Atletico Madrid have signed England midfielder Conor Gallagher from Chelsea for a fee believed to be in the region of £33m.
The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Spanish top-flight club.
Gallagher joined Chelsea at the age of six and went on to make 90 appearances, scoring 10 goals.
He had entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge so Chelsea wanted to sell now to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.
Atletico forward Joao Felix, also 24, is set to move in the other direction after Chelsea agreed a fee in principle for the Portugal international.
The collapse of Chelsea’s talks to sign Atletico striker Samu Omorodion had delayed Gallagher’s move to Spain, but the Felix deal frees up the required funds for Atletico to complete the transfer.
Gallagher spent five days in a hotel in Madrid earlier this month expecting a deal before flying back to London when the move stalled.
No fewer than 30 kidnappers, including members of the Biafra Auto Pilot, also known as Unknown Gunmen, a notorious breakaway faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) loyal to the Finland based, Simon Ekpa, which terrorised Enugu and its environs had been gunned down in shoot-outs with security operatives at various locations across the state in the past two weeks, a police detective has disclosed.
This was contained in a statement on Wednesday morning by Governor Peter Mbah’s media office which quoted a Police Superintendent, SP Onochie Ezeh, who led a joint security operation to rescue some kidnap victims at Ugwuogo Nike-Opi Road in the early hours of Wednesday.
The operation led to the killing of a seven-man gang kidnappers at Ogbeke Nike where the kidnappers used a large poultry farm to hide their hostages.
The police chief explained that Wednesday’s successful operation was part of the sustained operations in the state to flush out criminals operating from other neighboring states, including kidnappers, unknown gunmen and other unscrupulous elements.
“We were on the trail of these kidnappers for more than three months now. They had been operating within this axis where they kidnapped their victims and kept them at a large poultry farm at Ogbeke Nike until ransoms are paid.
“So, on a tipoff from members of the public who suspected the strange movements in the area and the accounts of some of the victims of these criminals, we swung into action. On sighting us, these men of the underworld opened fire on my men, and we quickly retaliated and overpowered them with our superior firepower,” he stressed.
Speaking further, SP Ezeh disclosed that the combined security task force, set up by the Enugu State governor, Mr Peter Mbah, as a tactical squad against kidnappings and activities of unknown gunmen, had recorded milestones in policing the state and flushing out criminal elements.
“This is a gallant crack squad with the mandate to eliminate every form of threat in the state. We have recorded huge successes over the past months. You know our role is not to rush to the media to tell our story but to ensure that every citizen and resident of the state has peace.
“I can tell you that we have already neutralized over 7 criminal gangs who were mostly kidnappers and unknown gunmen. We are going after them. We are taking the battle to their doorsteps because the governor said we should not come back home if we don’t completely rid the state of threats.
“So we are on it. In fact, during our operations, we identified many criminal hideouts that serve as rogue premises where kidnap victims and dangerous weapons are kept. These places include New Artisan Market, Akwuke community, Akegbe-Ugwu, Four Corners, Awgu, Mgbowo, Emene, Eke and Afa in Udi and some parts of Isi Uzo local government. During rescue operations, we were able to neutralize over 30 of the kidnappers and recovered guns and valuables,” the police chief added.
One of the rescued kidnap survivors, Dr Kate Pamela, said she was traumatised by the ugly experiences at the hands of the kidnappers.
“Each time I pass through that poultry, I feel I have been denied justice by still allowing it to operate. They kidnapped us and kept us there for five days. They even killed two of the victims because their families could only afford ten million naira each against the fifty million naira demanded. Notwithstanding that I was able to identify the bodies of three of the kidnappers when they were killed, I still feel that the area should be cleared.
“Government must ensure justice by turning that place to a landfill,” Dr Pamela fumed.
On Tuesday, the Naira depreciated to N1,610 per dollar in the parallel market following its N1,600 per dollar value on Monday.
In the same vein, the Naira undervalued to N1,592.06 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, NAFEM.
According to data from FMDQ, the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM rose to N1,592.06 per dollar from N1,579.22 per dollar on Monday. This indicates N12.84 depreciation for the naira.
Dollars traded in NAFEM fell by 6.5 per cent to $152.26 million from $162.99 million traded on Monday, resulting in the margin between the parallel market and NAFEM rate narrowing to N17.94 per dollar from N20.78 per dollar.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has issued 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, signaling their intent to embark on a nationwide strike.
This was confirmed on Monday in Abuja by sources steeped in the inner workings of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC).
The notice emerged after an urgent NEC meeting at the historic University of Ibadan, where members engaged in stirring deliberations over the precarious state of the academic landscape.
A formal copy of the notice is poised to be dispatched to key government bodies, including the Federal Ministries of Labour and Education, serving as a stark warning of the impending industrial upheaval.
In a candid revelation, a member of the NEC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, emphasized the weight of this declaration. “This is not mere rhetoric; it is a formal strike notice. We grant them 21 days, after which the countdown to strike action begins.
“Our purpose in issuing this notice is grounded in legal obligation, as mandated by labor laws. We are resolute in ensuring that every step we take is meticulously in accordance with the law,” the source asserted.
The Presidency has assured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to ensuring that all higher institutions benefit from a 24-hour power supply to enhance education.
Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Engagement to the President, Comrade Sunday Asefon, provided this assurance during a working visit to the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, in Abuja.
The Federal Government has spent over N38,965,147 on power generation in several universities in Nigeria as part of the first phase of the Energizing Education Programme (EEP).
The recent increase in electricity tariffs has impacted public universities, with some paying between N150 million and N300 million monthly for electricity bills.
To address this, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Power and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), initiated the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) to provide reliable power via solar hybrid power plants. The programme initially targets 37 federal universities and 7 affiliated university teaching hospitals.
A document from the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) indicates that, due to budgetary constraints, the EEP is being implemented in phases. The first phase, costing over N38 billion, has been completed, and the solar hybrid power plants have been handed over to the beneficiary institutions. According to REA, the second phase, which is currently in the pre-commissioning stage, will be officially launched in the fourth quarter of 2024, while the third phase, now under construction, is expected to be commissioned by the second quarter of 2025.
Enugu State Police Command has debunked the viral video on the social media alleging that a countless number of students were kidnapped at the Enugu State College of Health Technology Oji-River. In a Statement made available to BVI Channel 1 Online , The Police insisted that the viral video did not capture the true picture of the fact on ground. The full statement reads ”The Enugu State Police Command wishes to inform the public that the viral video alleging that a countless number of students were kidnapped at the Enugu State College of Health Technology Oji-River is false and an act of mischief and misinformation aimed at misleading and creating panic among unsuspecting citizens.
Contrary to the spurious narrative in the viral video, in the evening hours of August 15, 2024, Police Operatives at the Oji-River Division of the Command received information alleging an act of abduction around the said college. They immediately hastened to the scene, rescuing two of the victims allegedly abducted, while three (3) others are yet-to-be found. However, vigorous operations are ongoing to locate and rescue them, as well as apprehend the abductors.
A preliminary investigation proves that the victims were driving out of the college, when the seemingly targeted incident occurred.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, *CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, psc (+)*, has ordered the Operatives to ensure that the missing victims are found and rescued, while also arresting the perpetrators. However, he cautions against such mischievous and malicious social media narratives, aimed at creating unwarranted panic and jeopardizing police operational and investigative actions over such incidents” the statement was signed by the Enugu State Police PRO -DSP DANIEL NDUKWE
Anambra state Commissioner for Youth Hon Patrick Aghamba and his wife have been reportedly kidnapped by suspected gunmen along Edo – Kogi road as gathered from sources. It was also alleged that the Commissioner’s Aid was killed in the process.
it was gathered that the trio were on their way to Abuja to attend the wedding reception of the first daughter to Gov Charles Soludo Adaora when the incident happened.
Recall that Hon Patrick Aghamba had just recently flagged off the One Youth Two Skills program of the state government and had also attended the traditional wedding ceremony of the Governor’s daughter at Isiofia last Saturday in Aguata local government area.
The National Emergency Management Agency has warned that 362 vulnerable communities in 14 local governments in Kano State are at high risk of flood.
NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, made this known at a one-day stakeholders meeting in Kano on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting was on Solid Waste Management and Flood Preparedness: Downscaling 2024 Flood Early Warning Strategies for Grassroots Action.
The theme of the workshop is: “Enhancing Community Resilience through Effective Solid Waste Management and Proactive Flood Preparedness”.
Commissioner of Police arrive at Ojota Park during the protest #endbadgovernanceinnigeria | Punch
Umar, who was represented by NEMA Territorial Coordinator Kano Office, Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, said the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency AFO has predicted a population of 3,749,200 were at risk of flood in the state.
She listed the local govt to include: Rimin Gado, Tofa, Kabo, Madobi, Garun Malam, Bebeji, Rano, Dawakin Kudu, Warawa, Wudil, Sumaila, Ajingi, Kura and Dala.
Umar said the meeting was also to implement effective early actions that would safeguard lives and livelihoods throughout the rainy season.
“Floods of 2012 and 2022 have highlighted the critical need for coordinated efforts across all levels of government in managing disaster risks.
“Kano state has historically experienced severe impacts from floods, and the current predictions highlight that certain areas will continue to face challenges, especially with improper solid waste disposal in our communities,” she said
The DG emphasized the need to collaborate to sensitize the public on waste management as well as downscaling flood early warning and risk mitigation at the grassroots levels.
“Improper solid waste disposal affects the environment, human health as well as the economy, due to uncontrolled dumping of large amounts of wastes, which prevent rainwater from flowing freely leading to overflow and flooding.
Umar noted that NEMA has engaged in extensive planning and analysis, Stakeholders’ Technical Meetings and an Emergency Coordination Forum.
“Disaster management is everyone’s business. By coming together, we can protect our communities, preserve critical infrastructure, and maintain socio-economic stability in Kano state.
“This aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed focus on socio-economic growth and development under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu,” Umar said.
The Kano state Commissioner for Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, Amina Abdullahi, reiterated Gov. Abba Yusuf’s commitment to protect the people against disasters and emergencies.
Abdullahi, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Disaster Management and Rapid Response, Mr Mustafa Yunusa, commended the organizers of the workshop.
The Managing Director of the Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board, Amadu Haruna-Zago urged residents to desist from dumping refuse on the road and waterways.
Also, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Isyaku Abudullahi-Kubarachi, commended NEMA and other stakeholders for their efforts in sensitizing the public on disaster issues.
NAN reports that the workshop was organized by NEMA in collaboration with SEMA, Kano state Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Nigerians have expressed anger and frustration over the prolonged scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, across various states nationwide.
It was observed on Wednesday that the scarcity of petrol led to widespread queues by motorists at filling stations in Abuja, Kaduna, Niger, Adamawa, Kano, Bauchi, and Delta, among others.
Although the queues were not severe in the South-West, findings showed that the cost of petrol in most of the affected states was close to N1,000/liter at filling stations.
Day 5 – Hunger protesters take to the street as they continue to express their grievances. | Punch
Marketers explained that the South-West had fewer queues because petrol normally moves from the coastal areas in the zone to the North, adding that the recent protests halted the free movement of trucks to other regions.
They further noted that suppliers of petrol would first supply their stations in the South-West before moving products to other regions, stressing that the low supply had made it tough to have enough products to take other states far North.
Black marketers took advantage of the situation in states that had severe scarcity, as they sold petrol for between N1,200/litre and N1,500/litre depending on the area of purchase.
This led to a hike in transport fares in the affected states, while many passengers spent several man-hours waiting for vehicles at different bus stops to get to their destinations.
Oil marketers blamed the prolonged petrol scarcity on the limited supply by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, stressing that the development had become worse to the point that the national oil firm now allegedly rations PMS to one truck per state.
NNPC stayed mute when contacted to speak on the persistent fuel scarcity and the claims by dealers that it was rationing PMS supply.
NNPC is Nigeria’s sole importer of petrol. Other marketers stopped importing the commodity due to their inability to access the United States dollar required for fuel imports.
Some Nigerians on social media asked NNPC to explain why the scarcity has continued to linger.
Since July 27, 2024, when NNPC blamed the fuel scarcity on a hitch in the discharge operations of some vessels, the situation has yet to record any significant improvement.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria told The PUNCH on Wednesday that there was no hope of improvement as at Wednesday..
The Vice National President of IPMAN, Hammed Fashola, said marketers can only push out whatever NNPC makes available.
According to Fashola, there is a shortage in fuel supply and marketers have had cause to ration the little they get.
“No hope on fuel scarcity yet. Whatever NNPC brings is what marketers will push out. There is a shortage in supply. We are still managing whatever we have,” he stated.
Asked if there was any formal communication from NNPC on the reason for the scarcity, Fashola replied in the negative but stated that he believed the energy company was working round the clock to restore normalcy.
“No formal communication yet. We believe that NNPC is working round the clock to make sure they wet everywhere with the product. We as marketers are supporting them to ensure that we dispense the fuel to the public appropriately,” he submitted.
The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, confirmed Fashola’s position, as he revealed that all his filling stations were empty.
“All my filling stations are empty. I don’t have products to sell. That is the true situation right now. There is no supply from NNPC. So I cannot tell you when the queues are going clear,” he stated.
Asked whether the national oil firm has explained the reason for the scarcity, Gillis-Harry replied, “They have given us no reason, and we are anxiously waiting to know why. But just know that we don’t have the product to sell and it is not the fault of marketers because we don’t import PMS. NNPC is the sole importer.”
Operators had earlier stated that the depots in Apapa, Lagos did not get enough supply from NNPC.
According to them, demand is currently higher than what the sole importer of PMS could bring into the country.
The operators said though vessels were bringing in imported fuel, the supply had remained below what the country needed to get rid of the current fuel crisis.
“There is no fuel at the depots. Whatever is being imported now is not enough to fight the current scarcity. And the price is high because marketers now get petrol at N730/litre from private depot owners. There is nothing we operators can do when there is no supply.
“The supply is not increasing because the importer is incurring too much debt. The more they import, the more the debt on NNPC, so they continue to ration. Everywhere is dry, and even major marketers are affected. NNPC retail outlets are affected. The situation is worse in Abuja, especially at Airport Road,” a dealer, who spoke in confidence due to lack of authorization to speak on the matter, stated.
Another marketer alleged that the national oil company had started rationing supply to the extent of giving out just one truck per state.
“As at when there was enough supply, marketers get as much as they can buy. If there are 3,000 filling stations in a state and each of them can buy a truck, they are ordinarily meant to get it.
“But what we saw in Lagos on Wednesday was that NNPC was giving out just one truck per state. And if this is not addressed as soon as possible, the scarcity will ground activities nationwide,” the dealer stated.
Northern states
In Adamawa State, transport fares skyrocketed on Wednesday as the price of petrol increased in filling stations in Yola, the state capital. Some filling stations dispensed PMS at between N870/litre and N900/litre.
At Optima Oil located along Yola-Mubi road, a litre of petrol cost N900, while at NUT filling station it was N870. At MRS filling station located along Yola-Numan road, the cost was N850, while at Ned Oil it was N890.
Out of the more than 10 NNPC mega stations in the state capital, only one sold petrol on Wednesday as it witnessed long queues of motorists.
On the black market, the cost of petrol was between N1,500 and N1,700, depending on the area of purchase.
This affected the cost of transportation, as the fare from Yola to Mubi that used to cost N4,500 before, increased to N7,000 per passenger on Wednesday. From Yola to Numan, the fare was N1,500 before, but rose to N2,500. Fuel scarcity resurfaced in Kaduna, leaving motorists stranded and frustrated in the state capital on Wednesday.
Long queues were seen at fuel stations where petrol was available, while many independent marketers claimed to be out of stock.
At NNPC mega stations around Aliyu Makama road by Living Faith Church Barnawa, motorists waited in endless lines, causing traffic congestion and forcing other road users to take alternative routes.
The fuel was sold at N620/litre at the NNPC mega station, a price significantly lower than the N930 to N950/litre charged at other stations in the metropolis.
Motorists expressed frustration and confusion, wondering why the scarcity persisted despite the high prices.
“We’re buying petrol at a cut-throat rate, yet it’s out of sight. Why?” asked John Ayaga, who had been waiting in line since early morning.
The scarcity has led to a boom in black market sales, with petrol sold at exorbitant prices of N1000 to N1300/litre and N4500 to N5000 per gallon, depending on the location.
Sule Ahmed, a black marketer, revealed that they source their fuel from fuel attendants, who sell it to them for resale to desperate motorists. “Fuel attendants sell it to us, and we in turn sell to other motorists,” he said.
This illicit trade is flourishing due to the shortage, causing hardship for many residents who are forced to pay inflated prices in the state.
The development has had a ripple effect on transportation costs, with fares soaring to unprecedented heights. The cost of a tricycle (Keke Napep) ride from GT Barnawa to Central Market (Sheikh Gumi Central Market) has increased significantly, now ranging from N350 to N400, up from the previous N200 to N250.
Fuel queues grounded activities in Niger State as motorists spent hours at filling stations waiting to purchase the product that was not available
In the past, the scenario was that there would be fuel with few motorists queuing to purchase the product.
The lawmaker representing Kano South, Senator Sumaila Kawu, has revealed that he earns over N21m monthly as a total take-home package.
This revelation is coming barely 24 hours after the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission said that each of the 109 senators in the upper chamber receives a total of N1.06m in salary and allowances per month.
The RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, said this as a form of clarification in response to recent controversies over the real amount each lawmaker earns per month.
Based on Shehu’s disclosure, it would mean each lawmaker earns N12.72m in 12 months and the Federal Government makes a total expenditure of N1.4bn annually for all senators.
A breakdown of their monthly earnings revealed that each Senator collects a monthly salary and allowances of N1,063,860, consisting of a basic salary, N168,866:70; motor vehicle fueling and maintenance allowance, N126,650:00; and personal assistant, N42,216:66.
Others include domestic staff,126,650:00; entertainment, N50,660:00; utilities, N50,660:00; newspapers/periodicals, N25,330:00; wardrobe, N42,216,66:00; house maintenance, N8,443.33:00; and constituency allowance, N422,166:66.
Shehu in the statement noted, “The commission also wishes to use this opportunity to state that any allegation regarding other allowance(s) being enjoyed by any political, public office holder outside those provided in the Remuneration (Amendment) Act, 2008 should be explained by the person who made the allegation.
“To avoid misinformation and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading citizens and members of the international community, the commission considers it most appropriate and necessary to request Nigerians and any other interested party to avail themselves of the opportunity to access the actual details of the present remuneration package for political, public and judicial office holders in Nigeria published on its website: www.rmafc.gov.ng.”
However, Senator Kawu in an interview with British Broadcasting Hausa Service, on Wednesday morning disclosed that although his monthly salary is about N1m, but his total take-home was N21m, a wide margin from figures quoted by RMFAC.
Kawu said, “The amount of salary I receive per month is less than N1m, if there are cuts, it comes back to about six hundred thousand naira and a little something as salary.”
He noted that there are usually a few deductions by the RMFAC.
The issue of the amount of money received by federal lawmakers stirred up fresh controversies since last week.
Last week, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was president between 1999 and 2007, had Friday in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital while receiving in audience, six members of the House of Representatives, led by Ikenga UgoChinyere who visited him, chided the federal lawmakers for fixing their salaries and emoluments.
During the parley, Obasanjo said, “In your case, with all due respect, you’re not supposed to fix your salaries. But you decide what you pay yourself, the allowances that you give yourselves (including) newspaper allowances.
“You give yourselves all sorts of things, and you know it is not right. It is immoral, (yet) you are doing it, the Senate is doing it, and you are beating your chests about it. In some cases, the executive gives you what you’re not entitled to. You all got N200 million (each).”
Also, a former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, had once publicly disclosed that each Senator collects a monthly running cost of N13.5m in addition to the monthly N750,000 prescribed by the commission.
It would be recalled that the Senate in a Statement on Sunday refuted the claims by Obasanjo stating that they were lies.
