The Reds are thought to have offered an initial £25.6m (€30m) plus £4.3m (€5m) in add-ons to sign the Georgia international.

It is also likely the 23-year-old will stay on loan at Valencia for the rest of the season as part of the deal.

Sky Sports News reported last week that the idea of a loan into the Premier League – potentially to Bournemouth – was part of negotiations.

However, it is believed Mamardashvili would prefer to remain at Valencia on loan.

Sky Sports News understands his potential signing has no bearing on the current goalkeeper situation at Anfield.

Alisson Becker is and will remain the club’s number one goalkeeper.

However, Liverpool are doing due diligence on future ‘keepers for the day when the Brazilian moves on or retires – and Mamardashvili is someone they believe has big potential.

Republic of Ireland international Caoimhin Kelleher is Liverpool’s second-choice goalkeeper behind Alisson.

Mamardashvili was one of the standout players at Euro 2024, helping Georgia reach the last 16 for the first time in their history.

The 23-year-old joined Valencia from Dinamo Tbilisi in his homeland in the summer of 2021 and has gone on to make 100 appearances for the Spanish side, keeping 31 clean sheets.

If a deal for Mamardashvili can be completed he would become Liverpool’s first signing since the arrival of head coach Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes.

Liverpool thought they were close to signing Martin Zubimendi, but the Spanish midfielder changed his mind and opted to stay at Real Sociedad.

The federal government says there will be tax breaks for companies that employ more staff.

A tax break is a benefit that the government offers in terms of tax deduction, credit, exemption, or exclusion that helps individuals and businesses save money on their tax bills.

Speaking during an interview on AIT on Tuesday, Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, said the tax breaks will be included in the Inflation Reduction Act.

“The Inflation Reduction Act will now contain a range of import duty exemptions, such as lowering of tariffs and outright tax breaks, for instance, for employment,” Edun said.

“If you employ more people, you will be given a tax break against it. So that range of fiscal incentives will also be laid out in an executive order, which Mr. President will in due course sign.”

The minister said this is part of the steps the federal government is taking to counteract the increase in costs of operations elevated mostly by the movement in the foreign exchange (FX) rate for companies that import, process and add value to raw materials.

“Where we are on VAT is that a whole range of items from CNG to pharmaceutical products and so forth are exempt from VAT. It’s an executive order. I will sign it. It is currently with the ministry of justice,” Edun said.

“Withholding tax, which essentially saves the working capital of companies, is removed for all manufacturing, many small and medium-scale enterprises, food production, food processing companies, a whole range. And it will be listed in an executive order, which I am also authorized to sign.”

Speaking on the timeline, Edun said the executive order will be out in one or two weeks.

“I would say that in the next week or two it should be out. It has to go through certain regulatory, certain legal processes, but there is nothing holding it up except just the administrative processing, which we will ensure will be quick,” he said.

Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.19 percent in June 2024 — up from 33.95 percent in May.

To tame inflation, the monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on July 23 increased the lending rate by 150 basis points to 26.75 percent

The family of the designer of Nigeria’s flag, Late Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi has declared that governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has released funds for the burial of their patriarch.

The family made this declaration via a statement made available to journalists on Friday.

It could be recalled that Pa Akinkunmi, a native of Abeokuta in Ogun state but lived in Ibadan in Oyo state died on 29th August 2023.

His design was selected as the best in the year 1958 amongst all the presented designs for the competition to get a new national flag design for the country (Nigeria) that was about to get her independence from the Colonial masters.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris, led a delegation of the Federal Government to visit the family of Late Pa Akinkunmi in Ibadan and promised that Nigerian government would stand by the family.

Oyo State Government led by Engineer Seyi Makinde also sent their condolence letter from the office of the Executive Governor.

It was however gathered that the deceased has not been buried as at the time of filing this report due to the inability of the federal and state governments to fulfill their promise.

However, Oyo state government led by Makinde has fulfilled its promise by releasing funds for the burial of Pa Akinkunmi.

Spokesman for the family, Mr. Samuel Akinkunmi in the statement made available to journalists, commended the governor for the gesture.

He maintained that the final burial would take place in the next few days.

“This is to notify the general public that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has released funds for the burial of our patriarch.

“He died in August last year and he has not been buried as at today. The reasons are not far fetch. The federal government sent a representative led by the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Muhammad Idris. He promised us that the federal government will sponsor the burial. Also, Oyo state government pledged to support the burial.

“At a time when we fixed dates, we approached them and they were not forthcoming. We decided to bury him on our own and they said we should not do that at the time.

“But to God be the glory, Governor Seyi Makinde has fulfilled his promise. We wish to thank him, members of the 7th assembly, members of Oyo State Advisory Council and everyone who took the matter up.

“We also want to thank Yoruba World Congress UK for their support. They wrote an open letter to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu challenging the Nigerian government and the Oyo state government for the neglect. Although the Presidency is yet to fulfil it’s promise at the time of this correspondence.

“We also want to thank the media. We thank members of the fourth estate of the realm for giving us a voice in their respective media platforms.

“I wish to thank everyone on behalf of the family. I am also using this medium to inform the general public that the date for the burial will be announced soon

At least four people have reportedly been killed, while several others sustained injuries during the ongoing protest in Suleja, Niger State.

This comes a moment after protesters barricaded the road, trapping many passengers and motorists for hours.

The victims were reportedly killed while security operatives struggled to disperse protesters who erected barricades on a section of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Among those killed was Yahaya Nda Isah, a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, who was struck by a stray bullet. The bullet hit him while he was on his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ Division, where protesters had gathered according to DAILY TRUST.

A nephew of the deceased told Daily Trust, “He was my uncle. He wasn’t even protesting; he was just passing in front of the Police ‘A’ Division when a stray bullet hit him in the chest, and he died on the spot. As I speak with you, I am at his house alongside other mourners. It’s unfortunate.”

Another victim was identified simply as Mallam Abu, who also died at the scene.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, informed Daily Trust that three other people were shot at the same location while two others were shot at the Suleja Junction on the Abuja-Kaduna road, though he could not confirm whether they were dead.

Another resident, whose shop was located near the Suleja Police ‘A’ Division, stated that he had to close his shop and flee for his life.

“We heard people shouting, and gunshots were heard for about 20 minutes at Emir Roundabout. The situation in Suleja is dire,” said Bala Abdullahi, another resident.

SP Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, said that some hoodlums attempted to set the Tafa Local Government Area ablaze, but they were dispersed by security operatives.

This indicates that the protest had taken a fierce dimension in the state.

Abuja Police Command Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh confirmed that a protest has been hijacked by hoodlums in the Nation’s capital not far from Niger State.

A crisis erupted in the Biogbolo community of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, as a group of youths opposed to the protest attacked demonstrators marching on the Mbiama/Yenagoa road.

It was gathered that most communities in the state capital had reportedly mobilized to resist any form of protest in their areas.

The situation escalated when a large group of protesters began marching from the Opolo axis of the main road towards Ebis Mechanic Junction.

They were stopped by a team of police officers monitoring the situation to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Despite police intervention, the protesters insisted on continuing their march, expressing grievances about the country’s economic situation and asserting their right to protest.

The argument turned into a serious crisis when community youths unexpectedly attacked the protesters from behind with bottles, large planks, and other weapons.

Gunshots were heard, causing the protesters to disperse and flee in different directions for their safety.

It was earlier observed a near-zero protest in the Yenagoa metropolis as of 8 am.

Security agencies were seen stationed at major junctions and roundabouts with socio-economic activities completely shut down.

However, people were seen going about their normal business and there was no restriction of human and vehicular movements.

Banks, shops, and eateries were also closed while the Swali and Tombia markets were partially operating.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Musa Mohammed, quoted the Commissioner of Police, Alonyenu Francis Idu, as acknowledging the proposed nationwide protest and respecting the right of citizens to assemble and express their views peacefully as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He tasked Area Commanders, DPOs, Tactical Units, and the drone unit to provide robust security coverage during and after the protest.

The CP urged all organisers and protesters to conduct the protest responsibly and peacefully, and not to engage in acts of violence, looting, or any other criminal activities.

“Anyone caught engaging in criminal activities will face the full wrath of the law,” Idu warned

As momentum continues to gather ahead of the planned nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest, some organisers have insisted that they remained undaunted and would hit the streets on August 1.

The aggrieved Nigerians have been mobilising and organising on social media platforms especially X (formerly Twitter).

Different groups are organising the protests, including the Take It Back Movement, led by former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.

Other groups include Concerned Nigerians, Nigerians Against Hunger, Initiative for Change, Take it Back Movement, Revolution Now, Human Rights Co-Advocacy Group, Nigerians Against Corruption Initiative, Citizens for Change Advocacy Initiative, Timely Intervention, Active Citizens Group, Students for Change, We Coalition, Total Intervention, Refurbished Nigeria, Tomorrow Today, Our Future in Our Own Hands Initiative, Youths Against Tyranny, and Call a Spade a Spade Movement, among others.

In one of the fliers posted on social media, the protesters demand an end to anti-people policies, overtaxing, and electoral fraud, which they say have caused widespread suffering and frustration.

Specifically, they are calling for the reversal of the fuel price hike to below N300 per litre, the restoration of affordable electricity tariffs, and the reduction of import duties to their previous rates.

They also demand the reversal of the hike in tertiary education fees by many institutions.

The protesters are also demanding transparency and accountability in governance, including the public disclosure and reduction of public officials’ salaries and allowances and an emergency fund to support SMEs.

They also call for electoral reforms, including the autonomy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), electronic transmission of live electoral results, and the reopening of national borders.

Additionally, they demand reforms in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a state of emergency on inflation, and a reform of the judiciary to ensure swift and fair justice.

Other demands are public school mandates by ensuring that children of all public office holders attend public schools in the country. In support of local products, the government must patronize made-in-Nigeria goods.

“Transition to a unicameral legislature; Judicial and Constitutional Reforms: Implement thorough judicial and constitutional reforms: Scraping of the 1999 Constitution and replace it with a people-made constitution through a Sovereign National Conference, followed by a National Referendum.

They are also seeking the abolishment of the Senate, saying the House of Representatives be retained to make laws on a part-time basis. “As far as they are concerned the government has no option but to reinstate a corruption-free subsidy regime to reduce hunger, starvation, and poverty.

“Probe past and present Nigerian leaders who have looted the treasury, recover their loot, and reinvest it.

“Restructure Nigeria to accommodate its diversity, resource control, decentralization, and regional development. Reform security agencies to stop human rights violations and enhance citizens’ physical security.

“Establish a Special Energy Fund for power sector development. Reconstitute INEC to remove corrupt and partisan officials. Invest in public works and industrialisation to employ Nigerian youths.

“Shake up the judiciary to remove corrupt judges and officers, ensuring real justice for citizens. Introduce diaspora voting to allow Nigerians abroad to vote.