Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Coach Justin Madugu has replaced forward Asisat Oshoala and midfielder Jennifer Echegini after the duo dropped out of the Super Falcons’ squad expected to face Cape Verde in their 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture. NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical), Abdulrafiu Yusuf, said the two players had been sent their flight tickets to travel to Nigeria a whole week before they announced on Saturday that they would be unable to join the squad. “We were surprised that they had the flight tickets for so long and did not say anything, only for them to send different messages on…

The 10th National Assembly (NASS) has reportedly received a total of 32 bills requesting the creation of new universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has cautioned the government against establishing new institutions due to insufficient funding for existing ones. Nigeria currently has 52 federal universities, 63 state universities, and 147 private universities, as stated by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in a recent publication. The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) reports that there are 40 federal polytechnics, 49 state-owned polytechnics, and 76 private polytechnics. Additionally, there are 70 federal and state-owned colleges of…

A former Managing Director of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abdulhameed, has been arrested almost a year after he was sacked. NIRSAL is a $500m non-bank financial institution, which was created by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It was created to manage agribusiness-related credit risks in Nigeria. Recall that Abdulhameed was relieved of his duties following allegations of corruption, including a 2018 N5.6 billion wheat project meant for farmers in Kano and Jigawa States. The Board of the CBN endorsed his sack, following approval from the Presidency in December last year. Daily Trust, in…

The Nigerian Federal Government has begun efforts to address the challenges related to the supply and pricing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly used as cooking gas, following significant price increases. Louis Ibah, the spokesperson for the Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, reported that the minister intervened after the price of LPG per kg rose from around N700 to over N1,100 in some areas A recent meeting at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, convened by the minister, saw participation from senior officials of Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation…

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has reportedly appointed DCP Waheed Ayilara as the Acting Commissioner of Police in Lagos State. Ayilara, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), reportedly replaces former commissioner, AIG Idowu Owohunwa. According to The Nation, Owohunwa was among the twelve Commissioners of Police approved for promotion to Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIG) by the Police Service Commission. Charging officers, DCP Waheed directed all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state to sustain optimum security within their respective domains. He gave this charge…

Alejandro Garnacho smashed in a sensational goal-of-the-season contender as Manchester United beat Everton in the Toffees’ first game since their 10-point deduction. Garnacho’s incredible third-minute effort silenced the fiery home faithful at Goodison Park, as fans vented their fury with anti-Premier League protests following their unprecedented sanction. There looked to be no danger when Diogo Dalot dinked a cross into the box, but Garnacho had other ideas, taking a couple of steps back before leaping into the Merseyside sky and unleashing an unstoppable bicycle kick which sailed over Jordan Pickford and into the net. The goal was the only chance…

Aston Villa came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur on the day they remembered former player and manager Terry Venables. The ex-England manager’s death was announced less than two hours before kick-off, and a minute’s applause was held to pay tribute to a man who won the FA Cup with Spurs as a player in 1967 and as manager in 1991. Giovani lo Celso’s deflected opener looked to have got the early season pacesetters back on track after their unbeaten start came to an end with back-to-back defeats before the international break. But Pau Torres levelled with a header deep…

Sierra Leone’s civil aviation authority on Sunday urged airlines to reschedule flights after a nationwide curfew imposed by the government in response to an attack on a military barracks by unidentified gunmen. The aviation authority said in a statement that passengers should be placed on the next available flights after the curfew is lifted. It added that the country’s airspace remains open, Reuters reports. Gunfire was heard in some neighbourhoods of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown on Sunday afternoon following an attempt by unidentified gunmen to break into a military armoury. The government declared a nationwide curfew after assailants attacked the…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Malam Mele Kyari, have won the 2023 Nigeria GovTech Awards for exceptional service delivery in the public sector. While the National Oil Company won the Best Federal MDA in Digital Initiatives in Reengineering Government Processes Award, the GCEO carted home the Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer Award. The awards were in recognition of the GCEO leadership’s proactive steps in activating the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) that is hinged on digital automation of the company’s processes. The single, sure-footed act of automation, emplaced to, among others, mitigate the effects…

Former England manager Terry Venables has died at the age of 80 after a long illness. Venables managed England from 1994 to 1996, most notably leading them to the semi-finals of Euro 96 on home soil. He also had spells in charge of Barcelona, Tottenham and Australia. “We are totally devastated by the loss of a wonderful husband and father who passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness,” read a family statement. “We would ask that privacy be given at this incredibly sad time to allow us to mourn the loss of this lovely man who we were so…

Substitute Kai Havertz’s late header took Arsenal to the top of the Premier League with a dramatic win at Brentford. In Mikel Arteta’s 200th game in charge of the Gunners, Havertz’s 89th-minute goal rescued a largely forgettable display in west London. After Manchester City and Liverpool drew earlier on Saturday, this win moves the Gunners one point clear at the summit. Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard had a goal ruled out in the first half by the video assistant referee (VAR) but defeat was harsh on Brentford who were only denied goals of their own by exceptional clearances off the line from…

Second-half goals from Jamaal Lascelles, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon proved the difference as Newcastle emphatically returned to winning ways in the Premier League against Chelsea at St James’ Park. Lascelles’ free header from Gordon’s cross gave the Magpies a 2-1 lead on the hour mark, before Joelinton capitalised on a Thiago Silva error to double the hosts’ advantage just 90 seconds later. And Gordon netted his fifth of the season with seven minutes remaining to put the seal on a comprehensive victory for Newcastle, who lost at Bournemouth in their previous match. Fit-again Alexander Isak had opened the scoring in…