Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to implement the policy adopted in 2018 that recognises the Chinese Yuan as an official foreign currency for conducting business transactions in Nigeria to curb the continuous depreciation of the naira. The House asked its committees on Banking Regulations, Banking, and Other Ancillary Institutions to liaise with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to explore the appropriate mechanisms, policies, and partnerships required for giving effect to the policy. Adopting a motion sponsored by Hon. Jafaru Gambo Leko, the House said considering the volume of trade between Nigeria and China, the Chinese currency should…

Barbadian-American superstar Rihanna has named ‘Unavailable’ by Nigerian musician, Davido featuring South African singer, Musa Keys, as her ‘Song of the Year.’ She disclosed this in a side interview with Complex at a recent event of her fashion brand, Fenty, The Creeper.p Rihanna was asked to name her album of the year, but the billionaire pop mogul said she wasn’t an “album girl” and went on to mention ‘Unavailable’ and ‘Mnike’ by Tyler ICU and Tumelo as her joint song of the year. She said, “Album of the year? Am I an album girl? Or am I a streaming single…

Nuno Espirito Santo says he is facing a “huge challenge” at Nottingham Forest and wants to build on Steve Cooper’s legacy at the City Ground. Forest have appointed Nuno on a two-and-a-half-year contract. Cooper was sacked on Tuesday after two years and three months, with Forest having lost five of their past six league games to sit 17th in the table. “We have a good group of players, a squad that needs to become better,” said ex-Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno. Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, the Portuguese head coach added: “What Steve [Cooper] did here is amazing. “Putting Forest…

Luton Town’s Premier League match at Bournemouth, abandoned after their captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on the pitch, will be replayed in full. Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during Saturday’s game, with both teams taken off as he received treatment on the field. He was responsive as he was carried off on a stretcher. The game stood at 1-1 when it was abandoned in the 59th minute. A Premier League statement said it will be rescheduled for later in the season. Following his collapse, Lockyer was taken to hospital, where he has had tests and scans. The Premier League statement added: “The decision…

Captain Sergi Roberto scored twice as Barcelona held off bottom club Almeria to claim three valuable points in the La Liga title race. The result lifts Barca to third in the table, six points behind leaders Girona and four adrift of second-placed Real Madrid, who both have a game in hand. Goals from Raphinha and Roberto twice put the hosts ahead, only for Leo Baptistao and Edgar Gonzalez to level. However, Roberto’s late effort ended their three-game winless run. Xavi’s side now travel to Dallas for a friendly against Mexican side Club America before they head into their winter break,…

Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, has explained that the extra money being paid by candidates was a charge by operators of Computer Based Test (CBT) centres to assuage the high cost of diesel. This is as he denied that the examination body increased the fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for 2024. He said JAMB only facilitated the process of collecting the payments so that candidates would not be exploited by the operators. Prof Oloyede said these when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education at the…

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has signed the N454.3 billion budget for 2024 into law.  The official signing ceremony held at the Government House, witnessed by dignitaries including the Chief Judge and Grand Khadi, marked a key step towards steering the state through the coming year. Governor Radda, addressing concerns about resource allocation, emphasized a commitment to prioritize needs and ensure strict adherence to budget implementation procedures. He lauded the state assembly for its efficient 33-day scrutiny and passage of the budget, urging continued collaboration between the executive and legislative branches. Beyond budgetary matters, Radda acknowledged the ongoing…

The Senate Committee on Finance has mandated the Inspector General of Police to compel the appearance of the Registrar General of Corporate Affairs Commission, Garba Lawal, before it within 24 hours. The committee chairman, Sani Musa, expressed anger when the Registrar General shunned the committee’s invitation for the third time on Wednesday. Lawal was expected to appear to defend the CAC 2024 budget after some financial discrepancies were spotted by the committee in the accounts submitted and needed further explanation. Four senior officials of the commission, having confirmed several letters of invitation by the Clerk of the Senate Committee on…

Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface has won the Rookie of the Month award for a fifth consecutive time this season after taking the December prize. The forward has made the Rookie of the Month award his own since joining Bayer Leverkusen from Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise in the summer. The 22-year-old previously won the award in August, September, October and November. Boniface has scored three goals and provided two assists in three league appearances for Xabi Alonso’s side this month. The Nigeria international will hope to add to the tally when Die Werkself take on Bochum in their final game of…

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu has declared an extended Christmas holiday lasting 14 days for all civil servants in the state. The holiday period will begin on Wednesday, December 20 and conclude on January 2, 2024. In an official statement released on Wednesday (today), the governor’s chief press secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, clarified that only essential workers will be exempted from this holiday. Governor Otu thanked the workers for their dedication and hard work throughout the year. He encouraged them to utilize this opportunity to spend valuable time with their families and also urged them to participate actively in the annual Calabar…

The President of the 10th Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday, declared the seats of David Umahi and Ibrahim Geidam in the upper legislative chamber vacant. The Senate President reached the decision following their appointments as ministers of works and police affairs, respectively. While Umahi represented Ebonyi South, Geidam represented Yobe East. Following the announcement, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct by-elections in these senatorial districts. INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday, said the commission is considering conducting by-elections and rerun polls in state and federal constituencies in February 2024. He noted that political parties must carry out fresh primaries…

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has unveiled the provisional squad for the Super Eagles ahead of the forthcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON). The list is contained in a document uploaded on the CAF website on Wednesday. The NFF submitted a 40-man list to the continental football governing body within the stipulated December 14 deadline. The list includes Ahmed Musa and William Troost-Ekong, who were previously absent from the recent Super Eagles outings. Others are six goalkeepers, 13 defenders, eight midfielders and 13 forwards. Victor Osimhen, newly crowned African footballer of the year, was included alongside red-hot Victor Boniface, Ademola…