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Yobe State Road Traffic Management Agency (YOROTA) has commenced enforcement of the ban on illegal motor parks and unauthorised roadside business structures within the Damaturu metropolitan area.

The exercise began on Monday, shortly after the agency’s weekly general staff parade and polling exercise.

According to YOROTA, the operation is aimed at restoring order, enhancing road safety, reducing traffic congestion, and ensuring the free movement of vehicles and pedestrians across the state capital.

In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, DSY Musa Ali Maigari, the agency reminded transport operators, commercial drivers, tricycle riders, and roadside traders that operating illegal motor parks and carrying out unauthorised business activities along public roads contravene existing traffic regulations.

“Anyone found contravening the directive will be sanctioned in accordance with the provisions of the law,” the statement warned.

YOROTA appealed to transport unions, stakeholders, community leaders, and residents to cooperate with the enforcement team to ensure the success of the exercise.

The agency said public support was critical to promoting environmental sanitation, maintaining public order, improving traffic management, and creating a safer road network for all users in Damaturu.

“YOROTA remains committed to its mandate of ensuring safety, orderliness, and efficient traffic management throughout Yobe State,” the statement added.

Yobe agency launches crackdown on illegal motor parks, unauthorised roadside businesses

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the apex sociopolitical youth group in the South East geopolitical zone…

The post South-East has not endorsed any presidential candidate for 2027 — COSEYL appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Sokoto State Police Command has rescued 32 kidnapped victims after repelling a bandit attack in Maikujera village, Rabah Local Government Area, in a joint operation with the Nigerian Army. The operation, carried out on Tuesday, followed a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Rabah, reporting that a large group of armed […]

The post Police, Army rescue 32 kidnap victims in Sokoto appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has secured a grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to deploy a state-of-the-art market surveillance system aimed at strengthening oversight of Nigeria’s capital market, while also retaining a 20 per cent revenue waiver approved by the Federal Government to sustain its regulatory operations.

Director-General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, disclosed this on Tuesday during the 2026 Revenue Monitoring Exercise conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Finance in Abuja, where he also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to maintaining an efficient, transparent, and globally competitive capital market.

Agama said the new surveillance system, funded through the AfDB grant, is expected to become operational this year and will significantly enhance the Commission’s ability to monitor trading activities, detect market abuses, and strengthen investor protection in line with international best practices.

According to him, the initiative forms part of the SEC’s broader strategy to modernize market regulation and align Nigeria’s capital market with global standards.

“The Commission has secured a grant from the African Development Bank to acquire a modern market surveillance system, which will be deployed this year.

This will strengthen oversight of the capital market and ensure that our regulatory framework meets international standards,” Agama said.

The SEC boss also revealed that the Commission continues to operate without any budgetary allocation from the Federal Government, relying entirely on internally generated revenue from activities within the capital market to fund its operations while still making statutory remittances to the government.

He explained that although the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) recommends that securities regulators operate independently with governments providing financial support where necessary, Nigeria’s SEC currently finances its activities from market-generated income.

“Going by IOSCO principles, the SEC is expected to be financially independent. The government is supposed to provide support for the running of the Commission.

However, due to the paucity of funds, all the money used to fund the Commission comes from the market.

The SEC does not receive any funding from the government; rather, it pays money to the government,” Agama stated.

He further explained that once the Commission’s revenues are lodged into its account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), statutory deductions are automatically effected before the SEC can access the remaining balance.

According to Agama, the arrangement has made it necessary for the Commission to adopt prudent financial management measures while ensuring that regulatory activities are not compromised.

To cushion the impact of the deductions, he disclosed that the SEC obtained approval from the Minister of Finance to retain 20 per cent of its internally generated revenue through a waiver.

He noted that the waiver has become critical to sustaining the Commission’s operations without imposing additional financial burdens on capital market operators through increased regulatory fees.

“We are regulators and are not expected to ask the market for money.

With the kind permission of the Honourable Minister of Finance, we obtained a 20 per cent waiver on deductions to ensure our operations are not hindered,” he said.

Agama emphasized that the Commission remains committed to improving operational efficiency while safeguarding market integrity, investor confidence, and sustainable growth of Nigeria’s capital market.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly commended the SEC for improving its fiscal sustainability through prudent cost management and enhanced revenue generation.

Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Saeed Musa Abdullahi, praised the Commission’s leadership for strengthening its financial position despite operating without direct government funding.

“DG, you have done significantly well. We have followed the progress of the SEC over the years and urge you to keep the flag flying.

We will continue to celebrate you when you do well. This exercise is not to witch-hunt any agency; it is aimed at ensuring better performance, especially at a time when the country is facing serious fiscal challenges,” Abdullahi said.

The lawmaker also challenged the Commission to outperform its 2026 revenue projection by at least 20 per cent, expressing confidence in its capacity to generate higher revenue through improved efficiency and continued reforms.

The Revenue Monitoring Exercise forms part of the National Assembly’s oversight responsibility to assess the revenue performance of government agencies, promote fiscal accountability, and encourage institutions to improve revenue generation amid Nigeria’s prevailing fiscal challenges.

SEC Secures AfDB Grant To Strengthen Nigeria’s Capital Market Surveillance is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Gallant troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY), have rescued a kidnapped victim…

The post Insecurity: Troops rescue kidnap victim, recover 126 rustled livestock in Katsina appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike has promised to deliver Inner Southern Expressway (Goodluck Jonathan Way) awarded in December 2014, and abandoned for 12 years in December.

Wike gave the promise in Abuja on Tuesday, after inspecting the project, along with the ongoing construction of the service carriageways of the Southern Parkway in Gaduwa District.

He said that the 10-kilometre road project, awarded in 2014, began from the Southern Parkway to Ring Road II at Galadimawa, with five bridges.

According to him, the road was the only project, apart from the Apo-Karshi Road, awarded by previous administration that has not been completed by President Bola Tinubu administration.

He said that the contractor would complete the remaining six out of the 10-kilometre road and hand it over by end of December, subject to availability of funds.

The minister described the road as a “major road” that would change the landscape of the FCT, if completed, adding that talks were ongoing with Ministry of Finance to make the needed funds available.

“So we’ll continue to dialogue with the Minister of Finance to see how we’ll be able to access the funds and pay off the contractor for it to finish that project.

“It is very, very key to us and that of course will change the entire landscape of the FCT.

“Apo-Karshi Road awarded in 2010 is almost completed. We were there yesterday,” he said.

Wike said that completing the projects would fulfill Tinubu’s promise to complete all projects awarded by precious administrations from 2010 to 2023.

“It will be a remarkable achievement for this administration to finish all projects awarded by previous administration so that we don’t have abandoned projects everywhere.

“So, it’s  a good development for us, continuity. So we’re happy with what we’ve done,” Wike said.

The minister also inspected the ongoing construction of two service carriageways of the Southern Parkway, spanning from Arterial Road S20 (Oladipo Diya Way) in Gaduwa District to Ring Road II.

The Southern Parkway serves as one of the most essential transportation corridors within Abuja’s southern development axis, linking multiple dense residential districts across Phases I to IV of the Federal Capital City.

“You know, this road was flagged-off during the inauguration of projexts to celebrate Tinubu’s third year in office. We have to come and see what they’ve done.

“The contractor promised to hand over the project by end of December and I believe them,” he said.

Reacting to Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers recent declaration that he has returned to the Rainbow Coalition and pledged complete loyalty to Tinubu’s re-election, Wike said “there is no sin in politics.

“If someone realises he made a mistake and decides to correct it, there is nothing wrong with that. What matters is recognising that you were on the wrong path and make the right decision”.

The minister said he has welcomed Fubara back into the political fold, insisting that the governor had “no other choice” than to return to the political family that brought him to power.

Wike said Fubara’s decision to publicly align with his political camp was a step in the right direction, adding that the reconciliation would strengthen support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

“I said during my last media chat that he had no other choice but to return to the same political family that produced him,” he said.

Wike promises to deliver abandoned Goodluck Jonathan Way, other new roads in December 

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has nominated Jerry Adams, the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.

Adams, who was appointed to lead KADIRS in 2023 hails from Southern Kaduna.

In his announcement, Sani said the decision followed consultations and was intended to reflect principles of inclusion, fairness and equitable representation.

He described Adams as an experienced public servant and tax administrator whose tenure at the revenue agency had supported the state’s fiscal capacity.

The current Deputy Governor, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term under constitutional term limits. 

Governor Sani stated that the choice aligns with his administration’s focus on merit, competence and broader representation across the state.

2027: Kaduna Gov, Uba Sani nominates Jerry Adams as running mate

The Eastern Naval Command, ENC, of the Nigeria Navy has arrested an oil product tanker MT FILIA (IMO No. 8662684) with 650 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil valued at over N660 million.

The ENC Operations Officer, Commodore Abubakar Umar, who announced the arrest at a media briefing in Calabar on Tuesday, said the feat was achieved based on credible intelligence.

Umar said the vessel sailing under the flag of Sao Tomé and Principe with 12 crew members onboard, was arrested on July 23 within Nigeria waters.

He said preliminary investigations indicated that the tanker vessel loitered within the vicinity of the offshore oil terminals located at Akwa Ibom for over seven days, waiting for an opportunity to gain access to some crude oil jackets.

According to him, the vessel subsequently proceeded to one of the oil jackets where it was engaged in the suspected illegal loading of crude oil.

“At about 04; 00hrs on July 23, MT FILIA departed the offshore oil terminal and proceeded seaward. Consequently, a navy patrol boat pursued and intercepted the vessel.

“On sighting the Nigerian navy ship, the crew began discharging the stolen crude into the sea, causing maritime pollution.

“Subsequent investigation reveals that the Captain of MT FILIA also admitted that the vessel loaded approximately 650 metric tonnes of crude oil at the terminal worth an estimated value of over N660 million.

“It is pertinent to state at this point that investigation is still ongoing to unravel further details of the dastardly act.”

Navy arrests vessel with 650 metric tonnes of stolen crude

Roberto Mancini has been appointed Italy manager for a second time – just a day after Andrea Pirlo ruled himself out of the running for the job and technical director Paolo Maldini resigned.

Gennaro Gattuso left his role as Italy boss in April after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup.

Pirlo looked set to take over but on Monday pulled out following controversy over his ties to a Russian betting company.

“I believed that the best person to become head coach was Roberto Mancini,” said Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giovanni Malago.

Claudio Ranieri, who led Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2015-16, will replace Maldini as technical director.

Maldini, who was appointed to the role two weeks ago, and adviser Leonardo resigned following the decision not to appoint Pirlo.

Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti were both approached by the FIGC about the Italy job before Pirlo.

Mancini, 61, previously managed Italy from 2018 until 2023 and won Euro 2020 – beating England in the final at Wembley.

He led the Azzurri to a world record 37-game unbeaten run, but failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup – losing to North Macedonia in a play-off – and resigned in August 2023.

Another World Cup play-off failure for Italy earlier this year meant they were absent from this summer’s tournament and spelled the end of Gattuso’s tenure, with his contract terminated in April by mutual consent.

Despite their big stage successes, Italy have not featured at a World Cup finals since 2014.

Under-21 manager Silvio Baldini had taken over on a temporary basis following Gattuso’s departure.

Former Italy and Sampdoria midfielder Mancini led Manchester City to their first Premier League title in 2012 and enjoyed success with Lazio and Inter Milan, winning the Coppa Italia with both and three Serie A titles with Inter.

He also spent time with Galatasaray and Zenit St Petersburg before taking on the Italy job in 2018.

After he departed from the Azzurri, he had a short spell with the Saudi Arabia national team before joining Qatari side Al Sadd.

Although they won the Qatar Stars League, they failed to reach the final four of the AFC Champions League Elite and lost in the Qatar Cup final. Mancini left his role with Al Sadd in June.

Italy start their Nations League campaign on 25 September at home to Belgium before travelling to face Turkey three days later.

Mancini Reappointed Italy Boss After Pirlo Controversy is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nigerian youngster Zadok Yohanna has made an encouraging start to life at Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion after impressing during the club’s pre-season training camp in Spain.

The 19-year-old winger, who recently completed a move from Swedish club AIK, caught the attention of teammates and coaches by scoring two goals in just 20 seconds during a finishing drill, highlighting the quality that convinced Brighton to secure his services, Blueprint reports.

Yohanna was included in Brighton’s pre-season squad by head coach Fabian Hürzeler as the Seagulls continue preparations for the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Despite only recently joining the club, the Nigerian has quickly settled into training and shown no signs of struggling with the demands of his new environment.

A video shared on Brighton’s official social media platforms captured the youngster producing two quick-fire finishes during a shooting exercise, drawing applause from teammates and members of the coaching staff.

The display has further fuelled excitement over the winger’s potential as he begins his journey in English football.

Yohanna joined Brighton during the summer transfer window following his impressive development at Swedish side AIK, where he established himself as one of Nigeria’s promising young talents abroad.

The former Ikon Allah Academy player is highly regarded for his pace, creativity and ability to score goals from wide positions, with his left foot, close control and attacking instincts earning him a reputation as a player capable of both creating and finishing chances.

Those qualities were once again on display during Brighton’s training session in Spain.

Although Brighton are expected to integrate Yohanna gradually into the first-team setup, the club believes he possesses the talent and mentality required to succeed in the Premier League.

The coaching staff is expected to monitor his progress throughout pre-season before deciding the extent of his involvement during the upcoming campaign.

With intense competition for places in the squad, the pre-season programme provides the young Nigerian with an opportunity to impress Hürzeler and stake a claim for regular first-team involvement.

Yohanna’s move to Brighton represents another significant milestone for Nigerian football, as more young players continue to secure opportunities with top European clubs.

In recent years, Nigerian footballers have continued to make their mark across Europe’s leading leagues, with several emerging talents attracting attention through their performances for club and country.

The former AIK winger is regarded as one of the country’s brightest attacking prospects, and his early displays in Brighton colours have already generated optimism about his future at the club.

As Brighton intensify preparations for the new Premier League season, Yohanna will be hoping to build on his impressive start, continue adapting to English football and translate his performances on the training ground into competitive matches.

Should he maintain his current trajectory, the teenager could emerge as one of Brighton’s exciting young players to watch during the 2026/27 campaign.

Nigerian Teen Zadok Scores Twice In 20 Seconds For Brighton is first published on The Whistler Newspaper