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Francis James Wins Gold Amid Blackout at National Sports Festival
Francis James of Plateau State clinched gold in the men’s 10,000m final at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta under highly challenging conditions following a sudden power outage at the MKO Abiola Stadium.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The blackout, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, occurred during the final eight laps of the race, plunging the stadium into near-total darkness. Despite the lack of visibility, James crossed the finish line with a time of 30:36.50 to emerge champion.
Speaking after the race, James described the experience as “dangerous and demoralising,” noting that he had to rely on instinct and memory to navigate the track, as visibility was severely impaired.
“I thank God I was able to finish and win, but it wasn’t easy at all,” he told Punch. “Everything went dark when I felt I had a chance to win. It was hard to see anything — who was ahead or behind.”
Spectators and athletes reportedly used mobile phone flashlights and headlights from ambulances to continue the race. James, a seasoned distance runner, believes the blackout impacted his performance and safety.
“If not for the blackout, I believe I would have run faster — maybe around 28 or 29 minutes,” he said.
The incident has sparked criticism of the event’s organisers and stadium management, with questions raised about the lack of backup power or contingency plans during a major national sporting event. The race was completed without any restoration of floodlights, despite the presence of top officials and a large audience.
James’s victory under such unusual circumstances has drawn both admiration and concern, spotlighting issues of infrastructure and preparedness at Nigeria’s premier sports gathering.
Popular Afrobeats singer, Davido, has revealed that he would prefer his children to build their careers outside the entertainment industry.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Senator Abubakar Yusuf, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure victory in the 2027 presidential election, despite what he described as the current government’s underwhelming performance.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the former federal lawmaker argued that Tinubu’s re-election is likely because the opposition lacks unity and cannot mount a strong challenge.
He said he does not expect opposition politicians to come together in a way that could threaten the president’s chances.
According to him, “APC will win in 2027, not because President Tinubu has done well, but because there is no opposition. There is no challenge in the opposition. Individually, they are very credible, but as a team, I don’t see them working together. Tinubu will more likely win in the 2027 election.”
Yusuf added that the ruling party is not worried about the opposition due to its fragmented nature.
However, he cautioned President Tinubu against relying heavily on APC governors for electoral support, warning that many of them may not have strong grassroots popularity.
He also warned that internal disagreements within the party, especially over candidate selection, could trigger serious conflicts and weaken the APC if not properly handled.
“APC is not jittery because we don’t have a challenge. What we should worry about is an intra-party crisis. There may be implosions if care is not taken. If they insist on an automatic ticket, they will lose many members to other parties. There will be implosions if they refuse to allow free and fair elections,” he said.
Yusuf further advised the president not to overestimate the influence of some governors, adding that several of them are not widely popular among voters.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned that several parts of the country may experience thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible disruptions to daily activities on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to a weather update shared on Sunday via its official X handle, NiMet said the day is expected to begin with hot and sunny conditions in many areas before changing later.
In the North, morning heat is expected to give way to isolated thunderstorms later in the day, with places like Taraba likely to experience brief storms and gusty winds.
For the North-Central region, the agency predicted a warm and calm start, followed by possible thunderstorms and rainfall in some states, while others may experience strong winds. Affected areas may include Niger, Kwara, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory.
In the South, more intense storm activity is expected as the day progresses, with states such as Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Enugu, Anambra, Rivers, and Delta likely to see rain, lightning, and possible disruption to outdoor activities.
NiMet advised residents to take precautions, including securing loose items that could be affected by strong winds and avoiding unnecessary travel during heavy rain due to reduced visibility and slippery roads.
It also warned against staying in flood-prone areas during rainfall and urged people to seek safe shelter during lightning activity.
Airlines were also advised to obtain regular weather updates from NiMet offices to ensure safe flight operations.
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