Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the economic policies initiated by President Bola Tinubu. Otti stated this on Sunday while speaking with reporters after meeting with the Nigerian leader in his Ikoyi residence in Lagos. The Abia State governor stated that the economic reforms will yield prosperity and other positive results if sustained. Otti said the economic policies are good but then they come with challenges for an economy where over 60 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. He said “One thing is that he has a very courageous,…

A former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has denied a media report claiming that she pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to allow her to return to Nigeria. Recall that a report quoted Alison-Madueke as saying that she granted a recent press briefing in London and admitted that she embezzled money from Nigeria during her time as the Petroleum minister. The report also claimed that the former minister alleged that she entrusted nine billion Dollars to the incumbent Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal. The media report said Diezani, who is said to be battling cancer, is now appealing to President Tinubu…

The immediate-past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has vehemently denied a report alleging his involvement in the illegal withdrawal of $6.3 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during Muhammadu Buhari administration. The report, published by an online newspaper, claimed that a special investigator appointed by President Bola Tinubu uncovered the alleged theft, which allegedly occurred on February 8, 2023 — weeks before the presidential election. The report further alleged that Mustapha, along with the embattled former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, authorised the removal of the cash from the apex bank’s vault under the guise…

British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has agreed to buy a 25% stake in Manchester United for about $1.3bn (£1.03bn). Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group will take control of football operations. The 71-year-old will also provide $300m (£236m) for future investment into the club’s Old Trafford stadium. The announcement comes 13 months after the club’s owners, the Glazer family, stated they were considering selling to “explore strategic alternatives”. The American family bought the club for £790m in 2005. The only other publicly declared bidder, Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, withdrew his offer to buy 100% of the club in October.…

Mauricio Pochettino admits his Chelsea team need to be more clinical after Wolves condemned them to an an eighth Premier League defeat of a tepid campaign. Second-half goals from Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty secured victory for the hosts, who recorded successive league wins against Chelsea for the first time in nearly half a century. Substitute Christopher Nkunku headed home in injury time on his Premier League debut but it was not enough to salvage a point for the Blues, who lost a fourth consecutive away league game for the first time since December 2000. This was another day when…

Tottenham Hotspur moved into the Premier League top four after beating Everton in a thrilling encounter. Richarlison opened the scoring against his former club with his fourth goal in three matches, before Son Heung-min doubled Spurs’ advantage soon after. Everton deservedly pulled a goal back through Andre Gomes, in his first Premier League game since May 2022. But Spurs move above Manchester City – absent from league action due to the Club World Cup – into fourth. Defeat for Everton ended a four-match winning run and leaves then just four points above the relegation zone. Brazilian Richarlison put the hosts…

Luton lived up to their pledge of making it “a special day” for convalescing captain Tom Lockyer by beating Newcastle United at an emotionally charged Kenilworth Road. Andros Townsend headed home the Hatters’ winner against his former club in Luton’s first Premier League game since Lockyer’s collapse at Bournemouth seven days earlier. Townsend held up Lockyer’s number four shirt in celebration after the goal – one of a number of tributes paid by Luton players and fans to their stricken skipper before, during and after the game. Only the woodwork denied Luton a more straightforward victory as Ross Barkley struck the…

No fewer than 82,201 people are to benefit from the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation in Ondo State. The Programme Coordinator of Ondo State Conditional Cash Transfer, Tosin Olupona, stated this during a one-day step-down training of Local Government Cash Transfer Facilitators on Renewed Hope Cash Transfer Orientation and Beneficiary Enrolment Process in Akure. Olupona said that would-be beneficiaries had been registered on the database of the national cash transfer office in Abuja. She explained that some of the potential beneficiaries would each receive N25,000 every month for a period of three…

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has commiserated with Sunshine Stars following the death of their backroom staff, Tosin Dosunmu. Dosunmu, the Club’s Assistant Kit Manager, was reported to have died on Friday at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital from injuries sustained in the recent gun attack on the team’s bus on their way to Benin for a matchday 13 fixture against Bendel Insurance. NPFL board chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, described Dosunmu’s death as tragic and unfortunate. “I am personally saddened by the news of this unfortunate and tragic death of the young man,” Elegbeleye was quoted by NPFL.com. “It…

Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen has signed a new deal that runs until 2026 with Napoli. The 24-year-old scored 26 Serie A goals in 32 appearances in 2022-23 as he helped the italian club win their first league title in 33 years. Osimhen, who managed 31 goals in all competitions last season, was crowned the Italian footballers’ association player of the year earlier this month. He also named as the African Footballer of the Year for 2023. Osimhen said in November that he made a decision that was “good for his career” after being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia…

West Ham scored twice in six minutes to condemn Manchester United to an eighth Premier League defeat of the season at the London Stadium. It took 72 minutes of a drab encounter for West Ham to find the opener when Lucas Paqueta lifted the ball into Jarrod Bowen’s path and the Hammers’ top scorer this season bundled past Andre Onana. Mohammed Kudus, who has scored in his last three home games for West Ham, latched onto Kobbie Mainoo’s defensive error to drill into the bottom corner and double the home side’s lead. Manchester United have won just one match out…

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to remaining a part of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).  This declaration follows Angola’s recent exit from the oil cartel, which was announced earlier in the week. In a statement released on Thursday, Mr. Lokpobiri emphasized Nigeria’s intent to maintain engagement with OPEC to address the country’s concerns while staying aligned with the group’s objectives. “Our collaboration within the organization remains pivotal in fostering stability and sustainability in the oil market,” Lokpobiri affirmed in the statement. “We are resolute in our dedication to OPEC’s objectives while…