Lagos State Government has nothing to do with the demolition at Computer Village in Ikeja. The structure is owned by the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), which ordered its demolition. 

Those circulating the fake news that Lagos State Government is demolishing Computer Village are opportunistic ethnic chauvinists who will always relish in vacuous propaganda that can fuel their fiendish mission; they will always fail in dividing Lagosians.

Gbenga Omotoso

HC, Information &Strategy

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State has asked Nigerians to put the partisan politics of 2023 behind and unite to make the country a better place in 2024.

The Lagos State APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, made this remark in his New Year Message on Sunday in Lagos.

“2023 has gone into history and we give gratitude to God for making us witness the beginning of Year 2024 in good health of mind and body. May He lead us through this New Year with His divine favour and grace.

“My dear Lagosians, let’s agree to make this year a better one than 2023. Let’s put partisan politics that dotted 2023 behind us and forge ahead to continue to make our state the Centre of Excellence and by extension, make Nigeria an excellent nation.

“We must be seen to be engaging in productive activities and actions that will reflect the phrase above,” he said.

While thanking God for the peaceful conduct of the general elections, the APC chairman lauded Nigerians for supporting and electing President Bola Tinubu.

He said: “Indeed, it is a great joy for me to be the chairman that produced the first truly progressive president for the country.”

According to him, 2023 also gives Nigerians the opportunity to elect other candidates to contribute to the rescuing of the country.

“Through your votes at the 2023 elections, you gave testimonies and practically demonstrated your love, belief and support for our progressive ideology.

“You gave our party the nod to spread the magic with which we have made Lagos State a true Centre of Excellence to the entire nation,” he said.

Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies, DisCos are reportedly planning to hike electricity tariff nationwide with effect from January 1, 2024.

A source in one of the DisCos confirmed the development under anonymity.

However, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Abuja Electricity Company are yet to respond to DAILY POST enquiry on the planned electricity tariff hike as of Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with DAILY POST, Kunle Olubiyo, the President of the Nigerian Consumer Protection Network, said any planned electricity tariff hike will be outright irresponsible on the part of the Government.

According to him, Nigerians are still grappling with the effects of fuel subsidy removal, rising inflation and other economic reforms by Tinubu’s administration.

“Increasing electricity at this time, coupled with the impact of fuel subsidy removal, inflation, and other hardships facing Nigerians, will be insensitive on the part of the government.

“It is outright irresponsible for the government to allow an electricity tariff hike,” he said.

Recall that in November 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stopped the implementation of electricity tariff, insisting on a power sector subsidy.

Speaking on Tinubu’s directive on electricity tariff hike, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said Adelabu said, “The power sector is an industry that is very sensitive to any leader.

“You cannot jump overnight and implement the cost-reflective tariff. I can tell you that till today, the government still subsidises power”.

NERC’s quarterly reports indicated that electricity subsidies gulped N204.59 billion in the third quarter of 2023 and N135.23 billion in Q2, which is substantially higher than the N36.02 billion in Q1 2023.

Ugandan athlete Benjamin Kiplagat, aged 34, has been discovered dead in Kenya, as confirmed by the police on Sunday.

Reports from local media suggested that he may have been murdered.

Kiplagat, who was originally from Kenya, had represented Uganda internationally in the 3,000m steeplechase, participating in multiple Olympic Games and World Championships.

His lifeless body was found in a car on Saturday night on the outskirts of Eldoret, a town in the Rift Valley known for being home to many athletes.

“An investigation has been launched, and officers are on the ground pursuing leads,” local police commander Stephen Okal told reporters in Eldoret.

The police have reported that Benjamin Kiplagat’s body showed signs of a deep knife wound to his neck, indicating that he may have been stabbed.

Benjamin Kiplagat, specializing in long-distance races, represented Uganda in the Rio Olympics Games in 2016 in Brazil.

Throughout his impressive 17-year career, the 34-year-old athlete earned several accolades, including a World Under 20 Championships Silver medal and an African Championships Bronze medal.

In the World Athletics Rankings, he held the 38th position overall in the Men’s 3,000-meter Steeplechase.

Kiplagat participated in various competitions, including the Shanghai Samsung Diamond League, Lausanne Athletissima in Switzerland, Paris Meeting Areva, and Hengelo Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in the Netherlands.

Notably, in June 2012, Kiplagat made history by securing bronze in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase final, becoming the first Ugandan male athlete to win any kind of medal and breaking the dominion of Kenyan athletes in the event.

City FM is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

Time: 12:00pm

Guest: Professor Jideofor Adibe
(Professor of Political Science and International Relations)

Topic: "2023: The Year In Review"

Date: 30th December, 2023

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/92877141732?pwd=VEJWb29OL2VVekZUTHRpdWYxK0xxZz09

Meeting ID: 928 7714 1732
Passcode: 600206

Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has named 25 players for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which is scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

In the 25-man Super Eagles squad that was confirmed earlier today, December 29, coach Jose Peseiro unexpectedly invited Ahmed Musa, the team’s captain, who has never kicked a ball for the team throughout 2023.

Interestingly, only one domestic player from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Enyimba goalkeeper, Leke Ojo, made the cut.

Ojo will compete with error-prone Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho who is currently contracted to Omonoia FC of Cyprus, and Stanley Nwabili of Chippa United of South Africa, for the Eagles’ first eleven.

Other major additions to the squad are, Victor Osimhen of Napoli, Vice-Captain William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, and Samuel Chukwueze.

Below is the Super Eagles of Nigeria full squad for the 2023 AFCON:

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United, South Africa); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Chidozie Awaziem (Boavista FC, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika, Greece); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey); Victor Osimhen (Napoli SC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (Real Sociedad, Spain); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany).

Note that the Super Eagles are in Group A and they will begin their 2023 AFCON campaign against Equatorial Guinea on January 14. They will play the hosts, Ivory Coast, on January 18, and end the group stage with a game against Guinea Bissau on January 22.

The Africa Cup of Nations hosts, Ivory Coast, revealed their 27-man squad for the January 11 to February 11 tournament, incorporating a mix of overseas talents, in an announcement made on Thursday.

Under the management of French coach Jean-Louis Gasset, Ivory Coast’s squad includes Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller, Monaco defender Wilfried Singo, along with midfielders Ibrahim Sangare from Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest, Seko Fofana from Al Nassr, and Franck Kesslie from Al Ahli.

However, absent from Gasset’s selection are Galatasaray forward Wilfried Zaha and Besiktas defender Eric Bailly.

Drawn in Group A alongside Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, and Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast gears up for the challenge ahead.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Yahia Fofana (Angers/FRA), Charles Folly (Asec Mimosas), Badra Ali (Sekhukhune United/RSA)

Defenders: Serge Aurier (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Ismael Diallo (Hajduk Split/CRO), Ousmane Diomandé (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Ghislain Konan (Al-Feiha/KSA), Evans N’dicka (Roma/ITA), Odilon Kossonou (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Wilfried Singo (Monaco/FRA)

Midfielders: Jean-Thierry Amani Lazare (Union Saint-Gilloise/BEL), Idrissa Doumbia (Alanyaspor/TUR), Seko Fofana (Al Nassr/KSA), Ibrahim Sangaré (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Franck Kessié (Al-Ahli/KSA), Jean-Michael Seri (Hull/ENG)

Forwards: Simon Adingra (Brighton/ENG), Jonathan Bamba (Celta Vigo/ESP), Jérémie Boga (Nice/FRA), Sébastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Karim Konaté (RB Salzburg/AUT), Christian Kouamé (Fiorentina/ITA), Jean-Philippe Krasso (Red Star Belgrade/SRB), Max-Alain Gradel (Gaziantep/TUR), Oumar Diakité (Reims/FRA), Nicolas Pépé (Trabzonspor/TUR)

[Leadership]

Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders has urged Sir Jim Ratcliffe to begin his rule over Manchester United’s football department by ruthlessly offloading 10 players.

The 10 players are Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Antony, Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jadon Sancho.

Saunders believes some of these players are not good enough to play for the Red Devils.

DAILY POST recalls that the chairman of petrochemical conglomerate INEOS last week agreed to a £1.3 billion deal with the Glazer family, giving him a 25 per cent stake in Man United.

It would allow Ratcliffe to take charge of Man United’s football operations.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Saunders said: “Rashford has been there too long. [Anthony] Martial, I will drive him to the airport. Antony, drive him to the airport.

“Luke Shaw has been there too long. [Diogo] Dalot’s not good enough. [Raphael] Varane, he’s a good player, but it’s not worked for him. Ten Hag’s tried to get rid of Varane.

“Jonny Evans is not good enough now, so there’s the back four. [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka, he’s tried to get rid of him. He got rid of Fred. [Scott] McTominay, the manager has obviously shown he doesn’t think he is good enough, but he gets goals.

“He is not good enough to play for Man United, in my opinion. If you play for Man United in midfield, you have got to be one of the best players in the world in midfield. You are not playing for Crystal Palace!”

He added: “I am just thinking off the top of my head. Sancho, Antony, Martial, you are looking at what, £200m or something like that just for them?”

[DailyPost]

Former Premier League star, Clinton Morrison has insisted that William Saliba is just as important to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal as Declan Rice.

Morrison said that Rice has been outstanding for Arteta’s side but Saliba’s availability will be a decisive factor in their Premier League title race this term.

According to the former Republic of Ireland international, Saliba and Gabriel’s partnership is rock solid but Arsenal could struggle if the French defender suffers an injury setback.

“We spoke about Declan Rice, he has been outstanding. But another player who has been outstanding and they have to keep fit is Saliba,” Morrison said on Soccer Special on Sky Sports.

“Unbelievable. The partnership between him and Gabriel is brilliant.

“That is a protection (from Rice). But if they were to pick an injury to Saliba, then it is a struggle. You are then looking at who could come in.”

[DailyPost]

The Super Eagles of Nigeria ended the outgoing 2023 as the most financially valuable national team in Africa.

According to the most recent Transfermarket financial rankings of national teams for 2023, the Super Eagles are the 12th most valuable national team globally.

Super Eagles’ squad financial valuation has now hit €465.90 million, which is a €14.3 million increase from their worth in November,r which was €451.60 million.

The players’ recent outstanding season for their respective clubs, alongside the addition of Nathan Tella, a midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen, contributed to a notable increase in the squad’s financial valuation.

Tella, who made his debut for Nigeria against Zimbabwe in November, is reportedly valued at €23 million.

Victor Osimhen (€120 million) is the most expensive player in Nigeria, valued at more than a quarter of the squad, with a transfer value that eclipses any other player in Africa.

Boniface, a sensation from Leverkusen, is the Eagles’ second most expensive player at €40 million.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s squad worth increased dramatically, from €326.05 million to €350.80 million, solidifying their ranking as the continent’s second most valuable and 13th most valuable team in the world.

With a value of €340.58 million, Ivory Coast is ranked third in Africa and 15th overall, down €25.5 million from €315.08 million. With a squad worth €266 million, Senegal holds fourth place on the continent; Ghana, with a value of €285 million, moved up to fifth place.

On the world stage, Brazil moved up to second place with a squad worth €1.09 billion, while England remained the most valuable team in the world with a market value of €1.15 billion, down from their previous €1.37 billion.

Spain (€837 million), Portugal (€922 million), and France (€1.05 billion) round out the top five national teams in the world according to transfermarkt.com.