The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has urged state and local governments to publicly account for the ₦10.4 trillion they received from resources generated following the removal of the petrol subsidy.   NECA Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, made the call during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, following disclosures by Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele. Oyedele said the removal of the petrol subsidy mobilised ₦15.8 trillion for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025. According to the minister, the Federal Government received ₦5.4 trillion, while ₦10.4 trillion was distributed to state and local governments through the Federation Account. Oyerinde said the disclosure should prompt state commissioners for finance to explain how much their governments received and how the funds were spent. > “The commissioners of finance in states, you come out and also say, this is how much we’ve received; this is how much we have spent,” he said.   The NECA chief compared the expected disclosure to financial reporting by private businesses, where companies present audited accounts to shareholders. He urged state governments to provide details of the funds received, the challenges encountered and how the money was utilised. Oyerinde also commended the Federal Government for publicly providing details of its finances, saying greater transparency would allow citizens and other stakeholders to scrutinise public spending. He encouraged Nigerians to engage state and local governments on how public resources are being used, stressing that development should begin at the grassroots. How the ₦15.8tn was accounted for Oyedele said the ₦15.8 trillion did not appear as a separate Federation Account credit labelled “subsidy savings”. Rather, it was reflected in the resources available to the three tiers of government. The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government generated ₦3.1 trillion in additional independent revenue during the period, while borrowing amounted to ₦11.9 trillion. Together, the additional revenue and borrowing increased the Federal Government’s resources by ₦20.4 trillion, against incremental expenditure of ₦30.64 trillion, according to Oyedele. President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy on May 29, 2023, shortly after his inauguration. The policy led to a sharp increase in petrol prices and contributed to higher transportation, logistics and production costs. The Federal Government has maintained that the reform was necessary to reduce fiscal pressure and redirect resources towards other priorities.

Paris Saint-Germain’s opening Ligue 1 title-defence fixture against Rennes has been moved from the Parc des Princes to Rennes’ Roazhon Park because of concerns over the condition of the pitch.   The French professional football league, LFP, announced the change on Wednesday, saying the state of the Parc des Princes surface meant player safety could not be guaranteed. The match will still be played on Sunday, August 23, with the date and kick-off time unchanged. As a result of the venue switch, PSG will host Rennes at the Parc des Princes when the two sides meet again on the weekend of March 6. The venue change comes days after PSG suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lens in the Champions’ Trophy. Meanwhile, PSG left-back Nuno Mendes has been suspended for three matches following his red card in that defeat. The Portugal international was sent off in the 87th minute for elbowing Lens forward Michal Skoras. Mendes will miss PSG’s Ligue 1 fixtures against Lille and Monaco. Coach Luis Enrique could turn to new signing Lucas Digne, who recently joined from Aston Villa, as his replacement. Lens defender Kyllian Antonio was also handed a two-match suspension after being dismissed for a dangerous tackle during Lens’ victory.

Nigerian Afrobeats stars Burna Boy and Tems have secured nominations at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, with Burna Boy receiving two nods and Tems earning one.   Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, is nominated in Best Collaboration alongside Colombian singer Shakira for their FIFA World Cup 2026 official song, “Dai Dai.” The track also earned a nomination in the Best Latin category. Tems, born Temilade Openiyi, is nominated for Best R&B for her collaboration with British rapper Dave on “Raindance.” The nominations were announced on Tuesday ahead of the awards ceremony, scheduled for September 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Burna Boy and Shakira will compete for Best Collaboration against Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T and Malice; French Montana and Max B; Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter; PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson; and Teyana Taylor and Lucky Daye. In the Best Latin category, “Dai Dai” faces songs by Anitta and Shakira, Bad Bunny, Fuerza Regida, Karol G, Rosalía featuring Yahritza y Su Esencia, and Ryan Castro, Kapo and GANGSTA. Tems’ “Raindance” will compete against releases by Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Kehlani, and Mariah the Scientist and Kali Uchis. Madonna leads the overall nominations with 11, followed by Taylor Swift with nine. Notably, the Best Afrobeats category is absent from this year’s awards. South African singer Tyla won the category in 2025 with “Push 2 Start”, after also winning in 2024 with “Water”. Rema and Selena Gomez won the inaugural Afrobeats award in 2023 for “Calm Down”. The 2026 MTV VMAs will air live on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming on Paramount+. Fans can vote in most categories daily until September 25 at 6pm ET.

Endocrinologists have urged the Federal Government to subsidise insulin and introduce a dedicated policy to improve access to the life-saving medication for Nigerians living with Type 1 diabetes.   The call was made on Wednesday during the sixth Annual Ogun State Youth Diabetes Camp organised by the Talabi Diabetes Centre in Abeokuta. According to the doctors, the sharp rise in insulin prices is placing a heavy financial burden on young people who depend on the medication to stay alive. The Camp Coordinator of the Talabi Diabetes Centre, Dr Olubiyi Adeshina, said a vial of insulin that previously cost about ₦5,000 now sells for approximately ₦25,000. He explained that some patients require about two vials each month, meaning insulin alone could cost about ₦50,000 monthly, excluding expenses for blood glucose monitoring and other aspects of diabetes care. Adeshina warned that people with Type 1 diabetes cannot safely stop taking insulin because prolonged insulin deficiency can cause dangerously high blood sugar, coma and death. “All the days of their lives, at least three times a day, they will need to inject that insulin or else the blood sugar goes excessively high,” he said. The doctor explained that Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, leaving affected people dependent on insulin for survival. He identified excessive urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and wounds that fail to heal among the symptoms associated with diabetes. The Acting Director of the centre, Dr Ayotunde Ale, also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to establish a dedicated policy for people living with Type 1 diabetes, particularly children and young adults. Ale said the monthly cost of insulin had risen from about ₦5,000 to approximately ₦25,000 amid inflation and rising living costs. She called on the government to subsidise insulin and urged the National Assembly to address the challenges confronting people living with the condition. Beyond the cost of treatment, Ale highlighted stigma and misconceptions as additional challenges facing young people with Type 1 diabetes. She urged parents to seek medical attention and screening for children showing symptoms rather than attributing unexplained deaths to traditional beliefs. The centre also called for greater involvement by non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to support Nigerians living with diabetes. Participants at the camp received training on safe insulin administration, blood sugar monitoring, appropriate nutrition and physical exercise.