Author: Olukayode Oke

Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League at the last-16 stage in a penalty shootout defeat by Sporting Lisbon at Emirates Stadium. Gabriel Martinelli’s spot-kick was saved by goalkeeper Adan before Nuno Santos netted the winner to spark celebrations among Sporting’s players at full-time following an eventful and entertaining tie. A sensational long-range chip by Pedro Goncalves from 46 yards forced extra time after Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka had earlier pounced on a rebound for the opener. Arsenal defender Gabriel came agonisingly close twice in the final minutes of extra time when his header was tipped over the bar, and…

As the governorship and State House of Assembly elections hold tomorrow, Saturday, some residents of Rivers State are cut in between the line on who to vote for, especially for the position of Governor. Some observers hold the opinion that the governorship and the state Assembly candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party are likely to win. They believe Governor Nyesom Wike’s influence will give a landslide victory to his party, the PDP. The PDP had won 90% of the National Assembly seats in the state, including the 3 Senatorial districts and 9 House of Assembly seats. The Labour Party won…

Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro on Thursday unveiled a 23-man squad for his side’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier double-header against Guinea-Bissau. Peseiro included regulars like Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho in the squad. Rivers United goalkeeper, Victor Sochima earn his maiden invitation to the team, while Boavista defender, Bruno Onyemaechi is invited for the second time. Two Flying Eagles players, Chijoke Aniagboso and Daniel Bamaiyi were also included in the squad. Vice-captain William Troost-Ekong missed out as a result of injury, while Torino defender, Ola Aina was among the surprise absentees.…

Grammy’s Award-winning singer, Burna Boy, will co-headline the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick-Off Show by Pepsi, at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on Saturday, June 10. This was revealed on Thursday on the UEFA Champions League website. Known for his global chart-topping hit ‘Last Last,’ the Nigerian star will bring his energy and signature soulful vibes of afrobeat to millions of fans before the biggest club fixture in football gets under way. As a huge football fan myself, I know it doesn’t get any bigger than the UEFA Champions League! That’s why I’m so excited to be performing…

The UK on Thursday announced a security ban on the Chinese-owned video app TikTok on government devices, in line with action by the European Union and the United States. “We will do so with immediate effect,” Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden told parliament. Western authorities have been taking an increasingly firm approach to the app, owned by the firm Bytedance, citing fears that user data could be used or abused by Chinese officials. Dowden said that experts had conducted a risk assessment of third-party apps in relation to sensitive government data. As part of the measures, government devices will only…

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, on Thursday, disclosed that his ambition to occupy the state governorship seat is not backed by any godfather. The LP candidate is reacting to a claim by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, that he was being endorsed by godfathers such as the PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George. Jandor was quoted to have said on Tuesday that Rhodes-Vivour was being endorsed by godfathers such as the PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George. I fought against godfatherism in the APC,…

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has threatened to jail the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba Usman over his persistent disobedience to orders of the court. The court on Thursday held that the action of the IGP to the rule of law is unbecoming of a top-ranking federal official and an affront to the 1999 Constitution. In an enrolled order issued by the court and endorsed by Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi, the court gave the IGP May 2 to appear before it and purge himself of contempt of court or be committed to prison in line with the provisions…

Terrorist activity in Nigeria fell to its lowest since 2011, according to the 2023 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report released on Tuesday, March 14. The insurgency of Boko Haram and its deadlier faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has killed thousands of Nigerians in the northeast region since 2009, but the groups were more restrained in 2022. The total number of deaths linked to terrorism in Nigeria dropped from 497 in 2021 to 385 last year. The number of terrorist attacks also dropped from 214 in 2021 to 120, the lowest recorded since 2011. “Deaths in Nigeria peaked…

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, says 66 patients involved in the train-bus collision accident have been treated and discharged from five state public health facilities. Abayomi disclosed this in a situation update about the accident on Wednesday in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the state had on March 10 and March 12 discharged 53 patients involved in the accident from three state hospitals. According to him, after a successful two-stage triage, no other fatality was recorded among the survivors of the accident. Back-to-back surgeries are being conducted on patients that needed surgeries at…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it did not remove the names of Igbo and South South people from the list of ad hoc staff for Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Lagos State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that rumours making the rounds on social media has it that the electoral umpire in Lagos removed all Igbo and South-South staff from sensitive election duties for March 18 elections. Reacting, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lagos State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, in a statement on Wednesday evening by Mrs Adenike Tadese, Head of…

Victor Osimhen scored twice as Napoli reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time on Wednesday, helping Luciano Spalletti’s men to a 3-0 second-leg win over Eintracht Frankfurt. It turned out to be a record breaking night for Napoli and Osimhen as the partenopei made it to the quarter finals of the champions league for the first time. Osimhen also became the first Napoli player to score across two legs of a knockout game and the first Nigerian to Score two goals in a UCL knockout game. Osimhen netted either side of half-time in another talismanic display for the…

Nigeria inflation rate has risen to 21.91%, compared to January 2023 inflation rate which was 21.82%. The percentage represents a 0.09% point increase. This was disclosed in a recent Consumer Price Index report by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday. The rise in the inflation rate followed the naira crisis across the country and uncertainties relating to the just concluded presidential election. The NBS said the rise in food inflation was caused by increase in prices of oil and fat, fish, meats, vegetable, yam and other tubers, bread and cereals, and other foods.