Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) is urging immediate reform of Nigeria’s abortion laws, arguing that criminalization fuels unsafe abortion and avoidable maternal deaths. WARDC issued this appeal on Monday through a statement marking the 2026 International Safe Abortion Day, themed “Solidarity in Action: Advance Reproductive Justice and Urgently Strengthen Health Systems for Comprehensive Abortion Care.” The organization stated that Nigeria cannot meaningfully cut maternal mortality as long as unsafe abortion continues to be a preventable source of death and severe harm among women and girls. WARDC noted that Nigeria still carries one of the heaviest maternal mortality…

Serbia’s president Aleksandar Vučić has stepped down following over a year of protests led by students and rising public frustration over claims of government corruption. Addressing supporters outside the presidential building in Belgrade, the capital, Vučić stated that his administration had maintained peace and stability throughout his nine years in office. He had already made known his plan to resign back in June, and he is now running as his party’s candidate for prime minister in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Under Serbia’s constitution, Vučić is barred from seeking a third presidential term. Anger over alleged corner-cutting has long plagued the…

Lionel Messi curled a spectacular free-kick home from a nearly impossible angle to equalize for Inter Miami against Columbus Crew on Sunday, bringing his career total of free-kick goals to 76 and moving him within two of the all-time record. The 39-year-old Argentine stood over a set piece awarded near the right touchline in the 33rd minute, after Columbus had taken an early lead through Josef Martínez. Instead of sending a cross into the box, Messi struck the ball with his left foot, lifting it over the wall and into the far top corner, out of reach of goalkeeper Patrick…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has annulled Edo Queens’ victory over Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU-B qualifying final following the Ghanaian side’s protest. Ampem Darkoa had objected to the choice to go straight to penalties once the final finished 2-2 in Ouagadougou on September 5, contending that 30 minutes of extra time ought to have been played as stipulated by the CAF WAFU-B Regulations. Edo Queens then secured a 4-1 win on penalties, taking the title along with qualification for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League. CAF concluded that the final had not…

The Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu has opened discussions with the World Bank for three new loans totalling $1.5bn, even as Nigeria’s public debt climbed to a record N166.79tn at the end of June 2026. Documents acquired from the World Bank indicate that the proposed financing consists of three distinct $500m facilities, covering climate resilience, social protection, and early childhood development. The most urgent of these is a proposed $500m in additional financing for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project, commonly referred to as ACReSAL. The World Bank has set October 29, 2026, as the estimated date…

Jurgen Klopp is still waiting for his first victory as Germany boss, as his team suffered a home upset against Greece in the Nations League. The former Liverpool manager was in charge for his second game as head coach, following Thursday’s 1-1 draw with the Netherlands. In Augsburg, Germany were defeated by Dimitrios Kourbelis’ 74th-minute goal, the midfielder’s shot from the edge of the box taking a deflection off Joshua Kimmich. Although they dominated, the hosts – who fielded a much-changed side and sent on Florian Wirtz from the bench – could not score. Greece sit 41st in the world…

Erling Haaland scored his 65th international goal for Norway, but it was not enough as Portugal made it two wins from two in this season’s Nations League. After Joao Felix put the visitors ahead with his second goal in as many games, Haaland tapped in from close range early in the second half. The goal was his 22nd in the Nations League, extending his record as the competition’s highest scorer. However, Portugal was level just three minutes later after a dreadful mistake by Orjan Nyland. The Norway goalkeeper hit the ball straight to Goncalo Ramos, who executed a fine chip…

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately increase the national minimum wage, arguing that the current N70,000 wage has been weakened by the rising costs of fuel, food, transportation, and housing. In a statement on Sunday issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said workers were being made to cope with a steep fall in their purchasing power despite the rise in the statutory minimum wage. He challenged the federal government to accept what he called a substantial wage…

President Bola Tinubu will return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, ending a four-week working vacation in Europe. On his return, the president is set to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary in Lagos before heading back to Abuja next weekend. He had initially been expected to return to Abuja over the weekend, before the schedule was changed. Presidency sources disclosed on Sunday that Tinubu would arrive via Lagos, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to receive him at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The president is expected to stay in Lagos until Thursday, October 1, when…

Twenty-seven individuals lost their lives in two mass shootings that occurred hours apart in South Africa, the most recent outbreak of gun violence to strike the nation. On Saturday evening, seventeen people were killed and fifteen others injured when eight gunmen raided a bar near Johannesburg. In a separate incident in the early hours of Sunday, ten people were shot dead outside an entertainment venue in a township close to Cape Town, while eleven more were wounded. South Africa records one of the world’s highest murder rates and has found it difficult to curb gang-related gun violence in recent years.…