WELCOME TO PETER NWAMA'S BLOG

  Argentine football superstar, Lionel Messi said on Monday, August 31, 2026, he is retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July. “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi, 39, wrote on Instagram. “I swear, I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before that too, and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt,” he added. Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory by winning the 2022 final against France in a penalty shootout in Doha, but his side lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 final. Following the death of his father Jorge in August, Messi had said he had “serious doubts” about continuing to play football of any sort for “much longer.” Messi’s contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season. His full statement reads, “After all this time since the final, and after thin...

Former Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro has released two photographs appearing to show him inside a United States detention centre, marking the first images of the former leader since his abduction in January. The photographs show Maduro dressed in a grey tracksuit, raising both hands in a peace sign. He also appears to have lost significant weight since he was captured and taken to the United States. Maduro shared the images on Sunday through X and Telegram, alongside a message addressed to his family, grandchildren and supporters. He said the photographs were a small gift to his grandchildren, children and supporters, assuring them that he and his wife, Cilia Flores, remained strong and confident. The timestamp on the photographs indicates that they were taken on June 25, a day after twin earthquakes struck northern Venezuela, killing more than 6,500 people and causing widespread destruction. Maduro and Flores are being detained in Brooklyn, New York, over drug trafficking and fi...

The leading fintech company, OPay Digital Services has dismissed a false, malicious and misleading viral social media publication claiming that the company would suspend its operations from Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The fabricated publication, which circulated widely across social media platforms on Sunday, purportedly advised OPay customers to withdraw or transfer their funds ahead of an alleged prolonged shutdown. However, OPay, in a statement on Sunday posted on its verified social media platforms, dismissed the claim and assured customers that its operations remain fully active. In a message titled “This is FALSE!”, the company said, “OPay is not going on break by September. We’re here, and we’re going nowhere! 💚” The fintech company also urged customers and members of the public to carefully scrutinise the viral publication, pointing out inconsistencies that could help users distinguish the fake message from its authentic communications. “True OPay users know how to identify ou...

  Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today for Europe to begin a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga disclosed this in a statement, on Sunday, August 30, 2026. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today for Europe to begin a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave.” “His first stop will be London, United Kingdom. President Tinubu is expected to return home after the working vacation to join the hectic campaign for the January 2027 election.

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has gone to a United States court to prevent the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from releasing records linked to allegations of drug trafficking. The records are  being sought by American transparency activist, Aaron Greenspan, who filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against several U.S. government agencies. Aaron Greenspan is  seeking documents relating to investigations involving Tinubu, including the FBI’s full file on him and FBI Form 302 interview records from 1992 and 1993. The case  also concerns an alleged record linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture case in the U.S. involving about $460,000 connected to Tinubu. Tinubu has constantly denied any wrongdoing. In a court  documents filed on Friday and shared with Channels Television by Tinubu’s lawyers, Christopher W. Carmichael, Victor P. Henderson and Oluwole O. Afolabi, the pres...

  A married father of two, Jones Bogonko Onchonga, has been arrested in Kenya for allegedly posing as a Catholic priest and conducting religious activities in several parishes in Turkana County. Onchonga reportedly gained access to the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar by allegedly presenting forged church documents to support his claim that he was an ordained priest. According to Kenyan publication Tuko, he allegedly celebrated Mass and participated in other religious activities at several Catholic worship centres, including St Augustine Cathedral in Kalokol, St Thomas Chapel and St Mary’s Lodaraja. His alleged impersonation came to light after photographs emerged showing him celebrating Mass alongside the Bishop of Lodwar, Rt. Rev. John Mbinda, C.S.Sp. The photographs reportedly raised concerns within the Catholic community, prompting the Diocese of Lodwar to investigate and subsequently clarify Onchonga’s status. In a statement signed by Bishop Mbinda, the Diocese dissociated itself fr...

  Two people have been confirmed dead following an attack at IMAX Cinemas in Lekki, Lagos State, Friday night, August 29, after a man wielding a machete and knife reportedly stormed the premises. The incident, which triggered panic among cinema patrons and workers, occurred when the suspect allegedly attempted to gain entry into the cinema but was stopped by security guards. Eyewitnesses said the assailant, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, became violent after being prevented from entering the premises. Confirming the incident, spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Adebisi Abimbola, said the suspect allegedly stabbed one of the security guards to death and injured another security personnel during the attack. According to her, the suspect who appear to be destitute, was subsequently mobbed and died in the process. “Two people have been confirmed dead,” Adebisi said, adding that the circumstances surrounding the incident were being investigated...

In furtherance of the fight against transnational organised crime, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the National Central Bureau (NCB-INTERPOL), Lagos Annex, have successfully rescued two foreign nationals lured to Nigeria and held captive by a human trafficking syndicate. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, made this known on Saturday, saying, “The successful operation followed actionable intelligence received from INTERPOL-NCB, Bogotá, on August 26, 2026, regarding two female citizens of Colombia, identified as Maria Camila Rodas Ortiz and Yuliet Fernanda Rios Mesa. “The victims were fraudulently lured to Nigeria, held against their will, and had their travel documents confiscated by certain Chinese nationals who are currently at large. ‘Upon receipt of the intelligence, police operatives promptly launched a covert tracking operation, locating the hideout in Lagos where both victims were safely rescued on the same day. “The fleeing suspects...

Businesses using Meta’s WhatsApp Business Platform will begin paying for certain messages sent to customers from October 1, 2026, under a new pricing structure announced by the company. The change applies to organisations that use the WhatsApp Business Platform, formerly known as the WhatsApp Business API, to manage customer communication on a large scale. Regular WhatsApp users and small businesses using the standard WhatsApp Business app are not the main targets of the new charges. Under the reversed system, the amount businesses pay will depend on the type of message being sent. Utility messages, including payment alerts, order confirmations and other service-related updates, will cost about $0.0101 per message, while marketing messages will attract a higher fee of approximately $0.062 each. Although the individual charges appear relatively small, companies that send large volumes of messages could see their communication expenses rise significantly. For example, a Nig...

The founder of Streams of Joy International and converner of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations (NSPPD), Pastor Jerry Eze has gifted gospel singer, Nathaniel Bassey a brand new car in celebration of the musician’s 45th birthday. Bassey revealed the gesture in an Instagram post on Friday, explaining that he had intended to spend a quiet day thanking God before discovering that Eze had secretly arranged the surprise with his wife. The singer, who turned 45 on Thursday, said he was left “speechless” by the gift, particularly after learning that Eze had rejected his wife’s initial suggestion and insisted on getting a better vehicle. According to Bassey, Eze told his wife, “my brother can’t drive that” while pushing for a more suitable car. He wrote, “Normally I keep things like this private, but not this one. I want to share this. “Woke up yesterday just desiring a nice easy day of gratitude to God. Unknown to me my brother and friend @realjerryeze had this holy coup ongoing...

Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr has been announced as the headline performer for an NFL halftime show during the league’s international match in London this autumn. The singer will perform at halftime when the Philadelphia Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, October 11, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London. The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. BST (9:30 a.m. ET). Ayra Starr becomes the first Afrobeats artiste to headline an NFL International Game Halftime Show, marking another major international milestone for the Nigerian singer. Her performance will form part of a record seven halftime shows planned across this season’s international NFL matches, presented by American Express. Reacting to the announcement, Starr said she was looking forward to performing on the NFL’s global stage. “I am so excited to perform at the NFL halftime show in London,” said Starr, who recently released her third studio album, Starrgirl...

  The President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, and other board members have resigned. The NFF board had come under intense pressure following the poor management of Nigerian football. The latest debacle was the failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the FIFA Women World Cup for the first time. It was gathered that the board had been badgered by security agents, as it comes under (mis)management of funds released by the Federal Government for the national football teams. The Department of State Services (DSS), joined other security operatives in investigating the NFF over the utilisation of the ₦17 billion Federal Government intervention fund released to the Federation for players’ wages and bonuses. The fund was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024 to clear outstanding payments owed to Nigeria national teams. An authoritative source informed the newsmen on Monday that the DSS had beamed a searchlight on officials of the NFF to show proof on wha...