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Arsenal sporting director meets Galatasaray president amid Victor Osimhen transfer speculation
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Arsenal's sporting director, Andrea Berta, was seen at a Galatasaray match, reportedly for discussions regarding Nigeria international Victor Osimhen. Osimhen, known for his prolific form with Galatasaray and considered a top forward, has attracted significant interest from European clubs, including Arsenal. The London club is reportedly seeking to enhance its attacking efficiency despite a strong season. Berta's meeting with Galatasaray president Dursun 脰zbek in Turkey has drawn public attention, with Turkish journalist Serkan Korkmaz asserting that Arsenal's interest is specifically in Osimhen. Korkmaz stated on X that the Arsenal sporting director and 脰zbek met, dismissing other claims about the meeting's agenda. These developments could excite Arsenal supporters, as the club's attacking performance has faced criticism this season. Osimhen recently delivered a strong performance, scoring in Galatasaray's 3-0 victory over Fenerbah莽e, a match reportedly attended by scouts from several major European clubs. He has recorded 13 goals and four assists in 20 league appearances this season, following a previous campaign with 37 goals in 41 matches.
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Must ReadPresident Bola Tinubu, in his Democracy Day address, declared that his administration would show no mercy to those who finance terrorism and enable violence against Nigerians. He issued an ultimatum to bandits, kidnappers, and terror sponsors to surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state, noting that over 13,000 terrorists had been neutralized in the past year. Despite a significant decline in terror-related deaths since 2015, the President acknowledged that the continued captivity of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states dampened the celebration. Tinubu highlighted increased security allocations in the 2026 budget and the approval for recruiting over 50,000 new police officers and thousands of military personnel to address security demands. He urged national unity against criminality, rejecting ethnic or religious framing. Addressing the power sector, Tinubu detailed reforms including the Electricity Act, a N4tn bond to settle debts, and efforts to deploy off-grid power. Economically, he reported increased federation revenues, improved fiscal transparency, and growth in non-oil exports, while acknowledging persistent hardship and committing to reducing inflation, expanding food production, and creating jobs.
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The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau NSIB has recovered the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder from a private aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger CL-601 with registration number N989BC, operated by VMO Aero Limited. The aircraft was involved in an incident on Wednesday when it landed on a roadway near Asaba, Delta State, during a flight from Lagos, and subsequently departed without regulatory approval. The NSIB activated its emergency response procedures and dispatched an investigative "Go Team" to the site. The recovered flight recorders will be analyzed to establish the circumstances and the aircraft鈥檚 performance. Investigators are also collecting operational, maintenance, and air traffic control records and coordinating with stakeholders. NSIB Director-General, Capt Alex Badeh Jr., stated that the swift recovery of the recorders is critical to determining the facts and expressed relief that there were no reported fatalities or serious injuries. The NSIB aims to determine the circumstances and contributing factors to issue safety recommendations and prevent recurrence, emphasizing that the investigation does not seek to apportion blame or determine liability. The bureau has appealed to the public for any relevant information, including photographs, videos, or CCTV footage.