Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Wike Revokes Lands Of Prominent Nigerians Over Unpaid Fees. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken decisive action by revoking land allocations belonging to several prominent individuals and organisations in Maitama II, Abuja, due to non-payment of Certificate of Occupancy fees. Among those affected by the revocation are former President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume. In total, 759 individuals and organisations were impacted by the decision. The announcement was made in a publication issued by the FCT Administration…

NAFDAC Shuts Down Eziukwu Market Over ₦5 Billion Worth Of Fake And Expired Products. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down 150 shops at Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State, in a decisive operation aimed at protecting public health and safety. https://twitter.com/NafdacAgency/status/1869431415512936888?t=C4pMDbNVqSNUDXE6xCGmcA&s=19 The two-day operation, carried out on 16 and 17 December 2024, uncovered fake and expired products including beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food items such as noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt, worth an estimated ₦5 billion. The move is part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on…

Pope Francis Reveals Escapes From Assassination Attempts In Iraq. Pope Francis has disclosed that he survived two assassination attempts during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021. The startling revelation comes from excerpts of his forthcoming autobiography, Hope, which were published on Tuesday by Italian media. In the book, the Pope details how Vatican security was warned of the threats by British intelligence. “A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” he wrote. He also mentioned a van speeding towards the same destination with similar…

Darwin Nunez Shines As Liverpool Secure Carabao Cup Semi-Final Spot. Liverpool advanced to the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Southampton, thanks to Darwin Nunez’s opener and Harvey Elliott’s composed finish in the first half. The Uruguayan striker ended a six-game goal drought in style, capitalising on a fortunate deflection and an error by goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to put the Reds ahead after 24 minutes. Harvey Elliott, making his first start of the season, doubled Liverpool’s lead just eight minutes later with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner, deflecting off a Southampton defender. Southampton, under…

Arteta Hopes Hat-Trick Will Spark Gabriel Jesus’ Premier League Revival. Mikel Arteta is optimistic that Gabriel Jesus’ impressive Carabao Cup hat-trick will reignite the striker’s Premier League goalscoring form. The Brazilian forward scored three second-half goals against Crystal Palace, helping Arsenal overturn a deficit to secure a spot in the semi-finals. The treble marked Jesus’ first goals at Emirates Stadium in over a year and only his second scoring appearance this season. His other goal came in the EFL Cup against Preston in October. Despite his brilliance in the Carabao Cup, Jesus has not found the net in…

Nigerians Paid ₦2.3 Trillion In Ransom Over 12 Months, Says NBS. A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid an astonishing ₦2.3 trillion in ransom for kidnappings over a 12-month period, highlighting the significant financial burden of crime on citizens. The findings, drawn from the 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS), covered incidents between May 2023 and April 2024. The survey indicated that 65 per cent of households affected by kidnappings paid ransoms, with an average of ₦2.67 million per case. During the survey period, Nigeria recorded an…

Infrastructure, Security, And Education Dominate Tinubu’s ₦47.9 Trillion 2025 Budget Proposal. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has presented the 2025 budget proposal, titled The Resurrection Budget: Security, Peace, Building Prosperity, to a joint session of the National Assembly. The ₦47.9 trillion proposal, unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja, prioritises security, defence, infrastructure, education, and health as key sectors for national development.  Key Budget Allocations The President outlined the budget’s focus on addressing critical challenges facing the nation, with the following highlights: – Defence and Security: ₦4.91 trillion to tackle insecurity and strengthen the country’s defence systems. – Infrastructure: ₦4.06 trillion to drive…

250 Elderly Citizens In Kogi Benefit From Oluremi Tinubu’s Empowerment Scheme. In a bid to support senior citizens across Nigeria, 250 elderly individuals in Kogi State have benefited from the second phase of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Elderly Support Scheme, spearheaded by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The beneficiaries, aged 65 and above, were drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas in the state. The programme, which aims to enhance the welfare of elderly citizens, saw each recipient receive ₦200,000 alongside access to free medical check-ups and other items. At the presentation ceremony held at…

Inspector-General Egbetokun Bans Arbitrary Arrests, Detention of Youths, and Phone Checks by Nigerian Police. In a significant step towards safeguarding the rights of citizens, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has announced a ban on arbitrary arrests, detention of youths, and the collection or checking of mobile phones by police officers across Nigeria. This directive emphasises the need for law enforcement officers to adhere strictly to the rule of law and respect the fundamental rights of all citizens, especially young people, who have often raised concerns about police misconduct. Egbetokun’s move has been widely praised as a positive reform…

Luigi Mangione Faces First-Degree Murder Charges In Death Of Healthcare CEO. Luigi Mangione has been formally charged with first-degree murder in connection with the killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. The charges, announced by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, include two counts of second-degree murder, one of which alleges the act was an act of terrorism. Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Bragg described the murder as a “frightening, well-planned and targeted attack” with the intent “to sow terror”. If convicted on the most serious charges, Mr Mangione, 26, could face life imprisonment without parole. The extradition hearing…

Vinicius Jr Named FIFA Best Men’s Player Of The Year. Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Jr has been awarded the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year trophy, marking the first time he has received the prestigious honour. The 24-year-old was recognised during a ceremony held in Doha, Qatar, where he triumphed over Spain’s Rodri and England’s Jude Bellingham to claim the accolade. Vinicius’ standout performances during the 2023-24 season were pivotal in Real Madrid’s successes in both the Champions League and La Liga. Across the campaign, he scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists, cementing his place as…

FIFA Opens First African Continental Office In Morocco. FIFA has officially inaugurated its first African continental office in Maamoura, Morocco, marking a significant milestone in the development of football on the continent. The unveiling ceremony, held on Monday evening in Marrakech, was attended by FIFA officials, representatives from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), and Morocco’s Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch. The signing of the host agreement highlighted Morocco’s growing role as a strategic partner for football’s advancement in Africa. This newly established office will serve the entire continent, reinforcing FIFA’s commitment to…