Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has departed the club after two years to take up a new position with the Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Tenure and Background: Joining from Bournemouth in June 2024 with a contract slated to run until 2027, the 47-year-old managed Liverpool’s football operations and recruitment department during a significant transitional era.

  • Transfer Market Influence: Hughes directed approximately £200m in expenditure during his final summer window—bringing in Bradley Barcola from Paris St-Germain—and played a central role in landmark deals such as the club-record £125m acquisition of Alexander Isak and the £116m signing of Florian Wirtz.

  • Coaching Appointments: Following Jürgen Klopp’s exit, Hughes helped secure Arne Slot as manager, who delivered a Premier League title in his debut season before a fifth-place finish led to Slot’s replacement by Andoni Iraola.

  • Farewell Statements: In his official departure statement, Hughes expressed enduring affection and well-wishes for the Reds, while FSG president Mike Gordon acknowledged his vital contributions to recruitment and coaching support during a transformative chapter.

The Abia State Government has raised concerns over a sharp rise in drug addicts undergoing treatment at the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) rehabilitation facility in Aba.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Government and Community Concerns: Speaking at an anti-drug workshop in Okwu Olokoro, Youth and Sports Development Commissioner Nwadinma Ananaba—represented by Ijeoma Ogbonna—lamented that substance abuse is destroying the potential of the state’s youth and fueling drug-induced crimes. Traditional ruler Eze Boniface Izuogu and village leader Nnamdi Nwosu also strongly condemned the destructive impact of drug peddlers and metal scrap dealers in the area.

  • Security and Criminal Links: Ubakala Police Division Divisional Crime Officer Osinachi Ahana warned that local crime rates have escalated due to substance abuse, highlighting a recent case where three young girls were trafficked to Burkina Faso for prostitution before one managed to escape and return.

  • Severe Overcapacity at Facility: NDLEA Assistant Commander of Narcotics Frank Nwaohamuo revealed that the rehabilitation centre in Aba—originally built to handle a maximum capacity of just 40 individuals—is currently overwhelmed with about 500 inmates seeking treatment, with some patients unfortunately suffering relapses after discharge.

  • Calls for Action and Engagement: Officials urged youths to steer clear of illicit substances and instead utilize skills acquisition and employment schemes introduced by President Bola Tinubu and Governor Alex Otti, while the NDLEA reaffirmed its dedication to partnering with local communities to combat the drug crisis.

The Rivers State House of Assembly scrutinized accountability and fund management surrounding PAMO University of Medical Sciences during deliberations on the 2026 Appropriation Bill.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Budget Adjustments and Speaker’s Stance: Speaker of the Assembly Martin Amaewhule stated that lawmakers adjusted the budget after expressing dissatisfaction with the university management’s transparency regarding historical fund allocations.

  • Demands for Transparency: While clarifying that the move was not an attack on the medical institution, the Speaker emphasized that public funds allocated to a private entity require strict legislative oversight, tracking of beneficiary numbers, and proof that the program is effectively expanding the state’s medical workforce.

  • No-Show at Budget Defense: Amaewhule revealed that the university snubbed an invitation to appear before the Assembly during the budget defense to account for billions received in taxpayers’ money.

  • Reallocation of Funds: Concerns over the institution led the House to slash its proposed allocation, redirecting a portion of the funds to the Primary Health Care Management Board to rehabilitate local health facilities.

  • Political Context: PAMO University was established by former Governor Peter Odili, with state sponsorship originating under former Governor Nyesom Wike, and the institution’s funding has since become caught up in the ongoing political rift between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

  • Budget Signing: Despite the legislative controversy, Governor Fubara subsequently signed the N1.84 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law at the Government House in Port Harcourt.