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Nigeria Unshaken By Trump’s Tariffs, Trade Policies – Tinubu

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Nigeria Unshaken By Trump’s Tariffs, Trade Policies – Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said his administration will remain resilient and has no fear of the trade policy direction of U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly tariffs targeting Nigerian exports. Tinubu made the remarks when he received in audience members of The Buhari Organisation led by former Governor of Nasarawa State, Sen. Tanko Almakura, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The President cited Nigeria’s current economic trajectory and growing non-oil revenues as buffers against external shocks. Tinubu said, “If non-oil revenue is growing, then we have no fear of whatever Trump is doing on the other side.” He highlighted Nigeria’s strengthened fiscal position, having met its 2025 revenue target as of August, and noted a stabilisation in the naira, which has appreciated to around N1,450 per dollar from a previous rate of N1,900 after he unified the exchange rates upon assuming office in May 2023. President Trump’s second term has ushered in sweeping changes to U.S. trade policy, including the imposition of a 10 per cent baseline tariff on nearly all imports, alongside country-specific levies. In his Liberation Day trade policy announcements on April 2, 2025, Trump introduced unprecedented reciprocal tariffs under his “America First” agenda, aiming to rebalance trade deficits. The policy included broad country-specific tariffs ranging from 11 per cent to 50 per cent on top of a 10 per cent baseline. Nigeria, like many sub-Saharan partners, now faces a 15 per cent tariff on its exports, effective August 7, following an initial 14 per cent rate announced in April. However, energy commodities, including oil and gas, have been exempted from the new tariff regime. Nonetheless, reports show that heightened trade tensions and tariff imposition have already dampened energy product exports globally in early 2025, disrupting demand flows for crude oil, gasoline, and diesel. Tinubu also pointed to progress on his administration’s agricultural reform agenda, citing a massive mechanisation programme across regions. “If we remove hunger, we have defeated poverty,” he said, arguing that food security is key to Nigeria’s economic recovery. Meanwhile, Tinubu recounted internal debates during the formative days of the All Progressives Congress, revealing that he clashed with the late former President Muhammadu Buhari over the party’s logo. Recalling the early merger talks that led to the APC creation in 2013, Tinubu said, “We disagreed to agree…We even argued over a symbol. He (Buhari) insisted on parliament, and I insisted on broom.” “He’s so stubborn,” Tinubu said amid laughter. Tuesday’s meeting brought together key northern party leaders, including Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda and former Governor Aminu Masari, and could be a consolidation of party ranks ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. The APC was officially formed in February 2013 through the merger of four opposition parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. Tinubu, then National Leader of the ACN and former Governor of Lagos State, played a central role in the merger, while Buhari led the CPC. Tinubu said their differing political cultures often clashed in the run-up to registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The broom, ultimately chosen as the party’s logo, symbolised collective action against corruption and poor governance, party leaders say. The coalition helped the APC unseat the long-ruling People’s Democratic Party in the 2015 elections, bringing Buhari to power.     Punch

Rumours of Trump’s Ill Health Spread Online Despite Denial

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Rumours of Trump’s Ill Health Spread Online Despite Denial

  From manipulated images to out-of-context photos, false claims that Donald Trump is seriously ill — or even dead — have swirled online, with the misinformation persisting even after the US president publicly rejected it on Tuesday. At a White House press conference, Trump dismissed social media rumours about his health as “fake news,” following the 79-year-old’s noticeable absence from public appearances and press events last week. Since last Friday, there were around 104,000 mentions of the hashtag “Trump dead” on the Elon Musk-owned platform X, generating a cumulative 35.3 million views, according to an analysis from the misinformation watchdog NewsGuard. Some social media users cited online maps purportedly showing road closures near Maryland’s Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre as evidence that Trump was being treated for a serious ailment at the facility. But there were no credible reports of road closures around the medical facility. Other social media users shared an image of an ambulance parked outside the White House, claiming it was taken last month and citing it as evidence of a health crisis involving Trump. It was actually an old photo posted by a journalist on X in April 2023 — while Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, was still in office, according to NewsGuard. Some users claiming that Trump was dead shared an out-of-context image of the White House flag flying at half-staff, a traditional gesture used to honour the death of a prominent official. In reality, Trump had issued a proclamation last week ordering flags at the White House, military posts, and naval stations across the country to be lowered in honour of the victims of a school shooting in Minneapolis. Some users also posted a zoomed-in image of Trump’s face, claiming it showed a deep line above his eye that indicated a recent stroke. But NewsGuard found that the original image was out of focus and showed no signs of a line over Trump’s eye. The image used in the false posts was digitally enhanced using an AI tool. The misinformation — which appeared to originate from liberal anti-Trump accounts on X, Bluesky, and Instagram — persisted even after Trump stated on Truth Social over the weekend: “NEVER FELT BETTER IN MY LIFE.” The falsehoods continued to circulate following Trump’s press conference on Tuesday, where he publicly dismissed the health rumours. Shortly after the conference, one Bluesky account falsely claimed that the “White House just announced” the president was dead. The falsehoods highlight how facts are increasingly under assault on a misinformation-filled internet landscape, an issue exacerbated by public distrust of institutions and traditional media. The health of US presidents has always been closely watched, but with the White House seeing its two oldest ever occupants since 2017, the scrutiny is now heavier than ever. Trump — the oldest man ever to be elected US president — has alleged that Democrats covered up the mental and physical decline of Biden, who was 82 when he left office in January. Biden’s health was a key issue in the 2024 election, and the then-president was forced to drop his campaign for a second term after a disastrous debate performance against Trump. AFP

Nigeria Hits 2025 Revenue Target in August, Tinubu Announces

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Nigeria Hits 2025 Revenue Target in August, Tinubu Announces

  President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday announced that Nigeria hit its 2025 revenue target in August, driven largely by proceeds from the non-oil sector. According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu disclosed this at the Presidential Villa while receiving founding members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change and The Buhari Organisation led by former Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. Tinubu said the feat underscored the impact of his administration’s economic reforms. “The economy is now stabilised. Nobody is trading pieces of paper for foreign exchange anymore. The economy is now predictable. You do not need to know the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, to obtain foreign exchange or import goods,” the President said. Tinubu assured Nigerians that his Renewed Hope Agenda remained anchored on infrastructure renewal, improved health facilities, food sovereignty, and security. He disclosed that the federal government would establish agricultural mechanisation centres across all regions to boost cultivation, expand harvests, and create jobs. “What we need now is building the ship and the vessels for the export of our goods and creating more jobs for our people,” he added. The President also pledged to sustain and immortalise the legacies of former President Muhammadu Buhari, saying a Buhari House would be established while more former CPC members would be brought into government. Al-Makura, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, assured Tinubu of the group’s loyalty and support ahead of the 2027 elections. He commended the President for giving Buhari a befitting state burial, noting that his presence throughout the rites was both “comforting and reassuring.” Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also lauded Tinubu for his statesmanship and accommodation of diverse political stakeholders. Nigeria has historically depended on crude oil for up to 70 per cent of government earnings and over 90 per cent of foreign exchange inflows. Repeated administrations promised to diversify the economy, but oil remained the dominant revenue source. The federal government approved a record N54.99 trillion budget, of which only N41 trillion was expected to come in as revenue, leaving a N13 trillion deficit to be filled largely through loans.   Punch

Hundreds Feared Dead in Devastating Sudan Landslide

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Hundreds Feared Dead in Devastating Sudan Landslide

  Sudanese authorities, the United Nations and aid groups scrambled Tuesday to respond to a devastating landslide in Sudan’s Darfur region that buried an entire mountain village, killing hundreds of people. Heavy rain triggered the disaster on Sunday, flattening the village of Tarasin in the remote Jebel Marra range, the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army faction which controls the area said. UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan Luca Renda said in a statement that “the United Nations and our humanitarian partners are mobilising to provide support to the affected population”. Citing sources on the ground, Renda said the death toll from the landslide was believed to be between 300 and 1,000. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the full scale of the disaster remains unclear “as the impacted area is extremely hard to reach”. The SLM faction, led by Abdulwahid al-Nur, had earlier estimated the death toll at more than 1,000 people, with only one survivor. That survivor, according to his nephew Fath al-Rahman Ali Abdelnour, suffered multiple fractures to both legs and a serious head injury. “He is in a coma and unable to speak,” Abdelnour told AFP from the Ugandan capital of Kampala where he lives. Abdelnour, whose father had founded Tarasin in the 1980s, said that in addition to longtime residents, the village has also hosted around 450 people displaced by Sudan’s ongoing war between the army and rival paramilitaries. The war, which began in April 2023, has ravaged Sudan, killing tens of thousands of people and driving millions from their homes, according to UN figures. -‘Masses of mud’ – SLM leader Nur told AFP via a messaging app that “masses of mud fell onto the village.” “Our humanitarian teams and local residents are trying to retrieve the bodies, but the scale of the disaster is far greater than the resources available to us,” he said. Images the SLM published on its website appeared to show vast swathes of the mountainside sheared away, with the village below buried under thick mud and uprooted trees. The African Union called on “all Sudanese stakeholders to silence the guns and unite in facilitating the swift and effective delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance.” On Monday, both the army-aligned government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces called for humanitarian mobilisation in response to the disaster, but neither mentioned any potential ceasefire. The SLM controls parts of the Jebel Marra range and has mostly stayed out of the war. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled into SLM-held territory to escape the violence. Jebel Marra is a rugged volcanic range stretching about 160 kilometres (100 miles) southwest from North Darfur’s besieged state capital El-Fasher, which the RSF is pushing to capture after besieging it for more than a year. The area, known for citrus production, is prone to landslides, particularly during the rainy season which peaks in August. A 2018 landslide in nearby Toukoli killed at least 20 people. -‘Painful disaster’ – The Transitional Sovereignty Council of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan pledged to mobilise all available resources to support those affected by what it described as a “painful disaster”. The paramilitary-backed rival government based in South Darfur state capital Nyala has issued a statement announcing aid efforts. Mohamed Hassan al-Taayshi, the prime minister recently sworn in by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, expressed deep sorrow, saying he had spoken directly with SLM leader Nur to assess needs on the ground. “The lives and safety of Sudanese citizens are above any political or military considerations,” Taayshi said. Much of Darfur — including the area where the landslide occurred — remains inaccessible to international aid organisations due to ongoing fighting, severely limiting the delivery of emergency relief. The disaster also comes during Sudan’s rainy season, which often renders mountain roads impassable. In Sudan’s main war zones like Darfur, infrastructure was already fragile after more than two years of fighting. On Tuesday the army-aligned government, based in Port Sudan on the Rea Sea, announced that it would extend through the end of the year a decision to open the Adre border crossing with Chad — a critical lifeline for humanitarian aid. The move “coincides with the disaster in Tarasin”, the Sudanese foreign ministry said in a statement.     AFP

G4EP Unveils Free Figital Training For Nigerian Girls

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G4EP Unveils Free Figital Training For Nigerian Girls

    Gender Education, Engagement, Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship Programme has unveiled a training initiative for young girls across Nigeria, noting that the move is a step toward empowering the girl-child through education, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation. In a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday, G4EP said the initiative falls under its flagship project called Renewed Hope for Inclusion, Support, and Empowerment, and aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed hope agenda. “By providing access to in-demand creative and digital skills, the programme is designed to foster inclusion and create real opportunities for girls to thrive in today’s tech-driven world, ensuring that no one is left behind. “The programme will focus on Photography, Web Design, Cinematography, and Graphic Design—four powerful areas in today’s creative and digital economy. “By equipping young girls with these in-demand skills, G4EP seeks not only to bridge the gender gap in technology and media but also to empower participants to become creators, innovators, and leaders in their chosen fields. “In today’s world, digital literacy and creativity open doors to limitless opportunities. “Whether through photography that tells compelling stories, websites that shape businesses, graphics that communicate powerful messages, or films that inspire, young people are rewriting narratives and shaping society. Unfortunately, many girls are often left behind due to a lack of access, mentorship, or financial support. “A key highlight of the initiative is that registration and training are completely free of charge. This ensures that every girl, regardless of financial background, has equal access to world-class training and mentorship. With the free training commencing on September 8th, 2025, G4EP has removed barriers that often limit the girl child. This is the true spirit of Renewed Hope—giving every girl a fair chance to learn, grow, and shine,” said the organisers. According to the Chairman, G4EP, Judith Ogbara, the RISE project is about inclusion, empowerment, and creating pathways for the girl child to rise above limitations, maintaining that through the training, it is preparing girls to compete globally in technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship. “With this initiative, G4EP continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to the empowerment of girls in Nigeria. By equipping them with creative and digital skills, the program is shaping a new generation of storytellers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who will leave their mark on the world. “Interested applicants can register through the official G4EP training portal, and selected participants will receive mentorship, practical sessions, and access to industry-standard resources throughout the programme,”the chairman averred. Punch

SAD! Veteran Nollywood Actress, Peju Ogunmola Loses Only Son

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SAD! Veteran Nollywood Actress, Peju Ogunmola Loses Only Son

    The Nollywood movie industry has been thrown into the state of mourning following the sudden death of Shina, the only son of veteran Yoruba actress, Peju Ogunmola. The tragic incident occurred on Monday while Ogunmola was on a movie set. According to reports, she had been informed that an actor was rushed to the hospital, only to arrive and discover that it was her son who had passed away. Shina’s death comes shortly after he celebrated the completion of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, a moment of joy that had brought immense pride to his mother. Ogunmola, widely respected for her remarkable contributions to Nollywood, has been a household name for decades, featuring in numerous Yoruba films and stage productions. The heartbreaking news has left her colleagues, friends, and fans in shock, with tributes already pouring in across social media. Many described the young man’s death as a painful loss not only to his family but also to the Nollywood community.

Wike Slams N5m Fine, 7.5% Charge on FCT Land Defaulters

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Wike Slams N5m Fine, 7.5% Charge on FCT Land Defaulters

      The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has approved and imposed a N5m fine, payable within 30 days, for allottees and land title holders who have contravened the Land Use Act in the Federal Capital Territory. The minister also assented to a 7.5 per cent charge on the Assessed Capital Value of properties converted without the knowledge or express permission of the FCT Administration, payable within 30 days. Wike gave the approval after receiving the report of the committee set up to address the abuse of the Land Use Act in the FCT, in his office on Tuesday. The minister had inaugurated the committees on August 8, 2025, describing the issue of land abuse as “very important” in streamlining the activities of the FCT Administration on emerging land matters. Chairman of the Land Use and Purposes Clause Committee and Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, said the committee found that many properties on Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Aminu Kano Crescent, Yakubu Gowon Street, and Gana Street, among others, had been converted to residential, commercial or mixed usage, contravening the original agreements. He added that the total capital value of the said properties amounted to N1,037,478,716,500, while recommending various sanctions on the defaulting title holders, including sealing of property, removal of buildings and structures, revocation and withdrawal of titles, if they failed to pay the fines. “The Committee hereby recommends as follows: That, allottees/title holders of land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, pay within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval, Land Use Conversion fee of 7.5% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet. “That, allottees/title holders of the land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, in addition to payment of Land Use Conversion fee, pay statutory Right of Occupancy bills applicable for the new land use/purpose clause and as charged for the District; “That, where illegal/unapproved extension, merger and subdivision has been established, the allottee/title holder of the property… pay, within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval, extension/merger/subdivision fee of the extant 2.0% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet,” Galadima said. The minister, in his address, commended the committees for their work, stating that no defaulter would be allowed to go scot-free, as the administration was interested in raising money to carry out projects. “I’m not going to leave anybody to go free. We are looking for money to carry on projects. If you fall into our trap, it’s your business. “Or if you want us to take back our title, which we are not interested in taking back. We are trying to raise money for the FCT. But if you don’t want, we take back your title, we sell it, we will still raise money. You have to pay the penalty and pay for the conversion, they are two different things. “I’m aware that certain areas are designated for residential, and certain areas are designated for commercial. But people believing that they can do anything without approval from the government, some have changed residential to commercial, some have changed commercial to residential, and some have changed for all kinds of mixed uses. If you don’t sanction them, it will continue to be so,” Wike stated.     Punch

Nigeria Must Lead Africa’s Digital Future, Says FG

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Nigeria Must Lead Africa’s Digital Future, Says FG

    The Federal Government, alongside international partners, has urged the integration of cyber, anticipatory, and digital diplomacy into the core of Nigeria’s foreign policy, highlighting the urgent need for the country to take a leadership role in shaping Africa’s digital future. The call was made at the inaugural seminar on “Anticipatory, Cyber, and Digital Diplomacy for Strengthening Nigeria’s Foreign Policy,” held in Abuja on Tuesday. Speaking at the opening session, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said the country must not remain a passive observer in a rapidly changing digital world. “We are living through a historic transformation. The convergence of disruptive technologies, shifting geopolitical alignments, and deepening digital interdependence is redefining the foundations of diplomacy. “From artificial intelligence and quantum computing, to the geopolitics of data and the militarisation of cyberspace, the very nature of statecraft is being rewritten before our eyes,” Tuggar said. The minister stressed that Nigeria must act with urgency to position itself as “a principled, capable and forward-looking actor in the evolving global digital order,” calling for cyber diplomacy to be deeply integrated into Nigeria’s foreign service, national security framework, and multilateral engagements. He added, “We must lead Africa’s digital future, training a new generation of cyber negotiators, expanding regional incident response capabilities, and championing African-led solutions to global digital challenges. “This includes advancing climate-conscious data practices and ethical AI development.” Explaining the significance of anticipatory diplomacy, Tuggar said, “It provides us with the ability to detect early warning signals, foresee systemic shocks and plan strategically for the future, whether in the global race for critical minerals, the regulation of artificial intelligence, or the restructuring of global supply chains.” On cyber diplomacy, he noted it encompasses international cooperation on combating cybercrime, protecting infrastructure, safeguarding elections, and shaping global norms around data privacy, internet freedom, and information integrity. “This is not optional. We are part of the equation. The only question to ask is how prepared we can be. “Nigeria’s foreign policy must adapt to a world where private technology firms often wield more influence than sovereign states, and where digital platforms can shape public opinion, economic outcomes, and even conflict dynamics. “As we seek greater influence within ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations, our engagement must be anchored in sovereignty, trust, and innovation,” Tuggar emphasised. He also announced the creation of a Cyber Diplomacy Unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tasked with coordinating Nigeria’s cyber-related foreign policy and championing ethical digital governance. “This is Nigeria’s digital gift to the world,” he said, referencing the launch of the Anticipatory Cyber and Digital Diplomacy Masterclass Series for African and Global South diplomats, which will be freely accessible online. Tuggar further highlighted that the inclusion of women and youth, regional collaboration, and engagement with the private sector and diaspora are central to Nigeria’s cyber diplomacy strategy. Echoing similar sentiments, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, said the digital era demands a fundamental transformation in statecraft. “The 21st century has introduced a paradigm shift in conflict, communication, and cooperation. “Traditional diplomatic methods are no longer sufficient,” Fagbemi noted. He underscored the need for legal and policy frameworks that can manage the impact of technologies like AI, data governance, and cybersecurity. “Cyber threats pose a danger to national infrastructure and the rule of law. “A legal framework must, therefore, be robust enough to deter cybercrime, enforce justice, and foster international cooperation to protect digital sovereignty,” the minister noted. Fagbemi emphasised that public diplomacy through social media and digital platforms must be managed ethically and responsibly, and that the Ministry of Justice is committed to working with security agencies, the private sector, and civil society to advance a secure digital future for Nigeria. Representing international partners, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to cyber and digital cooperation with Nigeria. “The British High Commission is very pleased to be one of the sponsors for today’s seminar,” Montgomery said, outlining the UK’s bilateral work with Nigeria under the Security and Defence Partnership, including a Memorandum of Understanding on cybersecurity signed last year. “In combination, we’ve agreed to share lessons and collaborate in five areas: threat hunting, building cyber threat intelligence capability, identifying critical national infrastructure, digital forensics, and national incident response planning,” Montgomery stated. He noted that these are fundamental to building government cyber capabilities and effective international cyber diplomacy. While emphasising that Nigeria will shape its own sovereign cyber decisions, Montgomery offered the UK’s support in sharing lessons from its own Foreign Office experience, especially in engaging research institutions, the private sector, and higher education to build a resilient digital ecosystem. “I fully agree with the Honorable Minister for Foreign Affairs about today’s seminar being framed by technological challenges and threats,” he said, noting that threats from hostile states, disinformation, hate speech, and cybercrime are real and growing. “We fear that this grey zone is going to be turbocharged by artificial intelligence tools,” Montgomery warned, adding that the UK and Nigeria have already recorded “shared successes” in tackling cyber fraud and crime, with more collaboration needed. The seminar was attended by diplomats, foreign policy experts, legal practitioners, security agencies, and members of the private sector. In recent years, diplomacy has evolved beyond traditional statecraft to address emerging issues in cyberspace, artificial intelligence, and global digital governance. Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and European Union members have crafted comprehensive cyber diplomacy strategies, acknowledging the rising importance of cybersecurity, data privacy, AI ethics, and the growing influence of tech companies on international affairs. Nigeria’s digital foreign policy came under the global spotlight in June 2021 when the government suspended Twitter after the platform removed a tweet by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. It ignited international debate around digital sovereignty, platform accountability, and freedom of expression. By 2024, Nigeria was reportedly facing over 4,000 cyber attacks daily, according to cybersecurity firm Nitroswitch.

13 Super Eagles Players Arrive Camp for World Cup Qualifiers

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13 Super Eagles Players Arrive Camp for World Cup Qualifiers

  The number of players in the Super Eagles’ camp has increased to 13, as Nigeria intensifies preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa. This follows the arrival of nine more players at the team’s camp in Ikot Ikpene on Tuesday, according to Promise Efoghe, the team’s media officer. The new arrivals include Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ola Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Moses Simon, Chidozie Awaziem, Adebayo Adeleye, and Benjamin Fredericks. They joined the quartet of William Troost-Ekong, Amas Obasogie, Felix Agu, and Raphael Onyedika, who checked into camp on Monday. Efoghe confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria that out of the 23 players who were invited for the double-header fixtures, only 13 had arrived, with 10 more players still being expected. “A total of 13 players are currently in camp, and we are expecting the rest of the squad to arrive later today and early tomorrow,” Efoghe said. He also shared details of the team’s upcoming media engagements. “There will be a press conference with the coaching staff and selected players on Wednesday at the training pitch of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium,” Efoghe stated. “For Friday, the pre-match press conference will holbe held the same venue, and the first 15 minutes of the team’s training session will be open to media coverage.” Players still beiexpected to be included arealkeeper Stanley Nwabali; defender Bruno Onyemaechi; midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka; and forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Cyriel Dessers, Christantus Uche, and Tolu Arokodare. Nigeria will host Rwanda on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, in a Matchday 7 fixture. They will then travel to Bloemfontein to face South Africa on Monday, in a Matchday 8 encounter. The Super Eagles currently sit third in Group C of the African qualifiers with two points from two matches, behind leaders South Africa (four points) and Rwanda (also four points but with an inferior goal difference). Only the top team in the group will qualify automatically for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Full 23-Man Squad: Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania); Adeleye Adebayo (Volos FC, Greece). Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia); Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England); Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France); Felix Agu (Werder Bremen, Germany); Benjamin Fredericks (Dender FC, Belgium). Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio, Italy); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Christantus Uche (Getafe, Spain). Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Cyriel Dessers (Rangers, Scotland); Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk, Belgium). (NAN)

Syrian Ex-Leader Assad Faces War Crime Charges For Killing Journalists

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Syrian Ex-Leader Assad Faces War Crime Charges For Killing Journalists

  French judicial authorities have issued arrest warrants for ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and six other top former officials over the bombardment of a rebel-held city in 2012 that killed two journalists, lawyers said Tuesday. Marie Colvin, 56, an American working for The Sunday Times of Britain, and French photographer Remi Ochlik, 28, were killed on February 22, 2012, by the explosion in the eastern city of Homs, which is being investigated by the French judiciary as a potential crime against humanity as well as a war crime. British photographer Paul Conroy, French reporter Edith Bouvier, and Syrian translator Wael Omar were wounded in the attack on the informal press centre where they had been working. Assad escaped with his family to Russia after being ousted by Islamist rebels at the end of 2024, although his precise whereabouts have not been confirmed. Other than Assad, the warrants notably target his brother Maher al-Assad, who was the de facto head of the 4th Syrian armoured division at the time, intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk, and then-army chief of staff Ali Ayoub. “The issuing of the seven arrest warrants is a decisive step that paves the way for a trial in France for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Bashar al-Assad’s regime,” said Clemence Bectarte, lawyer for the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Ochlik’s parents. The FIDH said the journalists had clandestinely entered the besieged city to “document the crimes committed by Bashar al-Assad’s regime” and were victims of a “targeted bombing”. “The investigation clearly established that the attack on the informal press centre was part of the Syrian regime’s explicit intention to target foreign journalists to limit media coverage of its crimes and force them to leave the city and the country,” said Mazen Darwish, lawyer and director of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM). Colvin was known for her fearless reporting and signature black eye patch, which she wore after losing sight in one eye in an explosion during Sri Lanka’s civil war. Her career was celebrated in a Golden Globe-nominated film, “A Private War”.   AFP

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