Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Brazil Sack Dorival Junior After Humiliating 4-1 Defeat To Argentina. In a dramatic turn of events, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has sacked head coach Dorival Junior following a crushing 4-1 loss to arch-rivals Argentina in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. The announcement, made with immediate effect, marks the end of Junior’s tenure after just over a year in charge of the Seleção, as Brazil now scramble to find a new manager to steer their World Cup campaign back on track. The decision comes in the wake of Tuesday’s thrashing in Buenos Aires, where Brazil were comprehensively outplayed by…

Kaduna SDP Denies El-Rufai’s Membership, Rejects Alleged Dissolution Of State Exco. The Kaduna State Chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has dismissed claims that former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is a member of the party. The party clarified that El-Rufai has not officially joined the SDP in Kaduna and urged him to follow due process if he wishes to do so. El-Rufai’s Membership Remains Unconfirmed During a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, the party’s Assistant National Secretary for the Northwest zone, Idris Inuwa, stated that there is no official record of El-Rufai’s membership within the party’s…

Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti To Face Trial For Alleged Tax Fraud. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to stand trial next week over allegations of tax fraud, with Spanish prosecutors accusing him of failing to declare more than €1 million in earnings from image rights in 2014 and 2015. Legal Proceedings Set to Begin A Madrid court confirmed that Ancelotti’s trial will commence on 2 April 2025 and is expected to last two days. The 65-year-old Italian must be present for the hearings, where prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of four years and nine months. …

Nigeria Introduces Stricter Visa Rules To Bolster Immigration Control. In a bold move to tighten immigration oversight, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has unveiled a new visa policy aimed at curbing overstays by foreign visitors. The announcement, made earlier today, introduces significant penalties for those who exceed their permitted stay in the country. Under the new regulations, individuals who overstay their Nigerian visa by three months will face a five-year ban from re-entering the country. For those who remain beyond a year, the penalty escalates to a decade-long prohibition. The measures, described by the minister as a necessary…

Hundreds Feared Dead As Powerful Earthquake Strikes Myanmar And Thailand. A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake has struck central Myanmar, causing widespread devastation and triggering tremors across neighbouring countries, including Thailand. The full scale of the disaster remains unclear, but early reports indicate that hundreds may have lost their lives, while dozens remain trapped in collapsed structures. Myanmar Declares State of Emergency The Myanmar military government has declared a state of emergency in six regions: Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, eastern Shan State, and Naypyidaw. Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, is among the worst-hit areas, with multiple buildings, including hotels, schools, and…

NCDC Deploys Rapid Response Teams To Combat Meningitis Outbreak. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has deployed Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to Kebbi, Sokoto, and Katsina States following a significant increase in suspected cases of Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM). The outbreak has affected 22 states, with 807 suspected cases and 74 reported deaths as of 26th March 2025, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 9.2 per cent. States Affected by the Outbreak The affected states include Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Ebonyi, Oyo, Bauchi, Ondo, Kaduna, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Ekiti,…

Lagos State Tackles Healthcare Workforce Shortage With Medical Education Expansion. The Lagos State Government has announced a significant shortfall in healthcare professionals, including a deficit of 30,000 doctors and a critical shortage of nurses, pharmacists, dentists, laboratory scientists, and other allied health workers. Government’s Strategic Response Addressing the crisis, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, revealed that the state has embarked on an ambitious plan to strengthen medical education and expand training facilities. Speaking during the official handover of key medical infrastructure for conversion into modern academic facilities, he highlighted that the initiative is a response to the…

Senate Intervenes In Lafarge Cement Divestment To Safeguard National Interests. The Nigerian Senate has stepped in to address concerns over the planned divestment of Lafarge Cement, a major player in the country’s construction and industrial sectors. The intervention seeks to ensure that national interests are protected as the company transitions to new ownership. Senate Raises Concerns Over Foreign Takeover During plenary on Tuesday, Senator Shuaib Salisu (Ogun Central) raised a motion emphasising the strategic importance of Lafarge Cement to Nigeria’s infrastructure and economic development. Located in Ewekoro Local Council of Ogun State, Lafarge is more than just a business—it…

Lagos State Urges Residents To Embrace Proper Waste Management For A Sustainable Environment. The Lagos State Government has called on residents to adopt responsible waste management practices to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable environment. Addressing Concerns Over Waste Management Speaking during a television interview on the recent claims that Lagos is a “smelly city,” the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, dismissed the notion as a political ploy. He acknowledged that, like other major cities such as New York, Beijing, and London, certain areas in Lagos emit offensive odours, particularly around landfill sites like Olusosun…

House Of Representatives Advances Bill To Reinstate Parliamentary System In Nigeria. The House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards reinstating Nigeria’s parliamentary system of government, as a bill seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution passed its second reading on Thursday. Key Provisions of the Bill The proposed legislation, sponsored by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda and 59 other lawmakers, aims to establish the office of the Prime Minister as Head of Government while designating the President as the ceremonial Head of State. This shift would transfer executive authority from the President to a Prime Minister elected by the…

Elon Musk Reveals Death Threats In Fox News Interview. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has disclosed that he has been the target of death threats, a revelation made during a recent interview with Fox News host Bret Baier. The billionaire entrepreneur, known for his groundbreaking work with Tesla and SpaceX, spoke candidly about the alarming hostility directed towards him amid his high-profile ventures and controversial public statements. In the interview, which aired on Thursday evening in the United States, Musk addressed a range of topics, including his role as a key adviser to US President Donald Trump and his leadership of…

NIMASA Vows To Eliminate $1.5bn War Risk Insurance On Nigerian-bound Cargoes. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has pledged to eliminate War Risk Insurance (WRI) premiums on Nigerian-bound cargoes, which have cost the country over $1.5 billion in the last three years. Commitment to Maritime Reforms NIMASA spokesperson, Osagie Edward, made this known in a statement on Thursday, emphasising that the current leadership, under Dr Dayo Mobereola, is dedicated to improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria. According to Edward, foreign insurance firms such as Lloyd’s of London and Protection and Indemnity Insurance have imposed excessive…