage trailblazers poised to make history. Enter the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) over 100 of Nigeria’s brightest young sports talents handpicked to form a unique team dubbed the “38th state” of the competition. Backed by the National Sports Commission (NSC), this bold initiative is designed to fast-track the development of elite youth athletes by immersing them in high-level national competition.

The IJA squad will compete in 11 disciplines, including athletics, football, badminton, swimming, table tennis, tennis, para-athletics, wrestling, and weightlifting all carefully chosen to reflect Nigeria’s strongest sporting arenas. But make no mistake, these youngsters are not in Abeokuta to make up the numbers. “There’s a real buzz in the camp,” says a source close to the team. “These athletes aren’t just here to learn they’re here to compete, and maybe even cause a few upsets.”

With the Gateway Games expected to welcome between 12,000 and 15,000 athletes from across the nation between May 16 and 30, the scale of the festival is staggering. Yet amid the seasoned pros and state powerhouses, it’s the IJA’s fearless energy and underdog spirit that’s capturing national attention. Their presence not only symbolizes the future of Nigerian sports but is also a reminder that greatness often begins with opportunity. The NSC is betting that by placing these young athletes on a national stage early in their careers, they’ll be better equipped to shine internationally down the road.

As the final days tick down to the opening ceremony, one question hangs in the air: Could this be the moment the next generation announces its arrival? At Gateway Games 2024, the answer might just come in gold, silver, and bronze with the Invited Junior Athletes leading the charge. 

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, over 1.5 million scored below 200.

Only 4,756 candidates scored above 320, while 7,658 scored between 300 and 319. Of 40,247 underage candidates who participated, just 467 met the board’s threshold for exceptional performance. 

Oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta have urged the EFCC to broaden its probe of the NNPCL to include the former leadership of NAPIMS, citing allegations of massive corruption, inflated contracts, and stalled oil production.

The Community Development Committees (CDC) commended President Tinubu’s anti-corruption drive and warned of legal action if their petition is ignored, stressing that accountability is crucial to reviving investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.