Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Crystal Palace Relegated To Conference League As Nottingham Forest Secure Europa League Spot. Crystal Palace have been dealt a significant blow after UEFA announced their demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League for the 2025/26 season. The decision, which stems from a breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, has paved the way for Nottingham Forest to be promoted to the Europa League in their place. The ruling is subject to an appeal, which Palace are widely expected to lodge with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The controversy centres around American businessman John Textor, who holds…

Kun Khalifat’s Historic Rise To NPFL Headlines Alongside Barau FC,  Warri Wolves And Wikki Tourists. Kun Khalifat, a privately owned club from Imo State, has etched its name in Nigerian football history by securing promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for the 2025/2026 season, joined by Warri Wolves, Wikki Tourists, and Barau FC. The quartet earned their top-flight spots through standout performances at the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoffs in Asaba, Delta State, setting the stage for an electrifying NPFL season kicking off on 22 August 2025. Kun Khalifat’s ascent to the NPFL is a…

Nigeria Customs Service Foils Major Wildlife Trafficking Operation On Kaduna–Abuja Expressway. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has achieved a significant victory in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking, intercepting a 40-foot container carrying 10,603 donkey genitals and 213 parrot heads along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway. The seizure, which took place on 5 June 2025 at approximately 9:00 p.m., was announced by Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi during a press briefing in Abuja on 10 July, highlighting the agency’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity. The intercepted consignment, suspected to be destined for illegal export, was uncovered through coordinated surveillance by the NCS’s…

Outcry As University Of Calabar Orders 300 Dental Students To Withdraw Over Quota Breach. The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has sparked widespread outrage after directing approximately 300 dental students to withdraw from their programme and transfer to other institutions or abandon their studies entirely. The decision, attributed to the university admitting students beyond the quota set by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), has been labelled inhumane by students, parents, and advocates, who are rallying under the hashtag #SaveDentalStudentsOfUnical to demand justice. The crisis unfolded following a meeting on 10 July 2025, convened by Vice-Chancellor Prof Florence…

ADC State Chairmen Unite Behind Interim Leadership In Abuja. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demonstrated a robust display of solidarity as all 37 state chairmen, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) representative, rallied behind the party’s interim leadership during a strategic meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. The gathering, led by former Senate President David Mark and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), sought to strengthen the party’s cohesion and advance its reorganisation and coalition-building efforts. The closed-door session was convened amid swirling rumours of internal discord within the ADC. However, the meeting effectively quashed speculations of division, reinforcing…

“UK Economy Shrinks For Second Month In A Row, Contracting 0.1% In May” – ONS. The UK economy has contracted for the second consecutive month, shrinking by 0.1% in May, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The unexpected decline, which defied economists’ forecasts of a modest 0.1% growth, has intensified pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who described the figures as “disappointing.” The government, which has prioritised economic growth, now faces growing concerns about the nation’s fragile recovery. The downturn was driven primarily by a sharp 0.9% drop in production output, with significant declines in oil and gas…

“Akon City Project No Longer Exists, We’re Working on Something More Realistic” – Senegal Official. Plans for a futuristic $6 billion city in Senegal, envisioned by Senegalese-American singer Akon, have been officially abandoned, with authorities now collaborating with the artist on a more feasible development. Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of Senegal’s tourism development body, Sapco, confirmed the decision, stating, “The Akon City project no longer exists. Fortunately, an agreement has been reached between Sapco and the entrepreneur Alioune Badara Thiam [Akon]. What he’s preparing with us is a realistic project, which Sapco will fully support.” Announced in 2018, Akon…

“They Have Spent $18bn On Those Refineries And They Are Still Not Working” – Dangote. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, has expressed deep scepticism about the future of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, declaring that despite an $18 billion investment, they remain non-functional. Speaking on Thursday while hosting members of the Global CEO Africa programme from Lagos Business School at his 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lekki, Lagos, Dangote questioned whether the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC)-managed facilities would ever operate effectively. He highlighted the inefficiencies of the NNPC refineries, noting that when…

IPOB Rejects Soludo’s Claim Linking Igbo Youths To Kidnapping, Warns Of Danger To South-East. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly condemned Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, for alleging that 99.9% of kidnappers and criminals in the South-East are Igbo youths. In a statement issued on Thursday, IPOB described the governor’s remarks as “inflammatory, baseless, and dangerous,” warning that they could endanger the lives of innocent Igbo youths and incite targeted attacks across the region. The group’s response follows Soludo’s comments during a town hall meeting with Anambra indigenes in the United States, held at the Metro Points…

Senate Demands Answers From NNPCL Over ₦210 Trillion Financial Discrepancies. The Nigerian Senate has escalated its probe into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), issuing a 10-day ultimatum for the state-owned oil giant to explain discrepancies exceeding ₦210 trillion in its audited financial statements from 2017 to 2023. The Senate Committee on Public Accounts, led by Senator Aliyu Wadada, voiced alarm over the findings during investigative hearings, underscoring concerns about transparency and accountability within the NNPCL. At a recent session in the National Assembly, lawmakers expressed dismay at what they termed “staggering” irregularities in the company’s financial records.…

Caster Semenya Secures Landmark Victory In Human Rights Battle Against World Athletics. South African athlete Caster Semenya has achieved a significant legal triumph at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which ruled that World Athletics discriminated against her through regulations that barred her from competing unless she medically lowered her natural testosterone levels. The decision, handed down on 10 July 2025, marks a pivotal moment in Semenya’s ongoing fight for fairness and dignity in sport, though it does not immediately overturn the restrictions that have kept her from racing since 2019. Semenya, a celebrated two-time Olympic gold…

Noni Madueke Set For Arsenal Move As Clubs Agree £50m Deal. In a significant transfer development, Arsenal have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign winger Noni Madueke for a reported £50m package, including add-ons. The 23-year-old England international, who has agreed personal terms on a five-year contract with the Gunners, is poised to complete his move across London, subject to a medical, marking a major coup for Mikel Arteta’s side. Madueke, who joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven for £28.5m in January 2023, has made 91 appearances for the Blues, scoring 20 goals and providing nine assists. During the…