Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nigeria’s VAT Collection Reaches Record N1.78 Trillion In Q3 2024. The Nigerian government has achieved a remarkable milestone, collecting a total of N1.78 trillion in Value Added Tax (VAT) during the third quarter of 2024, according to a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This represents a 14.16% quarter-on-quarter increase compared to the N1.56 trillion collected in Q2 2024 and an impressive 88% year-on-year growth from Q3 2023. The report highlighted three key revenue streams contributing to the N1.78 trillion VAT collections: – Local VAT Payments: N922.87 billion – Foreign VAT Payments: N448.85 billion -…

New Political Movement ‘The Alternative’ Aims To Reshape Nigeria’s 2027 Elections. A fresh political platform, known as The Alternative, has emerged with an ambitious vision to challenge Nigeria’s political status quo and secure power in the 2027 general elections. The movement was officially unveiled in Jos during the North Central Zone National Opposition Movement town hall meeting held at the Fox Hotel. Segun Sowunmi, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State and convener of The Alternative, outlined the movement’s objectives, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s existing political structure. He described The Alternative as…

Ministry Of Health Raises Alert On New XEC COVID-19 Variant. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has issued a formal notice regarding the detection of a new COVID-19 variant, designated XEC. In a letter addressed to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, the Ministry highlighted concerns about the variant’s rapid spread and potential public health implications. The XEC variant has been reported in Australia and has already spread to 29 countries globally. The Ministry noted that this strain exhibits a significant growth advantage over other circulating variants, raising alarms about its potential impact on…

Football Community Rallies Around Michail Antonio Following Dreadful Autocrash. The footballing world has come together to support Michail Antonio after the Jamaican striker got involved in a nasty autocrash yesterday. Clubs including Southampton, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, and Colchester posted messages of encouragement on social media, while the Jamaica national team expressed their solidarity. Antonio, who began his career in non-league football with Tooting & Mitcham before progressing to professional stints at Reading, Cheltenham, Southampton, and Colchester, has been a key figure for Jamaica. He has scored five goals in 21 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, playing a vital role…

Jude Bellingham Shines Again As Real Madrid Triumph Over Girona. Jude Bellingham continued his remarkable scoring streak in La Liga, finding the net for the fifth consecutive match as Real Madrid secured a 3-0 victory against Girona. The England international’s run has seen him become the first Real Madrid player to achieve this feat since Karim Benzema in 2021. Bellingham opened the scoring late in the first half, firing a precise shot on the bounce from 16 yards. The midfielder then showcased his playmaking ability, delivering a perfectly weighted through ball for Arda Güler, who slotted home Madrid’s second…

Guardiola Praises Manchester City’s Resilience In Palace Draw. Pep Guardiola expressed pride in his Manchester City side after a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace extended their challenging run of just one win in nine games. Despite twice coming from behind, the defending champions remain eight points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, having played a game more. Crystal Palace made a bright start at Selhurst Park, opening the scoring after just four minutes. Will Hughes delivered a precise pass to wing-back Daniel Muñoz, who drove the ball into the net, exploiting space in City’s defence. Palace continued…

Nottingham Forest Secure Historic Win At Old Trafford. Nottingham Forest stunned Manchester United with a 3-2 victory, marking their first triumph at Old Trafford in nearly 30 years. Defensive lapses by the home side proved costly, allowing Forest to capitalise and climb to fifth place in the Premier League. Rasmus Højlund briefly levelled the score after Nikola Milenković’s early opener, but Forest took control early in the second half, scoring twice in quick succession. The first of these came when Morgan Gibbs-White’s low drive deceived United goalkeeper André Onana, who misjudged the shot’s trajectory. Moments later, Chris Wood’s looping…

Lookman’s Late Heroics Propel Atalanta To Serie A Summit. Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman delivered another match-winning performance on Friday night, scoring a dramatic late header to secure Atalanta’s 2-1 victory over AC Milan and restore their position at the top of the Serie A table. Lookman’s decisive goal, which came in the dying moments of the match, earned him his fifth Man of the Match award this season. It also highlighted his pivotal role in Atalanta’s pursuit of the Scudetto. The winning moment unfolded when Sead Kolasinac flicked an Atalanta corner to the back post. Lookman, perfectly positioned,…

EFCC Launches Investigation Into NFF Over Alleged Fund Mismanagement. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into allegations of abuse of office and fund diversion within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). In a letter dated 28 November 2024, addressed to the National Sports Commission (NSC), the EFCC requested detailed information on the NFF’s financial dealings and sponsorships. The letter, signed by Farouk Dogondaji on behalf of the EFCC chairman, emphasised the need for transparency to conclude the investigation. The anti-graft agency has asked the NSC to provide: – A list of sponsors for the NFF…

Everton Vs Liverpool Postponed Due To ‘Storm Darragh’. The highly anticipated Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, set to be the final meeting at Goodison Park, has been postponed due to safety concerns caused by severe weather conditions brought on by Storm Darragh. Authorities made the decision to call off the match, citing risks to public safety, as the storm continues to batter the region with high winds and heavy rainfall. The game, originally scheduled to take place this weekend, will be rescheduled, with a new date to be announced soon. Both clubs are expected to release official…

Ruben Amorim Aims To Rebuild Manchester United. Newly-appointed Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has described the club as “a massive club but not a massive team,” underscoring the challenges he faces in restoring the team’s status as a Premier League contender. Since Amorim’s arrival on 11 November, following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, United have shown improvement but remain far from their glory days. Their recent 2-0 defeat at Arsenal left them 13th in the Premier League table, offering a sobering reminder of the work ahead. “We’re not one of the best teams in the league,” Amorim…

Lionel Messi Crowned MLS Most Valuable Player. Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has been named Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Most Valuable Player (MVP), capping off a remarkable debut season with Inter Miami. The 37-year-old forward, who joined Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, played a pivotal role in transforming the club’s fortunes. Despite injuries limiting him to just 19 regular-season games and two play-off appearances, Messi led the league with an outstanding 36 goal contributions, comprising 20 goals and 16 assists. Under Messi’s influence, Inter Miami achieved a record points tally during the regular season. However, their campaign ended…