NIGERIA NEWS
Liverpool have ‘moved on’ from Salah furore, says upbeat Slot
Arne Slot said Liverpool have “moved on” from the furore caused by Mohamed Salah’s explosive outburst at being dropped and are showing signs of growing into the side he wants to see.
The Reds begin what could be up to a month without Salah, who is representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), away at Tottenham on Saturday.
After a run of nine defeats in 12 games, Slot has steadied the ship in a five-game unbeaten run, during which Salah did not start a single game.
“Actions speak louder than words. We moved on,” Slot told reporters on Friday, referring to his decision to bring Salah on as a substitute in last week’s 2-0 victory over Brighton.
“Now he’s at the AFCON playing big games for himself and the country. All the focus for him is over there and there should not be any distraction of me saying anything because we moved on after the Leeds interview and he played against Brighton.”
Despite a difficult second season for Slot in England, Liverpool sit seventh in the Premier League and would move into the top four with victory against struggling Spurs.
The English champions transformed their squad over the summer transfer window, spending nearly £450 million ($602 million) to bring in Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
Apart from the impressive Ekitike, all the new signings have struggled and Slot conceded he had been overly optimistic over how long it would take for his new-look squad to perform consistently.
“I think we are getting closer and closer to the team I want us to be and that has gone with ups and downs,” said the Dutchman.
“But for me that makes complete sense because all the changes we’ve made during the summer and we made them on purpose because we thought we needed to.
“If I’m completely honest, maybe I didn’t expect it to take maybe as long as it did, but, looking back on it, reflecting on it now, I think I’ve been too positive because if you go with a new group where not all of them are completely ready to play every single game, 90 minutes in this intensity, you have to adapt.
“Sometimes he can play, then he cannot play. So it takes maybe a bit of time, and we’ve been very unlucky.”
Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo will miss the trip to Tottenham due to injury, but Slot is hopeful that Dominik Szoboszlai will be fit to start. Frimpong returns after a two-month absence.
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The Taraba State government on Friday flagged off the E-Referral and Claims Management System alongside the Secondary Referral Component of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, TSCHIS.
The flag off, held in Jalingo, was described as a major milestone in strengthening access to quality healthcare while improving transparency, efficiency and accountability in service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency TSCHIA, Pharmacist Jacobs Akenzukpi, said the new initiative would enhance healthcare delivery by ensuring seamless referrals across primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities.
Akenzukpi recalled that the agency was established under Law No. 6 of 2019 and inaugurated on December 3, 2020, with the mandate of providing financial protection and quality healthcare services to residents, particularly vulnerable groups such as children under five, pregnant women, the elderly, persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons.
He disclosed that TSCHIA operates a contributory funding model supported by the federal and state governments as well as development partners, and has so far enrolled more than 112,000 residents across the state’s 168 political wards.
According to him, the E-Referral and Claims Management System will digitally link healthcare facilities at all levels, ensuring that enrollees receive timely and appropriate care whenever referrals are required.
Akenzukpi noted that Taraba State, with a population of over 3.6 million people, has 772 public primary healthcare facilities, 16 public secondary healthcare facilities and three public tertiary health institutions, all of which are to be integrated into the digital referral platform.
He explained that the innovation would improve data management, reduce operational costs, enhance accuracy and expand access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural communities.
“The e-referral and claims management system is inevitable in linking enrollees across the three levels of healthcare delivery. It will drive efficiency, transparency and improved access to care,” he said.
Emphasizing that the agency is also working to operationalize additional health plans for both the formal and informal sectors to expand coverage.
On his path, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, described the launch of the secondary referral services as a landmark achievement in line with Governor Agbu Kefas’ Five-Finger Agenda, which prioritizes human capital development, social protection and improved service delivery.
Buma said the initiative represents a practical step toward universal health coverage by ensuring residents can access needed health services without financial hardship.
He outlined key targets of the scheme, including expanding health insurance coverage to at least 80 per cent of the state’s population, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare spending and improving the quality of care through accredited secondary healthcare facilities.
The commissioner added that the secondary referral component would ensure continuity of care for enrollees whose conditions cannot be managed at the primary healthcare level, while promoting equity and accountability within the health system.
Both officials reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to making Taraba a hub for quality healthcare, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and providing financial protection for the poorest and most vulnerable residents.
They called on healthcare workers to render services with professionalism and compassion, urged residents to enroll in the scheme, and appealed to stakeholders and development partners to sustain support for ongoing health sector reforms.
They also expressed confidence that the new digital referral and secondary care system would significantly transform healthcare delivery in the state and improve the wellbeing of its people.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has introduced a Pre-Enrolment Portal aimed at reducing long waiting times and improving the overall experience of Nigerians seeking to register for the National Identification Number (NIN).
The Commission announced the development in a post on its official 𝕏 handle on Friday (today), explaining that the new platform allows applicants to submit their details online, upload required documents and book appointments before visiting enrolment centres for biometric capture.
According to NIMC, the initiative is designed to decongest enrolment centres nationwide while enhancing data accuracy and operational efficiency.
Speaking on the new platform, the Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC, Dr Kayode Adegoke, said the portal enables prospective applicants to complete a significant part of their registration process online.
“The new digital platform allows prospective applicants, both within Nigeria and in the Diaspora, to capture and submit their biodata online before visiting enrolment centres for biometric capture,” Adegoke said.
He noted that the move would significantly reduce congestion and long queues that have become a recurring challenge at NIN enrolment centres across the country.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, described the portal as a major step towards simplifying NIN enrolment for citizens.
According to her, the platform enables applicants to complete a large portion of the registration process online, leaving only biometric capture to be done physically.
“This portal will simplify the enrolment process by allowing applicants to complete a significant portion of their registration online before physical biometric capture,” she said.
NIMC listed several features of the Pre-Enrolment Portal, including online capture and management of NIN biodata, appointment scheduling to minimise delays at enrolment centres, and direct data entry by applicants to improve accuracy.
The platform also supports secure upload of required documents and ensures the confidential handling of users’ information, in line with global data protection standards.
The Commission added that the portal would improve overall efficiency in NIN registration and service delivery.
NIMC noted that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which places strong emphasis on digital transformation, efficient public service delivery and inclusive national development.
The Commission said the portal reflects its commitment to providing efficient, secure and citizen-friendly digital identity services that are accessible to all Nigerians.
NIMC urged all prospective NIN applicants to take advantage of the Pre-Enrolment Portal, describing it as a faster and more convenient pathway to NIN registration.
It added that the initiative underscores its determination to build a reliable and inclusive digital identity ecosystem capable of supporting national planning and sustainable development.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has summoned the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to an urgent reconciliation meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The high-level meeting, which is currently underway, brings together leaders and representatives of the Makinde-backed Turaki faction and the Nyesom Wike-backed Abdulrahman Mohammed faction, amid deepening internal crises within the opposition party.
The meeting was convened following concerns over the lingering leadership dispute and its potential implications for the party’s cohesion, compliance with electoral regulations, and preparations for future elections.
READ ALSO:
INEC is understood to be seeking clarity on the legitimate leadership structure of the PDP, urging both factions to resolve their differences in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, to avoid actions that could undermine democratic processes.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to play a critical role in determining the commission’s position on future correspondences, submissions, and recognition involving the PDP leadership.
Details later.
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NIGERIA NEWS
Lagos police arrest four teenagers, one 20-year-old for alleged staged kidnap, taking ransom
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspects, including four teenagers aged between 15 and 19, for allegedly staging a fake kidnapping and circulating a distress video to extort money from the family of a schoolboy.
The suspects were arrested on 17 and 18 December at the Volkswagen Roundabout and the Ago Palace area of the state by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad.
In a statement posted on its X handle, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the case was initially reported on 26 November at the Ago Palace Police Division as a missing-person complaint after a video showing a schoolboy pleading for help went viral on social media, triggering public concern.
Preliminary investigations, however, revealed that the alleged kidnapping was staged by the supposed victim, a 15-year-old (name withheld), in collaboration with four of his friends, the police said.
According to the police, the suspects carried out the act in the room of one of their associates, Umeh Victor, where a fake kidnappers’ den was arranged and the distress video recorded.
Those arrested include the 15-year-old supposed victim and another 17-year-old friend of his (name withheld). The rest are Umeh Victor, 19, whose room was allegedly used as the supposed hideout for the fake kidnap activities, David Odudu, 19; and Anyabike Kingsley, 20.
Further investigations showed that the suspects allegedly conspired to extort money from Mr Aligwo’s mother, who had recently received about N4 million from a contribution.
“To make the fake kidnapping appear real, the suspects recorded and circulated a distress video showing Victor Aligwo pleading for help, thereby creating fear and panic in the mind of his mother and family,” the police said.
The police disclosed that a ransom of N1.7 million was paid and transferred to the bank account of one of the suspects before the boy was released, after which the money was allegedly shared among them.
Investigators said they traced the Point-of-Sale terminal used for the ransom transaction, leading to the arrest of all five suspects.
The suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction after the conclusion of investigations, the police said.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Olohundare Jimoh, warned criminal elements to desist from all forms of crime, assuring residents that the command would continue to ensure the safety of lives and property.
He also urged members of the public not to panic over unverified social media content and to report suspicious activities through the command’s emergency lines.
Fake kidnap videos
The Lagos State Police Command has, in recent years, debunked several viral videos alleging kidnapping incidents in parts of the state, warning that misinformation can incite panic and threaten public safety.
READ ALSO: Tinubu asks APC governors to back state police, local government autonomy
In March 2024, detectives of the command arrested four individuals, including the supposed victim, over the alleged orchestration of a fake kidnapping in which a distress video was sent to the victim’s family to demand a N5 million ransom.
Police have repeatedly cautioned residents against spreading unverified information on social media, stressing that false narratives can disrupt public peace and endanger innocent lives.
- A lady has narrated her unpleasant encounter with her deadbeat father, who abandoned her and her mother for 30 years
- She recounted the circumstances that led to him abandoning them 30 years ago, and what she did when she visited him in the hospital after hearing he was sick
- After sorting his hospital bills and giving him some money, she shared an unexpected demand he made to her
A lady has shared her disappointing experience with her absentee father, who abandoned her and her mother for 30 years.
According to the lady, he ghosted her mum 30 years ago after she refused to terminate the pregnancy, which birthed her.
A lady blocks her deadbeat father after reuniting with him.
Photos posed by models, for illustration purposes only.
Photo Credit: Pressmaster, adamkaz
Source: Getty Images
She said her deadbeat father left the house over her mum’s stance.
The lady narrated how she visited him in the hospital years later, after learning that he was sick, cleared his hospital bills, and gave him some money.
Read also
Lady shares hilarious encounter with fake prophet, story goes viral: “I allowed him to say everything”
To her disappointment, her deadbeat dad called her to request a car, saying his friends are car owners except him and urged him to save her from shame as she is a lawyer.
The lady said she blocked him following his request. Her story, shared on TikTok by @tbque01, read:
“Ghosting my dad who thinks the world revolves around him after telling my mum to remove my pregnancy, she refused and he left the house and ghosted us for 30 solid years, heard he was sick and I went to see him in the hospital sorted his hospital bills and gave him little change, guess who is calling to ask me for a car, ‘all my friends are car owners except for me’ and my daughter is a lawyer don’t let them mock me. I used my block button asap.”
A lady says she ghosted her deadbeat father.
Stock photo of a lady, posed for illustration purposes only.
Photo Credit: Jacob Wackerhausen, TikTok/@tbque01
Source: Getty Images
View her TikTok post below:
Lady’s encounter with deadbeat dad stirs reactions
Read also
“He will ask me to kneel down”: Nigerian lady shares what she went through in hands of ex-husband
Legit.ng has compiled some reactions to the lady’s encounter with her dad below:
creamycakesnevents said:
“You see this runaway fathers with sense of entitlement na 5n6,because the one that donated spe’rm for my mama before she born me did almost the same thing.”
Cocktails_In_Akure/Ekiti said:
“One day I will have the boldness to call my dad out on this space…that man did my mum dirty and he is not even remorseful about the whole thing.”
Naafeesah28 said:
“Come 2026,dear God 🙏 both where I sow and where I didn’t sow, I shall reap from them all, Amen.”
Costa0019 said:
“So sorry to say this oo, I mean no harm pls can you just find time to hear his own side of the story then you can judge him accordingly thank you.”
user80815601143 said:
“As you no believe your mama when she told you the signs, you decided to find and him and experienced the wonders by yourself.. Because why did you go to visit him in the first place????”
Read also
Lady leaks chats as man tries to buy her love with money, amount goes viral: “I no dey pity men”
Foodstuffs vendor in bodija said:
“I been forgive my papa that year , but now forgiveness day heaven . I don see both signs and wonders.”
Queen💙💙 said:
“The first mistake was to even visit him in the hospital talk less of sorting out bills.”
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that a lady had posted her response to the kidney request of her father, who abandoned her at five.
Bride sees deadbeat father at her wedding
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a bride had reacted after seeing her deadbeat father at her wedding.
After 29 years, when it was time for his daughter to get married, the lady’s family reached out to him and asked him to send a list of the things that are meant for fathers in his culture.
The absentee father sent a long list and started insisting that the wedding be done in Bayelsa instead of the Yoruba culture, which was her stepfather’s culture. However, the lady refused and insisted it would be done in her stepfather’s culture.
Source: Legit.ng
A special criminal court in Paris has sentenced a 30-year-old Frenchwoman to 10 years in prison for her role in a terrorist conspiracy linked to the Islamic State group.
The woman, Carole Sun, was convicted after judges ruled that her activities went beyond passive association and amounted to deliberate participation in extremist operations.
Sun was among French nationals repatriated from detention camps in northeastern Syria, where families connected to IS fighters were held following the group’s military collapse.
She returned to France in July 2022 as part of a government-led effort to bring citizens back for prosecution.
Court details ties to key IS figures
During proceedings, prosecutors outlined Sun’s close proximity to senior IS members, noting that she lived alongside individuals implicated in violence and attacks connected to the November 2015 Paris atrocities.
Judges also referenced her marriage to an IS intelligence operative currently jailed in Iraq, as well as her brother’s involvement with the group.
“The court is satisfied that the defendant knowingly embedded herself within a violent terrorist structure,” the presiding judge said.
Radicalisation, regret and wider prosecutions
Sun told the court she had been radicalised through online networks and admitted contributing to extremist propaganda.
She described life inside the camps as brutal and chaotic, particularly for children raised in the environment.
“It was a place where fear and ideology shaped everything,” she said.
French prosecutors confirmed that dozens of similar cases remain pending, with several women already tried since 2017 as authorities continue to address the legal aftermath of the Syrian conflict.
Stakeholders in All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State said it would kickstart a grassroots tour next week Monday with Oyo Federal Constituency being the first point of call.
The stakeholders also said similar exercise would hold in the remaining 13 federal constituencies as already planned.
A statement jointly signed by Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, and the State Secretary of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Mr. Afeez Bolaji Repete, said the tour is part of effort of the party towards solidifying the reining peace and unity among members of the party across the state.
The statement said the Federal Constituency tour, which is being organized by the Alhaji Olayide Abas-led State Executive Committee of APC and in conjunction with the Presidential Renewed Hope Ambassadors, is aimed at further cementing unity and peace among all party faithfu and also accessing the situation of the Party at the grassroots level.
The party hinted that the statewide tour was in line with the decision of the stakeholders to visit all the nooks and crannies of the state to preach total reconciliation and to assure all members of sense of belonging.
“This Monday meeting slated for the Oba Adeyemi Sports Arcade in Ode-Aremo, Oyo will be the second in the series of stakeholders open interactive session aimed at fostering unity and togetherness among all party faithful as we have all resolved to leave no stone unturned in order to achieve our collective goals as a progressive family.
“We appreciate the fact that APC is the party to beat at all elections in 2027 and we shall leave nothing to chances.
“All leaders and gladiators will storm Oyo Federal Constituency on Monday to preach the gospel of Renewed Hope Agenda and also re-establish the need to begin the process of reclaiming power in the state in 2027.
“We shall mobilize all APC youths, women, students, artisans, elites among others in Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West local government councils for the purpose of the meeting which will attract the presence of party leaders, members and supporters from across the state and beyond.
“Most importantly, the meeting will afford us the opportunity to showcase the achievements of the Tinubu administration as the President is poised to reposition the country and make every citizen proud at the end of his two terms in 2031.
“Undoubtedly, APC is waxing stronger in the state and now is the time to consolidate on the recent success as we are open to welcoming more members into our midst.”
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has ordered the distribution of over 2,000 bags of 50 kg rice for this year’s festivity.
Basiru ordered the distribution in line with the celebration of this year’s festive season.
According to him, “In line with his customary manner, Senator Basiru has distributed over 2,000 bags of 50kg rice across the state to various party structures, including ward, LGA, state executive, market, and prominent interest groups throughout the state.”
The national secretary, however, commended the nature in which the recently conducted party primary was conducted, urging all party stakeholders to work vigorously for the 2026 victory at the polls.
He also called for unity of purpose among stakeholders as the party is fully ready to give the ruling party in the state the red card in 2026.
Basiru, who called for unity among party members, urged the people of the state to be united and always seek love for one another in an effort to build an egalitarian society.
He further emphasized the need for equality and equal treatment across gender, religion, economic status, and political beliefs.
In the spirit of unity and a prosperous society, Basiru urged the people of the state and Nigeria as a whole to embrace peace and cooperation in an effort to move the nation forward.
- …10,000 Nigerian provided training programme
China-Nigeria trade volume has surpassed $22 billion, China Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai said on Thursday.
This is as Yu also disclosed that 10,000 Nigerians have benefited from turning opportunities provided by China.
Yu, who spoke at the occasion of the 1st Annual China-Nigeria Government Exchange Program Alumni Reunion Gala, in Abuja, said 2025 trade volume has surpassed that of the previous year.
Yu also said that China’s direct investment to Nigeria increased by 130%, while Nigeria’s export increased by over 200%.
He said, “I think this bilateral relations not only has a political meaning, but it’s actually more about people-to-people relations. And I’m very happy to let all of you know that our trade volumes, this year, already surpassed 22 billion U.S. dollars.
“That’s already surpassed the total amount of last year. And China’s direct investment to Nigeria increased by 130%. And another good news is Nigeria’s export increased by over 200%.”
The envoy also said his country is working closely with Nigeria authorities to implement the zero tariff policy announced in June 2025.
This, Yu said, is meant to expand Nigeria’s export to China while also enhancing of Nigeria’s position on the international global trading system.
He said “We are working very closely with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to implement the zero tariff policy, which the Chinese government announced last June. That is, China is going to provide zero tariff for 100% of products from all 53 African countries, including Nigeria, to China.
“And I believe that this is going to expand Nigeria’s export to China and contribute also to the enhancing of Nigeria’s position on the international global system, the trading system.”
He noted that China-Nigeria are working on other various projects which are aimed at providing mutual benefits.
He also explained why he believed that Nigeria and China are natural partners, saying both countries shared the same interest.
He therefore said both countries need to work together to enhance the current global governance, to address the active representation of African countries, and to better let our voices be heard globally.
While expressing his belief that China and Nigeria shared a lot of similarities, Yu equally said, “China’s today is Nigeria’s tomorrow.”
Speaking on the purpose of the gathering, Yu said, “is to provide a platform for our alumni who attended the Chinese Government Exchange Programme to stay connected, to exchange ideas, and thus to contribute to China-Nigeria relations.
“Indeed, over the years, China has provided over 10,000 opportunities for the training programme for Nigerians.
He said the training opportunities aimed at building the capacities and sharing experience of governance, to poverty reduction, to manufacturing, agriculture, public health, trade, investment, science, technology, innovation, food economy, digital economy.
“And I believe that this not only helps to enhance the capabilities of the individuals, but also contributes to the economic and social development of Nigeria,” he added.
He said alumni of the exchange programme spans across the country-Abuja, Lagos, Madaguri, Ibadan.
Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state, under the aegis of the Kwara Political Leaders of Thought (KPLOT), have said that the ideal governorship candidate for Kwara state in 2027 can come from any district of the state, stressing that the 2027 governorship race should not be based on zoning.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the group led by Mohammed Mariam Alhassan also advised the party’s national leadership and the Presidency to be cautious on the issue of who becomes the Kwara state governorship candidate in the 2027 general elections, adding that the stakeholders should be guided.
Alhassan said that Kwara state is practically at war, especially due to insecurity challenges in some parts of the state, adding that, “wars are not won by convenience or sentiment, but by deliberate strategic and competent leadership.
“Kwara is confronted today with realities that leave us with no room for emotional politics, convenient assumptions, or premature conclusions. The present reality demands sobriety, honesty, and courage. It requires that our political decisions be driven by capacity, competence, and character -not by sentiment or turn-by-turn calculations.
Kwara Assembly suspends member for contempt, breach of privilege
“From Edu to Patigi, Ifelodun to Isin, and from Ekiti to Kaiama, Kwara state has, regrettably, become an epicentre of banditry and terrorism, a situation unprecedented in the history of our state. While we admit and commend both the Government of Kwara State, led by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their sustained efforts at stemming the tide, we hearken to say that communities are still under siege, livelihoods are still threatened, and the sense of safety that once defined Kwara has been gravely eroded.
“In the face of this crisis, it is no longer åcceptable to approach leadership selection the way we might have done in more stable times. If Kwara once had the luxury of making sentimental political choices, that luxury no longer exists.
“The leadership question before us is no longer about where a candidate comes from, but who that candidate is. Who has the competence to confront insecurity? Who has the capacity to rebuild confidence in governance? Who has the courage, experience, and vision to navigate Kwara out of its present challenges and secure its future? These are the questions occupying the minds of ordinary Kwarans across the state, not the narrow, primordial sentiments being promoted by a section of the political class,” he said.
The group also said that the ideal leader for Kwara in 2027 can come from anywhere; North, South, or Central, adding that, “If the best and most capable candidate emerges from the North, we must not hesitate to support such a person. If that candidate comes from the South, the same principle must apply. If competence and capacity reside in the Central, we must equally embrace it”.
“At this critical moment, limiting our choices based on zoning or primordial sentiment is dangerous, and the consequences will be borne by all Kwarans”, he said.
The people also called on traditional rulers in the state to steer clear of partisan politics and political agitations and permutations, saying that, “the throne derives its strength from neutrality, moral authority, and the trust of all subjects, irrespective of their political leanings.
“Once a royal institution is dragged into partisan battles, it risks losing its unifying essence and the sacred distance that commands reverence. Monarchs must remember that their domains are home to people of diverse and often conflicting political interests; aligning with one tendency, no matter the temptation
or promised reward, inevitably alienates others and erodes the sanctity of the stool”.