Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Tottenham Hotspur moved into the Premier League top four after beating Everton in a thrilling encounter. Richarlison opened the scoring against his former club with his fourth goal in three matches, before Son Heung-min doubled Spurs’ advantage soon after. Everton deservedly pulled a goal back through Andre Gomes, in his first Premier League game since May 2022. But Spurs move above Manchester City – absent from league action due to the Club World Cup – into fourth. Defeat for Everton ended a four-match winning run and leaves then just four points above the relegation zone. Brazilian Richarlison put the hosts…

Luton lived up to their pledge of making it “a special day” for convalescing captain Tom Lockyer by beating Newcastle United at an emotionally charged Kenilworth Road. Andros Townsend headed home the Hatters’ winner against his former club in Luton’s first Premier League game since Lockyer’s collapse at Bournemouth seven days earlier. Townsend held up Lockyer’s number four shirt in celebration after the goal – one of a number of tributes paid by Luton players and fans to their stricken skipper before, during and after the game. Only the woodwork denied Luton a more straightforward victory as Ross Barkley struck the…

No fewer than 82,201 people are to benefit from the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation in Ondo State. The Programme Coordinator of Ondo State Conditional Cash Transfer, Tosin Olupona, stated this during a one-day step-down training of Local Government Cash Transfer Facilitators on Renewed Hope Cash Transfer Orientation and Beneficiary Enrolment Process in Akure. Olupona said that would-be beneficiaries had been registered on the database of the national cash transfer office in Abuja. She explained that some of the potential beneficiaries would each receive N25,000 every month for a period of three…

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has commiserated with Sunshine Stars following the death of their backroom staff, Tosin Dosunmu. Dosunmu, the Club’s Assistant Kit Manager, was reported to have died on Friday at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital from injuries sustained in the recent gun attack on the team’s bus on their way to Benin for a matchday 13 fixture against Bendel Insurance. NPFL board chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye, described Dosunmu’s death as tragic and unfortunate. “I am personally saddened by the news of this unfortunate and tragic death of the young man,” Elegbeleye was quoted by NPFL.com. “It…

Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen has signed a new deal that runs until 2026 with Napoli. The 24-year-old scored 26 Serie A goals in 32 appearances in 2022-23 as he helped the italian club win their first league title in 33 years. Osimhen, who managed 31 goals in all competitions last season, was crowned the Italian footballers’ association player of the year earlier this month. He also named as the African Footballer of the Year for 2023. Osimhen said in November that he made a decision that was “good for his career” after being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia…

West Ham scored twice in six minutes to condemn Manchester United to an eighth Premier League defeat of the season at the London Stadium. It took 72 minutes of a drab encounter for West Ham to find the opener when Lucas Paqueta lifted the ball into Jarrod Bowen’s path and the Hammers’ top scorer this season bundled past Andre Onana. Mohammed Kudus, who has scored in his last three home games for West Ham, latched onto Kobbie Mainoo’s defensive error to drill into the bottom corner and double the home side’s lead. Manchester United have won just one match out…

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to remaining a part of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).  This declaration follows Angola’s recent exit from the oil cartel, which was announced earlier in the week. In a statement released on Thursday, Mr. Lokpobiri emphasized Nigeria’s intent to maintain engagement with OPEC to address the country’s concerns while staying aligned with the group’s objectives. “Our collaboration within the organization remains pivotal in fostering stability and sustainability in the oil market,” Lokpobiri affirmed in the statement. “We are resolute in our dedication to OPEC’s objectives while…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET, has forecast haziness and sunshine from Saturday to Monday across the country. NiMet’s weather outlook released on Friday in Abuja predicted moderate dust haze on Saturday with horizontal visibility of 2km and 5km over the northern region during the period. According to the agency, a sunny sky in hazy atmosphere is expected over North-Central cities and the inland cities of the South. It anticipated partly cloudy skies in hazy atmosphere over the coastal belt of the country. It expected some prospects of localised thunderstorms over parts of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states…

Former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is now in the United Kingdom, has acknowledged that she embezzled money from Nigeria. Confessing her deeds during a recent press briefing in London, Madueke alleged that she had entrusted nine billion Dollars to the incumbent Governor of Zamfara State. Madueke served as petroleum minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The Port Harcourt-born is understood to have fled the country to the United Kingdom out of fear of being arrested by Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Diezani, who is said to be battling cancer, is now appealing…

The Nigeria Customs Service Board, has confirmed the appointment of two Assistant Comptrollers-General and the promotion of 2,209 senior officers. The promotion was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada. This took place at the NCS Headquarters during its 58th regular meeting held on Tuesday, December 19. The appointed officers confirmed as substantive members of the NCS Management Team are ACG Florence Ogar-Modey and ACG Queen Ogubudu. The Comptroller-General, NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, congratulated the newly appointed and promoted officers. The Customs boss equally urged the officers to put in more effort…

Moses Simon has penned a new contract with Ligue 1 outfit, Nantes. The Nigeria international signed a two-year contract that will see him remain at the Maison Jaune until 2026. Simon joined the Canaries on loan from Spanish club Levante at the start of 2019/20 season. The move was made permanent the following campaign. The winger expressed his excitement after signing the new contract. “I am delighted to continue the adventure here and very happy to stay in Nantes! I am ready to continue fighting to help the team go as high as possible. What is certain is that This…

The Rivers State Police Command has banned the use of fireworks and tinted glasses in Port Harcourt and its environs ahead of the yuletide.  The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe Koko, in a statement on Friday, warned retailers of fireworks to cease their sales, saying defaulters would be arrested and prosecuted. Koko also warned against the covering of number plates on vehicles, saying the practice hindered effective law enforcement and compromised public safety.