France Archives - Daily Dates Nigeria

Football Legend, Eric Cantona Calls for Israel Ban from FIFA and UEFA

DailyDatesNG — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 21:33:49 +0000

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has publicly called for FIFA and UEFA to ban Israel from international football, comparing the situation to Russia’s ban following its invasion of Ukraine.

Cantona, known for his political stances and outspoken comments, spoke during the “Together for Palestine” concert at the Ovo Arena, Wembley, which was attended by music stars such as Damon Albarn, Bastille and Pink Pantheress, as well as actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch.

“Four days after the start of the war by Russia in Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA banned Russia. We are now 716 days into what Amnesty International has called genocide,” Cantona said.

“And yet, Israel continues to be allowed to participate.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, UEFA and FIFA banned the Russian national team and clubs from all competitions.

The disruption continues, including non-participation in the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.

This precedent has fueled debate in football about a similar ban on Israel, following December 2023 when the conflicts in Gaza caused over 65,000 casualties according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

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President Tinubu to Embark on Working Visit to France

DailyDatesNG — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 14:37:17 +0000

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to depart for Paris, France, on Wednesday for a short working visit, according to an official statement from the Presidency.

The statement, signed by Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the President will use the visit to evaluate his administration’s mid-term performance and review key milestones achieved so far.

He added that Tinubu will also use the retreat to review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning ahead of his administration’s second anniversary.

“This period of reflection will inform plans to deepen ongoing reforms and accelerate national development priorities in the coming year.

“Recent economic strides reinforce the President’s commitment to these efforts, as evidenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria reporting a significant increase in net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion—a testament to the administration’s fiscal reforms since 2023 when net reserves were $3.99 billion,” Onanuga said.

He added that while away, President Tinubu will remain fully engaged with his team and continue to oversee governance activities.

He will return to Nigeria in about a fortnight, according to the statement.

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Tinubu Departs For France On Private Visit

DailyDatesNG — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:32:24 +0000

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Wednesday for Paris, France, on a private visit en route to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

In Addis Ababa, President Tinubu will join African leaders at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State, scheduled from February 12th to 16th, 2025.

The president will arrive in Addis Ababa early next week for the African Union summit.

While in France, President Tinubu will meet with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron.

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Buhari Orders Total Lockdown In Lagos, Ogun, Abuja Over Coronavirus

DailyDatesNG — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 10:41:39 +0000

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a total lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja over the outbreak of coronavirus in Nigeria.

President Buhari stopped all movements in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in a presidential broadcast on Sunday evening, March 29.

In his speech, the President said the no-movement order will be for an initial period of 14 days.

President Buhari said: “Based on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Health and the NCDC, I am directing the cessation of all movements in Lagos and the FCT for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11 pm on Monday, 30th March 2020. This restriction will also apply to Ogun State due to its close proximity to Lagos and the high traffic between the two States.

“All citizens in these areas are to stay in their homes. Travel to or from other states should be postponed. All businesses and offices within these locations should be fully closed during this period.

“The Governors of Lagos and Ogun States, as well as the Minister of the FCT, have been notified. Furthermore, heads of security and intelligence agencies have also been briefed.

“We will use this containment period to identify, trace and isolate all individuals that have come into contact with confirmed cases. We will ensure the treatment of confirmed cases while restricting further spread to other States.

“This order does not apply to hospitals and all related medical establishments as well as organizations in healthcare-related manufacturing and distribution.

“Furthermore, commercial establishments such as;

a. food processing, distribution and retail companies;

b. petroleum distribution and retail entities,

c. power generation, transmission and distribution companies; and

d. private security companies are also exempted.

“Although these establishments are exempted, access will be restricted and monitored.

“Workers in telecommunication companies, broadcasters, print and electronic media staff who can prove they are unable to work from home are also exempted.

“All seaports in Lagos shall remain operational in accordance with the guidelines I issued earlier. Vehicles and drivers conveying essential cargoes from these Ports to other parts of the country will be screened thoroughly before departure by the Ports Health Authority.

“Furthermore, all vehicles conveying food and other essential humanitarian items into these locations from other parts of the country will also be screened thoroughly before they are allowed to enter these restricted areas.

“Accordingly, the Hon. Minister of Health is hereby directed to redeploy all Port Health Authority employees previously stationed in the Lagos and Abuja Airports to key roads that serve as entry and exit points to these restricted zones.

“Movements of all passenger aircraft, both commercial and private jets, are hereby suspended. Special permits will be issued on a needs basis.

“We are fully aware that such measures will cause much hardship and inconvenience to many citizens. But this is a matter of life and death, if we look at the dreadful daily toll of deaths in Italy, France and Spain.

“However, we must all see this as our national and patriotic duty to control and contain the spread of this virus. I will, therefore, ask all of us affected by this order to put aside our personal comfort to safeguard ourselves and fellow human beings. This common enemy can only be controlled if we all come together and obey scientific and medical advice.

“As we remain ready to enforce these measures, we should see this as our individual contribution in the war against COVID-19. Many other countries have taken far stricter measures in a bid to control the spread of the virus with positive results.

“For residents of satellite and commuter towns and communities around Lagos and Abuja whose livelihoods will surely be affected by some of these restrictive measures, we shall deploy relief materials to ease their pains in the coming weeks.

“Furthermore, although schools are closed, I have instructed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to work with State Governments in developing a strategy on how to sustain the school feeding program during this period without compromising our social distancing policies. The Minister will be contacting the affected States and agree on detailed next steps,” the President said.

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Togo Confirms First Coronavirus Case

DailyDatesNG — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 17:50:21 +0000

Togo on Friday confirmed its first case of coronavirus after a 42-year-old woman tested positive.

The patient had just return from a trip to Benin, Germany, France and Turkey.

The presidency in the West African nation of eight million people said the patient, who lives in the capital Lome with her family, was “currently isolated in a treatment centre for infectious diseases” after testing positive on Thursday.

“From February 22 to March 2, 2020 she visited Benin, Germany, France and Turkey before returning to Togo via the land border with Benin.”

It said all people who had contact with the patient in the country “have been identified and put in quarantine”.

In sub-Saharan Africa, Senegal has registered four cases, all foreign nationals, and South Africa, Nigeria and Cameroon have one case each since the outbreak emerged in December in China.

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