Nigeria News (Standard)
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko Approves ₦1bn NPFL Prize Money, Sets ₦2m Minimum Wage for Players
New policy unveiled in Abuja raises football league rewards from ₦200m to ₦1bn; runners-up to get ₦500m
New policy unveiled in Abuja raises football league rewards from ₦200m to ₦1bn; runners-up to get ₦500m
The National Sports Commission (NSC) on Tuesday announced a major boost for Nigerian football, increasing the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) winners’ prize money to an unprecedented ₦1 billion. The announcement was made by NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko during a meeting with top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja.
Dikko revealed that the new prize, which takes effect from the 2026/27 NPFL season, marks a fivefold rise from the previous amount of ₦200 million. He also confirmed that runners-up will receive ₦500 million and third-placed teams will take home ₦300 million, subject to confirmation by league authorities. The meeting further resolved to introduce a minimum wage of ₦2 million for all players competing in the NPFL.
This development comes as part of wider efforts to professionalise Nigerian football and incentivise performance at club level. Stakeholders have long called for increased financial support and improved welfare for players in the local league, citing the need to stem the exodus of talent abroad and strengthen the domestic game.
“A major highlight of our deliberations is that champions of the coming NPFL season will now receive a minimum prize money of ₦1 billion,” Dikko said at the Abuja briefing. He added that these measures aim to “uplift player welfare and raise standards across our clubs”. Discussions are ongoing with relevant bodies to finalise implementation details and ensure compliance with the new salary structure.
The NFF is expected to issue formal guidelines in coming weeks, while league authorities work on monitoring mechanisms for club payments. Analysts say the move could reshape Nigeria’s football landscape if enforced effectively, offering new motivation for athletes and potentially attracting more investment into local sports.
Source: https://guardian.ng/sport/football/nsc-increases-npfl-prize-money-to-n1bn/
Nigeria News (Standard)
Lagos Government Clarifies NURTW Role, Says LAGESC Still in Charge of Sanitation Enforcement
Environment Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab insists transport unions will only support, not replace, state sanitation corps
Environment Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab insists transport unions will only support, not replace, state sanitation corps
The Lagos State Government has clarified that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) will not take over the role of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) in enforcing environmental laws. This clarification came on Sunday, 23 June 2026, following public backlash and confusion about a new initiative to deputise transport union members as ‘waste police’ across major bus stops and garages.
The controversy began after the Ministry of Transportation inaugurated a Special Task Force last week, assigning transport union representatives to monitor indiscriminate waste dumping at bus stops, lay-bys, and garages. Many Lagosians expressed concern that this move would strip LAGESC—the statutory enforcement body—of its authority over environmental compliance. The announcement led to widespread debate about who would have the final say on sanitation enforcement in the state.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, addressed the issue in a written statement, describing reports of NURTW replacing LAGESC as ‘misinformation being circulated by some bloggers and commentators.’ Wahab said, ‘LAGESC, in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Task Force, remains the duly empowered environmental enforcement arm of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.’ He emphasised that transport union involvement is only meant to complement existing efforts by encouraging shared responsibility among stakeholders.
The initial announcement was made by Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi during the task force’s inauguration ceremony. Osiyemi told union leaders that their own garages must meet sanitation standards before they could help enforce rules elsewhere. This dual messaging from two government ministries led to further confusion among residents about who would be held accountable for keeping public spaces clean.
While government says the partnership with unions is intended to strengthen environmental compliance amid ongoing challenges like illegal trading and refuse disposal on road medians, some residents remain sceptical. Critics point out that many garages operated by transport unions already struggle with poor waste management and unauthorised activities. The coming weeks will reveal whether this new arrangement will deliver cleaner streets or deepen uncertainty about who is truly responsible for sanitation enforcement in Lagos.
Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/lagos-clarifies-waste-police-plan-lagesc-2026062410335404948
Nigeria News (Standard)
MTN Subscribers in Lagos Audit Lines After ₦100 Deductions Spark Viral Outrage
No official statement from telecom giant as thousands use NCC codes to block unsolicited services, citing widespread billing fears
No official statement from telecom giant as thousands use NCC codes to block unsolicited services, citing widespread billing fears
Thousands of MTN Nigeria subscribers in Lagos and other major cities have begun urgently checking their mobile lines following widespread claims of unauthorised ₦100 airtime deductions, which surfaced online on Monday. The panic was triggered by a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), where a user alleged being enrolled into a paid subscription without consent, leading to a midnight debit for a service named ‘Mega Wins – Slot Daily.’
The incident unfolded after the subscriber posted screenshots showing an SMS confirmation of the unsolicited service activation just after midnight, with no immediate charge but an auto-renewal scheduled for the next day. Twenty-four hours later, a second SMS allegedly confirmed the deduction of ₦100 from their airtime balance. As the post gained traction, thousands of MTN users across Lagos and beyond began running audits on their accounts, sharing similar experiences and urging others to check for hidden value-added services (VAS) that may be silently draining their airtime.
This development comes at a time when telecom users in Nigeria are grappling with rising costs and concerns over data transparency. The claim that such automated deductions—if scaled across millions—could generate massive undisclosed revenue has heightened public anxiety. However, as at Tuesday morning, there is no independent evidence that MTN’s system is automatically subscribing users without consent, and MTN has yet to issue any official response addressing the viral thread or confirming any system breach.
Industry guidelines from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) provide remedies for affected subscribers. Customers can dial *305# on their MTN line to view and cancel all active third-party subscriptions instantly. In addition, texting ‘STOP’ to 2442 activates the full Do-Not-Disturb (DND) mode, blocking all promotional subscription requests and minimising accidental charges. Consumer rights advocates say these measures are effective if consistently used but stress that operators must do more to ensure transparency.
While many subscribers continue to share screenshots of successful opt-outs via social media, calls persist for MTN and other network operators to clarify how such activations occur and what safeguards exist against future occurrences. As at press time, opposition parties and consumer groups have not released official statements, but pressure is mounting on regulatory authorities to enforce stricter oversight of third-party billing practices within Nigeria’s telecom sector.
How To Cancel Auto-Renewal on MTN Nigeria (2026)
Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/mtn-unauthorized-deduction-check-code-2026062410204052442
Nigeria News (Standard)
Jigawa Opposition Divisions Hand APC Advantage Ahead of 2027 Elections
Analysts say fragmented PDP, NNPP, and LP camps could ease Governor Namadi’s re-election bid in North-West state
Analysts say fragmented PDP, NNPP, and LP camps could ease Governor Namadi’s re-election bid in North-West state
The All Progressives Congress (APC) appears set to maintain its hold on Jigawa State as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather pace, with divisions among opposition parties threatening their chances of mounting a credible challenge. Political observers in Jigawa, North-West Nigeria, say the lack of a unified front between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Labour Party (LP) is likely to favour the ruling party.
Recent political developments show that opposition parties have failed to agree on joint candidates or a merger plan, despite repeated calls from some stakeholders. This ongoing fragmentation has created an opening for Governor Umar Namadi and APC leaders to consolidate their support base across the state’s 27 local government areas. In the last election cycle, similar disunity contributed to APC’s landslide victories at both state and federal levels in Jigawa.
Political analysts note that Jigawa has historically leaned towards the APC since 2015, but pockets of PDP and NNPP influence remain in places like Hadejia and Birnin Kudu. However, without a coordinated strategy or coalition, opposition votes are expected to be split—mirroring trends seen nationally since the emergence of LP as a third force. “If things continue like this, it will be difficult for any opposition party to unseat APC,” one analyst observed.
Neither PDP nor NNPP officials have released formal statements on alliance talks as at Wednesday. Meanwhile, APC chieftains have welcomed the situation, describing it as proof of their party’s grassroots strength in Jigawa. An attempt by civil society groups to broker dialogue among opposition leaders reportedly stalled due to disagreements over candidate selection and power-sharing arrangements.
With less than a year before party primaries commence nationwide, political watchers say only significant realignment or coalition-building can alter current projections in Jigawa. The next few months will determine whether aggrieved opposition members can close ranks or if APC will retain its upper hand heading into 2027.
Lagos Government Clarifies NURTW Role, Says LAGESC Still in Charge of Sanitation Enforcement
MTN Subscribers in Lagos Audit Lines After ₦100 Deductions Spark Viral Outrage
Jigawa Opposition Divisions Hand APC Advantage Ahead of 2027 Elections
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