Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Tragedy struck in the Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State, as a fire outbreak at an Islamiya school claimed the lives of at least 17 Almajiri students. Eyewitnesses say the fire started late on Tuesday night and raged for about three hours, leaving 17 students dead and 16 others injured. A resident of the area, Abdulrasaq Bello Kaura, told Channels Television that the cause of the fire was reported to be some stored sticks locally called kara. “It happened at Makaranta Mallam Ghali, inside their study hall. There are about 100 of them in the house, after they evacuated…

President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Paris, France. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. He said the President’s trip to the European country is for private purpose, adding that the visit is en route to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. “In Addis Ababa, President Tinubu will join African leaders at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State, scheduled from February 12th to 16th, 2025,” Onanuga said. “While in France, President Tinubu…

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Saleh Usman, has announced an extension of the deadline for registration for the 2025 Hajj to February 10, 2025. The decision, according to a statement signed by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Usara, followed appeals on behalf of intending pilgrims who were unable to complete their registration before the earlier given January 31, 2025 deadline. While announcing the extension during a Zoom meeting between NAHCON and key Hajj stakeholders on Tuesday night, the chairman urged Executive Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to cooperate with the Commission…

The Premier League is actively addressing the challenges posed by Video Assistant Referee errors, having recorded 13 mistakes in the first 23 match rounds of the current season—a notable decrease from 20 errors at the same point last term. These errors comprise four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions, as identified by the Key Match Incidents panel, BBC reports late Tuesday. In response, the league has unveiled a six-point plan aimed at enhancing the accuracy, speed, and transparency of VAR decisions. A central component of this initiative is the potential introduction of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) before the season…

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has unveiled the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, forecasting early rainfall in many southern states. The minister made this announcement on Tuesday in Abuja during the official presentation of the 2025 SCP. The document predicts that most parts of the country will experience significant rainfall at the beginning of 2025, with some rains likely arriving before the expected onset. Keyamo said, “The onset of rain is predicted to be delayed over the northern and central states, including Plateau, as well as parts of Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa,…

The case of a British nurse sentenced to life imprisonment for killing seven newborn babies is being reviewed as medical experts Tuesday argued there was no evidence to support her conviction for murder. Lucy Letby is serving 15 whole-life sentences for the deaths of babies at neo-natal units in the northwest of England, where she worked between 2015 and 2016. Letby was convicted of murdering seven newborn babies and attempting to kill seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital neo-natal unit, making her Britain’s most prolific child serial killer in modern UK history. But her defence team on Tuesday…

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has congratulated his son, Seni, on his victory at the 67th Grammy Awards. Seni earned his first Grammy for his contribution to the Bob Marley: One Love soundtrack, which won Best Reggae Album. In a post on X, Saraki expressed his joy at seeing his son’s passion recognised on a global stage, adding that he is “super proud” of him. “Congratulations, Seni, on winning your first Grammy last night for your work on the Bob Marley: One Love soundtrack, which took home the award for Best Reggae Album!” he wrote. “Seeing you pour your heart…

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself the best-ever player in the game, rating himself above bitter rival Lionel Messi; Argentina’s Diego Maradona; and the legendary Pele of Brazil.  Debates over who will be regarded as the Greatest of all Time (GOAT) in football have been raging over the years, pitting mostly Ronaldo and Messi. Both have won 13 Ballon d’Ors – five for the Portuguese and eight for the Argentine football wizard. Before now, Ronaldo and Messi have been compared with Pele – who won three World Cups – and Maradona who scooped the 1986 edition of the competition.…

Napoli announced on Monday the signing of AC Milan attacker Noah Okafor following the departure of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia last month. Switzerland’s Okafor arrives at the Serie A leaders on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy. Georgia’s Kvaratskhelia left Napoli in January for Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth a reported 70 million euros ($72 million). “Welcome Noah,” Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis said on X. De Laurentiis had attempted to sign Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi and Fenerbahce’s Allan Saint-Maximim before turning his attention to Okafor. The 24-year-old has scored just one goal in 11…

The Naira weakened against the dollar at the official market on Monday, closing at N1,495.60 per dollar, according to data from the FMDQ Security Exchange. This marks a depreciation of N20.82, representing a 1.4% decline from the previous trading day on Friday, January 31, when the currency closed at N1,474.78 per dollar. The decline highlights continued volatility in the foreign exchange market as demand for the dollar remains high.