Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Britain’s centuries-old Royal Mail is set to pass into foreign ownership after the UK government approved the takeover of its parent company by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group on Monday. The takeover of International Distribution Services (IDS) by EP Group is worth £3.6 billion ($4.5 billion). The “deal protects workers and key services whilst seeing Royal Mail continue to be headquartered in Britain, securing jobs and tax receipts in the UK”, the government said in a statement. The government will hold a “golden share” in the former state monopoly Royal Mail which ensures it has veto power over Royal…

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf has forwarded six names to the State House of Assembly as Commissioner-nominees. The Speaker of the House, Ismail Falgore disclosed this on Monday while reading the governor’s letter. The nominees include Shehu Sagagi, Dr Dahiru Hashim, Ibrahim Wayya, Dr Isma’il Dan Maraya, Gaddafi Shehu and Abdulkadir AbdulSalam.

The 2024/25 English Premier League season has seen a rapid turnover of managers, with four parting ways with their clubs in just seven weeks, highlighting the pressure to deliver results in one of the world’s most competitive leagues. All four managerial changes occurred within a span of 49 days, from October 28, 2024, to December 15, 2024. As speculation continues about potential future dismissals, the high stakes and intense competition remain evident. The latest changes include: Erik ten Hag – Manchester United Erik ten Hag was dismissed from his role as Manchester United manager after a poor start to the…

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) will airlift 10,000 Christians for this year’s holy pilgrimage to Jordan, starting on December 22. Each pilgrim paid N3 million for the journey, amounting to a total of N30 billion from the Nigerian contingent. According to the NCPC’s Executive Secretary, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the pilgrimage will last 10 days and include visits to holy sites in Jordan and Turkey. This marks the first pilgrimage of 2024 after several delays. Earlier plans for the President’s wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to lead the contingent…

The Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, has resigned. This was disclosed in a press release issued to journalists on Friday by Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. Gidado noted that the governor has accepted Kashim’s resignation with immediate effect. “The Chief of Staff, Government House, Bauchi, Dr. Aminu Gamawa, has been directed to take over from him in an acting capacity. “Governor Bala Mohammed, on behalf of the government and the people of Bauchi State, appreciated him for the services he rendered to the State and wished…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said Friday he felt privileged to work with Cole Palmer after labelling him as “different” to the Premier League’s other star forwards. Palmer has been Chelsea’s outstanding player in their unexpected rise to second place in the Premier League. With 11 goals in 15 games, the England international is Chelsea’s top scorer and has also provided six assists. Palmer’s confidence and quality were on display once again with the cheeky chipped penalty in last weekend’s win at Tottenham. It was the kind of eye-catching moment that Maresca claimed as evidence that the 22-year-old is a truly…

The Appeal Court Abuja has set aside all orders restraining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing funds to the Rivers State Government. The Three-member panel, presided by Justice Hamman Barka, held that the subject matter was not within the jurisdiction of the court relating to the revenue of the state. While allowing the appeal of the Rivers State government, the appellate court also set aside all the orders made by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, stating that it was unconstitutional for her to make orders restricting Rivers State government to receive funds due…

President Bola Tinubu, House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, governors, senators, and other prominent figures attended the wedding fatiha of the children of Deputy Senate President Senator Barau I. Jibrin on Friday. The ceremonies saw the joining of Jibrin Barau I. Jibrin (Abba) and Maryam Nasir Ado Bayero, daughter of the Emir of Bichi, as well as Aisha Barau I. Jibrin and Abubakar Abdulmunaf, son of Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunusa Sarina, President of Azman Group of Companies. The event was held at the National Mosque in Abuja after the two raka’at Juma’at prayers and officiated by Professor Ibrahim Maqari, the mosque’s…

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, recently met with President Bola Tinubu to discuss advancements in the aviation sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Speaking after their meeting at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, Onyema commended the President for implementing policies aimed at stabilising business operations across Nigeria, particularly in the aviation industry. He highlighted significant progress made by the Tinubu administration in enhancing the ease of doing business in the sector and introducing reforms spearheaded by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo. Expressing optimism about the administration’s impact on…

South African singer Tyla defeated Asake, Burna Boy, Rema, and Tems to win two Afrobeats categories at the 2024 Billboard Music Awardsceremony, which was held on Thursday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The singer won “Top Afrobeats Song” for her hit track “Water” and also clinched the title of Top Afrobeats Artist”, triumphing among her eight nominations. Tyla has been on a roll since the start of the year, dominating the Afrobeats category on the international awards and beating Nigerian music stars to the crown. In September, the South African rising star was announced the winner of…