Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde refuted claims by President Bola Tinubu that the federal government provided ₦570 billion to the 36 states as hardship funds. In a statement, Makinde clarified that the money received by the states was not a direct grant from the federal government but rather World Bank COVID-19 funds, with the federal government acting only as an intermediary. He emphasized that the funds were a loan, not a grant, and were part of the NG-CARES program, which predates Tinubu’s administration. Oyo State was reimbursed ₦5.98 billion and ₦822 million for funds it had already spent on COVID-19 recovery efforts. Makinde’s clarification comes amid public concern and protests over economic hardship in Nigeria.
2. Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed criticized President Bola Tinubu’s policies, claiming they are causing widespread hunger, unemployment, and educational decline. Speaking at the PDP’s local councils election campaign, Mohammed suggested that if Tinubu continues on his current path, the PDP will easily win the 2027 presidential election. He even joked about inviting Tinubu to manage the PDP campaign due to the damage he believes the APC is causing. Mohammed also questioned the effectiveness of federal palliatives, pointing out that salaries are no longer sufficient to cover basic needs, such as buying a bag of maize, following the removal of the fuel subsidy. He called for a “wake-up call” for the northern elite, referencing the #EndBadGovernance protest.
3. A gas explosion at the Mobil Filling Station near the Airport Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, injured at least nine people and burned several vehicles. The explosion occurred around 10:49 a.m. on Thursday when a gas truck was refilling an above-ground storage tank. The rapid spread of the fire damaged about nine vehicles and parts of a nearby two-story building. No fatalities were reported, but two people sustained severe burns, and seven others had minor injuries. The fire was contained by the Lagos State Emergency Maintenance Agency and the Fire and Rescue Service. Investigations revealed that the explosion was caused by a damaged pipe in an eight-ton LPG gas cylinder, leading to a gas leak and subsequent ignition. The injured were taken to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for treatment. The site is being secured to prevent further incidents.
4. Ese Brume finished fifth in the women’s long jump final at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a leap of 6.70 meters. Despite being one of Nigeria’s top medal hopes, she struggled in the final and narrowly made it to the top eight. The gold medal was won by the USA’s Tara Davis-Woodwall, with Germany’s Mihambo Malaika taking silver and another American, Jasmine Moore, winning bronze. Brume, who previously won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, was unable to replicate her success in Paris. Her fellow Nigerian competitors, Ruth Usoro and Prestina Ochonogor, finished 10th and 12th, respectively. Nigeria is still searching for its first medal at the Paris Games, with hopes now resting on Tobi Amusan in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.
5. Issa Hayatou, the former president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has passed away at the age of 77. The Cameroonian, who led CAF for 29 years from 1988 to 2017, was also a significant figure within FIFA, serving on its executive committee from 1990 to 2017 and briefly as acting FIFA president from 2015 to 2016 after Sepp Blatter’s suspension. FIFA President Gianni Infantino paid tribute to Hayatou, describing him as a “passionate sports fan” who dedicated his life to sports administration. Hayatou played a key role in bringing the 2010 World Cup to South Africa, the first time the tournament was hosted by an African nation. He passed away in Paris on August 8, 2024, a day before his 78th birthday.
6. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner has ordered an investigation into the death of a crossdresser and TikTok creator known as “Abuja Area Mama,” who was found dead on Thursday in the Mabushi area of Abuja. The police received a distress call about an unidentified person lying motionless along the Katampe-Mabushi Expressway. Upon arrival, detectives discovered that the deceased was a man dressed in female clothing with no identification. The body was taken to Maitama District Hospital, where it was confirmed that he had died. The police are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances of his death. This incident follows the recent release of another well-known crossdresser, Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky), from jail.
7. Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, founder of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, has sued a controversial activist known as VeryDarkMan for N1 billion. The lawsuit and a restraining order were issued after VeryDarkMan criticized Fufeyin’s miracle products, including soap and water, which Fufeyin claims have NAFDAC approval. In response, VeryDarkMan shared the court documents on social media and vowed to challenge Fufeyin in court. He also criticized NAFDAC, questioning the approval process for the products, and threatened to bring a large group of people needing healing to court to challenge the effectiveness of the products.
