Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nigeria To Face USA, Azerbaijan, And Moldova In IHF Emerging Nations Championship. Nigeria’s Under-23 men’s handball team has been drawn in Group B alongside the USA, Azerbaijan, and Moldova for the 5th IHF Emerging Nations Championship, set to take place in Varna, Bulgaria, from 11th to 16th March 2025. The International Handball Federation (IHF) confirmed the groupings on Wednesday following the draw at its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. Coach Solomon Yola is expected to lead the Nigerian team in what will be their third appearance at the championship. They will be looking to improve on their previous performances, having…

UK Appoints British-Nigerian MP Florence Eshalomi As Trade Envoy To Nigeria. The United Kingdom has appointed Florence Eshalomi as its new Trade Envoy to Nigeria, making her the second Nigerian to hold the position. Eshalomi, 44, is a British-Nigerian politician and Member of Parliament for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political and International Studies with Law from Middlesex University. The appointment was announced by the UK’s Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, who highlighted its significance in attracting investment and driving economic growth. “I’ve launched a new team of trade envoys…

Max Air Suspended By NCAA Following Tyre Burst Incident In Kano Airport. The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended Max Air’s domestic flight operations following a tyre burst incident involving one of its aircraft in Kano. The affected Boeing 737-400, registered as 5N-MBD, suffered the tyre failure while landing at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport at 10:51 p.m. on Tuesday, 28 January 2025. Despite the alarming incident, all 53 passengers on board were safely evacuated. The aircraft was temporarily grounded before the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria reopened the runway at 8:00 a.m. today. The Nigerian Safety Investigation…

NLC To Hold Nationwide Protest Against Telecom Tariff Hike. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide protest on Tuesday, 4 February, to oppose the planned 50 per cent increase in telecommunication tariffs. The decision was reached during the ongoing National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of the NLC, as workers seek to resist what they describe as an unfair financial burden on Nigerians. The NLC had earlier rejected the tariff hike, which was approved by the Federal Government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on 22 January. The labour union argues that the increase, amid the current…

BREAKING NEWS: Nigeria Secures $1.1 Billion AfDB Loan To Electrify 5 Million Homes By 2026. In a landmark announcement at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Nigeria has secured a significant $1.1 billion loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) aimed at providing electricity to 5 million Nigerians by the end of 2026. The news was shared by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, with the official statement delivered by Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power. President Bola Tinubu, in his address, outlined this ambitious initiative alongside other ongoing projects,…

Neymar Departs Al Hilal After Injury Struggles. Brazilian star Neymar has officially parted ways with Al Hilal after both parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract. The decision comes following an injury-plagued spell in Saudi Arabia, where he managed just seven appearances since joining the club in August 2023. Neymar’s time at Al Hilal was severely hampered by injuries, including a major knee ligament setback, preventing him from making the expected impact. Despite his struggles, the 32-year-old remains focused on his long-term ambitions, with his sights set on representing Brazil at the 2026 World Cup. Reports suggest a…

Osimhen Sues Turkish Journalist Over Assault Allegations. Victor Osimhen has filed a defamation lawsuit against Turkish journalist Tolga Bozduman, who accused the Galatasaray striker of assault following his side’s recent 3-3 draw against Dynamo Kyiv. Bozduman alleged that Osimhen punched him while he was attempting to take photographs outside a venue. Further reports suggested that the Nigerian international had offered money to have the footage deleted, claims which Osimhen has strongly denied. A spokesperson for Osimhen described the allegations as “false and malicious,” emphasising that the player remains committed to clearing his name. Osimhen, who has been…

Roman Abramovich Could Owe UK £1bn In Unpaid Taxes – BBC Reveals. Sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich may owe the UK up to £1 billion in unpaid taxes due to a failed attempt to avoid tax on hedge fund investments, according to evidence obtained by the BBC. Leaked documents reveal that investments worth approximately $6 billion (£4.7 billion) were funnelled through companies registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). However, indications suggest these investments were managed from the UK, meaning they should have been subject to UK taxation. Investigations by the BBC and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ)…

US Officials Assess Security Risks Of Chinese AI ‘DeepSeek’ Following Breakthrough. US officials are evaluating the national security implications of a reported artificial intelligence (AI) breakthrough by Chinese tech firm DeepSeek, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The announcement follows reports that the US Navy has banned its personnel from using DeepSeek’s applications due to “potential security and ethical concerns”. Meanwhile, OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has pledged to collaborate with the US government to prevent foreign competitors from replicating its technology. DeepSeek’s latest AI model, described as both powerful and cost-effective, caused a slump in US…

INEC Clarifies Funding Sources, Reaffirms Independence. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has reiterated that the Commission does not receive direct funding from the European Union (EU). He made this clarification during a meeting with the newly appointed EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, His Excellency Gautier Mignot, at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. Addressing concerns about INEC’s financial support from foreign partners, Prof. Yakubu emphasised that any external assistance is limited to technical aid, consultancy services, and capacity-building initiatives, all of which are channelled through implementing partners selected by donor agencies. …

Federal Government Generates N2.4 Billion From Marriage Contracts, Repatriates 828 Foreigners. The Federal Government has announced that it generated approximately N2.4 billion in 2024 from marriage contracts processed through the Ministry of Interior’s marriage registry. The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this disclosure on Tuesday during a media briefing in Abuja. He also revealed that the ministry generated over N3.2 billion from expatriate quota applications, leading to an overall 150 per cent increase in revenue. In addition to revenue generation, the government repatriated 828 foreigners to their respective countries in 2024. While the minister did not…

Atalanta’s Lookman Sidelined With Knee Injury, To Miss Barcelona Clash. Ademola Lookman, the dynamic forward for Serie A side Atalanta, has been ruled out of the upcoming UEFA Champions League match against Barcelona due to a knee injury sustained during training. The Nigerian international will also miss several additional Serie A fixtures as he begins his recovery process. The injury came as a significant blow to both Lookman and the Atalanta squad, with the 27-year-old having been a key player for the team this season. Lookman has been instrumental, contributing 14 goals and seven assists across all competitions, making…