This follows the yellow cards they received in their AFCON 2025 Group C fixtures — three against Tunisia on December 27 and one in the opening match against Tanzania.

The players are Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Semi Ajayi and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

The quartet risk missing Nigeria’s Round of 16 fixture if booked again.

Osimhen, the team’s leading striker, was cautioned after scoring the opening goal against Tunisia for gesturing towards the Tunisian bench.

Another booking against Uganda would rule him out of the knockout stage, a situation that could prompt head coach Eric Chelle to consider starting Paul Onuachu to avoid risking his key forward.

Lookman, who has scored in both of Nigeria’s AFCON matches so far, was booked in the opening group game against Tanzania and also faces the threat of suspension.

Defender Semi Ajayi, who received a yellow card in the 56th minute for a cynical foul, is likewise at risk, which could see Chelle consider deploying Zaidu Sanusi at full-back.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was cautioned for time-wasting against Tunisia, and another yellow card would also see him suspended.

Francis Uzoho is on standby to step in if required.

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Group C leaders in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa qualifiers, South Africa, are at the risk of losing three points in the race for the automatic spot in the group after fielding an ineligible player during their 2-0 win over Lesotho last Friday.

The player in question is midfielder Teboho Mokoena who accumulated two yellow cards in the series before their last game against Lesotho.

Mokoena was first booked in the qualifying series during their 2-1 home win over the Benin Republic in November 2023. He was cautioned in the 54th minute of the game.

The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was also booked in the 52nd minute during their 3-1 win over Zimbabwe in June 2024.

He was then named in their starting lineup during their last game against Lesotho, playing 82 minutes before he was replaced by Thalente Mbatha.

According to FIFA World Cup qualifying rules, a player is ineligible to play a subsequent match after accumulating two yellow cards.

“If players or team officials receive two cautions in one match (in matches decided by penalties) or in two different matches of the competition, they will be automatically suspended from their team’s subsequent match,” FIFA stated in the rule book.

However, a protest from Nigeria or Lesotho, who sit four points behind the South Africans in the group could also be disregarded by FIFA if it had not been submitted at the stipulated time.

“Protests regarding the eligibility of players selected for matches in the preliminary competition shall be submitted in writing to the FIFA Match Commissioner within two hours of the match in question and followed up with a full written report, including a copy of the original protest, to be submitted to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the applicable provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and by email to [email protected] within 24 hours of the end of the match and shall be dealt with by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, otherwise they will be disregarded,” FIFA also stipulated.

If the protest is successful, Lesotho, who are currently fifth in the group with five points will be awarded three points which would take them to eight points in the standings while Nigeria will stand a good chance of overtaking the South Africans, depending on the results of Tuesday’s matches.

South Africa who play the Benin Republic in Abidjan are currently top of the group with 10 points. The Benin Republic are second with eight points followed by Rwanda with seven points while Nigeria are fourth with six points after five matches.

The Oyo State government has taken action against land grabbers in the state, warning that defaulters risk 15-year imprisonment

This as the State government demolished properties on illegally acquired government lands in Podo Area, along Top One Garden in Oluyole local government area of the State and Dizengoff at Kolapo Ishola Area of Ibadan.

Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Williams Akin-Funmilayo, who disclosed this on Wednesday in Ibadan, said the lands are assets of the Oyo State Government, stressing that government will not tolerate any form of encroachment or illegal occupation.

Akin-Funmilayo emphasised that those currently working on the land were not the real owners of the land but “purely land grabbers”.

“In accordance with Section 3, Subsection 1 of the Oyo State Real Property Protection Law, 2017, any person who engages in land grabbing or related activities shall be liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 15 years,” he added.

The Commissioner further explained that the government had sent notices of revocation to occupants of the Podo through a newspaper publication on September 25, 2012.

According to him, the land was also gazetted the same year, indicating its acquisition for a neighbourhood market.

He said that despite the state government’s efforts, the illegal occupants took the government to court, but judgement was, however, delivered in favour of the state government.

The commissioner, however, noted that the government was ready to settle with land owners with genuine Certificates of Occupancy (CofOs).

“The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has declared zero tolerance for land grabbing activities, and ensuring that the state’s assets are used for the benefit of all citizens,” Akin-Funmilayo added.

At least 3,690 Nigerians in the United States are at risk of deportation as the President Donald Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

The crackdown against illegal immigration by the Trump administration has sent many Nigerians residing in the U.S. without proper documentation into panic.

The newly inaugurated president has wasted no time in implementing tougher immigration policies, including an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants.

According to a document from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) unit, the latest data categorises deportees by nationality.

The report, titled “Noncitizens on the ICE Non-Detained Docket with Final Orders of Removal by Country of Citizenship,” ranked Nigeria among the top African nations with the highest number of deportees.

Mexico and El Salvador led the global list with 252,044 and 203,822 deportees, respectively.

In Africa, Somalia tops the list with 4,090 deportees, followed closely by Nigeria with 3,690. Ghana ranked third, with 3,228 individuals facing removal from the U.S.

ICE data also revealed that there were currently 1,445,549 non-citizens on its non-detained docket with final orders of removal.

Under the U.S. immigration laws, undocumented individuals who cannot prove they have continuously resided in the country for more than two years can be swiftly deported.

Since Trump’s return to office, hundreds of migrants have already been arrested and deported on military aircraft in major crackdowns.

The administration has ramped up enforcement actions, with ICE empowered to carry out daily arrests and deportations.

The wave of deportations has also sparked strong opposition from human rights organisations and advocacy groups.

The Center for Law and Social Policy warned that the new policies could have devastating consequences for immigrant families, particularly those with U.S.-born children.

“The impact of these deportations extends far beyond the individuals being removed,” the organisation said in a statement. “Families may avoid seeking medical care, disaster relief, or education services out of fear, and children could be traumatised by witnessing immigration raids and arrests.”

Religious leaders have also condemned the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.

Speaking at an inaugural prayer service, the Episcopal bishop of Washington urged President Trump to show compassion for immigrants and vulnerable communities.

With ICE aggressively enforcing deportation orders, thousands of Nigerians in the U.S. now face an uncertain future.

Many are awaiting legal proceedings, while others with final removal orders could be deported at any moment.

In an effort to prepare people on preventive rather than reactive measures, the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Swiss Government Delegation have embarked on field visits to communities affected by flood in 2024 for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) scooping mission.

The Yobe SEMA and the Swiss Government delegation, led by the Deputy  Ambassador Mr. Siamak Rouhani and Ms. Valeria Hutter, a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) expert have during the visit engaged in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the communities affected by last years flood disaster for skills on preventive measures.

The executive secretary SEMA, Dr Mohammed Goje has before the visit to the affected communities met with the DRR expert, Ms. Hutter, where he outlined measures taken by the Yobe State government during last year’s flood disaster in addition to innovative methods.

Goje said the Yobe State Governor Hon Mai Mala Buni has even before last year’s flood directed the agency to prioritise preventive measures in a situation that help in mitigating the impact of the  disaster.

He commended the Swiss team for the visit assuring SEMA’s total support towards the actualization of the set target.

Dr. Goje highlighted Yobe’s strategic plans to shift from a reactive to a preventive disaster management approach, focusing on enhanced coordination, timely information dissemination, and strengthening the early warning system with an effectively responsive Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

The Deputy Ambassador, Mr. Rouhani has while speaking, commended the Yobe State government for its commitment to peace and resilience adding “My evening visit to Damaturu’s Bayan Tasha market without security or escort is a testament to the progress made in sustaining peace in post-conflict in Yobe State.

Also, a member of the delegation, Mr. Nicolas Martin-Achard, reassured the Yobe State Government of Switzerland’s commitment to mobilizing resources—technical and otherwise—to support Disaster Risk Reduction efforts.

This mission underscores the strong collaboration between Yobe State and Switzerland in building a resilient future for vulnerable communities.

 

No fewer than 49 Higher National Diploma final-year students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic are on the verge of expulsion following a result verification process that exposed the alleged use of fake National Diploma results.

TheNigerian Metro learnt on Thursday from a result verification update released by the polytechnic that the students had allegedly presented fake ND results while seeking admission into the HND programmes of the institution.

In a two-batch result verification list released by the polytechnic, the affected students cut across Mass Communication, Pharmaceutical Technology, Marketing, Science Laboratory Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering and Accountancy among others.

Some of the fake results were reportedly obtained from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa and Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, Oyo State.

The institution had on Monday announced the indefinite closure of the polytechnic over a planned protest by the students.

Speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, ‘yemi Ajibola, noted that the verification was part of the institution’s process of authenticating documents submitted by admitted students.

Ajibola noted that the delay in the release of results was occasioned by the verification process, and after due diligence, the affected students were found to have submitted fake ND results.

He said, “We have our internal mechanisms for verifying results submitted by every student of the polytechnic. Some of the results had yet to be verified because the schools they came from had yet to confirm their results, while some of the results were found to be fake.

“We had a backlog of results to verify because of some administrative issue which necessitated the delay, and we are working on getting them resolved as soon as possible.”

He added that the students with fake results would not be immediately expelled but would be allowed to come and defend the results before final action was taken.

“They will not be expelled immediately. The institution will write each of the affected students to come and defend the result they presented, and in a circumstance where we detect an error in the verification process, we will rectify it.

“However, anyone who could not substantiate his/her results will be expelled,” Ajibola said.

The TheNigerian reported on Thursday that the Ogun State Government and the students of MAPOLY disagreed over an alleged attack by the students on the state’s Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele.

While the government claimed that the deputy governor narrowly escaped an attack by the protesting students, the students, on the other hand, alleged that the deputy governor’s security detail fired shots at them during a confrontation.

The inspector-general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has announced February 1, 2025, as the commencement date of enforcement of vehicle third-party insurance.

The IGP stated this on Friday when the Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, and team visited him at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

In his remarks, the IGP affirmed the importance of third-party insurance and announced February 1, 2025, as the commencement date for the enforcement of the relevant laws.

The IGP further stated that Section 68 of the Insurance Act and Section 312 of the 1945 Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act mandate that all vehicle owners possess third-party insurance before operating their vehicles on public roads.

He urged Nigerians to comply with the laws, as violations are punishable by imprisonment, fines, or both.

Speaking earlier, the NAICOM commissioner congratulated the IGP on his significant achievements, particularly the establishment of the Police Insurance Company Limited.

He emphasised the need for the police’s assistance in ensuring public compliance with insurance laws.

He also requested the Nigeria Police Force’s support in the nationwide enforcement of compulsory third-party motor vehicle insurance, which provides substantial benefits to all road users.

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said that Nigeria was at moderate risk of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).

NCDC disclosed this in a statement in response to increased HMPV activity reported in China, the UK, France, and Germany, particularly during the winter season.

HMPV is a respiratory virus causing illnesses ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to severe respiratory infections, particularly in young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Meanwhile, contrary to rumours in circulation, the NCDC has said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not declared HMPV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Director-general of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said the centre, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, was actively monitoring the situation and implementing measures to ensure public health safety.

“On January 6, 2025, the NCDC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and partners conducted a dynamic risk assessment for Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV). The assessment classified the risk of HMPV for Nigeria as moderate. This evaluation will inform and guide preparedness efforts, decision-making, and response strategies to mitigate potential impacts,” he said.

Dr. Idris said data from the National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance (NISS) system showed no unusual increase in respiratory infections, including HMPV.

“Nigeria operates a National Influenza Sentinel Surveillance (NISS) system, comprising sentinel sites distributed across the six geopolitical zones of the country. These sites, which include tertiary and secondary health facilities, monitor Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI).

“As of January 6, 2025, data from this surveillance system does not indicate any unusual increase in respiratory infections, including those caused by Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV),” he added.

However, he said the NCDC was taking proactive steps to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response capacity.

At the Point of Entry (PoE), Dr. Idris said comprehensive readiness assessments and an Entry Implementation Protocol on HMPV were being developed. Quarantine facilities and IPC materials were being deployed to international points of entry, he added.

On surveillance and laboratory diagnosis, he said NISS sites will now test for HMPV in addition to COVID-19, with increased testing capacity in laboratories at international airports.

Hospitals have been advised on enhanced IPC practices, including proper hand hygiene and the establishment of isolation rooms, the DG stated.

The NCDC advised the public to practice good hand hygiene, cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals, disinfect surfaces regularly, seek medical attention for severe symptoms, especially in vulnerable groups.

Healthcare workers have also been advised to reinforce IPC measures, enhance surveillance for respiratory infections, and use appropriate PPE when attending to patients.