In 2014, Lionel Messi came very close to joining Chelsea, with the club prepared to activate the £211 million buyout clause in his Barcelona contract.

A long-term deal worth £50 million per year had been lined up for Messi, and Chelsea was even prepared to resolve his issues with the Spanish tax authorities.

José Mourinho, Chelsea’s manager at the time, was eagerly awaiting the completion of the transfer.

However, the move ultimately fell through due to the intervention of Messi’s father.

Despite all the terms of the personal contract being agreed upon, Messi’s father opposed the transfer once he discovered his son was in talks with Chelsea, halting what could have been one of the most significant moves in football history.

This insight comes from a former Chelsea technical director, reflecting on the collapse of Messi’s potential move to the London club.

Minibus drivers, commonly known as “Korope,” have staged a protest over the excessive levies imposed on them by transport union workers, referred to as “agberos.

” The protest, which took place at the Ministry of Transportation in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, involved drivers operating along the Mowe-Ibafo-Arepo axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The protesters, carrying placards with messages like “Korope drivers say no to multiple tickets” and “Governor Abiodun come to our aid,” decried the financial burden these levies have placed on them.

They said the multiple daily ticket payments, totaling up to N8,000, are worsening their economic hardship.

Abiodun Owolabi, one of the drivers, complained about the continuous rise in ticket costs, sometimes increasing weekly.

He explained that they are required to buy tickets at nearly every stop along the route, with the total reaching about eight tickets per day, costing around N10,000 to N11,000.

Owolabi added that these fees, along with other charges, are significantly cutting into their daily earnings.

Another driver, Moses Prosper, expressed his frustration, saying he had lost his job due to his inability to keep up with the high payments.

He called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene, saying the economic situation has left him struggling to provide for his family.

The drivers also alleged that the agberos justified the increases by claiming they were following directives from the Ministry of Transportation. They appealed for a single, unified ticket system to cover their daily trips and urged the government to curb the excessive levies or remove the agberos from the roads.

An official from the Ministry of Transportation advised the protesters to formally submit their complaints in writing to the commissioner, promising that the matter would be addressed once they did so.

The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has lost his father, Alhaji Abdullahi Sabi.

This was announced in a statement issued on behalf of the family by the Minister of State who is also the Baraden Borgu.

“Alhaji Abdullahi Sabi, father of the Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, has passed on at the age of 100 years,” the statement read.

“The incident occurred at New Bussa, late on Monday night, 23rd September, 2024. Funeral prayers and interment have been scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 24th September, 2024, at Gbemusu Palace, New Bussa, Niger State.”

Born in 1924, the late Alhaji Abdullahi was until his transition the District Head of Luma in Borgu Emirate Council, New Bussa, Niger State.

Senator Abdullahi recalled that the late centurion was a one-time Works Superintendent and Supervisory Councillor of Borgu Local Government Area.

The minister’s father was also the pioneer Chairman of the Jamaatul Izalatul Bidia Wa Ikamatul Sunnah (JIBWIS) of Borgu Kingdom.

Describing the late Alhaji Abdullahi as “a man of great patience and tolerance,” the family statement noted that he was installed as District Head of Malale, the home of his paternal grandmother, by the former Emir of Borgu, Musa Mohammed Kigera III.

He was also “the last man standing in his support for the late Emir of Borgu, Senator Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III.”

The late Alhaji Abdullahi is survived by his wives, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a legion of relatives.

The Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has increased the interest rate by 50 basis points, bringing it to 27.25 percent. This marks the fifth consecutive hike since February 2024.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso announced the decision during a press briefing at the conclusion of the 297th MPC meeting in Abuja on Tuesday. Additionally, the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) was raised by 50 basis points, from 45 percent to 50 percent for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), and from 14 percent to 16 percent for Merchant Banks. The Liquidity Ratio (LR) remains unchanged at 30 percent, with the Asymmetric Corridor maintained at +500/-100 basis points around the MPR.

Economist Muda Yusuf, Executive Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, had previously called on the CBN to halt further interest rate increases.

Since February 2024, the CBN has implemented four rate hikes, moving the interest rate from 22.75 percent to 26.75 percent. Prior to Governor Cardoso’s appointment in September 2023, the interest rate stood at 18.75 percent.

.Doctors to conduct free genotype test, counseling – CEO Showtyme Foundation, Sh

The 2024 Annual Sickle Cell awareness programme organized by Showtyme Foundation has been scheduled to hold on Thursday the 26th of this month at the famous Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State, South-West, Nigeria.

The 2024 Annual Sickle Cell awareness programme tagged ‘Double Check Your Status and Ball’ will begin by 9am and will run for about eight hours on Thursday September 26.

Organizers of the event Showtyme Foundation have secured the services of top medical personnel to manage the programme that will be fused with various forms of exercises and a one-day basketball competition.

The CEO of Showtyme Foundation, Shola Durojaye, said, “We are using our platform to sensitize our community to create awareness about Sickle Cell Anaemia and doctors will be on ground to conduct free genotype test and also schedule people for testing and counseling on the effect of Sickle Cell.”

The National Sickle Cell Awareness month is September and Showtyme Foundation CEO, explained that the program started in 2017, and they will continue to support this laudable initiative.

“The aim of the event is to ensure and inform our community to not just check their status but DOUBLE CHECK their status as we have series of people getting wrong results in which I am a victim. I did my genotype, and the result came out as AA whereas I am AS.

I went ahead to marry my ex-wife who is AS, and our first child was SS while the other two girls are AS. I lost my 12 years old daughter Demilade Shola last month due to Sickle Cell Anaemia crisis,” he lamented.

Despite this painful event, Durojaye went on to add that his Foundation has put in place all the needed and necessary logistics for a hitch free testing and counseling this week.

The programme is free of charge and all participants are advised to be on ground on or before 9am on Thursday, the 26th of September 2024 at the Adamasingba Stadium, in Ibadan.

Shola Durojaye who is also the CEO of Showtyme Hoopers and Showtyme Angeles Basketball Clubs is also appealing to well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to support the National Sickle Cell Awareness programme wherever they are in Nigeria.

“We love to continue the Annual Double Check Your Status and Ball and despite the death of my beloved daughter, although very sad emotional, I have use Showtyme Foundation to continue sensitizing our parents of the importance of double checking their genotype and the game of basketball has always been a great medium and platform to get across to our teeming youths and our community at large.” Shola Durojaye stated.

Shola Durojaye is a key and influential member of Oyo State Basketball Association (OSBA), and the Organizers of one of the most successful Basketball Camp in the State, the yearly Showtyme Summer Slam for clubs within Oyo State and beyond.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, approved key decisions to boost Nigeria’s economy and improve citizens’ lives.

In the area of the economy, Mr Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said the Council approved the Economic Stabilisation Bills.

He explained that the bills embodied the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy Reforms set up in 2023 by President Tinubu.

“The bills seek to amend the income tax laws, promote the export of goods and services, reform the exchange rate regime and unlock foreign exchange liquidity.

“One of the bills offers tax relief to companies that generate incremental employment. Another offers personal income relief to people in private and public employment, from N200,000 to N400,000,” said Edun.

According to him, another of the bills seeks the collaboration of the Federal and State governments to suspend certain taxes on small businesses and vulnerable populations.

He said the Economic Stabilisation Bills, with the Council’s approval, would be transmitted to the National Assembly for passage.

The meeting reviewed the flooding in some parts of the country, especially the one that destroyed almost 50 per cent of Maiduguri, the Borno capital city.

The meeting also backed the President’s idea of setting up a Disaster Relief Fund to be funded by a portion of the revenue accruing to the Federation account. Funds will also be solicited from the private sector.

It was also resolved at the meeting to set up a technical committee to conduct integrity tests on Alau Dam and other dams nationwide.

The council approved a contract to build a 258 km 3-lane carriageway with continuous reinforced concrete pavement in Kebbi and Sokoto states.

The stretch is part of the 1000km superhighway from Illela, Sokoto State, to Badagry, Lagos State.

The council approved the revised estimated contract cost for constructing Bodo-Bonny Road with bridges across the Opobo Channel in Rivers State.

The contract was awarded in 2014 for N120 billion and revised in 2021 to N199, 923,638,963.87. The FEC approved another increase to N280 billion.

Similarly, the council approved the rescoping and downward review of the contract to rehabilitate the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway at a lower cost of N740.79 billion to Julius Berger.

Messrs CCECC Nigeria Ltd. was awarded two road contracts, including bridges in Kogi and Cross River, at a total cost of N133.4 billion.

They are the construction of Cross River to Oferekpe Road and the rehabilitation of Kabba (Kogi State), Iyamoye-Omuo-Ikole-Ifaki-Ado Ekiti Road.

Messrs BDT International Ltd. was awarded the contract to repair the Gamboru Bridge along Gamboru-Ngala-Kala, Balde Road in Borno State. The cost is N3.2 billion, and completion will take 24 months.

Messrs CCECC Nigeria will repair the damaged loops and ramps of the Third Mainland Bridge superstructure and rehab Adeniji-Falomo Roads at N42 billion. Completion time is six months.

Mr Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, said the council approved a contract of N158 billion to construct service lanes for the Lekki Deep Sea Port through Epe to Shagamu-Benin Expressway.

He explained that Dangote Industries would be awarded the contract under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Development Fund and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

“The council approved the contract for the dualisation of Afikpo-Uturu-Okigwe Road in Ebonyi, Abia and Imo states.

“The road will be financed under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

“Also approved by the councils are contracts for the repair of 14 bridges and roads and flooded sections of the Federal Highways nationwide,” said the minister.

The council approved no fewer than seven memos brought by the FCT Ministry, among which was the contract for the building of Judges Quarters in Katampe.

Also approved was the contract to construct an access road from Ring Road 1 by N16 Shehu Shagari Way to Judges Quarters.

The council approved the contract for building an access road from Arterial Road N11 in Mabushi District to Judges Quarters within Cadstral Zone B07.