IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

In a significant move towards fostering sustainable sports growth in Nigeria, the newly appointed board Chairman of NNPC Limited, Engr. Musa Kida, held a strategic meeting with the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The meeting, held at the NSC headquarters, centered on forging a partnership between the country’s leading oil corporation and the sports regulatory body, with the aim of strengthening the sports ecosystem across Nigeria. Speaking after the meeting, Hon. Olopade expressed his enthusiasm about the potential collaboration, describing the discussions as "fruitful" and timely.

“We are thrilled to have someone like Engr. Musa Kida at the helm of affairs at NNPC,” Olopade said. “His deep involvement in sports, particularly as the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, makes this an exciting time for Nigerian sports. This partnership could significantly boost our efforts to build a sustainable sports economy.” The DG emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has charged the Commission with revamping Nigerian sports through the creation of a thriving ecosystem. He believes Kida’s appointment aligns perfectly with this mission.

“Having someone so passionate about sports leading the NNPC is a major win. We’ve already started identifying areas of synergy that can help accelerate our objectives,” he added. Engr. Kida, who has long been associated with sports development through his role in basketball, echoed the DG’s sentiments. He noted that the meeting reflects a shared vision to harness sports as a key component of national development.

“As President of the NBBF, I’ve seen firsthand the positive changes under the current NSC leadership. Their support for basketball has been instrumental, and it makes it even easier for NNPC to align with their transformative vision for Nigerian sports,” he said. The meeting is seen as a promising step under the “Renewed Hope” agenda of the current administration, aimed at building strong institutional collaborations that will benefit Nigerian youth and the sports industry at large. 

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dissolved the board of the Ondo State Football Agency, relieving Executive Chairman Dele Ologun and others of their duties with immediate effect.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor also announced the appointment of a caretaker committee led by Tokunbo Akinyelure to oversee Sunshine Stars Football Club. The team is expected to report directly to the Governor’s Office and revamp the club’s performance. 

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the ongoing Naira-for-Crude initiative involving Dangote and other local refineries.

In a post shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Wednesday, the Federal Ministry of Finance confirmed that the policy remains in effect.

According to the ministry, stakeholders have restated their support for the full implementation of the initiative, in line with directives from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

“The Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is not a temporary measure,” the ministry stated, “but a strategic policy aimed at promoting local refining, enhancing energy security, and reducing dependence on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum sector.”

The ministry also acknowledged the possibility of implementation challenges, noting that such issues are being addressed through collaborative efforts among all relevant parties.

An American lecturer, Paul Chambers, has been detained in Thailand for allegedly insulting the monarchy, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Chambers, a political science professor at Naresuan University in northern Thailand, was arrested on Tuesday and brought before a court in Phitsanulok province.

The 58-year-old was denied bail ahead of his trial on charges under Thailand’s lese-majeste law, which protects the monarchy, and the Computer Crime Act, which regulates online speech. His legal team plans to appeal the decision, though no trial date has been set.

Chambers, who has taught in Thailand for over a decade, has focused his research on the Thai military’s influence on politics. Scholars at Risk, a U.S.-based academic freedom organization, speculates that the charges may be linked to comments Chambers made during a 2024 webinar on military restructuring.

Chambers' wife, Napisa Waitoolkiat, the dean of social sciences at Naresuan University, denied the accusations, stating that the evidence cited by authorities was not his words. She suggested that the charges were an attempt to discourage his research, which often explores the Thai military’s economic role.

The U.S. State Department expressed concern over the arrest, offering consular support and condemning Thailand’s lese-majeste law, urging respect for freedom of expression and opposing actions that suppress dissent. 

Niger’s military government has officially adopted Hausa as the national language, moving away from its colonial ties to French.

The decision, announced in a new charter on March 31, also maintains English and French as working languages. Hausa is already the most widely spoken language in the country, with over 26 million people, compared to just 13% of the population speaking French.

The charter also recognizes nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, and Kanuri.

This language shift follows a broader move by the junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, to sever ties with France since the July 2023 coup. Similar actions have been seen in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso. 

Michael Alagba, a 13-year-old double amputee, is set to participate in a 2km walk on April 12 as part of The IREDE Foundation’s Out on a Limb campaign, aimed at challenging stereotypes around disability.

Born with a congenital condition, Michael has defied the odds, learning to write, sing, and live independently. “I dream of becoming a teacher,” he says, pushing back against societal expectations.

Now in its ninth year, the campaign advocates for visibility, inclusion, and access for children living with limb loss. The IREDE Foundation also plans to provide prosthetic limbs to 200 children in 2025.