Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Erik ten Hag Appointed As Bayer Leverkusen Manager In Bold New Chapter. Bayer Leverkusen have officially appointed former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag as their new head coach, succeeding Xabi Alonso, who has departed for Real Madrid. The 55-year-old Dutchman signed a two-year contract until June 2027, marking his return to management after being sacked by Manchester United in October 2024, following a challenging stint that saw the club languishing in 14th place in the Premier League. Ten Hag, who previously managed Ajax to three Eredivisie titles and a Champions League semi-final in 2019, expressed enthusiasm for his…

Former Arsenal Star Tomáš Rosický On Road To Recovery After Heart Scare. Former Arsenal midfielder Tomáš Rosický is expected to make a full recovery following a health scare that saw him admitted to intensive care last Tuesday due to heart-related issues. The 44-year-old, currently serving as sporting director at Sparta Prague, was rushed to hospital in Prague but has since been discharged and is now recovering at home. In a statement released by Sparta Prague, the club confirmed that Rosický’s hospitalisation did not require surgical intervention, and his condition is now stable. “Our sporting director, Tomáš Rosický, was unexpectedly…

Nigeria Launches Air Cargo Corridor To Boost Trade With East And Southern Africa. In a significant step towards enhancing intra-African trade, the Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the Nigeria–East/Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor. The initiative, inaugurated on Sunday at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, aims to slash logistics costs by 50% and streamline trade between Nigeria and key markets in East and Southern Africa. Spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in partnership with Uganda Airlines, the corridor aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives to boost regional economic integration. The…

FCTA Cracks Down On Non-Payment Of Ground Rent, Seals Access Bank, FIRS Office, And Total Petrol Station In Abuja. The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken decisive action against property owners defaulting on ground rent payments, sealing an Access Bank branch in Wuse, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office in Zone 5, and a TotalEnergies petrol station in Zone 3, all in Abuja. The closures, announced on Monday, are part of a broader enforcement campaign targeting non-compliance with statutory land obligations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The FCTA’s enforcement team moved swiftly to shut down the…

Speaker Abbas Withdraws Compulsory Voting Bill Amid Public Pushback. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, has withdrawn a controversial bill that would have mandated compulsory voting in Nigeria’s elections, following significant public and political opposition. The decision, announced on Monday, marks a rare reversal in response to widespread criticism from citizens and stakeholders who viewed the proposal as impractical and overly punitive. The bill, initially proposed to address Nigeria’s historically low voter turnout, sought to impose fines or community service on eligible voters who failed to participate in elections. Proponents argued it would boost civic engagement…

PDP Postpones Crucial NEC Meeting To Allow Saraki-Led Committee To Foster Party Unity. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its highly anticipated 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, 27 May 2025, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja. The decision, announced by the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, aims to provide additional time for the reconciliation committee, chaired by former Senate President Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to resolve internal conflicts and ensure a harmonious meeting. In a statement released on Sunday, 25 May 2025, Senator Anyanwu explained that the postponement was necessary to…

Nigeria Bolsters Border Security As Eight Foreigners Denied Entry For Invalid Visas. The Nigerian Federal Government has intensified its efforts to strengthen border security, with the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announcing that eight foreigners were turned back last week for attempting to enter the country without valid visas. The move signals a robust new approach to immigration enforcement aimed at safeguarding national security and curbing illegal entry. Speaking during an interview on TVC News, Dr. Tunji-Ojo revealed that the government is cracking down on undocumented entries, with stricter measures now in place to ensure compliance with immigration…

Nigeria’s Rice Industry Faces Collapse Amid Cheap Imports And Insecurity, Farmers Warn. Nigerian rice farmers have sounded the alarm over the dire state of the country’s rice industry, warning that local mills are shutting down and thousands of jobs are being lost due to a flood of cheap imported rice, ongoing insecurity, and insufficient government support. The crisis, which threatens the livelihoods of millions and Nigeria’s food security, has sparked urgent calls for action to revive the beleaguered sector. According to stakeholders in the rice industry, the influx of inexpensive rice, primarily smuggled from neighbouring Benin, has driven down…

Federal Government Moves To Secure Iddo Bridge With Demolition Of Illegal Structures. The Federal Government has launched an urgent operation to evacuate and demolish illegal structures beneath the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, citing grave safety concerns and the risk of the bridge’s imminent collapse. The directive, issued by the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, follows an inspection on Sunday, 25 May 2025, alongside structural engineers and officials from Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the contractor tasked with the bridge’s rehabilitation. The Iddo Bridge, a critical link connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, has suffered significant structural damage due to…

Nasarawa State To Pioneer Nigeria’s First Electric Vehicle Assembly Plant. In a groundbreaking move set to transform Nigeria’s automotive and clean energy landscape, Nasarawa State is poised to host the country’s first electric vehicle (EV) assembly factory. Governor Abdullahi Sule announced the ambitious initiative during a celebratory event organised by the Abdullahi Sule Gidan-Gidan Support Group in Lafia on Sunday, 25 May 2025, marking his six years in office. The project, which leverages the state’s abundant lithium deposits, aligns with the federal government’s push for clean energy and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. The announcement follows the recent commissioning…

Nigerian Navy To Bolster Fleet And Infrastructure In Grand 69th Anniversary Celebration. The Nigerian Navy is set to mark its 69th anniversary with a spectacular showcase of maritime strength and infrastructure development, unveiling three new patrol vessels, three helicopters, and several accommodation plots and office blocks. The announcement was made by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, during a thanksgiving service at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Navy Town, Lagos, on Sunday, 25 May 2025. The celebrations, dubbed “Navy Week,” will run from 23 May to 1 June 2025, commemorating the…

Tinubu’s Mining Reforms Spark Six-Fold Revenue Surge And $800M Investment Boom. Nigeria’s solid minerals sector has undergone a remarkable transformation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with revenues soaring from ₦6 billion in 2023 to ₦38 billion in 2024—a six-fold increase—despite receiving only 18% of its ₦29 billion budgeted allocation. The sector has also attracted over $800 million in foreign investment for processing projects, driven by a robust policy framework emphasising local value addition and stringent licensing reforms. These achievements were revealed by Dr Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, during an interview for a State House documentary marking President…