Canada: Alaafin Seeks Establishment Of Hydro Power Firm To Boost Oyo Electricity

By Remi Adedayo

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, on Tuesday, paid a royal visit to his former work place, Manitoba Hydro, an electricity generating company in Manitoba, Canada.

Oba Owoade is visiting Canada alongside his queen, Ayaba Abiwumi Owoade and some notable traditional rulers and Oyo chiefs.

Prior to his ascension to the throne as the Alaafin, then Prince Owoade worked at Manitoba Hydro as the Project Management Professional (Project Manager) of the power engineering firm.

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On the entourage are Olora of Oraland - HRM Oba Rilwan Olawale Aremu Cooler, Ona Onibode of Igboholand - HRM Oba Abdurasheed Adetoyese Jayeola III and Oloro of Oro Kingdom - HRM Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye Olufayo II, who accompanied the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade I along with other members of the royal entourage to Manitoba Hydro, a power-generating company.

The visit provided an opportunity to discuss partnerships and strategies aimed at easing the strain caused by the erratic nature of electricity supply back home in Nigeria.

The Alaafin and his entourage was received on Tuesday by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, Allan Danroth, alongside the management of the Manitoba Hydro.

Following the royal courtesies and reunion that highlighted the visit, the foremost traditional ruler discussed the possibility of establishing a hydro power generation station in Ikere Afonja-Oyo in Oyo State with his former employers.

The initiative by Oba Owoade, himself a power engineer, was targeted at easing the challenges of epileptic electricity supply in Oyo metropolis and Oyo State in general.

Earlier, Oba Owoade's delegation was welcomed into the North American country amid celebrations as his entourage was accorded royal welcome in Winnipeg.

Nigerians of Yoruba extractions in their numbers took turns to welcome the paramount ruler back to his former base and to pay him homage as the new Alaafin.

Oyo Govt Finally Receives N7.7bn Surveillance Aircraft To Boost Security After Backlash

The Oyo state government says it has taken delivery of the two long-awaited security surveillance aircraft, more than a year after purchasing them.

On July 9, 2025, the Oyo state government announced the procurement of the aircraft, saying the acquisition cost N7.76 billion.

Dotun Oyelade, the commissioner for information, said the military assets would bolster security across the state.

“The two aircraft already procured cost N7,763,360,000 and will effectively back up Amotekun and other security forces in the state to prevent and destroy bandits in their hideouts,” Oyelade said at the time.

“The two DA 42 MNG model aircraft are for Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations and are equipped with sophisticated surveillance gadgets capable of identifying targets from both high and low altitudes.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Oyelade announced the arrival of the aircraft at Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport in Ibadan, the state capital, saying they would strengthen aerial surveillance, intelligence-gathering and rapid security response across Oyo and neighbouring states.

“The arrival of the aircraft marks another step in the state’s efforts to strengthen security operations through improved intelligence gathering and aerial surveillance,” the statement reads.

“The aircraft are expected to support security agencies, including the Amotekun Corps and other relevant formations, in monitoring criminal activities and improving response efforts across the state,” he said.

FIFA Demands Structural Stability For Nigeria To Qualify For 2030

FIFA has outlined structural stability rather than raw talent as the foundational requirement for Nigeria to successfully qualify for the 2030 World Cup.

This follows the Super Eagles' painful failure to secure qualification for consecutive tournaments, including the 2026 edition, prompting a major rebuild of the nation's footballing blueprint. 

Core Demands for Nigeria's 2030 Qualification

According to structural evaluation blueprints shared by sports analysts and The Punch Newspaper, Nigeria must enforce distinct administrative upgrades to progress: 

• Administrative Integrity: Eradicating internal issues like players boycotting training sessions due to unpaid allowances just before crucial playoff matches. 
• Contractual Guarantees: Honouring contracts by paying national team coaches on time to allow focus without distractions. 
• Long-Term Squad Overhaul: Managing a strict age-transition plan to replace older veterans with younger talent before physical decline hits by 2030. 
• Grassroots Infrastructure: Restructuring the grassroots pipeline rather than heavily relying on overseas-born players or the NPFL alone. 

The Rebuild Underway

• Coaching Trust: The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has backed head coach Eric Chelle, whose strategies are aimed at restoring confidence and engineering a youthful squad rebuild. 
• Integrated Development: Plans require aligning under-23 developmental squads closely with the senior Super Eagles squad to streamline progress over the next four years. 

FIFA REMOVES ARGENTINA AS SPAIN GIVES SUSPENSION STATEMENT

FIFA have announced Argentina have officially been removed from the top of the world rankings following the World Cup final defeat to Spain.

Lionel Scaloni's side saw their hopes of retaining the World Cup ended by a 1-0 extra-time defeat in New Jersey on Sunday, with Lionel Messi and his team-mates producing a subdued display before ugly scenes marred the aftermath. Now the reigning world champions have also surrendered their place as the world's highest-ranked team, while Lionel Messi chose not to fly home with the rest of the squad as thousands of supporters lined the streets of Buenos Aires to welcome them back.

FIFA announce Argentina's removal and Spain player gives suspension statement

Watch on YouTube: The FIFA Investigation Panel 

Argentina are under investigation for the World Cup final violence after the final whistle, and now one of the Spanish victims, Gavi, has spoken out

 

Spain's victory has propelled Luis de la Fuente's side to the summit of the latest FIFA rankings on 1,995.88 points after earning 30.27 ranking points for their World Cup final triumph. Argentina have slipped into second on 1,970.37, with France, England and Brazil completing the top five. Morocco, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands and Mexico round out the top 10.

The rankings are the latest setback for Argentina following a turbulent conclusion to their World Cup campaign.