Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Sierra Leone’s civil aviation authority on Sunday urged airlines to reschedule flights after a nationwide curfew imposed by the government in response to an attack on a military barracks by unidentified gunmen. The aviation authority said in a statement that passengers should be placed on the next available flights after the curfew is lifted. It added that the country’s airspace remains open, Reuters reports. Gunfire was heard in some neighbourhoods of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown on Sunday afternoon following an attempt by unidentified gunmen to break into a military armoury. The government declared a nationwide curfew after assailants attacked the…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Malam Mele Kyari, have won the 2023 Nigeria GovTech Awards for exceptional service delivery in the public sector. While the National Oil Company won the Best Federal MDA in Digital Initiatives in Reengineering Government Processes Award, the GCEO carted home the Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer Award. The awards were in recognition of the GCEO leadership’s proactive steps in activating the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) that is hinged on digital automation of the company’s processes. The single, sure-footed act of automation, emplaced to, among others, mitigate the effects…

Former England manager Terry Venables has died at the age of 80 after a long illness. Venables managed England from 1994 to 1996, most notably leading them to the semi-finals of Euro 96 on home soil. He also had spells in charge of Barcelona, Tottenham and Australia. “We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness,” read a family statement. “We would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly sad time to allow us to mourn the loss of this lovely man who we were so…

Substitute Kai Havertz’s late header took Arsenal to the top of the Premier League with a dramatic win at Brentford. In Mikel Arteta’s 200th game in charge of the Gunners, Havertz’s 89th-minute goal rescued a largely forgettable display in west London. After Manchester City and Liverpool drew earlier on Saturday, this win moves the Gunners one point clear at the summit. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard had a goal ruled out in the first half by the video assistant referee (VAR) but defeat was harsh on Brentford who were only denied goals of their own by exceptional clearances off the line from…

Second-half goals from Jamaal Lascelles, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon proved the difference as Newcastle emphatically returned to winning ways in the Premier League against Chelsea at St James’ Park. Lascelles’ free header from Gordon’s cross gave the Magpies a 2-1 lead on the hour mark, before Joelinton capitalised on a Thiago Silva error to double the hosts’ advantage just 90 seconds later. And Gordon netted his fifth of the season with seven minutes remaining to put the seal on a comprehensive victory for Newcastle, who lost at Bournemouth in their previous match. Fit-again Alexander Isak had opened the scoring in…

Barcelona remain third in La Liga after a late own goal rescued a draw at Rayo Vallecano. Trailing at the break to Unai Lopez’s stunning strike, Barca dominated the second half but missed good chances. They finally got their reward when Florian Lejeune bundled into his own net under pressure from Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona made six changes from the side that came from behind to beat Alaves before the international break, with goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen an absence through injury. His replacement, Inaki Pena, looked shaky from the off and was beaten by Lopez’s ferocious right-foot effort midway through the…

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late equaliser gave Liverpool a point at Manchester City in the meeting of the Premier League’s top two at Etihad Stadium. In a game that did not touch the heights of previous encounters between the main domestic powers of recent times, reigning champions City led when Erling Haaland was the beneficiary of Liverpool keeper Alisson’s poor clearance. It made him the fastest player to reach 50 Premier League goals – in his 48th match – and gave City an advantage they held until the closing stages. Ruben Dias thought he had added City’s second, only to see his…

Paris St-Germain warmed up for a vital Champions League tie against Newcastle by beating Monaco 5-2 to go four points clear at the top of Ligue 1. Goncalo Ramos put the hosts ahead, but Gianluigi Donnarumma’s clearance fell to Takumi Minamino and he levelled. Kylian Mbappe’s converted penalty restored the lead for PSG, who scored twice more in the second half through Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha. Folarin Balogun scored for Monaco, but Randal Kolo Muani added PSG’s fifth. Mbappe’s goal against his former side was his 14th of the season in the league and came after Soungoutou Magassa fouled Dembele…

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Friday said the Students’ Loan Application system was being designed in a way that there is no interface between the loan administrators and the beneficiaries. Gbajabiamila reiterated that efforts were underway to ensure the take-off of the scheme in January 2024 to ensure that Nigerian students could access the loan “to fund their educational aspirations.” He spoke in Lagos on Friday while delivering the lecture titled, “Empowering Nigerian Youths in the Present Day Economy” at the 35th convocation ceremony of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH). Gbajabiamila said that to make the…

Newcastle United and Chelsea will look to make winning returns to Premier League action following the international break when they clash at St James’ Park on Saturday. The pause for national team fixtures came at a good time for Newcastle, who were suffering a brutal injury crisis and coming off the back of two straight defeats in all competitions, while Chelsea will have been frustrated by the interruption, having finally built up some momentum over the previous weeks. Mauricio Pochettino’s side come into Saturday’s game having lost just one of their last eight in all competitions, aided by the fact…

The Premier League returns after the international break on Saturday, and it does so with a bang as rivals Manchester City and Liverpool battle for top spot in a mouthwatering early kick-off. With just a solitary point separating these two giants after 12 games, who will come out on top? A decade of competition between Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp in Germany and England has seen them face each other more often than either has faced another manager in their respective careers (28 times). Klopp’s 11 wins in those matches are more than any other manager has recorded against Guardiola. The City…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the police to immediately withdraw from the Ondo State House of Assembly premises in Akure, the state capital. Tinubu gave the order at a meeting with the embattled Ondo Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, State lawmakers and All Progressives Congress (APC) members, who converged on the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday night. The police withdrawal was one of the decisions reached after nearly six hours of deliberations between the president and Ondo officials to resolve the political crisis in the state. Recall that police operatives had been stationed in the premises of the Ondo Assembly after lawmakers served…