Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Ex-Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has been appointed assistant coach of the Saudi Arabia national team. The 40-year-old will be working with Roberto Mancini, who managed him at Manchester City. Mancini was named Saudi Arabia’s head coach in August and has taken charge of four matches since then – including a 2-2 draw against the Super Eagles. Toure, who played for City from for eight years after signing in 2010, started coaching in 2019 and leaves his role at Belgian club Standard Liege. The former Barcelona midfielder has also spent time working with Ukrainian club Donetsk Olympic, Russia’s Grozny, and as…

Ikeja Electric (IE) says it has deployed 830,292 meters to customers in the last 10 years. In a statement on Friday in Lagos by Kingsley Okotie, Head, Media Communication, quoted its Chief Executive Officer, Folake Soetan, to have said this during an event to mark IE’s 10th anniversary. According to Soetan, the company recognised the importance of transparency and accountability and therefore ensured this in its operations. “We successfully deployed 830,292 meters to our customers, giving them control over their energy consumption and fostering a sense of empowerment. “As part of activities marking Ikeja Electric’s 10th year anniversary, the board and management of…

At least 132 people were killed in an overnight earthquake that struck a remote pocket of Nepal, officials said Saturday, as security forces rushed to assist with rescue efforts. The 5.6-magnitude quake hit the far west of the Himalayan country late Friday and was measured by the US Geological Survey at just 18 kilometres (11 miles) deep. Videos and photos posted on social media showed locals digging through rubble in the dark to pull survivors from the wreckage of collapsed homes and buildings. Mud houses were flattened or damaged as survivors crouched outside for safety, the sirens of emergency vehicles…

Two years after Abdullahi Ganduje, then governor of Kano State and current national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), brokered truce between the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdussamad Rabiu, the duo has renewed their rivalry. Elder Statesman and business mogul, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, reportedly played a key role in making the settlement see the light of the day. Dangote and Rabiu, both from Kano, are powerful businessmen not just in Nigeria and the African continent, but across the world. Through their large investment empire that stretches across sectors, they place Nigeria…

The Football Association is investigating whether banned midfielder Sandro Tonali breached betting rules after joining Newcastle in the summer. Tonali, 23, was suspended for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation in October for betting on matches involving his teams Brescia and Milan. The ban was made worldwide. He joined Newcastle from Milan for £55m in July and the FA is investigating whether he was involved in betting on football following that move. Meanwhile, Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth said he did not know if Milan were aware of the betting charges when they sold him. “It’s really difficult for…

Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi has had his contract terminated by Mainz for a social media post about the Israel-Gaza conflict, the club confirmed on Friday. The 28-year-old was suspended on 17 October by the Bundesliga club after a now-deleted post on social media which was perceived to be pro-Palestinian. Mainz said his deal was terminated with “immediate effect” on Friday, despite lifting his suspension on Monday. “‘Stand for what is right, even if it means standing alone’,” El Ghazi said. In social media posts following the termination of his contract on Friday, El Ghazi added: “The loss of my livelihood is nothing…

The value of dollar to naira fell sharply, on Friday, with the local currency exchanging below N1000 in the parallel market. This is the first time in over a month that the local currency would gain remarkable strength since it exchanged above N1000. From N1,150 in the parallel market on Thursday, the dollar exchanged for N950 on Friday evening and below in the morning, gaining over N200. Sources at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos confirmed to our Daily Trust that the dollar exchanged for N750-N800 in the morning before appreciating to N950 in the evening. This happened in…

The French Government has repatriated $150 million stolen from Nigeria by the former military Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha. The Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Catherine Colonna, made this known during a visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday. Speaking on the Abacha loot, the French Presidential Envoy said the repatriation of the loot followed the completion of long legal processes, stressing that it is a good achievement for France. “It was a long process, but we are glad that it was concluded. Sometimes, justice may be slow, but…

Rwanda has announced that it will allow Africans to travel visa-free to the country. The East African Nation becomes the latest nation on the continent to announce such a measure aimed at boosting free movement of people and trade to rival Europe’s Schengen zone. President Paul Kagame made the announcement on Thursday in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where he pitched the potential of Africa as “a unified tourism destination” for a continent that still relies on 60 percent of its tourists from outside Africa, according to data from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. “Any African, can get on…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have issued a fresh strike notice to the Federal Government. This is coming a few hours after the recent attacks, abduction, and assault on NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and other members of the unions. Speaking during a press briefing on Friday (today), the leaders of NLC and TUC presented the Federal Government with a six-point demand. This includes the immediate removal of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, the Area Commander, and other officials who are believed to be involved in the mistreatment and degradation of Comrade Ajaero and…

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has said the agreement, signature, and delivery of the N5 billion presidential yacht provided in the supplementary budget were perfected before the outrage from Nigerians. Ndume, the Senator representing Borno South, made this disclosure while speaking on the issues bordering on the contentious presidential yacht while appearing as a guest on Arise Television’s Morning show on Friday. He said the upper legislative arm raised questions on the amount earmarked for the sailboat, but added that it had been signed and delivered but not paid for before the public outcry. The All Progressives Congress federal…

The Kano State Government has alleged that the immediate past Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, left the state with a debt burden of over N500 billion. The State Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, stated this in Kaduna State while chairing the North-West Zonal meeting of the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP) He said the debt owed by the past administration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may be more than N500 billion at the end of the ongoing verification process. The deputy governor said the huge debt impeded the smooth take-off of the NNPP government in Kano, insisting the total debt will…