Author: Olukayode Oke

Nigerians Paid ₦2.3 Trillion In Ransom Over 12 Months, Says NBS. A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid an astonishing ₦2.3 trillion in ransom for kidnappings over a 12-month period, highlighting the significant financial burden of crime on citizens. The findings, drawn from the 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS), covered incidents between May 2023 and April 2024. The survey indicated that 65 per cent of households affected by kidnappings paid ransoms, with an average of ₦2.67 million per case. During the survey period, Nigeria recorded an…

Infrastructure, Security, And Education Dominate Tinubu’s ₦47.9 Trillion 2025 Budget Proposal. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has presented the 2025 budget proposal, titled The Resurrection Budget: Security, Peace, Building Prosperity, to a joint session of the National Assembly. The ₦47.9 trillion proposal, unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja, prioritises security, defence, infrastructure, education, and health as key sectors for national development.  Key Budget Allocations The President outlined the budget’s focus on addressing critical challenges facing the nation, with the following highlights: – Defence and Security: ₦4.91 trillion to tackle insecurity and strengthen the country’s defence systems. – Infrastructure: ₦4.06 trillion to drive…

250 Elderly Citizens In Kogi Benefit From Oluremi Tinubu’s Empowerment Scheme. In a bid to support senior citizens across Nigeria, 250 elderly individuals in Kogi State have benefited from the second phase of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Elderly Support Scheme, spearheaded by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The beneficiaries, aged 65 and above, were drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas in the state. The programme, which aims to enhance the welfare of elderly citizens, saw each recipient receive ₦200,000 alongside access to free medical check-ups and other items. At the presentation ceremony held at…

Inspector-General Egbetokun Bans Arbitrary Arrests, Detention of Youths, and Phone Checks by Nigerian Police. In a significant step towards safeguarding the rights of citizens, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has announced a ban on arbitrary arrests, detention of youths, and the collection or checking of mobile phones by police officers across Nigeria. This directive emphasises the need for law enforcement officers to adhere strictly to the rule of law and respect the fundamental rights of all citizens, especially young people, who have often raised concerns about police misconduct. Egbetokun’s move has been widely praised as a positive reform…

Luigi Mangione Faces First-Degree Murder Charges In Death Of Healthcare CEO. Luigi Mangione has been formally charged with first-degree murder in connection with the killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. The charges, announced by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, include two counts of second-degree murder, one of which alleges the act was an act of terrorism. Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Bragg described the murder as a “frightening, well-planned and targeted attack” with the intent “to sow terror”. If convicted on the most serious charges, Mr Mangione, 26, could face life imprisonment without parole. The extradition hearing…

Vinicius Jr Named FIFA Best Men’s Player Of The Year. Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Jr has been awarded the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year trophy, marking the first time he has received the prestigious honour. The 24-year-old was recognised during a ceremony held in Doha, Qatar, where he triumphed over Spain’s Rodri and England’s Jude Bellingham to claim the accolade. Vinicius’ standout performances during the 2023-24 season were pivotal in Real Madrid’s successes in both the Champions League and La Liga. Across the campaign, he scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists, cementing his place as…

FIFA Opens First African Continental Office In Morocco. FIFA has officially inaugurated its first African continental office in Maamoura, Morocco, marking a significant milestone in the development of football on the continent. The unveiling ceremony, held on Monday evening in Marrakech, was attended by FIFA officials, representatives from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), and Morocco’s Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch. The signing of the host agreement highlighted Morocco’s growing role as a strategic partner for football’s advancement in Africa. This newly established office will serve the entire continent, reinforcing FIFA’s commitment to…

CAF Announces Key Dates For Major 2025 Football Events. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the schedule for a series of key tournaments and events set to take place in 2025. These announcements highlight the organisation’s commitment to providing clarity and preparation time for participating teams and fans across the continent. The highly anticipated draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be conducted on 25th January 2025 in Rabat, Morocco. Following the draw, Morocco will play host to the AFCON 2025, with the tournament set to commence on 21st December 2025. CAF has…

Lagos State To Develop Odonla-Odogunyan Housing Estate With Modern Amenities. The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced the commencement of the Odonla-Odogunyan Housing Estate Project, a collaborative effort between the Lagos State Government and Access Bank Plc. Speaking on the initiative, the governor explained that the project aims to provide high-quality housing while improving the living standards of residents in the state. Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the estate would cover 9.98 hectares of land and feature 704 units of modern two-bedroom apartments spread across 44 blocks. The development would also include a cinema, a playground, a water treatment plant,…

Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk Faces Doping Allegations. Chelsea’s €70 million signing, Mykhailo Mudryk, is facing allegations of doping after a routine urine test reportedly flagged irregular results. The 23-year-old Ukrainian winger, who joined Chelsea in January, has firmly denied any wrongdoing and pledged his full cooperation with the relevant authorities. In a statement, Mudryk said, “I know I’ve done nothing wrong,” expressing confidence in his innocence. Chelsea have also released a statement, voicing their support for the player and committing to work closely with the authorities to resolve the matter. The situation has raised concerns within the football community,…

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Vanuatu, Triggering Widespread Destruction. A devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck near Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, causing landslides, crushing vehicles, and flattening multiple buildings, including a complex housing several Western embassies. The full extent of the damage remains unclear as power and mobile networks across the country are down. Early reports suggest casualties, with Dan McGarry, a journalist based in Port Vila, confirming at least one death as reported by hospital authorities. He described seeing “several people who were visibly, seriously injured” outside the emergency unit at Vila Central Hospital. The death toll is expected…

Ukrainian Operation Kills Russian General In Moscow Explosion. A high-ranking Russian general, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, has reportedly been killed in an explosion in Moscow, according to sources in Kyiv. The blast, which occurred on Tuesday morning, took place at the entrance to a residential building when a device concealed in an electric scooter detonated. Lt Gen Kirillov had recently been charged by Ukrainian authorities for the alleged use of banned chemical weapons during the conflict. On Monday, Kyiv accused him of deploying Chloropicrin, a gas initially used in the First World War, against Ukrainian troops in trenches. He…