Author: Nigeriabrief

118 Arewa youths on Monday warned against undue interference and politicization of the ordeal of Walida, a 22-year-old woman whose relationship with a Department of State Services (DSS) official is controversial. A woman named Walida Abdulhadi Ibrahim is at the center of controversy after her family and certain religious groups claim that not only is she a minor, but she was also kidnapped and forced into marriage by DSS officer Ifeanyi Onyiwenyi. In an interview with a national newspaper last week, Walida revealed that he was indeed seduced by a woman in Hadejia, Jigawa State, and brought to Abuja. She…

February 23, 2026, 11:13 a.m. ETA five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks will be introduced at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, as soccer’s lawmakers prepare to introduce a raft of measures to speed up play.Following the success of this season’s eight-second rule, which penalizes goalkeepers for not releasing the ball or conceding corners, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has been encouraged to address other methods used to disrupt the tempo of the game.The IFAB is expected to approve a series of legal changes at its annual general meeting in Wales on Saturday, including giving referees permission to start…

Southern Kaduna: Three Christian vigilantes arrested after helping military rescue kidnap victims from terrorists…Community security volunteer detained by CID after family demands release for cooperating with militaryKaduna – Three Christian vigilantes from Kazim village in Kaura Local Government Area of ​​Kaduna State have been in the custody of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) since Monday, February 16, 2026, raising allegations of religious persecution and raising questions about their participation in community security in Nigeria’s troubled Middle Belt region.The detained men, Habila Yaro Umar (also known as “Yaro”), Filibus Ninio (also known as “MC Filibus”), and Augustine Tinat (also known as…

A Nigerian woman, Orlanthi Akinyemi, died in the UK shortly after she reportedly arrived there for her son’s graduation. Punch Metro has learned that a fundraising campaign has been launched on JustGiving to raise £20,000 to repatriate her body to Nigeria and cover related costs. As of Wednesday, £2,087 had been raised from 97 donors. In an appeal posted on the platform, Adekunle Ogundana said the funds would be used for repatriation and funerals. “Please help us bring home our sister, mother, friend and beloved Mrs. Olulanti Olufunmilayo Esther Akinyemi (nee Oluwalana/Ogundana),” he wrote. According to the post, Akinyemi traveled…

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the 2026 Electoral Act (Amendment) ahead of the 2027 general elections amid renewed concerns over the communication of election results.The development was reported by Voice of Nigeria, which said the signing ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, State House, Abuja.The amendments come days after Parliament passed a revised bill, sparking new debate about the adoption of hybrid systems that combine electronic and manual transmission of results, particularly in areas where there are network challenges.The new law comes into force at the same time as the election umpire’s recent announcement of election notices and…

UEFA Champions League drama broke out in Lisbon on Tuesday night. Vinicius Jr. Reported suspected racist abuse real madrid1-0 victory over a tense match Benficaforcing a 10-minute stoppage. The Champions League knockout phase play-off at the Estadio da Luz was called off after Vinicius criticized the Benfica midfielder. Gianluca Prestiani For racially abusing him. The incident happened shortly after Vinicius gave Real Madrid the lead in the second half with a stunning goal. After the on-field exchange with Prestiani, the 25-year-old ran up to the referee François Letexierhe gestured towards the Benfica players. Letexier responded by making a crossed-arms gesture,…

Anthony Gordon scored four first-half goals as Newcastle beat Qarabag 6-1 in the first leg of the knockout play-offs, all but sealing a place in the Champions League last 16 against either Chelsea or Barcelona.Gordon scored in the third minute and converted two penalties past goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski, taking his tally to 10 in Europe this season. The goalkeeper was also brought down by a header from Malik Thiaw in an unusual start and a deflected shot from Jacob Murphy in the second half. Newcastle captain Kieran Trippier and Gordon had to be separated by team-mates on the way to…

Arsenal’s Premier League title bid looked even more shaky on Wednesday, leaving many Gunners fans wondering: “Will it happen again?”The 2-2 draw with bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers was pretty disastrous considering they will be competing for the title in 2025-26. Mikel Arteta’s side took their fate into their own hands, dropping points in their last league game with a 1-1 draw against Brentford, and then failing to take a two-goal lead against Molineux and failing to widen their lead over Manchester City to seven points.- How Premier League clubs are turning to the US to raise transfer funds- What do the…

Olawale Aji Honkan in Abuja Less than 24 hours after the resignation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Bwari Regional Council chairmanship candidate, Mr. Julius Adamu, in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr. Joshua Ishaku Musa, another PDP candidate has resigned in the FCT Regional Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026. My lord. Zadona Dantani is the latest PDP chairperson candidate to join the trend after APC candidate John Dantani announced that he would be withdrawing his candidacy. Mr. Christopher Zakka Maikalang in the Abuja City Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election. Dantani said he decided…

Fintech still dominates venture capital in Africa, but it may belong to deep tech for the next decade, investors said at technology gathering SWEAT Africa in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on February 13 and 14. From biotech and advanced materials to AI-driven health solutions, investors see deep tech as the continent’s most defensible innovation bet. The challenge for founders is navigating scientific uncertainties, regulatory hurdles, and commercialization pathways in a sector where many of Africa’s ecosystems are still nascent. VC funding in Africa remains concentrated in fintech and four markets: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt. The share of deep tech…