Author: TheScrutinyNG

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has hinted at a possible retirement from international duty after stating that the last few games could be his last in an Argentina shirt. Messi, who revealed that he has not set any deadline for his future, made his second appearance for Argentina since returning from an injury that he sustained during the Copa America Final earlier this year. The 37-year-old scored a hat trick and provided two assists for the Albiceleste in their 6-0 rout of Bolivia  in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers at the Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires. The Inter…

23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams says “all is ok” after undergoing surgery to remove a benign branchial cyst from her neck. The four-time Olympic gold medallist posted a video on social media on Wednesday to reveal the news that the cyst, which was “the size of a small grapefruit” has been removed. The 43-year-old said she discovered a lump on her neck in May but after an MRI scan, doctors told her that she could decide not to remove it. Williams added that she chose the option of not removing it but changed her mind after it kept growing,…

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has called on the Federal Government to review its current monetary and fiscal policies, stating that they are not working effectively. The governor made this call at the launch of the Nigeria Development Update in Abuja on Thursday. Mohammed urged the government to avoid being dogmatic in its approach, emphasizing the urgent need for change due to the growing hardship in the country. He highlighted the plight of ordinary Nigerians, warning that hunger and economic hardship have created a volatile situation. He revealed that even people in his position are facing the threat of…

The World Bank has predicted that the current economic reforms ongoing in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would guarantee long term stability in the country. This is as the global bank urged Nigerians to support the reforms, warning that opposing or reversing them could have serious negative consequences for the country. Speaking at the launch of the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report in Abuja, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiame Diop, emphasized that while the reforms may be challenging, they are crucial for the nation’s long-term stability. Dr. Diop cautioned that rolling back these reforms would…

The National Emergency Management Agency has deployed its emergency response team to Kogi State following the flooding of several communities in the state. This move, PUNCH reports, aims to help proactively monitor the flood situation across the country, according to a statement by the agency on Wednesday. The statement noted that the team comprises staff specialised in search and rescue operations, who will provide technical support to the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency and other stakeholders conducting rescue and evacuation operations, as well as assessments in the affected communities. The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said the agency has…

Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last election, has charged the Super Eagles not to allow their sad experience in Libya dampen their spirit as they match to qualify for the 2025 AFCON. Taking to his X handle on Thursday, the former Anambra State governor, while regretting the sad incident where the players and their officials, as well as other traveling contingent, were allegedly held hostage by the Libyan authorities, said the players should derive motivation from the experience. Obi said; “Like every other patriotic Nigerian, I sincerely sympathize with our dear Super…

Monday Okpebholo, the Edo State governor-elect, has decried what he said is massive looting of properties and funds belonging to the state by the officials of the outgoing administration under Godwin Obaseki. This is as the governor-elect is calling on the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies to beam searchlights on the outgoing officials, while also calling on banks to halt the granting of loans to the state government during the transition period. In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Godswill Inegbealso, Okpebholo called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Department of State Services to…

Flamingoes, the Nigerian U17 women team, started their FIFA U17 women World Cup in Dominican Republic with a resounding 4-1 win over New Zealand in the late hours of Wednesday in a match played at the CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros. Shakirat Moshood opened the scoring with one of the tournament’s fastest goals, finding the net after just 80 seconds. Seven minutes later, Faridat Abdulwahab struck the crossbar from 23 yards. In the 13th minute, defender Taiwo Adegoke doubled Nigeria’s lead with a shot from outside the box, which the New Zealand goalkeeper fumbled. There was a Video…

There are presently 174 deaths with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 17.0 percent so far as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 1,025 confirmed cases of Lassa fever out of 8,484 suspected cases between January 1 and October 6, 2024, across 28 states and 128 local government areas nationwide. This information is according to the Lassa fever situation report for week 40, obtained from the NCDC on Wednesday. According to the World Health Organisation, Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses.…

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has explained why the state would pay N85,000 minimum wage and then increase same to N100,000 in January of 2025. Mr Sanwo-Olu spoke on Wednesday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme. The new minimum wage in the state is N15,000 higher than what the federal government announced in July. “I am glad to let you know that the minimum wage for Lagos, which we discussed with our union, is N85,000,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said. He said the development is not to compete with other states but “a function of affordability and capacity.” Mr…