Author: Olukayode Oke

 Macron Names Bayrou As Prime Minister To Address Political Deadlock. French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed François Bayrou, a seasoned centrist leader and ally, as the new prime minister in an effort to stabilise the country’s turbulent political landscape. The announcement follows months of uncertainty after a series of political upheavals and leadership changes. Bayrou, 73, who leads the MoDem party and serves as mayor in southwest France, becomes Macron’s fourth prime minister this year. His appointment comes after the abrupt departure of Michel Barnier, who lasted only three months in the role before being ousted in a no-confidence vote.…

Kemi Badenoch Stands Firm on Comments About Nigeria. The Conservative Party leader in the United Kingdom, Kemi Badenoch, has reaffirmed her stance on previous remarks about Nigeria, stating she is “not a PR for the country.” Badenoch’s statement follows criticism from Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, over her descriptions of Nigeria as plagued by “fear, insecurity, and corruption.” Born in the UK but raised in Nigeria, Badenoch has frequently spoken about her experiences growing up in the country, often highlighting the challenges she faced. Her comments recently drew sharp responses from Vice President Shettima, who accused her of denigrating…

Seplat Energy Completes $800 Million Acquisition Of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited. Seplat Energy has successfully acquired Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) from ExxonMobil for $800 million, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth. The finalised deal, announced on Thursday, reflects a notable reduction from the initial $1.28 billion agreement and is expected to transform Seplat Energy into Nigeria’s leading independent energy company. The acquisition is projected to double Seplat’s crude oil production to approximately 120,000 barrels per day and increase its reserves by 86 per cent, bringing total reserves to 887 million barrels of oil equivalent. The transaction,…

Flamingos Shine In Dominant 9-0 Victory Over Niger Republic. Nigeria’s U-17 girls, the Flamingos, delivered a sensational performance on Thursday, thrashing Niger Republic 9-0 in their second match of the WAFU B U-17 Girls’ Cup in Ghana. The team started strongly, with Aishat Animashaun opening the scoring in the fifth minute after connecting with a well-placed in-swinger from Mary Mamudu. FIFA U-17 World Cup star Shakirat Moshood then stole the spotlight, scoring a spectacular 35-yard screamer in the 17th minute to double Nigeria’s lead. Moshood continued her brilliance six minutes later, netting her second goal, assisted by Animashaun. Janet Akekoromowei…

NAFDAC Issues Warning Against Suspected Substandard Antibiotic ‘Deekins Amoxycillin 500mg Capsules’. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public warning against the use of Deekins Amoxycillin 500mg Capsules. The product, manufactured by Ecomed Pharma Ltd and marketed by Devine Kings Pharmaceutical Ltd, is currently under investigation following reports of serious adverse reactions. In a statement signed by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, the agency revealed it is focusing on lot number 4C639001 of the medication, which has been linked to multiple adverse reactions reported by patients nationwide. “We are investigating…

INEC Proposes Computer-Generated Slips To Replace PVCs For Voter Accreditation. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proposed the use of computer-generated slips as an alternative to Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for voter accreditation. This suggestion was announced by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Thursday. The proposal is part of recommendations stemming from the commission’s review of the 2023 General Election. According to Yakubu, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has reduced reliance on PVCs as the sole means of identification on election days. “Those who already have…

Senate Declares Edo Central Senatorial Seat Vacant, Calls For Bye-election. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has officially declared the seat of Monday Okpebholo, the representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, vacant. This decision was announced during a Senate session on Wednesday, 11 December. Monday Okpebholo recently won the Edo State governorship election held on 16 September under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform. His victory necessitated the vacancy in the Senate, prompting the call for a bye-election to fill the position. During the session, the Senate held a valedictory ceremony to honour Okpebholo’s contributions as a senator before…

Arsenal Shine As Juventus Stun Man City In Champions League Drama. The UEFA Champions League produced another memorable night as Europe’s top clubs continued their group stage campaigns. Arsenal delivered an impressive 3-0 victory over Monaco, while Juventus secured a vital 2-0 win against Manchester City, leaving the defending champions in a precarious position just one point and three places above the elimination zone. Arsenal’s Commanding Display  At the Emirates, Arsenal showcased their dominance with a confident performance against Monaco. Bukayo Saka scored a brace before Kai Harvertz rounded things up for the Gunners.The win solidifies their position as…

Syrian Rebels Burn Tomb of Late President Hafez al-Assad Amid Historic Change. Syrian rebel forces have destroyed the tomb of Hafez al-Assad, the late father of ousted president Bashar al-Assad, in the Assad family’s hometown of Qardaha in Latakia province. Verified footage shows armed men walking through the burning mausoleum, chanting slogans as the Assad dynasty’s 54-year rule comes to an end. The rebels, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have seized control of major parts of Syria, including the capital Damascus, following a swift offensive. Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled to Russia, where he and…

Taliban Minister Khalil Haqqani Killed In Kabul Suicide Bombing. Khalil Haqqani, Afghanistan’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, has been killed in a suicide bombing at his ministry in Kabul. The attack, which also claimed the lives of six others, marks the most high-profile casualty within the Taliban since their return to power in 2021. Interior ministry sources reported that the blast occurred as Haqqani was leaving his office. The Islamic State (IS) later claimed responsibility for the attack, stating via its Amaq news outlet that a militant had detonated explosives outside the minister’s office. Khalil Haqqani was a…

South Korea’s President Yoon Defends Martial Law Decision. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has defended his controversial decision to declare martial law last week, insisting it was a necessary move to safeguard the country’s democracy. In a televised address on Thursday, President Yoon described the action as a legal measure to counter what he called the opposition’s “parliamentary dictatorship” and to “prevent the collapse” of democratic governance. Facing mounting political pressure and legal challenges, Yoon has vowed to remain resolute, rejecting calls for his resignation ahead of a second parliamentary vote on his impeachment, scheduled for Saturday. “I…

National Grid Collapse Plunges Nigeria Into Darkness Once More. Nigeria has experienced another nationwide blackout following the collapse of the national grid on Wednesday. This marks the twelfth such incident in 2024, raising fresh concerns over the country’s electricity infrastructure. The Independent System Operator (ISO), an arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), confirmed that all power generation plants connected to the grid had ceased production by 2pm. Just an hour earlier, these plants had collectively supplied an average of 3,087 megawatts of electricity. A post on the official account of Nigeria’s national grid on X disclosed…