European Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain will play their first-ever Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar, on December 17, FIFA announced on Sunday.
Their opponents will only be determined four days earlier in the final playoff, called the Challenger Cup.
This will pit Egyptian club Pyramids, the African champions, against the winner of the match between Central American champions Cruz Azul from Mexico and the future winner of the Copa Libertadores.
The South American tournament is currently in the semi-final stage and includes two Brazilian sides.
Palmeiras are up against LDU Quito of Ecuador, while Flamengo take on the Argentinian side Racing.
The Copa Libertadores final takes place on November 29.
From 1960 to 2004, the Intercontinental Cup pitted the champions of Europe and South America against each other.
In 2005, it was renamed the Club World Cup to include other continental champions, but that competition was relaunched this year as a quadrennial tournament featuring 32 teams, with Chelsea as the inaugural winners of the new format.
The Intercontinental Cup was relaunched in its new form last year when Real Madrid beat Mexican club Pachuca.
Nigerians may face a nationwide blackout from Monday as power generation companies have raised the alarm over an imminent shutdown of thermal plants following directives from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generating Companies, Joy Ogaji, raised the alarm over the imminent blackout in a WhatsApp message on Sunday.
She revealed that gas suppliers had issued notices to halt supply to thermal power stations in line with PENGASSAN’s strike resolution.
“Good day, all. Thermal GenCos have received notification from our gas suppliers to shut down our thermal power plants following directives from PENGASSAN. The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company has specifically requested GenCos to comply,” Ogaji said in the post.
She warned that the development could plunge the country into darkness, as hydroelectric dams alone cannot sustain the national grid.
“Please all be notified of the imminent darkness, as hydros alone cannot sustain the system,” she added.
The warning comes hours after PENGASSAN announced that it would commence a nationwide strike on Monday to protest the dismissal of over 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The oil workers’ union, after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, directed its members in all oil and gas installations to down tools until the sackings were reversed.
The action could cripple crude production, fuel supply, gas distribution and now electricity generation, worsening the hardship faced by Nigerians.
With thermal stations accounting for more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity supply, industry experts say the shutdown will trigger widespread outages, stretch hydro plants beyond capacity and heighten the risk of a nationwide system collapse.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The event is slated for October 2, 2025, at the Peacock Hall, Lagos.
The Kogi State Police Command has confirmed that a commuter bus belonging to Big Joe Ventures Ltd was attacked on Friday, and all twelve occupants were abducted.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, revealed that the police, in collaboration with the military, managed to rescue eight of the victims, while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining four still held by the kidnappers.
A statement issued by the command late on Friday evening in response to an enquiry confirmed the abduction but noted that about eight of the victims were rescued, with the police and army searching for the remaining four.
The statement reads, “Kidnappers attacked a Big Joe Ventures Ltd Toyota Hiace commuter bus (Edo FUG 13 XY) along Okene–Auchi road. During the incident, the kidnappers abducted all 12 passengers commuting from Abuja to Benin in Edo State.”
He said that subsequently, the DPO Okene Division, CSP Nasir Muhammad, immediately mobilised police personnel in conjunction with the military and vigilantes in pursuit of the kidnappers.
He added, “In the process, eight victims, including the driver, were rescued, while efforts are still underway to rescue the remaining four victims and possibly arrest the perpetrators.”
On September 12, 2025, PUNCH Online reported that troops of the 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, in conjunction with Hybrid Forces and local vigilantes, rescued 17 kidnapped victims, including 13 adults and four children.
This was contained in a statement issued by the acting assistant director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi.
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has clarified his congratulatory message to the newly crowned Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, after facing backlash on social media.
PUNCH Online earlier reported that Obi had, in his goodwill message on Saturday, referred to the monarch as “my dear elder brother,” a phrase many saw as disrespectful to Yoruba traditional institutions.
The former Anambra governor’s choice of words drew criticism from several quarters, which was described as a breach of cultural protocol.
Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, faulted Obi’s address, saying it demonstrated “lack of cultural sensitivity and diplomatic polish.”
He argued that royal fathers should be accorded full respect in both private and public communications.
Similarly, media aide to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Lere Olayinka, described Obi’s expression as evidence of “cultural ignorance and political arrogance,” noting that beyond protocol, the Olubadan was far older than Obi and deserved to be addressed with the full weight of his traditional authority.
The backlash sparked debates on social media, with many Nigerians weighing in on whether Obi’s style of informal endearment was appropriate when addressing a revered monarch.
However, responding in a post via his official X handle on Sunday, Obi clarified that his words were never intended to slight the throne, stressing that his message was borne out of goodwill.
“Certainly, no disrespect intended in my goodwill message to His Royal Majesty. I felicitated with my dear elder brother, the newly crowned, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.”
He explained that he often uses the expression “my dear elder brother” to address individuals close to him and for whom he has tremendous respect, citing his frequent affectionate references to the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, in similar terms.
“I have read the concerns of those aggrieved by what they considered improper addressing. I respect protocol and authority, and I try, as much as possible, to adhere to them. However, those who follow me would have noticed that I often prefer to use the expression ‘my dear elder brother’ when addressing individuals especially close to me,” he noted.
“In matters of wrongdoing, motive is important. I assure all that my words were borne out of untrammelled goodwill,” Obi added.
Obi’s clarification comes as part of the growing national attention around the coronation of Oba Ladoja as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, which has drawn congratulatory messages from leaders across political and cultural spheres.
Voters in Switzerland will head to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to introduce a nationwide system of electronic identity cards.
This marks the second national referendum on the issue, following a 2021 rejection driven by concerns over data privacy and discomfort with the proposed system being managed largely by private companies.
According to the BBC, under the revised proposal, the new system would remain entirely optional and in public hands, with the data on the electronic IDs stored on users’ smartphones rather than centrally.
It comes as the UK government this week announced plans to introduce its own digital ID as part of efforts to curb the number of illegal migrants living and working in the country.
The proposed British digital ID would have fewer intended uses, but it has still raised concerns about privacy and data security.
Switzerland’s plan has already been approved by both its houses of Parliament, and the Swiss government recommends a “yes” vote.
Citizens can still choose to rely on a physical national identity card, which has been standard in Switzerland for decades.
To ease privacy concerns, a particular authority seeking information on a person – such as proof of age or nationality, for example – will only be able to check for those specific details.
Supporters say the system will make life much easier for everyone, allowing a range of bureaucratic procedures – from getting a telephone contract to proving you’re old enough to buy a bottle of wine – to happen quickly online.
But Switzerland has a long tradition of protecting its citizens’ privacy. The banking secrecy laws, now much diluted, were designed to shield an individual’s personal finances from the prying eyes of the state.
For years, Google Street View was controversial in Switzerland – and even today, following a ruling by the Swiss Federal Court, images taken close to schools, women’s refuges, hospitals, or prisons must be automatically blurred before going online.
There are also far fewer CCTV cameras in Switzerland than in many of its European neighbours.
Opponents of digital ID cards, who gathered enough signatures to force another referendum on the issue, argue that this measure could still undermine individual privacy.
They also fear that, despite the new restrictions on how data is collected and stored, it could still be used to track people and for marketing purposes.
The latest opinion polls, however, show that this time, voters may be ready to give electronic IDs a chance.
They have already had experience with the government’s COVID ID, which was used during the pandemic to show vaccination status and was mandatory to enter restaurants and bars.
Initial scepticism turned to satisfaction when people realised it allowed them, finally, to get out and about again.
As for the concerns about marketing of personal data, most Swiss have smartphones and are keen users of social media.
Ukraine said Sunday that Russia pounded the country with “hundreds” of drones and missiles overnight, wounding at least 10 people, as neighbouring Poland scrambled jets to secure its airspace.
The attacks came after Russia warned NATO against taking sterner action in response to alleged incursions into airspace covered by the military alliance.
They also followed the revelation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kyiv had received a US-made Patriot air defence system from Israel for use against Russian assaults.
“Russia launched another massive air attack on Ukrainian cities while people were sleeping,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said on X.
“Again, hundreds of drones and missiles, destroying residential buildings and causing civilian casualties,” he said.
He posted footage of flames bursting from the windows of a multi-storey apartment block, which Sybiga said was as a result of the attack.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that the Ukrainian capital was under a “massive” assault and urged people to stay in shelters.
He said at least six people had been wounded “as a result of the enemy’s attack”, five of whom were treated in hospital and one at the scene.
The governor of the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said Russian strikes there had wounded at least four people.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, accused Moscow of waging a “war against civilians”.
“There will be a response to these actions. But the West’s economic blows against Russia must also be stronger,” Yermak said.
Poland’s armed forces said on X that they had scrambled fighter jets in its airspace and put ground-based air defence systems on high alert in response to the Russian strikes in Ukraine.
The moves were preventive and aimed at securing Polish airspace and protecting citizens, especially in areas close to Ukraine, the forces said.
– ‘They will regret it’ –
In recent weeks, several European countries have accused Russia of violating their airspace with drones and fighter jets, in what NATO has viewed as a test of its resolve.
Russia has denied that it is responsible for the incursions or that it plans to attack any NATO nation.
Speaking during an address at the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday, Moscow’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said “any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response”.
Speaking later to reporters, Lavrov said that if any country downs objects still within Russian airspace, “they will very much regret it”.
After returning from his own trip to New York, where he also addressed the UN, Zelensky told reporters that “the Israeli (Patriot) system is operating in Ukraine”, adding that Kyiv would receive two more this autumn.
While initially neutral in the conflict, Israel’s ties with Moscow have cooled as Russia has drifted closer to Iran and condemned Israel’s war in Gaza.
Kyiv and Moscow also said on Saturday that the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe’s largest — had been off the grid for four days, stoking fears of a potential nuclear incident.
The Kwara State Police Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has intercepted a vehicle transporting 127 bags of suspected cannabis concealed under tubers of yam.
The interception took place on Friday, around 4pm along the Babanla–Oreke–Oke-Ode axis during a joint operation involving the police, operatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Forest Security Service, and local vigilantes.
Two suspects, Dan-Teni Haruna and Rabiu Ibrahim, both from Saliku in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State, were arrested in connection with the cannabis smuggling.
According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, cannabis remains the most abused illicit drug in Nigeria, with seizures running into thousands of tonnes annually.
In a related breakthrough, three men identified as Mohammed Abubakar and Hussain, both from Tsaragi, and Tukur Ibrahim, a suspected notorious kidnapper, were also arrested for their roles in the invasion of Babanla.
On 8 August 2025, gunmen attacked Babanla, targeting a police station, looting shops, and causing fatalities.
Confirming the development in a statement on Saturday, the spokesperson of the command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, quoted the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, as commending the synergy that led to the arrests.
“This success is a result of effective collaboration between the police, the NSA operatives, the Nigeria Forest Security Service, and local vigilante groups,” Ojo said.
He vowed that criminal activities would not be tolerated in the state.
“We are determined to maintain security across Kwara. Let it be known that Kwara State will not be a safe haven for criminal elements,” the CP warned.
Ejire-Adeyemi added that the suspects are currently undergoing discreet investigation and will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of the process.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has announced the approved fares for the 2026 Hajj.
In a statement signed by the management, NAHCON said the announcement followed “due consultations with all the relevant stakeholders, including the Forum of States leadership, and obtaining the approval of the Federal Government.”
The announcement comes shortly after top management staff of the Commission, led by the Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, embarked on a trip to Saudi Arabia to inspect facilities, negotiate service arrangements, and sign agreements with key service providers ahead of the 2026 exercise.
Earlier this year, NAHCON had announced a tentative fare of N8.5 million for the 2026 Hajj, clarifying that the amount was provisional and subject to review after negotiations with Saudi service providers and approval from the Federal Government.
The 2025 Hajj fares were fixed at N8.31 million for the Maiduguri-Yola Zone, N8.44 million for other northern states, and N8.76 million for the southern states.
However, the management said the 2026 fares have been reduced by N200,000 across all categories.
“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria wishes to announce the Hajj Fare for the 2026 Hajj season. After due consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including the Forum of States leadership, and obtaining the approval of the Federal Government, the Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Professor Abdullahi Sale Usman, hereby announces the 2026 Hajj Fare as follows: Maiduguri-Yola Zone (Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba) will pay N8,318,336.67; other Northern States will pay N8,244,813.67; Southern States will pay N8,561,013.67.”
“Compared to what was charged last year, each pilgrim is to pay an average of two hundred thousand naira less,” the statement partly read.
The Commission also revealed that its delegation currently in Saudi Arabia has finalised service arrangements with major providers.
“The NAHCON delegation, currently in Saudi Arabia, met and signed agreements with the 2026 Hajj Service Provider Company (Mashareeq Al-Zahabiyya) and the Transportation Company (Daleel Al-Ma’aleem),” the Commission stated.
The Chairman stressed the importance of timely payments, urging intending pilgrims to complete payments before December 31, 2025.
Candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, Mr John Nwosu, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ramp up measures to curtail vote buying in the election.
Claiming that elections in the country are typically characterized by vote buying, Nwosu said a repeat of such phenomenon would taint the credibility of the forthcoming Anambra election.
Nwosu is among the 16 governorship candidates listed by INEC in a June 4, 2025 statement to participate in the November 8, 2025 election in Anambra.
His party, the ADC, will battle it out with other parties to unseat incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
Nwosu, in a statement on Saturday, said it was baffling seeing voters openly selling their votes to party agents and other representatives around polling units on election day.
According to him, “such practices not only derail the true will of the people but also reduce elections to an auction, where the state is effectively handed over to the highest bidder.”
Nwosu urged INEC to introduce secure voting cubicles that would safeguard the legitimate rights of voters and uphold the sovereignty of democracy.
Nwosu said, “INEC must provide secure voting cubicles to ensure ballots remain private and secret. Currently, many polling areas are too exposed, allowing others to see the voting process. This not only encourages vote buying but also undermines the integrity of the elections.
“Voting must remain secret. Nigeria already has strong electoral laws which, if properly enforced, can deliver outcomes that truly benefit society.”
He held that the Anambra governorship election was another opportunity for INEC to secure the trust of Nigerians about its commitment to transparency and fairness during polls.
He also noted the role of security agencies in tackling the menace of vote buying on the day of election.
He said, “The success of any political activity depends largely on security, because security is key. While it is not solely INEC’s duty to ensure elections are properly conducted, the Commission must create an enabling environment that allows citizens to participate freely, conduct themselves properly, and exercise their right to vote.”
