Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nigeria Bans 60,000-Litre Fuel Tankers From March 1 To Enhance Road Safety. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced a ban on 60,000-litre fuel tankers from operating on Nigerian roads, effective from 1st March 2025. The decision aims to reduce road accidents involving heavy-duty petroleum tankers and enhance safety in fuel transportation. The NMDPRA Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, made the announcement on Wednesday in Abuja, following discussions with key stakeholders.  A Unified Decision for Safer Roads   Ukoha revealed that a technical committee, comprising representatives from agencies such as…

Ademola Lookman Responds To Manager’s Criticism After Atalanta’s Champions League Exit. Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has hit back at his manager Gian Piero Gasperini following stinging criticism over a missed penalty in the club’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Club Brugge on Tuesday night. The Nigerian international, who has been a key figure for the Serie A side, described his manager’s remarks as “deeply disrespectful,” sparking widespread discussion among fans and pundits alike. The incident occurred during Atalanta’s 3-1 loss at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, a result that sealed a 5-2 aggregate defeat in the Champions League play-off round,…

Mbappé’s Hat-Trick Sends Real Madrid Past Manchester City In Champions League. Manchester City’s Champions League campaign ended in disappointment as Kylian Mbappé’s stunning hat-trick propelled reigning champions Real Madrid to a commanding victory at the Bernabéu, securing their place in the last 16. Pep Guardiola’s side entered the contest trailing 3-2 from the first leg, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed when Mbappé opened the scoring just four minutes in with a delightful lob over Ederson, courtesy of Raúl Asencio’s pinpoint pass. City’s night took another turn for the worse when John Stones was forced off…

Lost Tomb Of Pharaoh Thutmose II, Discovered In Egypt. A British-Egyptian archaeological team has unearthed the long-lost tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II, marking the first discovery of a pharaoh’s burial site since the famed tomb of Tutankhamun was found over a century ago. The tomb, located in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis near Luxor, had remained hidden for over 3,500 years. Previously, researchers believed the burial sites of 18th Dynasty pharaohs were situated more than two kilometres away, closer to the Valley of the Kings. However, the unexpected find in an area associated with royal women challenged…

Borussia Dortmund Secure Champions League Last-16 Spot After Stalemate Against Sporting. Borussia Dortmund booked their place in the Champions League last 16 after a goalless draw against Sporting in the second leg of their knockout play-off tie. Having secured a commanding 3-0 victory in Lisbon last week, the German side entered the return leg at Signal Iduna Park with a significant advantage. Goals from Serhou Guirassy, Pascal Gross and Karim Adeyemi in the first leg had all but sealed their progression, making the second encounter a mere formality. Dortmund dominated proceedings and had the opportunity to take the lead…

PSV Stun Juventus To Secure Champions League Last-16 Spot. PSV Eindhoven produced a sensational comeback against Juventus, with Ryan Flamingo netting an extra-time winner to seal their place in the Champions League last 16. The Dutch side overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit with a determined performance at home on Wednesday night, eliminating the Italian giants in a thrilling encounter. Ivan Perisic and Ismael Saibari scored either side of a stunning strike from Timothy Weah, bringing the tie to 3-3 on aggregate. With neither side able to find a winner in normal time, Flamingo stepped up in extra time to prod…

PSG Cruise Into Champions League Last 16 With Dominant Win Over Brest. Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the Champions League last 16 in emphatic fashion, thrashing Brest to complete a dominant knockout play-off victory. Luis Enrique’s side, already holding a 3-0 lead from the first leg, ran riot at the Parc des Princes to extend their aggregate advantage and continue their dominance over their French rivals this season. Bradley Barcola opened the scoring with a sharp finish at the near post before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled PSG’s lead with a simple tap-in before half-time. Portugal international Joao Neves rattled the…

Liverpool Extend Unbeaten League Run Despite Draw With Aston Villa. Liverpool maintained their unbeaten run in the Premier League since September but were left frustrated after a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa. Arne Slot’s side, who last suffered defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest, were undone by defensive lapses and missed opportunities, allowing Villa to take advantage in an enthralling encounter. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 29th minute after a misplaced pass from Andres Garcia gifted Diogo Jota possession, who then set up the Egyptian forward for a clinical finish. However, Liverpool’s lead lasted just nine minutes…

Zelensky Responds To Trump’s Criticism Amid US-Russia Talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed criticism from former US President Donald Trump, stating that his American counterpart is “living in a disinformation space” created by Russia. Trump had suggested that Ukraine was to blame for the ongoing war and claimed that Zelensky’s approval rating was as low as 4%. His remarks followed US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, from which Ukraine was notably excluded. After the meeting in Riyadh, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the discussions and indicated that Trump had assured him Ukraine would be included in any future…

Neymar Marks Return To Form For Santos With First Goal In Over A Year. Santos secured a 3–1 victory over Agua Santa in the São Paulo state championship on Sunday, with Brazilian forward Neymar sparking celebration by scoring his first goal in over a year. The 33‐year-old netted a penalty in the 14th minute – his first since October 2023 when he featured for Al Hilal. Since rejoining Santos in January, Neymar has quickly re-established himself as a key player for the club. His strike, which was his 137th goal in 229 appearances for Santos, has not only revived…

Ratcliffe Admits Manchester United Has Become “Mediocre”, Defends Tough Decisions. Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has admitted that the club has become “mediocre” and warned that further “difficult and unpopular decisions” will be necessary to restore its former glory. Ratcliffe, who took partial control of United last December, has faced backlash from fans following the scrapping of concession tickets and the introduction of a minimum ticket price of £66. Protests erupted at Old Trafford before last weekend’s victory over Everton in response to the changes. However, in an interview with United We Stand Ratcliffe defended the…

 NELFUND To Close 2023/2024 Student Loan Applications, Opens New Cycle on 22 February. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that the application cycle for the 2023/2024 student loan programme will close on 21 February, with the 2024/2025 cycle set to begin on 22 February. Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, emphasising the organisation’s dedication to efficiency, transparency, and continuous improvement in supporting students. “NELFUND remains committed to providing financial assistance to students, ensuring that no deserving individual is denied access to education due to financial…