Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

‘Traffic Saved My Life’: Nigerian Student Escapes Disaster After Missing Air India Flight By Minutes. A Nigerian student, Chukwuebuka Okoli, narrowly escaped tragedy after missing an Air India Express flight by just 10 minutes due to heavy traffic in Mumbai, India. The flight, IX-765, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 184 passengers and six crew members, crashed shortly after takeoff from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Tuesday, 10 June, en route to Bengaluru, killing all 190 people on board. Okoli’s remarkable stroke of luck has sparked widespread reflection on fate and fortune, with the student crediting Mumbai’s notorious traffic for his…

Historic Milestone As First Commercial Flight Lands At Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo Airport In Ebonyi. Ebonyi State celebrated a landmark achievement as the Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo International Airport in Onueke welcomed its first commercial flight on Friday, 13 June, at precisely 10:30 a.m. Operated by United Nigeria Airlines, the aircraft, bearing registration number 5N-8WV, touched down from Abuja, marking the official commencement of commercial operations at the long-awaited facility. This historic event signals a transformative step in Ebonyi’s journey towards enhanced connectivity and economic growth. Passengers aboard the inaugural flight expressed overwhelming joy at being part of the occasion. Emmanuel…

Real Madrid Secure Argentine Prodigy Franco Mastantuono In Record-Breaking €63M Deal. Real Madrid have bolstered their squad with the signing of 17-year-old Argentine sensation Franco Mastantuono from River Plate in a landmark €63.2 million (£54.1m) deal, marking the most expensive transfer in Argentine football history. The LaLiga giants announced the move on Friday, confirming that the attacking midfielder will join the club on 14 August 2025, the day he turns 18, after competing with River Plate at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Mastantuono, who has signed a six-year contract until June 2031, triggered his €45…

Football Laws Updated For 2025/26 Season: Key Changes Announced By IFAB. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has unveiled a series of amendments to the Laws of the Game, set to take effect for the 2025/26 season. These changes, aimed at enhancing clarity, fairness, and the flow of matches, were confirmed in an official statement from IFAB (@TheIFAB). Here’s a rundown of the key updates: 1. Team Captains Take Charge of Referee Communication Under an amendment to Law 3 (Players), only the team captain will be permitted to speak to the referee during matches. This rule aims to reduce…

DStv To Launch Sports-Only Package In Bid To Win Back Subscribers. In a bold move to address a significant decline in its subscriber base, MultiChoice, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, has announced plans to introduce a sports-only package for its DStv platform. The decision comes in response to the loss of approximately 1.4 million subscribers in Nigeria alone over the past two years, a trend attributed to economic hardships and changing consumer preferences. The announcement, which has sparked excitement among sports enthusiasts, was confirmed by MultiChoice CEO Calvo Mawela in a recent interview with Reuters. Mawela revealed…

Rio Ferdinand Backs Victor Osimhen As Manchester United’s Ideal Striker Signing. Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has thrown his weight behind Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, urging the club to prioritise him over Sporting CP’s prolific forward Viktor Gyokeres in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Red Devils, under new manager Ruben Amorim, are seeking a clinical centre-forward to address their goal-scoring woes, and Ferdinand’s endorsement of Osimhen has sparked excitement among fans eager for a transformative signing. Speaking to Mirror Football, Ferdinand highlighted Osimhen’s proven pedigree across multiple leagues and on the international stage, arguing he would be a…

Super Eagles Star Samuel Chukwueze Honours Father with N465m Mansion And Uplifts Abia Community. Nigerian international and AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze has brought joy and transformation to his hometown of Umu Chimaelu, Okoko Item, in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, unveiling a stunning #465 million nine-bedroom mansion for his father, Reverend John Nkasiobi Chukwueze, on Tuesday, 11 June. In a heartfelt gesture of philanthropy, the 26-year-old footballer also donated 20 brand-new tricycles (Keke NAPEP), awarded educational scholarships, and provided cash grants to underprivileged youths and residents, earning widespread praise for his commitment to his roots. The grand…

Al-Qaeda Affiliate Claims Attack On Benin Military Post Near Nigerian Border. The Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) has claimed responsibility for a bold attack on a Beninese military post in Basso, a town in Benin’s Borgou region, just 15 kilometres from Nigeria’s border near Babana and communities surrounding Kainji National Park in Kwara and Niger states. The assault, which occurred on 12 June, has raised fresh concerns about the spillover of jihadist violence from the Sahel into West Africa’s coastal states. JNIM, in a statement issued in Arabic, claimed it seized “control” of the military post,…

Oil Prices Surge To  $74 Per Barrel Amid Israel-Iran Tensions. Global oil prices soared to a four-month high of $74 per barrel on Friday, 13 June, following Israel’s military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets, raising fears of potential disruptions to Middle Eastern oil supplies. The 7% spike in Brent crude, the international benchmark, from $69 to $74.23 per barrel, marked the largest single-day gain since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 7.6% to $72.98 per barrel. The escalation began early Friday when Israel launched a series of airstrikes…

Israel Shuts Diplomatic Missions Globally Amid Escalating Tensions With Iran. Israel has temporarily closed all its diplomatic missions worldwide, including embassies and consulates, following its large-scale military strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The unprecedented move, which has suspended consular services for Israeli citizens abroad, comes as tensions soar after Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks, raising fears of a broader regional conflict. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the closure of all diplomatic posts, urging Israelis overseas to register their location and status via an online form and to contact…

Nigeria’s Oil Production Dips Slightly But Remains Strong At 97% Of OPEC Quota. Nigeria’s oil production experienced a modest 2% decline in May, falling to 1.45 million barrels per day (bpd) from 1.48 million bpd in April, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Despite the slight drop, the country continues to perform robustly, achieving 97% of its 1.5 million bpd quota set by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), reinforcing its position as a key player in global oil markets. The NUPRC reported that May’s average daily production, including condensate, reached 1,657,435 bpd, comprising 1,452,941…

Aviation Minister Orders Probe Into Air Peace And Oshiomhole Airport Dispute. Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has intervened in a high-profile dispute between Air Peace and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, ordering a thorough investigation into an altercation at Murtala Muhammed Airport’s domestic terminal in Lagos. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, 11 June, has drawn widespread attention, prompting Keyamo to call for calm and a fair review of the matter. The confrontation reportedly began when Senator Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, missed a scheduled Air Peace flight (P47120) to Abuja. According to Air Peace, the senator arrived…