Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Magomed Ankalaev Stuns Alex Pereira To Claim UFC Light-Heavyweight Title. Magomed Ankalaev secured the UFC light-heavyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Alex Pereira at UFC 313 in Las Vegas. The Russian fighter dominated much of the contest, pressuring Pereira and limiting the Brazilian’s ability to land his signature powerful strikes. Ankalaev’s composed and strategic approach earned him the judges’ scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46. “I can’t put it into words, it’s been such a long wait to reach my dream – the title is on my waist,” said Ankalaev. “I don’t think anything surprised me. I…

Andrea Berta Set To Join Arsenal As Sporting Director. Arsenal Football Club is poised to welcome Andrea Berta as their new sporting director after the 53-year-old Italian reached an agreement with the Premier League side. Berta, who parted ways with Atlético Madrid in January, emerged as the frontrunner among several candidates considered by the Gunners during an extensive recruitment process. The highly regarded football executive, known for his sharp transfer acumen and strategic vision, reportedly prioritised Arsenal over other top-tier opportunities across Europe. Sources close to the club indicate that contracts are now being finalised, with an official announcement expected…

Barcelona-Osasuna Match Postponed Following Tragic Loss Of Medical Staff Member. In a sombre turn of events, the highly anticipated La Liga clash between Barcelona and Osasuna has been postponed, both clubs confirmed earlier today. The decision comes after the heartbreaking news of the passing of a key member of Barcelona’s medical team, prompting players to request the delay of the fixture. According to reports from Spanish radio station SER, the players were deeply affected by the loss of Carles Miñarro Garcia, the doctor for Barcelona’s first team. The club officially confirmed his passing in a statement released this afternoon,…

Nigeria Records N3.4 Trillion Trade Surplus In Q4 2024. Nigeria recorded a trade surplus of N3.42 trillion in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, according to the latest foreign trade report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The report revealed that total exports for the quarter amounted to N20.01 trillion, surpassing total imports valued at N16.59 trillion. This resulted in a positive trade balance, reflecting the nation’s strong export performance. Overall, Nigeria’s total trade for the quarter reached N36.6 trillion, marking a 2.20 per cent increase from the N35.8 trillion recorded in Q3 2024. On a…

Flamingos Soar To Victory In Pretoria: South Africa 1-3 Nigeria. Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, affectionately known as the Flamingos, delivered a commanding performance in Pretoria today, securing a 3-1 victory over South Africa in the first leg of their latest encounter. The result gives the young Super Falcons a strong advantage heading into the second leg next week. The match, held at a vibrant stadium in the South African capital, showcased Nigeria’s attacking prowess and resilience. Shakirat Moshood opened the scoring in the 20th minute, firing home a clinical finish to set the tone for the Flamingos’ dominance.…

Southern Kaduna Leaders Condemn Murder Of Catholic Priest, Demand Action On Insecurity. The Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association (SKCLA) has expressed deep sorrow and condemnation over the abduction and killing of Reverend Father Sylvester Okechukwu, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan. The tragic incident, carried out by terrorists, has once again raised serious concerns over the escalating insecurity in Kaduna State. In a statement issued over the weekend, SKCLA Chairman, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, described the killing as a painful loss to the Church and a disturbing sign of the worsening violence in the region. “We…

Tinubu Rejects N942bn Census Budget, Calls For Cost Reduction. President Bola Tinubu has declined the National Population Commission’s (NPC) proposed N942 billion budget for the forthcoming national housing and population census, citing the need for cost-cutting measures. Sources close to the discussions revealed that the President has urged the commission to explore more economical alternatives, including the deployment of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for the exercise. During a meeting at the State House on 24 February 2025, Tinubu met with NPC officials, led by Chairman Nasir Kwarra, where he expressed his concerns over the high cost.…

Tolaram Moves To Strengthen Control Over Guinness Nigeria With Mandatory Takeover Bid. Tolaram, through its subsidiary N Seven Nigeria, has initiated a ₦39.3 billion mandatory takeover bid (MTO) to acquire additional shares in Guinness Nigeria, further solidifying its control over the company. This follows Tolaram’s acquisition of a 58.02% equity stake in Guinness Nigeria on 4th October 2024 from Diageo. The transaction saw Tolaram purchase 1,270,943,368 ordinary shares from Atalantaf Limited and Guinness Overseas Limited—both subsidiaries of Diageo—for a cash consideration of ₦81.60 per share, amounting to ₦103.7 billion. Offer to Existing Shareholders In compliance with Part XII…

Governor Sanwo-Olu Calls For Urgent Action On Gender Equality At 2025 International Women’s Day. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has emphasised the need for decisive action in achieving gender equality as he led the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration alongside his wife, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Cecilia Dada. Under the theme **‘Accelerate Action’**, the event underscored the urgency of moving beyond rhetoric to implement tangible measures that empower women. Participants from the 20 local government areas and 57 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) received climate stoves to…

Chief Judge Reassigns Nnamdi Kanu’s Case To New Judge. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has reassigned the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to a new judge. This decision comes six months after the previous judge recused herself from the treasonable felony case against Kanu. Kanu’s legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the development, stating that the legal team received two significant official letters ahead of their routine visit to Kanu. “The first letter, from the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), was in response to our…

Amorim Acknowledges Time Constraints At Manchester United But Finds Inspiration In Arteta. Ahead of the battle between Manchester United and Arsenal this weekend, head coach Ruben Amorim has admitted that he does not expect to be given the same time Mikel Arteta had to transform Arsenal’s fortunes. Arteta took charge of the Gunners in December 2019, replacing Unai Emery, and has since turned the club into consistent title challengers. Despite winning the FA Cup in his first season, it took the Spaniard three years to secure a return to the Champions League. Reflecting on his own situation, Amorim stated,…

Electricity Generation Suffers Hit As Recent Milestone Changes. Barely two days after celebrating a peak electricity generation of 6,000 megawatts (MW), Nigeria’s national grid suffered a major collapse on Friday, plunging the nation into widespread darkness. The sudden drop saw power generation fall drastically from 5,623MW at 1:00am to 1,400MW by 3:00am, affecting millions of consumers across the country. The outage led several electricity distribution companies to issue public notices, informing customers of disruptions to the national grid. Ikeja Electric confirmed that its franchise area was off the grid, while Eko Electricity Distribution Company acknowledged the system failure and…