Enzo Maresca saluted Chelsea’s “nasty” performance as a gritty 1-0 win over Everton on Saturday kept alive their bid to qualify for the Champions League.
Nicolas Jackson struck for the first time since December to seal a vital victory at Stamford Bridge.
The Senegal striker’s first half blast from 20 yards moved Chelsea back into the Premier League’s top five as they fight for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Chelsea’s third win in their last five league games eased the pressure on Maresca, who has come under fire for his team’s cautious tactics during their slump in the second half of the season.
Once again they endured a nervy finale as keeper Robert Sanchez made two fine saves to preserve the lead.
Maresca was pleased to see his team show some character as the tension mounts in the top five race.
“First half we controlled the game, we dominated, created chances and didn’t concede nothing. Then second half we dropped a little bit,” he said.
“We were strong, nasty enough when we needed to be like that. Overall I think we deserved to win and we are happy.”
Sanchez, so often the villain this season after a series of costly errors, repaid Maresca’s decision to keep faith with him.
The former Brighton keeper denied Beto low to his right before a fabulous reaction save to keep out Dwight McNeil’s effort deep into stoppage-time.
“You can see how his team-mates celebrated with him at the end of the game,” Maresca said.
“The team know that for Robert it’s not been a good moment so they try to support and help him.
“He had many good moments this season. The one against Tottenham at home, we were winning 1-0 and 90 minutes he did a great save.
“It’s normal that as human beings you remember the bad things and not the good things. About Robert, we remember the mistakes but he’s had some very good moments with us.”
The Anambra State First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, has embarked on actions to combat malaria in the state by calling for collective efforts and responsibility to drive community actions to keep malaria away from the environment.
In a statement on Saturday as part of activities marking the 2025 World Malaria Day, Soludo noted that Nigeria is among malaria-endemic countries in Africa, which means there is still a lot more to do to accelerate actions towards ending the disease.
She called for the use of insecticide-treated nets, adding that from 2023 to date, over 3.8 million free insecticide-treated nets have been distributed to homes and public health facilities in Anambra State.
The governor’s wife noted that the theme for this year’s World Malaria Day, tagged, ‘Malaria ends with us: Reinvest, reimagine, reignite’, captures the admonitions very succinctly, adding, “The time to start action is now, every action must be urgent”.
She said, “The World Health Organisation’s official report that malaria still claims an estimated one life every minute, with most deaths occurring in the African region, should really bother anyone who understands the overall implications.
“Nigeria is among malaria-endemic countries in Africa. Yet the growing threats that come with this dangerous disease are something we can really control through collective actions and sustained efforts.
“Sleeping under insecticide treated nets is still ideal for preventing malaria. Leading the campaign as Anambra’s net ambassador, we began the distribution of these nets across all the households in the state.
“And from 2023 till date, we have distributed over 3.8 million free insecticide treated nets to homes and public health facilities in Anambra State. It’s a modest effort with massive results.
“But there is still a lot more to do to accelerate actions towards ending malaria. While the government will continue to improve access to treatment and prevention of the disease, we also have a responsibility to drive community actions and promote common household habits to keep malaria away from our environments.”
The first lady also called on stakeholders, including parents, guardians, schools and religious institutions across the state for collective action on immunisation so as to increase coverage and comparative results.
“As we kick off the 2025 World Immunisation Week in Anambra State, we have set a target for increased coverage and comparatively greater results. Following the latest routine immunisation timetable in Nigeria, we want to ensure that every child within the vaccination age of zero to fifteen months who is living in Anambra State is duly covered in this important exercise.
“This exercise is a very important one. Therefore, I urge all stakeholders, including parents, guardians, schools, and religious institutions, to spread awareness and also follow up on families whose children should be vaccinated. I equally appeal to women leaders of the 179 communities and 326 political wards in Anambra State to, as a matter of responsibility, take up this task.
“The responsibility of protecting our children from vaccine-preventable diseases is non-negotiable. The lives of these children are as important as the future we are building around them. Let’s see this task as a sacred one. Thank you all, and may God bless you,” she added.
The Sultanate Council, Sokoto, through its Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, has called on the Muslim Ummah to begin the search for the new moon of Zulki’ida 1446AH on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
This directive was contained in a statement on Saturday, by the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Sambo Junaidu, who is also the Waziri of Sokoto.
The statement reads, “As Sunday corresponds to the 29th day of Shawwal 1446ah, it marks the appropriate time to search for the crescent of the new Islamic month.”
Muslims are urged to report any sighting of the new moon to the nearest District or Village Head, who will, in turn, communicate the information to the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.
The Council prayed for divine support in fulfilling this religious responsibility, saying, “May Allah (SWT) help us in the discharge of this religious duty. Ameen.”
The sighting of the new moon traditionally signals the beginning of a new Islamic month and is critical to the religious calendar and observances among Muslims.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has renewed his pledge to pay greater attention to the needs of the youth in a bid to develop their potential.
Oyebanji said his administration “is always open to collaborations with private individuals and organisations ready to support the state government’s efforts in harnessing the potential of our youth.”
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Gold Adesola, spoke during an empowerment programme organised by the Oluseun Adeboyejo Foundation at Emure Ekiti on Saturday.
The foundation distributed various support items to residents of Emure Ekiti, including bursaries for students, knapsack sprayers for farmers, barbing kits for artisans, safety gear for commercial motorcyclists, and cash palliatives for market women.
Oyebanji, who praised the foundation for the initiative, emphasised the government’s commitment to youth development and encouraged other well-meaning individuals to emulate the gesture.
He said, “Right now in our country, the focus is on the development of the youth, and that is exactly what the state Ministry of Youth Development stands for — to pay more attention to the aspirations of young people in the state. This initiative by the Oluseun Adeboyejo Foundation aligns with our goals.”
The convener of the initiative and an indigene of Emure Ekiti, Mr. Oluseun Adeboyejo, said the project was borne out of a deep sense of empathy and commitment to community service.
“The Oluseun Adeboyejo Foundation stems from the ideology of empowerment and supporting the less privileged.
“This has been a personal passion project for over four years. It started in Ondo State during the COVID-19 pandemic, and over time, I decided to formalize it as a foundation. This is simply a way to give back.
“The goal is to touch every sector — from transportation and agriculture to trade and education. Empowerment is not just about giving money; it is about providing tools for sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Jimoh Sunday, who received a barbing kit, expressed gratitude, saying, “I am really grateful for this pair of clippers. If I were to buy it myself, it would cost a lot. May God continue to bless him.”
Another beneficiary, Arike Onifade, who received a cash palliative, said, “I thank him for remembering us, the poor. God will continue to bless him.”
The event was attended by dignitaries, including the All Progressives Congress State Chairman, Sola Elesin, who was represented by the State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe; the State Auditor, Bola Ogundare; Emure Local Government Chairman, Tosin Adedayo; traditional chiefs; and other community leaders.
Pope Francis was buried inside his favourite Rome church after a funeral mass in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican said on Saturday.
The Argentinian pontiff, who died on Monday aged 88, was laid to rest during a 30-minute burial ceremony which started at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) at the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in the Italian capital.
A Lagos State community, Ajegunle, will take centre stage in Nigeria’s growing mixed martial arts scene on Saturday (today) as 22 fighters clash at the ‘Battle Of The Hood’ event organised by Akalaka Spirit Of The Warrior.
The Honourable Lukman Oluomo Sports Arena in Awodi Ora will host 11 explosive bouts across multiple weight divisions, with heavyweight giants Kabiru ‘Hulk’ Adediran and Atiti Fidelis headlining the main card.
The tournament will feature six fights in the men’s lightweight and light heavyweight divisions, while female fighters will compete in three flyweight category bouts.
At Friday’s ceremonial weigh-in and face-off, CEO of Akalaka Spirit Of The Warrior, Dr Ebere Bernard, explained the significance of bringing the event to Ajegunle.
“This community is a leading hotbed for grassroots sports development in Nigeria,” he told The PUNCH.
Bernard, who also serves as the director of youth development in the Nigeria Mixed Martial Federation, revealed broader ambitions behind the tournament.
“We’re driven to use MMA as a tool to combat some social vices prevalent amongst youths in the society,” he added.
The event has garnered significant international interest, with broadcasts scheduled to reach over 35 countries across Africa and beyond.
Adediran, regarded as one of Nigeria’s most intimidating heavyweight fighters, will face a stern test against Fidelis in what promises to be a thrilling main event showdown.
The tournament format adds extra stakes for competitors, who must win their initial bouts to progress through their respective divisions.
Today’s fights mark another significant step in Nigeria’s developing MMA scene, with Ajegunle, famous for its football talents, now positioning itself as a breeding ground for combat sports.
The Bauchi State Government, with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund and other development partners, have commenced the 2025 polio immunisation campaign in the state.
Speaking during the unveiling at Tirwun community in the Bauchi metropolis on Friday, the State Executive Chairman, Primary Healthcare Development Board, Rilwanu Mohammed, explained that the campaign aimed to vaccinate all children under five years old in the state.
According to Mohammed, special attention would be given to zero-dose children, who are those children who have not received any vaccination before.
Mohammed explained that Bauchi state received a total of 2.5 million doses of Novel Oral Polio vaccine, NOPV, for the exercise, saying the state engaged the services of 160 monitors, including CSOs that will ensure the smooth success of the polio vaccination exercise.
He stated that all the health stakeholders in the state as well as the UNICEF’s Chief of Bauchi Field Office would be on special monitoring exercise in three Local Government Areas of Ganjuwa, Bauchi and Ningi where there were zero doses of polio immunisation to ensure absolute compliance.
Mohammed said, “We are moving with the security, the DSS, the police, with armoured vehicles to ensure compliance. We are not doing this exercise like we used to do it before, where we will be begging and pleading.
“This time around, it will be compulsory that all children must be vaccinated, and anybody who refuses to cooperate will be arrested. So much work has been done by UNICEF, WHO and the state government that has provided counterpart funding to support this exercise and other social mobilisation.
“Why are we worried that we have non-compliance in some quarters? It’s because we don’t want to miss any child. We will also use the security in areas where there is insecurity to ensure that every child is vaccinated.”
On her part, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, said that UNICEF is committed to supporting the state in the polio vaccination to ensure that every child is immunised.
She assured that more development partners were supporting the exercise this time around to ensure that there was total compliance during the exercise.
Represented by the UNICEF Head of Social Behaviour Change Specialist, Eki George, Rafique said, “The fight against polio is not over yet in the state. All fathers should give consent to their wives for their children to be vaccinated.
“As a buildup to this flag-off, we provided support to the state to ensure that this campaign runs smoothly for us in Bauchi, which is our focus. We are working with the state to ensure that every concerned parent is reached no matter where the child is.”
Also speaking, the District Head of Tirwun community, Ahmad Muhammad, lauded UNICEF and other partners for supporting the state in ensuring that every child is vaccinated during the exercise.
He further called on all the traditional rulers to participate actively during the monitoring to ensure compliance.
The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies has assured the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board of its readiness to assist in addressing the challenges militating against the conduct of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination across the country.
The Chairman of the Committee, Oboku Oforji, made the promise during an oversight exercise to monitor the ongoing UTME in some centres within the Federal Capital Territory, on Friday.
A statement issued by the media unit of the committee on Saturday quoted Oforji as describing UTME as a vehicle used by young Nigerians in their journey to self-discovery.
“To me and the committee, we are very proud of what JAMB is doing. Seeing what they are doing today gives us hope for our country,” Oforji said.
Oforji, however, noted a few challenges at some of the centres, particularly the absence of basic amenities such as air conditioning and first aid services.
This is just as the Committee identified some challenges, including poorly ventilated halls and the lack of medical personnel on standby to handle possible emergencies.
“Some of the halls were too compact, and candidates were seen fanning themselves because of poor ventilation. We frown at the absence of nurses and inadequate first aid facilities in some centres, especially those hosting up to 250 candidates,” he added.
That said, the Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker also raised concern over complaints about multiple payments and registration glitches made by candidates, assuring that such would be discussed at a stakeholders’ meeting very soon.
He noted that, despite the identified challenges, the candidates remained resilient and determined, as observed in all the centres visited by the Committee in the nation’s capital.
“You can see the zeal and commitment in our children. In spite of the uncomfortable conditions in some centres, their determination to succeed is commendable.
“They are making us proud. Seeing what they are doing today gives us hope in our country. We recall that our country is passing through serious challenges, but we are very proud of them and the level of their commitment and zeal.
“You can also see the interactive section, the rational issues they are raising, questions. One of them talked about multiple registration which attract multiple payment.
“The issues they have raised, we are going to take them up with the leadership of JAMB because we believe that JAMB is playing a very key role for our children to gain admission”, Oforji stressed.
No fewer than 50 houses have been destroyed following a devastating windstorm on Friday night in the Mahanga community in the Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
One of the community leaders, James Arthur, disclosed this to journalists in Lafia, the state capital, on Saturday.
He appealed to the state governor, Abdullahi Sule, the local government chairman and other political office holders to come to the urgent rescue of the community.
“We, the residents of Mahanga community in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, are writing to bring to your attention the devastating impact of a severe windstorm that hit our community yesterday.
“The windstorm has caused damage to our homes, infrastructure and school, leaving many of us in dire need of assistance.
“We kindly appeal to the government and members of the public to provide emergency assistance to help us to enable us recover from this disaster.
“Your timely intervention would be greatly appreciated in providing relief materials, shelter, and support to our community,” he said.
The community leader added, “Over 50 houses were affected by the heavy windstorm, with roofs of many houses removed while others collapsed, leaving many households stranded.”
The Benue State Government has condemned recent comments by former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, describing them as “disturbingly insensitive” to the plight of victims affected by continued attacks in the state.
The response came through a statement issued on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Alia, Sir Tersoo Kula.
Kula criticised Odinkalu for what he described as performative critique rather than genuine concern for the suffering of people in Benue.
Odinkalu had, in a post on April 23, 2025, via his official handle on X (formerly Twitter), accused Alia of misinforming the public about the identity of those behind the persistent attacks in the state.
Taking a swipe at the governor’s background as a Catholic priest, Odinkalu wrote: “The Governor of Benue State should return to the seminary or seek re-education.”
Odinkalu questioned the governor’s claim that the perpetrators of the recent massacres are “Hausa-speaking mercenaries from Mali,” pointing out the geographical and linguistic inconsistency.
“He says #BenueMassacres are the handiwork of Hausa speakers from Mali? Malians speak Bambara, Songhai, Malinke. Hausa speakers with French accent should be from Niger, not Mali,” he said.
The criticism came days after Alia publicly identified some of the attackers as Hausa-speaking mercenaries allegedly from Mali, a claim that has sparked debate and drawn criticism.
Responding, Kula stated: “It is quite disheartening to see personalities like Chidi Odinkalu, who should align in solidarity with the victims of these attacks, prefer to choose performative critique. This will take us away from the genuine issues befalling the people of Benue.”
He emphasised the dire situation in the state, saying: “Benue, with the appellation of the Food Basket of the Nation, is awfully bleeding from the dreadful wounds viciously inflicted as a result of relentless attacks by armed herders. Many innocent lives have been lost, and thousands of families have been displaced.”
Kula also highlighted Alia’s transparency about the challenges facing his administration, stating: “Gov. Alia has on various occasions openly acknowledged the limitations of his efforts in providing necessary support through logistics and manpower to federal security forces, which are evidently overstretched.”
The statement maintained that the governor has been consistent in identifying the perpetrators without resorting to ethnic stereotyping:
“Governor Alia has consistently pointed out the active involvement of criminal elements among Fulani herdsmen, who have resorted to hiring mercenaries to aid in their land-grabbing ventures. He discerns the pitfalls of generalisation. Stereotyping a whole ethnic group does not generate solutions to the crisis at hand.”
Calling for unity and empathy, the Benue government stressed that attention should remain focused on solving the crisis and supporting victims:
“In the present unfortunate circumstances, what truly matters is the reality of the terrorist attacks on the natives of Benue State. Whether the perpetrators are Malians, Nigeriens, or come from elsewhere, the focus should be on empathy and solutions rather than on vindictive criticisms,” Kula said.
In a fresh post on his verified X handle, Odinkalu reacted to the statement from Kula, further criticising Governor Alia’s handling of the crisis. He accused the governor who is also a Catholic priest of failing in both moral and leadership responsibilities amid ongoing attacks in rural communities.
“Mr. Catholic Governor of Benue State has shown a remarkable lack of both will and nous on this existential crisis in the State,” Odinkalu tweeted.
“The victims understand his failure of pastoral capability or advertence. Last week, they stoned him and his convoy out of Ukum.”
He further alleged that rather than take responsibility, Alia deflected blame by inventing “phantom perpetrators”:
“Rather than learn lessons from that chastening experience, Mr. Catholic Governor of Benue State chose to invent phantom perpetrators, claiming they are ‘Hausa from Mali.’”
Odinkalu’s reference to the Ukum incident alludes to a recent confrontation in the Ukum Local Government Area, where the governor was reportedly pelted with stones by angry residents frustrated by the government’s perceived inaction in curbing the violence.
Referencing the funeral of the Pope, which was marked globally, Odinkalu said,” #OnThisDay of #PopeFuneral, Benue State Gov, Hyacinth Alia, a Catholic Priest, has no time to mourn the Pope. Instead, he’s sent out Tersoo Kula, his #Spox, to issue a cringeworthy statement protesting that I said he, Mr. Catholic Governor, needs re-education.”
He concluded by questioning Alia’s qualifications for both governance and priesthood: “If he cannot be bothered to re-examine his record on this issue, it may be time for Mr. Catholic Governor of Benue State to reconsider his governorship credentials. Sadly, on the current evidence, even his credentials for the pulpit or the altar may be open to question.”
