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Lookman Ends Dispute With Atalanta, Returns to Training Ahead of Juventus Clash
BERGAMO, Italy— Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has ended a two-month standoff with Atalanta and rejoined first-team training, giving the Serie A club a boost after its heavy 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Lookman, 27, had been absent from training since July after submitting a transfer request. The winger was frustrated over unfulfilled promises of a move abroad, with bids from Inter Milan and PSG reportedly turned down by the club. His absence created tension during the preseason and the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
On Thursday, Lookman met with new head coach Ivan Juric to discuss his future. The two reached an agreement for him to return, with Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi making clear the player must be fully committed to reintegration.
“Ademola is an important player for us. What matters now is focus, professionalism and helping the team move forward,” Percassi said in a brief statement.
The timing of his return is crucial. Atalanta has gone three matches without a win this season, raising pressure on Juric in his first weeks in charge. The club’s defeat to PSG on Tuesday underlined weaknesses in attack and defense, leaving fans concerned ahead of Sunday’s high-profile Serie A meeting with Juventus.
Lookman has been one of Atalanta’s most influential players since joining from RB Leipzig in 2022. He has scored 55 goals in 118 appearances, including a stunning hat trick in the Europa League final last season against Bayer Leverkusen that secured Atalanta’s first major European trophy.
His scoring ability and pace on the wings have made him a fan favorite in Bergamo and a regular starter for Nigeria’s national team. Supporters had voiced frustration over the dispute, with many urging both sides to find a solution.
Juric, who took over in July after Gian Piero Gasperini’s departure, emphasized the need for unity. “We cannot afford distractions,” he told Italian reporters. “Lookman is back, and now we must concentrate on Juventus. The team comes first.”
The forward’s decision to rejoin training also ends speculation of a possible late move before the January transfer window. While PSG and Inter remain interested, club officials have stressed that Lookman will not be sold during the current campaign.
Atalanta faces a demanding schedule with league matches, domestic cup commitments, and a tough Champions League group. Lookman’s presence is expected to ease some of the attacking burden on Gianluca Scamacca and Teun Koopmeiners.
For Lookman, the return marks a chance to rebuild trust with teammates and supporters. “I am happy to be back with the group. My focus is on working hard and helping Atalanta win,” he said in a statement released through the club.
The match against Juventus could offer an early test of his readiness. With Atalanta still searching for its first victory of the season, all eyes will be on Lookman to see if he can deliver the spark that has defined his time in Bergamo.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says the state has mapped out 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project using modern geospatial mapping technology.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, tackle environmental degradation, and promote sustainable land use in the state.
Speaking at the ACReSAL mid-term review meeting in Kaduna through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, the governor explained that the use of geospatial tools has made it possible to accurately identify affected areas for targeted intervention.
He added that the project is not only focused on land recovery but also on boosting agricultural output and improving livelihoods in affected communities.
Sani also noted that the state is supporting the programme with empowerment initiatives, including training over 500 women, youths, and school feeding vendors in biomass briquette production.
According to him, the effort is already helping to reduce dependence on firewood while creating alternative sources of income for beneficiaries.
President Tinubu has given full backing for the implementation of the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 budget after signing the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly into law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also approved an amendment extending the lifespan of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026, to ensure completion of ongoing capital projects nationwide.
Under the 2026 fiscal plan, ₦4.799 trillion is set aside for statutory transfers, ₦15.8 trillion for debt servicing, ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent spending, while ₦32.2 trillion goes to capital projects—about half of the total budget.
The focus, according to the administration, is on infrastructure development, security, and growth-driven investments aimed at improving living standards.
Speaking on the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said the extension of the 2025 budget will help ensure full use of allocated funds, especially for major ongoing projects.
Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure transparency, discipline, and value-for-money in implementing the budget, while praising the National Assembly for its swift passage of the bill.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, revenue growth, job creation, and social welfare improvements.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described moves to prosecute former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged culpable homicide as an attempt to reopen the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy for political purposes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, said the development is a disturbing and dangerous politicisation of a case they claim has already been addressed through judicial processes.
He warned against dragging the state into fresh tension, accusing the state government of attempting to revive old allegations for political advantage.
Adewara said the PDP would not remain silent while what he called “political narratives” are used to influence public perception around a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives in Offa in 2018.
He also urged residents, especially affected families, not to allow their pain to be used for political gains, insisting it is unjust to associate Saraki with the crime.
The party further alleged that the move is aimed at distracting attention from governance challenges in the state.
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