Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Defence Headquarters says the anti-terror fight is now focused on eliminating commanders of Boko Haram and bandits. The DHQ also said the infrastructure of these terrorist and bandit groups and their foot soldiers would not be spared across the various theatres of operations. Speaking during the bi-weekly briefing on the activities of the military across the country on Thursday in Abuja, the Director, Defence Media Operations,  Maj.  Gen.  Edward Buba, said the terrorists and bandits were already counting their loss. He said,  “There is no doubt that these groups must be defeated and are indeed being defeated. It is…

Colombian-born Liverpool footballer Luis Díaz’s father has been released by the left-wing guerrillas who kidnapped him 13 days ago, police sources and local media say. Luis Manuel Díaz was handed over to United Nations and Catholic church officials by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN). He was abducted on 28 October in the family’s hometown, Barrancas. The footballer’s mother was also seized, but was freed within hours. Local media said Mr Díaz had travelled by military helicopter to the city of Valledupar, where he would undergo a medical examination before being returned to his family. They also quoted authorities…

Brighton secured a famous 2-0 victory over Ajax in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League Group B match. Both sides made a positive start to the match, looking to get forward quickly and take the game to the opponent. Brighton were handed a gift after 14 minutes to go 1-0 up. Silvano Vos played a poor pass which was intercepted by Simon Adingra who was able to slip in Ansu Fati and the 21-year-old Spaniard did the rest, firing past Diant Ramaj. Fati still had work to do when he received the ball but an impeccable first touch meant he had put…

Liverpool suffered just their second defeat of the season in Toulouse, dramatically losing 3-2 after a stoppage-time equaliser was overturned by a VAR review. Toulouse were in the French second tier just two seasons ago, and two weeks ago thrashed 5-1 at Anfield, yet led when a terrible Kostas Tsimikas error put Aron Donnum through on goal. Thijs Dallinga doubled the lead with a fine finish as Toulouse started the second half brilliantly, and even a bizarre own goal did not seem to halt their momentum as substitute Frank Magri scored two minutes later to make it 3-1 Diogo Jota pulled…

The Bayelsa State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has been hit by a major crisis barely two days before the scheduled November 11, 2023, governorship election in the state. The Labour Party in Bayelsa has split into four factions as some members of the State Executive have also endorsed Gov. Douye Diri who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Saturday’s election. Recall that the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Bayelsa, Udengs Eradiri, accused the party leadership in the state of collecting bribes from Governor Diri. Making this allegation during an interview with Arise TV, the party’s governorship candidate accused the…

The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria has revealed that its visa application centres in Abuja and Lagos remain open to the public and will continue to provide services to members of the public. The update was given on Thursday following the fire outbreak which affected a section of the Canadian High Commission building in Abuja on Monday. The statement noted that though operations at the High Commission of Canada in Abuja remain suspended, the Visa application centres in Abuja and Lagos remain open. It added that the Commission is still mourning the victims of the fire incident in Abuja. The statement…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mohammed Abba Isa as his Senior Special Assistant on Disability Matters. In a statement on Thursday by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu said the appointment is in his determination to ensure that every segment of society is sufficiently catered within the ambit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration. The President said Isa is a distinguished champion of persons with disabilities with over a decade of experience in local and international advocacy on matters concerning persons with disabilities. According to the statement, the new presidential aide is a graduate of…

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson has been recalled to the England squad by manager Gareth Southgate for their final two Euro 2024 qualifiers. Wilson, 31, has scored seven Premier League goals this season, but sustained a hamstring injury as Newcastle lost at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. Tottenham midfielder James Maddison and Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka are also in despite injury worries. England play Malta on 17 November and North Macedonia on 20 November. Southgate’s side have already qualified for the tournament in Germany next June and July after a 3-1 win against Italy in October. Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling is left out of…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State on Thursday met with his predecessor in office and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. The two leaders met and exchanged pleasantries in Port Harcourt, the State capital at the rededication service of the 2023/2024 Legal Year. The event was held at the Saint Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Hospital Road in the state capital. It was the first time both politicians would be meeting in public since the political crisis in the state. Speaking at the event, Fubara pledged his loyalty to his predecessor, maintaining he (Wike) remains his principal. He described…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fire any head of government agency that fails to honour the invitations of the National Assembly committees. Akpabio stated this Thursday at the opening of a public hearing on the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) at the Senate. In the MTEF/FSP, the federal government pegged the price of crude oil at $73.96; exchange rate at N700/$; oil production at 1.78 million barrels per day; debt service of N8.25 trillion; inflation at 21 per cent and GDP growth at 3.76 per cent. The aggregate…

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday presented a N273 billion budget for 2024 to the State House of Assembly. The budget, christened “Budget of Reconstruction and Recovery,” has an estimate of Two Hundred and Seventy- Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety -Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Ten Naira (N273,908,997,410). Speaking to lawmakers at the assembly, Adeleke said the figure is made up of recurrent expenditure of One Hundred and Sixty-Five Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty-Four Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira (N165,654,976,700) and capital expenditure of One Hundred and Eight Billion,…

The Lagos State Government has sealed illegal buildings at the International Trade Fair in Ojo. Announcing the development in a statement released via its official website, the state government disclosed that the exercise was carried out by a special enforcement team led by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide. According to the statement, Olumide, during the exercise, lamented that the International TradeFair was notorious for illegal constructions. The enforcement operation also impacted structures under construction at the trade fair complex, including those built on drainage alignments. The Commissioner criticized developers for their persistent refusal to budge despite…