Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Brazil and Al Hilal forward Neymar will have surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty. The 31-year-old went off in tears after injuring his knee during the 2-0 defeat by Uruguay on Tuesday. Neymar landed awkwardly after challenging Nicolas de la Cruz for the ball in the first half in Montevideo. Al Hilal said medical tests “confirmed the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tear injury in his knee”. It is unclear how long Neymar will be out for.

President Bola Tinubu, on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, has extended warm greetings to former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), on the occasion of his 89th birthday anniversary. Tinubu, in a statement released on Wednesday (today) through his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, acknowledged and celebrated the elder statesman for his visionary leadership, which has played a significant role in shaping important milestones in Nigeria’s history. Gowon will clock 89 years of age on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Felicitating the former military leader, President Tinubu commended General Gowon for his efforts in institutionalizing the peace process in Nigeria, leaving behind…

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday pledged continued support for the maintenance and development of the Abuja National Mosque. Wike made the promise when the Abuja National Mosque Management Board, led by its Chairman, the Etsu Nupe (the chief of Nupe people), Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, visited him in Abuja. The minister assured the board members that the FCT Administration would not hesitate to support the maintenance of the Mosque, which has been declared a National Monument. “No government will hesitate to support the maintenance of a National Monument, be it for Christians or Muslims. “I…

President Bola Tinubu has given the approval for the commencement of academic activities of six out of the 14 new universities established in the last days of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, made this known on Wednesday, after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. Prof Mamman stated that the initial phase will involve the launch of two universities in the field of agriculture, two as colleges of education, and two focusing on the field of medicine. According to him: “There are very many, probably about a dozen of them, if…

Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday, said Nigeria would leverage its relationship with China to adopt programmes that would improve the country’s digital space, among other benefits. This is contained in a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President. Shettima spoke in his keynote address, themed, “Digital Economy As A New Source Of Growth,” which was delivered during the High-Level Forum at the ongoing Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, China. He also assured member countries of the Belt and Road Initiative of Nigeria’s readiness…

Forward Jenni Hermoso has been named in the Spain squad for the first time since winning the World Cup. Ex-Spanish football federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales kissed Hermoso during the World Cup trophy presentation, which she says was not consensual. The kiss sparked outcry and Rubiales eventually resigned and was given a restraining order. Spain are set to play Italy and Switzerland in the Nations League. Spain’s World Cup success this summer was overshadowed by Rubiales’ actions during the celebrations after the final whistle. When new head coach Montse Tome named a squad for the Nations League fixtures in September…

The Senate has vowed to review the Act establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, disclosed this while noting that the EFCC was more of a persecuting agency than a prosecution agency. Akpabio disclosed this during the confirmation of Olu Olukayode and Mohammed Hamajoda, as Chairman and Secretary of the EFCC, respectively, on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday. Narrating his ordeal, Akpabio said he was targeted by political opponents in the buildup to the 2023 general elections. He said a frivolous petition was written against him and he wrote back to state…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says a total of 30-kilometre roads will be constructed across the six Area Councils of the FCT. Wike, who stated this when Sen. Philip Aduda and Zakari Dobi visited him in his office in Abuja on Wednesday. Aduda was the immediate past Senator that represented FCT in the Senate in the 9th Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party. He recontested the seat along with Dobi, who contested under the All Progressives Congress but lost to Sen. Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party. The minister said that the 30-kilometre roads, five in each of the six…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced tracking of 82 constituency projects valued at ₦8 billion in Imo. Victor Onakpoberuo, the Team Lead of the ICPC’s projects monitoring team, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Owerri on Wednesday. The exercise is part of the tracking of 1,932 constituency projects valued at ₦500 billion across 26 states of the federation, as announced by the ICPC’s Spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, on Wednesday. Onakpoberuo, Principal Superintendent of the commission said the exercise was the 6th phase of its Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative (CEPTI). According to him, this is…

The Senate has confirmed President Bola Tinubu’s nominee, Ola Olukoyede, as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Olukoyede and Muhammad Hammajoda, whom President Tinubu appointed as Secretary of the anti-graft agency, arrived at the National Assembly complex on Wednesday morning for their respective screening and confirmation proceeding. Recall President Tinubu on October 12, 2023, gave an appointment to the duo, seeking the Senate confirmation. Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, had explained in a statement earlier that Olukoyede’s appointment is for a renewable term of four years in the first instance. He also said the President appointed Hammajoda to serve…

The Lagos State Government says it will close down bars, churches, clubs, mosques and companies causing environmental nuisance in the state. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos. Wahab spoke at a management meeting with Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, the newly appointed General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and directors in the agency. He urged the management team of LASEPA to review its operations strategies in line with international best practices. “I charged them to review their operations strategies following accepted international best practices. “I have also directed the zonal directors,…

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is facing a lengthy ban from football after placing bets on AC Milan matches during his time at the club. Italian football has been rocked by a betting scandal that involves Tonali, Aston Villa’s Nicolo Zaniolo, Juventus’ Nicolo Fagioli and other as yet unnamed footballers. Fagioli has already been handed a seven-month ban after admitting to betting offences – his punishment a reduction from the three-year ban he could have received had he not fully co-operated with the investigation conducted by Turin-based prosecutors. Tonali and Zaniolo were sent home from Italy’s national team camp last Thursday after…