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News_Naija

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Bridge Repairs To Disrupt Traffic Flow

Motorists plying the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have expressed anxiety over gridlock that may trail the planned repair of the damaged bridge at the Lotto area of the expressway. PUNCH Metro recalls that a driver of a low-bed articulated vehicle, which was transporting an excavator, hit the bridge structure, causing damage to its beams. The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukorede Kesha, who spoke during an inspection on Monday, announced that the section of the expressway where the bridge was damaged would be closed down for repair works. She expressed concern over the significant damage caused to the bridge, stressing that two of the beams were severely compromised and must be replaced. “From what we observed, the excavator’s boom was not properly lowered from the port, which made it too high to pass under the bridge. “To complete the repairs, we will have to shut this section of the road and divert traffic to the other side. Anyone familiar with the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway knows how critical this route is. Traffic here is something else.” She told NAN on Monday. Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, some motorists noted that with the typical high volume of traffic on the expressway, the repair may compound the traffic situation. Though they noted that inner roads may provide alternatives, a motorist, Kunle Jayeola held that they would have to also grapple with some roads that are not motorable. Jayeola urged the FG government to put in place measures to avert a repeat of the sad experience of motorists following the closure of the Independence Bridge, in Lagos Island. He said, “The planned repair is necessary, but it will come with hardship for motorists because of the large number of vehicles plying this road daily. “If care is not taken, we may have a repeat of what happened in Lagos Island recently due to the closure of the Independence Bridge. It may become worse because there are no alternative routes that motorists can resort to. “I appeal to the FG to ensure that whatever they are planning does not put the motorists at the receiving end.” Another motorist, who identified simply as Tunde, lamented that the closure of a section of the expressway would affect the movement of people and businesses plying the area. He said, “If they (FG) close this road, it will not only affect traffic and movement of people, but it will also have an impact on businesses that rely on this route for transportation. “I just hope that they will manage the situation well so that the impact is minimal because ordinary vehicle breakdowns on this road always cause gridlock, how much more of closing a section of the road?” On the concerns of motorists, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos said traffic would only be diverted to the other lane along the expressway. “Tell me the alternative that is available there. The federal government constructed something there, and someone went ahead to damage it, and you’re talking about an alternative. We will only divert traffic to the other lane,” she said in a telephone conversation with our correspondent.

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Futbol

Premier League Yet To Rule On Chelsea Women's Team 'fair Market Value' Sale

The Premier League has yet to approve the sale of Chelsea's women's team to the club's parent company BlueCo through their 'fair market value' rules. Chelsea reported a pre-tax profit of £128.4m on Monday but they effectively sold the women's team and potentially other subsidiaries to themselves for around £198.7m. The league didn't bring any Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rule charges against Chelsea when assessing its members in January. However, as first reported in the Times, external, it has also not yet approved the value of the sale of Chelsea Women. The worth of the Women's Super League champions is understood to have been benchmarked against the world's most valuable women's team, Angel City, a club in the US-based National Women's Soccer League which was sold for £190m in September. Chelsea's valuation was made when seeking external investment and sponsorship in June 2024, when they announced the "repositioning" of the women's team into a separate entity from the men's team. But although Chelsea continue to insist the move will benefit their women's team, it has also helped balance the spending of more than £1.5bn in transfers over three years on the men's side, avoiding huge losses. The club also sold two hotels to another sister company to keep them compliant with PSR rules last season, which was deemed fair market value by the league at £76.5m. The current Premier League financial rules do not address associated party transactions (APTs), after clubs were unable to close the loophole following its annual general meeting in June. However, European football's governing body Uefa has more stringent Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules which would discount APTs of all its members, with the sale of the hotels and the Chelsea women's team to be assessed in the summer.

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News_Naija

UK Police Seek Clues On 10th Anniversary Of Nigerian Students Murder

The United Kingdom Metropolitan Police have renewed their appeal for information into the murder of 21-year-old Nigerian student Ola Raji, who was stabbed to death while returning from watching a Champions League football match in Peckham, London, on April 21, 2015. The appeal was made on Monday, April 21, 2025, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the tragic incident. In a statement obtained by PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the police and the victim’s family urged anyone with information that could help bring his killers to justice to come forward. “The family of an innocent man who was fatally shot and stabbed while cycling home after watching a football match has appealed for the public’s help to get justice,” the statement read. Ola had reportedly spent the evening at a friend’s house watching the UEFA Champions League quarter-final match between Bayern Munich and FC Porto. According to the police, he was attacked by two men while cycling through the East Surrey Grove estate, near Commercial Way, SE15. “Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Ola later died in hospital,” the statement said. Detective Chief Inspector Alex Gammampila, who is leading the investigation, described Ola’s death as a senseless act of violence that continues to haunt the local community. “Ola was an innocent man, in the wrong place at the worst time. His murder has devastated his friends and family, and those in the local community.” “Ten years on, we continue to appeal for anyone who has any information to come forward,” Gammampila said. The police disclosed that they were particularly appealing to anyone who was in the area on the night of the attack or who may have witnessed anything unusual. “Were you out in Peckham that night? Were you also watching the football that night, or were you near Commercial Way? Did you see or hear the shooting or anything that struck you as being unusual?” Gammampila asked. “No piece of information is too small and could be the final piece of the puzzle that leads us to identify Ola’s attackers.” The Metropolitan Police urged members of the public with any relevant details, no matter how minor they may seem, to contact law enforcement. According to a report by the British Broadcasting Corporation on Monday, Ola’s sisters, Zainab Raji and Ruki Ware, said even the smallest piece of evidence from any witnesses or those with knowledge of what happened “could be enough to put those responsible behind bars and make the streets safer for the entire community.” The sisters added the anniversary of their brother’s death was “a painful reminder of 10 years of loss.” “Our family is not going to get that time back,” they added.

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Futbol

Injured Arsenal Defender Gabriel Out For Season

Arsenal defender Gabriel will miss the remainder of the season after the club confirmed he requires hamstring surgery. The Brazilian was substituted in the first half of Arsenal's 2-1 win against Fulham at the Emirates stadium on Tuesday. The former Lille defender has started 28 of Arsenal's 30 Premier League matches this term, helping the club to the best defensive record in the division with 25 goals conceded. Arsenal say the 27-year-old is aiming to return to action in time for the start of the 2025-26 campaign. "Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season," the club said. Gabriel's absence could have a significant impact on the team, with the website Premier League Injuries reporting that Arsenal's win percentage drops significantly when he does not feature. Since his league debut, Arsenal have won 63.5% of the 159 games he has played, but only 40.9% of the 22 he has missed. It is the 119th hamstring injury in the Premier League so far this season, an average of four injuries to the muscle each round of games. Last season saw 163 hamstring injuries - the highest for five years - according to figures from Premier Injuries. Arsenal are second in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool with eight matches remaining. The Gunners face holders Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. Carlo Ancelotti's side visit north London on 8 April (20:00 BST), before travelling to the Bernabeu for the second leg on 16 April (20:00 BST).