
Former United States President Donald Trump has praised Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his leadership in addressing terrorism and insecurity, particularly concerning attacks on Christian communities. In a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump acknowledged Tinubu's efforts to tackle security challenges and reaffirmed the US's commitment to supporting Nigeria's fight against terrorism. Trump highlighted the importance of the US-Nigeria relationship, especially given the spread of conflict across West Africa, and mentioned the mutual goal of confronting terrorism. He noted the US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap as a framework for this collaboration. Trump also stated that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces to support Nigeria's military, providing skills, tools, and intelligence to protect the nation and its citizens, particularly those of faith. The Presidency reported that security cooperation between Nigeria and the US has intensified, with a Joint Working Group focusing on training, intelligence sharing, and joint operations against terrorist groups. This collaboration led to a coordinated operation on May 16 against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly resulted in the death of Abubakar Al-Minoki, a top leader of the group, and several of his lieutenants. US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, recently visited Abuja to discuss deepening cooperation.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.

Wolverhampton Wanderers canceled a training session after striker Tolu Arokodare reportedly refused to leave the pitch, demanding a transfer to Fiorentina. Wolves had rejected an offer from the Serie A club, despite having accepted one from Trabzonspor. The incident, reported by BBC Sports, led new head coach Cesar Peixoto to end Monday's training. Arokodare will not play in Wednesday's friendly against Maidenhead United. This follows a previous disciplinary issue in April involving Mateus Mane. Arokodare, who joined Wolves from Genk for 拢24 million last summer, scored three league goals as the club was relegated. The situation poses an early challenge for Peixoto, who aims to guide Wolves back to the Premier League.
Must ReadMali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, all led by military governments, are pursuing a joint bid to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations. The Malian Football Federation announced that officials met with Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe in New York to discuss the joint bid. This meeting is considered a pivotal stage in the bidding process, allowing the three member associations to proceed with the steps outlined in CAF regulations. The federations aim to prepare a robust and credible bid that reflects a new vision for African football. Burkina Faso previously hosted the AFCON in 1998, and Mali hosted in 2002, while Niger has never hosted the tournament. Mali has five CAF-approved stadiums, and Burkina Faso secured approval for its main stadium in Ouagadougou in 2025. Niger is working to upgrade its General Seyni Kountche Stadium, which has been unable to host international matches since 2022. The next AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Must ReadThe Nigerian Senate has resolved to summon the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL, and approximately 40 other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies MDAs. This decision follows their alleged failure to honor invitations to account for public funds. Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, moved the resolution, accusing several government agencies of obstructing legislative oversight by not appearing before the committee. The committee is investigating revenue remittances, operating surpluses, and compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and other financial laws. Senator Musa stated that the committee operates within its constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to investigate public institutions' finances and administration. He noted that despite repeated invitations, many agencies have either refused to appear or ignored the committee, with some claiming no obligation to comply. This, he warned, undermines the National Assembly's constitutional authority and could weaken fiscal accountability and transparency. Senator Musa also accused some revenue-generating agencies of violating the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Finance Act 2022 by retaining government revenue instead of remitting it. Senate President Godswill Akpabio dismissed claims by agencies that Senate committees lack summoning authority, affirming the National Assembly's c