Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Pick n Pay To Exit Nigerian Market After Selling 51% Stake. South African retail giant Pick n Pay is set to withdraw from Nigeria, following the sale of its 51% stake in its Nigerian joint venture. Pick n Pay initially entered Nigeria cautiously in 2021, hoping to expand its African presence. The decision to enter the Nigerian market was based on the nation’s high population and economic growth potential, and the retailer partnered with AG Leventis to tailor its offerings to Nigerian consumers. The company’s strategy focused on neighbourhood-style stores, prioritising accessibility to better meet local needs. However, economic…

Nigeria Triumphs 3-1 Over Niger To Secure Spot In 2025 Africa U-20 Cup Of Nations. Defending champions Nigeria advanced to the final of the 2024 WAFU B U-20 Championship in impressive fashion, defeating Niger Republic’s Junior Mena 3-1 in Lomé on Sunday. The victory not only sends the Flying Eagles to the tournament final but also secures their place in the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations. Niger took an early lead, scoring just nine minutes into the semi-final at Stade Kegue. Yet, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, seven-time African champions, remained composed and quickly found their rhythm, ultimately dominating the…

Ahmed Musa Criticises Refereeing In NPFL Clash, Calls For Officiating Reforms. Ahmed Musa, captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, has voiced strong criticism of the refereeing in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 9 fixture between Nasarawa United and Kano Pillars. Musa condemned the officiating team, labelling them as “moral killers” for their handling of the match at Lafia City Stadium, which ended in a controversial 1-0 loss for Kano Pillars. The officiating crew, led by centre referee Dahiru Muhammed Kawo and assistant referee Abdulmajid Sani Potiskum, made multiple errors, according to Musa. The most contentious was allowing a…

Khamenei Calls For Balanced Response To Israeli Strikes On Iran. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has offered a balanced response to recent Israeli strikes, stating that the attacks should not be “exaggerated or downplayed.” His remarks came amid rising tensions, but he refrained from calling for immediate retaliation. The strikes, which left at least four Iranian soldiers dead, have stirred responses from Iranian leaders, although Tehran has clarified that it does not seek war. President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed Khamenei’s sentiment, pledging that Iran would provide an “appropriate response” while emphasising that Iran’s stance remains defensive rather than aggressive. The Israeli…

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company To Phase Out Old Prepaid Meters By November 24. The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has called on residents of the South-East to upgrade their prepaid meters by 24 November, as part of a nationwide exercise affecting all Standard Transfer Specification (STS) compliant prepaid meters. Mr Emeka Ezeh, EEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, emphasised the need for the upgrade, explaining that the initiative stems from the Token Identifier (TID) rollover, which is impacting similar meters worldwide. Ezeh reminded customers that without the upgrade, existing STS prepaid meters would no longer accept credit tokens from November…

Ten Hag Frustrated As Controversial Penalty Hands Manchester United 2-1 Defeat To West Ham. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag expressed frustration following his team’s narrow 2-1 loss to West Ham at the London Stadium, criticising the decision to award a late penalty that sealed United’s fourth Premier League defeat of the season. United controlled much of the match and missed numerous scoring opportunities in the first half, setting them up for what looked like a comfortable win. However, a late twist saw referee David Coote signal for a penalty after a lengthy VAR review of Matthijs de Ligt’s…

Kane Shines As Bayern Munich Reclaims Bundesliga Top Spot With Commanding Win Over Bochum. Bayern Munich returned to the summit of the Bundesliga with an emphatic victory over bottom-placed Bochum, led by a strong performance from Harry Kane. The Bavarians dominated from start to finish, sealing a 5-0 triumph that showcased both attacking flair and defensive solidity. Michael Olise opened the scoring after just 15 minutes, bending a superb 20-yard free-kick over the wall, and becoming the second Bayern player after Kane to score five goals in his first five Bundesliga away games. Jamal Musiala then doubled the advantage…

NPFL Roundup: Home Dominance Highlights Matchday-9 As El-Kanemi Warriors Hold Rivers United. Sunday’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixtures showcased a series of thrilling home wins, with only Rivers United unable to secure a full three points on their turf. The standout encounter saw a resilient El-Kanemi Warriors side holding the Pride of Rivers to a 1-1 draw in Port Harcourt despite being reduced to ten men for the second half. The visitors stunned the home fans as Samaila Bello opened the scoring, but Rivers United quickly equalised through Taofeek Olaniyi, and the stalemate persisted until full time. …

Arsenal And Liverpool Share Spoils In Thrilling 2-2 Premier League Showdown. In an electrifying clash at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal and Liverpool battled to a 2-2 draw, with Mohamed Salah’s late equaliser salvaging a point for the visitors in their title chase. The Premier League showdown saw Arsenal twice take the lead while Liverpool twice drew level, with both teams showcasing their determination in a gripping contest. Arsenal struck first when Bukayo Saka expertly beat Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, slotting the ball home in the ninth minute for his 50th Premier League goal. However, Liverpool quickly responded as Virgil van…

Vance Defends Trump As “Candidate of Peace” Amid Controversy Over Remarks. During a recent CNN interview with Jake Tapper, JD Vance, vice-presidential candidate alongside former President Donald Trump, defended Trump as the “candidate of peace” in response to questions about some of Trump’s recent remarks. Vance addressed Trump’s references to “radical left lunatics” as “the enemy from within” and similar comments directed toward Democratic figures Adam Schiff and Nancy Pelosi. Tapper pressed Vance on whether these comments signalled hostility towards opposition leaders, but Vance clarified that Trump’s criticisms were aimed at “far-left lunatics” rather than mainstream Democratic leaders. Vance…

Tinubu Congratulates Vietnam’s New President-Elect, Luong Cuong. President Bola Tinubu has extended his congratulations to Luong Cuong, the newly elected President of Vietnam, following Cuong’s appointment by the country’s parliament. At 67, Cuong brings over 40 years of experience from his service in the Vietnamese military and has been a Politburo member since 2021, marking him as a significant figure in Vietnamese politics. Speaking through his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for Cuong’s commitment to strengthening Vietnam’s role as a friend and responsible member of the international community. Tinubu highlighted the friendly relations between Nigeria and…

Kwara State Charges 200 For Environmental Law Violations During Sanitation Exercise. At least 200 individuals in Kwara State were arrested and charged before mobile courts over breaches of the state’s environmental laws during a recent sanitation exercise. This enforcement action took place across the state on Saturday as part of efforts to ensure adherence to environmental regulations, according to a statement issued by Kamaldeen Aliagan, spokesperson for the Kwara State Ministry of Environment. Commissioner for Environment, Nafisat Musa Buge, expressed her dissatisfaction with the level of non-compliance in certain areas, especially commercial motor parks, warning residents and businesses to…