From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

‎Bayelsa Starlets Academy will like to strengthen their campaign in the ongoing N-Youth League when they take on FC Prague Nigeria of Abia State today Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, with kick-off scheduled for 10:00 a.

‎The encounter promises to be an exciting contest as both sides seek to make a strong statement in the competition.

‎‎The Yenagoa-based academy, which is affiliated to Spanish football giants, FC Barcelona, will be eager to showcase their growing quality, tactical discipline and attacking strength against a determined FC Prague Nigeria side.

‎‎Bayelsa Starlets Academy have continued to nurture young football talents through structured training and competitive football, providing promising players with a platform to showcase their abilities and pursue greater opportunities in the game.

‎The fixture is expected to test the Starlets’ organisation, creativity in midfield and efficiency in front of goal as they seek to impose their style of play on their opponents.

‎Having emerged as champions of the Nationwide League One (NLO) U-19 Youth League, Bayelsa Starlets will be keen to build on that achievement and maintain their impressive development trajectory.

‎For the academy, the encounter represents yet another opportunity to strengthen team cohesion, gain valuable competitive experience and demonstrate the progress made under its development programme.

‎The outcome could prove significant to both teams’ ambitions as the N-Youth League continues to provide a platform for the development and exposure of emerging football talents.

‎Speaking ahead of the fixture, Bayelsa Starlets Academy Head Coach, Gomo Onduku, expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the challenge, noting that the players have continued to improve as preparations progressed.

‎Onduku added that the team has worked hard in preparation for the encounter and was determined to secure victory against FC Prague Nigeria.

‎Similarly, Bayelsa Starlets midfielder, Tengi Ibuama, said the team would approach the fixture with the seriousness of a cup final, stressing that their priority was to win every match in the zone.

‎The Starlets will now look to translate their preparations into a strong performance on home soil as they seek to maintain their positive momentum in the N-Youth League.

By Raphael Atuu, Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has advocated for stronger land, mortgage and institutional systems to accelerate inclusive housing delivery across Nigeria.

This is the key message at the ongoing 15th meeting of the National Council on Land, Housing and Urban Development (NCLHUD), holding in Sokoto, October 12th – 16th, 2026

Under the theme: “Strengthening Mortgage, Land and Institutional Systems for Accelerated and Inclusive Housing Delivery.

In his remarks, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry,. Mukhtar Iliyasu Umar, noted that the Council provides an important platform for stakeholders to examine challenges in the housing sector and develop practical solutions to improve housing delivery nationwide.

He stated that the meeting is convening a three-stage deliberation process for the consideration, harmonisation and adoption of policy recommendations aimed at addressing critical challenges in Nigeria’s housing and urban development sector.

He emphasised the importance of each stage of the deliberations, noting that the quality of the final decisions would depend largely on the depth of technical analysis, the quality of recommendations and the effectiveness of the harmonisation process.

‎Sokoto State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Country Planning, Barrister Nasiru Aliyu Dantsoho, said the theme was strategically chosen to ensure that housing policies are designed to promote access to decent and affordable housing for every citizen.

He expressed concern over Nigeria’s housing deficit, estimated at over 14.5 million units, noting that approximately 50.6 million people live in unsafe housing conditions. Describing the situation as worrisome, Dantsoho called for urgent and sustained interventions to address the country’s housing challenges.

Accordingly, the Commissioner advocated a reduction in mortgage interest rates from the current double-digit levels to single-digit rates, as well as an extension of mortgage repayment periods from 25 to 35 years, saying that the measures would make mortgage repayments more affordable and improve access to homeownership for Nigerians.

He also called for the expansion of mortgage financing beyond the formal public and private sectors to accommodate Nigerians in the informal sector, particularly traders, farmers, and other self-employed individuals who constitute a significant proportion of the population but are often excluded from existing housing finance policies.

Bar Dantsoho further urged financial institutions, including the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), to provide adequate funding and introduce flexible repayment arrangements tailored to the income patterns of different categories of borrowers.

He emphasised the importance of digitising land administration systems across the states to enhance efficiency, promote transparency, and facilitate access to land for housing development.

On his part, the permanent Secretary, Sokoto state ministry of lands and housing, Engr. Ahmad Moyi Tambuwal highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts to improve land administration, including the digitisation of land records, reduction in the time required to process Certificates of Occupancy and the provision of land for mass housing projects under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Programme.

He noted that “the delivery of adequate and affordable housing requires more than the construction of houses. It also depends on efficient land administration, accessible mortgage finance, effective policies and stronger collaboration among government institutions and private-sector stakeholders”

NCLHUD is a forum for participants to share experiences, harmonise policies, identify institutional gaps and develop practical recommendations that would improve land administration, expand access to housing finance and accelerate housing delivery across the country.

‎Participants at the meeting were encouraged to develop recommendations that address pressing challenges in land administration, housing finance, institutional coordination and sustainable urban development across the country.

The reports and recommendations from the technical sessions will be harmonised for consideration at subsequent stages of the Council meeting.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the housing sector and promoting accessible, affordable and inclusive housing for Nigerians. It expressed confidence that the collective contributions of participants would provide a sound foundation for meaningful deliberations and effective decisions by the Council.

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

The Osun State Government under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke has signed two separate Memoranda of Understanding with Balou International Nigeria Limited and Alive-and-Kicking Nigeria Limited to boost industrialization at the Living Spring Free Trade Zone, Ede.

The MoUs were signed on behalf of the Osun State Government by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Revd Dr.

In the first agreement, the Osun State Government signed with Balou International Nigeria Limited, the refurbishment and use of the Transit Camp Building at the Living Spring Free Trade Zone for multipurpose use.

The agreement was signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Balou International Nigeria Limited, Chief Ronnie Liu.

Under the agreement, the company will revive, rehabilitate and operationalise the Transit Camp as a fully functional industrial hub. The facility will provide accommodation for investors, a Chinese restaurant, showroom and office space.

As part of its industrialisation plan, the company intends to establish an Air Compressor Plant, an Electric Motorcycle Assembly Plant and an Industrial Tools Factory within the zone.

The partnership will also mobilise local and foreign investments into the Living Spring Free Trade Zone through the facilitation of Balou International Nigeria Limited, and create anchor industrial clusters in manufacturing, logistics, renewable energy, agro processing and ICT.

The development is expected to generate employment, promote exports, attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and increase the Internally Generated Revenue of Osun State.

In the second agreement, the government signed with Alive-and-Kicking Nigeria Limited, the establishment of a multi-sports balls production factory within the same zone. The MoU was signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Dr. Bob Olukoya.

Under this agreement, both parties will collaborate to establish a 7-line balls manufacturing factory that will produce world-class standard footballs, basketballs, rugby balls, volleyballs, handballs, American footballs and tennis balls.

The project is designed to further promote and operationalise the Made-in-Nigeria policy within the sports sector, enhance local manufacturing capability, create massive direct and indirect employment and reduce dependence on imported sports balls.

The two projects are expected to position Osun State as a viable hub for sports equipment manufacturing, leather and rubber processing, and general industrial manufacturing in Nigeria and West Africa.

The initiatives align with the development goals of the administration of Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to fully industrialise the state before the end of its tenure in 2030.