President Bola Tinubu has established a Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness and approved the immediate release of N10bn in emergency intervention funding. This follows the rapidly expanding outbreak that has already killed at least 349 people across the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with the World Health Organisation declaring it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the task force would be chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with membership drawn from relevant ministries, departments and agencies and state representatives. The N10bn, Onanuga said, will strengthen the operational preparedness of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and support critical national public health emergency response activities. The task force was constituted following a stakeholder meeting convened by Gbajabiamila to review Nigeria’s preparedness. It was...

The head of the White House Task Force for the World Cup on Tuesday defended the decision not to grant visas to a Somali referee and some support staff for the Iranian team. “To this point, we’ve had 35 teams that have come into the United States,” Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the task force, said at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington. “No players, no coaches have been denied,” Giuliani said. “There have been some officials who have been denied, and for good reason.” “We’re striking that balance between making sure that any bad actors that…try to come into the country under the guise of the World Cup will not get access to the United States,” he added. Giuliani, the son of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, was asked specifically about the decision to bar Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the country. –...

The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, has called for stronger collaboration between universities, industry, government, and international partners to reposition higher education in Nigeria for innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact. Ribadu made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during a welcome address at the International Conference on Academic Entrepreneurship, Knowledge and Technology Transfer in Nigerian Universities. The event brought together participants from universities, research institutions, development agencies, and international partners, including representatives of the University of Koblenz and the University of Erfurt. The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the Director of Research, Information and Technology, Lawal Farouk, said the conference comes at a critical moment for higher education globally and in Nigeria, noting that universities are increasingly expected to move beyond their traditional roles. Ribadu said, “This conference comes at an important time for university education, both internationally and within Nigeria. “Across the world,...

West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has denied allegations of sexual misconduct as the Independent Football Regulator confirmed it is seeking information relating to his suitability under its owners, directors and senior executives regime. The regulator said it was “in contact” with West Ham and would use its statutory powers to obtain “urgent information” regarding Sullivan following allegations made by multiple women. The claims, published by BBC Panorama and The Times, accuse the billionaire businessman of abusing his power and preying on young women for sex over several decades. The women were reportedly in their late teens or early twenties and seeking work as models at Sullivan’s Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers. As reported by the BBC on Tuesday, in a statement, the IFR described the allegations as “extremely serious” and said it would assess whether there were grounds for concern regarding Sullivan’s role at the club. A spokesperson for...

Former Super Eagles striker Obafemi Martins has tipped outstanding players from the maiden Italian Consulate General U-20 Cup in Lagos for careers in Serie A, promising to use his connections to link the best talents with top clubs across Europe. Martins, who scored 18 goals in 42 appearances for Nigeria and featured at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa during a career that took him to Inter Milan, Newcastle United, Birmingham City and clubs across the United States, Spain, Germany, Russia and China, served as an ambassador for the tournament alongside fellow former Super Eagles midfielder Christian Obodo. “I am very impressed by their display. They have really shown me they have the skills to compete, and I think when they go to Italy, they can fight for their chances in Serie A,” he told our correspondent. The six-day competition, which ran from June 2-7 at the Mobolaji...

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kwara State Command, has arrested a 34-year-old man, Akinola Tosin, for allegedly defrauding a Point-of-Sale (PoS) operator using a fake bank transfer alert while also impersonating a member of the Nigerian Army. The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ayoola Michael, who said the suspect was apprehended following a complaint from a POS operator in the state. According to the statement, the suspect allegedly obtained N40,600 from the operator after presenting a fake debit alert as proof of payment. Michael said, “The suspect was apprehended following a complaint that he defrauded a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator through the use of a fake bank transfer alert. “Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect collected the sum of N40,600 after presenting a fake debit alert to the POS operator, deceiving the victim...

The Federal Government has processed payments exceeding N700bn in verified obligations owed to local contractors over the past few months, including N436.6bn disbursed in May alone, as part of efforts to clear long-standing debts and boost economic activity. The Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Efe Ovuakporie, noting that payments had also been approved for more than 1,240 contractors across various Ministries, Departments and Agencies. According to the ministry, the approvals were granted by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, following a verification and reconciliation exercise to ensure that only duly validated claims qualified for payment. The ministry said the latest disbursements represented a major step towards addressing inherited payment obligations, particularly those affecting indigenous businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises. It stated, “The Federal Ministry of Finance has approved...

A United Kingdom court has remanded a 32-year-old man, Maxwell Oguanaya, in custody over the alleged murder of a 41-year-old Nigerian, Taiwo Ekerin, following an assault in Lewisham, London. The Metropolitan Police disclosed this in a statement obtained by PUNCH Metro on Sunday. The police noted that Oguanaya was charged with murder after Ekerin died from injuries sustained during an altercation. According to the statement, officers were called to Lewisham High Street at about 4:40am on May 24, following reports of an altercation. The police said Ekerin later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on May 30. The statement read, “Police were called at around 04:40hrs on Sunday, 24 May, to Lewisham High Street following reports of an altercation. “Officers attended the scene and discovered a 41-year-old man with a serious head injury. He was treated at the scene by colleagues from the London Ambulance Service and taken...

Former Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, has expressed support for a stronger United States military presence in Borno State, urging American forces to establish a base in the Mandara Mountains to help eliminate Boko Haram insurgents operating in the region. Ndume made the call on Sunday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, amid renewed concerns over terrorist activities in parts of the North-East. The senator, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said the United States could play a critical role in clearing insurgent strongholds in the Mandara Mountains, Sambisa Forest and other enclaves where terrorists continue to operate. He said, “I’m hoping that they (Donald Trump and his men) could even go far beyond, as I said earlier, when the issue of Americans coming in (was reported) since last year. So I wish they could even establish their base under the Mandara Mountains and drive away all those Boko...

The first batch of 560 pilgrims from Kwara State who participated in the 2026 Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia arrived safely in Ilorin on Sunday after completing the spiritual exercise. The returning pilgrims landed at the Babatunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, aboard a Max Air flight at about 12:23 p.m., alongside three officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the press secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Mrs Jumoke Jimoh, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH. Speaking shortly after their arrival, the pilgrims expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for granting them a successful and spiritually rewarding pilgrimage. The Mufashir Agba of Ilorin, Alhaji Uthman Iyanda-Muhammad, popularly known as Sannu-Sheu, described this year’s Hajj exercise as exceptional and commended the efforts of the Kwara State Government toward the welfare of pilgrims. He said,...